Chapter 25

Sorry I haven't posted in a while my computer was on the fritz. : )

I woke up on Saturday morning at 0800. YES! Today was the day my parents are taking me to the animal shelter. My butt doesn't hurt that bad anymore, I only wince every now and then, but on the bright side I haven't done anything bad to get punished this week. I leapt out of bed and rummaged through my closet for something to wear. I finally pulled out a pair of jeans and slipped them on. I put on my cowboy boots over my socks, and I pulled a life is good shirt over my head. Then I raced downstairs to the kitchen where my parents were sitting, dressed, and drinking coffee. "We going yet, come on, let's go."

Then my dad said, "Slow down hon, I know you're excited but you need to eat first."

"Ok dad," I put and English muffin in the toaster, and when it was done I buttered it and sat down, a little too hard though and I winced. I finished my food in five minutes, and with my mouth full I said, "Done canf wef gof knowf?"

My mom said, "Swallow Kate," I swallowed, "Please," I said. They both smiled, "Ok let's go." We went out to the car, got in, and we made the hour drive to the shelter.

When we got to the shelter my mom parked the car, she insisted on driving because of my dad's arm. When we got inside we went straight to the dog section and my mom said, "Remember Kate you don't have to choose one today, if you don't see one you like we can come back tomorrow." I nodded and walked around the shelter. They were all cute but none interested me until I saw a six month old mixed breed puppy. He was mixed between a Doberman Pincher and a German Shepherd and his name is Spartan. I knelt down and the silky, smooth coated pup stumbled over, and licked my fingers through the cage, the first dog to do that to me today. My parents rounded the corner and I said, "I want this one."

My dad said "You sure?" I nodded, "Alright let's go talk to the front desk." When we went to the front desk my dad did most of the talking, "Hello we would like to adopt a dog."

The man behind the desk, who's nametag read Mike, said, "Sure which one?"

"The mixed breed named Spartan."

"Ok just fill out this paperwork," and he handed him some paperwork to fill out. After my dad finished the paperwork he handed them to Mike and said, "When can we take him home?"

"Well he's been neutered and he has all his shots, so today if you'd like."

"Please, dad," he looked at me, "Alright."

Then Mike said, "Ok I'll go get him. These are for you," he handed my dad a bed, collar, leash, and food for a week, and some toys. When Mike returned he was walking the little pup and I said, "Dad can I walk him?"

"Sure I don't see why not, he is yours." I smiled and Mike handed me the leash and said, "Good luck." When we got to the car my dad put the supplies in the trunk and I said, "Can I hold him on the ride home?"

The both said, "Sure." When we got in the car my dad's phone rang, "Yeah Gibbs…..fine after I drop Jenny and Kate off….ok we'll be right there." Then he hung up his phone, "We have to go to N.C.I.S."

Then my mom said, "Why?"

"Tony wouldn't say he just said it's really important." The whole ride to N.C.I.S. Spartan slept in my arms while I scratched his neck. When we got there I was holding Spartan and we walked into the building my mom and dad dropped Spartan and I off at Abby's lab and the rode up to the bullpen.

GIBBS POV

In the bullpen Jenny and I got off the elevator, hand in hand. Ziva and McGee were at their desks doing paperwork and Tony was in the phone. I let go of Jenny's hand and walked over to Tony's desk, he held his finger up telling me to wait, and I caught the last bit of his conversation as he spun around, "Sorry about that…..Hello?" I pressed the button on the phone to shut it off and Tony spun back around, "Hey boss what'd ya do that for?" I head slapped him, "OW! Boss!"

"Tell me DiNozzo what was so damn important that you just had to call me on my day off?"

"Well boss I thought you should know…."

"Spit it out Tony!"

"Well Luka's parole hearing is coming up in a few weeks."

"Wait a damn second DiNozzo you mean to tell me their letting this bastard get paroled? Why the HELL didn't you tell me this before?"

Then Jenny jumped in, "Calm down….Jethro."

"CALM DOWN I can't calm down Jen, I promised our little girl that her father will go away for good. So no I can't calm down Jen."

Her eyes started to fill with water and I walked over to her and embraced her in a hug and she said, "I understand Jethro, so do something about it."

"Like what Jen?"

"Testify so he will go away for good."

KATE POV

When I entered Abby's lab I was holding Spartan and Abby turned around and she beamed and ran over to me, "Oh Kate he's so adorable," she said scratching his neck, "What's his name?"

"Spartan."

"Oh I love it, with a name like that you won't be needing this," and she removed the solid green collar he was wearing and replaced it with a solid black spiked collar, "Now that suits you more," and Spartan barked in approval.

"Oh Abby it's awesome and I think he likes it too," we giggled. We sat on the floor, and I set Spartan down and we rolled a tennis ball back and forth while Spartan chased it. "Hey Abby where are all the kids?"

"With Sarah."

"Can we go to your house? I want to meet her."

"Sure let me call Gibbs first," she got out her phone and rang my dad after she hung up she said, "He said it's fine, and you can bring Spartan, he said he'll pick you up later, and I'll be staying at the house, also he told you to behave."

"I'll try Abby," and I grinned and picked up Spartan and we went to the garage and piled in the Hearse and drove to the McGee residence. We got to the McGee residence a little after 1200. I picked up Spartan and we walked up the steps and Abby put her house key in the knob and turned it and it opened. Then a girl with brown wavy hair about seventeen came over, "Hey Abbs I wasn't expecting you until later. Who's this?" Abby put her hands on the teen and said, "Sarah this is Caitlyn Gibbs. Kate meet Sarah McGee, Tim's sister."

"I got that Abby when you said Sarah McGee."

"Caitlyn don't start."

Sarah put out her hand and shook mine, "Pleased to meet you, and who's this," she said patting Spartan's neck.

"Likewise, this little guy is my new puppy, Spartan."

"He's so cute."

"Thanks, where is everyone?"

"There in the playroom, come on I'll show you." Sarah grabbed my hand and started pulling me out of the room when Abby said, "Caitlyn behave, Sarah watch her closely."

Then Sarah said, "A little over dramatic Abbs. I mean what could possibly happen?"

But Abby knew full well what she is capable of, if you put her in the same room with Carlos, it is like putting a bull in a china shop.