This is a science fiction AU crossover of NCIS and Magnificent Seven. This story will be mainly written from the point of view of NCIS, though. I do not own NCIS, Magnificent Seven or Dr. Who or any products associated with any show. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning: May eventually contain disciplinary actions to young adults by parental figures in this story. After all, kids will be kids.
A Holiday Adventure!
Chapter 2
Getting There With Sanity?
Gibbs, with Jenny following, pulled out of his driveway thirty minutes after the team got the vehicles loaded. He had made sure everyone was prepared to leave, restroom visits included. He had tanked up the vehicles with gasoline ahead of time and he was currently tanking up on that concoction he drank called coffee. The first couple of hours of the drive were uneventful because most passengers were napping. Gibbs had to chuckle at the memory of the "kids", although excited about the trip, calling the morning departure "an uncivilized hour to get up to go on a trip."
Gibbs was truly enjoying the quietness of the drive and thoughts of spending time with the family he had come to love. He knew they had a thirty-six hour drive ahead and with rest breaks and hotel stops it would be at least four days before they made it to their destination. He often checked his rear view mirror for Jenny and was satisfied to see her keeping up with his speed and lane changes. Later, Gibbs and Ducky began enjoying the exchange of stories from their youth. Gibbs was very patient with Ducky's long - winded stories because he was not currently in the middle of a case that needed immediate answers to major questions.
Then, about one hour later, the insanity started.
"Tony! For the tenth time, quit with the popcorn! Why can't you eat like normal people eat? You are getting popcorn everywhere. The salt is getting all over my laptop!" Tim's patience was wearing thin as he watched Tony throw the popcorn in the air while trying to catch the popcorn in his mouth.
"It isn't my fault that you can't appreciate the fine art of popcorn eating, McNeat!" Tony was starting to feel antsy, just sitting around. The athlete in him needed to get out and move.
"Guys! Guys! Please quit arguing. I am trying to read and I can't concentrate on the text." The usually happy, easy - going Jimmy Palmer was getting irritated.
"A-w-w-w, is our little autopsy gremlin getting a little angry because he can't read his little medical books?" Tony asked in a childlike voice.
Tim piped up by saying, "Leave him alone Tony. You could use a little down time of reading and stretching that mind of yours instead of rotting it away in front of a TV or movie screen."
The grandfather in Ducky wanted to warn the youngsters in the back seat. He could see the red tint rise up Gibbs' neck. The tint eventually made its way to Gibbs' temples. Alas, he was too late. The next voice he heard was …
"Enough! Children, do not make me pull this car over! You will not like it if I do." Gibbs had had enough of the bickering.
Ducky noticed most of this was said through gritted teeth and shook his head. "When will they learn?" He thought as he inwardly cringed.
The three young men sitting on the back seat froze on the spot.
Then, Tony thinking he was being sensible said, "That was very funny Gibbs! You sound like all those dads on road trip movies. You know. The ones that make those empty threats." Tony was being hopeful, but they all knew better.
"Tony, since when have you known me to make empty threats?" Gibbs said while glaring in the rear view mirror.
"Uh, never Boss, but you can't be serious about pulling over. We are adults."
"Do you want to try me, Tony?" Gibbs said with confidence. "I can accommodate you."
In the meantime, Tim and Jimmy were elbowing Tony with hopes that he would just be quiet.
"Oh, no Boss, I'm good."
"I didn't think so," Gibbs said. "Act like the adult you claim to be."
"Jethro, if I may interject? We have been driving for quite some time and this old back of mine is in need of a stretch. Also, I do believe the "children" are getting restless. They may be in need of a time of freedom to release some of this nervous energy." Ducky wisely ran interference.
"Oh, Duck, I know what they are in need of and it isn't freedom. I guess you are right, though. We are due for a pit stop. Please call Jenny and let her know we will be pulling over at the next exit."
Ducky proceeded to give Jenny a call. "Ah, Jennifer, what is all the noise I hear? Oh, I see. Alright. Jethro wanted you to know that we will be pulling over at the next exit. Alright. See you there."
"What was that all about Duck?"
"Well, it seems as though our Jennifer is having much the same issues with her miscreants as you have had with yours." Ducky said with a chuckle.
"I guess you were right about the stop, Duck. I will be talking to Jen about what happened in her vehicle."
"I have no doubt about that." Ducky said knowingly.
The next exit happened to be a rest area with an information center and a long walking trail through a wooded area.
The group pulled in to the rest area. As they all anxiously departed both vehicles, Gibbs watched Jen as she approached him. He could see she was a bit flustered.
"Alright Jen, what did the girls do?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle, Jethro. All I am saying is, it was time to stop before I pulled the vehicle over and strangled someone."
"What did they do?" Gibbs said feeling his temper rising.
Jen took a deep breath and said, "Well, they slept for some time, and then it happened. They woke up. Abby had earbuds and was listening to her music. Ziva asked her to turn it down because she could hear the music through the earbuds. Abby told her "no" and turned the music up louder. So, Ziva turned the music off. This started a big argument. That was the noise Ducky heard when he called. I then used the old "don't make me pull this car over" routine that I had heard as a child."
Gibbs nodded, remembering the same threat he used and said, "So, how did you handle it?"
"They did not know we were pulling over at this exit. When I pulled off to exit, they froze."
"Good one, Jen." Gibbs said with a chuckle.
Jenny waited for Gibbs to continue to speak. She knew he had a plan. The many years of working together told her this just by looking into his eyes. She did not have to wait long.
"This is the plan," Gibbs said. "We are going to use the facilities, grab any travel brochures we may need, get some of what they call coffee around here and then I will rally this "family" for a meeting." Gibbs couldn't help but smirk.
"Jethro, I know there is more to it than that."
"Jen, you know me so well. Then, we will be taking a pleasant, little "walk" through that wooded area to give our "kids", as Ducky said, a time of freedom. Depending on the outcome of this little walk, some may be taking an unpleasant side trip with me."
"Jethro, you cannot be serious about an unpleasant side trip. Although they act like children, they are adults!"
"My father and probably yours had a saying about that Jen," Gibbs said with a smile. "Act like a child, get treated like a child."
"If you say so, Jethro, if you say so."
