This is a really long chapter I know, but I couldn't find a place to cut it. Thanks for all your lovely reviews I really appreciate them all.I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Chapter 49
On his way back to the pool, Gibbs made a stop at the front desk. Everything organized, he made his way outside to have some fun with what was left of the morning.
"Jethro!" Kim said as Gibbs shook water all over her sun warmed body.
"Come on, come for a swim with us." He said pleadingly.
"Please Mommy?" Maddie joined in.
"I don't wanna get my hair wet." She said.
"NOW who's being a princess?" Gibbs teased as he tickled her sides.
"Stop!" Kim giggled as she tried to slap away his hands. "I'll come but I'm not going under the water."
"Why? I like the natural look." Gibbs said.
"Because, I've straightened my hair and I don't want it to go all curly again." She said.
Gibbs shrugged. He and Maddie took a hand each a pulled Kim over to the pool. Gibbs dove in the water and then caught Maddie as she jumped into his arms. Kim got in by the steps. Very slowly. Tony watched from a short distance away as she sunk into the water inch by painful inch, until he could take it no more. Swimming slowly under the water like a shark, he grabbed her ankles and pulled her feet out from under her effectively dunking her completely. As her head immerged, dripping wet with her hair already starting to curl she spluttered at him in furious indignation trying to find the words that would express what she was feeling. He tried to back away but was stopped by Ziva and had to defend Kim, I mean that was the one thing you didn't do to a lady with staightened hair. Wet it when they asked you not to. Even if it wasn't him she told not to wet it, he knew exactly what he was doing and Ziva knew it.
Gibbs was too busy laughing to be of much help at all. Besides, he thought it might be fun to see his little piranhas all go after Tony. Tony tried to defend his actions. "Isn't it better to get wet all at once than slowly like that?...... I was just........ trying to help....... Really." He appealed to first Kim then Ziva then Abby. The girls all looked at each other. Kim shrugged, she had nothing else to lose now, her hair was already wet. So they pounced on him. They tickled him to within an inch of his life. "Boss?.....Help?" he appealed between gasps of air. When they thought he'd finally had enough, they each got a handful of his swim shorts and gave him a wedgie to make his eyes water. "Boss?" he pleaded in a very high pitched voice this time."Call them off?"
"Ok girls. Enough. Leave him alone now." He said. Ziva shrugged and patted him on the head."You never know we might just need him later."
"We have had enough anyway." She said. And they all swam off leaving Tim and Zac to empathise with poor Tony.
They had decided to have lunch at about one, and they agreed to meet up in the hotel restaurant. Everyone disappeared into their rooms to have showers and get changed.
Everyone but Tim and Abby were seated at the table waiting for them when they arrived. "How come there's two extra places?" Tim said as he sat down next to Abby. Gibbs shrugged.
"What's wrong Abs?" he said.
"We tried to ring Dyl and Ducky and no one answered the phone. Ducky's not even answering his cell. I hope they're alright. Tim squeezed her hand.
"We'll try again after lunch Abs." He said. "I'm sure they're just at the movies or something."
"I guess so." Abby said, not sounding completely convinced. Tim and Abby both had their backs to the door so they were oblivious to the surprise that Gibbs had planned. He grinned as Abby felt her favourite ten year olds arms wrap around her neck. "Surprise Mom." He said. She jumped off the chair and pulled him into her arms. "Dyl! My baby!" she said excitedly. "When did you get here? Are you hungry? I bet you're starving." She fired one question after another, but Dyl couldn't answer any of them as he was still encased in one of his mother's all time famous hugs.
"Mom.......Can't .....breath." he finally managed to pant.
"Sorry baby. I was just so pleased to see you." She said happily.
"Thanks Ducky." Tim said with a big grin.
"Well, we couldn't let the family have Sunday lunch without us now could we?"
