Chapter 20
Early Saturday morning.
Gibbs was up early. He needed to get a grip of today's events. Everything was ready for tonight. He had a tinkling feeling in his stomach, but he was a master in hiding his feelings, so nobody should see him in a different mood today.
Faith was spending the day with some friends, and later she'd be home with Abby, under the cover that Matt had to work and break off their date. The truth was that he was gone pick them up after Jenny had left in the limo and take them to the place where they hoped Jen and Jethro would celebrate later this evening with them.
By 08.30 Faith had been picked up and Gibbs where ready to go. Jen was still tiered and not feeling too good , so she made her case about coming later and that she was his boss and didn't have to come to the picnic. But she lost her case and she was ready to go a little while later.
At the fairing range Gibbs and Jen where met by the people working there. They where told that the catering people already had been there, so there was not much for them to do except wait for the rest of the team to show up. Jethro and Jen went inside where a large table of food was laid out. It was enough for an army. Gibbs found some toast and some tea that he served Jen, who looked gratefully at him. After she had eaten Gibbs found her a couch in an office and made her lie down taking a nap.
By 11.00h everybody had shown up. After a comment made by DiNozzo that the Director being late and gotten a head slap from Gibbs, they where ready to start their day.
"Let's eat some breakfast before I start telling you all about today's events", Gibbs said, leading them into the room where all the food and beverages was. There they met a very sleepy looking Director Shepard.
"Give it a rest DiNozzo, Gibbs made me take a nap since I had a blasting headache when he picked me up this morning. I just woke up. OK!!"
DiNozzo just nodded. He didn't wane ruin the day for everybody.
Well outside on the range Gibbs gathered everybody .
"Today we are gone have some fun and we are gone have a shooting contest. I've pared you up so that it would be some fairness to this competition. Each pare will win something, but the better you are the more fun is the price."
"Ziva, you're with Palmer. Ducky go with McGee and DiNozzo you'll shut with Abby."
"What about you Boss,"Dinozzo asked , rather not wanting to know the answer if fear of having to shot against his Boss.
"I'll go against Director Shepard. The one who looses, will take the other one out for dinner tonight. No exceptions. " Is that fine with you DiNozzo?
Gibbs was starting to get nervous, so his temperament was slipping away slowly.
Jen just smiled watching Jethro well at DiNozzo. She was already planning on where she should take Jethro for dinner tonight.
The first par to shoot was McGee and Ducky. Together they did quite nice, not topping the list. Ziva and Palmer went next and they came close , but missed McGee and Palmers score with 15 points.
DiNozzo was starting to sweat. He new Abby was not to comfortable around guns and he really wanted to win first price.
Gibbs saw what condition DiNozzo was in and decided to shoot with Jen first, just to let Tony sweet a bit more. That shooting was interesting . everybody looked with s startled expression on Gibbs when they was done and the result came in. Gibbs had missed an almost every shot. Jen tilted her head slightly looking at Gibbs with questions in her eyes. The only response sh got was "It seams I'm taking you out for dinner tonight Director Shapard "
Tony was now pasting back and forth wanting to get going. He wanted to do his best winning. Gibbs was standing with Abby showing her how to hold her gun and how to stand. "I'm screwed , Tony thought as he lined up. The instructor gave them both last minute instructions before leaving the field. Gibbs just heard the others making bet on how Abby would do. Normally he'd never mind but today he couldn't stay silent.
"1000.00.- that Abby would shoot better than DiNozzo." Everybody turned to looking at Gibbs, thinking he'd lost his mind. But he was their Boss and they new better than to not take his bet.
And there they started. It didn't take long for everyone to see that Abby wasn't a stranger to shooting. Everybody looked at Gibbs who showed no emotions. When Abby and DiNozzo came back they all looked at Abby with questions, not knowing where to start. Tony looked like a question mark himself looking at his team members.
"What the hell is going on? Why are you looking at Abby like that?",………….. , Tony never finished his sentence before the score came up.
"It seams like I win" was all Gibbs said with a smirk. Tony looked at the score. Abby had actually beaten him with over 20 points. Gibbs collected the money and gave them to Abby. Enjoy.
Now finally Zive found her voice. "Where have you learned to shoot like that Abby?"
Abby looked at everybody smiling. "I've learned from the master himself," looking at Gibbs who was just smiling.
"I have been coming to the fairing range with Gibbs for the last 8 years when we could find the time to get together. I've got lot's of practice. That's why I requested shooting with Tony today. I kind of wanted to show off". Abby was no smiling, looking at her friends faces.
