Chapter 14

Someone else said it in another story. I don't own NCIS but if I did we would not have to wait until September to find out the ending of the season episode.

Samantha was still asleep on Gibbs' shoulder when Ducky arrived armed with his trusty medical bag and a very worried Goth hot on his heels. Gibbs started to wake her up when Ducky walked in the door. "No, let her rest Jethro. She needs it. Tony said we had two I needed to check out."

" Ziva has a knot on her head Duck. Tony got some ice to put on it. She was surprised and thrown into my pantry." Gibbs smiled at Abby as she realized that Samantha was asleep. She went to check on Ziva. Ziva just smiled at her friend. "I am fine Abby"

"Where are McGee and Tony?" she asked concern still in her eyes.

"Taking our prisoner back to headquarters. Both are fine. They should be back soon Abbs." Gibbs whispered as she gave him a gentle hug as not to disturb Samantha.

Abby carefully sat down on the couch next to Gibbs. She did not want to disturb his sleeping friend. "Is this her?" Abby whispered excitedly. " She is beautiful."

Gibbs nodded and stroked Samantha's hair. He looked down at her neck to check to see that the bleeding had not started again. He was relived that it had not. " Not to deep thank God, " he thought.

Ducky checked Ziva's eyes and they were equal and responsive. " Did you loose consciousness Ziva?"

"I am not sure, Ducky. I came downstairs to get us something to drink. I started some tea and started to get Sam a diet coke out of the refrigerator when I was hit from behind. Guess maybe I did pass out for a minute or two because the next thing I knew I was locked in the pantry and I heard Samantha talking to someone in the living room," she explained to her favorite ME.

"Looks like you have a concussion but I think you will be fine. We can watch you here and not go to the hospital. I will get you some aspirin for that headache. Now let's check on our other patient. Did she pass out also Jethro?"

" No Duck, she just fell asleep. She had a tough couple of minutes when he had the knife to her throat but she fought back like the true marine she is."

" I hate to wake her but this cut needs stitches and I need to check her arm. "

"I know Duck." Gibbs rubbed Samantha's cheek with his hand and spoke gently to her. "Sam, sweetheart I need you to wake up. Ducky is here to check you out and that cut on your neck needs stitches."

Samantha snuggled closer to him not wanting to wake up. "Ok, I know it has to be done, " she grumbled as her eyes opened and looked up at him.

"Hello my dear I am Dr. Mallard," Ducky said softly as Gibbs helped Samantha up off the couch. "But you can call me Ducky."

Gibbs helped her to her feet and motioned for Ducky to follow them upstairs. Samantha looked at Ducky as she began to get her bearings. "I am Samantha, Ducky. Please to meet you finally. Jethro has told me a lot about you."

Abby followed them up to Gibbs' guest bedroom where the fourth quarter of the game was coming to an end on Samantha's computer. Gibbs helped her sit back on the pillows she had set up on the bed to watch the game. "Looks like they won," he told her smiling.

"Really? When I went looking for Ziva we were behind." Gibbs moved the computer over to the dresser so Ducky could get a better look at the cut on her neck.

After examining the cut more carefully he decided to use butterfly bandages and the new cut glue to minimize the scaring. Then he put a dressing on top to keep it clean and dry. He then checked her arm. It still seemed in place despite the physical activity she had just been forced to endure. After changing the dressing on her gunshot wound, he pronounced her in really good shape for the shape she was in. "I think you will be just fine after a rest my dear," he told her.

"Thank-you Ducky. My arm is hurting some but I think I will survive." She smiled at both Gibbs and Ducky. She then looked toward the door and saw Abby standing there. She knew that the Goth was just jumping out of her skin to be introduced. "Jethro," Sam smirked. " I have now met Tony, Ziva and Ducky. Don't you think you need to introduce me to Abby before she has kittens over there."

" Usually you introduce yourself Abbs," he joked.

" I was trying to be polite and wait until Ducky finished his examination, Gibbs." She stepped past the two men and set down on the bed. Being Abby the bed bounced when she sat down and caused Samantha to flinch just a little. "Ooops! Sorry, did not mean to hurt you. I am Abby."

" Hi Abby. I am Samantha. I am so glad to finally meet you." Gibbs stepped up and smiled at them both knowing that Abby had a lot of questions and Samantha would enjoy a visit from Abby. He kissed Abby on the head and stepped over to the other side of the bed to kiss Samantha. " I am going to the kitchen to get you a diet coke and I am sure it is time for your pain pills. I can see pain in your eyes. You two have a nice visit."

Gibbs and Ducky stepped out of the room to allow these two ladies to get to know one another. Ducky looked up at his dear friend and replied, "You have a keeper there, Jethro. "

" I know that Duck. She has really added something to my life."