Dylan gave his Dad a big hug and waved to everyone else at the table poking Jess affectionately as he sat down. She glared at him. Dumb Dylan, she thought. She'd enjoyed having all the attention to her self and she wasn't quite ready to share again just yet. Maddie looking at Jess seemed to instinctively know what she was feeling and took her hand. She then glared at Dylan as well. Jess was her bestest friend she had ever had and if she was mad at Dylan then so was Maddie.
"I was thinking that after lunch while all you young couples spend the afternoon together, I might take all the youngsters sight seeing and perhaps for a stroll along the beach." Ducky said. "Would you and Zac like to accompany me Sarah?"
"Sure Ducky. We'll come." Sarah said. She looked over at Zac who just smiled. Easy going as always.
So after lunch Ducky took off with the others. They took the McGee's family van so that they only had to take one car. Dylan sat up the front with Ducky, Zac and Sarah in the middle and the little girls scrambled into the very back so that they could talk away from adult ears.
"I think we shall go to the aquarium first kids. What do you think?" Ducky said.
"I love the aquarium Ducky." Dylan said.
"I don't mind." Sarah said.
"Me neither." Zac said. They were holding hands and whispering to each other and weren't really paying much attention to what was going on around them. Ducky smiled at Dylan. "What's your favourite thing aye?"
"Um....I like the turtles."
"Interesting choice young man."
In the back, Jess was still pouting over Dylan being back. "I liked being with my Mommy and Daddy by myself. "Dyl always has to have all the attention to himself." She said grumpily. "See how happy Mommy was to see him. She loves him more. Dumb Dylan. I wish he'd break something of Mommy's, and then she'd be really mad at him and she'd spank him and I'd be the good one and she'd hug me and tell me I was the princess and he was the naughty bad boy that should have stayed home with Ducky." Maddie was listening intently to everything that Jess was saying. After all what were best friends for.
"What if he did?" Maddie said quietly.
"What if he did what?" Jess asked.
"Break something that your Mommy likes." She explained. "Shhh. They'll hear."
"He wouldn't do that on purpose." Jess said seriously. Maddie rolled her eyes.
"He wouldn't do it. We would and then we say we saw him do it." Maddie said, very pleased with her brilliant idea.
"That would make Mommy sad though wouldn't it?" Jess said.
"Well we wouldn't pick her like really most favourite thing. Just something that she likes alot. Like......... I don't know, can you think of anything?"
"Her Ipod? She likes to listen to her music." Jess said.
"That's the thing then." Maddie said. "We'll put it in that fish pond thingy in the restaurant and when we have dinner she'll find it there."
"What if they find out that it was us?" Jess said.
"They won't. If we both say that it was Dylan then it's two against one. We win." She said. Jess had an uneasy feeling about this plan, she didn't know if she felt bad for Dyl or bad because it was wrong. But Maddie was pretty smart at ideas,so if she said they wouldn't get caught then they wouldn't. Of course Daddy did say he would be really mad if she copied what Maddie did again. This wasn't the same though, because they were doing it together and anyway they weren't going to get caught.
The girls didn't even know that Ducky had stopped the car until the side door came open and he stood there waiting for everyone to get out. Zac And Sarah had got out and Ducky stood by the door with his hand out. "Come on young ladies" he said. "The animals of the sea await us."
Jess and Maddie both smiled at Ducky before jumping out of the van next to him. They each took one of his hands as Dyl went to walk next to Zac."Can we have icecream Ducky?" Maddie asked.
"I think we can arrange some ice cream, what about everyone else?" he said as they headed over to the concession counter. The spent a good hour and a half at the aquarium marvelling at the size of the tank and all the different species of marine life. Zac and Sarah mostly found every dark place they could, to sneak in the odd kiss. It was lucky it wasn't a school field trip because if they had a question and answer sheet, the pages would be blank. But hey, Sarah thought. Seen one aquarium, you've seen them all.
As they all filed back into the car, Ducky sprung his next idea on them. "I think we should go to the beach."
