Title: The Back to School Picnic
Author: NickyK
Summary: Just a little story about the Gibbs gang- plus two- enjoying a day at the park with some sensual undertones.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS
Jenny Shepard pulled up to the park where the Annual Big Brother Big Sister Back to School picnic was being held. It was a beautiful day. The sky was a dazzlingly blue with white feathery clouds, while a light breeze flowed throughout the city. Dressed comfortably in a pair of khaki colored Capri's and a white stretch tee, she started across the park. The two day event, co-sponsored by the United State's Navy, had kicked off the day before with a lunch and a book-bag give away. Today would end the event with a picnic with current and past participants and tons of activities to help raise money for next year's event. She made her way through the crowd, greeting people as she went. She was stopped several times along her way and introduced to family and friends or some other important person associated with the event. Easing herself away, she wandered across the park, her eyes on the lookout for more familiar faces.
A drink appeared out of nowhere making Jenny stop suddenly or risk said drink spilling all over her white shirt. Her eyes traveled from the drink, up the out-stretched arm, to the smiling face of Agent Tony DiNozzo.
"Thought you might be thirsty."
She raised one perfectly arched brow at him.
"Lemonade. Non-alcoholic," he supplied. "I'm on a drink run."
He indicated the box he was balancing on his other arm with several similar cups inside filled with different colorful liquids. She smiled her thanks as she accepted the cup. She took a sip scanning the crowd looking for the familiar silver-head agent she knew wouldn't be far away, while falling into step beside Tony.
"I'll take you to the rest of the team," said Tony, "you'll find them over by the shade. Seems some ten-year old girl demanded we get out of the sun. Said something about having a natural tan unlike the rest of us."
Jenny nearly choked on her drink as laughter bubbled up inside of her. "Did she really say that?"
"Well, maybe not in so many words but, yeah," Tony answered looking thoughtful. "Do you think she was trying to tell us something?"
Jenny just smirked as she finally spotted the group. Abby, Ziva and Tim were relaxing on a bench watching in amusement as Gibbs was "attacked" by two rambunctious mini-agents. She smiled fondly, signaling to the group not to alert the trio to her approach, while Tony passed around the drinks. She watched Gibbs, noting once again how good he was with kids as he pretended to fend himself against two very enthusiastic kids.
This Gibbs was a far cry from the one who'd baulked at the very idea of volunteering as a Big Brother for the event which began two years ago. She'd tried to cajole him into accepting the role, using all the charm she'd possessed and them some but he'd been adamant about it, refused to even consider it. Until she'd finally had to guilt him into it.
"Jethro, we needed volunteers so I volunteered you. Besides, who better to be a role model for one of these young boys."
"Not me, Jen."
His voice was firm, his face set in a way that would normally have her backing off. She tilted her head, studying him, wondering what his refusal was really all about. She considered that maybe being around children was difficult for him because of Kelly but quickly dismissed that idea. She'd seen him around kids and he was a natural. No other reasons came to mind and frankly, she really didn't have time to analyze him.
This was the first time that the Navy had been asked to participate, NCIS agents and staff in particular and she wanted this to be a success. It was important to her that the kids and parents who signed up for this event knew that they were getting people who cared and respected their situations. Granted, it was only this one time, just for a weekend, but it mattered to her. And if at least one child took something away from that weekend that inspired them to succeed despite their circumstances, she would consider it a huge success.
Jenny came around her desk, sitting on the edge in front of him. Her voice was soft as she spoke. "Jethro, I don't know why you're so against this but I need you to do this. You're good with kids, you understand them and that's what they need--someone who listens and gives them undivided attention. Even if its only for a couple of days. Most of these kids are from single parent homes or children of divorces parents being shuffled back and forth. I'm not asking you to have any contact with your ward after this is over. All I'm asking is that you use your natural talent for putting kids at ease to use for one weekend." She paused and kneeled down next to him, placing her hands on his legs. "Please reconsider, Jethro, if not for me, then for the little boy you'd be helping."
Their eyes met and held and Jenny could feel the magnetic pull of attraction that usually wound its way between them when their guards were down. One of them would inevitably pull away but this time, Jenny noticed, he didn't shrink away from it and to her own surprise, she found she didn't want to either. He lifted his hand and ran his finger down her cheek and Jenny's breath caught in her throat.
"I would've done it for you, Jen." His voice was equally as soft as her own had been and she had no doubt in her mind that had Cynthia not interrupted them that very moment, he would have sealed it with a kiss. And she would have let him.
And that was how 10-year old Monica Jones and 12-year old Keith Wasson came into their lives. Monica, eight at that time, was a beautiful, brown eyed, dark-skinned girl who looked like a china doll. She was outspoken and fearless. Coming from a home with two older brothers all being raised by a single father, who worked long hours and late nights, she longed for a mother-figure. After Jenny was assigned to her as her "big sister", they discovered they both shared the loss of their mothers at an early age and a connection was immediately formed. Jenny had been volunteering with the young girl as much as her scheduled allowed.
