Gibbs/Allison Series:

Choosing Between Old & New # 5

By: MchakotayParis (R. Mason)

Chapter 4

It actually took Augustina longer than she'd thought to copy all of her files onto disks so that she could play them for Ali's family. She'd figured out very early in her case with Ali that it was best to have a recorded version of all her files because some of her earlier written ones had mysteriously disappeared. Since then she made sure she wrote out all the proper notes, meetings and observations she'd had of Ali, but she also made a recorded version of them for her files.

Ali's case was very special and given who her parents were there was a lot of people interested in what exactly was going on in that household and how Allison coped. So after several hours of burning files onto what looked like a mountain of disks, Augustina grabbed all the disks and her CD player and finally headed out to meet Allison Gibbs-Fornell family.

She actually knew quite a lot about each of them but had never met them face to face and realized she welcomed the idea. This little group of people had accepted Allison/Ali without any qualms or questions. That boded well for them that they could handle what was ahead because she knew they were all in for a fight. Allison had turned to Adult Infantilism early in life to cope with the stress and strain of having to raise her siblings, but she had never considered giving Ali up, even in private except for one short time when she was sixteen. A near tragedy had happened to her that had shaken her belief in her worth as a woman and Augustina hoped to God that something like that was not what happened again. It had taken her almost six months of constant love and reassurance, to get Allison to finally be Ali again other than at night and by herself.

Pushing those thoughts out of her head Augustina grabbed her things and with one quick look at her watch headed towards Allison's house. It had been years since she'd been over to the house, actually since Ali had meet Gibbs. After that she seemed to be very happy and content and she had begun to think that maybe that chapter of her life had come to an end. But when she'd gotten that call from Ali she knew it wasn't quiet. Her voice had been so lost and forlorn that in an instant she knew she was back to that same instant almost 46 years ago when Ali had called her "Auggie" with that same little voice. But now it was different she had a family that supported her and would fight for her so hopefully it wouldn't be as difficult a battle as the one before.

As she pulled into Ali's street she saw the multiple cars parked in Ali's driveway and out front. Good, she thought her family was here now she could finally see if they were up for the fight ahead. As she parked behind a long black hurst, she smiled Miss Abigail Sciuto was one of the people in Ali's extended family that she was anxious to me, the other was Doctor Donald Mallard. Ali's surrogate grandfather figure. Ali had never had an older man figure in her life and she was anxious to see how they interacted.

At her knock the door was opened by Tobias Fornell, looking a little more relaxed in his attire but not in his appearance. She had a feeling that he and Gibbs had spent the afternoon reading Ali's redacted file so he knew some of what was going to be heard tonight.

"It's really not as bad as it sounds Agent Fornell, as I said earlier mine is much more interesting reading" said Augustina with a smile and a small pat to his hand. She could tell that what he'd read upset him and he hoped that her files wouldn't upset him even more. But as Ali's next of kin they had a right to know what had caused her to be the way she was. So with the false smile of a Psychologist Augustina Chandler entered Allison Gibbs-Fornell home.

Everyone was sitting around the living room and as always the conversations stopped with she entered the room. It had happened so many times in her life that she was immune to it but this time it actually hurt, this was Ali's family. Something she'd always thought herself to be a part of but now she realized she'd been wrong. Ali had grown and added to her family and now she needed to get to know these people as well as let them get to know her. Well she at least had a head start having researched and watched them since each of them had come into Ali's life, but know it was her turn to let them into her life.

As Gibbs took the CD player and her bag from her she turned and gave him a warm smile. He looked equally as relaxed in his attire, and a little less upset in his appearance but Augustina attributed that to his reputation. Gibbs' reputation proceeded him where ever he went in governmental circles and he was known as a hard-nosed, take no prisoners, stone faced agent who dug until he found the truth no matter how good, or bad it might be.

"Thank you Agent Gibbs" replied Auggie as she started to take off her coat.

"It's Jethro and Tobias, Doctor Chandler. Since were not officially on a case" replied Gibbs as he took Auggie's coat and hung it on the coat rack in the foyer.

"Then its Augustina, or Auggie which ever you prefer" replied Auggie.

"Well shall we eat before we begin to delve into the deep dark recess that are our Allison?" asked Ducky as he stood up, taking Auggie by the arm and leading her into the dining room.

