A/N: I'm back. We are heading to the end. This time will know Gibbs decision about Mr. Martins idea. Guess what will be his reaction?
On seeing her reaction, Gibbs approaches Lexi and kneels down to talk to her.
"Lexi, do you know this man?" The girl doesn't answer but hugs him trembling. Little by little she calms down, feeling safer in his arms, but he still can't get her to talk about the man.. Frustrated, he takes her out of the bullpen, not without shouting, "Find me this guy … NOW!!!"
The agents look each other with determination and start to work.
Hours later, they still have nothing. Gibbs' mood is worsening every minute, he only relaxes after seeing Jenny who comes to look for him for their appointment with Mr. Martins.
When they arrive to the hotel, they soon see the older man seated waiting. On having seen them, he gets up to greet them.
"Thanks for coming," he says indicating the table, "sit down, please."
"What is all of this about?" asks Gibbs, impatient as always.
"I have been talking with Miss Middleton about Alexia. She says that in a few days everything will be ready so that I could take her home with me,"
"When will you do it?"
"I won't,"
"WHAT?" exclaims the agent raising his voice a little too much, "Are you crazy?"
"If I'm allowed to explain myself …" before Gibbs could jump down his throat again, Jenny takes his hand to calm him, "I'm old and ill, agent Gibbs. It won't be long before I'm incapable of doing even simple tasks, never mind caring for a child! But you can take care of her,"
"You are kidding, right?" Not wanting to believe what he's hearing,
"Not, I'm completely serious. Mrs Middleton is already informed about my decision. There will be no problem on the Social Services part. What I need to know now is if you and your partner are ready to have Alexia with you forever."
Gibbs looks at Jenny and then to the man. Not saying a word, he gets up and walks away.
"You know? Of all the ways in which I imagined that this conversation would finish, this is the only one that it had not occurred to me."
"He needs time," Jenny told him softly, still shocked herself at the offer to keep the child.
"I don't understand. I saw him in the office with her. It is obvious that he adores her."
"It is complicated. He needs to process what happened, but don't worry, we both love her and you will have the answer you wish."
"I don't want more suffering for Alexia."
"I know," she answers him seeing the sadness of the man, "if you'll give me a moment,"
"Go on,"
Before leaving, Jenny tells him one last thing. "he'll come around. I'm going to talk to him. Just stay here." the man nods and she goes out looking for Gibbs. She finds him in the driver seat of their car, looking out at nothing. She enters and sits the other side.
"So tell me. What's the matter with you, Jethro?"
"He wants to dump her,"
"No, he doesn't. He's offering her a better life. Just what you promise Lexi the day you meet her. You love her. You've been scared to loose her from the very moment he appeared. He's offering all you've been wishing these last days. So now tell me, what's really bothering you?"
He sighs defeated "What if……….?" he begins to say his look fix on the wheel.
"Jethro?"
What if I can't protect her, Jenny? What if…?
"All of this is about what happened today in the squad room, isn't it?" She asks forcing him to look at her, "Jethro, I know what you went through with Shannon and Kelly. But that wasn't your fault. And Lexi being paralyzed in front of the man who killed her dad isn't either. You have to stop torturing yourself and begin to think about what you want. Do you want this?" He nods, "then, come back to that restaurant and tell Mr. Martins that you accept his offer. Are you feeling better now?"
"You always make me feel better,"
"Who would imagine that Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a softie," she teases, leaning over to kiss him,
"If you tell anyone, I'll have to kill you," he growled back,
"Just remember that I know everything you know,"
"I still can beat you in a fight,"
"I've forgot about Gibbs ego," she says rolling her eyes, "talk to Mr Martins and then we can pick Lexi up. Where is she, by the way?"
"Abby,"
"Isn't tonight Abby's bowling night?" He nods, "You left a five-year old with a bunch of nuns who like bowling?"
"Would you prefered DiNozzo o McGee?"
"Uh, no,"
"She'll be fine. I'll be quick about it," He steps out of the car, enters the hotel and sees Mr. Martins waiting. He approaches the man and says, "prepare the documents," then turns on his heel and leaves. Mr Martins smiles as soon as his astonishment ends.
Back in the car, the couple are about to, in Jenny's words, "rescue their child from Sister Rosita's hands" when Gibbs' phones rings.
"That was Ziva. They have Corns,"
TBC