Betrayal
Chapter 21
The new lovers slept soundly until almost seven o'clock. Jethro woke to find Ana awake and watching him while her hand was gently tracing random patterns on his chest.
"Good morning. I hope I didn't wake you".
Jethro glanced at the clock and was surprised he had slept that late. Normally he was awake and up no later than six even on the weekends. Luckily Matthew was not awake yet and probably wouldn't be for another half hour or so.
"You didn't. You sleep okay?"
"I must have because this is the first time I've been awake. Must be the new mattress. I'll have to thank Noemi when I meet her."
"Could be the mattress or it could be the workout you had last night."
"Yes, that could have played a part in my very sound sleep. How about you, how'd you sleep?"
"Very well. Now, as much as I'd like to wish you a proper good morning, Mattie will likely be up in the next thirty minutes or so. I think I'd like to put off him seeing us sleeping together for a little while. In fact I haven't the first idea how to deal with that. Maybe you and I can talk about it later. I'd like you input."
"Sure. As for this morning I would settle for a couple of good kisses and then you better get out of here."
Jethro rolled over and kissed her tenderly. Then he kissed her again not so tenderly. She enjoyed them both very much.
When Jethro got up to leave Ana rolled over mumbling about getting up in a few minutes. He doubted that was going to happen. Jethro gathered his clothes and made his way to his bathroom where he took a quick shower, brushed his teeth and got dressed for the day. As he was pulling on his shirt Matthew came wandering in barely awake. Jethro picked him up and Mattie laid his head on his daddy's shoulder. They went downstairs and Jethro got the coffee started then sat in his recliner with Mattie snuggled in his arms. Before long they were both asleep.
Eventually everyone was awake and moving and they got the day started. Mattie was excited to have Ana in the house and he jabbered away non-stop all through breakfast. By the time they got to the marina Jethro was about to lose his patience with his child's constant questions and nonsense talking. Finally they got underway and Mattie stopped talking. He loved being on the boat with his daddy and for some reason he always got very quiet when they were out. Maybe because his daddy was usually very quiet on the boat. Sailing was an escape for Jethro. He loved taking Mattie with him but naturally there wasn't much conversation between the two of them. Ana watched them and again, was amazed at what a natural Jethro was as a father.
They had a wonderful day on the water. The weather was perfect and Jethro was in his element handling the boat and keeping Mattie contained at the same time. Mattie was always wearing a life jacket of course and most of the time was tethered by a long cable to bolt in the floor near where Jethro sat. He could move around but never close to the rail and never really out of reach of his daddy.
When they'd been out for about two hours they dropped anchor and Jethro rigged a shade for them to sit under while they had snacks.
"Is this the boat you were building in the basement?"
"No. I bought this one the summer after Jenny died."
"So, are you still working on yours?"
"No."
The tone suggested maybe Ana shouldn't press that issue so she didn't. Jethro knew he should explain.
"I destroyed my boat. One day while Jenny was sick we were over at the house for some reason. She was outside and I was in the basement supposedly to work on the boat."
He stopped and looked out over the water.
"Jethro, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"It's okay. Maybe I should. Anyway, I just lost it and picked up a sledge hammer and in about ten minutes I had destroyed two years of work. Jenny came down and we sat on the floor and I cried. It was always more about the process anyway but I just couldn't imagine ever sailing that boat. It was supposed to for the two of us and . . . ."
Ana reached for his hand and squeezed letting him know she understood.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I want you to be able to talk about all of that with me."
"Thank you."
Mattie had finished his crackers and his drink. He put his cup down and said, "Let's go daddy. Let's go fast."
"Guess break's over."
"Sounds like it."
They did go fast for a while and then Mattie went down below for a nap and the adults had some privacy for a while. They took advantage of the opportunity. By the time they were headed back to the marina the sun was sinking in the western sky and everyone was hot and tired. It had been a nearly perfect day.
On Sunday they went to DC and wandered around the National Mall, looking at all the monuments and the people. Ana and Jethro rarely lost physical contact with each other, holding hands, walking close together. Mattie was a delight and full of seemingly unending energy. Early in the evening they ate dinner at a small Italian place that was Jethro's favorite and got home way past Mattie's bedtime. Jethro carried him up to his bed and tucked him in. When he went to Ana's room she was kicking off her shoes and about to pull off her tee shirt.
"Need some help?"
"Sure."
