Disclaimer- Sadly, I don't own NCIS

Chapter 1

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

1st Special Forces Operational Detachment- Delta HQ

February 8, 2007

Thirty-one year-old Terrance "Terry" Gibbs signed the last of a dozen forms and then turned to his commanding officer. Former commander, Terry corrected himself. The two men shook hands and Terry grabbed his duffel bag and walked to his 1972 Ford F-150 pick up. He was dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and a light colored Hawaiian shirt. He drove through the gate and left the place that had been his home for the last six years. He hoped his mother's job offer was still on the table and that this job would be half as rewarding his years with DELTA had been. With these thoughts he turned north and headed to D.C.

He'd been with Delta two years when 9/11 happened. Needless to say, that hadn't helped his mother's trepidation over his career choice. He remembered the day he graduated high school and told his parents he was enlisting. His father, a former Marine, had been pleased with his decision. But his mother, she was different. He'd never seen her so afraid and angry at the same time. The next day, he left for basic without saying goodbye and only called when he reached Fort Benning, where he would receive his basic training. Jen answered and bawled like a little girl. He apologized for leaving the way he did and she apologized for her reaction to his news. She told him to be careful and he said he would. Two months later, She and Gibbs and attended his graduation ceremony. One year later, Terry made sergeant and joined Special Forces. Three years after that, both Jethro and Jen received highly classified messages requesting their presence at an award ceremony at Fort Bragg. It was only after their arrival that they learned this was an induction ceremony for the men who were entering delta force after completing selection successfully and that their son was one of the men.

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Eight hours later, Terry arrived at his parent's home. He shut off the engine, got out of the truck and stretched. Wondering for the millionth time if he'd made the right decision, he walked to the house. He found the front door unlocked and that was odd. He went back to his truck and opened his glove box. Inside were a Wilson Combat Elite Professional .45 and Glock 30 .45 pistols. He grabbed the Wilson, went back to the front door and entered the house with the gun at the ready, and flipped on the light.

Suddenly, his parent's and their colleagues jumped from various hiding places and a banner reading, "Welcome Home, Terry," fell front the ceiling. "SURPRISE!!"

Terry grinned and lowered the gun. "Alright, how'd you know?"

Gibbs stepped forward and shook his son's hand. "Well, I worked with the CID commander at Fort Bragg." Gibbs said.

"I knew I shouldn't have told him."

Jen came over and hugged her son. "So, how long do we have you for?"

"Well, is the job at NCIS still on the table?"

Jen thought for a moment, then it dawned on her what her son was saying and she whooped and hugged her son.

"Ok, what just happened?" Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo asked.

"Well, I believe Terrance just gave the Director some very good news." Donald "Ducky" Mallard said.

"Probably wants to work with us. I heard she offered him a job last time he visited." McGee said.

"Oh, goody." Abby said.

"What did he do before?" Ziva asked.

"He was in the Army." Ducky said.

"Doing what?" Ziva asked.

"He was in Special Forces."

With Terry's past settled, the party continued late into the night.

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The following morning, Terry woke at 0600. He did a quick round of sit-ups and push-ups, then went for a mile run. When he got back to the house, his mother was in the kitchen, making breakfast.

"Morning." He said.

"Morning, how do you like your eggs?" Jen asked.

"Scrambled." Terry said, heading upstairs to shower and dress.

Fifteen minutes later, Terry came back downstairs dressed in a plaid shirt, jeans and hiking boots. His Wilson Combat .45 was inside his waist band and the Glock was hidden in his left boot. His father was already at the table. "So, you ready for this?" Gibbs asked his son.

"You mean am I ready to think before I return fire?" Terry asked.

"Something like that." Gibbs said.

Terry looked away and paused before answering. "Yeah, I am, actually."

"Want me to give you a lift?" Gibbs asked.

"Sure." Terry said, running upstairs to grab his jacket.

Jen seized the moment alone. "Fine out what's eating him, Jethro. Please."

"I will, Jenny." Gibbs promised, kissing his wife before leaving. Terry came down a minute later and followed his father to the car.

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Washington, D. C.

Navy Yard/ NCIS HQ

February 9, 2007

"So, how's the truck?" Gibbs asked as father and son drove to NCIS.

"It's good. Still the same, except for the XM radio."

Terry's truck had been a present from his father for his fifteenth birthday. Both men had restored the vehicle all through Terry's high school years. The car had saved Terry in more ways than one. In 1991, his sister eight-year-old Kelley was kidnapped, raped and murder. At the time, his father was still in the service, recovering from wounds receive in the first Iraq war. Both men wanted revenge, but for Jen's sake they put their rage on the back burner and moved on with their lives. When Terry started high school, he was still having trouble dealing with it, so the car gave him a way to vent his frustration.

They arrived at NCIS and Terry got his I.D. and parking pass at the desk. Later, when his mother arrived he would be officially sworn in as an agent. But his first case would change the lives of everyone he was close to at NCIS.

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Terry followed Gibbs through security where he received his I.D. and badge. The badge bore his full name, which he wasn't happy about, and was bemoaning that fact when the two men walked into the bullpen. "Jethro works for a geazer, but could you have just put Terence J. Gibbs."

"I did."

"What'd you mean, you did?"

Gibbs pulled two I.D. cards identical to the one Terry was carrying and the one on his badge. The new cards had only his middle initial rather than full name. Terry sighed with relief and grinned at the joke. "Thanks, boss."

"You're welcome, probie." Tony said from his desk.

Terry pointed at the senior agent. "I work for him?"

"Yeah, McGee's thrilled."

Terry cursed in Russian. "What'd he say, Ziva?" McGee asked.

"I can't tell you." The woman said, smiling.

"Cases, Boss?" Tony asked, changing the subject.

"Two female yeomen found dead in the homes. Ziva, take Terry, McGee and Abby with you. Dinozzo, get Ducky and meet me at the car."

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