Here's my latest installment of Daddy's Sweetest Gift and when somebody finds out something they're not supposed to know! Anyways REVIEW when you finish the chapter. I've getting like 200 hits when I post a new chapter and like two reviews, one of which is from my friend! REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!!
Anyways the general disclaimer applies. You recognize them, it's not mine. Kate is and that's that. And so is Beck and Dr. Finch, and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor.
In this chapter Kate is nine years old, and very sick.
~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~
Nine year old Kate Gibbs hated being sick. She absolutely loved school, her teachers, the homework, the projects, the tests, and seeing her friends six hours a day for five days out of the week. It was the third week of the fourth grade, and she had come down with a double ear infection and strep throat. Gibbs blamed the pool at the Y where Kate took swim lessons; Kate blamed it on Nick Wells. Nick had been out of school with strep throat the week before, and had come back to school while he was still sick.
Kate was miserable, she was curled up into a ball on the couch in the living room watching PlayHouse Disney and Nick Jr. until the infomercials on Cartoon Network ended. Kate was sick of Dora the Explorer and her little monkey friend Boots; she loved watching Roli Poli Oli, and was currently counting down the hours until Rocket Power of the Power Puff Girls came on. Around lunch time Kate changed the channel from Disney to Cartoon Network hoping to catch Looney Tunes or Ed, Edd, and Eddy. Instead she found Tom & Jerry. She preferred Looney Tunes, but beggars can't be choosers, and settled further into the couch wishing Mrs. Ducky didn't have to go to the doctors that day. As Kate felt herself drifting off to sleep, she could have sworn she saw her Mommy in the kitchen humming the lullaby her Dad used to sing her when she was a baby.
~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~
Gibbs watched his team cautiously. It was 11:45, close enough to lunch for him to sneak out un-noticed to check up on Kate. Mrs. Mallard had recently begun showing signs of dementia and Alzheimer's, so Ducky had taken his mother to the doctor's office that day, leaving Gibbs sitter less, and Kate home alone for the first time in her life. Jenny was on assignment in Europe, again, so Gibbs couldn't even call his oh-so-secret third wife to check up on Kate. 'Hell', Gibbs thought, 'Ducky doesn't even know Jenn and I got married when Kate was seven!'
After another minute of inner debate, Gibbs stood up, dropped his empty coffee cup into the trash, and headed for the elevator bay.
"Hey Boss! Where you going?" Gibbs turned to see his junior field agent, Tony DiNozzo, trying to catch his attention.
"Home, DiNozzo." Gibbs said pushing the down button. "It's lunch time."
"Oh." The younger man said. "I have a ton of questions about all the procedures and the naval terms," DiNozzo said.
Gibbs sighed. He could make the new agent wait in the car while he popped in to check up on Kate. "Come on." Gibbs said stepping on the elevator.
"Thanks, Boss." DiNozzo said following Gibbs.
The elevator ride was silent and so was the car ride, for the most part.
"How do you like NCIS, DiNozzo?" Gibbs inquired as the two men sat in the Beltway traffic.
"It's been a good first month Boss." Tony said honestly. "It's different from working Homicide with Baltimore PD or Philly PD."
"What did you want to ask?" Gibbs said as he directed the car into the exit lane her wanted.
"Uhh…" Tony looked a little guilty. "Can you explain your rules? I'm trying to keep them all straight, but I'm having a little trouble."
Gibbs chuckled. "You got a pad of paper ready?"
Tony nodded and whipped out a notebook and a pen.
"Rule Number One; NEVER put multiple suspects in a room together."
"Okay," Tony said as he scribbled it down. "What else?"
"Rule Number One B; never screw (over) your partner." Gibbs said. "That doesn't count now, because Jacobson is transferring to Rota next week, but when you get a partner it's incredibly important."
"Got that Boss." Tony said. "Why's Jacobson leaving?"
"His mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer and his wife wants to be closer to her mother." Gibbs said. "Director Morrow agreed and signed off on the transfer request."
Tony nodded. "Poor guy. Next rule?"
Gibbs smiled. This kid was like a dog with a bone; he wasn't going to give up. In a way, Tony reminded Gibbs of himself the first time he'd ever worked with NCIS, then NIS, back in '91. Gibbs just chuckled and continued informing the new Special Agent about his rules and the NCIS expectations as they headed for his house.
