Chapter Fourteen
Gibbs was the first one up on Saturday morning. When he saw Jenny was still sound asleep he eased himself out of bed, found the t-shirt he'd worn the previous evening and headed downstairs, pulling the shirt on as he went. When he got towards the bottom of the stairs he could hear noises coming from the other room. As he made his way into the dining room he could see the top of Bailey's head on the other side of the dining room table. He watched as the little boy pushed a chair across the room towards the kitchen.
"Hey Buddy," Gibbs said. "What're you doing?" He followed the little boy into the kitchen and found all the cabinet doors on his level open.
"I making breakfast," Bailey said, "but I can't reach. I need this chair."
"Can I help?" Gibbs asked.
"Uh, yah," Bailey said, "I think I will need a little bit of help."
"Alright," Gibbs said. "What are we making?"
Bailey looked up at Gibbs thoughtfully. "Um, we will make cereal and oatmeal and the pancakes and uh, eggs and—"
Gibbs lifted Bailey's fragile body into the chair he'd pushed over to the counter. "How about we make some bacon and eggs and toast?" Gibbs suggested.
"Ok," Bailey agreed, "I think everybody will like that."
Gibbs pulled the bacon, eggs and butter out of the refrigerator and grabbed the loaf of bread. "Let's make the coffee first," he said. "Papa Gibbs needs his coffee."
Bailey scrunched up his face as he recalled the sip of coffee he'd had the previous evening. "I don't like coffee," he said.
"I think we all found that out last night," Gibbs said smiling at the little boy. "Can you help me measure?" He told Bailey how many scoops of coffee to put in the filter then let him push the button to turn it on. After the coffee was brewing Gibbs put some bacon in a pan to cook then showed Bailey how to put the bread in the toaster. As the toast popped up Gibbs handed it to Bailey to butter while he cooked the bacon. Jenny made her way into the kitchen as Gibbs was taking the bacon out of the pan.
"Morning," Gibbs said as he turned around to kiss her.
"Good morning," Jenny said wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him from behind. "I see you got some help making breakfast."
"Actually, I'm helping Bailey cook," Gibbs said winking at her as she rubbed Bailey's back.
"I see," Jenny said, "and what about you, Honey. Is it ok if I give you a good morning kiss today?"
Bailey nodded his head, not taking his eyes off the task of buttering the toast as Gibbs added it to the plate. Jenny kissed the top of Bailey's head then poured herself a cup of coffee and headed out to get the paper to read while she waited for breakfast.
"Are you ready to cook the eggs?" Gibbs asked. He scooted the chair Bailey was standing on in front of the stove, holding onto Bailey with one hand to make sure he didn't fall. "Don't touch the pan," he instructed. "It's very hot. It will burn you. Tap the egg on the counter then I'll help you get it into the pan since you've got one arm in a cast," he said handing Bailey an egg.
Bailey followed Gibbs instructions carefully and managed to get the egg into the pan with only one shell. Gibbs helped him crack another egg into the pan then picked the shells out. "Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper on them," Gibbs said handing Bailey the salt and pepper shakers.
"I think I will need help turning them over," Bailey said watching the eggs cook.
"I'll help you," Gibbs said. He handed Bailey the spatula, put his hand on top of Bailey's and helped him flip the eggs. "Good job, Little Man!" he praised.
The look of pride on Bailey's face made Gibbs' heart swell. The eggs were far from perfect. One of the yolks had broken and there was probably a shell or two in them but it was clearly a big accomplishment in Bailey's eyes.
"Can you put some toast and bacon on a plate for Momma Gibbs?" Gibbs asked. After Bailey had arranged the toast and bacon on the plate Gibbs put the eggs on then sent Bailey to deliver it to Jenny in the dining room.
"I make this special for you, Momma Gibbs," Bailey said as he handed her the plate. "Papa Gibbs helped me a little bit though."
"Thank you very much," Jenny said. "This looks delicious." She smiled as she watched Bailey hurry back into the kitchen.
Gibbs helped Bailey make four more eggs, two for each of them, then they joined Jenny at the dining room table. While they were eating breakfast Josie wandered into the dining room and headed straight for Gibbs.
"Sweetheart, you're soaking wet," Gibbs said as he picked her up. He looked her over and saw her hair was sweaty and matted to her head and her pajamas were damp and clinging to her skin.
"It might be night terrors," Jenny said.
Gibbs rested his hand on Josie's chest and could feel how quickly she was breathing and how fast her heart was beating. "I think you're right, Momma Gibbs," he said. He hugged Josie to him and kissed her forehead. "Did you have a bad dream, Baby?"
"I don't know," Josie said, "I'm scared."
"Ok, it's ok," Gibbs said. "You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. Let's try to slow your breathing down before you have a panic attack." Gibbs turned Josie around in his lap and held her back against his chest. "Do you feel me breathing?" he asked resting his hand on her chest and holding her to him. "Breathe with me."
Josie made a conscious effort to match her breaths to Gibbs' and with a little coaching she managed to even out her breathing and calm down.
