Chapter 10- The new rule 12

For as long as Rory could remember she went to church on a Sunday morning. It had started when she was younger, she had gone with her mom and her pop pop, her mom always used to say it was her pop pops way of showing people that he wasn't ashamed his daughter had gotten pregnant out of wedlock and didn't quite know who the father was, God loved regardless. After his death her mom refused to go to church so Noemi used to take her, the only time her mother stepped foot in a church after that day was back when she had been a probie at NCIS. Rory never really understood why her mom had wanted to go to church that day until years later where she discovered she was feeling guilty for doing some questionable things with her married boss, fair enough.

This Sunday was different thought, this Sunday was the first day she was going to church with her dad. Her mom and dad had been fighting so much recently that they had both been making a lot more effort with her when they saw how much their arguing was beginning to affect her.

Gibbs sat in his tan suit and fidgeted in the pew, it made Rory laugh, her dad never fidgeted. "Are you sure you don't want to go to your usual church Ror?" Her dad asked her, and she chuckled a little at that.

"Dad Noemi takes me to church with her on a Sunday." Her dad gave her a so look, he really was clueless. "Dad the service is in Spanish." He opened his mouth in an 'o' shape and nodded turning attention back to the front where the service was going to begin.

Gibbs had been to church before, in fact this was the church that he had attended with Shannon and Kelly every Sunday before they had passed. It hadn't been an easy thing for him to do this, but he knew how much her faith meant to Rory, it was something she clung to in times of stress and upheaval, something she had experienced a lot on her 14 years on this planet.

Gibbs could feel his phone vibrating in his pocket as the service ended, Rory was chatting to some ladies when he felt someone tap him on the back, "it's good to see you here again Gunny." The priest said and Gibbs smiled at him, he had known him for a while, he had tried to help when Shannon and Kelly had died but Gibbs couldn't face it.

"It's good to see you too father," Gibbs said.

"It's been a long time, what brought you back?" The priest asked curiously, Gunny Gibbs was someone he thought he would never see again.

"My daughter," Gibbs beckoned to Rory, "Father this is my Daughter Aurora Joy Shepard-Gibbs."

Rory extended her hand to shake the priests, "I prefer Rory, the rest is a mouthful." Father Paul laughed at that.

"Can't be worse than your dads." Gibbs stepped out of the church to take a phone call. "It is really nice to see him back here, It's been so long, after their deaths I figured I would never see your dad again." Rory tried to hide the confusion on her face and just nodded, she wasn't sure what Father Paul was talking about, but she was intrigued to find out. "So nice to know he moved on and met someone to have another child with." Rory felt like she had been slapped across the face, another child. Did her dad have a kid? Something to ask her mom.

"I am very lucky to have such an amazing dad." Rory turned to see her dad indicating they had to leave, "thank you for a wonderful service father but it seems we have to leave."

"Will I see you next Sunday?" He asked curiously and Rory smiled.

"I switch off weekends with my mom and dad so probably in 2 weeks." Rory headed off in the direction of her dads truck and Father Pal sighed, he knew all about the Gunny's divorces but hoped this relationship may have been different.

Rory and Gibbs stepped off the elevator and Rory was intrigued by the situation that was evolving in front of her, it was if Tony and Ziva were flirting? Rory knew there was something there, she wasn't stupid, and Abby had shown her some of the clips from their undercover assignment. Rory liked Ziva, she had known her for so long, but she had never really seen her happy. She had seen her with different guys but never in love. It was that moment that Rory decided she would have to have a talk with Tony.

"Hey Rory." Tony said and they did their handshake, "what brings you here on this fabulous Sunday?"

Rory gave him the isn't it obvious look, "I was with Dad when dispatch phoned and there wasn't really time to send me home."

Tony nodded and looked at Rory in her dress and Gibbs in his suit, "That's a nice suit Boss," Tony said. "Didn't get married again, did ya?" He asked curiously, it wouldn't surprise him if his boss went off and got married, again.

Gibbs glared at him and Rory rolled her eyes, "no he didn't Tony, I really do not need another step mother." Rory said and Tony laughed.