"She has brought back your smile, my friend. Are you sure she is ready for our enthusiastic Goth?"

" She teaches first graders Duck. I am sure Abby will not be a challenge." Just then Gibbs' cell phone rang. "Gibbs."

"Hey Boss. How are Ziva and Samantha?"

" Both are doing fine. Did you get Isley booked into our lock-up? I plan to let him stew there overnight and talk to him tomorrow."

" Signed, sealed and delivered Boss. And speaking of delivered Boss, McGee and I were thinking of food."

" You are always thinking of food DiNozzo. What about it?" Gibbs smirked.

"McGee and I were wondering if you want us to bring Chinese?"

" That sounds good. Bring food for the whole team. Abby arrived with Ducky. Guess we could all eat something." Ducky held up his hand. "Nothing for me Jethro. I need to be getting back to mother. The nurse leaves soon and I need to get mother fed."

"I know what everyone else wants. What should I get for Sam?" DiNozzo asked.

"Honey sired chicken, white rice and two eggs rolls. Ducky is not joining us. " Gibbs told him.

"Got it boss. We should be there in a half an hour. "

Gibbs and Ducky walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Ducky got Ziva two aspirin for her headache and Gibbs got Samantha's pain pills. "Thanks for coming over Duck."

"Not a problem Jethro. Glad everyone is doing well. I will be by to check on Samantha's cut sometime tomorrow. I assume that she is staying in your guest room for a while."

" Yes, the doctor won't let her go back to work until after Thanksgiving. Isley ransacked her apartment looking for the evidence that we have on him," Gibbs told him. "Also, I don't think she needs to be alone just yet. She has been through a lot in the past few days and I don't think it has really hit her yet."

"Good thinking. I was going to suggest that she stay here for a few days. She does not need to be alone. She may be a tough marine but she is still a first grade teacher and not an agent. PTSD is a possibility after all she has been through."

" I know Duck. I won't let her face anything like that alone." Ducky smiled at his friend. He knew what he said would be true.

Ducky said good-bye to all the others and left. Abby could easily get a ride with one of the others. As he drove home he smiled to himself and thought, "Samantha will be good for Jethro. It is easy to see that he loves her very much."

After saying good-bye to Ducky, Gibbs went upstairs and walked into the guest bedroom to his two best girls laughing and discussing Area 51 and the Roswell Alien landing of July 1947. "I knew Abby would pick your brain about aliens, Sam." He handed her the coke and her pain pills.

"You did not tell me her grandfather was on the City Council when this all happened. "Abby scolded him.

" I didn't know Abby." Gibbs sat down on the bed next to Samantha.

"I told you Abby. It does not mean much since I did not find about the aliens until after he died." Samantha just smiled at Gibbs knowing that he had described Abby just right

"Well I assume you are now best friends?" Gibbs asked.

"Working on it," they said in unison. "When your arm gets better Sam, we really need to plan a girls night out with Ziva. We really need to get to know one another." Abby added. " Have you heard from Tony and Timmy, Gibbs?"

"Yes, Abby they are bringing Chinese food."

"Hey since we are all here, why not make it a movie night?" Abby said excitedly. " Oh unless you don't feel like it Sam."

Gibbs eyed them both. He was not sure if Samantha was up to it until he saw the sparkle in her eyes. "Sounds great Abby. We really need to keep an eye on Ziva tonight anyway Gibbs. She does have a concussion."

"Oh but you don't have any movies Gibbs except old war ones. Yuck."

"Abby, check my bag by the door. I managed to get a few from my apartment. We also have my computer with a wireless connection so we could watch Netflix."

Samantha told her.

"Gibbs does not have internet. "Abby informed her.

"Yes he does Abby. I forced him to join the 21st century for me last month." Samantha giggled. " My wireless connection was costing me to much since Gibbs does not have cable yet."

Both ladies smirked and looked over at their tough marine. " Not happening Sam. I am not going to spend that much money for 500 channels of nothing on." Samantha looked at Abby and winked.

"Protest a while longer Jethro. I will win you over."

On that note Abby got up and went to Samantha's bag and looked through the movies Samantha brought. "Here's on I would be all of us can watch." She took the movie and Samantha's laptop and headed downstairs. " I think I heard Tony's car. I am going down to set things up. Ok to use your laptop Sam. This movie won't be good on Gibbs's little black and white from the basement."

"Sure, thanks Abby."

Tony had indeed arrived with McGee and food. Abby set up the computer for the movie and everyone got situated to enjoy McClintock with John Wayne. Samantha and Gibbs were sitting on the couch, Ziva was in the large lounge chair with Tony sitting on the floor next to her, and McGee and Abby were sitting on the love seat. All were enjoying the food, the movie and company. Tony kept giving commentary on the movie since he was the movie expert. "Tony, I got a trivia question about this movie that I bet you do not know,"

Samantha challenged.

