Nature Versus Nurture
The doorbell rang just as Jethro Gibbs finished pouring a fresh cup of coffee. Shoving the carafe back on the burner he balanced the cup in one hand and used his free hand to open the front door when he reached it.
His eyebrows arched in welcome and he grinned at the visitor, "Sister Rosita, what a pleasant surprise to see you. Please come inside the house. Tony and Abby just went upstairs, but let me call them for you."
He stepped back to allow her to enter and Sister Rosita responded with her own smile. "Well thank you, Agent Gibbs. Please excuse me for not calling before I visited." The nun smoothed the front of her habit and regarded him expectantly.
Before he could issue a verbal summons, though, Abby and Tony both appeared at the top landing as he motioned the Nun towards the living room.
Recognizing their visitor, both spoke eagerly.
"Sister, we will be there in just a second," Abby promised. "I just need to finish getting dressed to leave."
"We had just gotten upstairs but will be down in a minute," Tony supplied. "At least I will, that is, since I am naturally pretty. Baby Girl, on the other hand..."
Abby smacked his arm and he yanked it protectively against his chest.
Sister Rosita stopped at the bottom landing and focused on the two. "No, both of you continue what you were doing upstairs. I do not need to speak with you at all. My visit this evening is with Agent Gibbs, and not with either of my two best volunteers."
Jethro glanced towards her in disbelief. He could think of no idea why she would be there for him, or would have business with him. Something obviously must have happened with either Abby or Tony the last time they volunteered at the Community Center the Sisters ran.
However, Abby and Tony appeared just as confused as Jethro felt.
They exchanged questioning glances.
Scrunching her nose, Abby twirled one pigtail as she confirmed, "You do not need to see us for anything?"
Sister Rosita shook her head dismissively, "Not today, Dear- I did not come to speak with either of you. Please do not concern yourselves with me."
"Ok, then," Tony responded, taking Abby's arm and smiling down at the older woman. "Both of us have plans tonight so we will go finish getting ready. You will be in capable hands with Boss, though, Sister."
With that promise, he steered Abby to her room, then turned and entered his own.
The Nun followed Gibbs into the living room and he gestured towards the sofa. "Please make yourself at home. Would you rather have coffee or …."
She interrupted, "Coffee would be wonderful. Please, though, do not go to any trouble, Agent Gibbs. I caught you unawares."
"That is not a problem. I just brewed a fresh pot. Ok then, I will return in just a second."
When he re-entered the room he carried coffee, sugar, and cream on a tray, along with a plate of questionable looking cookies. He pointed to the treats as he passed her a cup and napkin. "These cookies are made from peanut butter and m and m candies. Ugly though they are, they taste pretty good."
Sister Rosita burst into laughter, and Gibbs joined her, then offered an explanation of their creation.
"Tony and Abby started fighting over what cookies to make yesterday and I told them they would have to leave the kitchen without making anything if they refused to work together."
He held up one of them and regarded it. "This, then, is the product of their teamwork."
He sat then, and Sister Rosita motioned around the circumference of the living room. "You have so many wonderful pictures framed, Agent Gibbs. I like your decorating that way. It makes the room cozy, and gives it such a family feel."
He nodded and glanced panoramically around the area, appraising the space as a visitor would. Thanks to Tony and Abby, the room now possessed a comfortable atmosphere and inviting, overstuffed furniture- a far different look from a couple of years in the past.
"I do, indeed. Actually, though, all three of us have had a hand in the photos, choosing what we wanted to display," he replied.
"They are all of the three of you together."
"Correct," Jethro agreed, but he looked around in surprise. Until that moment, it had not occurred to him that none of the photos were of single subjects. All were group shots.
"I find that display quite telling, quite revealing," Sister smiled.
Gibbs looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to elaborate.
She indicated a large photo hung over the fireplace mantle. "Where did you take that one, Agent Gibbs?"
He stood up and walked to where it hung. Rubbing his chin he answered, "My dad took that one on a visit to Stillwater. He lives there, in Pennsylvania, and owns a general store. We visit ever so often, though sometimes he travels here."
