Without killing the engine and without turning to look at the two silent and horrified girls, Gibbs' growl seemed particularly ferocious in the small confines of the car.
"Get into that house now, both of you. Abby, go to your room. Ziva, find a corner in the living room."
When it became apparent that their boss had no intention of getting out of the car also, both troublemakers looked at each other in confusion.
Sensing this, the team leader ground his teeth in irritation.
"For once in your lives, would you just do as you're god damn told!"
He hadn't meant to shout at them, but shout he did and both girls' scrambled from the car in response and scampered into the house as instructed.
Without a backwards glance, Gibbs roared the car into life again and out of his driveway.
As he drove he felt the familiar insecurities he had always felt about his team in times like this. He swallowed hard in a vain attempt to get a handle on himself.
The voices in his head were however, relentless.
He couldn't outdrive them. They bored into every fibre of his consciousness.
Without knowingly intending to, he soon found himself outside Ducky's house. Killing the engine, and leaning his head on the steering wheel he let out a loud groan. He instinctively exited the car and was soon knocking on his old friend's door, before his brain even registered he was doing so.
It took only a few moments for it to swing open, and for the faint strains of classical music to pour out.
"Jethro" the doctor exclaimed, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"
When Gibbs didn't speak, the medical examiner took a closer look at him and immediately opened the door widely in an unspoken gesture for him to come inside.
Having seen his friend's car in the lot, he opted away from the traditional bourbon and set a pot of strong coffee on to brew, hearing Gibbs sit himself down at the kitchen table as he did so.
Turning around, he grew even more alarmed as he took in the ashen pallor and general look of intense distress that was etched into every line of the former marines face.
"What is it Jethro? What has happened?"
When Gibbs merely looked at him with a pained expression, the doctor's pulse began to quicken.
"My dear man, you must open your mouth and tell me whatever is the matter. Has someone been injured? Anthony?"
Gibbs opened and closed his mouth for several seconds before choking out an answer.
An answer the good doctor never expected to hear fall out of his friend's mouth.
"I don't think I can lead my team anymore, Duck. I think it would be better…safer, for them to be transferred to new teams under a different boss."
Sitting down heavily across from the paled Gibbs, Ducky gaped at him at a loss for words.
A first, for Dr Mallard.
Eventually pulling himself together, Ducky stared at the anguished man closely.
"What in good heavens are you talking about Jethro?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Gibbs set about describing the past month in full to his friend. Starting off with Tony, Tim and Abby at the forbidden crime scene, before moving on to first Tony and then Tim's disobedience regarding their confinement. He had to pause for breath as he launched in an explanation of tonight's saga concerning Ziva and Abby.
When he finished, he looked even more miserable than he had done at the beginning, which the doctor silently marvelled at as being a feat in itself.
"I can't lead them anymore Duck. They don't listen to me. I don't know is it because I've gotten soft in my old age, or because I set a bad example, or both. All I know is, they would be…safer, with someone else. Someone not so close. I'm too…attached to them, and its showing in their behaviour. The behaviour that could get them killed. I have to take a step back and let someone else take over."
Ducky felt the familiar strains of amusement and exasperation as he surveyed his old and closest friend.
Deciding in a split second on the best approach to make the man see reason, he pondered for a moment before answering.
"Hmm let me see now. Yes, yes…you may be quite right Jethro. I mean to say dear fellow, your team have been with you for a very long time now. Perhaps a little shake up is in everybody's best interests. You know how time can stagnate even the clearest of ponds. Yes indeed, when one weighs up the pros and cons, I do believe splitting them up and sending them to different teams may be best all round."
He was interrupted by the shrill sound of the coffee pot announcing its readiness.
"Coffee, Jethro?"
Smiling to himself slightly at the ferocious expression that was currently making its way across Gibbs' face, Ducky stood and busied himself with fetching two steaming mugs of coffee. Placing one down in front of a still scowling Jethro, he seated himself once more and cradled his cup.
"So, where were we? Ah yes, reassignments. Let me see now, I know Anthony didn't particularly like his time as Agent Afloat, but I do think it built his character rather wonderfully. Young Timothy of course has his pick of assignments, perhaps he could be transferred to a white collar taskforce that would best utilise his technological prowess."
He hid another smile as the frown staring back at his was reaching epidemic levels.
Now, Ziva…she is the conundrum, isn't she Jethro? Hmm, let me see now. Perhaps it would be best just to end her liaison position with NCIS and have her return to Israel. Yes, I think that would be for the best. When it comes to young Abigail, like Timothy, she really is the cat that got the cream. Perhaps she could accept one of those many private sector contracts she is continually offered."
He had to bite his lip to prevent the smile as the small strains of growling were now escaping a thunderous looking Jethro.