"So, Rory how many step mothers do you have because I know he's been married 3 times but-" Tony was cut off by the smack to the back of his head. "Shutting up now boss, I remember no annoying Rory," he turned to Rory, "my bad."

Gibbs gave Rory a pointed look and she rolled her eyes, "I will go wait in moms office, if you haven't found her by 2 I'll phone mom see if she will come take me for lunch." Gibbs gave his daughter a small kiss on the cheek as she made her way up to the comfort of her moms office. Her plan was to kick back and watch something on the TV, Rory assumed her mother had more channels than just CNN.

At 1400 hours Rory made her way down the stairs to see that only Tony was in the bullpen. She plopped herself down on Ziva's chair and smiled at her dads senior field agent. "Where is everyone?" Rory asked out of curiosity, her dad hadn't said he was leaving the building.

"Ziva and Gib- your dad are following up on a lead and McGee is down in the lab helping Abby." Rory frowned a little but nodded.

"So, speaking of Ziva." Rory said as she got up and perched herself on the edge of Tony's desk.

"I wasn't aware we were." He retorted and Rory waved a hand as to say semantics.

"When are you going to ask her out?" She asked and raised an eyebrow. Tony's face went a slight shade of red before he contained himself.

"Can't do that kid, rule 12. I mean not that I would even want to or anything, but I can't nope rule 12."

Rory tilted her head confused, "what does never date a lawyer have to do with Ziva?"

Tony smirked "Ah mini Gibbs you have your rules mixed up, rule number 13 is never involve Lawyers, but rule numero 12 is never date a co-worker." Rory pushed herself off on the desk and took a steady breath, her dad had changed his famous rules.

Biting her lip, she turned to Tony, "Tony don't mention that to mom, ever." She said harshly and Tony looked at her confused. "Tony when I was growing up Rule 12 was never date a lawyer."

"But why would he change, oh" Tony said coming to the realisation as to why his boss had changed his famous ruled, because of whatever happened with one Director Jennifer Shepard all of those years ago.

Rory nodded sadly and toyed with her charm bracelet, "just remember Tony rule 51 supersedes all of the other rules." Rory said walking off in the direction of Abby's lab.

"What is rule 51?" He shouted after him and Rory laughed.

"You'll find out in your own time." Rory hollered back as the elevator doors closed.

Rory was sat with her dad by the fire eating grilled steak. Her dad had a pretty tough case because it involved a paedophile and her dad had wanted to kill him. He wasn't really talking just sitting there and grunting every now and then as an acknowledgement to something she said. He had given her lots of hugs throughout the day.

"So, rule 12 huh." Rory said and Gibbs chocked on her mouthful of steak.

"Yours or the teams?" He asked gruffly.

"The new rule 12 for your team." Rory said sassily and Gibbs stared at her and rubbed his jaw for a moment.

"How did you hear about it?"

"That really how we are going to play this one dad?" Rory questioned and Gibbs just stared. Rory rolled her eyes, "fine I was telling Tony to ask out Ziva and he said he couldn't because of rule 12, long story short he told me he couldn't because of rule 12. Imagine my surprise when it's no longer about dating lawyers." Rory stood up and began to pace while she ranted, pacing was her thing.

"Relationship between team mates don't work." Gibbs said gruffly and Rory stopped in her tracks.

"So, you regret mom?" Rory questioned and Gibbs didn't know how to answer.

"No." He settled on.

"Then you have no right to dictate anyone else's love life, let them figure it out for themselves!" Rory yelled.

"Is this really about you wanting Tony and Ziva to date?" Gibbs questioned knowing full well that sometimes women deflect their feelings onto something else to hide their true intentions. He'd been married to and dated enough woman to know that.

"No, it's about the fact that if mom ever finds out about this it will tear her a part! And I cannot constantly pick up the pieces of broken hearts that you two leave whenever you both fight." Rory started pacing again. "Do you know how much it hurts me to constantly listen to the fighting, the name calling and the digs! It hurts me too much." Rory turned towards the stairs. "Thanks for dinner dad but I need some alone time, I'm going to bed." Rory said and she headed up to her room the tears streaming down his face.

Gibbs put his head in his hands. He had messed up, Jen had messed up and now their daughter was suffering, and he didn't know how to fix it, or even if it was possible to do so.