Hey guys!
Sorry for the delay with this chapter. I had a unexpected busy week. Thanks for all the reviews and the new followers. i love you guys!
No wasting time any longer! Enjoy your reading :)
Shannon looked at the sleeping form on the bed. She didn't know how to ask this. Frankly she was scared. That's why she was here instead downstairs looking at the other sleeping man. Her husband. Jethro.
Like she had known, Kelly had demanded that she wanted to talk to her father. Shannon had told her, not yet and let Kelly promise her that she didn't go to him straight away. Her daughter had huffed and crossed her arms, but did as she was told.
Shannon 'sat' down on the bed and looked at her temporary gone permanent son. The man, that was now two years older then she was when she died, slept peacefully. Not one worry line on his face. He was taking what he wanted and it was working out for him.
She didn't know how long she had 'sitting' here, until Tony turned and opened his eyes. She smiled.
Tony looked around, but no one was here. He had the strange feeling that he was being watched. He looked at the window, but the curtains were closed. Looking at the alarm, he groaned. 4:24 am. Still the feeling didn't go away and that's when he realized something.
''Shannon?'' He whispered into the dark.
A soft laugh. ''I was wondering, how long it would take for you to catch on''
Tony was surprised that he wasn't surprised to get an answer. ''Were you looking at me in my sleep?''
''You can say that''
''Why? I mean I know I'm good looking but it's a little creepy and I don't think Gibbs will like it'' Tony jokingly told her. He sat up a little straighter and turned on the bedside light, as if he could see her than. But he couldn't.
''Relax Tony. I...'' She trailed off.
He could hear the worry. ''What is it?'' He asked.
''I need you to make sure that Jethro is in the basement, tonight at 8''
Tony frowned. ''You know that won't be hard, Gibbs is busy with the boat''
''And make sure that Olivia doesn't disturb. I know she likes it down there'' Shannon added.
''Why?'' Tony wanted to know. ''What is—''
''Kelly knows'' Shannon cut in.
Tony opened his mouth then closed it again. He opened it again. ''Oh'' He only said.
''Yeah oh'' Shannon repeated. ''She wants to talk to you and Gibbs''
''Me?'' Tony asked.
Shannon had to laugh about his uncertainty. ''Yeah you. You're also her family, Tony. It's amazing what just two weeks can do to a child's feelings''
Tony nodded. ''I don't think I feel comfortable. I mean, the first time I talked to you was by accident. Gibbs should be the one to talk to her first''
Shannon looked at him. She could see Tony struggling, all though she wasn't sure about what or what was bothering him so much now. She reached up and stroked her fingers through his hair, somewhat satisfied that he closed his eyes.
Tony felt tingling feeling over his temple and through his hair and closed his eyes.
''What is it, Tony?'' Shannon asked.
''I wish...'' He swallowed. ''I wish it was different. That you... weren't... you know'' He stammered. ''If I hadn't been too scared to call—'' the tingling feeling on his lips, shut him up.
Shannon pressed her hand on his mouth and surprisingly he stopped. ''If you had called, I would have demanded your ass up here that weekend'' She said sternly. ''You would have been out with me and Kelly and you would have seen the same thing. You would been in the car and Jethro would have never met you or Olivia and Mason''
Tony knew what she was was true. ''Still wish it could have gone differently'' He whispered.
''Me too, Tony. The first few years, I had just as much difficulty that I wasn't in the arms of the man that I loved. I could only watch him from a long distance, see how he was struggling to keep himself together. I just accepted it. And I understand it will be awhile for you two to have accept that this is a blessing that we are still able to communicate somehow''
''Yeah''
''So you will have Jethro in the basement by 8 tonight?'' Shannon asked.
''If we don't have a case. I promise'' Tony vowed.
''Thank you'' Shannon said. ''Now go back to sleep for a couple of more minutes''
Tony could hear her talk drifting off and knew she was gone. He settled back in bed for a couple of minutes. Waiting for the alarm to go off.
...
Gibbs had the ear protection over his ears and the protecting glasses on. His gun aimed at the target, (which consisted of a the bad man behind a woman) ready to shoot. Tony stood next to him, in the same position.
The man behind them looked between the two men, smirking. He knew Gibbs and Tony all too well and knew what they could, but never did they shoot at the same time.
Tony glanced at Gibbs as he stretched his fingers one more time, getting the stiffness out of them, before settling back on the weapon and looking at the target again. The buzzer sounded and both Gibbs and Tony shot their rounds. A moment of gunshots was followed by a moment of silence as everyone took of their ear protection and walked to their target.
Tony raised an eyebrow at Gibbs, who rolled his eyes and began to walk to the target. ''I win!'' Tony said as he saw the targets. He had all his rounds on the man, except for one, that was slightly more to the right.
