A/N: Alright folks, I know I've been promising this for a while, so here we go! My sequel to More Than He Dreamed Of. You need to read that first, otherwise this wont make any sense.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS, CBS does, I'm only playing with them! I do however take ownership of my red haired Phoenix! Please remember I'm from Australia, as such you may find some differences in spelling & grammar. I use no beta, I do try minimise errors, but if there are any, they are my own.
Just a few notes, this story starts in early December, so based on the family & team moving mid September, given they moved right after Nix started his season in September, they've been in Naples roughly 2.5 months.
Also as they had just moved, I wouldn't see Kelly being able to work straight away in local courts, as they'd probably all be done in Italian & she'd need time to learn the language, as well as qualify for the local bar authority. She'd more than likely work on matters that get resolved out of court, but if she did go to court, it will be a JAG court, I remember from JAG (the show) that civilians can represent those in the military.
Now, as I had Vance propose a slight change to the way things would work for NCIS EUFO in Naples, I have taken some creative licence with Gibbs's title & some others (which you'll learn in due course). This in no way means I know what the titles should be, only what I've chosen. Also, while I have tried to do some research about what occurs at NSA Naples for both the living & work related areas, I am by no means an expert, so again, it's only my creative interpretation of what I'd like to happen, this is fiction after all.
Some common initials that I'll be using include ones most might know, but I wanted to put them up. NSA Naples (Naval Support Activity, Naples - the base where NCIS EUFO is located & home of the US Navy Sixth Fleet) NCIS EUFO (NCIS European & African Field Office), SFA (Senior Field Agent) SSA (Supervisory Special Agent) TAD (Temporary Assignment Duty) JAG (Office of the Judge Advocate General). If more come up, I will of course explain them.
Also for a reminder, here's the list of the Gibbs Family Rules that have been unearthed thus far, more will certainly be revealed in due course:
F1: Mum or dad have the power to evoke veto over any situation without opposition, if its an emergency situation
F2: We always trust in this family.
F3: If something happens to mum or dad, we stay with them until they are ok & only leave if they say so.
F4: There is no such things as too much information, we talk things through no matter what
F5: If family makes a mess, family has to clean it up
F6: if someone makes a choice that affects someone else, the affected person can make another choice that affects the initial choice maker & no protests can be made
F7: We don't run when we get upset about something we talk about it, no matter how we feel.
F8: No one can blame themselves for anything that happened in the past, because it wasn't our fault
F9: We only say sorry for things within our own control
F10: In this family we always hug
F11: If dad gets himself blown up he's grounded
F12: Seatbelt's on before engine
F13: We don't hit or bunch in this family.
F14: Always keep your phone on you & switched on.
F15: We don't fight over remotes, we take it turns
F17: Always knock before entering any room
F20: Food is to be eaten not played with
F22: No backseat driving allowed
F29: You can only use a piece of wood for woodwork or carvings if it's not serving another purpose already.
F31: If sleeping in the magical bed all parties have to be awake before anyone gets out of bed
F35: You can't drive past a Ben & Jerry's store without stopping to get some
Unspoken: Don't put yourself into a dangerous situation
Unspoken: we speak respectfully & don't use foul language
Now, let's get going shall we?
Tony sat at his desk staring out the window, there was something calming about looking out at the city of Naples, while it was a crazy city watching it from his viewpoint it was calming for him. But really, lately, staying calm wasn't really a challenge, life was good!
He couldn't imagine anything happening to dent that feeling, life was just good & getting better by the day! If only he'd remembered the notion 'life is a rollercoaster' it may have prepared him for what was to come..
Gibbs was running, pushing himself forward harder & faster, he had to get to the target. He knew his muscles were aching, but he didn't slow, instead he peered left & then right, both his kids were on his flanks, running just like he was, with all their might "come on!" he called, as he pushed himself onwards.
Nix was running right on par with his dad, stroke for stroke, Kelly was a mere step behind the pair, using every muscle in her body to propel herself forward faster.
The trio rounded the corner & set off right down in the middle of the street, all three pushed themselves forward.
Gibbs saw the target, he pushed himself forward, he saw his son was right on his left side, he then realised that his girl was on his other side, all three were running right along side each other, pushing each other to go faster.
The trio each gave one last burst of energy & finally collapsed in a heap on the grass, all three tried to catch their breaths.
"Well, well, well... and who won this morning?" Shannon asked looking down at the rest of her family, they were all strewn across their front yard.
"Me" all three replied.
"oh I bet you all think you won" Shannon smirked "I'm afraid though that this time my wonderful girl won"
Kelly grinned as she sat up "sounds about right" she was still breathing pretty deeply.
"She's gotta win sometimes" Nix retorted himself sitting up, trying catch his breath.
Shannon smirked, but her husband had yet to sit up "Jethro? Are you alive?"
Gibbs opened one eye & looked at his gorgeous wife who was standing in front of him "not yet"
"Well, when you are ready, breakfast is waiting" Shannon smirked.
Gibbs nodded "uh huh"
"I'd hate for the omelettes to get cold, like you three will get if you don't come inside" Shannon remarked as she headed back inside.