Jethro pulled the tee shirt over her head and leaned into her kissing her shoulder and moving slowly to her throat and then her mouth. Several minutes later he pulled back and held her face in his big hands. He looked her in the eyes and saw so much love looking back at him it almost scared him. He wasn't sure he was ready.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. I wanted to say something about last night."
Ana kept hold of his hand and moved to the bed. She sat down and Jethro sat beside her.
"I had thought our first time would be a bit more romantic than the guest room."
"I have no complaints."
"I'm glad. Me either by the way."
Obviously there was more he wanted to say but suddenly he couldn't find the words. Ana wondered if her being here was a little bit too real for him.
"Jethro, do you feel things are moving too fast? Are you uncomfortable having me here?"
"No. It's not that. This is hard."
"Hey, look at me." Ana put her hand on his face and turned him to look at her. "I can hear anything you need to say. Please tell me what's bothering you."
"Last night we were good together. I enjoyed it very much. But I should have taken the time to find out what you wanted. What you like. I just…I'm…."
"You're used to what Jenny wanted and liked."
"Yeah." His head was down and Ana could barely hear him.
"Jethro, look at me. It's alright. Everything you did was wonderful. I've never been with a man who paid more attention to my needs and my enjoyment than you did last night. But, you're right we should talk to one another about what we want from each other. That doesn't mean we have to have a meeting before we have sex. I'll be happy to tell you, or better yet show you what I want or where I want you while we're in the midst of it. You know what I mean?"
"I do."
He leaned into her pushing her down onto the bed. In a flash he had her bra off and was dropping soft kisses along a trail from one breast to the other.
In between kisses he managed to ask, "So, if this was something you didn't like you'd say so?"
More kisses and Ana was barely able to respond.
"Definitely."
Jethro kissed his way to her mouth and took her breath away. He caressed her breasts with a gentleness that amazed Ana. When the kiss came to an end Ana lay there with her eyes closed and a smile on her swollen lips.
"Would joining me in the shower be something you might like?"
"Yes, I believe so. Definitely. But Jethro, what about what you want?"
"I'll show you don't worry."
From that night on they communicated very well; at least when it came to sex anyway.
Ana met Noemi for the first time on Monday morning and the two women hit it off right away. That pleased Jethro more than he could say. Noemi was a very important part of Jethro's and Matthew's lives and if she and Ana had clashed it would have been very awkward and very difficult.
Knowing they had at least two weeks together and maybe a lot more, let them relax a little bit and not feel like they had to pack so much into every day. That being the case they spent the day just hanging out at the house, playing with Matthew and getting comfortable with one another. They took Mattie to the park in the late morning and after lunch, while Mattie took a nap, the two of them sat on the back deck and just talked.
"One day this week do you think we could go look for a place to live near the hospital. Since I don't have a car here I'd need to live within walking distance. If I get the job of course. Ben said there are several decent rooming houses nearby. All I really need is a room. I'll be working so much it won't make sense to pay for an apartment. Besides, I hope to spend my free time with a guy I know. Can you drive me over there and look with me?"
Jethro let her go on and on knowing full well what he was going to say when she asked him to take her.
"No."
That was all he said. He was playing with her but she didn't know him quite well enough to see that. For a moment she was taken aback but then she looked at him and saw that little half smile he had and she knew.
"No?"
"No. Why would you live over there and pay rent for a shabby room when you have a perfectly good place to live right here?"
"Jethro, living together is a pretty big step and I'm not sure we're ready for that. Do you really think it's a good idea? And, as I said I don't have a car. How am I going to get back and forth?"
"Yes I think it's a good idea. You can keep using the guest room if you're more comfortable with that. I'm fine with that. Well, not fine but okay I guess. Sort of. There's a perfectly good Jeep Cherokee sitting in the driveway that I almost never drive so you can use that. Problem solved."
He looked very pleased with himself.
"Jethro I can't drive . . . ."
"It's not Jenny's car. I sold her car. It's mine and like I said I don't drive it. I prefer the truck. Ana, it doesn't make sense for you to pay rent someplace when you can live here for free."
"Do you realize I will have the worst hours and work almost all the time for the first year anyway? We probably won't see each other for days at a time."
"Then you won't be in the way. And when you're not working I'll know you're here, safe and sound and being taken care of by me and Noemi and Mattie. How can you even think of living alone in a rented room when all this is here for you?"
Ana laughed. She had secretly hoped for this but was not ever in a million years going to be the one who suggested it. She was past relieved to not be living as Jethro said, 'alone in a rented room' when he was just across town.
"You make a good point. Several in fact."