''You shot her in the ear! Again'' Gibbs scoffed. ''Thought you were over that damned habit''
''At least all my rounds were all on the target...'' Tony mumbled, but Gibbs heard it and gave him a head-slap. He had all rounds were on the man too, except from one, that was more to the left.
''Arguing with me that a bullet in the hostage's ear is better then send a bullet flying into the wall behind the man, DiNozzo?'' Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
''No, boss, of course not, boss'' Tony backed away a step.
''Not your boss''
''Wow, got to get used to that'' Tony realized. ''I should have listened to Kate'' He mumbled. Gibbs looked at him, waiting for a explanation. ''She suggested that if we both messed up the shooting we would set your boat on fire. I agreed''
Gibbs let out a laugh. ''Good thing you were the only one that messed up than'' He chuckled as he hit the hard part of Tony's cap.
Tony grinned at Gibbs. ''Think we have time for another round?''
At that moment, three other people came onto the shooting range. ''Nope'' Gibbs replied, with a sigh.
''Ah come on. It's not that bad'' Tony grinned, getting a glare.
''Next time you shoot her in the ear, DiNozzo. It won't be your cap that I tape on the target, but it will be one of your James Bond DVD's that lie around in my house'' Gibbs stated as he walked over to the small group.
Tony's jaw dropped in disbelieve, before he went and follow his friend to the three people group.
''Agent Gibbs, DiNozzo'' The one that guided the three candidates greeted.
''Tom'' Tony and Gibbs nodded back at once.
''Here they are. Hope you will have some good agents here'' Tom told them, then turned and walked away.
''I hope that too'' Gibbs crumbled, grumpy.
Tony looked at the three agents. Two of them seemed taken aback by Gibbs attitude, only Chris's face was impassive. But that didn't mean he wasn't thinking anything of it.
''Agent Morris, Rodriguez, Waite'' Gibbs said. ''Prepare your weapon'' He ordered, then turned and went back.
''He forgot his coffee this morning?'' Chris spoke up to Tony, as he prepared his weapon.
Tony chuckled. ''No''
''Huh. Must be because of us then'' The woman, Natalia Rodriguez said.
''You guys are here for a reason. You wouldn't be here if he thought you were that bad'' Tony grinned.
Morris just rolled his eyes. ''Let's get this over with''
The four agents followed Gibbs back and the three candidates all took a stand. Tony handed out the ear protection and glasses and they put them on.
Through the speakers sounded. ''On the firing line. Ready on the right. Ready on the left...''
''Ready?!'' Gibbs barked at them and observed the stance of all three. The woman had a steady stand, similar to his own and Tony. She had one eye closed, as if it was better to see it then. A down point Gibbs thought. If you close one eye, it lessens your visual field for any unexpected changes.
Tony looked at Morris. The guy had was great on paper, but out of the interview it was clear that the man was over confident about himself. He just had to see what the man could do.
Meanwhile they both took in the stance of Christopher Waite. The man had given them both the most confidence out of the interview. Gibbs seemed to appreciate that he was a Marine, while Tony was still over blown that the guy had 5 younger siblings. He gave them a good feeling.
Now though... his stance was somewhat tricky. Tony narrowed his eyes as he saw the barrel tremble for a moment. Chris cracked his neck from left to right and took a deep breath through his nose and let it out slowly.
Then the buzzer sounded and shots rang out. Tony and Gibbs both stayed back until the shots stopped and the three candidates took off their ear protection. They walked over to their targets, followed by their potential future boss's.
As they came to the targets, Both Tony and Gibbs weren't unpleased at the result. Morris had 3 in the guy spread across his face. and three off. Rodriguez had all of of them in the guy, but slightly down on the face, which wasn't entirely procedure. Waite had two in the guy, both almost one whole, and the 4 others were just next to his left ear.
Tony raised an eyebrow at Gibbs for that. Two bullets, same whole. That was impressive. He knew that the four other bullets were due of the trembling and that was something he had to think about.
Gibbs grunted at the three targets ''Again!'' He barked.
They did it two times more and a good thing was the steady pattern in all three candidates. They improved somewhat. All of them having an extra bullet in the guys head.
…
Tony shook his hand and suppressed a grimace as he did so. Gibbs glanced at his friend. ''Shouldn't have let you shoot. Should have known your hand wasn't up for it''
''It's okay'' Tony said. ''When we get back at the HQ, I will wrap it up''
''You broke your hand just a few weeks ago! I still can't believe they cut the cast off and gave you bandage instead, last week'' Gibbs mumbled.