~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~
When Gibbs and DiNozzo arrived at Gibbs' house, Kate was starting to stir from her nap; her fever was starting to rise again, despite the antibiotics in her system.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs started. "Stay here. I'll be right out." Gibbs said getting out of the car.
"Fine Boss." DiNozzo replied, opening up a case file he had brought along. "I'll be here if you need me."
Gibbs opened the front door and found Kate sprawled out on the couch, the TV volume as low as it would go, and all of Kate's blankets kicked off of her on the floor.
"Kate." Gibbs said shaking her awake. "Sweetie, time to wake up."
"Daddy?" Kate mumbled, fighting to open her eyes. "I'm hot. Really, really hot." Kate cried. "I can't get cold! I tried putting the peas on my forehead, but it didn't work!"
Sure enough there was a bag of frozen peas on the coffee table, and Gibbs felt Kate's forehead. His hand recoiled in shock. Her forehead was on fire! Gibbs left Kate in the living room and rooted around the kitchen until he found the thermometer in a cabinet full of pain relievers.
"Can you sit up for me Princess?" Gibbs asked Kate as he came back into the living room.
"No." Kate said crying now. "I'm trying, but I can't!"
Gibbs helped her sit up, and placed the thermometer in his daughter's ear. He prayed that her fever would be below 101.5, but his prayers weren't answered. The thermometer beeped, and Gibbs checked the screen. "Damn." He growled. The display screen read 103.5 degrees.
Gibbs lay Kate back down, and slid his arms under her back and knees, picking her up bridal style and headed for the car. "DINOZZO!" Gibbs yelled.
Tony looked up and saw his boss carrying a little girl out of his house. "Boss, what happened?"
"Just open the damn door!" Gibbs ordered, and Tony scrambled out of the front seat to open a door for Gibbs.
Gibbs placed Kate in the backseat, buckled her up, and raced around to the driver's seat.
"Where are we going Boss? Who is she?" Tony asked Gibbs, as the aforementioned man flipped on the sirens and lights in the car.
"The hospital DiNozzo." Gibbs growled. "My daughter's fever is 103.5 degrees."
"Crap." Tony said looking back at the little girl, who was starting to shiver. "Pull over." Tony said.
"WHAT?" Gibbs demanded.
"Pull over and I'll get in the back with her." Tony said. "Look at her Boss! She keeps flopping over every time you make a turn!"
Gibbs noted his agent had a point and pulled over to allow Tony to move in the back with Kate. Once Tony was buckled in, Gibbs floored it, causing Tony to reach for the "Oh SHIT!" handle in the back.
After ten nerve racking minutes, a record speed for Gibbs, and a short stop for Kate to get sick, the trio arrived at the hospital and Gibbs threw the NCIS car into park and raced to the back to help Tony get Kate out of the car.
"Hey!" Gibbs turned to see a hospital security guard coming their way. "You can't park there!"
Gibbs had parked the car in an emergency vehicle only space. Gibbs pulled out his NCIS badge and showed it to the security guard. "Yeah, I can. My daughter has a 103 degree fever." He growled out. "Now unless you want me to shoot you, get out of my way!" The frightened security guard did just that, allowing Tony to carry Kate into the Emergency Room.
"We need a doctor over here!" Tony yelled as soon as he and Kate crossed the threshold to the ER.
A nurse saw Tony carrying the now unconscious Kate and directed them to an empty bed. "What happened?" The nurse demanded to know.
"I don't know." Tony answered truthfully. "She's my boss's daughter, and we left our office about a half hour ago and he stopped at his place, and next thing I know he's running out his front door telling me his daughter has a 103.5 degree fever."
"Where did her father go?" The nurse asked as she scribbled down Tony's story.
"He was right behind me when we came in…" Tony said searching the ER waiting room behind them. "BOSS!" he yelled catching sight of Jethro's graying hair.
Gibbs saw Tony and pushed his way, politely, through the crowd of people blocking his path. "Is she going to be okay?" Gibbs asked the nurse nervously as an ER team wheeled Kate's gurney into a private room to try to lower her body temperature.
"First we need your daughter's name and any medication allergies." Wanda, the nurse said.