"Good then it's settled. You'll live here and we'll never see each other."
She reached for his hand, "We can decide that when I know whether or not I'm staying. But, we're seeing each other now."
"Yes we are. And suddenly I feel the need for some alone time. Care to join me?"
"What will Noemi think if we disappear upstairs in the middle of the afternoon?"
"That I'm a very lucky man."
When Noemi saw Jethro and Ana headed upstairs what she thought of was a time when she'd watched Jethro and Jenny heading up the stairs of the Georgetown townhouse for an afternoon "nap". She pushed that thought out of her head. She liked Ana. She loved Jethro. She worried that he was moving too quickly to replace someone he had loved so passionately. Noemi knew Jethro needed a partner and Matthew needed a mother but she worried it was too soon and too convenient. She hoped she was wrong.
Later that afternoon Ben called Ana and told her where the interview would be on Wednesday. He verified the time with her and told her to relax and just be herself. He was confident she would do well and even hinted he was pretty sure she'd be offered a position. Ana was thrilled but tried not to be too excited lest she be disappointed if things didn't work out.
On Monday night Ducky invited them over for dinner and Ana met the much loved Dr. Mallard for the first time. Of course she was smitten as was the good doctor. Ducky was delighted to hear she might be coming back soon to live and work in DC. Ana quickly picked up on the strong bond between Jethro and Ducky. She could see how much Jethro respected the older man and the love they had for each other. It made her feel good to know Jethro had had such a good friend during the last couple of years. Ducky asked her about her work and they spent a good deal of time talking medicine. Jethro just listened and entertained Mattie.
Tuesday night she was glad she had Matthew for a distraction as she was getting very nervous. There was more than just a job riding on this interview; her whole future could be impacted by how things went the next day. Luckily, Matthew had insisted he wanted Ana to help him with his bath and then to read him stories. Jethro, it seemed was being replaced for this one evening at least.
"You sure you don't want daddy to read to you?"
"I want Ana to read the stories. Daddy can watch tv."
"Well, okay then I guess I'll leave you two alone."
Jethro winked at her and left Mattie's room.
"Okay my friend you pick out the stories."
Ana sat in the rocking chair and watched as Matthew searched through his books for just the right ones. Finally he settled on Green Eggs and Ham and a picture book of farm animals. Once they were settled together in the chair Ana began reading. Mattie held her arm and leaned into her and her heart melted just a little more. She was becoming very attached to this little boy and she could not imagine leaving him. What if she didn't get the job? Ana pushed that thought out of her mind and focused on Mattie and his stories. When they were finished Mattie put the books away and pulled out another one. He also got a recorder off the shelf and handed them both to Ana.
"My mom reads this book to me. Wanna hear it?"
Ana was taken aback for just a moment. She knew about the recordings Jenny had made for Matthew but she was unsure if she should do this just yet. Matthew was looking at her expectantly though and she had to respond. She knew if she said no he would be hurt and that was not an option.
"Yes, I would like that. How do we do it?"
Matthew had paid close attention to his dad so he knew about the number in the book. He opened the cover and pointed to the number Jenny had written inside.
"This is the number on the thing."
Ana looked at the recorder and saw the digital counter. Luckily it was very close to the number in the book. She advanced the recording to the correct place and pulled Mattie onto her lap. Setting the recorder on the nearby shelf, she turned it on and soon the sweet, soft voice of Matthew's mother filled the room. As Jenny read the Saggy Baggy Elephant to Mattie, Ana fought back tears. She had to concentrate on the words so she could turn the pages although Mattie seemed to know exactly when to do that himself. All too soon the story was over. Mattie closed the book and settled closer to Ana. She turned off the recorder and set the book aside wrapping her arms around the little boy and kissing him on the head.
"I liked that Mattie. Thank you for letting me listen to that with you."
"That's a good story. I like it."
"You ready for bed little man?"
"Let's go find daddy."
Mattie jumped off her lap and headed for the door. Ana followed him down the hall and down the stairs where he found his dad stretched out on the couch. Matthew launched himself at Jethro who caught him and hugged him and smothered him with kisses.
"I thought you were going to bed."
"No. We read stories and then mommy read Saggy Baggy Elephant."
Jethro looked up at Ana who simply smiled and nodded at him. She saw the question in his eyes.
"It was fine," she said quietly.
"I want some ice cream."
"No ice cream. It's time for you to be in bed. Come on."