''They thought it was healed enough. It was just a minuscule fracture'' Tony reasoned. Gibbs growled. ''I'm a big boy, dad. I can decided when something hurts or not''
Gibbs raised an eyebrow as he again glanced at the man next to him. ''You are too stubborn. Deny when something is really wrong and you are still one of the team, which means I look out for you, even though you maybe be my equal now''
''1) after all these years you're rubbing off of me. And 2) As long as you know that the same goes the other way around'' Tony pointed out, smirking. Gibbs delivered a head-slap, but Tony just grinned. ''This being equal thing... does that mean I get to head-slap you too?'' Gibbs glared at him. ''Guess not''
…
''Why did the boss want us in the gym?'' McGee asked, as he came from the mans locker room and into the gym.
''The new candidates are on their way here'' Ziva explained. She was stretching and loosening her muscles. ''Gibbs wants to see what they are capable off. So he wants us to spar''
''Oh'' McGee said. He looked around and suddenly he couldn't get the image of Kate and him sparring for the first time out of his head. He remembered how he hit that mat dozens of time that day.
''They won't actually hurt you... I think'' Ziva smirked teasingly.
''Great. I'm being used at punching bag to show off how great they're'' McGee groaned.
The door swung open. ''Straighten up, McGee! You're better then you think. Don't let the uncertainty get the better of you''
McGee jumped and turned around. ''On it, Boss!'' He replied in reflex towards the order.
Tony smirked at the reference as boss. He walked towards him and planted a hand on his probies shoulder. ''Just sparring, McGee. I won't let them beat you up without my permission'' He told him. ''Just trust your gut as to how you react towards a attack. You'll be fine''
''Thanks, Tony'' McGee said with an appreciating smile.
''Anytime'' Tony said to him. ''Now I will see what is keeping Gibbs, before he kills one of the candidates'' He turned and walked back into the locker room.
A couple of minutes later Tony and Gibbs came back in followed by the three agents. Ziva had to suppress a smile when she saw familiar blond man coming into the gym.
Gibbs cleared his throat. ''Candidates. This are Agent Ziva David and Agent Timothy McGee. If you are going to work for this team, they will be your coworkers'' Gibbs said. ''David, McGee. This are Agents Morris'' He gestured to the darker haired man. ''Rodriguez'' He said gestured to the woman. ''And Waite'' He gestured to the blond man.
They all shook hands.
''Good'' Tony spoke up. ''We want you to box with each other. I will take on Morris on the mats. McGee you take Rodriguez on the mats and Waite you spar with Ziva in the ring. Gibbs will observe how you are doing'' He explained.
They all split up. Tony pulled on the boxing gloves, like the rest. Tony cracked his neck and nodded towards Gibbs, who had been watching him. Then he turned back to Morris. He jumped lightly up and down and from left to right. ''Come on, then'' He said excitedly, with a grin.
Morris who had been standing ready the whole time, lowered his hands and frowned. ''What the hell are you doing?'' He asked Tony.
''Boxing, look!'' Tony stopped suddenly and then brought his right hand straight into Morris' face with a thud. Gibbs resisted the urge to grin.
Morris' head snapped to the right, with the force. He shook of the pain and glared at Tony. ''That are not the rules!'' He snapped, rubbing his cheek.
''In a fight, you don't consider the rules of boxing. If you do. You're a dead man in a matter of minutes'' Tony said seriously. He did it again, but this time Morris blocked. Morris went for a hit, but Tony blocked it and hit him in the side.
Gibbs smirked. The younger man had learned so well from him. He turned towards McGee and Rodriguez. He saw that somehow McGee had the upper hand. The young man had improved and was doing well. But his moves were still a little uncertain and therefore not that fast. But still, he had the upper hand and Gibbs shook his hand. Rodriguez surely wasn't going to make it.
He jumped at the sound of a body hitting the ground. Turning towards, the sound he found Waite hovering over Ziva, who laid panting on the box ring ground. ''You're a Marine?'' She asked surprised, between pants.
Chris looked at her. ''How did you figure that?'' He straightened himself and reached out his hand.
Ziva took the hand and stood up again. ''Gibbs uses the same move many times. I just did not see it coming from you. You do not look like a marine'' She explained.
Chris rolled his eyes. ''Everyone keeps saying that'' He deadpanned. ''Chris Waite''
''Ziva Dah-veed'' Ziva told him with a smile.
''Ziva. Israeli?'' Chris reasoned.
''Very good'' Ziva laughed softly.
''David. Waite. You can chit chat after we are finished. Back to work!'' Gibbs barked.
…
''It's not that hard'' Tony said later that day. They were the only ones left in the office. They had sent Ziva and McGee and the candidates home.
''No, it isn't'' Gibbs agreed.
''He's great for the team. He's young, but he has the qualities to be a good SFA'' Tony continued.