"Of course those are just ideas, you'd really have to talk to the director about how best to spread the surplus."
This got a reaction. As he knew it would.
"Surplus?!" Gibbs thundered, slamming his cup down angrily.
"They are not a 'surplus' Duck, they're my god damned team."
Merely peering serenely out over his wire rimmed spectacles, the doctor gave a sage nod.
"Of course they are, you'll have to excuse my vernacular Jethro. Now, with regards to a new team, do you think you'll be able to adequately staff your department from this year's intake of recruits or do you think you will have to put out some inter agency feelers?"
Gaping slightly, Gibbs spluttered and stammered in indignation.
"You make them sound like spare car parts Duck."
Shrugging his shoulders slightly, the doctor gave a small smile.
"My apologies Jethro, I'm afraid I can be a bit blunt when it comes to logistics. But, if as you say, you have failed your team, then I can scarcely see a better way of approaching it."
The coffee cup slammed down once more.
"Failed?"
Nodding serenely, Ducky had to draw on his years of mastering appropriate bedside manners to keep from bursting into laughter.
"Yes Jethro" he agreed calmly, "failed."
The glare that was sent across the table would have floored a lesser man, but Dr Mallard continued completely unfazed.
"I mean to say, if you cannot discipline your people and have them follow your command, what use are you all to each other."
The coffee mug suffered another rude blow.
"I discipline my people just fine!"
"Really?" Ducky scoffed, "my dear fellow it doesn't seem like your trademark headslaps are nearly enough to keep that lot in line."
Gibbs glowered at him with an intensity that would have curdled the freshest of milk.
"They get a lot more than the odd headslap when they step out of line Duck, and you know it."
The doctor raised a purposefully disdainful eyebrow.
"If your discipline was as effective as you think Jethro, then your people wouldn't have stepped out of line in the first place. Surely you can see that. Now about taking applications - "
"Everyone steps out of line now and again Duck, no one's perfect" Gibbs interrupted angrily.
Nodding, the silently chuckling doctor waved a dismissive hand.
"Your staff seems to step out of line more times than any other in the agency combined."
The withering look that flew across the table was nothing short of nuclear.
"My staff?" Gibbs growled angrily, and Ducky winced as finest bone china received yet another smashing blow against the table.
"Well yes Jethro, one has a staff when one is a department head. Now I know an excellent candidate to replace Tony, if you'd - "
He got no further.
Gibbs was on his feet.
He was on his feet, and bellowing.
"What the hell is coming outta your mouth Duck. These are my people you're talking about. My people. No one else's. Replace Tony? Are you out of your god damned mind? Send Ziva back to Israel? Tim to some computer dungeon and Abby to some corporate hell hole?!"
"Jethro, I - "
"My people are going nowhere, ya got that Duck?. Sure they mightn't always do as they're told, but I'm always there to make them regret it. I didn't fail them. Sure I mightn't be perfect, but I do the best that I can. That doesn't mean I can't…that I can't look after them. They need me. They're just kids, all of them, they're just kids. You think I can just parcel them up and send them off because they disobeyed me? Are you crazy?"
Ducky couldn't take one more moment.
The laughter that escaped him filled the kitchen and the halls that lay beyond.
Gibbs stood and felt his brow furrow in confusion as he stared at the giggling doctor.
"What's so funny?" he eventually snarled.
Wiping his wet eyes with his handkerchief, Ducky gestured to the chair that the recently enraged Gibbs had leapt out of.
"Sit, dear fellow, sit" he chortled.
Eying him mutinously, Gibbs eventually lowered himself back into the chair.
Still chuckling, Ducky finished drying his eyes and restored his handkerchief.
"I'm laughing, my dear Jethro, because you are as predictable as Mother's obsession with the neighbours pool boy."
As the glower increased, the doctor held his hands up in a placating gesture.
"I had to goad you into getting past your self deprecating, so you could then get past that very overdeveloped sense of guilt you have and remember that yes, they are very young, and yes they do and will stray out of bounds."
"Duck, I - "
"The fact that that do stray out of bounds is no reflection on the trust they have in you Jethro" Ducky continued sternly, drowning out the other mans objections.
Judging by the sudden uncomfortable squirming on the other side of the table, the doctor knew his words hit home.
"Thought I wouldn't figure out the true cause of all this Jethro?" he asked gently.
The former marine looked sheepish and nodded, before another look of misery crossed his face.
"They don't trust me, Duck. Not one of them came to me when they needed help. Instead they all hared off on their own and put their god damned necks on the line in the process. Am I really that much of a hardass with them that they feel they can't talk to me… that they can't trust me?"
Ducky had to fight not to cross the room and drag the stubborn marine into a hug.
"Jethro" he began quietly, hoping his friend could hear the sincerity in his voice.