"Can we collect shells Ducky?" Jess asked.
"Of course. I just so happen to have some buckets in the back."
Back at the hotel four much more relaxed couples were preparing to meet for a drink in the bar.
Tony and Ziva were already in the elevator when Jimmy and Amber joined them. Tony couldn't help but smile. "Enjoy your little chat with Gibbs did ya Amber?" he asked. Ziva glared at him and punched him in the arm.
"Do not tease her Tony." She said sternly.
"I wasn't! Alright I was, but in a good way. I have to tell you Amber, what ever he did to you, had to be worth it. To see the Boss flying through the air like that because a pregnant little thing pushed him. Wow! That was something to see. I'm proud of you." Ziva rolled her eyes.
"Will you stop Please Tony." Jimmy said. "It took long enough to get her to realise she'd done the wrong th......."
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here." Amber said firing up again.
"Just stop it." Jimmy said. "Or we'll be going back up to the room instead of having a drink with the others."
Amber folded her arms and pouted, but stayed quiet. Ziva mouthed to Tony. "See what you started."
"I didn't mean to." He mouthed back.
In an uncharacteristic move for her, Ziva tried to appease Amber as she might one of the children. She put her arm awkwardly around her and squeezed. "How about we try and forget all about this morning and start again." She said. At this rare show of solidarity and friendship from Ziva, Amber did the only thing she could under the circumstances. She burst into tears. Ziva's eyes nearly came out of the sockets as she searched Jimmy's face desperately for help. He pulled Amber into a hug and over her head mouthed to Ziva, "Hormones." And smiled.
"Do you want to go and lay down?" Jimmy asked gently. Within the blink of an eye Amber's mood changed back again.
"Why? What am I have supposed to have done now?" she asked aggressively.
"Nothing sweetheart. I thought you were upset, I thought you might like to lie down."
"Well you thought wrong. Stop bossing me around." She said and stormed off the elevator as soon as it stopped. The other three all stood staring at each other.
"What the hell was that?" Tony asked in disbelief.
"Hormones!" Jimmy and Ziva answered together.
"Um.... Zi?" Tony called.
"Yes Tony?"
"The whole baby thing? I think we might adopt like the McBrat family. I don't think I want to risk my life living with a crazy ninja assassin that's pumped up with hormones."
"Tony!"
"Really Ziva she's scary!" Ziva just smiled.
As usual the other couples were waiting on the McGees, who were currently still panting and tangled in their bedsheets.
"Tim checked his watch as he pulled a dozing Abby against his chest. We're gonna have to get up soon Abs. They'll be waiting." He said, not wanting to move himself.
"I know. Five more minutes and I'll jump in the shower." Abby mumbled into Tim's chest. He traced lazy circles on her back as he muttered back sleepily.
"Ten more minutes and we'll have a shower together." Abby chuckled.
"Not a good idea Timmy. We'll never get down there at this rate."
Eventually about an hour later the McGees stepped off the elevator to a round of applause from Tony. "Geez McGee! What were you two doing up there? Wait. Don't answer that." He said cringing. "I mean I know what you were doing, just, why were you doing it for so long!? Ok. That didn't come out right. What I meant was.......OUCH! Thanks Boss. Shutting up now."
Abby sat down carefully with a big smile on her face at Tony's antics while Tim glared at him disapprovingly.
"So Amber." Abby said "What was that all about this morning?"
Amber shrugged. "I was just worried."Abby could see that she needed to talk.
"Maybe all you boys would like to go and have a game of pool or something." Abby said communicating the reason to Tim with her eyes.
"Good idea." Tim said. "Let's move over to the sports bar for a while." The rest of the boys didn't have to be told twice and they all picked up their drinks and left. Tim came back a couple of minutes later with a drink for Abby, which he put in front of her before making a quick getaway.
"Ok Amber. What were you so worried about?" Abby asked.
