Closer Reality

A/N: Anyone would think I've been having fun making you wait for Diane...

Chapter 38 - Realization

As the music ended, the lights came up and the concert came to a close and a battery of relieved parents showed their appreciation... the volume and enthusiasm of the reception owing as much to their relief it was over as it did to pride in the efforts of their kids.

Abby and Fornell were on their feet quickly, enthusiastically clapping and cheering along with everyone else, and Jackson soon struggled up to join in, helped to his feet by Gibbs. A piercing whistle from Jackson's left heralded Carol's contribution to the applause and Jackson winced, clapping his hand over his ear.

Abby chuckled, glancing at him. "The noise level doesn't exactly match her size, does it?"

"No kidding, Abby." Jackson exchanged a grin with Carol.

"I heard that you two," Carol leaned in. "I'm merely showing my appreciation... against a background of the hiss of lowering blood pressure as we all deflate."

Jackson laughed. "Thought I could see the steam escaping."

"Emily did great, didn't she?" Abby turned to Gibbs, raising her voice.

Gibbs grinned back. "Good job."

"Be sure you tell her that," replied Abby. "You know she'll be thrilled."

Once the applause died down, the audience began mingling again and the teachers and pupils involved in the concert gradually appeared from backstage. Abby saw Emily emerge from a side door and launch herself in the direction of her mother and Victor, and Abby felt a pang that Tobias had to come second now.

Abby saw Tobias watching his daughter babbling excitedly to Diane and hugging Victor, and Carol reached up to take his hand and Tobias sat back down to talk to her more easily as she attempted to distract him.

Abby soon got talking to the science teacher, David, again as he made his way down the hall talking to parents, and Carol joined them, Gibbs and Fornell hovering nearby.

"Daddy!"

Fornell turned and grinned as Emily ran towards him and he scooped her up in a hug and his daughter clung tightly to his neck, her words running into one another in her excitement. Laughing, Tobias set Emily down and she immediately flung her arms around Carol, nearly knocking the smaller woman off her feet, and then Emily turned to hug Abby and Gibbs in turn.

"Em, there's someone I want you to meet." Fornell caught his daughter's attention and turned to Jackson. "This is Jackson, Jethro's father. Remember I told you he was staying with Abby and Jethro for the holidays."

Jackson smiled, holding out his hand. "Hello, Emily. Pleased to meet you."

Emily smiled up at the older man as she shook his hand, and she looked between Jackson and Gibbs. "Hello Mr Gibbs. You look just like Uncle Jethro."

"Call me Jackson, Emily. And I think it's more that he looks like me, don't you think?" Jackson lowered his voice confidingly. "He gets his good looks from me anyway."

Emily giggled as Gibbs rolled his eyes and Abby looped her arm through Jackson's, laughing. "He does that, Jack."

"I really enjoyed the concert, Emily. The singing was very impressive. I hope you enjoyed it too," Jackson asked her.

"I did. It was really cool." Emily turned to Gibbs. "Uncle Jethro, will you come see some drawings our class did... they're of boats and they're in the exhibition outside."

Gibbs nodded and Fornell muttered. "I think you just said the magic word, Em... b-o-a-t-s."

Emily giggled, tugging on her father's hand. "Daddy, stop it. Carol, Abby, will you come too?"

"I'll be right out, honey," Carol promised. "I just wanna finish sorting something out with David. Your Aunt Abby Shanghaied me."

"Did she?" Emily asked.

"I did not... you were volunteered," protested Abby with a grin, "and I'll be out in the minute too, Em."

"Would you like to see too... Jackson," Emily added.

Jackson nodded. "I'd love to... I'll follow you out in a bit."

Still talking, Emily led Gibbs and Fornell into the main entrance foyer. Occupied with talking to David and Carol, it was only when Abby turned away to glance around her that she realized Jackson wasn't behind them anymore and she figured he'd followed Emily and the boys outside.

But later when David moved away and Abby scanned the crowd, she spotted Jackson across the far side of the hall.

Oh crap...

Sneaking around really does run in the family.

Jackson had made his way across the hall and was standing, leaning casually against the far wall, about ten feet behind Diane, presumably either just observing or listening in as she talked to a couple of women. Diane so far appeared oblivious of the incoming behind her, but as Abby watched, Jackson pushed off the wall and moved towards Diane.

Now what was she supposed to do?

Apart from panic...

"Caz."

"Hmm?" Carol looked up from where she was rummaging in her bag.

"Could you, erm, go find the boys please?" Abby tilted her head in the direction of where Jackson was talking to Diane, and Carol followed her gaze.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh... I'd say oh just about covers it." Abby gestured almost helplessly.

"You heading over?" asked Carol.

Abby looked down at Carol, chewing on her lip. "Yeah... at least, you think I ought to?"

"You know you're not gonna be able to stop yourself... it'll be fine, Abbs. I'll go get the boys." Carol watched Abby moving away and looked back at Jackson, a slight smile on her face as she shook her head. "Well... go Jack."

Curiosity had gotten the better of Jackson and he'd decided to take the bull by the horns and not wait to bump into Diane or try and contrive an introduction, which might not be forthcoming given how bitter the wounds seemed to be that Diane had left behind with Tobias and Leroy.

