Career Counseling
Whether they admitted it or not, working at Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) exacted a toll on Abby Scuito, Tony Dinozzo, and Leroy Jethro Gibbs, both with its physical expectations and through its emotional demands. Despite that toll, however, all three excelled in their positions as forensic scientist, senior field agent, and team leader and displayed a loyalty to the Agency that bonded them at work and at home.
Though technically Jethro's residence, Abby and Tony had assimilated themselves into his home over time until they finally settled there as permanent houseguests. Despite weeks of their presence rolling into months at the House of Gibbs, Jethro routinely denied that the three of them operated as a pseudo family.
No one relevant to the situation gave credence to his disclaimers. He could grumble and disagree all he liked, but the fact remained that he maintained a paternal watch over Abby and Tony.
The House of Gibbs always welcomed Jackson Gibbs as a visitor when he travelled to D.C. from his own home in Stillwater, Pennsylvania. Though not legally related, both Abby and Tony considered the garrulous elderly man a grandfather, and even if Jethro Gibbs generally kept his feelings close to his vest, anyone could divine he enjoyed his father's visits, also. When he visited Jack exhibited a penchant for discerning just what they all needed at the moment whether they recognized it or not. Sometimes he relied on home baked goodies- which they devoured with gusto- to add a comforting touch. At others he initiated activities which offered the three a chance to relax. Still once in a while he introduced some type of verbal or board game, allowing them all the opportunity to play together.
The team had just solved a kidnapping case that had covered two months of intense investigations and ended with three Marines charged with kidnapping, meth dealing, and law enforcement impersonation. Jack's visit provided a breath of fresh air for the exhausted trio.
The first night he arrived Jack commandeered the kitchen to prepare a special dinner and served savory pot roast for Tony's benefit, golden corn bread for Abby's, and buttery blueberry crumble for Jethro's.
Jack waited until the group began to eat their second helpings of dessert before proposing a game featuring workforce predictions.
"Say what?" Abby questioned.
Jethro rose to pour another cup of coffee from a freshly brewed pot. "Explain the rules to us, Dad."
"Easy, actually," Jack assured them. "We each recommend jobs we think would suit each other. So for example, I would tell you, Son, and Abby, and Tony, ideas. Tony would do the same for you, and Abby, and me."
"We already have jobs," Jethro reminded him as he hunkered into his seat again, balancing the cup of coffee mid air while he did so.
Tony added another scoop of blueberry crumble to his plate. "I get it, Jack. You mean you want us to think hypothetically."
"I'll go first then," Jethro announced.
Jack grinned, "Glad you hopped on board, Son, and I will follow you."
"Third," Abby chirped with a gleeful look at Tony. "That puts you last."
Dramatically scooping a forkful of the blueberry crumble from his plate and juggling the fork to trap the oozing goodness, Tony replied with a nonchalant tone. "Do you think that bothers me?"
Quick to sense an argument initiating between the two, Jethro barked, "Hey! One of you jump up and grab that notepad by the phone. Bring us four pencils, also."
Abby volunteered and collected her plate and silverware as she rose. "I'll do it since I'm not busy eating my third helping of blueberry crumble."
"Leave him alone," Jack chided. "I like to see Tony enjoying what I have cooked for all of you."
Tony snared the opportunity to stick his tongue out at her before rising and stretching. He patted his stomach and thanked Jack for the meal then began clearing dishes from the table and stacking them at the sink.
Jethro wiped down the kitchen table once Tony cleared it and Jack topped Abby and Tony's glasses with more sweet tea.
Jethro refilled his coffee mug and located the reading glasses in his shirt pocket.
Once Abby returned and passed out the requested supplies Jack directed them to decide on different jobs for each other and to include their reasoning for the suggestions. He set the kitchen timer for five minutes and when it dinged he gave the signal to start the game.
Gibbs slid his glasses to the tip of his nose. "Since I won first, I believe I will begin with you, Dad," Jethro commenced. His blues eyes mirrored his father's own, and Jack smiled at his son's appraisal. "You would ace an appointment or an election to Mayor of Stillwater. Not only do you know the town, but you have spent decades working and socializing within the population. The townspeople respect you."
Abby's face lit at the idea. "Jack, Jack, Jack, Gibbs has your number with working as mayor. You quote facts and figures about Stillwater to us all the time without having to research them. Plus, you have familiarized yourself with its historical background and can explain its geography."
"Besides that," Tony added eagerly, "Jack, anytime you discuss Stillwater with me you speak of the area positively and always highlight its best aspects. You recount stories of neighbors reaching out to help each other and describe community activities."
Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Appreciate the political faith you three have in me but I have to admit the idea of mayor never crossed my mind."
"It should, though, Dad." Gibbs reiterated. "Stillwater would benefit from someone who loves it the way you do."
Jethro turned his attention to his Senior Field Agent then. "As for you, Tony…"
At Jethro's serious expression the others laughed and Abby punched Tony playfully in the arm.
"I did not give permission for all of you to fall apart," Jethro lectured in a tone of mock annoyance. "Tony, look at me."
Tony sat up straight in his chair and faced his Boss. "Yes sir, front and center."
"If NCIS ends up not working for you, I recommend you consider a new career as a musician."
"Spot on with that one, Gibbs!" Abby interjected, grabbing her tea glass and adding it to the dishes at the sink.
Jethro continued with his rationale. "A musician, and I say that because I can vouch that you appreciate jazz on a level above all of us average folks. You value the artists and the music they play and have a thorough understanding of jazz greats. Furthermore, besides your jazz connoisseurship, you always take the lead singing any office Christmas songs."
