See Chapter 1 for all warnings and disclaimers. I do not own anything affiliated with Magnum P.I. or John Wayne.
Also, I wanted to thank everyone for the reviews, favorites, and follows. I also want to thank the guests.
Warning: There will spanking in this chapter.
Chapter 11
Nine minutes later found Tony and Aimee in the basement with Gibbs ready for instructions on the mailbox.
Tony and Aimee helped Gibbs make the new mailbox. Aimee was very familiar with woodworking because her dad and his family had always been carpenters. She fit right in.
When the project was complete, the two miscreants helped Gibbs put the mailbox together and apologized once again to Mr. Jones for their folly.
Mr. Jones graciously accepted their apologies and even commented about the great job they did on the mailbox. He was pleased.
One day, after Tony and Aimee's groundings were over, the two decided to watch TV. After one of the commercials for a dating site played, Aimee and Tony began talking about dating. Since they still had their memories, they were able to carry this kind of conversation.
"Yeah, I tried that stuff when I was older. It was such a waste of time."
"Why, what happened?" Tony was curious. It never seemed that he needed one of those dating sites when he was older. He had no trouble dating. It was keeping a long-term relationship that was the problem.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Awww. Come on. You can tell brother. I know we are not old enough for that stuff now, but I want to know."
Meanwhile, Gibbs had come upon this conversation while walking up the basement stairs and decided to listen to their banter. Gibbs had found out many things about his charges by just listening to their banter. Most times, Aimee and Tony were so comfortable with each other that they both admitted just about anything to each other. He knew that he was eavesdropping, but it sure cut out the middle man when trying to figure out what was bothering those two. Anyway, who could help but listen to a conversation about 'trying that stuff' and be able to just walk on by?
"No, it hurts too much Tony."
"Tell me. You know I won't judge."
"Alright, alright! I never got paid attention to on those sites because once they saw my picture, they ran away."
"That's crazy! You must be mistaken. Why do you think that?"
"Because I'm a dog Tony."
"That's not true!"
"It is! I usually didn't post a picture until they asked. They would talk to me for a while and then ask for a photo. As soon as I posted one, I never heard from them again. It happened more than once."
"Well they were crazy. You are one of the sweetest, most caring people I know. They had no idea what they were missing out on."
"Thanks, but you have to say that. You are my brother."
Tony laughed at Aimee's attempt at a joke. "Well, you had better not let Gibbs hear you say that. You know how he feels about you putting yourself down."
"Too late."
"Gibbs! You startled us." Tony revealed while looking at Aimee wide-eyed.
"Tony, I am proud of you for sticking up for Aimee. Would you excuse us?"
"Good luck." Tony mouthed this while he excused himself to his room.
"Gibbs, I'm sorry, but it is the truth. They quit talking to me after I posted a picture. What else was I supposed to think?"
"You were supposed to think that something was wrong with them and that it was their loss." Gibbs admitted with a raised eyebrow.
"So I was supposed to lie to myself? Really? I thought you hated lies." Aimee admitted a little more sarcastically than she wanted.
Gibbs just stood there and shook his head. "I should turn you over my knee and spank your backside until you can't sit for a week." Gibbs was exaggerating, but Aimee got the point.
"I'm sorry for the sarcastic way I answered you." Aimee genuinely apologized. "I honestly believe what I am saying. I am not asking to be complimented or coddled. This is what I feel."
"I'm sorry you went through that. Although I can't even think of you or Tony dating at the moment, I know that you will find a man one day that will love you for you."
"How do you know?" Aimee was sincere in her questioning. She really wasn't using false modesty. She really believed that she was unattractive.
"I know you are a wonderful, sweet, and caring young lady."
"Thanks, but that doesn't cut it with some of these guys. The want 'eye candy' and cleavage."
Anyone who knew Gibbs could tell he wasn't too keen about Aimee's terminology, but he knew he had to get through to her.
"Then those are not the right guys for you. I think you will just need a change of scenery when the right time comes again. As for now, this topic isn't even on the table to be discussed." Gibbs protectiveness was beginning to show. "When the right time comes, you'll have a better outlook on yourself."
"What makes you so sure?" Aimee said this being a little more unsure of herself than she should be.
All Gibbs did was look at Aimee with a raised his eyebrow and Aimee acquiesced.
"Okay. Okay. You are planning on working miracles with me by the time I turn eighteen." Aimee said this while she was getting up to go to her room.
Gibbs cleared his throat and crooked his finger at Aimee. Aimee froze for a few seconds and then approached Gibbs. He then pulled her under his arm and gave her five quick, hard swats and let her up.
Aimee was semi-surprised by the fact that it wasn't an over the knee spanking. It was also quick. She then began rubbing because no matter how quickly done, Gibbs always put his point across.
"Don't look so surprised and don't put yourself down." This was all Gibbs said before he got up to get a drink and then returned to descend the basement stairs.
Aimee continued to rub her backside as she climbed the stairs to her room. She also had a smile on her face because she could not help but feel that in his own gruff way, Gibbs loved her enough to correct her thinking.
It had been days since the dating talk Gibbs and Aimee had. Everything seemed to be going along as normal as normal could be for the trio's situation until Gibbs got a phone call. It was Senior.