So Jackson had figured the best thing to do was to go over to Diane and introduce himself and get it out of the way.

And this way, Jackson reckoned he didn't need to expose Abby to Diane, or force Leroy or Tobias and Carol to endure what could be an awkward conversation. And with his son and Tobias out of the hall, it had seemed the perfect time to slip over there and make his mind up himself about this woman who had been married to his son.

Besides, Jackson was curious to see what else, if anything, had reminded his son of Shannon in this woman, other than the obvious rich red hair.

Jackson was also conscious that he might not get the chance again, so this might be his one chance to get an insight into this part of his son's life.

Looking for an opportunity to approach Diane, Jackson waited for a gap in the animated conversation going on between the three women. But the more he listened, the more he felt the urge to wait and listen some more, and the more revealing the conversation became... and the more he felt he had to batten down on his temper.

"It looks like neither of your exes can handle a real woman any more, Diane."

Diane laughed as she glanced at her friend. "Well, they're neither of them what I expected, I must admit, Julie. That's the women they're with I'm talking about, not Tobias and Leroy... although now you come to mention it, neither of the boys were what I expected either, in the end."

Her friends laughed obligingly and the other woman responded. "Well, men are generally a disappointment I find."

"But I had thought Leroy at least would have better taste and know better than to go for someone so much younger than he is and so... so..." Diane trailed off, waving her hand airily as if lost for words.

"Quite... it's difficult to describe her, isn't it, Anne?" answered Julie. "Isn't she the Goth girl who helps out with science projects at school sometimes? I've never been quite sure she's a good influence on my daughter, never mind Emily."

"Yes... Abigail Scuito... Abby. I'm not quite sure what's happened to the pigtails, or the skulls covering everything she wears," Diane mused. "Perhaps Leroy doesn't like them and is trying to change her?"

"Well, Leroy certainly doesn't seem to mind her crawling all over him. I thought you said he was never very affectionate towards you in public, Diane. That seems to have changed," Julie nudged Anne, who turned her head away to hide a grin.

Diane stared at Julie for a moment. "Yes, well... you can imagine what Abby does to get Leroy to do what she wants."

"And who was that with Tobias?" Anne added and the contempt in her voice was obvious. "I saw her earlier as they came in."

"That I believe is the current girlfriend Tobias has got in tow... emphasis on girl by the look of it. Emily told me about her," replied Diane. "Carol I think she's called. Apparently she and Tobias helped Abby move into Leroy's house last weekend... as if that's a productive use of my daughter's weekend time. I shall have something to say about that to Tobias later."

"Yes, but she's a..." Anne trailed off.

"Yes, what word does one use? I had the same difficulty, and Emily certainly didn't warn me that she was a... dwarf. Emily didn't say anything about her not being normal," added Diane, dismissively.

"Yes, how does it feel, Diane, to be replaced by a vampire and a midget? Not a great boost to anyone's self esteem, I'd have thought." Anne and Julie exchanged smug smiles.

Diane laughed uncomfortably. "Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that, girls."

"Perhaps your Tobias can only cope with half a woman now," Julie commented. "Obviously after being married to you, the only way is down if they can only get involved with women like that, although presumably in Leroy's case, it's purely physical. Such a waste of a very hot man, if you'll allow me to say so, Diane. I see he hasn't lost any of his impact."

"Oh, I'd say it's increased," Anne put in, "now the hair's all silver."

"I noticed… doesn't change what's inside him though," said Diane brusquely. "But yes, both the boys have certainly lowered their standards if all they can attract now is freaks."

Having heard more than enough, Jackson pushed himself off from the wall and approached the group. "Ladies."

Startled at the deep voice behind her, Diane turned to meet features and blue eyes which were very familiar. Jackson tilted his head, eyes roaming over the three women before returning to Diane and she found herself feeling slightly uneasy at the coldness she could read in his eyes.

"I thought I'd come over and introduce myself. We've never met but I'm Jackson Gibbs."

"Jackson! Of course," Diane said eagerly, smiling and holding out her hand. "Yes, I saw you sitting over there earlier with everybody and was hoping we'd get the chance to meet, but of course you must already know that I'm Diane... Diane Sterling now, formerly Fornell and of course, formerly Diane Gibbs."

As he shook her hand, Jackson was impressed at the speedy transformation as Diane turned on the charm, coupled with the warmth she could inject into her smile and voice when seconds earlier she'd been spitting venom.

"Pleased to meet you, Diane," Jackson said, coolly, shaking her hand.

"Well, this is a surprise and a delightful one at that. We never did get to meet, despite how many times I asked Leroy to introduce us." Diane turned to the women with her, who were eyeing Jackson with unabashed curiosity. "Girls, this is Leroy's father."

"Yes, Jethro's father." Jackson nodded hello to the other women before catching Diane's gaze again, trying to keep a lid on his temper but finding it difficult after what he'd heard. "And the father in law of one of the women you just called a freak, and I like to think a new friend of the other lady you were talking about too."

Diane stared at him for a moment, repeating faintly, "Father in law?"