Abby injected, "You mean Christmas carols, Gibbs."
"Add my vote to Leroy's," Jackson directed. "Tony, you play the piano beautifully and have brightened up more than one of my days when you have shared your piano prowess with an old man."
"Not only does he possess mad piano skills, but he mastered the guitar long before he joined NCIS." Abby leaned over to pat Tony's hand. "Lots of times when we go out with friends they'll make him jam with them because of his super dooper talent."
Jack rolled a button on his cardigan between his fingers as he regarded the younger man. "I think you could earn a second income as a musician, don't you think?"
If anything, Tony appeared a bit embarrassed at the idea. He shook his head. "Thanks for the idea but apparently my confidence in my musical expertise falls way short of yours."
"Well think about it," Gibbs advised, his steely blue eyes meeting Tony's emerald green ones. He leaned across the table and affectionately ruffled his protégé's hair.
Abby bounced from side to side in her chair. "My turn, my turn!"
"Nope," Gibbs contradicted, "still mine."
Her pigtails jiggled. "I know that. I meant you talk about me now."
Jethro raised his eyebrows. "Is that so. Hmmm….let me reflect on you a second." He turned to regard her excited expression and couldn't stifle a grin. "Ok, Abby, you know I recognize your incredible talent in forensics and hope you'll never leave the Agency. However, if you ever want a replacement job, open your own doggy day care business."
Tony clapped enthusiastically.
"I love it!" Abby beamed. "I really do!"
"So you understand why I find that a good selection for you. You already spend more time volunteering at the animal shelter than any other volunteer caretaker. The shelter even presented you with that plaque as the most dedicated volunteer. Wasn't that last year when they awarded her the plaque, Tony?"
"Indeed," Tony confirmed. "And your way with canines truly impresses me. You just have this knack with animals. Besides that, though, your fondness for cats nearly rivals that of dogs. I can prove how besotted you are with them by all those cat videos you force me to watch."
Jack leaned over and tugged playfully at one of Abby's pigtails. "She does tend to mother stray animals. Somehow they manage to gravitate to my place any time they sense she's visiting Stillwater."
"Same here," Jethro nodded.
Tony added, "I can envision the building in my mind now- in neon lights- Abby's Day Care for Doggies, Kitties, and Strays. She'll have a huge house for the animals to roam and a big fenced yard with equipment so they can play."
Abby beamed at the idea. "Which one of you will finance me? You know I don't make that much with a government job so someone will have to invest with upfront costs."
"Broke," Tony replied immediately.
Gibbs pursed his lips. "Now you'll appreciate why I tell you to save a portion of your check each month, young lady."
"You will make a fine businesswoman, Miss Abigail," Jack assured her. He peered through his glasses to regard his piece of paper before continuing. "Now Leroy has finished his predictions so all of you will now benefit from the wisdom of mine." Jack's eyes twinkled as he contemplated each member of his audience. "Let me begin with Abby since she's currently the main focus." Jack turned his chair so that he could face her. "In the back of my mind I have always envisioned you as a clothes designer, Honey. You possess such flair and such adventure when it comes to your outfits."
"She pays homage to all clothing styles, Dad," Gibbs concurred. "Abby will show up in a poodle skirt from the fifties or in a mini skirt from the seventies and manage to look like a fashion model hired from either era."
Tony pointed animatedly from Abby's skirt, to which she had attached diamond shaped rickrack and multi colored drapery tassels, to her black combat boots laced with braided yarn. "True, plus Abby treats clothing as her personal art medium. She realizes innately how to select shoes. In fact, she melds her footwear with her clothes for outstanding effects."
"I do, don't I?" Abby acceded.
"You do," Tony confirmed. "But you have acquired this sixth sense of scrupulously matching your clothing with the craziest array of accessories to make your outfits rock, Baby Girl."
The assessment genuinely pleased Abby. "Thank you, Tony. Thank all of you for that. I will treasure those comments."
"I find it sweet that you callAbby Baby Girl as a nickname," Jackinformed Tony. "I like it."
"I do too," Jethro admitted, "and I especially like it better than when they fight with each other and hurl insults."
Tony rubbed his lips with his finger. "As you know, I never had siblings. Abby's the closest person I have to a little sister, and even if sisters annoy and irritate you they deserve nice nicknames."
Tony winked slyly and Abby blew him a kiss.
"Next," Jack announced, repositioning his chair so that he faced Jethro. "Let me address the son I recognize could have made a living as a professional football player. People generally misjudge my thinking as conservative. Some of it may be, but I guarantee Leroy could have chosen professional sports and done as well with that as he did with careers in the Marines or NCIS." Jack turned to face Abby and Tony. "Did he ever tell you how the scouts swarmed him in high school? He had 'em coming from as far away as California."
Abby tilted her head and studied Jethro's chiseled features. "That solves why he keeps a beaten up old football in the bottom drawer of his desk. I guess it also explains why he never fails to throw the ball with any kid who comes to the Agency."
"Bet you could still do it, Boss," Tony assured him. "You have certainly maintained your physical strength and you stay in good shape even at you advanced age." Tony grinned mischievously at his age reference.
"My knee," Jethro reminded him before tipping his cup for a swallow of coffee.
Tony frowned. "I forgot about your knee. So your knee sidelined you from college ball and pro ball?"
"No, not his knee," Jack clarified. "He joined the Marines after high school and his football skills were not prerequisites of sniper training."
"Did you make the right decision, though?" Abby inquired softly.
Jethro cleared his throat. "I did."
A look of sorrow crossed Jack's face as he regarded his son's expression. He murmured, "Yes, you did choose the right path, Son."