"Caitlin Erica Gibbs," Jethro said as he pulled Kate's health insurance card out of his wallet and handed it to Wanda. "She's allergic to morphine and bee stings, and I think shell fish. She's on antibiotics for a double ear infection and strep throat. She's nine years old, and this is the first time I've left her alone. Her mom's in Europe and her normal sitter had a doctor's appointment and I just thought she'd be fine. And I don't want to lose her too…" Gibbs said trailing off.
Gibbs's last comment piqued Tony's interest, but he didn't say anything. "She'll be fine, Boss. The doc will probably just up her meds and she'll be coming home in two or three days." Tony said trying to cheer up his boss. "I'll call Jacobson and tell him we'll be back late because your daughter…"
"Don't." Gibbs said. "Jacobson doesn't know about Kate. You wouldn't either if she wasn't this sick." Wanda had left the two men in a private waiting room as Kate was being treated for privacy.
"Why not boss?" Tony asked.
"Nine years ago when Kate was a month old," Gibbs said, "My first wife Shannon, and my older daughter Kelly were killed in a car accident after leaving the hospital at Camp Pendleton. Shannon and Kelly were under NIS protection because Shannon had witnessed the murder of a Marine by a drug dealer, and the dealer's cartel put a hit out on Shannon."
Tony closed his eyes, he couldn't believe that had to happen to his boss's family. "What caused the accident, Boss?"
"Somebody shot the NIS agent driving the van, it spun out of control and killed Shannon and Kelly upon impact. When I found out, I was in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, and had to be sedated to keep me from attempting suicide." Gibbs said fighting back tears as he remembered the worst day of his life. "It wasn't until a week later that I found our Kate had been born premature. My chopper got shot down on its way to the airport and the other Marine I was with and I spent a week in Frankfurt, Germany. It took five days for me to wake up, and when I did, Callen told me Kate was alive. I waited another week before I was allowed to leave my room at Camp Pendleton to go see Kate. I've kept her a secret from everyone because the Mexican cartel responsible for my family's death has their fingers in many pies."
Tony nodded understanding. "I'm sorry about your family Boss."
Gibbs nodded, letting DiNozzo's apology slide this one time. "It also helps that I tracked down the bastard that pulled the trigger and killed him myself."
Tony smiled. "That sounds like something Rambo would do."
"Rambo?" Gibbs asked curiously.
"Yeah, Rambo. It's a classic Boss! Sylvester Stallone, 1982 movie? Ringing any bells?" Tony asked. "Spawned about a million and a half sequels, well actually there's only three Rambo movies, but…"
"I get it DiNozzo." Gibbs said. "I need to go call the Director. He'll cover for us."
"Alright Boss." Tony said as he picked up a month old copy of Entertainment Weekly.
~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~
Three hours later Dr. Andrew Finch came into the waiting room to find six empty coffee cups from Gibbs alone, and Tony DiNozzo asleep, sprawled out over the couch in the room.
"I'm looking for Mister Jethro Gibbs?" Dr. Finch said looking between the two men.
"That would be me." Gibbs said. "Is Kate going to be alright?"
Dr. Finch nodded. "She probably picked up some bacteria at school or her pediatricians office. We've called both to inform them and to suggest a thorough disinfecting session."
Gibbs nodded. "How long is she going to have to stay in the hospital?"
Dr. Finch shrugged. "Right now it's touch and go. We've managed to stabilize her temperature for now, and depending on when her fever breaks we can move Kate out of the ICU into her own room."
Gibbs sighed. "When can we see her?"
"He family?" Dr. Finch asked jerking his thumb towards Tony.
"Yeah." Gibbs said. "He's Kate's step-brother."
"You guys can go up and see her in about ten minutes. Somebody will come and get you." Finch said heading for the door. "Oh, and here's my card. If you have any questions about anything when Kate gets released, just give my office a call and I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Gibbs said.
"Semper Fi." Finch said opening the door.
Gibbs chuckled. He should have known Finch was a Marine. "Semper Fi." Gibbs replied to the doctor and sank back down into his chair.
Tony stirred and rubbed his eyes. "Did the doc just leave?"
Gibbs nodded and Tony sat up, and tried to straighten his rumpled shirt. "What he say?"
"It's touch and go for now. I also told him that your Kate's step-brother." Gibbs admitted sheepishly. "I figured you'd want to see her, and it's family only."
Tony smiled. "It's fine Gibbs. I've always wanted to be a big brother."
Gibbs smiled back. "Good. Because Kate's always wanted an older brother. She knows she had an older sister, and Abby stepped in to fill those shoes years ago."
