Knights of the NCIS Table—Gibbs Chapter 9
(A/N: I have a few readers/reviewers who were saddened that Ducky wasn't part of the story. This is for you guys.)
"Damn, turn it off already." She laughs as she agrees to let him accompany her to Japan.
***
Gibbs yawns as he enters the room that he'll be sharing with Laurie. As he takes off his shirt, he thinks about the day that's passed. The trip itself had taken mere minutes by teleportation. The greeting at the gate by a full troop of ninjas hadn't really impressed him either.
No, it was the waiting, after they were announced that had annoyed him. He knows as a sniper that waiting is long and boring, that it can take hours before your target is lined up so you can take that perfect shot. They'd been waiting for almost two hours before Laurie was finally allowed in to see her ailing father.
The man on the bed might have been made of leather, his skin looked that tough. Grey hairs were perfectly combed and chocolate brown eyes were watering when Laurie approached. Laurie had taken advantage of the two hour wait to change into a deep lavender ninja uniform.
"Why?"
"It's tradition, at least in this compound for the sons and daughters to show respect by wearing this uniform. We don't have to wear compound colors, just the uniform."
He had to admit, she'd looked pretty hot in that thing. It snuggled up against her curves, and the color deepened her eyes while accentuating the highlights in her hair. He admitted to being a little startled when she started pulling weapons out of drawers like they were socks. Knives, throwing stars, a set of well worn nunchuks, all lined up on the bed before being meticulously placed in secret pockets. The final weapon was her katana.
"Wait, that's not a ninja weapon."
"I'm not strictly a ninja." At his confused look she explains. "Several decades ago, five of the top compound masters took it upon themselves to explore the similarities and differences between a samurai and a ninja. Using that as a base to work off of they created what is now called a Ninja/Samurai or an N/S.
"When I was a small child I was in a car accident on the island of Okinawa. The master and his son took me in until my injuries healed. As they were an all male compound, Master Yamaguchi didn't think it safe to keep a female child so he asked the other compound masters if any of them could take me in."
"I take it that Takezawa is the one who took you in?"
"Master Takezawa and yes, but not right away. Child services came and put me in an orphanage. I was there for two weeks before Master Takezawa adopted me."
"Why so long?"
"He'd been out of the country, and returned two weeks after child services picked me up. His wife had wanted to adopt a daughter, so he did."
"I don't see her here."
"That's why he was gone. He'd taken her body back to the States for burial."
They'd stayed with her father for the better part of the day, not even leaving when Joe brought in Takezawa's supper. Instead, Laurie had insisted on sampling everything on her father's plate, to all three men's amusement. Gibbs made sure that he was by her side the entire time.
Joe watches too as Gibbs and Laurie put on their show for the master. He knows that Laurie isn't married as he's kept in touch with her for the past twenty years. They've been friends this entire time and she wouldn't have gotten married without either telling him or letting him be the best man.
The one thing he can tell is that there is a connection between them. One that they aren't aware of. Gibbs is hovering almost protectively over her, while she sits and converses with Takezawa in the old man's native Japanese. She has her left hand resting comfortably on the back of Gibbs right leg, keeping a connection between them. Every now and then Gibbs will run his hand over her braid.
Joe smiles when he sees that particular contact. She hasn't told him about her weakness which means that they aren't lovers. At least not yet. Deciding not to reveal his best friend's one peculiarity, Joe leaves the room so that Laurie can talk to Takezawa in private.
Gibbs watches Joe leave and decides to follow the other man. He wants to find out more about the woman he's followed to Japan.
"Hey, Joe, can we talk?"
"Sure, come on in the kitchen." He'd taken the tray with him so that he can wash up the last of the supper dishes.
"What's on your mind Gibbs?"
"She is." The ex-marine is back to short answers as he tries to figure out what he wants to know.
"Best way to tell you is to show you." Before Gibbs can respond, Joe leaves and then reappears with two books.
"You can look at these and learn about the child she was and the woman she is. They might help clear up a few things."
"She'll be with him for awhile I take it?"
"He hasn't seen her for over ten years, his choice by the way. She's going to spend whatever time she can with him."
Gibbs nods, knowing what that feeling is like too, considering his estrangement then reconciliation with his own father. The main difference is that he'd been the one to break away, not Jackson. The other difference is that Jackson is still alive and Takezawa is dying.
He looks up to thank Joe but the other man is gone. There's a thermos full of hot coffee sitting on the table in front of Gibbs. He picks it up and carries it and the photo albums back into the room that he and Laurie will share.
As he finishes undressing and sliding under the covers he yawns again. He tries to look through the first photo album but soon the book stays open on the first page as his eyelids droop and he finally dozes off.
*******
Three familiar faces look down on him with love and affection. The two females lightly touch his face while a gruff old man smiles. A few seconds pass and the trio is joined by a fourth ghostly figure.
"How is your mother doing Ricky?" Shannon had insisted that he check on Laurie before they have their intervention with Gibbs.
"She's tired, but happy that he wanted to see her again. I don't think she'll be in here tonight." The young male ghost drifts closer to the other three.
"If she missed him half as much as I miss my dad, I wouldn't be surprised if she stays there for the next two days." Kelly's staring at her dad, watching the lines slowly fade from his face.
"She did, but it was his choice and she honored his decision. Mom's always been like that." Ricky's voice is tinged with pride.
"I must say Richard; you're not much like your mother in coloring." Even in death, the dear old doctor insisted on calling everyone by their full name.
"No, I'm afraid that I look like my dad. Speaking of dad's, how did you manage to convince him to go to sleep?" Curiosity laces Ricky's voice.
"Oh that's easy my dear boy. I just had Joe put a sedative in Jethro's coffee. He drinks it so strong that he'd never be able to detect it. I have to admit it worked rather quickly." Ducky gives himself a ghostly pat on the back.
"Which one did Joe give him? THAT ONE? Holy cow, Ducky, he'll be out for at least the rest of the night. Mom developed those for a friend of hers who can't sleep at night. He still has nightmares from when he was a POW. They aren't addictive, but they'll knock you ass over teakettle out."
"Oh dear me. Well, if nothing else we—what have we here?" At Ducky's question they all turn towards the doorway.
***
A/N: Hmm…at least one more ghostly chapter ahead, and then…who knows…reviews are still welcome.