United Approach

Yes, as he reminded Dr. Mallard, all four exhibited strong interpersonal attributes, and routinely reached out to help others. In addition, all managed to stand out enough that their elementary teachers predicted incredible futures.

"With Tim's methodical approach to his math and science assignments, I foresee a future in medicine for him."

"It would not surprise me to one day hear that Kate topped her field in advertising or in commercial art."

"By continuing to immerse himself in discerning and analyzing the details and main points of content, along with the gift of networking, Tony reflects the qualities of a future politician."

"Her interest in the classroom's pets combined with her fascination of the insects she studies and observes on the playground leads me to speculate that one day Abby will hang her shingle as a doctor of veterinary medicine."

Jethro elaborated to Dr. Mallard that despite the age differences of his children and very obvious physical and character contrasts, the four managed to share more than just an NCIS Agent for a dad.

"Kate must learn to take responsibility for all of her mistakes, rather than try to diminish them or blame others instead."

"When reprimanded, Tony responds by pouting and sulking, rather than by taking responsibility and exhibiting an immediate behavior transformation."

"Abby relies upon tears or pouting as tools to shirk or escape responsibility for her misbehavior."

"Tim goes through spells of staying silent rather than speaking up and admitting he is responsible for something."

Inherent good looks long dominated correspondence and communication from the school to Agent Gibbs.

"Always popular and in demand as a group member, Tony does not realize that his appearance alone will draw others to him."

"Abby's excitement and enthusiasm for a project she enjoys practically make those beautiful eyes of hers dance."

"That slow grin which illuminates Tim's face when he receives a good grade conveys so much of his inner emotions."

"Though certainly pretty, Kate's poise and sense of bearing highlight her uniqueness and separate her from her classmates."

Throughout his years as a parent, Gibbs had been notified more than once that his four faced disciplinary measures, sometimes for similar infractions. Tony and Abby loved to engage in public displays of entertainment, while Kate and Tim tended to remain stubbornly determined to attend school with their own interpretations of the rules.

"Tim took it upon himself to skip two class periods, assigning himself library time where he says he could research topics he liked, as opposed to having a teacher assign them. Tim will be punished."

"Kate's continued defiance when told to wait her turn earned her an additional punishment today."

"Jumping onto the teacher's desk to declare a vacation day when the substitute arrived certainly is not conduct the school tolerates from Tony."

"While the teacher tried to demonstrate steps in math to the class, Abby decided to sing loudly and drown out the explanation. Behavior like this will always result in disciplinary measures for Abby."

Just as unwelcome, the rationale his children provided their schools for a lack of participation or questionable behavior often cost him embarrassment and a frantic scrambling to provide clarification.

"Abby tells me that rather than take her to a physician, you rely upon the services of a medical examiner to suffice in lieu of a pediatrician."

"I would like for Tony to join the field trip group scheduled to visit the Hoover Building. However, he assures me you have reservations about the agency there, repeatedly mocking the agency as a whole and referring to the FBI as the '3 Letter Boys' of the government."

"Could we possibly meet for a conference? Tim expressed to me today that he finds you unapproachable when you isolate yourself in the basement and drink several evenings a week."

"Despite numerous corrections, Kate slips up on adults in conversation, sneaking and appearing out of nowhere when faculty members are speaking confidentially. She claims that she learned this behavior from you, and that you consider it invaluable."

Despite his explanations to the contrary, Gibbs always felt that the teachers remained suspicious of him.

Come to think of it, were their positions reversed, he probably would launch an investigation.

Parenting four strong personalities effectively appeared never ending, even as the children matured.

Some days when he fell into bed exhausted from the single parent life, he imagined a day thirty or so years in the future, with him retired from the agency and relaxing with a woodworking project in the basement. Would his then grown children stay true to character, or transform into individuals he would not recognize?

Abby would appear first, still fashioned in her bohemian style with a yellow poncho and long flowing pink cotton skirt, having embraced more colors once she had children. Pulling a stool up to sit right beside him, she would lean up and kiss his cheek and announce softly, "One's on the way."

Unable to restrain himself, he would snap, "What's the point, Abby, of all these kids? You refuse to make a marriage work, yet have no qualms about having babies. How many grandchildren do I have to support?"

She would get up and execute one of her exotic twirls before crossing to the opposite side of the table. "I find my stability rooted in children, just not in husbands. I think I grow with each divorce."

No, Jethro edited his fantasy as a sudden image of Sister Rosita popped into his thoughts. What if his Abby changed course and joined a convent?

Not content with either scenario, Jethro pushed Abby to the side of his imagination and sent Tim jogging down the steps to the basement.

"Dad, quick, I need some help. I got a notice today that they're after my store." Practically sputtering his words, Tim would impatiently snatch the stool so that he could sit at an angle from his father. "I need you to go threaten them."

