They picked up the takeout and in short order were pulling in front of Gibbs' house. Daniel paused as he looked out at the view of the Capitol building down the street. "Nice view."
Gibbs looked to the distant white building, a symbol of what he worked so hard to protect and serve, "I've lived here over twenty years and I never get tired of it."
There was a note of reverence in Gibbs voice that made Daniel take note, it was as if he had been given a little glimpse into what made up the man standing next to him. His country, and his sense of duty to it were a part of who he was, so integral that they could never be separated out. Protect and serve wasn't just what he did, it was who he was.
Daniel took in the neat little house and its white picket fence and found himself very curious about what he was going to find inside.
Gibbs unlocked and opened the front door, flipping on the hall light, "After you." he said gesturing.
Daniel went inside and Gibbs closed and locked the door behind them. Daniel had no way of knowing the significance of that particular gesture. Gibbs never locked the door when he was home. But then again, he didn't often have house guests that were targeted by psychotic killers either.
They stepped into the living room and Daniel looked around, expecting to see twenty years worth of memories on display in the house. He was wrong. The house was decorated in soft neutral colors, and sparsely adorned. Aside from the neutral colors it was completely opposite Daniel's home which was chock full of books, artifacts, and souvenirs from his travels. A lone, skinny bookshelf in the corner was meticulously arranged with books and a few photos in frames. Daniel was curious but held it in check.
They dropped Daniel's bags in the living room and Gibbs gestured for Daniel to make himself comfortable. He sank into the couch with a sigh, he really did feel beat up, inside and out.
Gibbs grabbed a couple of beers out of the fridge and the two men cracked open the chopsticks and ate out the cartons as they sat on opposite ends of the couch.
As they ate without conversation Gibbs observed the other man and could see that although Daniel was sitting next to him, his mind was a million miles away.
Daniel finally felt Gibbs' eyes on him and suddenly the quiet was too much and he babbled, "Sorry I'm such lousy company."
Gibbs expression softened and he said, "I wouldn't say that, you've had a terrible shock today on top of what you said was a rough week. I'd be more surprised if you were talking a mile a minute."
Daniel had put his empty food carton on the table and scrubbed his face with his hands, he didn't know how to take Gibbs. He just couldn't get a bead on him. But there was a part of him that wanted Gibbs to wrap his arms around him and tell him that everything was going to be okay. He tamped that thought down quickly though, not really wanting to examine it too much right now, he had enough on his plate without it.
Before Daniel could formulate an intelligent reply, Gibbs' phone rang and he stepped into the other room to take the call. His natural curiosity getting the better of him, Daniel stood and went over to the bookshelf. The books ranged from boating and military history to woodworking and spy novels.
He wondered if Gibbs was a woodworker, he could smell the strong scent of wood shavings in the house and would be willing to bet that he had a workshop somewhere close by.
He spied a photo of an obviously much younger Gibbs with an older man that judging by the strong resemblance must be his father or uncle. The two were on a sailboat, tan and relaxed and smiling for whoever was taking the picture.
There were other pictures, more recent, a couple had members of his team at what looked like after work activities, a softball game, a holiday party, again they all showed a happy, relaxed Gibbs.
There was a picture that wasn't displayed. Its easel back was folded down and the frame tucked on top of the books. Without hesitating Daniel pulled it down, wondering what it would be. It was Gibbs in a suit standing next to a beautiful red-head in a flowered dress. The two of them beaming down at little girl in a yellow dress holding an Easter basket of eggs. The little girl had the woman's looks but Gibbs' smile. He noticed the wedding rings in the picture and realized that they must be Gibbs wife and daughter. Gibbs wasn't currently wearing a ring, and Daniel wondered if they were divorced.
He felt rather than heard Gibbs behind him and chided himself on not paying more attention, it was a good way to get himself killed.
Gibbs stepped beside him almost shoulder to shoulder and looked at the picture in Daniel's hand. Gibbs' little sigh looking at the photo made Daniel panic that he had gone too far, that he had invaded Gibbs privacy.
Before he could stammer out some sort of apology Gibbs said quietly, his voice full of emotion, "That was my wife, Shannon, and our daughter, Kelly. She was six there."
There was a pain in Gibbs voice that Daniel knew personally, knew intimately. There hadn't been a divorce, something had taken them away from Gibbs permanently, without warning, without mercy.
Daniel ran a gentle finger over the picture, and held in a wince his sore ribs caused as he raised the hand to place it on Gibbs shoulder to try and convey with a squeeze that he understood, "They were beautiful, Gibbs."
Gibbs cocked his head towards Daniel, expecting to see pity in his eyes, but instead saw understanding and an old pain that matched Gibbs' own. He wondered who it was that Daniel had lost.
"Yeah, they were. But that was a long time ago." He took the photo from Daniel's hand and tucked it back on the shelf out of sight. "C'mon I'll show the guest room."
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A hot shower and one of Janet's good painkillers eased some of the tension in Daniel's body and he fell into an exhausted sleep. He couldn't explain it exactly but he felt safe here in Gibbs' house, safe and protected. It was the same feeling he had when he stayed at Jack's house.
About two in the morning the nightmare started. Visions of Apophis and Sha're and staff blasts blended with images of Martin body coming to life pleading for help. Stuck on replay the images just kept coming, getting more and more vivid. He wanted to claw at them, to get away, but they wouldn't let him and he was suffocating under the weight of them. Then he heard his name. His name being said in a calm, deep voice. He focused on that and soon the visions were fading and his eyes were opening to see Gibbs standing near the bed, his eyes full of concern.
"Daniel?"
Daniel took a deep breath, trying to calm his breathing, "Nightmare."
Gibbs sat on the edge of the bed gently, "Obviously. You all right?"
Daniel sat up, cringing the whole way, "I don't know yet. It was a good one."
The sheet had slipped off of Daniel as he sat up and Gibbs could see for the first time what was making Daniel move like an old man. His entire torso was covered in deep purple bruises. And there were some odd burn-like marks along one side. He had been worked over, and worked over by experts from the look of it. Gibbs hand was moving towards Daniel's chest of its own volition and he feathered a touch over the deepest bruises. "Who did this to you? Should you be out of the hospital?"
Daniel saw a mix of emotions on Gibbs face, most notably concern for him and anger at whoever had hurt him. "I can't tell you that. But I'm okay, I've had worse."
The raised eyebrow told Daniel that Gibbs didn't really believe him but knew not to press. He knew all about doing things for his country that he couldn't talk about. "Shouldn't those ribs be wrapped?"
Daniel grinned a little sheepishly, "Yeah, I just couldn't manage it after my shower."
Gibbs sighed, it was like dealing with DiNozzo, they had no concept of how to take care of themselves.
In short order they had Daniel's ribs wrapped and Gibbs found himself wanting to ask Daniel something, a question about something Daniel had cried out during his nightmare. Again sitting on the edge of the bed while Daniel tried to find a comfortable sitting position he asked quietly, "Daniel, who is Sha're?" Daniel had said the name several times as he fought the nightmare.
Daniel took a deep breath, "She was my wife. She was killed several years ago."
"I'm sorry." Gibbs added quietly, it explained the heartbreaking "Don't go, I love you." Daniel had cried out in his sleep. He had loved her very much it would seem.
"It was a long time ago." Daniel said, mimicking Gibbs' own words. But the stress of the day and the vividness of the nightmare had brought all his carefully hidden emotions to the surface and he tried to hold back the tears that filled his eyes. He looked at Gibbs and saw his his own eyes looking back at him and he just couldn't hold it in any longer. The moment the first sob hit him he found himself in a strong embrace gently rocking him and taking all his pain.
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tbc...