That caught Gibbs's attention, he sat up taking a few deep breaths, while these morning runs with his kids were great, his muscles tended to ache a lot! & every morning it took a while to get himself together afterwards. While they were both fast & could hold pace for a fair while, he kept extending the length they'd run & that's where he gained the upper hand, long distance was his forte more than sprints, the marines saw to that. It was long distance stamina he was trying to bring to their arsenal of tricks so he always set the pace to less than full on sprinting, until they rounded the last corner that is, that's when all three went as fast as possible to 'win'.
"Are any of you coming?" Shannon called.
"Yes mum" "Yes Shan" came the reply, as they all rose.
"Is it me or was that run a good mile longer than last week?" Kelly asked her brother.
"Not just you" Nix agreed as they headed inside.
Gibbs smiled "you both agreed that I would be the one to set the route & pace"
Kelly & Nix shared a look, they did that because they thought their dad would be the slowest & more to the point would want to run a shorter distance.
"Maybe.."Nix started.
"Nope, that deal doesn't change" Gibbs smirked, knowing his son was about to retract their agreement.
Nix & Kelly both sighed as they sat down.
Shannon couldn't help but smile "Maybe this will finally make you two give more thought to the deals you make" she finished, placing down the omelettes on the table.
Gibbs nodded in agreement, he grabbed the coffee & took a seat.
Shannon looked between her kids & then her husband, while it took him longer initially to regroup, they could get going faster earlier, but then go down again. There was something she drew the line at though "Our heads do not need to be held up with our hands" both of her kids were eating while resting their heads in their hands.
Kelly sat up "maybe next time we could start the run after at least 06:00 & not at 05:00, I didn't exactly get home early last night" she finished.
"I've got an early meeting today & you've got a court session, didn't want us to miss the run" Gibbs replied "Phoenix, mum asked you to raise your head"
"I don't have training this morning, getting up at that hour to do that run was just cruel! And Kells court session got postponed" Nix replied, lifting his head.
Gibbs was surprised "since when?"
"Yesterday" Kelly yawned "I did message everyone on the WhatsApp group".
"She did Jethro, you must have missed that one" Shannon agreed, but she'd rarely seen the pair so tired, her husband was too busy swallowing his coffee "what route did you go?"
Gibbs was sure he read all the messages, he'd have to recheck it, he knew though what his wife was getting at, they both looked exhausted, he wasn't exactly chipper, but that's what coffee was for "the hill" he answered.
Shannon eyed him "that's just mean! might I suggest you all drink those coffees & maybe have another one"
"After breakfast I think I'll go back to bed" Nix yawned.
"and what about your assignments?" Gibbs asked "you were going to work on them before having to go into the club for your session later today"
Nix dropped his head back & let out a sigh.
Shannon smiled "dad's right, by the way, did you hear from the college about how their going to mark your major practical project"
Nix lifted his head at this question "let me check" he reached to grab the laptop.
"Why'd court get postponed Kells?" Gibbs asked, breakfast was the daily meal they had any hope of talking, being one of them was constantly working late, or training, or something.
"Other side petitioned for more time, judge gave them another week" Kelly answered "I tell you JAG judges are so lenient when it comes to extra time"
"This is the custody case, yes?" Shannon asked.
"No, that one got resolved last night, hence my lateness, parents want to work it out themselves. This one is a theft" Kelly answered
"He guilty?" Gibbs asked.
Kelly sighed "he says he's innocent, besides dad, we've been over this.." it was the one thing they didn't agree on, every person required and was entitled to a defence, it was the way the system worked, even if her dad didn't agree.
"Ahh Dad?" Nix asked, interrupting the 'discussion' that was about to start.
Gibbs turned to his son "yea?"
"you know a Colonel Burrows?" Nix asked, looking at his computer.
Gibbs raised an eyebrow "I do, she's in charge of all building & maintenance for NSA Naples & the sixth fleet"
Nix's eyes widened, oh boy!
"Why are you interested in Colonel Burrows?" Shannon asked.
"Well... apparently she's the one that's going to be marking my major project. She's a alma mater of my college & good friends with Dean Johnston"
Gibbs looked at his son in surprise "well then, you better make sure you put the effort in, I doubt she'll accept much less"
Kelly smirked, her brother was so screwed! "I'm going for a shower, can I grab a lift dad?"
"No need Kells, I'm spending the morning with Breena, she needs to go buy a few things & wants some help and advice. Then I've got to do a few things around the place here" Shannon remarked.
"Don't need a car, Tim's due back this morning, he's going to pick me up after work & we're grabbing dinner" Kelly replied, she was glad he was getting back today.
"Dinner?" Gibbs asked, the family had plans.
"Don't worry dad, I'll be home in time for movie night" Kelly smiled "so, can I grab a lift?'
Gibbs swallowed his last piece of breakfast & rose "yup, but I'm leaving in 20"
"I can live with that" Kelly said heading out of the room.
Shannon looked at her son, he certainly looked like he could use more sleep "Nix darling, why don't we start by looking at that essay? Let me see what you've done so far"
Nix smiled, he really liked having his mum there to help him, he moved to the seat next to her & they started to look through it while finishing their breakfast.
A/N: So there you have it, the first chapter, I hope you liked it! Gibbs certainly likes to push his kids!
These first few chapters will all be about showing that the family & team are settled & enjoying life, as well as introducing some new characters, but I promise we will then get into it & while they're settling in there will of course be fun to had & surprises a plenty.
But how's Tony doing in the office? and what unexpected news will he receive?
I always love hearing your thoughts & comments, so reviews are welcomed & appreciated! More up soon!