Matthew frowned at his father but did not argue. He seemed to have known ice cream was a long shot but he tried at least. Ana gave him a kiss and told him good night then Jethro picked him up off the couch and carried him like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder up the stairs.
"Night Ana."
"Good night sweet boy. See you in the morning."
A few minutes later Jethro returned and took his place on the couch. Ana moved over to snuggle into his side. An old movie was playing on the television, the sound turned off. If Ana hadn't been so anxious about her interview the next morning she would have fallen asleep.
"How did you know about the recording?"
"Mattie got the book and the recorder. He showed me the number in the book and told me it was the number on the "thing". I figured it out from there."
"I forget sometimes how observant and how damn smart he is. He's seen me do it a hundred times but I never told him you know."
"Yes, he is a smart little boy. And very observant as you say. Which brings me to a concern. He is seeing us together here, in his home and we need to be mindful of what he's thinking about it. He may not be able to say what he's thinking but trust me, he's making a connection between me and you and this home."
"I know."
"And?"
"I'm not worried because I expect you will be around for a long time so he needs to get used to seeing you here."
"Jethro, there is no guarantee I will be here past my planned return date. This job is not certain and honestly I have to hear their offer before I can make a decision. I cannot move across the country even for you if the job and the salary and lots of other things are not good for me. I love you but I have to think about my career too."
"I know."
"Is that all you are going to contribute to the conversation tonight?"
Ana had now moved to sit sideways so she could look at Jethro as they talked. Or as she talked and he barely answered. Sometimes he was so exasperating!
"As far as Mattie knows you're here for two weeks and then you're going home. That is what I told him before you got here and at least twenty times since then. I can guarantee he will be sad when you leave but he's two and he'll get over it in a day or two. His father on the other hand will not. I won't want you to go unless it is to pack up and come back."
"I'm very nervous about tomorrow. This interview could be life-changing for me. For us."
"You'll do fine. I have a feeling you'll get an offer. Then all you have to do is decide if it's good enough to lure you out here. If it's not you can say no and find another job here if you really want to be here. That isn't the only hospital in DC you know."
"But it's the best trauma center and that's where I want to be. That's the kind of medicine I want to practice."
"Hey, you'll get it. Trust me. My gut is never wrong and it's saying that job is yours. Why don't we go upstairs and I'll see if I can get your mind off the interview and onto something more enjoyable."
"And what would that be?"
"Me. And you. With no clothes on. A big bed. You know, stuff like that."
"What a sweet talker you are!"
"I have other, better skills. Come on and I'll show you."
Before he knew it Ana was off the couch and half way up the stairs. She turned to look back at him and laughed.
"What are you waiting for?"
By the time he caught her and locked the bedroom door Ana was there waiting on him. Jethro pulled off his shirt and dropped his shorts between the doorway and the bed.
An hour or so later Ana was completely relaxed and that interview as the farthest thing from her mind. The only thing on her mind at that point was just how damned addicted she was to Jethro Gibbs. She simply could not get enough of him and just when she thought he'd done all he could to drive her mad he'd kiss or lick or touch her somewhere else and she'd have to revise her thinking. Naturally he had very little to say when they were making love but he certainly communicated very well. Right now he was flat on his back, covered in sweat and wearing a very satisfied expression on his handsome face. Ana lay on her side next to him, one leg between his and her hand ghosting over his chest and abdomen. She loved looking at him and touching him and he certainly didn't mind the attention. Ana fell asleep like that, sprawled out on him, happy and exhausted.
The next morning they left Matthew with Noemi and Jethro drove Ana to the hospital. As she got out of the truck, Jethro kissed her and wished her luck.
"I'll be right here when you're finished. Good luck."
"Thanks. Keep your fingers crossed."
Ninety minutes later Ana came out the door of the hospital and Jethro was right there just as he'd said he would be. She climbed in the truck and gave him a smile.
"Well, how'd it go?"
"Good I think. At least I felt good about it. They said they'd let me know on the fifth, after the holiday. They have four slots to fill and are only interviewing six people so I have a good shot I think."
"It's a done deal. I can feel it. How would you like to get out of this heat and go to the mountains for a few days? A friend of mine has a cabin we can use. It's beautiful up there. And cool."
"That sounds wonderful. When would we go?"
"We can leave this afternoon. Stay a few days and come back for the 4th of July at Ducky's like we planned."
"That sounds perfect. Let's do it."
