Duet

Jethro, Ducky, and Maria leisurely watched the dawn break as they sat at the breakfast table sipping coffee and reading the early morning paper.

Ducky had spent the last week on vacation with Family Gibbs in Campeche, but was heading back to D. C. later in the day.

A loud, frantic knock at the front door caused them all to jump, and Gibbs hurried to the door and turned the knob as the woman on the other side called out that it was Caralina Gonzalez, Miguel's mother.

She burst in the door frantically babbling in Spanish, but Gibbs and Ducky picked out the term doctor- medico- several times in the woman's speech.

Ducky reached them and took Caralina by the arm, propelling her to the kitchen and pushing her gently into a chair. She grabbed his hand desperately and began speaking hysterically again.

Gibbs rubbed his eyes, helpless to understand what had transpired. Caralina was mother of Tony's good friend, Miguel, and of Miguel's little sister, Emily.

Maria had been volleying questions at Senora Gonzalez, and finally put her hand out and motioned for the other woman to be quiet. She turned to Ducky.

"She needs you, right now. Little Miguel is very sick, screaming about a headache and vomiting violently. Please, she just left him to come here. His daddy is with him."

Ducky quickly stood and nodded his agreement, motioning to both women. He addressed Maria, "Come also, so that you can translate for me."

All three jumped up and hurriedly left. Gibbs stood in the doorway and watched them jog down the street to the Gonzalez residence. He shut the door softly, realizing that all of the recent noise would probably wake Tony.

It was too late. Tony was making his way down the hall, rubbing his eyes with one hand and dragging his stuffed Eeyore along the floor behind him. Spying his father he raised his arms, and Jethro quickly moved to him and picked him up, snuggling with him as Tony wrapped his legs around his waist and his arms around his neck. Tony rubbed his face in his daddy's shirt, then rested his head on his father's shoulder, yawning loudly.

Gibbs rocked him softly in his arms as he stood, and finally after a couple of minutes he kissed the top of Tony's head and spoke. "Did you have a good sleep, Baby Boy?"

Tony nodded against him, but didn't speak.

"Then I'll bet you're hungry for breakfast. Let's go get you ready so that you can eat. Remember that you and I are driving Ducky to the airport today so that he can fly back to Washington. This is our own special Daddy and Tony day."

Jethro made his way back down the hall to Tony's room and into Tony's bathroom. He set the little boy on the floor and smiled, "Use the bathroom and then we'll get your bed made and you dressed for the day."

Tony didn't move voluntarily, so Gibbs took Eeyore from him and unzipped his sleeper. "Hurry, now, Son."

The child moved sluggishly, but managed to use the bathroom, wash his hands, and brush his teeth, then climbed on to his bed and sat quietly. He regarded his father.

Jethro handed him the clothes Abuela had gotten Tony to put out the night before, and the little boy quietly stripped off his pajamas and got himself dressed.

By the time he had put on his clothes he was decidedly more awake. Sliding off his bed he addressed his father, "Abuela said I could wear my new clothes today since we were going to the airport, and because it's Daddy and Tony day." He rubbed his eyes. "You have to help me make up my bed, please, Daddy."

His father nodded his agreement, and as they worked, he regarded his son. Tony was five, and a tiny five at that, with brown hair highlighted with golden streaks from the Mexican sun, and shimmery green eyes under long eyelashes. Attractive as he was, he was also all boy, and had already shown an aptitude for sports, despite his petite frame. The child had a sharp mind, as well, and Jethro often wondered what adult profession Tony would choose.

Finally pronouncing the bedroom in great shape, Gibbs told Tony to head for the kitchen and breakfast.

The little boy obeyed, but after climbing into his booster seat he muttered suspiciously, "My abuela is not here. Where is she, Daddy?"

Gibbs had the refrigerator open and was regarding the contents. "She went to Miguel's house with Ducky."

Tony scowled, displeased, "I want Abuela, and I want Abuela only to fix breakfast for me."

Gibbs leaned back from the refrigerator, raised his eyebrows, and responded, "Daddy is getting your breakfast this morning. Abuela is busy. I just told you, Son, that she's down the street."

Propping his face in his arms, the little boy frowned. "When is Abuela coming to me?"

Gibbs shut the refrigerator door, careful to not turn loose of the eggs in his hand. He didn't reply, but quickly set about scrambling some eggs for the meal.

Tony watched him warily, clearly displeased that his abuela wasn't in the residence. Noticing his father grab the salt and pepper containers and shake some of their contents into the eggs, he promised unhappily, "I'm telling Abuela that you put a bunch of salt in my eggs. You're not supposed to do that."

Jethro counted under his breath, trying to not lose his temper with Tony. Truthfully he knew the problem this morning was that Tony wanted Maria, and he sympathized. So smiling widely, he dished some of the eggs onto two plates and set them on the table, then poured Tony a glass of milk and a strong cup of coffee for himself.

Despite the salt addition, Tony ate voraciously, and his father watched in amazement. It truly shocked him that such a tiny body could eat the way Tony did at every meal.

As they ate Jethro reminded Tony of the trip to Campeche and to the airport, and the child's excitement began to mount. He loved planes, and clearly couldn't wait to take a trip with his father. Jethro promised him that after they said good bye to Ducky, they could eat lunch where Tony chose, and spend the rest of the day doing what Tony wanted in the coastal town.

He had been looking forward to the day as much as his little boy had. In Washington his job demands meant that having an entire day to set aside and enjoy as a special day between the two came rarely. Gibbs was determined that in Mexico he could spend the hours really relishing time with his son.

The front door opened and Tony hastily slid out of his booster seat and raced to Maria. Grabbing him, she picked him up and held him above her, and he leaned down and kissed her, laughing. "Why did you leave me, Abuela? Daddy made eggs and he put a whole bunch of salt in them. That is not how you cook them. He didn't give me any salsa either. Lo que esta mal. Where were you? I didn't know where you were and I wanted you with me."

Maria hugged him to her, then set him down, "See, nieto, that I have brought company with me. Emily is here to stay with us for a while."

Tony peeped around her and identified Miguel's little sister, who smiled shyly. "Why is she here, Abuela?"

"Come," she ordered, leading them back into the kitchen.

Tony snuggled against her as she walked. "You are not supposed to leave me all by myself."

Maria leaned down and kissed him again. "Never would I leave my boy by himself. Your daddy was with you."

"I look handsome in my new clothes," he added, and Maria laughed out loud.

"Yes you do, but you are always handsome, my baby."

Jethro made a plate of food and a glass of milk for Emily, and stood propped against the counter.