I sadly do not own NCIS... :'( This is a revised version of chapter one, but I have just changed a few things, so enjoy!
Kate hurried into her English class, just as the bell rang. She smiled at Abby, Tony, and Tim and slid into her seat, trying not to be noticed by the teacher. Mrs. Gibbs turned around and scanned the class. She knew that Kate had come in late, but didn't bother marking it.
"Ok class, today we are going to present our speeches to the class."
A general groan passed over the class, something that she had been expecting.
"Are there any volunteers?" She asked. The class was glancing at one another, trying to figure out who would go, so that they wouldn't be doomed to. Tony snorted from the back of the room and Mrs. Gibbs was tempted to make him go first.
Kate reluctantly opened her mouth, "I will."
You could almost hear the sigh of reliefs go across the room.
"Thank you Kate." Mrs. Gibbs told her, "You can start whenever you want."
She walked to the front of the room and raised her eyebrows at Abby with a grimace. That was a sign that despite her volunteering, she was just as nervous as the rest of them.
She took in a deep breath and started, "The history of the FBI started in…"
The speech went on without a hitch, and at the end the class clapped, but still hoping they wouldn't be next. When she sat down Abby gave her thumbs up, the sign of a job well done. The reluctant volunteer number two went up and did their speech. During the middle the class phone rang, but no one made any attempt to go get it. The speech ended and almost immediately the phone rang again.
"I'm sorry the phone interrupted you." Mrs. Gibbs said to the speaker as she walked over to go pick it up, "Mrs. Gibbs," She answered.
"Please send Kate Todd to the counselor's office."
She could hear the graveness in the voice on the other end.
"Okay." She answered and hung up the phone.
She walked over to Kate's desk and quietly told her she was wanted in the counselor's office. Being a teacher for a few years she knew this was not something a student wants broadcasted in front of the whole class. A confused look crossed Kate's face. Why do they want me down there, she thought. She got up from her seat and headed down to the office.
On the walk she tried to envision why in the world she would be getting called down. She couldn't recall doing anything wrong. I mean if Tony was getting called down, that would be totally understandable, but her? But all too soon she arrived at the office. One of the counselors's met her at the door and walked her into his office.
"Hello Kate. I'm Mr. Jared your counselor, if you don't remember."
"Okay…?"
"I have something to tell you." Kate could tell from his voice that something was wrong.
"What?" She asked hesitantly.
"We got a call today…"
Crap, this can't be good, she thought.
"There was a car accident."
Oh no.
"Who?" Kate practically demanded.
"Your mother and your father."
"Oh God." She breathed out, barely audible, "Are they ok?"
"Well the doctors aren't sure yet, but as of now they are both in comas."
Comas… Kate's mind went blank.
"Do you have any family you could stay with?" he asked.
"Family...? No." She shook her head.
"Grandparents? Aunts or uncles?"
"Dead, mom was an only child; dad's are missionaries and live in like Africa."
Mr. Jared nodded his head, but inside was trying to think about where she would go. Where would a 9th grader go while both of her parents are in comas and she has no other family?
"Can I see them?" She asked hesitantly her eyes starting to tear up.
"Of course, I'm going to call the social worker first."
Social worker means foster home… Kate started to worry, "Can I have a few minutes alone please?" She asked.
"Of course," Mr. Jared answered calmly, "You can use my office, I'll be right outside." He stepped out of the room leaving Kate alone with her feelings. She could feel tears overriding her eyes. She couldn't stand being stuck in this tiny room with a social worker on the way. She got up and quietly opened the door from the office. She saw Mr. Jared facing the other way, and she quickly left the office closing the door silently behind her. Now what, she thought. She had to get somewhere, to think… and well she didn't want to be crying in the middle of a hallway. She immediately thought to a little nook in the back of the school.
She got there a few minutes later and sat down. No one came back here so she would be safe. Her parents are both in comas. The information seemed to not hit her until now. Her parents were not awake, they were injured, and they could die! Now that she was alone she let the tears escape. She rocked back and forth with her knees pulled up to her chest, trying her best to be quiet. Where am I going to live, she thought. She continued to cry when she heard the bell ring. Then she realized she left her backpack in English. I'll get it in a few minutes when they are all at lunch, she told herself. A few minutes later she took a deep breath and walked into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and saw her eyes were red and puffy and she had tear streaks going down her cheeks. She wiped off her face and did her best to cover it with her bangs. She left the bathroom and went quickly to her English room to grab her bag.
The social worker, a plump round woman, with too much jewelry and clothes a few decades old walked into the office and went up to Mr. Jared, "Hello I'm Martha the social worker."
"Yes, as you know I'm Mr. Jared, Kate's counselor."
"Have you told her the news yet?"
"Yes. And she has informed me she doesn't have any family to stay with."
"Oh dear." Martha responded.
"Well, she is in here." Mr. Jared pointed to his door.
Martha opened the door and looked in, "Well apparently not," She told him matter of factly.
"But she was just here!" He protested.
"Oh don't worry I see this all the time. She is most likely close by in the school."
Mr. Jared nodded unsure.
"We shall just go look for her." Martha responded logically.
Kate put her bag over her shoulder and headed out of the room, despite all of her fight she had tears streaming down her face. Her head was down and she looked at her feet as she walked.
"Kate?" A voice interrupted her silent mourning.
She froze and slowly shifted her head up, trying to keep her bangs in front of her face.
"Mrs. Gibbs." Kate muttered.
Mrs. Gibbs tried to see her face and could tell by how she was acting now and the phone call from earlier that something very terrible was wrong.
"Kate," She said resting her arm on her shoulder, "will you come to my desk?"
Kate didn't respond, but followed her guiding arm. Mrs. Gibbs sat her down next to her and Kate lifted her head finally. Her eyes were red and puffy and tears were streaming down her face. In all of her years of teaching she had never seen this before, "Kate, what's happened?"
Kate took a few hyperventilated breaths before she responded, "It's… It's my parents…"
"What's the matter?" Mrs. Gibbs asked trying to mask her worry.
"They were in a car accident…" She started crying again and Mrs. Gibbs put her arm around her shoulder again and just waited. The only sound in the hall was Kate's sniffling and crying. She eventually was able to stop long enough to finish telling Mrs. Gibbs what had happened, "They… they're both in comas!"
Oh dear God, Mrs. Gibbs thought to herself. She brought Kate into a hug and held her as she continued to cry.
Suddenly to forms came down the hallway and approached them. It was Mr. Jared and Martha. Mrs. Gibbs looked up and realized they were here for Kate.
"Kate," Mrs. Gibbs said softly, "I'll be right back."
She walked over to the two people, "Is she going to live with family until they are better?"
"She doesn't have any family to live with." Mr. Jared responded.
"Then what?" Mrs. Gibbs questioned.
"Well she is going to stay in the foster home."Martha answered.
Mrs. Gibbs thought back to all the things she had heard about foster homes. "No, she is not."
"What?" Mr. Jared looked confused.
"She is not going to a foster home."
"There is nowhere else for her to go." Martha added.
"Then she is staying with me until her parents get better." Mrs. Gibbs said with a soft conviction.
"You know they might not ever get better." Mr. Jared responded.
"She is going to stay with me, and that is final."
Thanks all for reading! Be sure to review!
