Thank you all so much for the reviews! Here's the next chapter. Again, I know very little about the foster care system, and I am making stuff up. Hopefully it doesn't require too much suspension of disbelief. Please let me know what you think!
Gibbs woke up early the next morning. He peeked into Jake's room on his way downstairs. The kid was still sound asleep. They had watched until the end of the movie, by which time Jake had eaten his way through four slices of pizza. Gibbs wondered if the kid was simply a human garbage can. Easing the bedroom door closed again, he went into the kitchen and began a batch of pancakes. He was just ladling the first one into the pan when Jake appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. His shaggy hair stuck up in all directions.
"Morning," Gibbs said.
"Good morning, sir."
"Sleep all right?"
Jake nodded.
"Good. These are almost done. Go grab a plate, and there's syrup in the fridge if you want it."
The boy took both out and set them next to the stove.
"Want to flip?" Gibbs asked, handing Jake the spatula.
Jake slid the spatula carefully under the pancake and flipped it over.
"Expertly done," Gibbs laughed.
Jake grinned. "I'm good at pancakes," he said.
Gibbs paused. "You cook a lot?"
Jake shrugged without looking up as he flipped the rest of the pancakes. "Some. I don't know how to make a lot. Pancakes are easy 'cause the instructions are on the box. Otherwise I usually just have peanut butter sandwiches."
"What about your dad, does he cook?"
Jake shook his head. "He likes takeout. Sometimes I make him pancakes too, but he doesn't like those so much."
Gibbs shook his head. No wonder the kid was so scrawny, if he was subsisting on a diet of carbs and peanuts. He set both plates of pancakes on the table and sat down. Jake followed and began eating.
"I've got to go into work again today," Gibbs said. "When you're finished eating, go get dressed. It's not the most interesting place in the world, but it's going to have to do for now. We'll get McGee back on the phone to see if we can place you somewhere more permanent."
Jake just looked down and nodded.
Gibbs and Jake arrived at the station just in time to see Tony toss a crumpled-up piece of paper at McGee, hitting him square in the temple. Tim rounded on him but stopped when he saw Gibbs.
"Having fun, DiNozzo?"
Tony spun around. "Hey, Boss," he replied, trying to sound casual. "Um, Ducky was looking for you, said to send you down when you got here."
Gibbs nodded. "You stay up here," he told Jake. "I'll be back in a bit."
Jake turned to Tony as Gibbs disappeared into the elevator. "Agent Gibbs says you like movies, sir," he said nervously.
"Never shuts up about them," McGee grumbled.
"Kid, you are looking at NCIS's official movie buff," Tony said. "Trust me, with these guys around, we need one."
Jake allowed himself a small smile. "We watched Aladdin last night," he said.
Tony nodded approvingly. "Classic underdog tale, great music. And Robin Williams? Well chosen, kid."
Jake grinned. "What's your favorite movie?"
"I could never pick just one!" Tony protested. "There are too many. You got a favorite?"
"My dad just had a couple DVDs, so I haven't seen that much," Jake said. "I like ones with a lot of action though."
"I bet you're a Star Wars fan, huh?"
"I dunno, sir."
Tony's eyebrows shot up. Tim and Ziva both rolled their eyes. "You mean you've never seen Star Wars?"
"No, sir."
"Well, we've got to fix that right away," Tony replied. "And you don't have to call me 'sir.' My name's Tony, or you can call me Very Special Agent DiNozzo if you really want to. That's Ziva David, and the geek over there is Tim McGee."
"Excuse me, is Agent Gibbs here?"
McGee stood up as D'Arcy McKinna entered the bullpen, accompanied by a tall woman with blonde hair.
"Hey, D'Arcy. Gibbs is down with Ducky right now, you want me to go get him?"
D'Arcy shook her head. "That's all right. Is this Jake?" She looked the boy over. "My name's D'Arcy McKinna. I'm a social worker. That means it's my job to help place kids in homes that will be loving and safe."
Jake looked up at her uneasily. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."
"This is Dr. Patterson," D'Arcy said, turning back to McGee and gesturing to the blonde woman. "She's a child psychologist who helps us place children in homes that will be right for them. Is it all right if we talk to Jake alone for a bit?"
"Sure, I'll take you up to the conference room," McGee offered. "And I'll let Gibbs know you're here so you can talk to him as soon as your done."
Tim led D'Arcy and Dr. Patterson upstairs. Jake followed reluctantly.
"He seem okay?" Tony asked when McGee returned.
Tim nodded. "Nervous, but I think he'll be all right. They know what they're doing talking to kids like him."
The team worked in relative silence for about fifteen minutes before Gibbs returned. McGee had just finished explaining to him what Jake was doing when the boy reentered the bullpen with the two women. Gibbs caught the look in D'Arcy's eye as she approached him.
"Jake, why don't you go down and visit Abby for awhile?" Gibbs asked. "She was asking for you."
D'Arcy waited until Jake had disappeared before drawing Gibbs aside to talk.
"How is he?"
The social worker shrugged. "All things considered, not too bad," she said. "As sad as it is, what he's been through isn't nearly as serious as it could have been. I think what he needs most is an environment where he can feel safe. He's very worried about going into a foster home. I explained to him that it isn't any different from staying with you, but I'm not sure he believed me."
"The anxiety about being sent away is pretty deeply ingrained," Dr. Patterson explained. "I worry that placing him among strangers would be counterproductive as far as allowing him to let his guard down and relax."
Gibbs furrowed his brow. "What are you saying?"
D'Arcy sighed. "It's highly irregular," she admitted. "But honestly, we believe the best thing for Jake would be to continue living with you. He trusts you, Agent Gibbs, and he's not very used to trusting people."
"I'm not a foster parent," Gibbs protested.
"And I completely understand if you're unwilling to take him on," D'Arcy replied. "It is a large commitment we're asking of you."
Gibbs shook his head. "That's not what I meant," he said. "Am I authorized to keep him?"
"Technically, no. But as someone with a working relationship with Child Services, we can get you certified at an accelerated rate while Jake is already living with you. We'll need to make frequent home visits until you are certified, just to ensure his safety, but sometimes the extra work is worth it for the benefit of the child. If you're willing to keep him, we're willing to do what it takes."
Gibbs found Jake trailing Abby doggedly through her lab as she catalogued evidence. The boy looked up when he came in.
"D'Arcy McKinna just left," Gibbs told them.
Jake swallowed. "What did she say, sir?"
"She said that she wants you to continue living with me for the time being. That is, if that's what you want."
The boy only stared. After a moment, his face broke into a grin. "Thank you, sir," he said. "I'd like that very much. Thank you."