What did we win Boss?
I knew how much you love Para shooting Tony, so you're both having a hole day with the marine core, learning how to jump. Abby has already qualified , but she needs to practice." Did that sound ok DiNozzo ?
DiNozzo just nodded, not knowing how to respond.
"By the way, I hope everybody has canceled their weekend plans. You are all going to New York with a private plane having dinner and fun from now until late Sunday when you'll return home. Abby you are excused. ", Gibbs said but could barely her himself threw all the commotion.
Ducky was the first one to speak." Why aren't Abby or you coming with us Gibbs"
I just got a call and I need to go straighten a problem out for a friend. Abby has a date and I'm taking the director out for dinner here. Beside you all earned dinner and fun without you're bosses hanging over your shoulders. Beside we'll take a rein cheek later. No go pack and be at the airport in an hour. "Abby can you pleas take the Director home. Someone is picking me up, and I did give the Director a lift this morning." Abby new this was part of the plan, so she nodded in agreement.
They all hurried home. On their way home Jen was quiet. Suddenly she asks Abby to pull over at the nearest pharmacy. Abby does what she's asked not asking any questions. Finally they arrive at Gibbs place. Jen is tiered and walks up to take a nap. Abby is just happy about that. She needs the time to get Jen's dress ready and to find Faiths clothes and her own and put them in a place where Jen won't see them. Faith comes home a bit later, happy and excited. She knows what is happening today, and she loves it.
A ringing phone wakes Jen up. It's Jethro telling her to be ready for their date in about an hour. Abby has her dress and since Matt had to cancel his date with Abby, she is babysitting Faith. Jen just concur. She has some news she cant wait to tell Jethro and tonight might be the right time.
After a shower and something to eat she find Abby waiting for her with the dress Jethro got her. It's cream white, strapless, and it fits like a flow around her upper body and it has a loose fit around her legs. So when she turns' around it lifts up , making her look like a princess(that was what Faith called her). And it came with a short jacket. Jen was stunned . She never saw a dress this beautiful. And Jethro had gotten it from her. What the hell was he thinking of? It must have cost a fortune!
She barley listen to Abby's instructions and just got into the limo when it came to pick her up. Abby had barely closed the door when Matt arrived. He was already in his tux, and he was a bit nervous. He hoped Jethro got this right or they all bee inn for a long weekend. Abby had given Faith a quick shower before she took one herself and now faith was all dressed up ready to go. Abby looked at the dress Gibbs had gotten her. It was dark blue, short to her knees and was also strapless. It was tight, but not too tight. A peer of blue boots matching the dress was also there. Abby had to laugh . It was just Gibbs being nice to her, making her feel a bit better after making her where a dress. She left her hear down, but it didn't hide her tattoo, but she knew Gibbs wouldn't mind. Matt handed her a neck less . It was a diamond neck less with matching bracelet and earlobes . It was beautiful, and looked great on her Abby didn't know what to say, but she just gave Matt a kiss with that showed him what she felt.
Meanwhile Jen was getting nervous. She had no idea where she was going and why all the secrecy. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the car stopping. The driver got out and opens the door to her.
"Just follow the candles and flowers ma'am ,and you date is waiting for you."
Jen slowly walked threw the path flowers and lit candles shining the way to Lincoln Memorial. When she reached the top Jethro was waiting for her standing with one single red rose in his hand. He looked gorges in his tux. He stepped forward facing Jen. Without a word he dropped to one kneed holding her hand .
"Jen will you marry me?"
Jen 's mouth open slightly in surprise, nodding her head.
"YES Jethro , I'll marry you".
Jethro pulled out a velvet box out of his pocket opening it and putting a diamond ring on her finger. It was a heart shaped diamond surrounded with smaller diamonds and sapphires in a white and yellow gold band. Jen looked at her engagement ring before starting to kiss Jethro. She was so happy . This day was gone be the best in a long time. The kiss grew deeper and more passionate, and soon they had to pull apart.
Jethro looked at Jen with passion in his eyes. He had one more question.
"Jen, will you marry me tonight?"
Jen couldn't speak. She nodded. She had a feeling he had this all planed to every last detail and she wasn't gone ruin it. She loved to get married to him, so why not tonight. They started waking back to the limo. Even how hard she tried, Jen never got out of him where they were going. It's a surprise , but you'll love it. So she just leaned against him , putting gentle kiss all over his face, thinking about how happy she was.