" A challenge, Samantha." Tony paused the movie and turned to except the challenge.

"Do you know who the actress is that plays Patrick Wayne's little sister?" Samantha winked at Gibbs. He just smiled at her because he knew the answer to this one and he was so hoping that Tony didn't. Would be fun if he could get DiNozzo on this one.

Tony had a puzzled look on his face. He was not sure and he did not want to be bested by his boss' new love. After all he was the teams' resident movie expert. "More information here Sam."

"Sorry Tony. I am not giving you any hints. That would be cheating not wouldn't it?"

Gibbs could see Tony squirming and was enjoying every minute of his senior field agent's torture. "Well do you have an answer DiNozzzo? Spit it out."

" Ok I guess you bested me Samantha. I will have to admit I don't know."

Gibbs looked at Samantha and she mouthed go ahead. " Really DiNozzo everybody know Alice Warren was played by Aissa Wayne. She is John Wayne's daughter," Gibbs informed him.

The whole team stared at Gibbs and Samantha who were both were just about to die with laughter. "Gotcha you Tony." Samantha managed between giggles.

Tony and the whole team were just amazed that Gibbs knew that bit of trivia but they knew it was because of Samantha. Tony looked annoyed. "Relax DiNozzo. Samantha and I have watched this before and she told me. Had to get you once in awhile to keep you humble."

Tony still steaming that his boss got him on a movie trivia question. He then looked at Samantha " Oh, I have to get you on Trivial Pursuit the movie addition."

"That a challenge Anthony DiNozzo," she smirked. " You name the time and place and I will be there."

"You are on."

"Enough yada yada you two. How about we get back to the movie?" Gibbs pretended to be angry but the whole group knew this was just an act.

" On it Boss." Tony turned and started the movie again and all three "couples" settled down to enjoy the movie.

Samantha had finished her meal and was sitting resting her back against Gibbs. He looked around the room and saw his "family" enjoying an evening together. He kissed the top of Sam's head and held her closer. " What was that about?" she whispered.

"Nothing. Watch the movie."

Flashback

Leroy Jethro Gibbs had just lost everything. His darling wife Shannon and his daughter were dead. He was alone without his girls. In his mind that was the worse thing that could have ever happened. He did not want to go on without them. He was alone and he did not like it.

He sat on a log at the beach where they had spent many many happy hours together. As the waves crashed against the shore he had his marine service revolver in his hand. With tears running down his cheeks he carefully put the barrel in his mouth. "One shot should do it. Then I will be with them."

His whole body was shaking with grief. He had to do this the pain was just so intense. How could he go on?

Just as he was going to pull the trigger and end his life and pain. He felt something on his shoulder. He turned to look to find no one there. The breeze shifted and it suddenly became warmer. As it did it seemed to be speaking to him. "You can't do this Jethro. I know you miss us and we miss you but this is not the way. You were left here for more. You have not fulfilled your destiny yet. You have more to give."

"No" he screamed. " Life has taken to much. I can't go on. Nothing I could ever do is worth this pain."

He looked up and a vision appeared before him. It was Shannon. "Honey, I want to join you."

"You can't Jethro. Kelly and I need to be here and you need to be on earth where you can help others who are suffering like you. Please don't do this Jethro. I would be so disappointed if my strong marine gave up."

"This is to hard Shannon. I can't …"

" You can and you will and I promise things will get better. You will have a family who loves you. You will love again. It is fine."

"Ok for you I will push on." He put the gun back in its place and lay down on the warm sand and went to sleep, the first in days. Her words still in his head. You have to go on.

Gibbs was brought back to reality by DiNozzo's laughter. He had just thrown a wad of paper in McGee's direction hitting the agent in the head. Samantha had tossed a pillow toward Tony. "Leave McGee alone Tony. We keep our hands, feet and object to ourselves," she scolded using her best teacher voice. The whole group laughed as the pillow hit Tony right in the head.

Gibbs looked around his living room. He did have a family. Two sons and two daughters. He looked at Samantha, her face beaming, she was happy to not be alone. His family had accepted her and he was grateful.

Gibbs just pulled Samantha into a hug and smiled. " Ok children watch the movie or I am shutting it off." Thinking to himself. " I am so glad Shannon I listened to your advice. You were right. I can live again. I can have a family. " He felt a warm presence. "She is happy he thought. What if I had pulled that trigger? I would have missed all of this."

I have really hope you like this chapter. Please let me know. More to come. Remember Samantha's student Kelly. Things get interesting from here. Also Sam does not know about Shannon, Kelly or Jenny. Please let me know.