Gibbs nodded. ''So Waite?''
''Think you can handle him?'' Tony asked.
''He's a Marine'' Gibbs shrugged.
''Yeah, I know about the free pass for him, to call you Sir'' Tony chuckled.
''But'' Gibbs ignored Tony. ''He's not that uptight. Like Morris''
''Yeah, that guy has to learn, you won't make it with only the things you learn in the books. And Rodriguez is good, probably at the same level McGee is now. But we don't need another Junior Agent. We need a SFA and she's not ready yet''
''Waite it is than'' Gibbs stated.
Tony grinned and grabbed his phone to call the 'lucky winner'.
…
Gibbs glanced at Tony once again. The man had been quiet the whole ride to his house and had been fidgeting his jacket. ''Something on your mind, DiNozzo?'' He asked eventually.
''You're going to work on the boat tonight?'' Tony returned a question.
Gibbs raised an eyebrows. ''Was planning to. Why?''
Tony shrugged. ''Thought, Olivia and I could do another movie night''
''And you don't want me upstairs for that?'' He asked confused. ''Something going on with...''
''No!'' Tony cut him off. ''Just curious okay?''
''Hmm. You sure there's no other reason?'' Gibbs narrowed his eyes.
''Nope'' Tony said, gazing out of the window.
Gibbs glanced again at Tony. Trying to read the expression on the younger mans face. But then nodded. ''Okay''
…
So, Gibbs was downstairs working on his boat and Tony and Olivia were watching a movie. But like always and with relieve, Olivia had fallen asleep during the movie. Tony looked at his watch. 7:53 pm. He took a deep breath.
''Wouldn't thought it was that bad'' Shannon's voice filled the room.
Tony jumped and grabbed his heart. ''Jeez, girl!'' Tony hissed.
Shannon laughed. ''You sure you don't want to be with Jethro downstairs?''
''No'' Tony shook his head. ''Gibbs first''
''Okay'' Shannon accepted. She looked at her daughter that had kept distance. Kelly too accepted what Tony said. ''We will be downstairs then'' She turned and grabbed Kelly's hand as they made their way to the basement.
Tony nodded and waited. He wasn't sure when she was gone, but he glanced at the sleeping Olivia, who was leaning against the other side of the couch. He stood up and went to the kitchen. The door towards the basement wasn't closed and he could hear the soothing sound of Gibbs's sanding. He slid down the wall next to the door and just waited.
…
Gibbs was sanding. He heard muffled voices coming from upstairs and wondered if Olivia had fallen asleep or not. Then he thought about Tony. The younger man had been normal all day only just this morning and on the way back home. He frowned about that. Weird. He couldn't figure out what was bothering Tony, but he didn't get a gut feeling about it. So it wasn't that bad.
''It's not like you to think so hard while working on the boat''
Gibbs jumped and dropped his sander. ''Shannon?''
''Uhu. How's the boat coming along?'' Shannon circled around the boat. Looking at it.
''Slow'' Gibbs stated, he picked up the sander and returned
Shannon chuckled. ''I can see that'' She stopped and slid her fingers over the wood. Wanting to remember how her husbands work felt like. ''what's on your mind, Marine?''
Gibbs closed his eyes at the nickname. As he opened them again he said. ''Tony''
''Why? He seemed fine. Just now, upstairs''
''He's acting... nervous?'' Gibbs questioned himself.
''Ah'' Shannon said as if it was that normal.
''Ah?'' Gibbs stopped sanding. ''Just, Ah?''
''Uhu'' Shannon chuckled. ''He wanted you down here in the basement didn't he?''
''Yes... how do you know?'' Gibbs asked confused. ''Been talking to him lately?''
''No need to get jealous, Jethro. I asked him to'' Shannon told him. He hadn't changed.
''Why?'' Gibbs was now even more confused. She was silent. ''Shannon?''
Shannon looked up at the top of the stairs where Kelly had been waiting. Almost jumping up and down with excitement. ''Because you have a visitor'' She stated and gestured for Kelly to come down. She chuckled, when her daughter went to sit between the beams.
Gibbs frowned. ''Who?''
Shannon nodded at Kelly and her daughter grinned. ''Hi Daddy!'' She all but yelled.
Gibbs eyes went wide in shock. He dropped the sander again and grabbed one of the beams, willing himself not the faint. That voice. So bright. So young. So familiar. ''Kelly?''
Yeah Finally! Kelly talks to Gibbs. :) gotta love family reunions don't you? It was one of the things i wanted to be in this story, befor I end it. This story is coming to an end very quickly, but you know the Sequel is coming soon aswell Tell me what you think! :)
Update Soon!
-X- Leonie