Chapter 38
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS.
After lunch the team headed to Samantha's house ready to pack things up and move her into for now Gibbs' guest room. Gibbs was really not surprised then they got there. He had not realized that he had not been inside her apartment since Kelly's birthday. Samantha had packed up almost everything. Boxes lined the walls of the living room and her bed room. "Well Sam. Looks like you have done most of the work for us. All we have to do is the grunt work" Tony said when he and Ziva walked into the apartment.
"Well I aim to please DiNozzo."
"Ok let's get to the grunt work DiNozzo. The sooner we get started the sooner we will be done" Gibbs ordered grabbing two boxes and heading down to his truck. "McGee, we can pick up the U-Haul truck for the furniture at 1400."
"I will get it Boss." He and Tony grabbed some boxes that labeled for the kitchen and headed down to the truck.
Ziva, Abby and Samantha grabbed boxes as well. It took only about 30 minutes to get the first load ready to head to Gibbs' house. They put most of the boxes in the garage but a few at Sam's direction were put in the guest room.
After a few more trips most of Sam's things were either in the garage or in Gibbs' guest room. Abby, Ziva and Sam had moved her clothes in Abby's car. When the trio of women made it back to the apartment the men had gone for the U-Haul to get the furniture.
"What do we have left Sam?" Ziva asked. Samantha led them to the guest room.
"Not much really." Samantha smiled "Just my school supplies." Samantha opened the door into the room. Inside was a small single bed and wall to wall boxes each labeled by subject and or month.
"Not much, really Sam." Abby gasped. "Are you saying none of this is on the school's inventory?"
"Abby" Samantha laughed. "Have you seen the education budget in this country? We are lucky to get paper and books. I have keep 6 year olds entertained in the video, computer generation with old school methods. I am lucky to have a smart board and a projector. I bought my document camera on my own dime."
Abby just shook her head. She knew because she had to fight the red tape many times to get new equipment for her lab. "This is not going to fit in Gibbs' garage."
"No problem. I got a storage shed on the next block so we can take it there."
"Has Gibbs seen this?" Ziva asked.
"Seen what?" Gibbs interjected as he walked into the room. "Well Sam, looks like you either got rid of some of this or you got that storage shed I suggested."
"Got the storage room." She smiled and walked over and kissed him.
"Ok you ladies get my truck and get this moved and the men will get the furniture. Sam I put my old ratty couch in the garage until we can get rid of it. We will put yours in the living room like you asked."
"Thank you."
NCIS
The team finished moving and the Gibbs, Ziva and Samantha stayed at the apartment to finish the cleaning. Abby, Tony and McGee left for Gibbs' house to get the barbeque started. Abby winked at Gibbs as they were leaving. "Give me at least an hour" she mouthed. Gibbs nodded and smiled to himself as she left.
When the trio got to the car, Abby and McGee started whispering. "Hey guys save the pillow talk for later. I am hungry."
"You are always hungry Tony." Abby said. "We are on a mission from Gibbs. We need your help."
"What does Gibbs want us to do?"
"First we go to Abby's and pick up the decorations and then to the mall we have some flowers to pick up and something Gibbs ordered from the jewelry store." Tim opened the door for Abby then went around to the driver's side of the car. Tony hopped into the back seat and they set off on their missions.
NCIS
"Come on Gibbs this place is spotless" Samantha pleaded. "You could eat off the floors and even the carpet fibers have been cleaned and pressed. I am hungry and I need to sit down."
Gibbs looked at his watch. He still had at least another 30 minutes. Abby's last text message said that she needed another half hour on the surprise. Quickly, he came up with another idea. "Ok sweetheart. Your right we are done here." He looked at Ziva and winked.
"Great now can we go home."
"Not yet Samantha" Ziva interjected. "We need to get some beer. Tony just texted me and said the one six pack won't be enough."
"But we bought three last night."
"Tony knocked two of them off of the table when he was moving the couch to the garage." Gibbs quickly added.
Samantha believed the lie. "Ok" she sighed "Let's head to the store."
Gibbs got into the car actually drove under the speed limit to the store. They got the beer that Gibbs knew they did not need and just as they were leaving the store Gibbs got the go ahead to bring Samantha home. Samantha was dozing in the seat on the way home with her hand comfortably holding Gibbs' hand. He looked over and smiled at her. He always loved watching her sleep. She was just plain beautiful.
Ziva just looked at them and smiled. Gibbs looked at Samantha with the eyes of a man in love. She had seen that look in Tony's eyes when he thought she was not looking. "I would really hope I can get that kind of love," she thought.
When they pulled up at Gibbs' house Gibbs motioned with his head for Ziva to go into house and warn the team they were on their way in. Ziva smiled and mouthed "On it Gibbs"
Gibbs watched as she went into the house and shut the door. Then Gibbs started kissing her cheeks. "Sweetheart, we are home. Time to wake up."