Awaiting on the table were six steaming hot pizza boxes and Auggie had to admit they did smell good. After an awkward beginning the meal progressed smoothly with Auggie having small conversations with each of the members of Ali's new family. After the pizzas were finished and everything cleared away everyone returned to the living room finding a comfortable place to sit.

Gibbs, Tobias and Ducky sat on the couch while Ziva and Abby took the chairs with Tim and Tony sitting on the arms of their respective seat. Palmer pulled one of the dining room chairs into the living room and completed the group.

"As I said earlier, I haven't been Allison's official case worker for over twenty or more years but there are just some cases you can't let go of" said Auggie as she aimlessly wandering around the room as she began to talk.

"I was assigned Allison's case just a few months after it was discovered that Admiral Grayson had abandoned his children. Even being a high ranking Commander at the time, the United States Military doesn't take kindly to their officers abandoning their families. After many months of fighting within the system a compromise was reached. Grayson would put all his military paycheck into an account set up for the care and raising of Allison and his children. Allison was given the only access to the account and the Commander and his wife were to live in military housing. I was assigned to evaluate Allison on how she was coping with raising her siblings. Grayson wouldn't allow any contact with Allison so for the first few years I just watched and wrote down my observations."

"Commander Grayson at first had no contact with his children until they reached the age of six, after that he requested and got permission to contact each of his younger children on weekends and holidays he however wanted nothing to do with Allison at all. After Grayson started contacting his younger children I was able to sometimes meet with Allison and we would talk, it was during this time that we discovered that he was bad mouthing and blaming Allison for the loss of his family slowly turning each of Ali's younger siblings against her. By the time each of her younger siblings were in school none of them wanted anything to do with Allison except as a blood related nanny so to speak"

"But why didn't they just ask to live with their father and mother" asked Abby as she looked at the older woman. She could tell that this was hard on Auggie and felt sorry for having to make her retell this part of Ali's life.

"By this time Adrian Grayson, Allison's mother had drunk herself into a stupor where she was drunk more often than not. Grayson had become a one star Admiral and couldn't have a drunk wife taking care of his kids so he wouldn't let them come, which in turn they blamed on Ali"

"When Ali turned sixteen several of Grayson's officers came over to visit him thinking he lived at his address. They saw Ali and were intrigued and when they discovered that she would soon be sweet sixteen they talked Admiral Grayson into allowing them to throw a party for Allison"

"When Allison was younger she would have done anything to please her father so when they told her that the party was Admiral Grayson's idea she though he'd finally accepted her. They took her to a secluded place and tried to get her drunk but Allison was smart and wouldn't drink so they started taunting her telling her that they had lied and that her father had given them to her because she wasn't worth anything to him as a woman. They tried to gang rape her but luckily Allison knew how to protect herself enough to get away from them and called me. I found her about two miles from where they had taken her cold, beaten up and crying"

"After that it took me six months of almost constant contact and fighting Admiral Grayson to get Allison to be Ali any other time than when she was alone at night. It seems that one of the things Admiral Grayson told them about Ali was that she liked to wear diapers and be a baby so maybe she could trade off servicing them for them taking care of her."

At those words Gibbs and Tobias both groaned and Auggie knew exactly what had happened to make Ali run. And old hurt was coming back to haunt her. Well what's done was done but know she once again had to pick up the pieces of her fragile Allison.

"I take it by your reactions that something similar happened again yesterday?" asked Auggie as she stared pointedly at the two men.

At Tobias' nod Jethro started speaking in a quiet shaky voice. "Jackson Gibbs, my father came by unannounced to visit yesterday and walked in while Ali, Tobias and I were playing on the comforter. It had been the first time since she'd gotten home that we'd left her down here more than just a few hours and in the interim time she needed changing. Jack walked in while I was changing Ali and said some very hurtful things about Ali and the two of us"

"One of which referred to her exchanging her "services" for you taking care of her I take it?" asked Auggie hotly.

"Well not in so many words but it was implied" answered Gibbs softly. As Gibbs looked over at Tobias he added "He also said that she was a grown woman and it was time to grown up and be an adult"

The audible gasps and ahhh's from the rest of the group were loud but they were nothing compared to Auggie's reaction. She visibly paled, clamping her hand over her mouth and ran into the kitchen to throw up the dinner she had just eaten in the kitchen trash can. After the retching had stopped and Auggie had rinsed her mouth out she returned to the living room to face the man whose father had hurt her Ali. She knew that Gibbs couldn't be held accountable for his father's insensitivity or stupidity but she had to blame someone and right now he was the only person available.