"I... didn't like that you and Kim got spanked so hard that it left marks." Amber said.
"Amber Tim spanked me hard, because I deserved it and because in a way I wanted him to. It's hard to explain, but it's kind of part of our dynamic."
"Like domestic discipline?" she asked.
"Kind of. But I don't like labels. And there's no contract or anything like that, we're just us. But Amber we're happy. Really happy and when we're not so happy we know how to fix things."
"I know but...." Amber started.
"You're not listening Amber. There ARE no buts. Would I have just been up there with my sore ass doing what I've been doing with the man I adore, by the way,for the last two hours, if I was holding in some kind of resentment? My Grammy used to have a saying: 'you don't fix what ain't broke'."
Although Abby was talking to Amber, the others were listening intently. This didn't escape Abby's notice. "Questions class?" she asked.
"Do you not ever feel like McGee is trying to control you Abby?" Ziva asked.
"Not really. Not in a repressive way. Only in things that damage us and our relationship, like lying and what happened here, with Jess. Stuff like that."
Kim wasn't saying very much but that was because this was all so new to her, but she couldn't disagree with Abby's assessment. This was the happiest she'd been in a relationship, and that included the one with her husband.
"I think I know what you're scared of too." Abby said. "Jimmy's taking control and it's thrown you off kilter a bit. You're not used it."
"I don't know if I want Jimmy to take control. I kind of liked it when he did what I said." She said. Abby was just realising how young Amber really was, and her heart went out to her. She was in her early twenties, going through med school with a baby on the way and a changing dynamic in her relationship, not to mention the hormones. No wonder she was having a mini meltdown.
"So you used to be in control of everything and now you're not in control of anything. Does that about size it up?"
Amber nodded and burst into tears again. Abby gathered her in her arms and comforted her while the others looked on sympathetically. When she had calmed down, Abby went in to Mommy mode.
"I'm really sorry to have to tell you this Amber but you can't stop the changes now. They've already started to happen. I can't tell you how much MY life has changed in the last couple of years, first with Sarah and then with Dyl and Jess, and alot of stuff with Tim and me, but I wouldn't go back for the world. Relax and let Jimmy help you. I know it's old fashioned, but it's nice to have someone else take control sometimes. It gives you time to breath."
"And thank your lucky stars that you are pregnant girl, because when you pushed Jethro in the pool, he would have set your ass on fire right out there by the pool if you hadn't been." Kim said smiling.
"Well I was definitely in the camp for you getting damn good spanking." Abby said.
"Abby!" Amber said shocked.
"Me too!" Ziva added. Kim put her hand up.
"Nice loyalty guys." Amber said. "Anyway Gibbs did spank me."
"Pulease!" Abby said. "Wait until you've had that baby and piss him off and see what happens." She said. Amber grinned.
"I don't think I'm that silly." She said.
Ducky and the kids arrived back at the hotel and went straight upstairs. The girls were happy with their buckets of shells and they took them into their room to sort them. Sarah said that when they got home they'd clean them and let them dry and then next Sunday they could make necklaces.
When Sarah had gotten into the shower, Maddie said to Jess. "We need to get your Mommy's room key."
"Sarah has a spare one in her back pack. I saw Daddy give it to her." Jess said. They quickly rummaged through Sarah's bag and came up with the key. The one to THEIR room was on the dresser. Maddie checked that the water was still running and then she pulled Jess towards the door.
"We have to do it now, it's the only time. Ducky said all the grownups were downstairs. We have to hurry while Sarah's in the shower." She said. Jess looked worried but followed Maddie as she snuck out the door and down the hall. It took them a few goes to figure out how to open the door but after remembering what Sarah did they managed to get in. They were really lucky that Abby had left her Ipod on the dresser. Maddie picked it up and put it in her pocket and they snuck out and back into their own room. By the time Sarah got out of the shower, the girls were back where she left them, playing with their shells.
