Ch 7
Thank you to all who have reviewed, it definitely has kept this story alive. So this will be the end or so I think as of now.
20 Years Later
"I don't think I can do this." Tony whispered gloomily into his orange juice. His two companions smiled and saluted their scotch to him. His audience consisted of Gibbs and Harmon Rabb, now senior. The three were sitting at a table at a rehearsal dinner, the rehearsal was over, now it was just talking and drinking before everyone split up to prepare for the big day.
"You'll do fine." Gibbs reassured him, as him and Harm passed amusing glances at each other. Tony had been in denial ever since Olivia had showed off her engagement from Harmon Rabb Jr., one year ago.
The past twenty years had been good to the DiNozzo's, there had been ups and downs but mostly good fortune had fallen on the DiNozzo/Gibbs household. Olivia had graduated from school and went onto a university in Spain. She graduated and took a job in London where she met Harm Jr., who worked in the same office as her. They dated for two years before he popped the question. Tony was a little happier when Harm was transferred to Paris and Olivia agreed to move with him. She would be a lot closer for everyone to visit. The Rabbs were not so happy as they were still living in London.
Jamie graduated from his Deaf school and played rugby and football at a local college, he followed in his father's footsteps and was now a coach for his old school and was married to his high school sweetheart who was a teacher at the school. They were frequent guests at the DiNozzo household claiming they couldn't go long without Jethro's cooking, especially Celeste, Jamie's wife, who was now six months pregnant.
Evan, who recently turned 21, was going to college in New York. He had returned for Olivia's wedding and planned on staying for the summer much to Tony's happiness. Evan had grown to look exactly like Tony. He graduated from high school very popular after playing on the rugby, cricket, football (soccer) and the swim team, it helped that Tony had been a popular coach at the school as well. When Evan graduated he already had been accepted to various different schools, three being in the U.S. but New York University had caught his eye when they went to visit schools so that was it. He was getting his Business degree in the winter semester and then was going to graduate school in Washington D.C. already agreeing to take a room at Abby's and McGee's.
Tony had continued to coach and work for the French Consultant until he turned sixty. He retired from the government and cut coaching down to just his girl's rugby team. Jeanne had retired when Tony had. They took a few trips together but mostly relaxed together like they never had the chance before.
Jethro had stayed with the DiNozzo's returning stateside to see Abby, Tim and the kids on birthdays and other holidays. His French and FSL were flawless and he helped Jamie coach little league basketball. He had finished another boat then moved onto building Jamie and Celeste a dining room table. He was now finishing a headboard for Olivia and Harm. Jamie and Gibbs grew the closest and were practically inseparable before Jamie moved out. It worked out for Jamie since him and Tony were the most to butt heads. Whenever the two needed some time out or to work out their issues they went to Gibbs but they couldn't seem to work out the issues between the two of them, which caused everyone else in the household headaches.
It all came to a head when Jamie came home from school when he was 17. Jethro was stateside, Jeanne was at a conference in Milan and Evan was at swim practice. Tony was getting over another bout of bronchitis, his third that year when Jamie walked in the house ready to start supper. He ran upstairs to check on his dad and found him passed out on the floor covered in vomit.
Tony had had it. He had been sick most of the year and couldn't stand being sick anymore. His sickness was a burden on the family and himself. Instead of taking his pills he decided to drink. He was too tired to keep going and at the time it seemed better just to end it. The alcohol numbed him until it started coming back up as his sick body rebelled against the poison. Jamie found Tony after he had passed out and puked thankfully on his side.
Jamie fixed his dad up and called his mom and Jethro, who both decided to cut their trips short and come home. They hadn't realized how bad it had gotten with Tony and were somewhat blaming themselves. They needn't worry. When they returned home, Tony was mostly over his cold and him and Jamie had attended three AA meetings together. The two had long conversations and their relationship was rocky at first but they soon became closer than ever because of the incident. Tony had attended AA meetings ever since and Jamie would join him as often as he could.
Olivia and Evan weren't told what happened that day until Olivia was out of college and at home for a long stretch and Evan found out before he left for the states. Both were shocked but were proud of Tony and Jamie for putting it behind them and moving on.
"So Admiral, what are you and Mac going to do now that you finally retired?" Gibbs asked Harmon Sr. while ignoring Tony who finished off his orange juice with a scowl for once wishing he could have something heavier. He smiled when Sarah Mackenzie sat next to him with her ginger ale.
Harmon and Sarah had moved to London for Harm to work at the JAG there. Sarah resigned her commission and went to work for a private law office. Tony and Harm had joked how nice it was for their wives to make much more then them, enabling them all to live quite comfortably when they retired.
Harm and Mac, both infertile, decided to adopt when they moved to London after they had tied the knot. They found a pregnant mother with a two-year-old girl who had Downs Syndrome. The mother would not be able to care for another child so the Rabb's entered into a contract to help the mother until she gave birth. The mother, Helen, died during the delivery. Instead of upsetting, Miral, the 2 year old girl, they took her in as well as the little boy she gave birth to, Harmon Rabb Jr.
The two families split up to get some sleep then get ready for the big day. Evan and Tony helping Jethro up and out to the car. Jethro had had a blood clot a few years back from flying back and forth across the Atlantic. He awoke with great pain and managed to throw one of Tony's rugby balls at Tony and Jeanne's room, since it was after midnight. Tony came out to check and found Gibbs lying on the floor in his doorway. They rushed him to the hospital and found the clot before it could travel and do any damage, but since then and combined with his previous knee problems Jethro had to use a cane at all times. Abby packed up and sent over Ducky's collection of canes for Gibbs to choose from. He hated being less mobile but accepted it with old age.
The next day as Olivia and Harm uttered 'I do' in front of the whole church there was barely a dry eye in the house.
Afterwards as Tony danced with his oldest child she smiled up at her father and told him that she was six weeks pregnant.
"If its a boy, we want to name him Jet."
Tony stopped in shock as his eyes teared up.
"What about the Harmon Rabb tradition?"
"Well, I agreed the next child will be named Harm or Harmina if its a girl." She teased as her father fought to regain his composure.
Tony was happy- his family was happy, his baby girl was married to a good man, his son was about to be a father himself and his other son was exploring his world. Jeanne and him had a few more trips planned some with Jethro some without; they did need alone time after all.
Abby, McGee, the twins, Ziva and her family were all able to attend the wedding and it was nice for everyone to be together again. When Tony left over thirty years ago this was not how he expected life to end up. It was better than he could have imagined.
Okay so this is planned to be the ending. It's not quite what I had in mind but let me know what you think. If I think of anything else I want to add I'll post it as I go. I hope everyone enjoyed the story and thank you for all the reviews; they definitely made my writing days.