So that afternoon they loaded the truck with supplies and the three of them went to a cabin in the mountains of West Virginia for four days. The cabin belonged to a State Trooper friend of Jethro's and was the perfect getaway. They hiked in the woods, fished in a small pond on the property and delighted in Matthew chasing butterflies and playing outside all day long. Jethro learned Ana was a very good cook and Ana learned that Jethro was a master on the outdoor grill. A couple of times Ana persuaded Jethro to talk about Jenny's illness and how he coped during those difficult months. Mostly they tried to concentrate on the present and the future. Jethro spoke most freely about his dreams for Matthew and how much he loved being a dad again. That brought up Kelly and Jethro was able to tell Ana about her without his usual reticence. The days went by quickly and soon it was time to head back to DC for the 4th of July celebration at Ducky's. Jethro's NCIS family would be there and he was anxious for them to meet Ana.
Ana enjoyed their time at the cabin but suddenly she was the one who was afraid they were moving too fast. She had never lived with anyone before and in the span of less than a week she was not just visiting Jethro, she was possibly going to be living with him. All this time she had been warning Jethro about moving too fast and now she was beginning to think maybe she was the one who needed to slow down. She found herself wanting some alone time and that surprised her. She had expected to happily spend every minute with Jethro but somehow that didn't feel right now. She knew if she didn't speak up and talk to Jethro about how she was feeling nothing would change and she owed him her honesty.
The night after they got back from the cabin Ana was sitting on the back deck alone while Jethro put Matthew to bed. She was working out in her head what she needed to say to him and how to say it in such a way that she didn't hurt his feelings. She was also just realizing that she was a bit nervous about meeting Jethro's NCIS family. He was excited for her to meet them and Ana knew it was important to him that they like Ana and vice versa. On one level Ana didn't really care if they liked her or not but she certainly wouldn't say that to Jethro. Of course she wanted them to all get along and some day be friends but she didn't feel the need for their approval. Ana knew she needed to be careful what she said tonight because she was feeling very bitchy and felt like she was ready to pick a fight.
Jethro stood at the back door watching Ana for a few minutes before he went to join her. Something was wrong. He felt Ana pulling back from him and he didn't know why. Maybe he'd pushed to hard insisting she stay with him but he simply thought it was silly for her to pay rent on a crappy room somewhere when she had a safe, clean place to stay right here. He also wondered if she was having second thoughts about them and the whole situation. Only one way to find all that out so Jethro pushed open the door and stepped onto the deck.
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head and said, "He finally gave up. You come to any decisions out here?"
"About what?"
"Whatever's been on your mind all afternoon and evening. Something's goin' on in that pretty head of yours. Wanna talk about it?"
"Yes and no. I've been sitting out here trying to sort it all out in my head."
"Let me guess. You're afraid we're going too fast. You're having second thoughts about moving. You're feeling pressured or crowded about living here. Am I close?"
Ana looked at him in the dim light of the late evening and reminded herself just how damned observant and intuitive Jethro was about people in general and her in particular.
"Yes. All of the above and it scares me. Maybe I made a rash decision to move out here without talking to you first so we could hash it all out."
"I would have been all for it so I don't think that would have resulted in a different decision. If I'm pushing too hard or too fast I can slow down. If you don't feel comfortable living here I'll help you find a decent place to live. You can stay there while you're working and here on your off days. Or however you want to do it. What I'm saying Ana is that I will do whatever you need me to do so you feel right about being out here."
Ana felt tears stinging her eyes and she was afraid to say anything. Jethro took her silence to mean he needed to keep talking so uncharacteristically he did. But first he scooted up close to her and took her hands in his.
"Ana, I know you've made a major change in your life for us and I don't have the words to tell you how much that means to me. And, I know you didn't come out here expecting to live with me. I have to admit I love the idea but I can understand if you're not ready for that. I've been married twice and I loved it. I love having someone to come home to, someone to wake up with. I enjoy everything that goes with having a woman in my life and I'm ready to have that again. It's not about replacing Jenny, it's about what I want and frankly what I need in my life. I need a partner in my life. I want you to be that partner. That doesn't mean we have to start that right now. I can wait. I will wait. I will give you time to decide if that's what you want. If I'm what you want."
Jethro waited for Ana to respond and he hoped he'd pled his case effectively.
For her part, Ana wasn't quite sure how to respond. She did want her own place at least for a while. She did think they were moving too fast. On the other hand she knew she loved Jethro and she wanted a life with him. She couldn't figure out why she wasn't ready to start that right now but she wasn't. That was what she needed to be able to say.
