Abigail called Abby to tell her about what happened at The Lucky Bird. From there, they even made arrangements to meet back at Walter Reed. And when Doctor Turner was clued in, she agreed to bring Luna back. Time to face the music.
Ensign Floyd Wheelwright was fading fast.
They met Doctor Sun by her patient's room.
Abigail told her, "We caught the person who killed the ensign's wife."
"Good. That will bring Floyd some relief."
Sun then moved on to Doctor Turner.
"How is Luna now? All better?"
"Luna's fit for discharge, but that is a conversation to be had at NCIS. I'm to make the choices for her until we leave here." the other doctor said. "My director cleared me."
Sun took this in stride. "Alright. Please give Luna to Abigail now."
Luna made happy sounds when she was in Abigail's arms again. She liked her.
Abigail just held her close as they entered Wheelwright's room.
Good thing, too. He looked like a ghost.
Sun spoke gently to her patient as she approached his bedside. "Floyd, your visitors came back. They even brought Luna this time."
"Please bring her here."
Abigail helped Wheelwright to hold his daughter. Doctor Sun even got a discreet snapshot. Everything about this moment was utterly heartbreaking.
Wheelwright looked at his adult visitors again. "Did you…?"
Abigail understood. "Yes. We caught the person who took Tulip's life. They're never getting out."
"Good. Luna will be safe. Make her yours."
Abby didn't hesitate. "We will. That's a promise."
Comforted, the ensign kissed the top of his daughter's head. "I love you. My sweet Luna..."
Ensign Floyd Wheelwright gave one last exhale before quietly passing away.
Abigail removed Luna from Wheelwright's hold. She, Abby, and Luna relocated the hallway.
"It happened?" Turner said sympathetically.
Abby nodded. "Yeah. What happens now?"
"The hospital will handle it. We should talk about Luna back at NCIS."
Doctor Sun joined them before anything more could be said on Turner's proposition.
"We will handle everything now. I'll be in touch when funeral arrangements have been made." she pressed a business card into Abby's palm. "Thank you for coming when you did. My patient was able to receive closure."
"Least we could do." Abby told her.
"Is it alright if we leave?" Turner asked Sun. "Other matters need to be taken care of, elsewhere."
Sun read the situation. "Yes, of course. Feel free."
Gibbs emerged from the elevator first at HQ. Instead of going to his desk to begin his post-case report, he immediately took a detour towards the big picture window. He had a visitor.
Hollis. But what was she doing here? At this time?
She greeted him warmly when he joined her. "Hey, Leroy."
"Hey, yourself. What's up? Did I forget something?"
Hollis pulled an item from her purse and held it up for him. She had his wallet.
Gibbs grew amused. "Woah. Didn't even miss it. Where'd you find this?"
"Our son has very sticky fingers." Hollis tucked the item into Gibbs' inside jacket pocket. "Found it in his backpack when I brought him to his classroom. He wanted to use your wallet for show-and-tell."
"I admire that creativity, but I think we should find a way to channel it."
Hollis nodded. "For sure. Cooper will need to learn about the joys of entertaining himself once his little sibling arrives."
Gibbs' and Hollis' efforts in the bedroom had miraculously paid off. Cooper was being promoted to the role of 'big brother.' But even he was unaware. A time for sharing had yet to arise.
"Did Cooper think of a solution?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes. He remembered that the toy elephant you gave him was in his backpack and chose on his own to use it." Hollis grinned as she remembered the conversation. "By the way, Cooper said to tell you sorry and that he'll remember to ask next time."
"Sticky fingers but apologetic. Now there's a fun combo for a toddler. Has he always felt things deeply?"
"Mhm. Cooper Jethro once had a full-blown meltdown after accidentally uprooting a daisy, but in his defense, he'd had a long-ass day with his cousins. It was bad."
Gibbs laughed. "And that's life with kids around."
Meanwhile, from across the floor and up a level, Director Vance could be seen surveying things on the catwalk. No one thought twice about it. He liked watching over his agents.
But today he was at his perch for a different reason.
Calling out after a few more moments of watching them, he said, "Gibbs! Up here! Conference room!"
Gibbs began shuffling away. Immediately, Hollis pointed to herself as she looked up at her friend. Vance nodded. Hollis immediately hurried after her beau.