Jethro had been assigned to 10-year old Keith. Theirs was an awkward beginning and it took Gibbs the whole weekend to get the little boy to even speak to him. Keith was a total opposite of Monica. With his shocking blue eyes, reddish-blond hair and adorably cute display of freckles, he was extremely sweet; yet he was completely awkward in his own body. Taller than most boys his age, Keith just didn't know what to do with himself, which caused him to be a bit clumsy at times. He was shuffled between his parents, spending every other weekend with a father that was too busy and a mother who tried her best but couldn't give him that confidence he needed. Jenny and Monica had spent most of their time at the event with Gibbs and Keith and it was Monica who actually discovered the young boy liked boats. Once he found out that Gibbs built them, it was like the dam had been release.
Now, as Jenny watched them, she couldn't help but wonder what life would have been like had she had Jethro's child. The thought came so suddenly that Jenny gasped and nearly choked her lemonade.
"Director? Are you alright?" asked Ducky, who seemed to appear out of thin air.
"I'm fine," she assured, knowing her face was flaming red. She was sure everyone was looking at her.
Alerted to her presence by the sound of her voice, the three stopped tussling and made their way over to her.
"Miss Jenny, what's the matter? Why your face so red?" asked Monica, straight to the point as usual.
"I swallowed wrong. That's all. " She explained, feeling Jethro's eyes on her but refusing to look up.
"Oh, well, its about time you got here. I thought we were going have to forfeit the race."
Jenny frowned at Monica. "What race?" she asked and immediately noticed the rest of the group found other things to look at.
"Mr. Gibbs signed us up for the three-legged race," explained Keith. "It was going to be girls against boys but Monica thought it would be fun to make it young against old." At Jenny's sharp look, he gulped. "Those were Monica's words." he said hastily, backing away from the two adults.
Monica however, was unfazed as usual. "I didn't mean old as in elderly, I just meant old as in older than us."
"Uh-huh," muttered Jenny.
"The rest of them are going to do it to," continued Monica. "Tony and Ziva are a team and Abby and Tim are a team and Keith and I are a team. Ducky's going to sit this one out."
Jenny frowned. "Who am I racing with?"
Monica rolled her eyes. "You and Mr. Gibbs, silly. Duh."
"Oh, right. Gibbs and I. That doesn't sound like an age thing, it sounds more like…" Jenny broke off as realization dawned. Monica was giggling and Keith was trying to hide a smile. Shocked at their manipulation, she raised her eyes to Jethro only to find him smirking at her.
"Are you sure you used to be an investigator?" sassed Monica.
"Alright, you," Jenny said grabbing the girl playfully and tickling her sides.
A horn sounded in the distance and Tony jumped down off the table.
"It's about time. I didn't think they'd ever get the games started. C'mon Ziva, lets go kick some three-legged a…"
"DiNozzo!" Jenny and Gibbs said at once.
"Mommy and Daddy don't like it when you use bad language around us younger kids," Monica informed him.
Jenny groaned. "You have been spending way too much time around Abby, young lady," said Jenny as they headed over to the get ready for the race. She pretended not to see the high-five exchange between the aforementioned girls.
The three-legged race began with the crowd enthusiastically cheering them on. Between watching the other teams try to maneuver their way down the length of the field and struggling to coordinate her efforts with Gibbs, she was almost doubled over with laughter.
"C'mon Jen, we could win this."
"Okay, okay." She straightened as much as she could and tried to find the right gait to help them toward the finish line. In truth, they were almost there. Only one other team was as close as they and that was Monica and Keith. Jenny chanced a glance behind her to see Tim stumbling on the ground while Abby hopped/dragged him down the field. Tony and Ziva were arguing too much to gain any ground. There were other teams but they were slower that Jenny and Gibbs. It made her giddy to realized that she and Gibbs might actually win this. The bragging rights over Tony and Ziva would make looking like an idiot in front of half her office and other Navy personnel worth it.
That was until she felt her free leg being kicked out from under her. She stumbled, trying unsuccessfully to catch her balance. She reached out to Gibbs which made him lose his balance and next thing she knew the ground was racing up to meet them. They fell with a hard thump and the wind knocked out of them but Jenny realized her fall was cushioned. She opened her eyes to find herself laying on top of Gibbs. Her eyes met his and Jenny couldn't help it; she laughed. A moment later, Gibbs joined her.
"Are you okay?" she asked him finally, when they'd both calmed down.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You?" Gibbs brushed her hair out of her face.
"I'm fine," she answered breathlessly. Her breast were pressed firmly against his chest and she could feel the rapid beat of his heart. Her nipples strained against him and Jenny leaned forward and moaned in his ear. She felt him stiffen, then take a ragged breath as his hand slipped further in her hair.
A throat cleared above them and they jerked apart, both suddenly realizing exactly where they were.
"Might not want to do that here, Boss." said Tony.
Gibbs untangled himself from the sack and helped Jenny to her feet. He glared at Tony and shot Ziva a look. She nodded and slapped Tony on the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"Well, you should've saw that coming, Tony," Keith said cheekily and Tony made a face at the young boy which made him laugh.
