Author's Note: I apologize for the length between updates! I'm taking the story in a different direction than originally planned but I think it will work out for the best!
Disclaimer: I don't own it...and I never will :(
"How did it go?" Jethro whispered as he leaned in and wrapped his arms around Kate's waist.
"Good. Quiet. Got a lot accomplished." Kate murmured as she stirred a pot of marinara sauce.
"Marshall?" Jethro asked quietly.
"Sweet as ever. It's nice to just stay home with him. Just he and I. Home is where a newborn belongs, not being carted around the office or running errands." Kate said in a soft voice as she turned so she was facing Jethro.
"I love you." Kate said as she stared into Jethro's eyes.
"I love you." Jethro replied.
Kate turned her head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
"It's five thirty and our home is suspiciously quiet." Kate noted, terrified the children had found some sort of trouble to get into.
"You're not complaining are you?" Jethro asked with a smirk.
"Not at all, but it's just strange when we're all here...it doesn't feel right. And I know I should really count my blessings, but Marshall is so quiet. Almost unnaturally so. Today I felt myself wishing there were more noise..." Kate would have kept babbling on but much to her surprise Jethro yanked her by the hand and headed towards the living room with her.
"It's magic." Jethro whispered.
"It's wonderful!" Kate replied, knowing that if the children caught on the peace would be interrupted.
Sitting on the living room floor were all of the children, minus Marshall in a semi-circle listening as Levi read a book aloud. Kate was wide-eyed to see that even Matthew was paying attention.
"He needs the practice." Jethro whispered back as he and Kate headed towards the kitchen.
"I know. The teacher and I had a talk about it today when I picked the kids up. His speech is getting better, but he needs a little bit more work on writing and reading comprehension." Kate filled Jethro in on the conversation she had shared with Mr. Bailey, Levi's teacher.
"At least he is strong in math and science. Look at Abby. Her spelling can be atrocious sometimes, but she's so gifted in forensics." Jethro added.
"I know, but she can read...and that's the most important thing. Without reading there is nothing else." Kate replied as she set the table.
"Everything in good time. The pieces of the puzzle will all fall together eventually." Jethro sounded as if he was reassuring himself more than Kate as he said it.
"Yeah, but there's so much to do. We've got to get Everett speaking...or at least babbling or something. Sawyer and Joelle have their appointments later in the week for all of their testing...but sometimes I just feel like this is..." Kate trailed off as she stared at the ground ashamed of what she might have said.
"Katie...look at me..." Jethro whispered in a low growl as he wrapped an arm around Kate's waist.
Kate reluctantly looked back up into her husband's eyes.
"This is not impossible...nothing is impossible. A very wise woman once told me that." Jethro whispered.
Kate's mouth turned up at the corners in a slight smile.
"Who is this woman?" Kate teased.
"She's my wife." Jethro whispered as he kissed Kate on the forehead, and then released his embrace.
"You're so good to me." Kate said appreciatively as she checked on dinner.
"I've had enough practice." Jethro teased back.
Kate glared at Jethro. She was just teasing him, but it was fun to watch him get worried.
"Crazy yes...insane...you bet...exhausting certainly...but as long as you have me this will not be impossible." Jethro said before he exited the kitchen to go spend time with his children.
Kate smiled for the rest of the night, just knowing that Jethro was nearby. He was so sweet, so reassuring. Their evenings had turned into a barrage of homework, piano practice, and playing outside, then hurriedly getting everyone into bed. Kate and Jethro were always exhausted by nine, and they found themselves going to bed right after the children.
"I wish it could be like this...always." Kate whispered in Jethro's ear as they lay in bed together.
He wondered how she would cope with it, being off for six weeks, using her maternity leave. He knew that it might make her insane, but so far Kate had adjusted well.
Jethro sighed and looked at his wife. He hated to have to bring her back to reality.
"Seven kids. Lots of expenses. You're going to have to work." Jethro said wistfully. It had broken his heart to say it to Shannon, and now it broke his heart to remind Kate that one income just wasn't going to be enough.
"I know. I'm not stupid. NCIS will be waiting for me when I get back." Kate growled as she pushed herself away from Jethro.
"I didn't say you were stupid Kate. This sucks for me too. Think about that. I can't give my wife what she wants. Do you know how difficult this is for me? That this is the second time I've had to look at a woman and say that I can't provide completely? It's slightly emasculating to say the least. Believe me, if you could stay home I'd be cheering you on the whole time." Gibbs heaved a sigh and rolled over to attempt to hug Kate.