"Jethro, thank you for being so understanding. Everything you said I'm thinking is true. I do worry that I'm moving too quickly and no, I'm not ready to live with you. I don't want to hurt you. I love you. I think I should get my own place at least for a short time while I get adjusted to being here and the new job and having you so close."
"That's okay. We'll go look for a place day after tomorrow. I want you to be happy and safe. Ana, please don't doubt what you and I have. Don't doubt that we can make a life together and be happy for a long time. Can you tell me you still want that?"
"Yes, I want that. More than anything, I want a life with you but I want us to start with a strong foundation. I know we've been working on that by long distance for almost two years now and I think we're on our way to having that foundation. I absolutely don't doubt my feelings for you or yours for me."
"Is there anything else bothering you? Anything else we need to talk about?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm a little surprised by what you said about liking being married and wanting to have a woman in your life because I thought you really liked being alone."
"There are times when I do prefer to be alone. And I can be alone for long periods of time and be fine with it but I really do prefer to be married. After Shannon died I was alone for a few years and I came to like it. Or at least I thought I liked it. Once I met Jenny though I didn't enjoy being alone quite as much. Having a woman in the house is fun and exciting and sometimes infuriating but I like all that."
"And you like that woman to be close by don't you?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No, just a little bit of a surprise. I like that you're a hand holder and a hugger and a toucher."
"Think we could go inside and do a little of all that?"
Ana laughed at him and leaned in to kiss him. They went inside and took advantage of each other until they fell asleep exhausted and happy.
The next morning, Jethro was getting Matthew's backpack ready and Ana was finishing her hair as they prepared to head out for the day at Ducky's house
"Are you sure we shouldn't be taking something to Ducky's?"
"I'm sure. He caters the whole thing from beer to dessert. It's his big blowout for the year."
Matthew was bouncing up and down on Jethro's bed watching the grownups get ready. Ana came from the bathroom and scooped the excited toddler off the bed and into her arms.
"You ready for a party, Mattie?"
"Yes! Go to Ducky house."
Jethro zipped up the backpack and said, "Okay, I think that's everything he could possibly need. Let's get out of here."
In the car Jethro looked over at Ana and reached for her hand.
"You aren't nervous about meeting everyone are you?"
"Not really. Honestly, I don't feel like I need their approval. Do you?"
Jethro was a little surprised by that statement and wasn't sure how to take it. Before he could respond Ana went on.
"I'm sorry that sounded very rude. I just mean, I'm not worried. If for some reason they don't like me I guess I'll deal with it. If they disapprove of our relationship that's their problem. Are you worried for some reason?"
"Lord no! I just meant because they've known me for so long and they knew Jenny I thought you might be a little bit anxious. Of course you don't need their approval and the two of us don't either. For the record my guess is they will be very happy about the two of us. And, of course they will like you. Why wouldn't they?"
"I don't know you're the one who brought it up?"
"Are we in some kind of disagreement about this? Do you not want to do this?"
"No, we're not in a disagreement. And yes, I want to go. You know, maybe I am nervous and I don't know it because I do seem a bit b-i-t-c-h-y about it. I'm sorry."
"You know I just realized I never asked you if you wanted to do this today I just said that's what we were doing. I'm sorry."
"Jethro, this has always been the plan for today from the moment I said when I was coming. I want to go. I want to meet the people who are important to you. I think maybe the whole moving, new job commotion is getting to me. Maybe I just need a beer. Or two."
"Well we can handle that for sure. We'll have fun I promise."
When they arrived the rest of the group was already there. Of course Matthew was the center of attention as soon as everyone saw him. He had walked into the house holding his daddy's hand but as soon as he saw everyone in the backyard he wanted to be picked up. Even though he knew all of Jethro's old team, Mattie was still a bit shy around a lot of people. Abby came over to him and Mattie gave her a smile and let her kiss him on the head.
"You wanna get down and go see Ducky," Jethro asked him.
"Okay."
Jethro put Matthew down and the little boy took off straight for Ducky who was sitting a little ways away
Abby put out her hand and introduced herself to Ana. "Hi, I'm Abby. Welcome, Ana."
"Thank you, Abby. Jethro has told me so much about all of you. It's very nice to put a face to a name."
"Come on, I'll introduce you to the group."
Abby took her by the arm and off they went to meet all the people most important to Jethro. That was the last Jethro saw of Ana for quite a while. He got a beer and then went to sit with Ducky and Matthew while Ana met his old team and they all mingled around the grill and the food table.
"How are things going?"
