Chapter Three Act Two
Ziva and Tony are coming down the stairs where Jenny is watching Gibbs entertaining Zach.
"New hires just keep getting younger, Madam Director?"* Tony asks smiling.
"He is younger than the girl who came in here earlier," Jenny says raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry about that, Director," Tony says. "The babysitter bailed. It won't happen again."
"And what about tomorrow?" Jenny asks.
"Hopefully we'll have this case wrapped up by then," Tony says with a little grin.
"Here's hoping," Jenny says nodding to him then turns to Ziva, "Tell Gibbs I want to see him up stairs."
Then Jenny walks past them and up the stairs.
"She took that better than I thought," Tony says as he and Ziva walk down the stairs. "Is it me or because of Gibbs?"
"Gibbs," Ziva states knowing it was true.
"You know they had a thing together." Tony whispers. "In Paris."
"Nervous, Tony?" Ziva asks.
"No," Tony says defensively. "Gibbs loves me."
"Then you have nothing to worry about," Ziva says and walks away to her desk.
Tony walks to his desk.
"The Director wants to see you, boss," Tony says trying not to look at Gibbs for a reaction at the sentence. "I'm putting out a BOLO out on the vehicle."
He is typing on his computer when he slightly jumps at the sound of Zach's voice behind him, "KT2 089." *
Getting a hold of himself, Tony turns to Zach and asks, "What?"
"The license plate," Zach says. "I think I have it right."
"Good job, Zach," Tony says.
"Hi, McGee," Angel says seeing the agent stepping off the elevator.
"Hi, Angel," McGee says as he walks towards the little girl. "Where's Abby?"
"Chip got some Caf-Pow on his shirt," Angel says as she spins on the stool. "So he went to the bathroom to wash it off,"
"That doesn't tell me where Abby went," McGee
"Oh," Angel says as she stops spinning to face McGee. "She went to get us some replacement Caf-Pows."
"She left you alone?" McGee asks.
"I told her I would be fine," Angel says. "Besides I'm here to make sure Chip didn't do anything wrong,"
"Abby told you to do this?" McGee asks hoping the answer was no.
"No," Angel says not seeing McGee relax. "I came up with this all by myself. He's up to something. And I'm going to stop him"
"Hey, McGee," Abby says coming into the room. "Let's do this,"
"Huh?" McGee says looking at Abby flabbergasted by what Angel just told him. "Oh right."
McGee takes one last look at Angel who is smiling sweetly before he goes to work.
Angel opens the front door letting Gibbs and Zach into the house.
"Want a drink, Zach?" Angel asks heading towards the kitchen.
"Sure," The boy says following her into the kitchen.
"Then we can see the boat in the basement," Angel says as she opens the fridge door.
"There's really a boat in the basement?" Zach asks afraid she is pulling his leg. "A full size boat?"
"It's not finished," Angel says handing Zach a soda. "You can help build."
"I'll mess it up,"* Zach whispers sitting down at the table.
"No you won't," Angel says smiling at Zach. "I'll show you."
Zach follows Angel to the basement.
"Daddy?" Angel calls down the stairs. "Are you ready?"
"Bring him, Angel," Gibbs response.
Angel smiles at Zach before walking down the basement stairs.
Zach follows Angel down the stairs stopping at the sight of the unfinished boat.
"Impressive, right?" Angel says going to stand next to her dad. "Come down and help."
Zach walks down the remaining stairs coming to the stop on the concrete floor.
"First…"Angel starts pulling out an object from under the tool bench and hands it to Zach. "Here, puts this on."
Zach unbundles the t-shirt and looks at the front of it.
"What is NIS?" Zach asks.
"Naval Investigative Services," Angel says. "It's what NCIS was called before it was called NCIS."
"Oh," Zach says and puts on the t-shirt.
"Come here, Zach," Gibbs says.
After working for a few hours, Angel phones for some pizza realizing that her papa wasn't coming home that night.
"Pepperoni extra cheese?" Angel asks Zach and her dad.
"Alright," Zach says.
"Sounds good, Angel," Gibbs says.
Neither looked away from working on the boat.
Angel, feeling dejected and ignored, goes upstairs with a frown on her face.
"Daddy?" Angel asks as Gibbs goes out of the room after tucking her in.
Gibbs turns around to face his daughter, "Yeah, Angel?"
"Do you…" Angel starts talking to her lap. "Sometime wish…I was a boy?"
"Never," Gibbs automatically says. "What makes you think to ask something like that?"
"I saw the way you interacted with Zach," Angel says looking up at her dad. "And I got to thinking…"
Gibbs walks over to her and sits on the bed.
"Angela Maria* DiNozzo Gibbs, never think I want you to be anything other than the way you are," Gibbs says. "From the way you
Angel gives Gibbs a big hug, "Thanks, Daddy."
Gibbs hugs her back, "Now go to sleep."
"Yes, Daddy," Angel says letting go of Gibbs and lying down. "Goodnight, Daddy."
Gibbs kissing Angel on the forehead then says, "Goodnight, Angel."
"Thanks for looking after them today, Ducky," Gibbs whispers as he look at the two kids standing on the other side of Autopsy.
Zach is in clean clothes that Tony retrieved from his house.
Angel is in all brown – tank top, shorts, flips flops, and hair thingies.
"Sorry if it puts you out."
"Nonsense, Jethro," Ducky whispers back. "I love the company."
Then Ducky turns to Gibbs and whispers, "But I have to ask why isn't Abigail watching them?"
"Angel doesn't like Chip," Gibbs whispers.
"Oh," Ducky whispers his eyes going wide.
Suddenly the autopsy doors open.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Doctor Mallard," Palmer says rushing into the room then stops at the sight of the other man. "Oh. Agent Gibbs I…I didn't see you there."
Gibbs smiles and says, "Come here, Angel."
Once his daughter is closer, Gibbs says, "Angel, I want you to meet Jimmy Palmer. Cub*, meet my daughter, Angel."
"Hi," Jimmy mumbles not really knowing what to say.
"Hi, Jimmy," Angel says smiling. "Don't worry about not knowing about me. McGee and Ziva were in the dark, too."
"Oh," Jimmy says fluttered.
"Angela and Zachary will be staying down here for the day," Ducky says.
"Alright," Jimmy says. "Do you want to play a game?"
"Pictionary?" Angel asks.
"Ok," Jimmy says. "That's good with you, Zach?"
"Sure," Zach says.
"Are you going to play, Ducky?" Angel
"In a bit,"
"Bye, Daddy," Angel says as Gibbs walks out of the room. "Ok it's one on one on one until Ducky starts playing then…"
The elevator doors close cutting off the rest of her sentence.
End of Chapter
* Direct quote
* This is the license plate with the last two numbers different because it's stated that Zach missed two numbers.
* Maria is the name of Tony's mom
* The nickname Cub will be explained in 'Split Decision Redux' (formally called 'A Prelude to Split Decision') – Split Decision being the first episode with Palmer, all the way back in the first season. It is in just this season that he is in the main credits. It's about time.
Random fact – only five people were killed in the Boston Massacre
Really.
Look it up if you don't believe me.