Keeping those two apart during a case was impossible if Hollis was nearby.
Vance retreated back to where his own guests were waiting and escorted them to the next area.
Not so many feet away behind a closed door, Abby and Abigail sat together at the conference room. Both of them were feeling somewhat shocked.
Tulip Wheelwright was dead.
Floyd Wheelwright was dead.
Luna was truly all they had left. She was orphaned now.
Yet her father's literal dying wish had been that Abby and Abigail take her in because they had rescued her.
But they were also shocked because they had actually daydreamed about a Luna Irene crashing into their lives. Now she was here. And only some odd days later.
What broke them was that Luna had crossed their paths because of her parents' deaths. Neither Abigail was sure if they'd be able to reconcile with that any time soon.
What a way to start this new journey.
Doctor Turner broke their spell by setting a fully-stocked diaper bag on the table.
"One of the nurses at my hospital put this together for Luna. It has enough to tide her over until you can get what you need for her." she said. "I added the stuffed giraffe."
Abby gave Turner a grateful smile. "Thanks. You're very kind."
"My mom hat is just never off." Turner admitted. "I've got five kids: Roman, Amelia, Bellamy, Jaxton, and Violet."
"How old are they?"
"Roman and Amelia are in their twenties, Bellamy is twelve, and Jaxton and Violet are three. Cooper Mann is their best friend. It's adorable." Turner pointed to her rounded middle. "Zara is in here. She'll be here in a little under three months."
Abby was amazed by all of that. "Wow. Congratulations."
The moment was then cut off by a text from Vance. He'd already brought them to the conference room and asked them to wait for him.
We'll be there soon, the message said.
Copy that, Abby sent in return.
But she had no sooner put her phone away again when the conference room door opened.
Abby didn't recognize the first two people. But Gibbs walked in after them, along with... Hollis? Bringing up the rear was Vance. He wore his famous 'I have an agenda' expression.
Abigail had quite a turn at recognizing one person in particular. "Ahva? What are you doing here?"
Director Ahva Colfax was Abigail's director at the Coast Guard Investigative Service building... and her foremost boss.
"Leon invited me over. Said I wouldn't want to miss this one. Turns out he was right." Colfax gently pushed Abigail back into her seat when she tried to stand. "Easy does it. You don't have rise for me at the moment. Don't want to disturb your little gem."
Luna was curiously calm. She was happy to watch everyone.
Colfax then turned to the other person standing close to them and put a hand out. "Abby Sciuto, we meet at last. I've been reading your published papers for years."
"Really? Thanks." Abby shook hands with Abigail's boss. "Don't hear that every day. It's very good to meet you, m'am."
"Please call me Ahva." the other woman winked.
"Okay! I can do that!"
Nearby, Hollis arched an eyebrow at Turner. "Stella, what…?"
"I could ask you the same." Turner said to her friend.
Vance held his hands in a time-out position as he watched them. "You two know each other?"
Hollis responded, "We served together. Stella was a field doctor. She patched up my wounds many times."
"And your relationship now?" furthered Vance.
"We're best friends." the women chimed in perfect unison.
"Let me guess, Turner—you've been on an adventure with my people? Before today?"
"Guilty." she said. "It was I who looked after the Van Dekkers."
Vance shook his head in wonder. "Incredible. My world just keeps getting smaller every day."
Hollis finally answered Turner's question. "I'm here because I brought Jethro an item of his that had been misplaced. As I'm sure you can recall, I've also participated in many an adventure with these people."
"Oh, yes. 'Many' is definitely the operative word." Turner deadpanned.
As the pair continued to chat, Vance extracted himself out of the conversation.
Chaplin Kiley sidled over to him. "You were correct. Nothing is ever quiet here, director. They are certainly a cast of characters."
"For as long as I've known them, and this isn't even everybody. I cherish every moment." said Vance. "And… I must admit… Doctor Turner makes a nice addition. Colfax, too."
"Wonderful. Perhaps you could call things to order?"
Kiley's words were so direct that Vance actually straightened up a tad.
"Please have a seat wherever you like, chaplin."
She chose a seat on the other side of the table. Facing everyone at once would be best.
Vance cleared his throat loudly. Both Abigails, Colfax, Turner, Hollis, and Gibbs quieted immediately.
