Abby could have sat and watched the two for a long time but the day was marching on and they needed to get home to have supper and start have a few minutes as a family together before the real world started again the next day.
He descended the stairs slowly and quietly trying not to disturb them for as long as possible. When she made it to the last stair Gibbs and Luc's heads turned to smile in her direction in unison.
"Hey mom, GG is showin' me how to carve, isn't that awesome" Luc exclaimed as the too large safety glasses slid down his nose.
"Ya, it is sweetheart, but unfortunately we need to get going" Abby said her face showing her own disappointment at having to break up this little duo.
"Aw mom just a couple more minutes" Luc whined.
Although neither adult in the room approved of whiny Lucas' natural and everyday reaction made both of them very happy. The events of the past 2 days were not playing heavily on his mind and he was back to his usual self. "C'mon bear your mother said it's time to go so it's time to go. No arguments."
Disappointedly he slid from his grandfather's lap and took his mother's offered hand. Gibbs remained at his workbench as his family climbed the stairs. He heard Abby collect up the few belongings she had in the living room and then heard the front door close.
He was surprised when only seconds later the door opened and slammed shut and he heard little feet running for all they were worth. Lucas appeared at the top of the stairs and holding onto each side of the door he leaned down so that he could see his grandfather. Gibbs raised eyebrows asked silently what was going on.
"Thanks GG" Lucas called down before turning quickly and running back out to the car slamming the door again on his way out.
Although the drive home was a quiet one it was for very different reasons then it had been earlier in the day. Everyone was exhausted but the feelings of anxiety and tension were not longer in the car. Parking in the drive way Abby collected Sam from his seat as she encouraged Lucas to collect up his things and come inside. Taking a few minutes to do so Abby went on a head leaving him to whatever it was he was doing.
As soon as Lucas walked in through the back door Abby asked if he would set the table for supper and then he was welcome to go play for a while on his own until daddy arrived. Quickly getting out plates, cutlery and cups Lucas' job was complete in record time and when he finished he flew out the back door and out to his fort. He had come to terms with most things but still needed a couple of minutes alone to finish righting everything inside his head.
Abby continued to make supper preparations as her child sped past. Looking to the table to make sure it was ready she noticed something leaning up against the class at Tim's usual spot. Green pepper still in her hand she approached the table to find the envelope containing Luc's letter. The envelop was crumbled, ripped, smudged and looked as though Luc had been carrying it for a year not a day. Returning to the counter Abby took a deep breath and turned up the music.
Tim knowing the importance of supper tonight made sure he was home in lots of time. Hanging his backpack in the closet he drew nearer to his wife with some tentativeness as he wasn't exactly sure what he was expecting. He had heard her plan for the day and didn't envy her position one little bit. Catching bad guys was far easier and he was glad he had had an important excuse to go to work that morning.
Grabbing his wife around the middle and kissing her behind her ear Tim held her close as he asked "How was your day?" in a sing song voice.
"You know darn well how my day went" she scoffed at him.
"You wanna tell me about it?" he asked as she turned in his arms so that she was now facing him but leaning back slightly in his arms so that she could see his face.
"It's a long story" is warned. "I've got some time" he answered. While she continued to work at the counter Tim took up residence beside her leaning back against the counter his hands resting on either side of his hips.
Abby started from the moment the boys woke up until the moment Lucas ran out to his fort for some alone time. Tim stayed quiet for most of the story asking a question here or there for clarification. When Abby finally got to the part of the day where they landed at Gibbs, Tim cringed. He, a full grown man, a special agent of an armed federal agency would not have wanted to go down those stairs either.
"You're a mean mommy, making him go down there alone" Tim teased.
Playfully slapping him with a dish towel Abby responded "I think it was best for everyone that he did that alone."
"Chicken" Tim teased again. Then after a few minutes of silence he asked "What did Gibbs say to him?"
"Don't know, I wasn't there" Abby retorted.
With a flick of her head she motioned to his spot at the table. Tim walked over and took the envelop in his hand turning it over several times before opening it. With the letter unfolded but unread in his hand he called over to his wife "Man we're nasty parents…. I can't imagine having to have written all these letters as a kid and having to deliver them…and deal with all the adults…" he trailed off.
"Well…. If it makes you feel any better it was the hardest day of MY life too!" Abby offered. "Watching him sputter and be nervous… watching as the fire marshal was nasty and Luc not know what to do…. Sitting upstairs in Gibbs' living room waiting for him to come back up…. it was so hard not to just say… ok… no more … let's just go home… you won't do this again... right?"