"The fact that they didn't come to you is of no reflection of their trust in you. They are young, wilful and impulsive. I see the way they all look up to you, whether you care to admit or not. You are one of the most important people in each of those young people's lives Jethro. It does not do to sit here and dwell on the why's and why not's of the situation. You do them a disservice."
"I - "
"You are as much of a father to Anthony as that boy has ever known. He idolises you. He would do anything for you. Young Timothy who was not quite as blighted in the biological father department, is not far behind. You have brought that young man on leaps and bounds and he too, would do anything in this world for you.
"Duck, its - "
"Ziva, who is as guarded a young lady as I have ever met, opens up with you. She allows you in. That is a precious gift in itself Jethro. She has been conditioned and trained not to feel, and never ever to trust. Yet she trusts you. She trusts you more than anyone else I believe. Not to mention the fact she killed her own brother to save you"
"You don't - "
"Abigail would no doubt do hard labour in some awful penitentiary if it meant it were to save you from some form of ill fate. She loves you. And you, her. It truly is that simple."
"They're - "
"You must heed my words Jethro. These people are as much your children as Kelly ever was. Do not betray their trust in you by believing they have none."
"Alright, I get it" Gibbs eventually yelled, in an attempt to get word in edgeways.
Also, in an attempt to blink away the tears in his eyes that had formed during Ducky's speech, which the good doctor had tactfully pretended not to notice.
"You do?" Ducky repeated calmly.
Nodding sheepishly and clutching his now safe cup, Gibbs squirmed slightly before sighing.
"Ok, maybe I was a bit…"
"Dramatic?" Ducky supplied helpfully.
Glowering half heartedly, Jethro gave a small nod.
"Thanks Duck" he said quietly, knowing that the doctor would hear the unspoken speech of gratitude in his few words.
"Anytime my dear fellow, anytime. Though I do confess myself blessed with young Mr Palmer, I barely have to raise my voice with the chap."
Snorting, Gibbs nodded his head.
"You don't know how lucky you are" he replied as he began to stand, "my lot are taking years off of my estimated lifespan."
"Your high intake of red meat and beer doesn't help either Jethro" Ducky immediately scolded.
Rolling his eyes, Gibbs gave another jerk of his head and reached out and uncharacteristically pulled his friend into a tight hug.
As he was released Ducky straightened his glasses and looked at Gibbs bemusedly.
"Since when were you so big on hugging Jethro?" he teased lightly.
Looking at him with an indefinable expression, Gibbs shrugged somewhat.
"Since you singlehandedly talked me out of making one of the biggest mistakes of my life, Duck."
Smiling broadly, the doctor gave a nod of thanks.
"Best be on my way now, all four of them are in my house and I'd rather not have to go house hunting at this hour of my life."
Snorting, Ducky nodded and saw his old friend to the door.
Grasping him on the shoulder he bid him a good night and watched as he made his way to his car.
"Now mind you don't be too hard on those girls Jethro, their hearts were in the right place."
Giving a very non committal wave of acknowledgement, Gibbs slipped into his car and kicked into life once more.
Except this time it was with a very different mind frame.
The voices that had accompanied him all the way to his friend home, had met their demise there.
As he pulled out on the motorway with a last honk of his horn, Gibbs felt much lighter than he could have ever dared to hope.
He could deal with his two girls.
Like he always did.
Then they could put the whole debacle behind them.
Till the next one came along.
Groaning already at the very thoughts of the next one, he swung his car back into his drive, an hour after he had left it.
Quickly entering his house, he grimaced when he saw Abby sitting on the edge of his living room sofa, talking quietly to Ziva who was mercifully nose first in the corner as he had instructed.
Shutting the door with a snap to alert her to his presence, he, as angry as he was, had to bite back a grin as to how high she jumped in the air.
"Gibbs! I - "
He cut her off with a glare and a come here motion.
Reluctantly she shuffled towards him, her eyes downcast and her face guilty.
Quickly grasping her upper arm, he turned her to her side.
The room was suddenly full with the sounds of hand meeting backside.
As he finished dishing out a quick volley of swats, Gibbs turned the squawking lab rat to face him.
"When I say, go to your room, I mean, go to your room. Is that clear?"
The frantic swinging of pigtails let him know it was clear.
With one last swat, he pointed up the staircase.
"Get your backside up those stairs. I will call you when I'm ready for you."
Releasing her arm, he watched as she fled the room and heard the distant sounds of her and Ziva's door snapping shut.
Throwing himself down in an armchair, he scrubbed a hand across his tired face.
Feeling a ridiculous amount of déjà vu strike him, he took in a deep breath.
"Alright Ziva, front and centre."
….
TBC
….
A/N: I know this is very Gibbs-centric, but I wanted to put in his feelings about the whole saga! Hope you enjoyed!