Hey, guys. Sooooo sorry for the long time between updates. I had an interesting summer, to say the least, that didn't lead to as much creativity as I thought it would. None at all, for that matter. School's resumed for me now, which hopefully will be my last year of college, before taking a year or so off before pursuing grad school for something. Or not. I haven't decided yet. I just really wanna graduate and live an independent life that doesn't involve homework and pesky classes! Lol.
This chapter wouldn't exist without the assistance my friend, Christine, who helped prompt me through a considerable amount of nasty, nasty writer's block and helped me elaborate on a few ideas to get me going again. Thanks, Christine!
Non-sequitur (love that word): smartkid37 let me know in a review that I hadn't written Gibbs giving the twins a first birthday gift in chapter 2. Oops! Thanks for catching that for me. I added a friend's suggestions in. Go back and check it out, if you want. :)
I don't own any references to or things borrowed from "Honor Code" (season 3.)
Oh, also, just in case, I don't own quotes borrowed from, references to, Subzero: Batman and Mr. Freeze (1992), my favorite Batman movie. Don't sue me, I am a broke college student! :/
Oh, and I also don't own the Abby quote in this chapter that I borrowed from "Witch Hunt" (season 4.) But it's just too perfect not to use. :)
Here's chapter 4. Enjoy. :)
Chapter 4
On July 3, McGee planned to attend an annual fundraiser to raise money for Hodgkin's Disease research at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He had gone solo for the last three years, but this year, decided to ask Abby to escort him.
"Hey, Boss?" McGee asked, going over to Gibbs' desk near the end of the day.
Gibbs looked up. "Yeah, McGee?"
"Listen... I've been invited to go to a fundraiser tonight, to raise money for Hodgkin's Disease," McGee began. "My nanny's going out of town tonight to take care of her mom, who broke her hip... She's leaving as soon as I get home after work, but I have to go to this fundraiser... Would you mind... babysitting tonight?"
"Sure thing, McGee," said Gibbs. "What time's the fundraiser?"
"Six, so I'm going to change here, then head over," said McGee. "If you could just relieve Tiff as soon as possible, feed them dinner and entertain them 'till we get back around Midnight, that'd be great."
Gibbs nodded. McGee could see he was trying not to smile; he loved spending time with Sean and Lily.
"OK, count me in," said Gibbs.
"Thanks, Boss. I really appreciate it," McGee said, sighing with relief.
"No problem," Gibbs said, nodding.
The fundraiser started at six, so upon getting off work at five, McGee changed into his suit and tie, then went down to Abby's lab to get her. He didn't know what Abby was wearing, so he was looking forward to being surprised.
Abby wasn't in the front of her lab when he entered.
"Abby?" he called, looking around.
McGee began to make his way toward the back room, when he saw Abby changing. He stopped before he got a good look at her, back-tracked, and waited.
A few minutes later, Abby came out and met him by the main lab entrance doors.
"Hey, McGee," she said cheerfully, smiling.
For a moment, McGee was stunned into speechlessness.
Abby was wearing a long, strapless red dress with a V-neckline and white sparkles and inch-and-a-half black RSVP Gigi heels. Her hair was half up and half down, most of it up in an elegant twist and some straight tendrils left down, with her bangs slicked to the right side. She had topped off her look with deep maroon lipstick.
"Why are you looking at me like that, McGee? Do I have food in my teeth or something?" Abby asked him quietly.
"N-no," McGee stammered. "You look beautiful."
Abby smiled. "Thanks," she said, before she linked her arm with his. "You don't look half-bad yourself."
McGee smiled and they took the elevator up to the bullpen, where everyone was waiting to see what they looked like, before leaving.
"Wow, Abby," Tony said, "you're a knockout. McGee'd better hang on tight to you tonight."
Abby smiled appreciatively.
"Have fun tonight," said Ziva.
"Thanks, we will," Abby said.
Gibbs came over and gave her a parting peck on the cheek, then everyone went home and McGee and Abby went to the fundraiser.
It was being held in a large ballroom at the Tabaq Bistro. People had already arrived and were milling around, chatting, and drinking champagne and snacking on hors d'oeuvres. It was a good turnout. A live pianist was playing a gentle romantic piece near the dance floor.
Upon entering the ballroom, McGee froze.
"What's wrong, McGee?" Abby asked, looking up at him.
McGee came out of his thoughts and looked down at her.
"Oh... nothing," he said.
"Come on, McGee," Abby said imploringly, looking up at him. "You know I know you better than that."
McGee was silent for a moment, then said, "Well, um... it's just always hard at first to come to this. It brings up a lot of memories. Not of this, but..."
Abby nodded and rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"When you're ready," she said quietly.
McGee nodded and took a moment to take some deep breaths and looked around at the room. A banner hung on the wall behind the tables of food, saying "BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER." Several tables were set for the dinner. There was also a band set up on a stage next to the piano.
McGee visibly relaxed after the cheerful emcee greeted them and bid them to have a good time. McGee joined in on a conversation, and after a few minutes, turned to Abby and asked, "Well, before your dance cart fills up, may I?"