Sam started to wake up and then she grabbed his cheeks and kissed him back passionately. "I am up. Wonder if the team has the food started I am starving" she said when they broke apart.
"Only way we find out is to stop making out in the car and go inside."
She smiled and gently gave him a tap on the back of the head. "Ok but we will continue you this later, right."
"You are so on." Gibbs came around and opened the car door. Taking her hand he helped Samantha out of the car. The couple walked into the house. Gibbs had his hand near the small of Samantha's back.
As they were nearing the door Samantha heard music coming from inside. "Sounds like the party got started without us." Gibbs came around and opened the door. As Samantha walked into the living room she saw the entire room decorated for the fourth of July (Independence Day). She was greeted by her friends with "Happy Independence Day" and in the back ground a song was playing. Samantha smiled when she recognized it as Independence Day by Martina McBride. She turned to Gibbs. "Did you plan this Special Agent Gibbs?"
"I had the idea but Abby took the idea and this is the result." Abby and McGee came up and both gave her hugs. Tony and Ziva added their congratulations. Samantha hugged Abby and McGee and whispered "Thanks" "Thought you deserved a party. You were so great today." Gibbs kissed her softly. Then Gibbs went to the mantle and grabbed the wrapped package that Abby had placed there. "Here for you. Thought you deserved it"
Taking the present from him. "I just stood up for myself the way my friends told me to do. I don't deserve anything special."
"Well we think different" Abby said giving her another hug. "McGee showed me that email. They both deserve to be horse whipped."
"When will you believe me that you deserve everything I give you and far more? I love you Sam. Now open your gift." Samantha opened the present and inside was a velvet jewelry box. Inside was a gold locket connected to a gold chain. She opened the locket and inside was engraved "I love you. LJG". "Thought you deserved it in writing." He smiled and took her in his arms. Tears filled her eyes and he pulled him close.
"I will hold you to this," she whispered into his hear.
"You two need to get a room. I am starving." Tony chimed in. Samantha laughed and wiped the tears from her eyes. The whole team joined in the laughter.
"Sorry Tony," Samantha laughed. "I am really being a horrible hostess at my first party."
The family together got the food cooking. As with the moving that day this was a family night. After dinner the group then settled down in the living room. The evening turned cooler so Gibbs got a fire started.
When the fire was going good and strong Samantha got up from the couch. She went upstairs and brought down a box. "I want you guys to be part of this. I have a few things left from my relationships with my aunt, uncle and cousins. I want to burn the last contact with them and I need you to witness this."
"Oh goody a bonfire," Abby said excited. "Let us help you."
Samantha looked over at Gibbs and smiled. "You can Abby I want my new family to be here when I finally kick them to the curb." Inside of box were pictures of her cousins growing up and family parties with the Taylors and her parents. "I want everything associated to them gone."
Each team member took a turn tossing pieces of Samantha's past into the fire and watching it burn. After everything was gone Samantha took the box to the garage and then went upstairs to get her laptop.
When she came back she set her laptop up on the mantle and set up her webcam for a picture. "I want a new picture for my mantle with my new family," she smiled.
"Great idea." Tony said "Let's get a good shot so everyone can have one."
The girls sat on the couch with the men standing behind them. McGee set the timer for the camera. The picture they took was beautiful. Everyone was smiling even Gibbs. "Looks great." Samantha said. "I will get this printed for each of you. Let that be my thank you gift for all the love and support you have offered me today."
"Anybody ready for a movie. I think I have a good choice for a movie," Tony jumped in.
"Let me guess. Keeping with the party theme Independence Day with Will Smith." Samantha guessed.
"Give the lady a cigar."
"I would settle for some popcorn," she answered. Abby went to the kitchen and started the popcorn. Tony started the movie and each couple found a comfortable place to sit and watch the movie together. Gibbs and Samantha cuddled up on the couch. As the movie began Gibbs wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He then looked around his living room. McGee and Abby were snuggled in his big lounge chair. Tony and Ziva were on the floor with Tony leaning on the couch and Ziva sitting between his legs. Tony's arms were wrapped around her and he was whispering in her ear. "Probably movie lines or references" Gibbs thought. Then he looked at Samantha. She was dozing in his arms since she could quote this movie almost line for line. "So glad you are here," he whispered. "Thank you for choosing me."
"You are totally welcome. Life does not get any better than this."
"No it doesn't," he smiled as he lifted her chin to kiss her. Around her neck was the locket he had given her. Another memento to claim her as his. "How many days till the wedding?"
"To long," she whispered drowsily "Way to long."
"Go to sleep now sweetheart. I will be here in the morning." He kissed her on the top of the head. "I will always be here for you." He then looked around the room. "For all of you."