"I would like to know where my boy is Gibbs. I haven't heard from him in a while." The Senior DiNozzo proclaimed with frustration.
"Why do you want him? You haven't tried to contact him in a couple of years." Gibbs was holding back his own frustration.
"I need to talk to him about a business proposition I have. I thought he'd be interested."
"He is on a top security mission at sea. He will be gone indefinitely." Gibbs hated to lie, but there was no way he was going to allow Senior to get his hands on Tony.
"Alright Gibbs. I know this job has its issues. Would you let him know I called? Maybe he could get in touch with me from whatever secret place he is stationed."
"I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises."
"Fair enough." Senior said this and then the line went dead.
When Gibbs looked up, he saw Tony turn and head back upstairs.
"Tony, come here."
When Tony approached, Gibbs could tell that Tony had heard the conversation.
"I couldn't tell him the truth."
"I know Gibbs, but what makes me mad is that he was calling for money."
"Well he won't get yours. Your money is frozen right now."
"Whatever. It doesn't matter. It never did." Tony tried the false bravado, but Gibbs saw right through it.
"You know, you have a second chance at this teenage thing Tony. I won't leave you and I don't want your money."
"Thanks." Tony brightened because for once he had a father-figure who he knew would want him for who Tony was and not for what he could get out of Tony.
"Let's watch some baseball." Gibbs successfully changed the subject.
A few days later Gibbs walked in on Aimee talking on her cell phone. He could tell that the conversation was not a good one. He knew it could not be her son. Gibbs had just spent time with her son Michael two days before and all was well. Michael had enrolled in welding school and was doing well. Gibbs' mentoring was working with him. He knew it wasn't Aimee's mom because Ducky had just checked up on Mrs. Smith and she was doing fine. This left only one person. She had to be talking to her biological dad.
When Aimee hung up, she threw her phone on the sofa and broke down. She never cried in front of anyone, unless of course Gibbs was showing her the error of her ways. Gibbs was surprised to see it.
"Wanna' talk about it?"
Aimee startled at the voice. "Oh, hey Gibbs." She tried to show that she was okay.
"Don't even try. Was that your dad?"
"I don't have a dad. I have a sperm donor." If Aimee could have spit venom, she would have.
Gibbs ignored the uncomfortable language and sat next to Aimee. He handed her the phone she threw and waited for her to speak. Gibbs was good at waiting people out in quiet. This made even the worst criminal speak to avoid the silence.
"He doesn't care about anyone, but himself. He treats me like an acquaintance and not like a daughter. He doesn't want a relationship and I am not going to try anymore. He can forget he ever knew of me. I'm done." With that last statement Aimee began to cry.
Gibbs held her until she fell asleep.
Aimee woke in the middle of the night and suddenly remembered what had happened with her dad and Gibbs and felt extremely embarrassed. She got dressed and decided to go for a walk. When she made it to the park five blocks down she decided to sit on the swings.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night, young lady?"
When Aimee looked up, she saw a policeman. While glad it was a policeman, reality hit Aimee that she should not be out in the park in the middle of the night. Anything could happen to a fourteen year old girl. Aimee still felt like she was in her late forties, but her outward appearance portrayed something different.
"Where do you live?"
The police officer brought Aimee home. She knew it was inevitable that she'd have to face Gibbs.
"Well, hello Gunny. It is nice to see you again. Does this young lady belong to you?"
Gibbs' eyebrow rose at the scene before him. "Yes, Marco, thank you for bringing her home safely. Where did you find her?"
"She was at the park." The officer glared at Aimee. "I am sure you did not give her permission to go out this late."
"Yah think?" Gibbs glared at Aimee. "I'll take care of it and I can guarantee it won't happen again."
"Well Gunny, I'll trust you on that one. Young lady, I have personal experience with this man. I can personally vouch for the fact that he can get his point across very well." Officer Marco glanced at Gibbs with a blush. "Good luck young lady and be more careful."
"Thank you Marco and stop in some time for a cup of coffee."
"I will Gunny. Have a good night."
As Gibbs locked the door, Aimee turned to go to her room. She did not anticipate the swat as she turned.
"What were you thinking going out in the middle of the night?"
"I wasn't thinking. I woke up embarrassed that I fell asleep in your arms and that you had to put me to bed. I am also embarrassed that I cried over my sperm donor. I should be stronger than that. I've had over forty years to get used to his ways."
"One, you don't get used to someone like your dad and the way he treats you. Two, there is no need to ever be embarrassed with me no matter what. Three, let's find another way to name your dad besides sperm donor."
"Alright, I need to get over Robert."
"If you'll let me, I'll take his place until he comes around."
Aimee began crying uncontrollably at that point. Gibbs once again held her until she quit crying.
He put her to bed again.
"Night Dad." Aimee whispered half asleep.
Gibbs smiled. "She'll probably be embarrassed when she realizes she said that, but maybe she is beginning to accept the situation." Gibbs thought as he turned off the light not looking forward to the conversation they were going to have about her going to the park at 2:00 in the morning.
TBC…
Will Aimee ever be able to get past this 'Robert issue' and move on? Will Gibbs just give up out of frustration? Will Aimee return to her 'real' life? What is real? Has this been a coma or a dream?