"Good I guess. Ana said the interview went well. They'll let her know tomorrow if she got the job. If she gets an offer and takes it, she wants to find a room to rent near the hospital instead of living with me right away."
"Makes sense I suppose. Won't be easy to find a place on short notice though. Not one she'd be comfortable in at least. And it certainly won't be cheap."
"I know. I told her we'd go look tomorrow if we hear good news. I really don't think we'll find anything but we'll look. I really want her at the house for several reasons. I think she's feeling a bit crowded or rushed or something."
"Are you crowding or rushing her?"
"Probably."
The two men laughed. Mattie was busy drawing with some markers and paper Ducky had supplied. After about his fifth 'drawing' Matthew slid out of his chair and looked at his daddy.
"Where's Ana?"
"She's over there with Ziva and Abby. You wanna go over there?"
"Yes."
"Okay, go on."
Jethro whistled and when everyone turned to look at him he pointed to Matthew who was charging straight for Ana. She waved at Jethro to let him know she saw the little boy.
"How are those to meshing?"
"Great. Mattie really likes Ana; he has from the first time he met her in Mexico. She loves him I think. That part of the equation is not going to be any problem."
"What is?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe nothing. Ducky do you think it's too soon for me to be so involved with a woman?"
Ducky studied his friend for a long moment.
"No, I do not. However, if you have doubts then perhaps it is too soon."
"I don't doubt my feelings for Ana or the fact that I want a woman in my life. I was happy being married and I want to be again. I want Mattie to have a mom. It just seems too easy you know."
"Jethro, I've watched you for the past two years and I wouldn't say it's been easy for you. Yes, you knew Ana before all this happened with Jenny but maybe that's fate. There is no reason to turn your back on this relationship because it seems ready-made. I'd say it's luck and you deserve some good luck my friend."
Jethro thought about that for a while. He did feel lucky and maybe that was okay. He hadn't been particularly lucky in the last three years except for Matthew coming into his life so maybe having Ana in his life was simply good luck that he should enjoy.
"I like the way you think Duck. Luck. Yes, I think I'll consider it good luck and stop worrying."
"Good idea. Now, let's go see what all the laughter is about over there."
The laughter was about a silly story Tony had told about an old case. Ana felt very accepted in the group and all the anxiety she had been feeling had disappeared almost as soon as Abby introduced her to everyone. She and Abby, though very different personalitities, shared a passion for science so they had that in common. The rest of the group including Tim's girlfriend Delilah and Jimmy's wife Breena, were welcoming and easy to be with. She felt no judgment from them and in fact they all seemed happy to meet her. When Ziva asked how long she was staying she was pleased to be able to tell them about the job possibility and the fact she might be moving there. They all seemed genuinely happy for her and Jethro.
"Well, Gibbs must be ecstatic about that," was Tony's reaction.
"He says he has a gut feeling I'm getting the job."
"Well, his gut is never wrong so I'd say you're about to be living here."
"Congratulations, are you looking for a place or will you be staying with Gibbs?"
"Geez Ziva, get right in there why don't ya?"
"It's okay. I will be looking for a room near the hospital. At least for a while."
"He's not excited about that is he?"
Ziva punched Tony on the arm, "You criticize me?"
Ana laughed, "I don't think he is but he agreed to it. We'll see what happens tomorrow."
Tim spoke up, "Shared living space is hard to come by in DC and very expensive. I don't know about near the hospital but in general it's a pretty tough market."
Once again Tony chimed in, "I bet Gibbs will rent you a room on the cheap."
That earned him another punch in the arm.
"I think you're right, Tony. But, I sort of want my own space for a while at least."
"He practically lives in his basement so he'd probably not know you were there anyway."
Abby jumped in at this point, "He doesn't anymore. Not with Matthew there. Anyway, let's move on, this isn't any of our business and Gibbs will not appreciate us talking about his private life."
"We're talking about my private life and I don't mind. He'll have to live with it."
That comment brought on laughter and one audible gasp when Tony spotted Jethro standing behind Ana.
"What will I have to live with?"
All eyes turned to Ana who simply smiled and turned around to find her favorite blue eyes squinting at her.
"Me talking about us."
"Oh, well I can live with that. Not very interesting but okay."
Then to everyone's astonishment, Jethro leaned down and kissed her. This was a new, relaxed version of the Gibbs they all thought they knew. Matthew interrupted by pulling on his dad's shirttail and asking to be picked up. He'd endured all the adult talking he wanted and now he needed some attention for himself.
"Daddy, go swing."
