Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.
A/N: I KNOW it's been forever. One word...LIFE...
Chapter 10
"No, Cam, for the last time, you CANNOT go for a quick spin on your bike!" Ashlynn ground out in exasperation.
One week supervising Cam's restriction had already seemed like a year. The first day he was penitent and tried not to rock the boat. The second day he was whining, complaining, and pleading for leniency, insisting that Dad would never know if she let him off light. When she didn't give in, Cam had made it his mission to be as miserable as he could in an effort to wear his sister down. It was Friday and Ashlynn was ready to strangle her ten-year-old brother.
"What's your damage, Ash?" Cam countered rolling his eyes. "You didn't used to been such a tight ass. What? Have you decided to turn into dad now?"
Ashlynn spun to face her brother, "My damage?" she growled sounding eerily like their father, except for the feminine voice. "I tried to help you and you lied to me Cam. I trusted you and you could have gotten shot! So, yeah, I think you deserve this and I DON'T CARE if you think I'm a tight ass or not! You are going to sit your ass down and finish your homework or I'm going to really start acting like dad."
Cam actually took a step back, his blue eyes showing the utter shock at his sister's rant. Had Ash just threatened to spank him? He wasn't really sure, but then he didn't think he actually wanted to know. No, this Ashlynn was a very different animal from the sister that he could generally cajole into anything, and the boy thought he had better watch his step. He grabbed his backpack.
"Fine," he uttered with a sulk, heading to the dining room table.
NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS
That evening, Ash sat on the sofa reading a book while Cam sat working on homework. Realizing that her brother needed to expend some energy, she had given him a break from homework earlier and had him knock out some of the chores from Dad's list. She'd fixed dinner while Cam grumpily vacuumed and cleaned the bathrooms. Now, after a few snide comments and overall crumby attitude, Cam was back at it and she was taking a few moments to calm her frazzled nerves. Ash had seriously considered a shot of Dad's bourbon.
The door opened and AJ ran in ahead of Gibbs, jumping on to Ashlynn's lap. "Guess what Ash?"
"What?"
The boy held up a plastic necklace with a large plastic tooth attached and gave his sister an exaggerated smile, showing a small space where his front tooth used to be.
"You lost a tooth!" Ash exclaimed with a grin.
"Yep!" He said proudly. "An' my teacher put it in here so I wouldn't lose it 'cause I'm gonna put it under my pillow and get money!" The boy opened the large plastic tooth to reveal his small baby tooth within.
"That's AWSOME, AJ!" Ashlynn enthused, knowing how much her youngest brother had been anticipating this day.
A snort from the table drew everyone's attention and AJ bounced from his spot on the couch to share his big news with his brother. Both Ash and Gibbs shot a warning glare at the older boy, letting him know that he'd better not ruin this for his little brother. Cam rolled his eyes, but offered an obligatory "That's cool, dude."
"Why don't you go put that under your pillow?" Gibbs suggested and AJ was quick to comply.
Feeling the tension in the room, the NCIS agent looked from his daughter to his son but directed his question to both, "How was your afternoon?"
"Awful!" Cam replied with a pout. "Ash must be on the rag or something because she was like the wicked witch of the North, South, East and West combined."
Cam barely had the words out of his mouth before he yelped in surprise, rubbing a hand over the back of his head. He didn't have much time to recover, however, because he was jerked from his chair and dragged into the kitchen, where Gibbs grabbed a brand new bar of soap from under the sink (placed there for this very purpose) and unwrapped it. The man quickly ran water over the new soap and then popped it into his son's mouth.
"One minute," he said, looking at his watch.
Cam stood, miserably trying not to gag as the acrid taste of the soap assaulted his taste buds and sinuses. By the time his dad took the soap out and let him spit into the sink, there were tears in his eyes. Cam rinsed his mouth and then swallowed down as much water as Gibbs would allow.
"I had better NEVER hear you say something like that again,"Gibbs growled pointing a reproving finger at the ten-year-old.