Someone in the crowd let out a wolf whistle and Jenny felt the heat rise to her face again. She ducked her head, pretending to look for dirt on her clothing and pointedly ignoring the snickering from the others around her.
"Well enough of this. It's time to get Miss Jenny ready for the dunk tank."
Jenny's head snapped up. "For the what?"
"The dunk tank. You're on the list. See." Monica reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. She unfolded it and held it up for Jenny to see. Sure enough, she was on the list.
Jenny placed her hands on her hips and glared at the group in front of her. "Why is my name on this list?"
"I volunteered you ," said Gibbs, looking way too smug for his own good.
"You did what?" she screeched loud enough that several passers-by looked curiously in their direction. "Why would you do that?"
Gibbs shrugged.. "They needed volunteers so I volunteered you."
Those were the same words she'd used on him to get him to volunteer to be a Big Brother two years ago. She definitely did not like hearing them thrown back in her face now.
"Jethro, do you think maybe you could have warned me. I'm wearing a white tee shirt for goodness sake. I'd be putting on a show for everyone here if I got wet," she argued.
His eyes gleamed as they traveled to her chest. "I wouldn't mind seeing that."
"Jethro!" She exclaimed, motioning toward Monica and Keith.
"Oh don't worry about me. I wouldn't mind either," Keith chimed in.
Jenny and Jethro both turned a warning glance toward the boy and he blushed red and took a step back. Abby and Monica grabbed one of his hands as they pulled him away.
"Let's go Keith and let the adults duke this out alone," said Abby as they led him away. Tony, Ziva and Tim were quick to follow.
Jenny turned back to Gibbs. "No, I'm not doing this. I can't.
"C'mon Jen, you can't back out now. Everyone's counting on you. Besides, do you know how many people are going to pay to try to dunk you? Think of all the proceeds that go back into the program's back to school fund."
"Well, since you put it that way," she said wryly as she rolled her eyes.
"That's my girl." He grabbed her hand and led her across the park toward the dunk tank station.
"No. Wait." She pulled him to a stop, her eyes shifting warily to the line that was already forming. "Jethro, the Director of NCIS can not go around wet with her breast on display," she hissed at him.
"Don't worry Jen. There's a NCIS tee shirt and shorts waiting for you in the changing station around the back. Now let's go. People are waiting to dunk you."
Jenny reluctantly let him pull her forward, silently contemplating delivering him her own version of a head-slap. He was enjoying this way too much, which was evident from the broad smile on his face and the mischievous gleam in his eye. It was nice, though, to see him happy and worry free. Lately, he'd seemed stressed and frustrated and Jenny had surmised that his latest case was getting to him. She was directed to a small changing room behind the duck tanks where sure enough, the tee shirt and shorts were waiting for her. She changed quickly, signaled she was ready and upon direction, ascended the stairs to complete her thirty minute stint with much trepidation.
She needn't had worried. Jethro had been right about the number of people willing to pay for a chance to dunk her but so far none of them had managed to do so. Each person was allowed one throw per turn and it was just Jenny's luck that the first few people were her employees. Either they were worried about the consequences for being the first one to dunk their boss or they all had horrible aim. And considering most of them carried weapons, she doubted aim was the case.
Finally, it was Jethro's turn and Jenny knew by the look in his eyes that her run of good fortune was over.
"Jethro Gibbs, I will make you pay dearly, if you dunk me," she threatened.
Gibbs chuckled. "That's what I'm counting on," he called out to her as he took aim and let loose.
Jenny heard the ball connect to its target and managed to take a deep breath before she fell with a splash into the water. She could hear the cheering from outside the tank. She rose, spluttering water with as much dignity as she could and climbed back on the seat. After that no one hesitated to send her into the water. Soon after her time was up and Jenny gladly handed the seat over to the next victim. She climbed carefully down the steps, only to be surprised by Jethro standing at the end with a towel. She smiled her thanks and let him wrap the towel around her. She trembled as he ran his hands along the towel and Jenny knew her reaction had nothing to do with being chilled.
The rest of the picnic went by fast. They ate, played more games and listened to the end of the day speeches before it was time to get the children to their respective homes. Jenny had just returned home after dropping off Monica when a car pulled up in the driveway. She turned the key to open the door, pausing to wait for her visitor to appear. A familiar figured made his way toward her. She leaned against the door.
"Agent Gibbs."
"Director."
"Haven't you had enough of me?" she asked teasingly.
He raised a brow but didn't answer the question.
"I believe you threatened me today, Director."
"Did I?" Her voice was quiet in the darkness, moonlight their only illumination.
He stepped closer, invading her personal space, his body teasing hers with its nearness.
"Yeah, you did," he murmured. "I'm here for my punishment."
His hands circled her waist as his lips covered hers. Jenny groaned, deepening the kiss and pressing her body firmly into his. Her arms circled his neck as a familiar heat started to make its way down her body. She pulled away, gripping his shirt as she tired to catch her breath.
"I think this punishment would be best served in my bedroom, Agent Gibbs."
He leaned forward and placed light kisses on her neck and Jenny actually thought her knees were going to buckle.
"Lead the way," he whispered.
She didn't need to be told twice.