Tim hugged his wife close the letter still clasped in his hand. Finally releasing her he read the few words his son had written. Like all the other letters it said how sorry he was for doing the wrong thing, that he wouldn't ever do it again but the glaring difference was the post script. Abby had not insisted on the same one and so Lucas had taken artistic license. The post script read "I love you daddy, you are the bestest daddy in the world." Tim's eyes glistened as he read the words over several times. Abby hadn't read this letter she felt that it was not necessary and so as she took the paper from her husband she read the words for the first time. Kissing Tim on the cheek she handed the letter back to him. "I agree" was all she said as Tim exited through the back door and headed to the fort.
Tim found the fort door closed and leaned in to knock before climbing the step. A quiet "who is it?" could be heard through the wooden boards. "It's me" Tim replied sure his son would recognize his voice. When there was no answer forthcoming Tim asked "may I come in?"
There was a moment pause before "ya, sure" came out.
Tim climbed up into the fort and closed the door behind himself. His son was sitting back against the wall legs stretched out in front of him. Looking down at the planks of wood that made the floor Luc picked at them absentmindedly.
Tim sat just has his son was and then offered "I heard you had a hard day".
"Uh Uh" Luc answered, not looking at his dad.
"Thanks for my letter" Tim said gently squeezing his son's knee.
"You're welcome" a confused boy answered. Seeing the look on his face Tim realized that he needed to add "I forgive you too". The confused looked morphed into a half smile. Then Lucas slide along the wall so his head was leaning against Tim's arm. "IT REALLY was a hard day" Luc complained.
"I can only imagine" Tim said and then he added "glad it wasn't me". Luc looked up into the smile and he too grinned.
"Mom told me all about your meetings but she said she wasn't there with you when you spoke to GG" Tim began "what did he have to say?"
Quickly looking away Lucas sat silently for a while.
"He didn't say anything?" Tim asked when the silence continued.
"No… he said plenty" the boy answered somewhat sarcastically. The tone Tim ignored as he was sure it was a way of dealing with feeling uncomfortable. Tim waited as he could tell his son was simply trying to word things a specific way.
"GG was different than everyone else" the boy started. Tim nodded and quickly added "generally is". His father's understanding allowed the boy to finish. "He didn't talk about the time it took to find us, or all the people that it took, or all the work… he said it was hard to watch people you love hurting and worrying." Again the boy paused but this time, Tim remained silent as well. Twisting his lips Lucas toyed with the idea of stopping the story there… but in the end he continued. "That hurt inside a lot… more than thinking about the time I took up, or number of people… making GG worried and you worried and uncle Tony and Ziva and Mommy… making them all worried… that made my insides hurt a lot."
"GG told you, that you were forgiven though right?" Tim hoped he had, he couldn't imagine Gibbs leaving the boy hanging.
"No… yes… kind of… well… I knew I was forgiven and everything was ok" Lucas explained flustered because he wasn't sure he wanted to elaborate on just how Gibbs had gotten the message across.
"Ah… "Tim said giving his son a knowing look. "He gave you a spanking and told you that it was time to move on" Tim's words were a statement of fact rather than a question. Luc was astonished as to how his father would know this sort of thing but instead of asking just nodded in agreement.
After a few full minutes of silence Lucas offered "Uncle Tony was wrong about something though".
"Really?" Tim asked, knowing that Tony was often wrong about things but for some reason his son hadn't figured that out yet.
"Yep… he said taking punishment from GG was way worse than taking it from anybody else…and he was wrong… GG's spanking didn't hurt at ALL!" the little boy exclaimed with finality.
Tim smiled again. He didn't bother saying anything he just scooped up the boy into his lap and held him tight to his chest. While snuggling Lucas decided he needed to ask one last question. "Daddy, GG said that if I disappear for even one second without permission he would give me a licking that would make Uncle Tony's stories seem nice… do think he really meant that?"
"You betcha he meant it" Tim answered quickly. "Have you ever known GG to say something he didn't mean?"
Gulping to swallow the boy's eye grew wide and his expression was one of shock. "I won't ever ever go missing again, oK?"
"OK" Tim agreed pulling him even closer.
Abby's voice could be heard from the door and the two finally came out of the fort together. Dinner was a quiet affair and no one really spoke much at all. As the plates were cleared Abby instructed Lucas to go up and get ready for bath and then bedtime. Normally he would try can I have just a couple of minutes sort of whining but tonight his pillow and blanket were calling out to him. He wanted to sleep he felt so tired.
Tucking her boy into bed Abby kissed him all over his face. "I love you bear!" she whispered. Lucas was asleep before she closed the door.