"Yes, sir," Cam was well aware that his dad wasn't referring to the wicked witch comment.
Gibbs landed a powerful swat on his son's jean clad backside, "Go finish your homework."
Ashlynn walked into the kitchen just as Cam exited.
"There's coffee," she said with a sigh as she moved to check on the pork chops baking in the oven.
Gibbs met her halfway and pulled her into a hug. "Rough afternoon?"
"Not the best for either of us," she answered. "But at least it's Friday."
"Yep. I have a favor to ask of you tomorrow."
"You have to work?"
"I do, but I'll take Cam into the office with me. I gave that report that he had to write on cyber crimes to McGee to proofread. Tomorrow Cam can start working on the rewrite."
Ashlynn chuckled. Gibbs and Cam's teacher had come up with a few extra assignments as part of the consequence for skipping school and sending false emails. Having McGee oversee the editing of that report just took the punishment to a whole new level.
"Ana Victoria called. Do you think you could watch Bobby tomorrow while she works? Her regular sitter just up and moved without notice. She hasn't been able to make other arrangements yet."
"Sure. No problem," the auburn-haired girl agreed readily. "AJ will be thrilled."
"Thanks." Gibbs kissed the top of his daughter's head.
"Dinner's almost ready," she said, turning to the stove. "I need to mash the potatoes, and the pork chops could use a few more minutes."
"How about you go get changed and let me worry about feeding the boys? Abby's coming to pick you up for dinner."
"Really?"
"Yep," Gibbs's eyes twinkled in amusement as he considered how much his teenage daughter sounded like her five-year old brother when she was excited.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she enthused, turning back to give her dad a spontaneous hug before tearing out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS
Sooo..." Abby started setting down her gyro and taking a sip from her drink, "What do you want to do for your sweet sixteen?"
Ashlynn shook her head, "honestly Abby, I don't want a fuss. I think it would be great just to have the gang over for a barbecue - or better yet, how about Cajun? You keep telling me your Nana's recipe for Jumbalaya s the best known to man."
Abby smiled at the girl, understanding her desire to keep the party low key considering all the excitement of the past months. Not that she wasn't going to make sure that Ash's sixteenth was fabulous, because of course that was a given. "Cajun it is! And you are not to plan a single meal for the whole weekend. In fact I'm going to come crash at Gibbs' house to make sure you don't lift a finger."
"Abby," Ashlynn started with a shake of her head only to be cut off by the
dark-haired woman.
"Ah," Abby stuck a finger out, "Do not argue with me about important family occassions - it's a rule."
"It's a rule?"
"It's one of MY rules, so don't mess with me, Chica."
Ashlynn held up both hands in surrender. "Okay, fine by me! I would love to have you sleep over!"
"Great! Now let's talk presents."
"Hmmm...well, Deirdre got me a car-"
"Excuse me? Your - God rest her soul - deceased mother bought you a car?"
"She made the purchase before she died Abs, and made arrangements for it to be delivered to me wherever I was. I've known about it for some time."
"Wow! So what kind?.
"Now that is a surprise!"
"Aren't you dying to find out? Have you even tried? You know there has to be a computer record, I bet McGee-"
"Abby, my birthday is in a week. "I think I can wait." At the forensic scientist's incredulous look, Ashlynn had to laugh. "You're one of those people who shakes their Christmas gifts and tries for a sneak peek aren't you?"
"You mean you're not?" Abby rolled her eyes. "Okay fine, so gonna be kinda hard to top a CAR, but what else do you want."
"It feels as if I've been grounded for an eternity - no real shopping, no spa, no concerts, no clubbing - though I guess that one is out for the foreseeable future - so anything and everything sounds good," Ashlynn replied with a sparkle in her blue green eyes. "I've added nothing to my wardrobe since my infamous date with Reyes and I've been banned from wearing that ever again. Hey, do you think you can talk Dad into letting me get a tattoo?"
