Chapter Nine:
Days Five & Six: Mitas and his dance steps
After eating, Gibbs asked everyone to stay for an update on the finds of the morning. Ducky and Ziva reported that they'd been diving and had examined the hull of the boat; it seemed in good shape and made from the same material as the body of the craft. Gibbs nodded, that was the news he'd been hoping for. Turning to DiNozzo, he gestured to him.
Tony, grinning like a mad fiend, rose from the bench and stood so he could see Tim's face. "Down in Cove 1, found this pallet with a bunch of boxes with markings still visible, but in a language I don't know. Opened up the top box and couldn't believe what I found. When Gibbs came down, he looked and said all the boxes said the same thing. Lady and Gentlemen, we are the proud owners of not two, not four, not six but TEN brand new truck batteries."
Ziva had become impatient during Tony's buildup, now she looked up with surprise turning to a grin when she saw Tim's face. His eyes wide and eyebrows climbing his forehead, he jumped up and grabbed Tony's arm.
"Truck Batteries? TEN? OH Wow, Tony, that's…that's incredible. You found me ten truck batteries! Man, we'll reach home in two days storing that much power!"
The entire group laughed; Gibbs with relief that Tony's news had succeeded in restoring Tim's spirits, given him something challenging to think about and work on. After the excitement died down, Mitas quietly announced his find of the ship's mast in the water. That stirred them up all over again and Gibbs finally gave a sharp whistle, which echoed off every rock in the cavern, settling them down once again.
"Been thinking and talking with each of you, come to realize our best bet to reach home is a combination of all our ideas. Solar, sail and fuel, whatever fuel we have left by the time we leave here. Also been considering adding on to the boat, making what Tony called an Ark. Build around the boat and at each end. Not a lot but enough to store what food we can bring with us, hold a mast and canvas…or rather sails of whatever materials we can find. And yeah, we may end up bringing a couple of nanny goats and hens with us so we can have milk and eggs, I know a couple of people who would take them when we get home. Tim, last time we talked about the cell phones, you were going to work on boosting signal strength, as well as the solar charger which now will be for the boat."
"Yeah Boss. I've tested my phone every night and I'm not getting anywhere. We could be out of satellite range or it's because we're in international waters and the phones aren't set up to work internationally. Mitas says his didn't work on the Chimera either, although that could have been a jamming device too. Bottom line, I don't know yet when they'll kick in, whether we'll head west in our boat for two hours or two days or be sailing up the Anacostia and suddenly have cell reception. The other thing is…well, all our cells except Mitas' are NCIS issued. So at some point, service will probably be discontinued, in fact it may already have been…you know since they must think we were still on Chimera when…"
"Yeah, you're right there, Tim. So, Mitas, looks like your phone will be the one we'll be testing along the way."
Mitas smirked, "Always happy to help, Gibbs."
"He smirked, Probie, did you teach him that?"
"Not I, Tony, think he figured it out for himself." Mitas smirked again, giving them all a chuckle. "Ok, next on the list, we need designs for the ship, so let's each try and work something up and then we'll see which one looks most feasible."
"Aw Boss, you're the boat builder!"
"Yeah, I can work on the outside, but what do you want on the inside of the new part? Goat pen, hen coop, yep, but what else? We won't be in this kind of weather always, there'll be storms so what would you want inside your nice dry boat? "
"Oh, that's different, how about…"
Gibbs interrupted him, "Not taking the hot tub, DiNozzo, too heavy. Ok, so put your thinking caps on boys and girl and have that done for day after tomorrow. Now on to island business. What do we have?"
Not surprisingly, Tim had a list, "Pull up that mast, Boss. Float the barge and anything else we want over here. Find a good spot for the cistern and move the hot tub in place, getting it up the hill is going to be a bear. Wonder if we could drop rope over the side of the hill and bring it directly up rather than around and about on the path. Ok, moving on. Deciding where the boat work is going to be done and then moving the materials over there. Boss, did you see that bolt of fabric we found? I'm hoping it's sailcloth."
"It is, Tim."
"Ok so we need to figure out how to make sails then and uh…sew them?"
Mitas spoke up, "Found some sewing stuff today. Brought it back."
"Ok great, thanks Cory. Uh, does anyone know how to…oh Ducky does. Duh! Anyone else know how to sew? Boss, ok, that's good, Tony and Ziva, and Mitas, wow! Guess that makes me the only sewing student in the group! Ok, so mast, sail, oh, we need something to fasten the mast…"
"Got that covered, Tim. There's a black metal container with an imprint of Ducky's hip on it in Cove 2, it's got the right feel to it. We will need marine bolts, grommets, fasteners and other marine hardware, but haven't given up on those yet."