"You will have to excuse me Agent Gibbs if I say I hope I never meet your father in the near future" replied Auggie as she stood in front of him staring bullets at him.

"Believe me Doctor Chandler my reaction was just as strong as yours. I actually hit him." said Gibbs as he stood to face the woman accusing him. At that moment she looked like she might actually believe that was involved in their relationship. "As I told Jack, my relationship with Ali is strictly a father/daughter relationship. That part is taken care of solely by my partner Tobias" then he grabbed Tobias' hand, interlocking their fingers and holding it up for her and the whole group to see.

As a Christmas present to each other this year they'd bought a pair of platinum wedding bands. They both knew that they couldn't legally marry, and they couldn't wear them at work, but as soon as they both got home they put them on as a symbol of their commitment to each other and their relationship with Ali.

As an audible "Awe" filled the room Auggie relaxed just a little and started to visibly shake. Ducky was instantly at her side sitting her down in the place he had just vacated. "A glass of water please Jimmy" asked Ducky as he looked at the young man.

"Of course Doctor Mallard" then retreated to the kitchen and returned with a glass of water, then handing it to Ducky.

"Here drink this my dear, it will help settle your stomach" replied Ducky as he placed the glass in Auggie's hand.

After a few small sips Auggie raised her head and looked at the assembled group. "I'm sorry, but your father's words brought back so many memories of the fight I had to keep Ali the first time." she said quietly then looked at the two men still standing before her. "I'm sorry for my comment about your father Jethro, it was uncalled for and unprofessional of me and to think that you and Tobias would ask that of Ali was demeaning"

"It's alright Auggie, it's nothing that several people haven't thought, including my own daughter but I can assure you that type of relationship with Allison is the furthest thing from our minds" answered Tobias.

"Good, then we have a lot of work to do. Can I imply by the your words that your father has been enlightened about Ali's situation?" asked Auggie hopefully, she really hoped that she wouldn't have to meet Jackson Gibbs in the near future to explain certain things about Ali but she would if she had to.

"Oh yes, we had a long talk about it just after Ali left" said Gibbs with a smile as he remembered his talk with Jack

"Is he willing to accept Allison as Ali?"

"He said I'd given him a lot to think about, but he did say to tell Ali that he was sorry and he hoped that one day she would let him into her life"

"Well that's a start at least, so now comes the hard part. Early on I realized that this was a very sensitive case, not only because of who Ali's parents were but because of how she coped.
"Don't ask, don't tell" covers a lot more than just same sex relationships in the military, it has become almost a blanket cover for anything out of the ordinary that the military doesn't want to deal with."

"So that being said I discovered early on that my notes and reports were being censored and sometimes even changed or disappeared altogether. So I started keeping a recording of all my files and notes from my very first meeting with Allison. I will tell you that I'm quite frank in my observations of what went on it the Grayson household so I'll warn you a head of time it might get a little uncomfortable for some of you. So if everyone will get comfortable we have a lot of Ali's early life to listen to" said Auggie as she got up and put in five disks into the CD player then started the player.

-NCIS-

It was well after midnight when the last disk ended and everyone looked around. Some sat stoic and stone faced, other's had tears running down their faces while Abby openly cried on Tim's shoulder. Auggie had spent the past six or more hours wandering the house silently looking at Ali's life with Jethro and Tobias. It looked like they really cared for her and loved her as a second daughter for both. She knew that Gibbs had lost his first wife and daughter when she was eight, and that Tobias had a teenage daughter named Emily. As Auggie walked in the living room and stopped the CD player she looked at Ali's family.

"Well, like I said I am quite frank in my observations, that's probably why the redacted version was so hard for you to read but now you understand what it was like for Ali growing up with Admiral Douglas Grayson. I can tell by the pictures in the house that Ali's life with the two of you has been what she really needs and for that I thank you"

"But I need to know here and now if every one of you are willing to fight to keep our little Ali. I know Allison told you that she had to think about if it was time to grow up or not but I just don't think that's possible with Ali. Ali is an integral part of Allison and she can't have one without the other given her background. It's almost as if Allison grew up backwards, living her adult life first. Now she needs a loving father, or two" said Auggie with a smile at both men "And a family that will support and accept her for the little girl she needs to be"

It took but a second for get her answer when Abby jumped up and pulled her into a giant hug whispering "Welcome to the family Auntie Auggie"

At her words Auggie sighed against the young woman and knew that this time she wouldn't have to fight alone. After that everyone else came up to her and some of them awkwardly gave her a hug until the last two were Jethro and Gibbs. The stood looking at the woman, hands held, fingers interlocked with tears shining in both their eyes.