"That's better," Gibbs said running his hand over her hair. "Good girl."
"Is Josie ok?" Bailey asked watching anxiously from his chair.
"Josie's going to be just fine," Gibbs said smiling at Bailey. "You guys know what we're going to doing today?"
"Do we have to go to work again?" Bailey asked already disappointed at the idea.
"Nope," Gibbs said. "How about Momma Gibbs tells you what we're going to do today while I make Josie some breakfast?"
Gibbs handed Josie to Jenny then headed into the kitchen. Jenny wrapped her arms around Josie and kissed the top of her head. "After breakfast we're going to take a bath and then we're going to go get our hair cut and after that Papa Gibbs and I are going to take you guys to the toy store and let you both pick something out that you'd like to buy. How does that sound?"
"We can have more toys?" Bailey asked excitedly.
"You sure can, Honey," Jenny said. "All you have is Legos. I think it might be fun to have some other stuff to play with too."
"We didn't get to play with toys at our house 'cause Daddy said we have to do our chores first," Bailey said, "but we have lots of chores and then it was bedtime."
"That's not how it's going to be here," Jenny said. "You guys will have plenty of play time."
Gibbs returned with Josie's breakfast, sat down next to Jenny and pulled Josie onto his lap. Josie smiled when she looked at her plate and saw that Gibbs had arranged her breakfast into a smiley face, using the egg yolks as eyes and the bacon as a smile.
"Any ideas about where to take them for haircuts?" Gibbs asked. "I could take them to my barber but I'm not sure he'd know what to do with Josie."
"They can go to my hair salon," Jenny said. "They're really good with kids there. We just need to get there right away when they open so we don't get stuck in a long line."
"Why don't you go ahead and get a shower," Gibbs said, "Bailey and I will clean up our mess, then I'll bathe the kids and let you dress them while I get my shower."
"Sounds like a plan," Jenny said downing the last of her orange juice before heading upstairs.
Gibbs sat with Josie while she finished eating then both kids helped him clean the kitchen. When they were done they all went upstairs. Gibbs grabbed a handful of books to occupy Josie while Jenny got dressed, sat Josie in his bed to read and took Bailey into the bathroom.
"It'll be nice to get all this hair out of your face," Gibbs said as he lathered the little boy's hair with shampoo. "I'll finally be able to see your bright, brown eyes."
"Does it hurt when you get your hairs cut?" Bailey asked splashing around in the tub.
"Not at all," Gibbs said. "You can't even feel it." He rinsed the shampoo out the poured some body wash onto a washcloth. Just as he was getting ready to start washing Bailey, the little boy disappeared under the water.
"What are you doing?" Gibbs asked when Bailey came up for air.
"Blub, blub, I'm a fishy!" Bailey said. Gibbs laughed as he started washing Bailey's back. "Mommy promised to take me to swim with the fishies but then she died."
"Sorry your mom died," Gibbs said.
"Me too," Bailey said. "I miss her."
Gibbs patted Bailey's back gently and gave him a reassuring smile. "Can you wash your tummy?"
Bailey smiled at Gibbs and took the washcloth from him. While the little boy washed his stomach, Gibbs studied the bruises that were still clearly visible across his torso. He'd worked child abuse cases before but had never seen a child beaten so badly. Bailey's wet hand on his cheek broke Gibbs from his thoughts.
"My tummy is all clean now, Papa Gibbs," Bailey said.
"Good boy," Gibbs said. He helped Bailey finish washing up then lifted him out of the bathtub. "Come on, Little Fishy," he said, "it's time to get out."
"Is it Josie's turn now?" Bailey asked as Gibbs dried him off.
"Yep," Gibbs said. "Momma's going to help you get dressed while I give Josie a bath, ok?"
"Ok," Bailey said. He took Gibbs' hand and the two went out to the bedroom where Jenny and Josie were looking at a book together.
"I'll trade you," Gibbs said.
"Josie, Papa Gibbs is going to give you a bath now," Bailey said.
Jenny took Bailey's hand and led him down the hall to his room and Gibbs lifted Josie out of the bed and headed towards the bathroom.
"I love you, Papa Gibbs," Josie said softly as Gibbs carried her into the bathroom.
Gibbs smiled over at her and ran his finger across her cheek. "I love you too, Josie." He kissed her cheek before kneeling and standing her on the floor in front of him. "Are you doing ok today?"
Josie nodded as Gibbs started undressing her. "Where is Daddy?" she asked.
"Daddy is far away from here," Gibbs said as he turned the water in the bathtub off. "He'll never hurt you again."
"Are you going to leave me?" Josie asked as Gibbs lifted her up and lowered her into the tub.
"No, Sweet Pea," Gibbs said. "I'm not going to leave you. You're safe here, remember?"
"Papa Gibbs," Josie said, "I like it here."
Gibbs smiled and ran his thumb over her cheek. "I'm glad," he said, "because I like having you here. I think I just might keep you." A smile found its way onto Josie's face as Gibbs worked the shampoo into her hair. He rinsed the shampoo out and Josie helped him wash her body her off. When he was done, he got Josie out of the bathtub and dried her off then wrapped her in her towel and picked her up.