"Ok, I'll check that off the list then and add all those marine things. Guess we won't know what else we need for the inside of the boat until we look at everyone's ideas."
"Hey guys, do we keep going through the stuff in the cove and can we float things over on that barge?"
"Depends on where we decide to work on the boat, Tony. Don't want to bring the barge over here and then decide we need it over in the bay."
"Good point, Boss. Hey Tim, you want to…"
"Training, DiNozzo, McGee."
"Yep Boss, that was my next item. We can start this afternoon if someone else wants to handle dinner for Mitas?"
"I'll do that, Timothy."
"Ok, so Mitas, you, me and Tony, after we get done here. Ziva when do you want to start his knife training?
"After you two have taught him the basics."
"Ok, so day after tomorrow?"
"That will be fine, Maghee."
"Tony, you and Ziva were working on the list of chores and the schedule, want to pass it around and then post it somewhere in the common area here?"
"Need tape for that…oh, thanks Ducky, have the tape, Tim."
"Next item, the garden. Since I want to start the seeds in small containers, we don't need the ground tilled, the compost dug in or the fence built this week, but soon would be good."
"Figured out where you want it yet?"
"No, need to walk around and find the best place. Don't want it too far from either the spring or the cistern, going to have to bucket the water. Unless anyone has found another hose and you know, a solar powered water pump?"
Tim grinned at the group as they razzed him, although Gibbs was thoughtfully quiet.
"You know, Tim, might be able to make a water pump and then take it with us. Occasionally need to pump water out of boats, you know."
At the frightened looks on four of the faces around him, he chuckled, "Hey it happens, I've had it happen in my boat out fishing. Better to have it and not use it than have to bail with a bucket. That gets old fast."
"Ok, so what do you need to build a water pump and can it be solar powered?" Gibbs rattled off the components they should look for and Tim gave them an affirmative for the solar power. "Anyone have anything else?"
"I do. We have goats and chickens, but have not gathered eggs or milked the goats. Are we going to?"
"Yeah, good point, Zeever. I know how to milk a cow, my grandparents had a farm, can't imagine a goat would be much different."
"Great Boss, you're in charge of goat milking, then."
"No, DiNozzo, I'm in charge of teaching you all how to milk a goat."
"Don't suppose you'd know how to make butter?"
"Think we'd need a churn for that, Ducky, you know?"
"Ah yes, Jethro I believe a butter churn is necessary."
"What about cheese?"
"I have no idea, anyone else?" No one knew how to make cheese, not a big surprise there.
"Ok, so on the list of chores, add find eggs on a daily basis. We're going to have to figure out where the hens lay them and then get them. Or we could build a coop, with some of McGee's chicken wire, catch the hens and put them in there."
"Do you know how to look for eggs, Boss?"
"Yep, and I'll show the rest of you."
Ziva spoke, "I too know how to look for eggs, Gibbs, so I can also help with that."
"Ok, last question and then we'll be done with my list. Are we going to be able to use the Propane canister and the box of camp stove fuel Tony found?"
"Don't know about the propane, not a good idea for the boat. Don't think the camp fuel is either. Can use that for the lantern, though, and if we find Mitas his barbecue, maybe for that! That all? Good, let's get back to work then. DiNozzo, you have cleanup, McGee did last night's dishes…What, McGee?"
"Boss, we weren't here for breakfast, Tony would have done clean up then."
"Yeah, thanks Probie!"
"All right then, the two of you handle it between yourselves then, but no squabbling, hear me?"
"Yes Boss." "Got it, Boss."
"And after you finish cleanup, you're on training. Don't wear him out, couple hours today then come down to the cove and help us with that mast."
Both agents and Mitas nodded in agreement. Ziva cleared her throat, "I do have one more item. Will someone please help me carry my bathtub into my bathroom? And do we have enough fresh water for me to wash my clothes?"
"You're going to wash your clothes in your bathtub, Ziva?"
"Yes, and along with my own clothes, I am going to wash some of the clothes we've found so I can wear them. And I want to wash my hair as well."
"We'll need a clothesline then, Zeever, tell you what, let's go get the tub moved and we'll see where we can string a line for clothes drying. Think we could all stand a bath and some clean clothes, maybe we'll move our tub too. DiNozzo, McGee…where they'd go?"
Ducky smiled, "They took the water jugs and the buckets up top to get more water for Ziva's tub. We'll need that cistern and the hose valve pretty quickly, Jethro."
"Yeah, I think it just moved up the list, Duck." Finishing his current cup of coffee, Gibbs and the others headed to the staircase room to help the boys bring the water down.