Ducky had recently installed a small swing set in the yard specifically for when Matthew visited and he was ready to try it out. Jethro broke off the kiss and bent down to his son.
"Okay, let's go swing. You guys carry on."
The rest of the day was much like all their previous gatherings; lots of food and drink and friendly banter. The difference was a little boy playing in the water sprinkler and Ana. Jethro was obviously very much at ease with everyone and Ana found she was as well. They held hands and kissed now and then when they thought no one was paying attention and generally let everyone see they were in love and happy together. At one point Ana found herself in the kitchen with Ziva and Abby. She decided to bring up the elephant in the room; Jenny.
"You two worked with Jenny am I right?"
"Yes, here of course and I worked with her in Europe for a time before I came here."
"I don't know how to say this except straight out. I know I'm stepping into some big shoes and I appreciate your acceptance today."
Abby spoke up, "Ana, you're not filling anyone's shoes. Gibbs isn't like that. He wouldn't get involved with you just to have a replacement for Jenny. Speaking for myself, I'm happy you're here. Gibbs is very important to me and I want him to be happy. You seem like a lovely person, a good fit for him and that's all I care about."
"Abby is right, you are not stepping into Jenny's shoes. Jenny was a very good friend of mine but I will tell you one thing, she was not perfect. She broke Jethro's heart and that is no exaggeration. I know you saw the aftermath of that. Granted they reconciled and her death was tragic but the fact remains that she cheated on him and broke his heart. The fact that he is happy now is what matters to me and Tony and I think, the rest of us. Do not compare yourself to Jenny. You are exactly what Jethro and Matthew need right now."
"Thank you. I guess I needed to hear someone besides Jethro say that. Thank you very much."
In the late afternoon Jethro asked her if she wanted to leave so they could go watch the fireworks on the Mall. That had been the original plan but they were having such a good time and Matthew was so happy there that Ana said no, she would rather stay at Ducky's with the group.
"You sure?"
"Yes, unless you want to go. Won't there be a lot of traffic? And Matthew is having so much fun here. Let's stay here and finish out the day."
Since they were in the house alone Jethro pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly. Ana got her hands under his shirt and held on tight. Just before things could get out of hand Tony walked in the room.
"Oh geez, it's like catching your parents or something!"
Jethro managed to stifle a groan and said, "You sayin' I'm old?"
"No, just….never mind. Carry on."
He turned around and walked out and Jethro leaned down and resumed where he'd left off. Ana was laughing so hard though the moment was somewhat ruined.
Matthew fell asleep on the couch in Ducky's study while the adults sat outside and listened to fireworks and enjoyed the summer evening. Abby asked Ana to tell them how she and Jethro had first met. Ana told them about Jethro falling through the roof at Mike's cabin and arriving at her clinic in the back of the pickup with a nasty cut on his leg and a badly sprained wrist.
"I was a perfect patient right? Please tell them I was a perfect patient."
Ana looked at him wondering what that was about.
"As far as I know you were. You left in the truck and I didn't see you again for several days. You may have been doing all the wrong things and considering who was allegedly watching you, I'd say that is the most likely scenario."
"Ha! That sounds like the Gibbs we know and love."
"Really? Why's that?"
Ducky jumped into the conversation before Jethro could shut it down.
"Because my dear, our friend here is a notoriously bad patient. In fact if you take a poll of the nurses at the hospital once you're hired, they will tell you that Jethro is well known there and not for his good behavior."
"I see. Well I just might have to do some checking. Another good reason to hope I get the job!"
"Good grief, it was what, two times I was there. Who likes to stay in the hospital? Of course I wanted to leave. What's wrong with that?"
"I think you still had an IV in last time."
"Shut up DiNozzo!"
Everyone laughed and Ana simply made a mental note to check Jethro's medical record some day.
"Thanks for the tip everyone."
"Oh great. Yeah, thanks everyone."
The night was coming to a close and everyone was glad it was a Friday and no one had to work the next day. After they had cleaned up all the trash and put things in their proper place they all said their goodbyes and headed home. While Jethro was putting Matthew in his car seat, Ana gave Ducky a hug goodbye.
"Thank you for a wonderful day, Ducky. I was a bit nervous before we got here but I had a very nice time. Everyone was very welcoming and I feel a part of the group."
"My dear, you are a part of it for better or worse. We are delighted to have you here. Please let me know if you need anything or if Jethro gives you any trouble. I'm an expert on getting him back on track."
"I will remember that. Thanks again."
TBC