The date
By kgw
This story came to mind late one night while watching NCIS reruns. All the great stories I've read on this website has inspired me.
Special thanks to Crying Cowgirl for her assistance. This is my first attempt at writing for NCIS. Please be kind.
He sat at his desk in the darkened room, staring at the flask and the inscription on it. This day came every year. Usually he could occupy himself with work, completely submerge himself so that he had no time to ponder about what he had lost and what would never be. Or drown himself in the bottle of bourbon he kept supplied in his basement with his boat.
This year was the exception. The case that the team was on was finally solved, the perpetrator arrested and awaiting trial. After rewarding his team with a gruff "Good job" he gave them the weekend off after they had written their reports. One by one, they completed their reports and turned them in to him, wishing him a good weekend as they headed toward the elevator, leaving him alone at his desk.
Soft footsteps made him look up.
"Ducky? What are you still doing here?" he asked, squinting at the silhouette in front of him.
"The question my dear boy, is what are you still doing here?"
"I'm finishing up filing the reports on the case we just finished."
"Jethro, your team finished their reports and has been gone for a couple of hours now. They are usually concise and complete in their reports. Surely you are not still working on those, are you?"
Jethro was silent for a few moments. "I miss them so much, Ducky. Especially today." He spoke so quietly that Ducky had to strain to hear what he said.
Ducky thought for a moment, then realized what the date was. "You miss Shannon and Kelly, don't you?"
Jethro looked up at his oldest and closest friend and nodded, eyes shining with unshed tears. "Today would be our wedding anniversary. Shannon and Kelly would always plan a special event for all of us to spend on this day. Just the three of us. Seeing Maddie a while back reminded me of what Kelly might have become, if she only had the chance. If only I had been around to protect them, they might be here with me right now."
Ducky stepped closer and placed his hand on Jethro's shoulder. "Jethro, look at me. You can't keep blaming yourself. You must know that Shannon and Kelly loved you as much as you loved them. They had a great life with you and understood that you had a duty to your country and had to leave. They wouldn't want to see you like this, sitting alone by yourself and feeling blue. It was horrible what happened but you know," Ducky said as he placed his hand over Jethro's heart. "They will always be with you. Remember the love and the good times that you had."
"I know, Duck," Jethro said, sighing. "It's just hard."
"In the meanwhile, you have been given a second chance. You have a family here. We all care about you and want you to know that we are here for you. Lean on us and together we'll get through this day."
"We?" Jethro questioned, looking up at Ducky.
"Yes, us," a voice behind Ducky exclaimed. Abby came up to Gibbs' desk and stood next to Ducky. Close behind her was Tony, Ziva and Tim.
"What are you all doing here? I thought I gave you the next couple of days off?" Gibbs asked them.
"We know what day this is, Gibbs," Ziva said.
"We're here for you, boss," Tony added, as Tim and Ziva nodded.
"Let us in, Gibbs. We're family, now and forever," Abby declared, her pigtails bobbing as she nodded.
Gibbs looked at the group around him. Smiling, he realized that he did have a second chance at a family. He would always miss Shannon and Kelly but Ducky was right, they would always with him. He would always remember the good times that he had with Shannon and Kelly, but it was time to make some new ones with his "family".