XXX
Working on the bucket brigade and cleaning up lunch had given Tony and Tim time to plan Mitas' training. They would keep it simple but make sure their new friend would be able to handle himself on the island. Ziva could teach him kickboxing if he wanted, as well as the art of the knife; they would stick with teaching him the basics.
Once they finished in the cavern, they gathered Mitas, climbed up top and set off down the island, looking for a spot with enough space for maneuvering and a little privacy. When they found it, close to the spring, Tim remarked that it was a good place for their garden, once Mitas' training was complete of course. They worked with Mitas, telling him what they were going to teach him, and how he could defend himself without much training, on the island. They then showed him several defensive moves, the two agents trading off being the defender and the villain. Tony's unique style, more street brawl as Gibbs had always claimed, was a little confusing for the newest member of the group, so Tony broke it down as if it were dance steps. That worked better and with some practice, Mitas was able to defend himself against both villain Tim and villain Tony.
He wasn't able to defeat either, that would take far more practice, but he could hold them off for a few minutes, enough time for help to reach him. The next part of training involved Tim's wrestling moves and Mitas did fairly well at that too. After a couple of hours, they agreed significant progress had been made and Mitas declared himself ready to take on any goat on the island, although he was not yet ready to face chickens or snakes.
Calling Gibbs on their WT, they found the rest of the group in the second cove, working to move the hot tub. They joined them there and found that Gibbs had brought all his rope and had made a net that was large enough to encompass the hot tub. Once they got the hot tub to the beach, their goal would be to pull the net over it and haul it up the side of the hill. Gibbs had already scouted out the best place for that, having found a large secure boulder to act as a fulcrum. The tub was round and meant to be portable, so was not quite as heavy as they had originally thought.
It took them quite a bit of their strength and determination, as well as the rest of the afternoon and well into early evening, but by nightfall, the hot tub was officially parked in its new location and christened as their cistern. Several buckets of water were emptied into it before the group refilled the buckets and water jugs for their immediate needs, the cover was put back on and everyone headed downstairs. Mitas had disappeared an hour before and they could smell the dinner he was preparing. No one had fished today, so they were served a vegetable scramble with slices of canned ham and sliced potatoes. It was quite tasty and the group made short work of it. The boys did the cleanup while Ducky taught Mitas and Ziva to play a card game he knew from his childhood. Gibbs watched as he enjoyed his last coffee for the day. Noticing his boys quietly talking, he wondered if Tim was filling Tony in on his rough night and even rougher morning.
That was indeed the topic, Tim felt bad that everyone but Tony had known something was wrong. Knowing how Tony hated secrets, Tim just told him he'd had a bad night the previous night and Gibbs had helped him through the aftermath in the morning.
He also told him there was more to the story but he wasn't quite ready to discuss it. He asked for Tony's patience and thanked him for his understanding. Being included always helped Tony; it was his belief that was all he ever asked for, and he accepted Tim's explanation with grace and some concern, which he kept to himself.
Once they finished cleaning and talking, Tim expressed the need to rinse off, so the two of them grabbed towels and headed for the water, again stripping down to their skivvies. Swimming in the shadows cast by Ducky's lantern was quite interesting, but Tim was exhausted and Tony fairly close to it, so they just had a quick dip, dried off and both headed off to bed. Gibbs watched Tim, he seemed all right and he hoped the young man would have a good night's sleep.
As Mitas and Ziva drifted off to their own beds, Ducky moved his chair closer to Gibbs. "What's on your mind, Jethro? You're a bit pensive."
"Just thinking about Tim. He told me the whole story, glad you were there, have been there for him."
"He told you…"
"About Joey. I guessed, but yeah, we talked about it, he was afraid if I knew, Duck…he was afraid I'd kick him off the team, even now."
"DADT, Jethro, we may be a civilian agency, but dealing with the military as we do…"
"I know Duck, but it isn't anyone's business, God, I should know that better than anyone else."
Ducky laughed, "It is ironic, dear boy, that the one person Tim worried about most was the only one, to my knowledge, who would completely understand." He paused. "I suppose this brings up new problems for you, Jethro, doesn't it? Yes, don't look at me like that; I've known for a long time now how you feel about him. As long as you didn't know, you could keep everything to yourself. Now…?"
"Don't, Duck, I can't, we're…here and…he's too vulnerable. I just hope having someone else who knows and who can relate to it will help him. But I can't, Duck. He's too…I don't know how to say this right… he means too much to me for me to risk approaching him. I'd rather just help him through this and have him with me on the team than risk losing him altogether. And you know as his boss I can't say or do anything anyway."
"Ah, my friend, I have faith in the universe. We'll see. However it ends up, I am very relieved that you know. It's been a bit of a strain on me, not that I'd ever let him know."
