Tony stepped off the elevator at precisely 6:45 a.m. He made the mistake of being late yesterday. He didn't want to take the chance of that happening again. He had been made the "probie". Gibbs had made him call McGee "Sir". He didn't enjoy that. McGee did too much.
Tony threw his bag behind his desk onto the floor. He sat down and started his computer up. Glancing up, he smiled at the boy sitting at Gibbs' desk. Wait a second. He did a second glance. The boy, Tony guessed to be around 16, smiled at him. He was leaning back in Gibbs' chair looking totally relaxed. "Hello," Tony cautiously said.
"Hi," he said back.
"Can I help you with something?"
The kid shook his head. "Nope. Just waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For you to stop undressing me with your eyes." Tony's face jumped to shock and confusion. The boy chuckled. "I'm just messing with you man. Relax."
Tony didn't relax. He didn't know who this boy was, what he wanted, or why he was sitting at the boss' desk. Maybe he's a spy, Tony thought. "Who are you?" he finally asked.
"I'm definitely not a spy. But I guess all spies say that so maybe I should have just said nothing. I'm a lousy spy." Tony just looked on. "I'm Jon. But everybody calls me-".
"JJ?" Gibbs strolled into the squad room, coffee in hand. Tony had been so distracted that he hadn't even heard the elevator arrive. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a smile. It disappeared when he saw the somber look on JJ's face. Gibbs felt a bad 'bubble' form in his chest. "What happened?"
JJ stood from the chair. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. He handed it to Gibbs. Unfolding it, he saw it was a photocopy of a newspaper article. It was about an auto accident. A drunk driver ran a red light at 45 miles per hour and hit another car going through the intersection. The drunk driver was currently in the ICU, but the driver and passenger of the other car didn't make it. None of their names were released, but Gibbs got the point. "It happened the night before last," JJ said with tears welling up in his eyes, but unwilling to let them fall. He cleared his throat. "Sorry I didn't get here sooner. Had some things to clear up."
Gibbs walked over and hugged JJ. The boy's parents were dear friends of his. More so his father, John Bensen. They were in the Marines together. They met during basic training. He was with him when he met his wife, Tina, on leave. He was a groomsman in their wedding. John even named his son after him, Jon Jethro Bensen. Gibbs became JJ's godfather at his baptism. He was sad to admit that he had lost touch with his friend over the last few years. John and Tina moved to New York when he had left the corps. That was six years ago. Gibbs had last seen Tina and JJ in person four years ago. John came to visit two years ago. There was still the occasional phone calls and emails, but not anymore. His friend was gone and his son was here for…he wasn't sure yet. JJ could have just called. Instead he came all the way here.
Gibbs pulled back. "JJ, if you need anything-".
"Actually," he interrupted, "I do."
"Name it."
"I need a place to crash for a while. Aunt Sherrie is trying to get the paperwork together for guardianship. And she's busy with the…the memorial service." He cleared his throat again. "I had to get out of there, you know?"
"You can stay as long as you need. Have to hang out here for a while though. Can't take you to the house for a few hours."
"Not a problem. Where do you want this stuff 'til then?" He indicated to the bags and suitcase he had stashed behind Gibbs' desk.
Gibbs picked up a duffle bag. "We'll keep it in the lab for now. Sure Abby won't mind."
"She's that hot gothic chic, right?" JJ asked. He grabbed his other bag and suitcase and followed Gibbs through the squad room. He winked at a very silent Tony as they walked to the elevator.
"Watch it," Gibbs warned.
The elevator doors opened to Abby's loud lab. "Android Lust," JJ said. "Awesome."
"You can tell a difference between this noise?"
"You can't?"
Gibbs led JJ into the lab. They didn't see Abby. "Put your stuff in the backroom," Gibbs said.
JJ walked into Abby's office, but stopped when he saw her in the backroom. It was her bare back that caught his attention. He watched, studying the cross tattoo on her back. "Nice," he muttered.
Gibbs cleared his throat and turned down the music. JJ knew he was right behind him. Abby turned around. "Were you two there the whole time?"
JJ looked back to Gibbs. They were the same height so they stood eye to eye. "Don't look to me for help," Gibbs said. He moved past JJ and dropped the duffel bag to the floor.
"Who's your pervert friend, Gibbs?" Abby asked with her hands on her hips.
"I was just admiring the tat," JJ said. Gibbs and Abby continued to look at him. "Honestly!"
Abby turned her head. "Gibbs?"
"I didn't see anything." She raised her eyebrows at him. She jerked her head in JJ's direction.
"I'm JJ," he said. He stepped forward offering his hand.
She took his hand, smiling. "Oh my God," she said, puling him into a hug. "Little Jethro Junior?"
"Dad calls me that when I get into trouble," JJ said. He closed his eyes when he realized what he said. Called, he thought. Dad called me that. Abby pulled back, keeping her hands on his shoulders at arms length. "Look how big you've grown. You were turning twelve when I met you. It was your birthday! Actually, it was the only time I met you."
"I remember," JJ said.
"Me, too," said Gibbs. He had taken Abby with him because John threatened to set him up if he didn't bring a 'date'. Abby was a safe bet. She didn't even need much convincing. Tina was a little off put by Abby's attire at first. She was quickly able to look past it and get to know her. She really liked Abby and had even tried pressuring Gibbs to really asking her out. Gibbs told Tine their relationship wasn't like that and that was the end of the discussion.
"What's with all the bags?" Abby asked, looking around.
"He's going to stay with me or a while."
"Can I keep my stuff here for now? Just until this afternoon?"
Gibbs' cell rang. "Yeah, that's totally fine. You can even hang out down here if you want. Like music?"
"I'm a teenage boy."
"Point taken. What do you listen to?"
"Android Lust is my favorite."
"Mine, too!"
"Gotta go," Gibbs said. "Stay here with Abby. Be back soon."
"No problemo," JJ said.
"And keep your eyes to yourself!" Gibbs shouted as he walked out the door.
A/N: I think I rushed through the first chapter. Don't worry, I'm pretty hopeful they get better.