Chapter 7
Gibbs arrived late in the cinema, meeting Ziva and Tim, who were sitting at a table while Jackson was buying popcorn and chocolate for them. After giving up on waiting for Jenny, he'd decided to join his family for a Saturday movie and seeing him, Tim's face lit up.
"Daddy! I thought you weren't coming."
Gibbs smiled, ruffling the boy's hair with his navy cap and pulled a chair to sit with them.
"Change of plans. What are we going to watch?"
"Ice Age 4." Ziva replied smiling, showing him the folder. "Remember we watched it in Iraq?"
Gibbs took the paper, seeing the image of icebergs with many cartoon animals on top and he raised a gray eyebrow, with flashes of the last cartoon his children had made him watch.
"4? I thought it was still in the second part."
"Daddy, you're too outdate." The girl said, rolling her eyes and shaking her curls.
Gibbs slapped her lightly on the back of the head and Ziva looked surprised with her brown eyes, before laughing along with her father. It had been a long time since the last time he had heard the giggle of his children or heard the melodious laughter of his daughter and he was happy with that.
"Tim, tell me about the first 3 movies." Gibbs suggested and the boy began to resume the previous movies, explaining the plot to Gibbs and Gibbs forget about Jenny for a while, concentrating on the afternoon with his family and in the youngest child's voice.
Jackson returned to the table carrying a bucket of popcorn, chocolate and soda and seeing that his son had joined them, he said:
"Leroy! What a good surprise!" Although Jackson was happy, his eyes as blue as his son's eyes, met with Gibbs for a moment, confirming that the date hadn't happened and Jackson ignored it then. He then looked at the bottle of soda, worried. "Should I buy more?"
"Relax dad. I'll buy a coffee." Gibbs replied, motioning to the coffee machine that was there in the cafeteria and rising. "And don't eat much salt." He warned, seeing the amount of butter on that popcorn that his father had bought and Jackson laughed, offering popcorn to the children.
Inside the cinema, Ziva and Tim sat between their father and grandfather, talking about the movie and Gibbs looked around and saw that most of the audience were children accompanied by their parents. The children talked and fought for popcorn while their parents laughed and kissed and Gibbs looked to a couple who was kissing, feeling and thinking about Jenny and he looked away because the woman he was watching was a redhead.
That morning things had gone well between them, with a lovely breakfast and exchanged of caresses. Something told him that Jenny hadn't given up on talking with him and Gibbs decided that night he would go to her house to know what happened. If she then told him she didn't want anything with him, he would move from her, for his children. The lights went out and the kids started getting excited and he sighed, leaning back in his chair and he put his coffee on the side.
"Wow, the special effects from this movie is incredible, there has an evolution since the firsts movies and-" Tim was saying happily, with his computer's knowledge, superior from any 6 years old boy and Ziva interrupted him.
"Timmy! I want to watch the movie!" The brunette cried, because she couldn't pay attention with her brother talking and the youngest shut up, turning quite to the movie, only observing the graphic.
Ziva, not wanting to see her little brother sad because she hushed him, took her mm's chocolate and gave to him, smiling and Tim smiled too, taking the chocolate and sharing with his sisters while they watched the movie
Hours later, Gibbs and his family were at home after an afternoon at the cinema and Gibbs was helping his father in the store with the last customers. Jackson was behind the counter, bagging purchases for a old woman while his son were labeling some canned and the older man asked:
"Leroy, last night Sheriff Ed and I had a chat. You remember him?"
"Yeah." Gibbs replied, annoyed.
Sheriff Ed had been working in the city since he had been a teenager and he often implicated with him, saying he was a troublemaker. Jackson shook his head, amused, while the old woman paid him, leaving the store.
"He insists he wants you working on the police here."
Gibbs said nothing as he picked up a can. He knew he should think about getting a job soon, because he couldn't stay forever working in the store with his father. But the idea of working with the sheriff bothered him.
"You need to think about something Leroy, now that you have retired from the marine."
"I don't want to work with the sheriff dad." Gibbs replied, gritting his teeth and Jackson sighed, taking off his apron, going to his son.
"You won't work for him. Ed decided to retire and Paul Watson will take his place. Remember Paul?"
"That friend of yours who played poker on Tuesdays with you?" Gibbs asked, raising an eyebrow and putting aside what he was doing and the his father smiled.
"He was the police chief and now that he will be the sheriff, he'll need someone to take his place. You should accept so." Jackson advised him before going to the window, to close the curtains.