Abby took both the girl's hands in her own looking gravely at her across the table, "Ash, we're
friends, sisters, you can level with me, exactly what drugs are you on right now?"
Both young women burst into a fit of giggles and returned to their food. After her hellish week with her brother, this time with Abby was just the panacea she needed and she silently thanked Gibbs for setting it up. "So, how's it going with Mr. GQ?"
"Oh, he's been traveling a lot and ya know I've been busy at work," Abby waved her hand. "I don't know, he's fun and exciting and there's like absolutely no pressure. We always have a good time, but to be honest, I don't really miss him when he's away for days and days on business. I sorta keep comparing him to," Abby paused, "Other guys I've dated and I just don't know if this will ever go anywhere. Ya know?"
"Well, not every relationship has to have long term potential."
"Don't I know it! How about Thales? Is he still coming?"
Ashlynn grinned. "Yep! And I even got up the nerve to tell Dad."
"And?"
"He wants to meet him of course, and he's being a total hard ass about the curfew. He's not thrilled with the age difference but come on - what's two years?". Ashlynn rolled her eyes and took a sip of her soda.
"But he IS letting you go on the date, right?"
"I have a tentative yes. Gibbs and I are having dinner with Thales and his family the night after they arrive."
"Well, that will be interesting."
"No kidding!"
NCIS***NCIS***NCIS***NCIS
Ashlynn took a sip of her coffee, feeling as relaxed as she had in months. Abby and Ziva had taken her to the spa yesterday afternoon after work, Ziva's birthday gift. Massage, manicure, pedicure and girl talk, Deidre would have been proud. They had gone out to dinner afterward, an exquisite middle eastern restaurant that Ziva knew. She looked down at her new manicure and smiled, realizing just how much fun it had been to spend time with her surrogate sisters.
Today was Saturday and her actual birthday. As promised, Abby had come home with her and spent the night to ensure that she did not have to lift a finger the entire weekend. The whole team was coming over about noon for a barbeque. Sitting at the breakfast table, the newly turned sixteen-year-old could not believe how good life seemed to be at this very moment. There was a knock at the door, which she rose to answer, wondering who might be stopping by this early.
Signing for the package, Ashlynn cast a quizzical look at the people sitting at the breakfast table. This certainly wasn't a car and she could not imagine who else might have a package special delivered first thing on a Saturday morning.
"Who's it from?" Abby demanded excitedly.
"It doesn't say."
"Well, ain't ya gonna open it?" Cam insisted impatiently.
Gibbs rose from the table and held out his hand expectantly. Ashlynn handed over the package and watched as the NCIS agent turned it over in his hands. A glimmer of recognition flickered in his eyes and His face darkened momentarily, but he passed it back to the teen with a nod. Taking her seat at the table she used a knife to carefully open the package. A gift professionally wrapped in gold foil and matching filigree ribbon lay inside. Ashlynn continued to unwrap the mysterious present gasping when she opened the box. Unable to wait any longer Abby jumped from her seat to see what was inside.
"Holy sh-" the Goth quickly looked up at Gibbs and the boys, "-itake mushrooms!"
Speechless, Ashlynn just stared at the exquisite pear shaped sapphire suspended in a white gold twist encrusted with diamonds wrapping upward to a white gold necklace with twists and swirls also set with diamonds. Tears clouded the girl's vision as a long forgotten memory resurfaced.
FLASHBACK
"Did you enjoy the gardens, Poppet?"
"They were beautiful, Uncle Trent, I loved them!"
"I thought you would. Now what do you say we go riding after tea?"
The small girl squealed and threw her arms around the man's waist. "I love you Uncle Trent!"
Reaching down to swing the auburn-haired beauty into his arms, the CIA agent smiled and wondered what life might have been like if all of this were real and he was truly a wealthy businessman, periodically flying into to visit his little sister and her children. At this moment, with the tiny arms clinging trustingly to him it felt very real indeed.
"I have a bit of business, poppet, so can you sit quietly and have tea while Uncle Trent meets with some associates?"
