Chapter 29

Plane Ride

Gibbs was sitting down at the other end of the private jet away from Tony and Ziva, but he watched them closely, already knowing that there was something between them. He had talked to Tony twice while calling Ziva's cell phone. That alone told him that they were sharing a space together, since both calls were early in the morning. He knew that Tony never woke up early when he didn't have to work and that his most likely action after quitting would have otherwise been drinking.

Gibbs knew that if they were together that early then Ziva was either staying at his place or Tony was staying at hers. He didn't know which it was, and honestly he didn't care to hear the details. But, he was very curious to see them interact with each other outside of the work setting now that he had the opportunity and some insight as to what was going on.

Gibbs had seen them working together over the last eight years and he knew that they could both handle this with ease. He was not at all worried about that. He knew that there was something different about those two the first time he saw them work together. It was like they had their own personal language and all it took for the to communicate was one look into each other's eyes and reading what little body language they had.

He remembered well how he was nervous about giving Tony someone knew to work with. Tony was something different. He hid behind his jokes and his movie references, but he could put on as good of a face as the former Mossad Officer that sat next to him. Ziva hid behind the mask that Mossad had trained her to put up. Gibbs knew that there were very strong emotions within that Officer that her father had trained her to be. He had seen them when she had shot Ari to save his life.

What had surprised Gibbs was how instantly they were able to work together. They started their relationship, if he could call it that back then, with flirting, bickering, and playful banter. They knew how to get on each other's last nerve and that was his first good sign. That told him that they could read each other well enough to work together. And, besides, they always worked well together in the field and they learned each other better than he had ever seen any two agents learn each other.

Gibbs, of course, knew all along that they had very strong feelings for each other. He realized exactly how Tony felt when Ziva had stayed in Israel in the summer of 2009. Tony was never himself after that. Tony was lifeless, like he had left himself in Israel, but allowed his body to come back. Gibbs had actually missed the jokes, child's play, and ridiculous movie references during that time.

He realized how Ziva felt when they came home from Paris. Gibbs didn't exactly know what had taken place in Paris, but whatever it was they didn't go all the way, because instantly the tension between them returned; the tension that had not been present since her return from Somalia. That was another thing that he no longer saw. There had always been a sexual tension between them. It had grown and matured over the years, just as they had. But it was not there anymore, and it was safe to assume that they were having sex since they were together, even though they had not told him that. He was not going to push either.

He watched them as they sat there talking and he listened from across the plane, even though they were sure that he couldn't hear them talking. He listened hard and averted his eyes every time his name came up, in case they decided to chance a look in his direction. He listened now.

"I don't think we should tell him until the mission is over," Tony was saying nervously.

"He'll know already," Ziva said. "But, I happen to agree with you. His rules are very important to him and we can let him decide what to do about us later."

"Absolutely," Tony said. "But for now we have absolutely no choice but to work together and he knows it. So, when we are working we will have to act professionally, or at least as professionally as we've always acted."

"Which always did involve quite a bit of flirting, bickering, and screwing around," Ziva said and giggled.

Ziva just giggled. Yes, she is very happy, Gibbs thought. She is happier than Gibbs had seen her in quite a long while and perhaps ever. That made Gibbs mouth turn up in a smile at it. He was happy that the person he viewed as a daughter was happy finally.

"Yes, but remember that this is an important missions, Ziva," Tony said. "I know you don't want to think about it, but the first thing we have to do is find your brother."

"Yes, I remember," Ziva said with a slight frown. "We will find him, Tony. We have the best working on it."

"I agree," Tony said, pulling Ziva into his side and smiling down at her.

Gibbs turned his attention to two other important team members. Abby and McGee. They were sitting next to each other and Abby was unusually quiet today. Abby was hardly ever quiet. She had a Caf-Pow in front of her and was staring out the window at the clouds that were flashing by them as she sat quietly and deep in thought.

