Oceanside, California.
Eternal Hills Memorial Park.
Saturday, December 22nd 2007
0900 hours
Gibbs is visiting Shannon and Kelly's graves, placing Poinsettia's on top of Shannon's grave. "I know I should of moved your graves, closer to home, but it's so peaceful here Shannon, the view of the Pacific is breath taking." "I remember that last weekend, the three of us went camping on the beach, we fished, went horse back riding, it was the best damn time I ever had." "Then, I get shipped out to Kuwait, and everything that was important to me, was taken from me."
With tears streaming down his face as Gibbs glances down over at Kelly's grave. Kneeling over Gibbs puts flowers and some of Kelly's toys from back home on top of her grave. "I saw Maddie Tyler a few months ago, she misses you, you're still her best friend." Over whelmed with grief Gibbs breaks down on top of Kelly's grave sobbing. "I still don't understand why you stopped me from crossing the thresh hold a few months ago."
"Wasn't your time son?" A voice calls out from behind him.
Gibbs sits up and spots a cemetery grounds keeper sitting in his golf cart watching him.
"That's what your daughter was telling you." The grounds keeper says softly.
Gibbs gets up and looks over at the grounds keeper.
"You remarry!" The grounds keeper asks out of curiosity.
Gibbs makes a face at the thought of his ex-wives. "Three mistakes."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't love them, shouldn't of married them." Gibbs says roughly.
"Trying to get over your first wife." The grounds keeper nods.
"First two marriages were." Gibbs says with a frown.
'Third marriage."
Gibbs sighs, out of his ex-wives, the one he felt bad about the most for hurting was Stephanie. "Went out with her on the rebound and just popped the question one day." Gibbs says bitterly.
Shaking his head at Gibbs. "So you ended up hurting your third ex wife, and yourself in the end."
"I didn't want to be with her, the woman I loved, left me for a job offer." Gibbs says bluntly.
"And she still haunts you."
Gibbs rolls his eyes at the Grounds Keeper. "Yes, eight years later." "Complicating matters, is she's now my boss." Listening to the Grounds Keeper laugh at him. "My worst nightmare, and I trained the damn woman."
Choking from laughing. "Throws everything in your face."
"Does she ever." Gibbs smirks at him.
"My name is Art, I'm the Head Grounds Keeper here and tend to the property." "My specialty is looking out for the children's graves, and every Christmas me and my crew chip in and put Teddy Bears on their graves." Looking down at Kelly's grave and back at Gibbs, before he starts up his golf cart. "Have a nice holiday."
"You do the same." Gibbs waves at Art as he rides off. Kneeling back down on top of their graves. "There better have been a good reason, you kept me away from you and your mother." Gibbs whispers softly to his daughter.
That afternoon, Mike is lying on his hammock watching his daughter in law and granddaughter play on the beach.
Gibbs quietly approaches him from behind. "Is that all you do is sleep?"
Laughing from his hammock, Mike slowly gets up and walks over to Gibbs. "Probie!" Hugging his friend.
Gibbs looks down on the beach and watches Leyla play with Amira on a blanket. Smiling at his goddaughter. "I brought something for her."
"She'll like that." Mike whistles for them to come up on the deck.
Leyla gathers her daughter in her arms and runs up towards Mike and Gibbs on the deck.
Mike takes Amira from her mother, and proudly shows her off to Gibbs. "Here's your Uncle Jethro." Mike hands Gibbs his goddaughter.
Smiling down at Amira. "Got something for you." Kissing Amira on top of the head, Gibbs takes her inside the house.
Flopping on his hammock and lighting a cigarette. "We'll give him a few minutes." Mike says to Leyla.
Inside the house, Gibbs is sitting on the floor with Amira, watching her play with the doll he gave her.
That night at the Cantina, Camilla is approaching Mike and Gibbs' table with two Corona's. "Staying Senor Gibbs!" She says
Gibbs takes a Corona from Camilla. "For the week."
Camilla hands Mike his beer, as she walks off towards the kitchen, Mike checks out her butt. Gibbs smirks at Mike.
Glaring over at Gibbs. "And remember it's mine to look at, I didn't look at your Colonel's tush."
"Would care less if you did." Gibbs says sarcastically.
Mike leans over the table. "What about your lady Director friend's?"
Annoyed, Gibbs rolls his eyes at Mike. "I came down here to get away from her and work."
"You could be a million miles away, and you still can't shut your mind off of that woman." Mike says and sits back in his chair and lights up a cigarette.
"Just don't mention her, and it will be easier." Gibbs growls.
Camilla returns with some tacos. Looking over at Gibbs' annoyed expression. "Senor Gibbs looks annoyed."
"Brought up his red head." Mike says with an evil grin.
Camilla elbows Gibbs. "Still haven't brought her down to Baja."
Taking a taco from the tray. "Will never happen Camilla." Gibbs says gruffly
Looking wide eyed at Gibbs. "And why's that?" Camilla asks
Snickering at Gibbs. "Probie doesn't want to sleep with his boss."
Camilla mutters something in Spanish and walks off.
Gibbs quickly changes the subject. "I saw some bags packed at your place, going some where."
"Since my grand daughter's father is a US Citizen, she can legally enter the country, my niece lives in San Diego, and has a friend that got her a mother a working Visa." Mike says with mixed emotions.
"They're leaving!" Gibbs says with surprise.
"Just temporary, she wants to go to school and learn English and Spanish better, and my granddaughter needs to socialize with kids her own age now." Mike takes a sip of his beer.
Surprised that Mike is letting them go off on their own. "Doesn't Camilla's sister have kids."
"Not of the same age." Mike says bluntly.
"When will she be back?" Gibbs curiously asks Mike.
"Year or two, they're building a few hotels in the area."
Gibbs remembers some of the construction on his way into town. "The better her English and Spanish, then she can get a job."
Mike nods at Gibbs. "That's the plan."
"A good one." Nodding back at Mike.
"San Diego is over the border, so I'll visit once a month." Mike finishes his first taco and starts on the second one.
'You'll be alone again." He sadly says to Mike.
Taking a deep breath. "I'll miss them." "Gotten use to taken care of them." Mike admits to Gibbs.
Gibbs shakes his head. "I haven't taken care of anybody in years."
"First wife and daughter?"
Smiling at the memory. "No, Jenny, she had the flu real bad once, Ducky was so close to admitting her to the hospital, hundred and three fever."
"Surprised she let you, with her temper." Mike says with a laugh.
"Had no choice, Jenny was to weak to fight me." Gibbs says as he has a memory of holding Jenny in his arms in bed, applying compresses to her face and fore head.