"Duck, just…thanks for being there for him all this time. Tim mentioned you and his grandmother, seemed as if you two knew each other before this happened?"
Ducky gave him one of his enigmatic smiles, "And so we did, dear boy, but that is a story for another time." Patting the younger man on the shoulder, he headed off to sleep, perchance to dream of his Penelope.
Gibbs was pretty tired himself, it had been a helluva long day and he really just wanted to crawl into his own bed, at home, and sleep for a few days. He sighed; it would likely be months before they were home and who knew if any of them would have homes left to go to? Shaking his head, he banked the fire, blew out the lantern and trudged off to his mattress.
Day Six
0500 kicked him in the face and he woke with a jolt. He'd been dreaming of home and it was a shock and disappointment to wake to the dimly lit cavern walls, to hear the waves on their beach and that smug rooster crowing. Then he smelled coffee and knew all was not lost, something was still right. He followed his new daily routine, noticing as he passed the beds on his way to the men's room, that everyone was still asleep, except for Mitas and him. That was good, Tim needed extra sleep, they all needed some rest after their Herculean tasks the last 3 days.
On his way back, he grabbed the chore list and scribbled in "fish". While the previous occupants of the boat had left them a surprisingly large amount of food, it would not last forever and he preferred to keep as much as possible for their trip home. The fish, however, were a plentiful source of food for them and that should be taken advantage of while they were here. He wondered if they could build a little smoke house and smoke some of it. Fishing while on the move would be a bit trickier.
He also wondered, briefly, what shellfish would be here and realized they still had not explored the beach Ducky and Ziva had seen. They likely wouldn't fit it in today, either, or tomorrow as they had a large list of "must do's" over the next few days. He thought once they got themselves situated with their life on the island and agreed on the ship design, with all the fittings and components they'd need, then they could start taking an hour or so day to enjoy the damn place, beach and all.
That reminded him of the dead body and the rowing lessons; at that point he gave up and poured himself more coffee. Tim told him once that he made lists to keep himself from going crazy with all the projects he routinely had going. Gibbs now understood why and was happy Tim was the keeper of their list.
As he took the plates and cutlery, salt and pepper from the box, he wondered if he could make some cabinets for them and then laughed at himself. Placing them on the table, he got cups out for the others. Tony was down to one cup of coffee a day, Tim usually had two, and he had no idea how Ducky and Ziva were doing with their supply of tea. Maybe they would find some of that in the piles they hadn't yet touched.
As he sat, idly watching Mitas cook their potatoes, he looked around and saw how much they'd accomplished in the four days they'd been here. Not bad, really! Blinking, he realized Tim was settling in across from him with his coffee. "Morning Boss."
"Morning Tim. Sleep ok?"
"Yeah, slept straight through."
"Me too, think that hot tub did us all in."
"Good to have that done though."
"I'll get busy on the valve today."
"Ok, Ziva said she's going to fill the cistern. She wants a bath; she got her clothes washed yesterday, but no bath yet. Which reminds me, where's the clothesline, I need to do some washing myself."
"It's up top, Ziva climbed partway up 2 palm trees so we could make the line high enough the goats won't be able to reach and eat our clothes."
"Oh geez, hadn't even thought of that."
"Ziva did, luckily. You know where those two palms are, about 15 feet apart?"
"Uh, yeah, think that's where Mitas picked up coconuts our first day."
"Yep, that's now our clothesline."
"Don't suppose anyone has dug up clothespins?"
"No, but I'm sure they'll show up. And maybe more tea for Ducky and Ziva."
"They running out?"
"Know they didn't have much."
"That's going to hurt if they do, caffeine withdrawal is not fun."
Gibbs glared at his junior agent as he shuddered internally at the fate he dreaded would happen to him someday. It would not be today though, and he took another sip of his heavenly brew. Wisely, Tim refrained from any other disastrous topics and was relieved when Ziva and her hot tea arrived.
After exchanging greetings, the three sat enjoying their hot beverages. Mitas grinned to himself, these people were endlessly fascinating to him and he loved listening in to their conversations, the shorthand they all seemed to speak with each other, especially with Gibbs. After the eggs were started the cook reached out with the heaviest wooden spoon and banged on the saucepan.
"Breakfast!"
Ducky and DiNozzo made their way from bed to the table and sat, obviously trying to wake up. Tim, laughing at the pair, rose and poured tea for Ducky and coffee for Tony. After handing out the drinks, he fetched the jar of sugar for Tony, who clutched it thankfully. Gibbs made a face as he watched his senior agent pour huge amounts of sugar into his coffee. Tim put a bucket of water on the grill to heat for the dishes, chased Mitas to the table and then served breakfast to the group.