"What can we do to get our baby girl back?" asked Gibbs softly.

"Well that's the tough part, Ali's going to try and withdraw from everyone into the comfort shell she had been she was younger. How did you first get together with her Jethro? Was it gradually or sudden?" asked Auggie

"Mine was sort sudden, two weeks after she was assigned a case with my team I sort of walked in on her suddenly when she didn't return my calls or wouldn't talk to my team. I found her asleep in her room, she'd fallen asleep working on our case and I woke her up"

"I bet that went over well" said Auggie sarcastically

"Uhhh….yeah, I told her to change and get to bed and then meet me at NCIS the next day"

"And did she?"

"No"

"Sounds like Allison" said Auggie under her breath

"It was another week or so before we got together, after she hit Tony" said Gibbs with a smile. He remembered well the catalyst that had given him is baby girl

"And why did Ali hit you Agent DiNozzo?" asked Auggie turning on the young man like an over protective lioness protecting her cub.

"Well you see I…. I sort of got into her bag and took pictures of her baby things then sent them to Tim and Ziva" mumbled Tony softly

"You did what!" yelled Auggie as she advanced on the younger man.

"Now hold on Augustina, Tony, Ziva and Tim are members of my team and have been properly punished for that incident" said Gibbs as he gently grabbed hold of Auggie's arm.

"I should hope so, and it will never happen again will it Anthony DiNozzo?" asked Auggie as she looked from both men.

Tony was standing in the middle of the living room fidgeting and acting like he was reliving a very bad memory.

"No ma'am it won't, I can guarantee it" said Tony softly.

"Good, now what happened next?" asked Auggie as she once again turned her attention to Jethro but kept a close eye on the younger man.

"I told Ali to go home and change into her "baby mode" if she wanted to then I would come over and we would deal with what had happened"

"And just how did you deal with what had happened?"

"We talked. She explained that she really didn't want to be a total baby, just to be taken care of. After that I took her shopping to replace all the frozen and junk food she had in the house and I bought her the bed rails and baby monitor. Then I spent the rest of the night and weekend taking care of her and chores around the house. I also spanked her for disobedience over several things"

"How did Ali take that?" asked Auggie because now was the pivotal point in her assessment of just what needed to be done to bring their little Ali back. If she accepted Gibbs punishing her then she knew that she might have to ask him to force her hand one more time. If she didn't and freaked out then it was going to be a long, slow process of getting Ali comfortable with each member of her family again before she felt comfortable enough to be Ali with them.

"Except for leaving her in the corner wearing a wet diaper for to long she took it very well. The next morning when I went to wake her up she couldn't believe that I still wanted to be with her"

"That's because most people Ali has tried to be in a relationship with either ran as soon as they found out about her wearing diapers or left after punishing her. You may have been the first man to stay and comfort her. What about you Tobias, how did you become Ali's "Papa"?" asked Auggie as she turned her attention to the other man. He had been standing there listening to Jethro recount his first weekend with Ali a soft gleam in his eyes. I was apparent to everyone here that both men cared very deeply for Ali and would do anything to get their girl back.

"Uhhh...actually mine took a little longer. Jethro and I had been working a case together and I sort of spent a lot of time over here with him and Ali, eventually we asked Ali what she thought about us starting a relationship with each other." said Tobias then cleared his throat. Although he wasn't ashamed of his relationship with Jethro he still wasn't that comfortable talking about the logistics of it either. Especially when it came to how they got together and what they did.

"And what did she say to that?"

At that question Tobias and Jethro both smiled and each gave a small sort of laugh "She actually asked us what took us so long" answered Jethro.

"Now that's, our Ali/Allison" said Auggie with a big smile on her face and a little laugh. After moment later she became serious again. "Have you ever punished her Tobias?"

"Yes, twice in total since Jethro and I got together with a few more swats on her leg or butt just to remind her I meant business" said Tobias truthfully

"And you Jethro, how many times have you had to punish Ali in the time you've been her "Daddy"?"

"Spanking and corner time, only three. But like Tobias I have had to swat her a few more time to remind her to behave"

"And has she had problems with either of you punishing her?"