Gibbs, surprised by the news about Ed, decided to go to the police station on Monday. Being a police in Stillwater might not be as exciting as his time spent in the Marine, but still was something and wiyh his money from then marine, it would give him a d his kids a good life, Gibbs thought.
"We're about to close. But come in."
Gibbs heard his father talking to someone and turned to the door, where his father was giving space for a woman to enter.
"Sorry, I came to buy canned asparagus." Jenny stopped in front of Gibbs, biting her cheek nervously.
"Jen?" He asked surprised, looking at her brown coat and boots. He then smirked. "Asparagus, really?"
"I like asparagus." She defended herself, squinting, but then relaxed, smiling as he murmured 'rabbit food'.
Jackson approached and stood between the two, smiling.
"So, are you Jenny Shepard?"
"It's me." She said, smiling and shaking his hand. "Are you Mr. Gibbs?"
"Leroy's father. Call me Jackson." He then looked at the woman from the bottom up, stopping at her red hair and seeing that she had some similarities with his son's former wife. "My son has given you a lot of trouble?"
Jenny laughed and Gibbs threw a warning glance at his father, who ignored him and Jenny replied, winking to Gibbs:
"A little. But he knows how to be charming when he wants to."
"The asparagus, Jen." Gibbs stressed, motioning for her to follow him to the canned vegetable section, before his father could say something embarrassing.
The redhead followed him and he handed her a can and Jenny took it, her hand brushing against his lightly and she stared deep into his eyes. She felt bad for not going to meet him in the afternoon, but with the phone call she had received, her mood had been very bad and she ended being late.
"I know what you will say, but anyway, sorry for not showing up today." She said, her voice soft and Gibbs stared at her, looking her up and down to see if she was okay.
"Did something happen?" He asked in a low and worried voice and she shook her head, denying.
"I'm fine." She replied slowly, playing with the can in her hands. "Ryan called me and I ended up being late for our date."
"Tony and Abby's father?" Gibbs asked, frowning and Jenny confirmed, her eyes hard.
Gibbs thought it was strange because Jenny had told him that Ryan hadn't sought them for years but he decided not to force her to say anything at that moment and then changed the subject:
"Why don't you bring Tony and Abby to have dinner here?" He suggested and the redhead smiled.
"Your father won't mind?"
"No, he loves company. And Ziva spoke of all of you, so he will love it."
Jenny smiled with what Gibbs told her and she said:
"Your dad is very kind." Gibbs made a motion with his head and she added, with gentle eyes: "We'll accept, I'll get my children."
"I'll go with you."
Ten minutes later, they were inside Jenny's car, parked on the snowy street in front of her house. When Jenny turned off the car and put her hand on the door, Gibbs covered her hand with his, stopping her. Jenny turned to him, her green eyes curious and Gibbs asked with serious eyes:
"Jen, what did Ryan want?"
Jenny dropped the handle and took a deep breath.
"He didn't say exactly what he wanted. But I think he wants my children's custody." Jenny rubbed her forehead and Gibbs approached his face to hers, his blue eyes shining intently and Jenny felt like she would melt. He dropped her hand that was on her forehead and lifted her chin.
"Jenny, I'll help you. Abby and Tony need a normal childhood as you deserve to be happy."
Jenny was thrilled with his words and smiled in thanks. Gibbs was unique, charming, headstrong, brave but gentle and determinated and she not only adored his kids, but she was falling for him.
For Gibbs, the month he'd been there, seeing her children, he had created affection for them and couldn't imagine that strange man, who, although being father of Jenny's children, appearing to take them away after years. And Jenny was becomming special for him, beauiful, smart, gentle and stronghead too, with a place in his heart.
Jenny held the gaze and swore:
"I won't let the bastard get my kids."
She then closed the distance between them, kissing him on the lips and Gibbs was surprised, before wrapping her waist with his hands and she put her hands around his neck brushing her fingernails on his skin. Gibbs ran his tongue on her lower lip and Jenny parted her lips, allowing his entrance as he gently pulled her from her seat, bringing her up on his legs. The two kissed for a while, until they broke to breathe and Jenny smiled, touching her forehead with his, and Gibbs smiled back, stroking her cheek.
"Let's talk after dinner?" She murmured, enjoying his touch and he agreed, before she she left his lap and got out from the car to get her children.
Inside the car, waiting, a smirk appeared on Gibbs's face, seeing Jenny smiling and watching him from the door, before going inside to call her children.
Jenny, I got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny don't change your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
TBC