"Have a seat." he told them. "Time to settle the affairs of our littlest houseguest."
Everyone quickly found a spot at the long table. And on instinct, Vance opened the main door. Unceremoniously fast. Tony, McGee, and Ziva could be seen, suddenly working on their balance. It appeared they had been trying to listen in from the other side.
Vance waved them in. "Anyone else with you?"
Tony shook his head. "Nope. It's just us."
McGee added, "We will watch."
Ziva parked herself at the table by the window. "Do not mind us."
Amused but satisfied, Vance took the finally took the seat a far end of the table.
Every eye then fell to Chaplin Kiley.
"I work at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where Ensign Wheelwright resided. One of my official duties is to officiate the wills of service people who pass away. Has everything been put to bed?"
"Yes." Abby told her. "We were able to bring closure to the ensign."
Abigail added, "He was also able to have a moment with Luna. His last word was her name."
Kiley sighed. "How terribly sad. It's also my understanding that Ensign Wheelwright asked something of you and Miss Sciuto?"
Abigail nodded. "Yes, chaplin. He must have made the leap on his own that Abby and I are a couple because he asked us to be Luna's caretakers. Permanently."
"Doctor Sun helped Ensign Wheelwright compose his final wishes after you two left. Now I'm here to officiate matters." Kiley went on. "When I contacted Director Vance about wanting to read the will, he invited me here to wait. Said you wouldn't be long in arriving."
"Who all did Wheelwright name in his will?"
Chaplin Kiley laid open a file from her briefcase and checked. "You, as well as Miss Sciuto, and even Luna herself."
The chaplin looked up to see that she had everyone's attention. So she began to read aloud from the official papers.
Luna was the only surviving member of the D.C. Wheelwrights. Her father had seen to it that she was left his and Tulip's best valuables. What money they had in the bank. Safe deposit box items. Everything Luna would need to have a successful financial future.
The Abigails were also named as Luna's official permanent parents on the sole condition that she be told at some point in her life where she came from. But this was definitely a wish that could be abided by.
Gibbs and Hollis even volunteered to sign where witnesses were needed.
Chaplin Kiley spoke when everything was done. "I am now proud to present to all of you our dearly beloved Luna Irene Sciuto."
Rather than clap because they didn't want to frighten Luna, everybody congratulated her mothers. And then they dispersed. Time to let the new family be. For awhile.
Abby spoke again after Chaplin Kiley had also taken her leave.
"Abigail, we have a baby." she said in daze. "Let's try not to will anything else into the universe for awhile. I've more than hit my quota."
"Same..."
Abigail had gotten distracted by a text. She answered it swiftly.
"Who was that?" Abby asked when her girlfriend's attention was free again.
"Colfax. She just gave me time off so we can get Luna settled." Abigail put her phone away. "I bet Leon will do the same."
"He will."
Abby took Luna for herself and hugged her. Luna laughed.
"Why don't you find a hat for our little miss to wear? Then we can bust her out of this joint. Maybe even grab a meal with Bethel, Zelda, and Hennie?"
"Sounds good to me." Abigail decided. "They should meet Luna ASAP."
From here, Abigail proceeded to look through Luna's bag for a hat. She even talked to herself. It was almost funny.
So Abby turned her focus on Luna, cradling her with one arm and freeing the other.
"Hi, Lu-love." Abby spoke and signed simultaneously to her. "I love you."
The baby grew focused on on Abby's free hand. She'd noticed the signing motions.
"You have a great big family of people who are going to adore you." Abby whispered. "Trust me on that."
Nearby, Abigail continued to look through the diaper bag. It seemed she was wholly absorbed in the task.
"That's mommy, over there." Abby told Luna. "She loves you as much as I do. We're even going to get married. You're going to need a fun dress..."
Luna continued to focus on the signing. Her new mother's motions were fascinating to take in.
Abby's heart filled up with love just from Luna's affectionate gaze. This was her daughter.
A person she would have missed, had she not turned up on Abigail's doorstep when she did.
Her life made sense with her.
Of course Abby was absolutely sorry that Luna had come into their lives for a terrible reason, but... she would do everything in her power to give her little girl the best life possible now.
It was time for Luna's new start.