"No, matter of fact after a punishment she is usually really good for a while then when she gets comfortable again she slips" replied Tobias

"That's typical Ali, it all goes back to her wanting to please her father. Now that she see's the two of you as her "daddy" and "papa" she will want to please you, but like any child will also test her boundaries to see what she can get away with"

"Oh she certainly has done that" laughed Gibbs

"I'm glad, that means she is truly comfortable with the two of you so I don't see any problems with you helping to pull her back. Now what about the rest of her family? Has she allowed anyone other than Jethro or Tobias to change her or give her a bottle?" asked Auggie as she looked at the rest of Ali's family

"We can all give her a bottle or her pacifier and cuddle with her but only Ziva and I have actually changed her. And that was when only Gibbs wasn't there" said Abby

"Then she is further along in accepting this family as her own than I had hoped, and for that I am very grateful it will make our fight a little easier. Now here's what were are going to have to do, we need to give her the time she's asked for"

At everyone gasp, Auggie held up her hand for silence and continued. "Probably not as much as she wants but at least a few days because if I know Ali the longer we let her think the more time she has to convince herself that this is what she needs to do. We need to show her that being Ali is just as important as being Allison. So we give her a few days then Jethro and Tobias go down to the beach house and almost re-enact their first times with Ali. Tobias you might have to force her hand a little since you sort of eased your way into her life as Ali but I don't see a problem with that since she already thinks of you as her papa. The rest of you will have to slowly work your way back into Ali's life, almost like you did the first time. Spending a few hours with her, reading her a story, or maybe taking her to one of her favorite places. It's going to be a slow saturation process but if we push her with to many people at once she will just clam up"

At their laugh, Auggie smiled. They obviously had all dealt with a clammed up Ali

"We can do that, right guys?" asked Tony as he looked around and received nods from everyone in the room.

"Auggie, Tobias and I would feel better if we could see her just to make sure she was alright and taking care of herself" said Gibbs

"That's the beauty of Ali being at the beach house. I asked her when she called me if you had installed cable and internet when you fixed up the place. She said you had so you can just tap into our video conferences without opening a window for her to see you. I can give you the program and ip address and I'm sure McGee here can show you what to do." said Auggie with a smile.

"Of course boss, and I can get you link into the security system to so you can watch Ali whenever you want" said Tim enthusiastically

"That might not be a wise idea for your sanity to watch her all day long but I don't see why a few hours wouldn't hurt, with the understanding that you don't go down there until I give you the word. I mean it Jethro, Tobias. If you burst in on her to soon she will push you away for good and you will lose not only Ali but Allison as well."

"As hard as it may be you need to give her the time and space she's asked for and be thankful that she at least has let you know where she is. She could have just as easily taken off some where and not sent you that recording or not even called me for that matter. She has grown since she's been with both of you, now it's time for you to let you're little girl do just a little bit more. Hopefully when this is all over you will still have your "baby Ali", probably not the same. Since she doesn't even sound like the same "baby Ali" that I knew, but she will still be you're "baby girl" or "little one" maybe just closer to two years old than eighteen months" said Auggie with a smile.

"Ohhhh great...the terrible two's" said Tony with a groan

"What's wrong Tony, Ali should fit right in with you then" answered Tobias and at that everyone laughed and the mood of the room lighten considerably.

After that they spent almost an hour filling Auggie in on their favorite things to do with Ali and regaling her with all of their Ali stories. Around two o' clock Auggie suggested that they all get some sleep and a room was offered to her as well, as everyone departed to their bedroom Augustina Chandler faced the two most important men in Allison Gibbs-Fornell's life. With a warm smile she surprised each man with a hug then said as she pulled back.

"I want to thank you for saving my Ali for me. I was really worried about her before she meet you Jethro but you saved her and you gave her the happy childhood she deserves, and you Tobias for accepting her like she is and loving her unconditionally. Thank you both" with that Auggie quickly left the living room going to the room that was now her's in the Gibbs-Fornell household.

As the two men watched her leave they turned to each other and almost melted into each other's arms.

"Do you think we can do it Tobias, do you think we can get our baby girl back?" asked Gibbs softly as he rested his head against Tobias' chest.

"With that lady and our family Ali doesn't stand a chance Jethro, but don't worry babe. We'll get her back, I promise we'll get her back" whispered Tobias then lead Jethro to their bedroom upstairs where together they made sweet love to each other affirming their love for each other and Ali.