"It's just so...wonderful." Kate whispered as she snuggled up against Jethro.
It had been challenging, it had been and adjustment but Kate loved every minute of it. She felt useful, she felt as if she were making a difference and to her that was what mattered most. Seven kids was a lot for anybody to handle, but she and Jethro had settled into a comfortable routine.
**TWO WEEKS LATER**
"We're just sitting here, folding laundry." Kate said as she spoke with Jethro. He often called to check-in at lunchtime.
Marshall was cuddled up next to Kate in the sling-style carrier that was wrapped around her torso, and he was intently watching as Kate folded towels.
"Good. I love you. Kiss that baby for me." Jethro laughed as he said it and hung up.
Kate had no sooner kissed Marshall on the forehead and hung up her phone when it rang again.
"Yes...I understand. I think. I'll tell Jethro. Thanks Patricia." Kate's heart was heavy as she hung up the phone. Kate had realized that social workers either had really good news or really bad news when they called.
Against her better judgement Kate didn't call Jethro at work. She'd talk to him later that night. Kate made the rounds at three p.m. picking everybody up from school and day-care.
"Mind if I join you?" Jethro asked as he helped Kate buckle the children in.
"Really?" Kate asked in surprise, knowing that Jethro was leaving work early.
"Let's roll." Jethro said as Kate sped out of the Navy yard.
"Wow! Are we really eating here?" Sawyer asked as she stared at the sign on the building.
"We are." Kate said with a smile as she glanced at Jethro.
"This place is crazy!" Joelle said from the backseat.
Indeed, Cheesy Charlie's was best described as crazy. It was a pizza parlor, arcade, play center, and ice-cream bar all in one place.
"Crazy!" Maggie echoed.
"Crazy expensive." Jethro muttered under his breath as he got out of the car and began rounding up the children.
"Don't worry about it." Kate hissed back.
"Are you all one family?" The hostess asked suspiciously.
"We are." Kate said proudly, fighting back the tears she had held at bay all day long.
"Well then...please enjoy Cheesy Charlie's!" The hostess replied as she showed them to an over-sized booth right next to the play center designed for younger children.
"This is so cool!" Levi announced as they ate their pizza.
"Glad you like it." Kate said as she stared at her plate, unable to look anybody in the eyes.
"What did we do special? Did we all behave for a real long time?" Sawyer asked wide-eyed.
"You all have been very well-behaved. Nobody has wet the bed, hit anybody else, taken a toy, or called another person bad names in awhile. But sometimes, it's nice just to do something a little special, even if there isn't anything really special happening." Kate said as she wiped Maggie's face.
"Good!" Maggie yelled out.
"Very good." Jethro replied as he tried to look at Kate, who shied away from making eye contact with her husband.
"Play!" Everett yelled loudly.
The entire table stopped. Kate glanced at Jethro, then she reached over and extended her hand for a high-five. It was his first understandable word.
"Yay Everett!" Kate finally yelled out.
"Good job!" Jethro exclaimed as he tousled Everett's hair.
"I can't believe he actually speaked!" Levi said wide-eyed.
"Spoke." Kate corrected.
"You heard him...let's go play!" Jethro said as he lifted Matthew and Everett from their booster seats.
The table cleared out in a less than a second as the children dashed to the play center.
"Now be careful and be nice!" Kate and Jethro reminded each child as they took off their shoes and placed them in a cubby next to the ball pit.
"We will." Several voices chorused as they bolted into the play area.
Jethro stood next to the ball pit, holding Marshall and watching the children play.
"What's on your mind? You won't look at me. You won't speak to me. You've spent a king's ransom on dinner and game tokens. Say something already." Jethro growled as Kate stood next to him.
"Patti called, right after I hung up with you. She found them a home." Kate said as she stared ahead into the ball pit and watched six very happy, very hyper children play.
"They have a home." Jethro quipped.
"Permanent Jethro. Just outside of Annapolis. We have ten days." Kate heaved a sigh as she forced herself not to cry in public.
"This was never supposed to be permanent. It was an emergency and we were available." Jethro reminded himself aloud.
"I know that, but I just can't help but feel like..." Kate leaned her head on Jethro's shoulder and forced herself to concentrate on Marshall's smile.
"They belong with us." Jethro finished for Kate.
"Exactly." Kate replied.
Joelle burst into the ball pit by way of a slide and jumped up to wave after she completed her dive.
"Katie...we will fight for these children." Jethro said as he waved back to Joelle.