McGee kept glancing over at her nervously. He knew that she was too quiet. Gibbs was concerned for what was on Abby's mind and he was considering trying to get her to talk about it, but he saw McGee hop into action before he could make a decision. They had already been on the plane for two hours and it was about time that someone acted and tried to get her talking.

"Abby," McGee said gently.

"Yea?" she asked, without looking at him.

"You okay?"

She was silent a moment. Her eyes turned toward McGee and searched his face. She could tell that it was bothering him that she was silent. Abby never became silent and still. She was the bubbliest person Gibbs knew. It often reminded him of the way he pictured his own daughter turning out, just with a little extra talking. He wondered what Jen was really like, surely she was a mixture of himself and Shannon as she had been when she was a child.

"Not really, Tim," she said quietly, but left it at that.

"Tell me?" he asked, reaching out for her hand, to comfort her.

She looked down at their hands as he grabbed hers and she slowly interlaced their fingers. A sign of trust, Gibbs thought. Abby trusts McGee and will talk to him when she's ready. Perhaps now she was ready.

"It's just all this," she said quietly, still looking at McGee and Gibbs knew that it was all going to come out at once. "It's this mission… Parsons investigating… but he hasn't been around for a while, so who knows what he's up to… Isaac missing and knowing that Ziva must be worried… Jen Gibbs being involved, and she's Gibbs' little girl and how he must feel about seeing her again… I mean, is he happy about it, well, obviously, but he must be a little overwhelmed by the whole thing, he hasn't seen her since she was two when he left for Desert Storm… and Jenny might still be alive, when we all thought she was dead, and that is overwhelming… and what does Gibbs think of that, since we all know it was not exactly a Director and team leader relationship going on there… and the Bodnars being involved somehow, and is Ilan really dead, is Yaniv really in prison… and the lies of Mossad… I thought we were done dealing with the lies of Mossad, but apparently they never end… and Orli being involved in that, and how Ziva must feel about that, I mean she never liked her anyway… and this Ulman being involved, knowing that both Ziva and Jen Gibbs have a history with the brother of this guy… what are they feeling? How are they reacting? You don't even see Ziva worrying, but her walls have come down a little, haven't they? But, she seems so… so happy and not worried at all. Is she hiding her worry behind her walls or her happiness? I wish I knew. I'm just so worried about everyone. This is a dangerous case and we are all at risk, not just from prosecution by Parsons, but our lives are at risk!"

McGee acted quickly. He pulled Abby into a hug.

"I'm worried too, Abs," he whispered to her.

It was not a bone-crushing hug that Abby normally gave. This was not the same side of Abby that everyone saw every day. This worry was very deep and she already cared so much for Jen Gibbs that it hurt her to see her in danger. They had grown close through phone conversations and video chats in the last couple of days and Abby was a good friend and sister to her, Gibbs thought and smiled at the thought.

Yes, Gibbs would have one of his little girls back in just a few hours time, but it was so much more than that. He would still be with the family he had adopted over the years. He knew that Ziva and Jen were already close and got along great. He knew that Tony would protect her like he was her big brother, the way that Kelly used to watch over her and McGee would also be protective over her. He knew that Abby would love her and they would get along great and they would be able to turn to each other for the girly things, if she even did girly things. Gibbs smiled at his team and was satisfied with what he had. They were really his family.

Gibbs thought about what they had given up for him; what they had done to see to his safety during this mission. Ziva, Tony, and Tim had all turned in their badges to save him. Yes, he was using first names in his mind now, but that's because they were family. You do what you have to for family. That was his unspoken rule and he was proud that they learned that one well. He was, of course, not happy that they had resigned, but he was more grateful than he really knew how to express. Perhaps if they got a break during this time he would take everyone to dinner to show his gratitude.

Gibbs could really trust the people that were sitting on the plane with him. He resolved to start talking to them more. He resolved that he could talk to them like he used to talk to his girls and Shannon, like he used to talk to Jenny. He wondered if he would be seeing Jenny soon. He wondered if there was some important reason that his daughter had picked Key West to meet. Perhaps that was where Jenny had been staying, since he was now certain that she was alive.