Jackson nodded. "Is what I said, yes."

Jackson's instinct had been to stand up for his son and the girls, so perhaps he was being more indiscreet than he should be, but he'd blurted it out before he could control his tongue.

Jackson wasn't proud of it but Diane had made him feel instantly defensive... and he was beginning to understand the boys' reaction to her.

Diane blinked rapidly but pasted on a smile as she attempted to recover her poise. "I see... well, of course, I apologize for what else you... erm, yes, I didn't mean for you to hear that, obviously. I'm sure we all didn't, did we?" Diane turned to her friends, gesturing with her hands as if to appeal for their help.

"No, of course not." Anne replied.

"Oh, I can see I wasn't meant to hear any of it. But it does explain a lot," Jackson added. "And maybe I should be giving you the benefit of the doubt anyway, Diane? Perhaps you're feeling defensive in front of your friends over being replaced... twice."

Diane stared at him, narrowing her eyes and her voice was cold as she relied. "I don't view it as being replaced."

"Are you in the habit of listening in on private conversations, Mr Gibbs?"

"Julie..." Diane snapped, turning to glare at her friend.

"Given I could hear you from ten feet away, perhaps keeping your voices down would have ensured a little more privacy, ma'am," Jackson responded. "And once I heard you insult my Abby and then my friend Carol, it was hard not to listen, even if I didn't like what I was hearing. Carol obviously can't help her height but you can all of you certainly help your attitude. I believe the polite term you were looking for to describe her is little person."

"I don't believe we need a lesson in etiquette, Mr Gibbs," answered Julie.

"No, just manners," replied Jackson.

Diane's gaze slid passed Jackson and he felt a hand slide into his arm and turned to see Abby gazing at him in concern.

"Jack... everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, Abby." Before Jackson could go on, they were all distracted by the arrival of Emily dragging Victor along by the hand.

"Whoa, Emily, not so fast," Victor protested as he followed Emily.

"Abby! You said you'd come see." Emily stopped by Abby, grabbing her hand and tugging on it.

Abby smiled down at the young girl. "I did, Em, and I haven't forgotten. I just came to find Jack. Hello Victor."

Victor smiled. "Hello Abby. It's great to see you again and you're looking lovely as ever, if I may say so." Victor turned and shook Jackson's hand enthusiastically. "Hello, and you have to be Leroy's father. Diane and I were talking earlier... your son looks a lot like you."

Jackson nodded, smiling politely. "Thank you. I like to think so. Pleased to meet you, Victor."

Diane looped her arm through Victor's as he smiled down at Emily. "Emily dragged me in here looking for you both. We left Leroy and Tobias out front."

"Abby, you promised." Emily bounced up and down impatiently.

"I did, Em and I meant it," Abby replied, laughing.

"Don't pester Abby, Emily. I'm sure she'll go and see the paintings if she wants to... she might not want to, remember?" interjected Diane.

Abby shot Diane a look "Oh, I do... and we will. We both will, won't we Jack?"

Jackson nodded, patting her hand where it rested on his arm. "I haven't forgotten, Abby... Emily. We'll head out there now if you like."

"We'll leave you to it," Anne put in, indicating that she and Julie were leaving.

"That's fine, girls... I'll see you later." Diane waved to her friends before turning back. "Oh, before you go I'd like a word with Abby. To offer my congratulations. We both do, don't we Victor?" she glanced at the man at her side, hugging his arm.

Victor smiled, nodding. "Sure do, honey... always good to celebrate some good news."

"You take Jackson out to the drawings, Emily," prompted Diane. "Abby will be along shortly."

Jackson gazed steadily at Diane and she met his gaze without flinching, smiling. Abby looked between the two of them, wondering what had transpired earlier to put that wary look on Jack's face.

Abby squeezed his arm. "It's fine, Jack. I'll catch up with you."

Jackson stared at Abby for a moment before drawing her into a hug. "Okay, Abby... I'll see you in a minute, yeah?"

Jackson knew Abby could hold her own but he'd promised himself and his son that he'd protect her and leaving her in Diane's firing line perhaps didn't qualify, even if Victor was there. But Jackson knew Abby would be pissed at him if he didn't think she could handle herself... and he couldn't see an easy way of getting her clear without making it obvious.

Abby hugged him back, trying to avoid looking at the smirk she could see on Diane's face. She pulled back and caught his eye and with a combination of signing and finger spelling, she said to Jackson. Fine. Go ahead.

Jackson concentrated on what Abby was doing and although he had to get her to repeat some of it, he got it eventually, giving her a broad smile and nodding his understanding.

"I'm sure Abby doesn't need a bodyguard, Jack," Diane put in, as she stared at the two of them as they communicated.

"And if she does, I'm here." Victor laughed, seemingly oblivious of the annoyed look Diane sent his way.

Jackson hesitated for a moment longer, but when Emily tugged at his hand, he shrugged. "Okay, Emily... lead the way."

Jackson nodded to Diane and Victor and smiled at Abby as he walked away. Abby watched Jackson leaving with Emily, who was chatting away excitedly to the older man, before she turned to face Diane and Victor.

TBC...