Abby smiled and let him escort her out to the dance floor. They danced close to the slow, romantic song the pianist played. Then the band began to play Benny Goodman's "Swing Swing Swing." Abby and McGee swing-danced together for the duration of the song, then they walked out onto the front balcony that overlooked a reflecting pool with a fountain.
"Hey, I thought you wanted to dance some more?" Abby asked.
"I do, but... I just needed some fresh air," said McGee, looking out evasively at the fountain.
"It's OK to miss her, McGee," Abby said. "You're doing a good thing by coming to this and giving a donation and all, but that doesn't make missing her any easier."
McGee nodded and pulled her close to him.
"I don't know what I would have done, if it hadn't been for you and Gibbs and Tony and everyone," McGee said quietly. "It's been almost five years, but it still feels like yesterday that she died."
Abby nodded against his shoulder. "It's not going to just go away overnight," she said. "It was a really tough time. But you'll always have us to help you out."
"I know," said McGee. "Thanks, Abby."
Abby smiled and leaned into his strong, tall frame.
After some time, they went back inside and sat down to eat. McGee got them each a glass of red wine and they toasted to their friendship.
Meanwhile, Gibbs had picked up Sean and Lily from McGee's house and taken them over to his house. He had cooked them macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs for dinner, and now they could be found in his dimly-lit basement. Both kids were wearing 'honorary NCIS agent' badges pinned to their shirts. Both kids were coloring with markers, as Gibbs sanded the side of his newest boat. He hadn't yet named it.
"Uncle Gibbs, can I ask you a question?" Sean asked.
"Yeah, shoot," said Gibbs.
"How are you gonna get this out of here when it's finished?"
"Good question. I don't know. I haven't thought about it much."
"I think, maybe you could use a pulley system or something," Sean suggested.
"Yeah?" Gibbs asked. "I could dig a ramp, knock that wall out and hoist it outta here." He looked over at Sean and Lily. "Do you want to give me a hand?"
"Hmmm," said Sean. "Don't know how."
"Come on, I'll give you a hand," said Gibbs. "It's easy."
"I don't want to ruin it," said Sean.
"You're not gonna run anything. Come here." Sean hopped down from his chair and came over and stood in front of Gibbs, on a stepladder. Gibbs placed Sean's hands on the sanding tool, then placed his hands over Sean's and began the gentle back-and-forth motion. "See? You always want to go with the grain of wood. Put your weight behind it. Back and forth, real even."
After a few minutes, Lily wanted to try, so Gibbs showed her how, then let her help him.
"Uncle Gibbs," she said, when she paused, "I want to build my own."
"You can, when you're older," said Gibbs.
"No, I mean I want to build my own miniature one," said Lily, "right now."
Gibbs nodded. "We can do that," he said. He gathered together enough balsa wood for them to put together their own miniature boats.
As they were sanding their boats, Sean looked up and asked, "Uncle Gibbs, what kind of boat is it?"
"A Glen L-Design," Gibbs answered.
A couple hours later, the boats were finished and it was about time for the kids to be read a bedtime story and go to bed.
Gibbs drove them back to their house and gave them a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup for a bedtime snack. Then he settled them into their bunk bed, Sean on the top bunk, Lily on the bottom bunk, then sat in Anna's rocking chair to read them a story. Gibbs scanned their bookshelf and decided on "Where The Wild Things Are."
By the end of the story, both kids were yawning.
"Alright, bedtime," said Gibbs.
"But we're not sleepy," Lily whined.
Gibbs smiled. "Oh, but your yawns beg to differ," he said.
Lily smiled and rolled her eyes.
"You know, you look—" Gibbs began.
"— just like my mommy when I do that. Yeah, I know," Lily finished for him, before yawning again.
Gibbs smiled and nodded. "Goodnight, kiddos," he said, before turning on a nightlight for them, then leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
McGee arrived home around 12:30am to find Gibbs sitting in Anna's Ottoman chair, reading the newspaper.
"Hey, Boss," McGee whispered. "How'd things go tonight?"
"Just fine, Tim," Gibbs replied. He stood up, getting ready to leave.
"Thanks for doing this, Boss," said McGee. "I really appreciate it."
"S'alright, Tim, I don't mind a bit," Gibbs said. "They were great. Always are."
McGee smiled. "See you in the morning, Boss."
"Night, Tim," Gibbs said, smiling again, before leaving.
This chapter has been deleted and resubmitted, because a couple reviewers let me know they couldn't review, for some reason. FFN probably thinks the author note chapter 4 is still posted up, so it won't let people review for the real chapter 4, because the site thinks they already have or something... Anyway! So I decided to delete and resubmit. Readers, please let me know via PM or email if you're still having trouble reviewing, and I'll try to solve it.
You're welcome, Katyushinka, hehe... finally, right? Sorry it took me so long. I had some NASTY writer's block over the past four months.
A teaser of what to expect in chapter 5: take your son/daughter to work day for McGee gone wrong! Another Katyushinka idea in the making, slowly, to start this weekend, probably, or maybe tomorrow, not sure... I'll update as soon as I can.
Please review to tell me what you thought! Thanks!