Gibbs would raise his eyebrows to convey the reminder that Tim had encountered this magnitude of trouble at some earlier juncture. "Did you get in trouble with the collection agencies again?"

"No, this is the city, the taxes or something like that. I would've paid, but business has fallen at the store. You know that, Dad, so I can't fathom why you insist on grilling me now."

"That might have to do with the fact that the store is only open two days a week, and that your inventory consists of clown costumes."

"Whatever, but you just have to bail me out again." Tim would narrow his eyes expectantly and drum his fingers against the table to impress his father with his agitation.

Despite his exhaustion, Leroy Jethro Gibbs grinned at his make believe future Abby and Tim. Dismissing the younger two gave way to imagining Tony and Kate racing each other down the basement steps in his same future environment.

"First!" Kate would yell, platform shoes clomping against the wooden stairs. She would turn and eye Tony smugly as she grabbed the only other stool. "I beat Tony, Dad. I rock!" she would assure him, running long lacquered fingernails through her waist length platinum hair.

The future Gibbs would not engage in banter until he witnessed Tony drag the sawhorse over to the worktable and regard him.

Ignoring Kate, he would direct his first words to his eldest. "How is the ethics investigation coming, Son? Are you indicted, or not?"

Tony would lean back confidently, chuckle, and then lean forward to answer conspiratorially, "It appears that the charges will fall to the wayside, my dear padre. My law firm managed to pay off enough witnesses to make that beltway judge reconsider investigating us."

"Tony, Tony, Tony," Kate would whine, emphasizing her displeasure by rolling her eyes, then turn petulantly to her dad. "Does everything have to focus on him?"

Gibbs would level a warning glance upon her and she would sputter in response, "I can't believe you still hold it against me that I dropped out of high school."

"Bingo," he would reply, then add, "because I seriously resent that you still live under my roof."

Unrealistic and ridiculous though the musings sounded, Gibbs found that creating worst case scenarios often quelled the panic that threatened when he worried about the future of his progeny.

Time would tell, of course. Tony expressed interests ranging from coaching to producing movies, and Kate wavered from commercial art to family counseling. On the other hand, Tim championed a career as a translator or as a news reporter for a major paper, while Abby dreamed of either teaching or researching for the World Health Organization.

With a pang Jethro acknowledged that not one of his four planned to follow him into military service, enforcement, or work in a government agency.

Raised voices permeated his sleep and Jethro suddenly jerked awake, shaking his head to dislodge any lingering images of his make believe Tony and Kate from his mind. So deeply had he slept that it took several seconds before he realized that the environmental noise increased with every second.

Pinpointing the origin of the chaos, he sighed deeply. Then whistling loudly, he waited for the moment of triumph as all sound instantaneously ceased.

Opening his eyes, he delayed any further communication.

Silently Abby appeared, peeping out from the side of the kitchen, one hand clutching a steaming cup of coffee which she held out like a sacrificial offering.

Slipping around her, Tony moved towards him, holding two pizza boxes at arms' length before him.

Both grinned, and it struck Gibbs that Abby and Tony shared the same tilting of their chins in situations where they wanted to disarm any opposition.

Jethro pointed towards the battered formica dining table and then called for the other two as he struggled to his feet.

"Why are the four of you lurking in my home?"

He narrowed his eyes and let his gaze travel from one to the other, noting that Tim clutched plastic silverware and napkins and Kate set a large bowl of salad and bottle of salad dressing down by the aromatic pizza.

They still wore their workday clothes, though the knot in Tim's tie hung haphazardly and Tony had let his suspender straps fall. Abby and Kate's bare feet prompted Gibbs to check the foyer. Sure enough, they had kicked their shoes off there.

"Boss, we knew you would want us to deliver a comprehensive and wholly entertaining sit rep detailing the rest of the afternoon at NCIS, the part that you missed," Tony explained, taking the napkins from Tim and placing them by each plate.

"Besides that, we worried about you and whether you needed anything," Abby smiled sweetly, twirling a black pigtail as she spoke.

Tim added, "We brought pizza, but then when we got here Kate though maybe we should have made some soup or something because of your injury, not that we thought the injury required soup. I mean we did. That was, uhm, what we were discussing when you woke up just now."

"So," Kate finished perkily, "We all wanted to let you know that no one goofed off after you got sent home. I guess we just needed to see you for ourselves, also, to know you were good. Once Ducky got hold of you we didn't know how long you would be out of commission."

"Sounds like we're a bunch of little kids scared that our dad is hurt and might not come back to us," Tony concluded, smiling broadly. "It's a little like the adult kids did in The Godfather, you know, when they all rallied to Marlon Brando's character when they thought he was about to depart the earth."

In reply, Gibbs motioned them to sit down. Noting the concern still evident on their faces he cleared his throat and spoke softly, "I'm okay now that all of you are here." Pointing towards the kitchen he grinned. "I'll be back in a minute. There are Cokes in the refrigerator left over from the last time all of you swarmed."