Tony nodded and the two men sat in the waiting room shooting the breeze until a nurse came to get them.
~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~
Two days after Kate had been rushed to the hospital, Abby was sitting with Kate when another little girl was brought into Kate's room in the Pediatric Ward.
"Hiya!" Kate said greeting the other girl. "I'm Kate and this is Abby. She's kinds like my big sister."
"Hi." The red head said. "I'm Becky. My mom's talking to my doctor now."
"Why are you here?" Kate asked. Abby looked up from her Journal of Forensic Sciences.
"Kate," Abby said. "I don't think that's the nicest thing to ask in the hospital."
"It's okay." Becky said. "I'm getting' my tonsils and adenoids out today. Mom says I get to eat all the popsicles, and slushies, and ice cream I wanna after. I even get to have some CafPow!, and she never lets me have CafPow! How come you're here?"
"I had a double ear infection and strep throat, and Dr. Finch thinks I mighta had meningitis too. But he doesn't know for sure 'cuz I'm better now." Kate said. "I get to go home tomorrow or Saturday. And my Dad said when I get home, Mom's gonna be back from… Where'd she go again Abby?"
"I don't know." Abby said. "I think your Mom went to either Germany or the Czech Republic. But I'm not sure. You think you're gonna be okay alone until Gibbs or Tony gets here?" Abby asked.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Yeah Abby. I'll be fine. It's not like some ax murderer or somebody's gonna break into a hospital to kidnap me."
"Cute." Abby said getting up and hugging Kate. "I'm sorry I have to go now Sweetie. I really hate court."
"I know you do Abs. Good Luck!" Kate said. "Abby's a forensic scientist." Kate informed Becky proudly. "She helps me with my science homework sometimes and puts my hair in pigtails when I ask her to."
"Lucky!" Becky said. "My Mama helps me sometimes, but Dad says I'm supposed to do it on my own."
"My Dad says that too, until he gets confused and says, 'I give up! Go see Abby in her lab downstairs. And don't break Major Mass Spec!'" Kate had dropped her voice down an octave to mimic her father, and it left both girls in stitches.
"Hey!" Tony said opening the door to the room. "What's so funny Squirt?"
"Nuthin'." Kate said smirking.
"Aha! I know that smirk! You're up to no good!" Tony said as he took off his jacket. "And don't think I'm gonna rat you two out. Let me in on it."
Becky giggled even harder. "You're funny."
"I do try." Tony said. "Tony DiNozzo. And you are Miss?" Tony asked, as he bowed ridicously making the girls laugh even harder.
"Beck Taylor." Becky said.
"It's nice to meet you Lady Becky Taylor of the lovely Taylor family." Tony said. The girls were now gasping for breath at Tony's antics. "Am I really that funny?"
"Yuppers!" Kate said. "When you've been cooped up in the hospital for this long Tony, you're the funniest thing EVER!"
"I'll take that as a complement." Tony said. "But I've got some slightly bad news for you."
"What?" Kate asked. "Mom's flight got delayed?"
"Worse." Tony said opening up his backpack. "Make up work."
Kate groaned and turned off the TV in front of her bed. "Why did Dad hafta talk to Mrs. Donaldson yesterday?"
"He's just making sure you're not falling behind after your lengthy absence." Tony replied handing Kate the purple folder. "Good luck with this by the way."
"Why?" Kate asked as she flipped through it.
"Your Dad banned Abby from helping you with any of your math and science homework." Tony explained. "But if you want my help, I'm free whenever you need me."
"Really?" Kate asked hopefully.
"Really." Tony replied. "I also managed to sneak Mary Poppins and Aladdin if you want to watch them."
"What about Titanic?" Kate asked hopefully.
"And have Gibbs kill me for exposing your delicate eyes to that trash? No way Jose!" Tony answered. "I'll be right back. I forgot my phone in my car."
"You have Mrs. Donaldson?" Becky asked Kate.
"Yup." Kate replied as she began to tackle the pile of work her fourth grade teacher had sent her way. "Why?"
"I have Ms. Dines." Becky said excitedly. "I didn't know you went to George Washington Carver!"
"No way!" Kate said. "You're the Becky Taylor?"
"The Becky Taylor?" Becky echoed.
