It was quiet as he awoke. But then again, it always was.
Gibbs sat up on the couch, the blanket falling to the floor as his feet touched the cold wood. He pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing deeply. A few quick blinks and he was fully awake.
He stood, folding up the blanket and setting it down over one arm of the couch, where it would rest until his next sleep. He adjusted the old Marine sweater that had twisted on his torso slightly as he slept, before pulling on some socks and a pair of comfortable shoes. He made a sandwich in the kitchen, ate with the speed that only the Corps could instill, and headed down into the basement.
A small smile split his features as he inhaled the familiar and soothing scent of sawdust, pine, and just a hint of lacquer. The scent of bourbon was only present on the particularly challenging cases. Gently picking up his tools, he moved over to the block of wood that already had the general shape carved and chiseled. The rocking horse's curved rails were complete, and the legs were mostly done. Taking a small woodworking knife, he slowly and gently pressed it into the wood, flicking off the shavings when they became too large.
By noon the legs and body of the horse were done. He was working on the neck when his cell phone rang. Sighing, he set down his tools, before clearing his throat. "Gibbs."
"Hello Jethro. This is Leyla. I was just calling to make sure you still wanted to watch Amira tomorrow."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," he said. He exchanged a few more words with Leyla before she hung up. Tossing his phone onto his worktable, he set back to work, carving and lacquering and adding different touches here and there. When it was finally finished later that night, he stood back and observed his work.
The little handles coming out of the horse's neck were simple cylinders, though he had carved a spiral from tip to juncture. The mane had been chiseled in great detail from the wood itself, as had the tail and saddle. The lacquer had changed the color of the hardwood to a nice cherry-wood shade. It was large enough to accommodate a few years' growth on the part of the child. Dusting off his clothes, he picked it up with one hand, bringing it to the living room. He set it down, made another sandwich, ate, and then went to sleep.
"I've got a little surprise for you, Amira," he said as he knelt down and gave her a big hug. "Go look in the living room." The little girl ran off, squealing in delight, and Leyla gave him a knowing smile.
"She loves to see you," Leyla said as she stepped through the doorway. "She loves to be spoiled."
"I love spoiling her," he said, shrugging and giving her a friendly peck on the cheek. Leyla smiled as she hear Amira shriek in joy and walked into the room, her eyes widening as she saw her daughter on the rocking horse.
"It is beautiful," she said, kneeling next to her daughter as they young girl rocked. Gibbs just smiled, watching them laugh.
Maybe it wasn't always quiet.
Review, and tell me how I did.
-Zeratide, out.