Disputable
Fingernails tapping the doorframe accompanied by a dramatic sigh startled the two, and Tim jumped up defensively. "Abby! You need to quit slipping up on us."
Narrowing her eyes she sputtered a response, "No one sneaked up on you 'cause no one cares enough about your stupid conversation to eavesdrop."
"Nevertheless, you are hanging around our doorway," Tony pointed out snidely, pointing towards the doorframe.
That really annoyed her. "Again, who cares? Not I."
"Then get out and quit eavesdropping-" ordered Tim.
"Now," Tony interrupted, "as in right this minute now. We want to talk privately."
"Just what makes you think you can tell me what to do?" she demanded.
Without responding directly, Tony stood up, crossed the room, and shut the door in her face.
Then he and Tim resumed their conversation while her outraged threats and stomping down the stairs sounded in the background.
Tony paced the room. "Look, I want us to come out with a foolproof plan in the next few minutes. Dad will get home soon, and we need to set the scene. Now, my dilemma lies in the fact that I played around too much this term and it shows. So, if you help me with my progress report, I will make sure that you get to that exhibit without our dear daddy any the wiser."
Encouraged, Tim spoke. "Let me have your grade paper, Tony."
Excited at the possibility of a reprieve, Tony began pulling books and notebooks from his bookbag, and after several seconds of hurriedly shoving material around, he produced the offensive paper and presented it to his brother.
Glancing from his sibling to the report and back again, Tim grinned conspiratorially and ordered, "Get the phone for me and let me call Dad."
"Are you kidding?" Tony tried to snatch the paper away. "I thought you would have my back."
"Just wait!" Tim commanded.
Quietly turning the knob to the door he slipped into the hall, grabbed the phone, and dialed the NCIS number as he returned. He smiled jubilantly when he realized the answering machine would pick up the call, and winked at his brother as he recorded, "Dad, I have to make a quick trip to the library to check one source for my research paper. Tony agreed to drive me, and I swear to you we will be back by supper. I just need to get down there or I will not be able to finish the section I need to complete tonight. We finished the supper chores already."
Disconnecting the call, he motioned to his brother and they both moved quietly down the stairs and out the door, practically running to Tony's car.
As soon as they came upon the library entrance Tim opened the car door and unsnapped his seat belt.
Tony grabbed his arm. "Hey, give me half an hour and I will be right back here to get you."
His brother nodded and jogged into the building just as Tony merged back into the street's traffic.
True to his word, a half hour later a grinning Tim slid back into the passenger seat of the car and patted the dash triumphantly. "Hit the road, Buddy."
"Let me see that," Tony ordered, trying to glance at the amended paper Tim waved.
"No," Tim contradicted. "Drive, and get us home in one piece. Rest assured, though, that you have no grade lower than a B on this report."
"Oh thanks, thanks, and thanks! That means my beautiful Ariel gets to dress up and accompany me to a kicking party Friday night."
Acknowledging the words with a small chuckle, Tim gazed out the window, watching as they made the turn into their residential street and their home came into view.
Tony put his arm over his brother's shoulder. "You appear saddened, Tiny Tim, but remember that your brother looks out for you."
Tim turned to regard him, and Tony wagged his eyebrows. "While you worked your magic in the library, I worked mine with a friend who owes me a favor. So, tomorrow when you get to school you will bypass all entrances to navigate the student parking area instead. There, Bryson Mirren, Ricky from my football team's older brother, will give you a ride into D.C. on his way to work and will pick you up on his way home. That will get you back home at a time which our educationally minded daddy will consider a reasonable one to stay after school for additional help."
Wide eyed as he absorbed the great news, Tim responded, "Tony, you have saved my life. I appreciate it."
Swinging the car into the driveway, Tony spied his dad's vehicle. He parked thoughtfully and turned to caution his brother. "Hey, Dad beat us home now. Make sure that we act like nothing different has happened, like we normally do. We need to keep him in the not suspicious frame of mind."
"Got it, and here's the progress report."
As soon as Tim handed the revised report to him Tony kissed it dramatically and thrust it into his pocket. "Let's go make Dear Old Dad a happy man."
When Jethro Gibbs opened his front door that afternoon, he marveled first at the silence which greeted him.
Visually appraising the hall and areas visible from the entrance, he noted none of his offspring visible in the downstairs.
That was an interesting fact to note.
He deposited his car keys on the foyer table and concluded that all four of his teens appeared to have gotten home from school, despite the tranquility pervading the house.
Hopefully, they had taken care of their afternoon chores and tackled any homework before the evening meal.
Calling up the stairs both Abby's and Kate's voices trickled down in return, assuring him that they still had homework to finish.
Good for them for taking care of business.
He remembered then that Tim had left him a message that schoolwork required he visit the library, and that his younger son had managed to get Tony to agree to drive him.
Though his oldest did have a car to drive and enjoy, it came with a price and stipulations.
His father expected Tony to provide chauffeur services for the other children as required.
Usually it required an explicit command from his father to get Tony to taxi the others, however, so Jethro was relieved that Tony had taken Tim to the library without a hassle.
Moving into the kitchen Gibbs allowed his imagination to roam as he filled the coffee pot with water and coarsely ground beans and activated the power switch. Leaning against the counter he idly considered and discarded ideas of what payment Tony had required from Tim to actually take his little brother to the library voluntarily, or without a direct order to do so from Jethro.
He checked the assignment board posted near the refrigerator. His home life depended upon organization and duty rosters followed by each of his kids. Today, for example, the boys had the job of prepping for supper. Looking around at the plates of chopped vegetables and the table set with flatware and dishes, Gibbs nodded approvingly.
Good for the boys!
On the other hand, today the girls were responsible for the after supper clean up.
Jethro poured himself a cup of steaming coffee before he began pulling out pans and utensils. Tonight's meal would consist of roasted chicken, a rice pilaf, carrots and asparagus.
Checking the freezer for rolls he realized there were none and made a notation on the grocery list held to its door by a magnet of Thomas Magnum, Tony's favorite television character.
He processed his workday at NCIS, which had demanded a great deal physically from him. One of the suspects he had kept under surveillance for several days noticed him, panicked, and tried to run.
Jethro had him facedown on pavement in just two blocks.
The victory came with a price, though- his knee ached from the activity.