"Of course," she answered confidently. Her mother often made similar requests and she was quite used to playing the role of the polite, charming, well-behaved little girl. "Do you need me to do anything special?" she inquired very businesslike.
Kort's lips tightened disapprovingly, "No my dear, just behave and we will go for an ice cream after, alright?"
"Okay," the girl agreed readily. "Did you know that we are moving again?"
"Yes your mother mentioned it."
"We are to live in Spain. Mummy has already hired a nanny for Cam and I'm to help care for
him when she goes back to work," Ashlynn explained with an air of importance. "Cameron has started crawling and he gets into everything."
"I know you will be a tremendous help, Poppet. Ah, here we are," the man stated setting the girl down and taking the girl's hand as the uniformed attendant held the door for the pair. Kort spoke to the maitre'de and soon the girl was settled at a little table by the window. With a kiss to the top of the girl's head and another injunction to behave, he moved to a table at the back of the room where he could keep an eye on his charge as well as meet with his contact.
Ashlynn ate her sandwiches and sipped at her milk, watching the people go by. When she had nearly finished, a wealthy old gentleman caught her eye and she watched as he entered the establishment with a much younger woman on his arm. Daintily wiping her mouth, she rose and headed in the direction of the washroom only to collide with the stately gentleman.
"Beg your pardon, sir."
"Not at all, my dear, completely my fault," the Englishman replied affably.
Ashlynn offered a bright smile and turned to skip back to her seat only to run directly into an unhappy looking Kort. He held out his hand with a grim look and she readily deposited the limited edition Rolex into his palm.
Taking a step forward, Kort caught up with the affluent gentleman, "Excuse me, sir, my niece found this on the floor.".
"Oh, dear me, thank you. I should hate to lose that, it was a gift from my sister."
Kort gave a nod and took Ashlynn's hand, moving to settle the check before he departed. Once out of the restaurant he picked the girl up and carried her to a bench next to the fountain, settling her in his lap. "I thought I told you to behave, Poppet."
The girl gave her uncle a quizzical look, "I was just practicing, UncleTrent. Deirdre says it's important to always better our skills."
"And since when do you call your mum, Deirdre?"
"Only when we're talking business, Uncle Trent."
"I see," the man replied drily. He had much to discuss with Deirdre it seemed. "Well there will be no more of such practice in my presence, young lady. Doing so will result in a sound smacking, do you understand me?"
The girl's blue-green orbs widened in shock. "You wouldn't really!"
"Indeed I would."
Ashlynn scowled at the man she had known her whole life. "I'd tell mum and she'd be cross with you."
"Undoubtedly, but it would hardly be the first time your mother and I disagreed. Heed me on this, Poppet, if I ever catch you nicking anything again, you'll be sitting on a sore bum the rest of the day."
"Yes, Uncle Trent," she answered with a pout.
"Here now, none of that. How about we take in the shops before getting an ice cream? A certain little girl I know has a birthday coming up."
The smile quickly returned to Ashlynn's angelic face as the pair headed down the street. They peered in various shop windows before the tiny girl stopped wide eyed in front of an exclusive jewelry store. "Can we PLEASE go in Uncle Trent?"
"You are most certainly your Mother's daughter," he responded wryly. "Very, well, love, but please do remember the conversation that we just had."
Ashlynn went directly for a central display, showcasing a lovely sapphire and diamond necklace. "Isn't it beautiful, Uncle Trent."
"Indeed, but a tad mature for a five-year-old."
"I'm very nearly six," the precocious child countered.
"Yes, well, I should not think that piece would be appropriate for a young lady under sixteen at the least."
"And will you buy it for me when I'm sixteen, Uncle?" the girl queried batting her eyelashes coquettishly.
"We shall see poppet, we shall see."
END FLASHBACK
Blinking away the moisture in her eyes, Ashlynn carefully removed a hand written note from box.
I know I am not your favorite person right now, but you will always be my Poppet. Happy Sixteenth Birthday!
TBC