When all four couples got out of the elevator and headed to their rooms to get changed for dinner, they were surprised to find Tim and Abby's door unlocked. "I locked it, I'm sure I did." Tim said.
"You were behind me but I heard it click." Abby said.
"You better go in and check that nothing's been stolen." Gibbs said. As they did a quick check for all their valuables, they decided that the only thing that was missing was Abby's Ipod.
"Strange." Tim said.
"If this was a crime scene Tim, what would you think?" Gibbs said.
"Kids." He said shaking his head. Not again. He thought. "Which one or ones and how do we prove it?"
"I'd lay low for a while and keep your eyes open." Tony said.
"Wait until dinner. I'll do my scary forensic scientist act." Abby said. "Just wait until I get hold of whoever did it. No one messes with MY Ipod."
The girls were dressed for dinner and wanted to go down to the play room. "I'll take them while you straighten your hair if you like." Zac said.
"Thanks baby, that'd be great." Sarah said. They called into to Ducky's room on the way down and got Dylan. He was happy to be going down to the play room too. Zac promised to play video games with Dyl. When Zac and Dylan were settled playing a game, Maddie told Zac that she needed to go to the bathroom. "Ok. I'll take you ." he said.
"Nooo! Zac. Your a boy. Jess and me can go together. Mommy let's us go as long as we're together." Maddie said convincingly.
"Come straight back then. And don't talk to strangers." He said seriously.
"We won't." they called out together as they ran from the room. The games room was right next to the restaurant and they had to pass through it to get to the bathroom, so they darted through, making sure to pass the fish tank on their way. Maddie passed the Ipod to Jess and waited. Jess looked at Maddie and they both shrugged. Jess dropped the Ipod into the fish tank and they ran back to the games room.
"Good girls." Zac said. "You did exactly as I asked." They both looked at each other and smiled.
Abby and Tim were getting ready and Abby was obviously not happy about her Ipod being swiped, probably by one of their own kids. "Don't worry, we'll get it back." Tim said soothingly.
"You know how much I love my music Timmy. How could he, she, or they, take my music?" she said. "Why can't they just behave for like two minutes?" Tim chuckled.
"I've asked myself that many times." he said giving her a hefty pat on the bottom.
"Hey! Damaged goods here Timmy. Handle with care!" she said.
"Still no sympathy Abs." he said.
"I know." She said.
Tim picked up his cell and rang Sarah. "Hey Sar, are the girls there? We need to talk to them. Abby's Ipod was taken from the dresser........ There wasn't any break in. They used a room key.....Looks like it. Thanks anyway. We'll go down there and see them." He turned to Abby. "The only time she left them alone with the key in her bag was when she was in the shower. They're down in the playroom with Zac. Dylan's there too."
"Let's go." She said. "We'll interrogate all the little devils at once. But I know who my money's on. Let's get Gibbs and Tony on the way. They're both really good at reading people too."
"Great idea." Tim said.
The four adults entered the play room and Gibbs took control to start off. "You three sit." He said sternly. "This afternoon someone broke into Tim and Abby's room and took Abby's Ipod off the dresser." Tony and Tim were both watching all the kids faces. Abby was too upset to concentrate. The fleeting look that passed between Maddie and Jess though was a dead give away. Maddie was probably the ringleader, Tony thought judging from the look of defiance on her face. Surprisingly though, Jess was the first one to speak.
"I know who took it." She said looking sideways..... She's lying, Tim thought. "Dylan. I sawed him." Dylan's face was a study. Tears immediately sprung to his eyes and he looked from one to the other of his parents. Abby knew in her gut that he hadn't done this and she was so angry at Jess, but she wanted to see just how far the little minx was going to take this.
"Tim, Gibbs, Tony, can I see you outside please?" she said. They all filed out leaving Zac holding a crying Dylan and Jess and Maddie holding hands while whispering in the corner.
