Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own anything or any character of NCIS!
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CHAPTER ONE
Alone Again … Reflecting
Leroy Jethro Gibbs sat alone at his desk … reflecting. For some reason, he thought about Kate … the thought of her stung his heart. He never realized or thought to realize what affect his team had on him. Had it been a year? Or was it two since her death … God … four?Jen's … months … not quite a year. Time flies when you're having … well … not fun … life … and death. NCIS was about life and death … too much death. He looks over at DiNozzo's desk, then at Ziva's … he smiles when he looks at McGee's … brilliant yet jumpy … gullible … the butt of DiNozz's jokes. His thoughts then drift down to Abby. Another smile appears on his face … his wonderful goth Abby. Ducky … ah … Dr. Mallard … his head drifts back and he relaxes … he could hear one of Ducky's stories in his head … "You know my Dear Jethro … in ancient times …" How could he not smile? He was broken from his reverie by the janitor … someone had to clean … right? What's his name … Joe, no … Jack … no … damn! Ken … yeah Ken … does he have kids … a wife … yes … Ken, two boys and a little girl … got it. Gibbs stands up.
"Good evening Ken … how's the wife?"
Ken is taken aback … Gibbs usually ignores him …he didn't even think he knew his name. Nervously he replies to Special Agent Gibbs inquiry.
"Fine Sir … thank you."
"I'm not a Sir Ken, I work for a living. So, how are the boys and that beautiful daughter of yours?"
Ken shakes his head … is he dreaming? He thinks he's dreaming.
"They're wonderful Si … ah … Special Agent Gibbs … thanks for asking."
Gibbs smiles and walks to the elevator … he pushes the button for Abby's lab. He walks around her lab … looking, touching, prodding, smiling … he grabs his cell phone and calls her.
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, on my caller ID … what do you have for me Gibbs?"
His smile comes through on the phone. Abby can feel it.
"Drinks at Eddie's … can you call McGee … I'll call DiNozzo and Ziva."
Her concern comes through on the phone. He can hear it.
"Gibbs … what's wrong?"
"Nothing Abbs … is it wrong that I want to buy my team a round of drinks for a job well done?"
"Okay … if that's all that it is … you're sure?"
He's grinning now … "I'm sure Abbs … I'll call Ducky too … okay? One hour? Eddie's."
"One hour Gibbs and Gibbs …"
"Yeah Abbs?"
"Get out of my lab."
He can hear her laugh as she disengages the phone. How does she do that?
As he heads back up to his desk … he makes his phone calls … his team … surprised … but on board … one hour at Eddie's.
Back at his desk and back to reflecting, his mind goes back to Kate and Jen. Jen the woman that he loved and Kate the woman that he could have loved. After all this time, he could admit that … too little and way too late … his anger began to grow. His hatred for Ari would never die … not with Ari's death or his own … he would take it to his own grave. He thought of Lt. Colonel Mann … was he truly happy with her … were they happy with each other … would he and Kate have been happy together?
He was sick of reflecting … he was sick of being alone again … he needed that drink … more importantly … he needed to be with his team … his friends … he came to that realization while he was reflecting.
On the way to Eddie's, DiNozzo was doing some reflecting of his own … about Jeanne and the lie that he told.
Was the moon in a reflecting phase? Drinks at Eddie's should be interesting … Ducky had a story or two about loves lost that he wanted to share … seems he had been doing some reflecting of his own before he received the call from Gibbs.
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TBC. Drinks ... too many and the truth comes out. Thanks for reading!