Trouble in Paradise
She and Jethro waited until they had concluded the evening meal and were eating dessert before they got down to business.
"We have something we want to discuss as a family," Jethro spoke.
Tony's head jerked up and he looked suspiciously from one to the other. "What, Dad, Abuela, I didn't do anything bad. I'm not in trouble, am I?"
Maria laughed and answered, "No, no Antonio, you have been good today. We want to talk to you about starting high school next year, and about how much you have grown up now."
Tony relaxed and beamed in response, sure that something in the form of a reward was heading his way.
Jethro initiated the real conversation. "You know that it has always been the plan that your abuela would settle in the Campeche house for good one day." Tony nodded and resumed eating. "You are finishing up eighth grade now, and will be a freshman in just a couple of months." Tony put his fork down and regarded his father with sudden wariness. Jethro cringed, but continued determinedly. "So, Maria and I think she can now retire and go to Mexico."
Tony started shaking his head back and forth vehemently. "No, no, Dad, no Abuela- I don't want you to leave me. It's not time yet for you to go to Campeche." He turned pleading eyes to Maria.
She leaned over and took Tony's chin in her hand. "Look at me, my Bambino. I am not leaving you completely. We will be together on holidays and your school breaks, like always."
"No, no- absolutely not!" Tony pushed his chair back and stood up, and he was visibly upset. "Abuela, I want to be excused now. I am not going to talk about you leaving me any more! I am not listening to this." Without waiting for permission, he turned and jogged upstairs.
Jethro and Maria both exhaled and looked at each other in defeat. "I guess we didn't handle that too well," Gibbs remarked, at a loss as to how to proceed. "I'll go talk to him."
Maria put a hand on his arm to stop him. "No, let him go now and be alone. This will give him a chance to think about what we are saying. It was a shock to him just now."
Jethro nodded.
A couple of hours later he made his way upstairs to check that Tony had actually gone to bed. Other than answering with an "Ok, Dad," when Jethro called up the stairs that it was bedtime, he had been unusually quiet. Gibbs peeped into the darkened room, then opened the door a little further to let the hall light illuminate the area. Tony was sprawled across the bed sideways, and had knocked most of the bedding off in his sleep. His father shook his head and smiled- Tony's sleeping habits hadn't changed since babyhood. Moving quietly, he pulled the sleeping child to the top of the bed and repositioned the covers. Tony never even opened his eyes. Leaning down, Jethro kissed him softly on the forehead, then made his way to his own room.
The next day, Friday, didn't give either the chance to broach the sensitive
subject again. Tony was headed to the Mallards after school, to spend Friday night and Saturday, and Jethro assured Maria he could fend for himself at dinner, so she didn't have to worry about supper and could go home. She left early, and Gibbs returned to a dark, empty house. Looking around, he tried to imagine Tony's perspective of returning each day from school without Abuela there and grimaced in agreement. She was a tremendous, integral part of their family.