Advocates
As for the curtains, he could not remember what their original hue had resembled. At one time he had entertained building new coffee and side tables himself, but over the years, had pushed that project behind any and all others.
It had made no difference to him how any room of the house appeared to anyone for many years.
Somehow in the past months, though, Abby and Tony had ingratiated themselves into his home and after work life.
It had begun with staying an occasional night because he did not want them driving through D.C. so late. Then it had progressed to their deciding to spend alternate nights. Once he got used to that arrangement conditions changed again, and now they pretty much ensconced themselves in the House of Gibbs.
Despite how or when the modest home for one transformed into a welcome house for the motley family of three eluded Jethro. Trying to pinpoint the exact month one evening several weeks ago Jethro stopped abruptly, and decided that it really did not matter.
He regarded his audience again.
Abby and Tony both had their mouths formed into pouts.
Sensing a sudden, unexpected change in his demeanor, however, they exchanged hopeful glances with one another.
Beside them, Jackson had adopted the expression he used to convey the fact that he found someone ridiculously stubborn.
Evidently, Jethro acknowledge privately, he was the target.
Grabbing his coffee cup he sighed irritably, "Ok, go ahead, but…"
Abby jumped from her seat and threw her arms around him, interrupting his threat. Determined to maintain some control over the project he loosened her grip and continued, "Go ahead, but if one single problem arises about anything at all you are going to scrap the project."
"Boss, relax, remember that Baby Girl and I already have planned out the transformation," Tony grinned, standing, and then deftly juggling several dishes from the table and transferring them to the sink. "Just leave the living room in our capable hands and reap the rewards when we finish."
"I am proud of you, Son," Jack added, "for staying open minded about this."
Gibbs rolled his eyes, not willing to prolong the conversation further. "Whose turn is it to clean up the kitchen?"
"Mine, Gibbs," Abby answered, shoving a chair under the table.
"Get busy then," he ordered gruffly. Refilling his coffee cup from the exhausted coffee pot he left for the basement.
Before he got down the steps Jack, Tony and Abby congratulated each other over their coup and the fact that he had capitulated with so little fight.
Stacking dishes into the dishwasher rack Abby worried, "Maybe he is sick or something."
"Nothing at all ails the man, Baby Girl. You just want to add drama," admonished Tony.
"I do not want drama! Take that back." Abby argued, turning to regard Tony with a mutinous expression.
Jack pulled rank. "Hush, both of you. If you start squabbling I guarantee you Leroy will go back on his decision about the room."
That stopped them in their tracks, and they regarded each other guiltily. Jack moved between them and placed an arm over each of their shoulders. "Now, do I get to plan and redecorate, also?"
The rest of the week found the two younger agents hurrying home as soon as work at the agency finished.
Jack waited for their arrival every afternoon before he commenced contributing to the cause. He sensed how they needed to reinforce their own security by physically tying themselves to Jethro via that room.
Because of his thoughtfulness, they returned to a parade of home cooked meals and delectable desserts, and under Jack's influence they lingered longer at the table as a family each evening.
Jethro declared talk of the progress and his basement off limits until they finished the room, a ploy to afford him precious peace and quiet to think each night after supper.
Privately, the rest of the family watched him descend the steps with relief, knowing that not worrying about him freed them to devote themselves to the room unrestrained.
Ten days later, exhausted, but jubilant, they announced the christening of the House of Gibbs combination living and family room.
Not willing to ruin their excitement, Jethro allowed Abby to lead him to the room while he kept his eyes closed.
Tony had reassured him that the original plan had been to blindfold him, but that Tony had nixed the idea.
Gibbs thanked him.
When he did open his eyes, though, surrounded by Jack, Tony, and Abby, he actually felt his breathing change as he took in the scene.
They had outdone themselves.
Off white, ecru colored paint covered the walls, making the room cozy and inviting.
His eye traveled to the centerpiece of the area, an overstuffed sofa so large it could easily seat six adults. A soft butter yellow brown leather, several dark red and dark green corduroy throw pillows added to the inviting look of the couch.
The large coffee table and side tables, built from light knotted pine, showed the practical thinking of the decorators. The side tables held tall, sturdy lamps in solid colors of yellow, rose, and forest green.
Two matching wing backed chairs faced opposite the sofa, both with upholstery the color of wheat and trim of braided gold.
Painted a soft emerald green, a wicker rocker and matching ottoman stood slightly in front of the fireplace and caddy corner to the end of the coffee table.
Opposite the rocker, a recliner in a rich caramel brown had as an accent two light yellow throws.
The windows had blinds left open to invite the beauty of the outdoors throughout, but crisp linen drapes, in alternating stripes of soft green, light yellow, and barely red on a cream background, framed the windows.
The decorators had provided knickknacks sparingly, except upon the mantel over the fireplace. There, in a variety and sizes of frames, they had displayed several group shot photos of all of them.
Further, they had surrounded the television entertainment area with built in bookcases, again in that soft, light pine. Movies, games, and books filled several of the beautifully polished shelves.
Jack, Tony, and Abby watched him hopefully.
Gibbs pinched the bridge of his nose.
They had managed to preserve his no fuss approach and practical leaning within attractive, comfortable, inviting pieces of furniture. The room surpassed his expectations.
He cleared his throat, then swallowed, his voice catching when he spoke. "See, I told you zealots that you could outdo yourselves if you put your minds to it."
A man of few words, his audience understood that they had made him proud.