"It was Jess. Well maybe Maddie and Jess, I'm not sure, but I know it wasn't Dylan. Did you see the look on the poor kids face?"
"I agree. It definitely wasn't Dylan. I think we should play along though and see how far Jess takes this and if her usual accomplice is involved." Gibbs said.
"Well I'm gonna take Dyl outside and explain this to him. I don't want him worrying about us not believing him." Tim said sadly.
"For now I think we tell them that the jury's out until we get the forensic evidence back." Tony said. They all agreed. They went back into the play room and Tim went and retrieved a very upset Dyl from Zac. He bent down and said very softly in his ear. "I believe you." And he took his hand and walked out. Jess's eyes followed him guiltily until he disappeared from sight. Dylan was probably gonna be in big trouble now and it was all her fault.
It was almost time for dinner so Abby took Jess by the hand and went and sat at the table. Gibbs did the same with Maddy. The two little girls were sitting next to each other and it didn't go unnoticed by either Gibbs or Abby that they held hands constantly in some form of solidarity. They also didn't miss the glances that shifted between them. As all the others drifted in and joined them, menu's were passed out and orders taken and drinks delivered. Abby glanced at the fish tank and she did a double take.
"Tim!" she screached. "My Ipod! It's in the fish tank!" Tim jumped up and walked over. Taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeve he put his arm in the tank to retrieve it. Abby had smoke coming out of her ears.
"Abs I'll get you another one." Tim said desperately.
"It's not that Tim, do you know how long it takes to put 10,000 songs on one of those things." She said.
"OK! The jig's up.I know that Dylan didn't steal my Ipod, his fingerprints didn't match. I do have the finger prints of the person or persons who used this key though and I've been down to the hotel lab to get the results. I'm going to count to five and if the person or persons who took my Ipod doesn't stand up I'm going to call the police and let them arrest the suspect or suspects!" Abby bluffed with very loud conviction. The other people in the restaurant were looking at them like they were the entertainment. Or crazy. A little bit of both was probably true. Tony smiled back at them and waved. Welcome to my crazy world he thought. He turned back to enjoy the show. Abby started counting "ONE!... TWO!.... THREE!.... FOUR! ........." Two very scared little girls still holding hands stood up. The table sat in silence for a moment, as did the rest of their now captive audience, while Jess and Maddie shifted from foot to foot.
"Jessica McGee! How could you! Madeline Broadbent,you as well! How could you. Of all the rotten things you could have taken from me. My music?" Abby said. "Why would you do such a thing?" Jess looked extremely uncomfortable.
"I........I......you hugged Dyl real big and you were happy to see him. You love him more."
"That is not true Jess and you know it. This whole pageant was all about you. Dyl got left at home with Ducky and he didn't complain."
"A fate worse than death. I'm sure." Ducky said to Gibbs who covered his mouth to hide a chuckle.
"What's that got to do with you taking my Ipod and dumping it in the fish tank?" she said, trying to hold her patience. Jess and Maddie both started to cry. "Crocodile tears won't help."
Everyone at the table and around the restaurant were amazed at how quickly the tears dried up.
"We wanted you to think that Dylan took it......." Jess looked at Maddie who finished for her.
"And dumped it in the tank." She looked at Gibbs and gave him a nervous smile. You never know. He might have thought it was funny. He didn't.
"Why?" Abby asked incredulously.
"Because then you would be mad at him and spank him and love and cuddle me because I would be the good one." Tim shook his head. This was really wrong. Like really wrong, he knew that, but it amazed him that although Abby didn't actually give birth to this child, she had the same thought processes as her mother. Nobody rationalised bad behaviour like Abby. Except now Jess.
Abby put her hands on her hips. And lowered her face to Jess's. "Well somebody's going to get a spanking and it's not going to be Dylan."
Jess started sniffling. "Mo....m....my?" she said.
"Yes Jess."
"I'm sorry."
"I know." Abby said quietly. "Now eat your 'll talk later."
TBC