"Yeah, you know? Did you really kick Billy Ridgeway where it hurts in third grade?" Kate asked. "Cause every girl in the fourth grade is in your debt."
"I did." Becky said. "Only because he hit me in the face with a soccer ball and it hurt a lot."
"In kindergarten Tommy McLaughlin pulled my hair and pushed me off a swing so I sucker punched him in the stomach and then gave him a black eye."
"No way!" Becky said. "You're that Kate Gibbs?"
"Yup." Kate said. "After that for the most part the older boys have been afraid of me. It's kinda funny. My neighbor Wendell was afraid of me for almost a year. Then his mom offered to babysit me one night, and we've been friends ever since."
"That's cool." Becky said. "I don't have many friends."
"How come?" Kate asked.
"Because my Dad's a Marine. We move around a lot." Becky said.
"Really?" Kate asked. "My Dad used to be a Marine too! He's got a Purple Heart and everything! But now he works for NCIS."
"Really?" Becky asked. "I wish my Dad would retire and get a normal job so we wouldn't have to move all the time."
"I'd hate to move all the time." Kate said. "I had to move once. Twice actually. My Mom and Dad were in Paris for a whole year so I had to live with my babysitter, Mrs. Ducky and her son Dr. Ducky the whole time."
"Lucky. I've moved like a million times. I've never ever finished one grade at the same school. Ever." Becky said.
"Wanna be best friends?" Kate asked. "We can write letters and send pictures even if you do move again."
"Okay." Becky said. "I've never had a best friend before."
"Dad says there's always time for something new." Kate said.
"What I miss?" Tony asked as he and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor came back in.
"Not much Tony." Kate said.
"Guess what Mom?" Becky asked her mom excitedly.
"What?" Mrs. Taylor responded.
"Me and Kate are gonna be best friends!" Becky said. "We're gonna write letters and postcards and send lots of stuff to each other when I move away."
Mr. Taylor laughed. "No you won't Becks."
"Why not?" Becky asked, starting to sound upset.
"We don't have to move anymore." Mr. Taylor said happily. "I've got a semi-permanent position at the Pentagon. If anybody has to move, it'll be me for a couple of months a year."
"Yay!!!" Becky cried. "You hear that Kate? I don't have to move!"
Kate's grin grew incredibly wide. "Wanna come over and see my house when you get out of the hospital? Dad's building a sailboat in our basement."
"Can I Mom?" Becky asked. "Please?"
"We'll see." Mrs. Taylor said. Her baby girl was growing up, and she finally had a best friend. "But as long as it's fine with Kate's parents," she looked over at Tony.
"Don't look at me." Tony said. "I'm the goofball surrogate big brother. Her dad's on his way in now."
Just as Tony finished speaking, the door to the room opened again and Gibbs came in. "Speak of the devil," Tony said.
"Watch it DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
"Gotcha, Boss." Tony replied. "Need anything Kate?"
"Nope." Kate answered. "Thanks for the movies."
"No problem, Squirt." Tony said. "I'll see you tomorrow." Tony got up and left.
"Daddy?" Kate asked sweetly. "Can Becky come over after she gets out of the hospital and we're both all better? Please?"
Gibbs sighed. "I'm not even in the door two minutes…" He smiled. "As long as it's okay with her parents."
"It's fine with us, Mr.…"
"Gibbs." Jethro replied. "Jethro Gibbs. Why don't we swap numbers now? Knowing my daughter, she's just made a friend for life."
The three parents quickly exchanged contact information before Becky's surgery, and Gibbs sat down in the vacated chair by Kate's bed.
"So, you want me to read to you Princess?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes, please!" Kate said packing up her school work. "What book did you bring Daddy?"
"Little Town on the Prairie," Gibbs said.
"Oh! I haven't read it yet!" Kate said excitedly. "Can you start now?"
"Sure thing Princess." Gibbs said opening the book. "One evening at supper, Pa asked, "How would you like to work in town, Laura?..."
As Jethro read the story, Kate was plunged into the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the American West during the 1800s. And she enjoyed every minute of the story her Dad read her during her stay in the hospital.
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Sorry about the length. I just sat down in front of the keyboard and this came spewing out on Sunday and today. REVIEWS please!!!! And I'm sorry if Tony or Abby seemed out of character. Gibbs is supposed to be freaking out in that earlier bit; he's worried Kate was gonna die. But she's fine. So enjoy!