"Hey," Gibbs said, "can I have a good morning kiss?"
Josie smiled from ear to ear then kissed Gibbs' cheek. "Now you have to give me a good morning kiss," she said still smiling.
Gibbs smiled and returned her kiss. "Ok, you go get dressed while I take a shower," he said as he handed her to Jenny. Josie waved to Gibbs over Jenny's shoulder as Jenny took her out of their bedroom and into her own. Gibbs smiled to himself then headed into the bathroom.
Gibbs and Jenny got the twins to the hair salon right before it opened. They were close enough to the front of the line that they didn't have to wait. Jenny had the stylist cutting Josie's hair trim it just enough to get rid of the split ends. Bailey insisted on getting his hair cut just like Gibbs. The shaggy blonde hair that extended just below his ears was cut much shorter allowing him to see without constantly pushing his hair out of the way.
When they were done at the hair salon, Gibbs and Jenny took the kids to Toys R Us. With Christmas being only three weeks away the store was full of shoppers. Gibbs grabbed onto the twins' hands as they looked around the store in awe. Jenny retrieved a shopping cart then they started down the first aisle.
"You can both pick a toy out," Jenny said, "so keep an eye out for something you'd like to have while we walk around the store."
As the group went up and down each aisle Jenny grabbed a few things they could pack in a backpack to keep the twins entertained when they went places. When they got to the aisle filled with stuffed animals Gibbs picked out the softest teddy bear he could find for Josie and for Bailey he chose a light brown dog with floppy ears. Josie decided she wanted the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head set with all the accessories to dress them up for any occasion. Bailey settled on a wooden train set with an endless amount of track, road signs, trees, people and everything else needed to create a small town.
After leaving the toy store they headed for the supermarket. The twins were eager to return home and play with their new toys but after Gibbs told them they could pick out a snack they consented to the shopping trip. The store was crowded for a Saturday morning so to make sure they didn't lose either of the kids, Gibbs put Bailey in the shopping cart and lifted Josie up onto his shoulders.
"No, Papa Gibbs!" Bailey said."I want to sit on your shoulders! Please!"
"Shh," Gibbs said. "You'll get a turn."
"When?" Bailey asked. "I want to now. Josie can sit in this cart and I will sit on your shoulders."
"We'll switch places when we get halfway through the store," Gibbs said. "Right now we need your help organizing the cart. When we put stuff in we need you to arrange it so everything will fit. Can you do that?"
Bailey took one last look at his sister then nodded. Gibbs ruffled his hair then they started towards the produce section. Bailey went to work arranging and rearranging everything Gibbs and Jenny added to the cart, having an animated conversation with himself the entire time. Josie sat happily perched on Gibbs' shoulders with her arms wrapped around his head until they came to the snack aisle.
"Anything you want," Gibbs said as he put Josie on the floor and Jenny lifted Bailey out of the cart. "What looks good?"
"Can I have this, Papa Gibbs?" Bailey asked handing Gibbs his choice.
"Vanilla pudding, sure," Gibbs said adding it to the cart. "What about you, Josie?"
Josie pulled a box of SpongeBob fruit snacks off the shelf and handed it to Gibbs with a smile on her face.
"Ok," Gibbs said putting the fruit snacks in the cart and then Josie. "Let's finish up in here so we can get home." He lifted Bailey onto his shoulders and they headed to the next aisle.
When they were finished at the grocery store Gibbs loaded the groceries into the trunk of the car while Jenny buckled the twins in their car seats then Gibbs drove the short distance back to his house. After they got the car unloaded they all stood in the kitchen staring at the bags lining the counters.
"I'll put the groceries away and work on lunch if you'll entertain the twins," Gibbs said.
"That should be easy enough," Jenny said. "I'm sure they'll want to play with their toys before lunch and naptime."
Gibbs smiled and leaned towards Jenny. Jenny closed the distance, pressing her lips to Gibbs.
"I want a kiss too!" Josie said tugging on Gibbs' pant leg.
"You do?" Gibbs asked as he lifted her up. Josie giggled as Gibbs pressed his lips to her forehead. "Do you want a kiss from Momma Gibbs too?"
Jenny didn't wait for an answer, instead she leaned in and kissed Josie's cheek.
"Momma's going to play with Mr. Potato Head with you while I cook us some lunch," Gibbs said.
"Papa Gibbs," Bailey called returning from the bathroom, "I need you."
Gibbs stood Josie on the floor and kneeled in front of Bailey. "What do you need, Kiddo?"
"I can't get my zipper up," Bailey said tugging at his pants.
"Take it easy," Gibbs said, "let me have a look." He freed the zipper on Bailey's jeans and pulled it up then snapped the little boy's pants. "You guys go play with your new toys until I get lunch ready." He watched as Jenny disappeared into the living room with the twins then got to work on putting the groceries away and fixing lunch.
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing my story. Writing is my escape from reality and I'm pleased to hear you are enjoying reading this story as much as I am enjoying writing it. Thank you all!