"Everyone looks so happy," Sister commented
"Yes," he agreed, recalling the day of the picture. "Several inches of snow had just fallen and we obviously enjoyed the beauty of the scene."
Turning, he retraced his steps thoughtfully.
Settling back in his chair and taking a sip of his coffee, he waited for her to do the same before he prodded, a note of concern in his voice, "Have you had a problem with Tony or Abby, Sister? Did they cause any trouble the last time they volunteered?"
She quickly reassured him. "Oh no, no, Agent Gibbs, not at all- If anything, I would love to clone those two. They bring so much energy and joy into all of the tasks they complete, and are such an integral part of the Center's success."
Gibbs could not hide the flash of pride that crossed his face at her assessment.
She continued, setting her cup down on the coffee table and steepling her hands as she spoke. "They have given so unselfishly of themselves time after time, and I must admit that they are my favorite volunteers. Do not share that with the other workers, though!"
"That's a relief," Jethro responded and he laughed self consciously. "Their conduct does not always earn kudos and I usually hear far different observations about them. It means a great deal to hear the opposite news tonight."
"Absolutely they impress me- what I came to address tonight, though, are your own latest contributions. Thank you so much, so very, very much, Agent Gibbs."
Her mission surprised him and he shifted on the chair cushion, ill at ease with the praise. "You did not have to come here to tell me that, Sister Rosita."
"Oh, but I did, Agent Gibbs."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's nice of you, Sister. Really though, I have contributed very little. Tony mentioned that the group of teen boys he coaches knew nothing about archery, and asked me if I could make a couple of bows and some arrows that he could use with them. It honestly did not take long for me to make them, I promise."
Sister took another swallow of her coffee and then held up her hand. "You are much too modest. I saw that equipment and it was exquisitely designed and crafted, and the youngsters were absolutely delighted. In my work with disadvantaged youth I have never seen them so fascinated or so eager to learn a new sport as they were with that archery equipment."
Gibbs nodded self consciously because he could not think of a better response at the moment.
Sister continued to express her gratitude. "Also, Agent Gibbs, I saw that you carved several new toys for Abby's class."
He smiled self consciously at the woman and clarified, "Abby said she wanted some farm animals and farm equipment to teach the children about farm life. Some of those kids have never experienced a farm visit. Honestly, it didn't take more than a couple of hours to create that entire farm setting. Truthfully, I have offered very little of my time or talent. Tony and Abby deserve that credit."
Silence enveloped them after his words, and Gibbs waited patiently for Sister Rosita to speak again. Something had brought her to his residence this particular evening, and he held enough respect for the woman to allow her time to channel her thoughts. He personally suspected that she used the carvings to initiate her reason for the visit.
Finally she leaned forward and set her cup on the coffee table again. A slight smile touched her lips. "I confess that something else motivated me to call on you this evening."
He nodded encouragingly and sat forward in his chair, as well, then waited for her explanation.
"Agent Gibbs, you act as a surrogate parent to both Abby and Tony, and fill a role greatly needed by both. The two of them have desperately needed a strong father figure, and you…"
Gibbs interrupted, speaking firmly, "No, Sister, I do not mean to contradict you, but Tony and Abby truly do not want my input into their lives. I can assure you, they do not view me as a parent, nor do I consider them my progeny."
"Really? I find your words interesting, Agent Gibbs, especially in view of your current living arrangements."
"Right, right, I do see the confusion when you see them here. No, actually, they stay here as a matter of convenience- nothing more complicated than that. It just gets them to work easier."
"Well how about that?" Sister Rosita replied, arching her eyebrows and obviously not fooled by his explanation. She appeared to contemplate what he said before smiling at him again.
"No matter, but I just wanted to assure myself that you understood how highly they think of you, and how much they care for you."
That embarrassed him. "Well, thank you, and I do care about them, of course."
Sister pointed to one of the pictures on the wall. "You do not have to convince me. I can tell that you do."
He followed her gaze to a shot of him with one arm around Tony and the other around Abby. It had been snapped at the last Fourth of July party hosted by NCIS, and the three of them looked content and comfortable with each other.