He was not happy with Jenny for keeping such a big secret from him, but it was a long time ago and it was better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. That was one of his rules and he would offer his forgiveness, because it was Jenny and she obviously had a reason for hiding. Perhaps someone had told her she should hide. Perhaps she had a good reason for not dying that day. He didn't know. What had she been up to since then? It was so long ago. It was five years ago and he remembered his emotions very well.

Gibbs shook his head and turned his face toward the elderly medical examiner sitting near him. Ducky was his most trusted friend. He knew Gibbs better than most, but Gibbs was glad that his team knew all there was to know about him now. He was relieved that they knew. Ducky was amazing and he could read when something was bothering Gibbs. Now he could see that Ducky was mentally analyzing whatever was written on Gibbs face.

"You're happy with them, Jethro," he said quietly. "You're happy with every single one of them."

"Yes, Duck, I am," Gibbs said. "Tony has been heroic it seems. He's been there to support Ziva through all this. Ziva is as strong as ever. She's taking it like a champion and putting the difficult things partly out of her mind, but still talking about it. McGee is supporting Abby the best he can and trying to hold her together for me. Abby has been wonderful. She's done all the research and investigating by herself and with your help. She was never an investigator, but she has proven her worth in that area on a couple of occasions. I'm proud of them. They have come so far in the last eight years."

"What about your daughter?" Ducky asked, seeing some concern.

"Honestly, Ducky. I have not been so nervous and excited at the same time since the day that I married Shannon," Gibbs said. "I am happy at being able to meet with her once more, but I am not expecting the same little girl that I left behind in 1991. She has been through hell and there is something deeper going on with her with the disappearance of Isaac. She blames both herself and the Commandant. She didn't want to work with Isaac, but she obviously cares deeply about him. I know that part of her childhood was spent with the David family and part of her past year in Israel was spent with Eli. His death had to have some effect on her, right?"

"I would imagine so," Ducky said. "If you would like, and she is willing to talk to me, I can talk with her. I know you do not do so well with emotions."

"She used to do well with them," Gibbs said. "By well, I mean she used to show them. But, I'm not so sure anymore, Duck. She was practically emotionless in MTAC. It was her eyes that told me what her face wouldn't."

"A reminder of our dear Ziva," Ducky said. "Like she was at that age, right?"

"Almost exactly," Gibbs said. "She has a long road ahead of her, I fear. But I hope the worst of it is over."

"Me too," Ducky said sadly. "I hate to see the poor girl suffer anymore trauma than she has. Have you seen her full medical history?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Gibbs said. "Some of it I was not extremely pleased about. Particularly from Somalia."

"Yes, I would imagine as a father that would upset you greatly," Ducky said. "I will see if she will talk to me, but I will not push her. If she is anything like you that will just make her angry, which would be the only emotion she would show outwardly willingly."

"I hope she is not just like me on the emotional front," Gibbs said honestly. "I hope she is still like Shannon and wears her emotions on her sleeve."

Ducky laughed. "We can hope, Jethro," he said still smiling.

The rest of the plane ride was silent and Gibbs was pleased when the plane touched down. He noticed that McGee was staying close to Abby, protecting her from whatever they were facing after they arrived where they were going. He noticed that Tony held Ziva's hand and Ziva was tense. Every time she tensed, he would give her hand a reassuring squeeze and that was important, because he was still reading her wonderfully. He noticed that Ducky was observing all of this as well and smiled at him.

They got three rental cars and took the keys. Gibbs had control over them and he knew his team best so he was going to divide them with how well they would ride together, not that that mattered, because they would all ride with each other great. But he already knew what was going on in their minds.

"DiNozzo, David," he tossed them a key. "McGee, Abby. Ducky you're with me."

They made their way off toward the house in Key West in their separate cars. They had come in at the air field on the island. It was close to where they were going and they did not have a long drive ahead of them.


A/N – I like to see things through Gibbs eyes. He is so internal and it is fun to analyze the things that he is thinking. I hope you enjoyed reading it.