Title: Stop The Bleeding
Summary: Set in episode 13x01 Stop the Bleeding. This is Gibbs-Taft; Gibbs-Charlotte; Charlotte-Gibbs-Taft. Conversations and arguments. Including some free-hand with the 'fruit' and all of the visits from the team. Starting on the air craft carrier and ending in the diner.
Disclaimer: I only own Charlotte, (16-years-old)
A/N: In this story, Charlotte is the same age as Kayla Vance, so if anyone sees Kayla mentioned, that is why – they are the same age, attend the same school and are friends.
Dr. Cyril Taft sighed inwardly as he scrubbed up and continued to talk to Gibbs, mostly to fill the silence. Agent Gibbs wasn't big on responding, he had asked after 'DiNozzo' and Cyril had informed him that his Agent was outside the room, and worried about him.
"Like me, Gibbs, you're blessed to have good people around you. Got any more at home? Kids? Wife?" he asked.
"Ex…wives." Gibbs was able to croak out.
"More than one? So, you're doubly blessed. Which works for me. See, I hate to make threats, but I am about to do everything in my power to make sure you see those exes again." Taft said.
"And…a daughter." Gibbs murmured; an image of Charlotte clear in his mind.
"Oh, ok. How about a promise then instead of a threat? I'll do everything in my power to get you back home to that little girl of yours? Hm? So, you do your part, I'll do mine. Deal?" Taft said.
"I'll buy you a drink when it's done." He said.
"First rounds on me. You look like a bourbon man, Gibbs. Oh, see, I used to know a guy in Upstate New York, Hairy Tony, and every time he did a shot…" Before Taft could finish the machined attached to Gibbs began to scream alarms.
"He's crashing." One of the young nurses said.
"10cc's of epi. Let's put him under and crack him. Time to dance, Agent Gibbs. Mind if I lead?" Taft asked, not expecting a response.
The door of the hospital room opened slowly. Gibbs opened his eyes to see the one face that had been in his dreams while he was here in Walter Reed.
"Charli." He croaked.
"Hey, Daddy. Tim called me; told me you were here. I knew your job was dangerous but this is ridiculous." Charlotte said.
"I'm still here though." He pointed out.
"Yeah, and for that I am thankful. You just get better and then I'm gonna kick your ass for being so damn reckless." She said, helping him sip some water.
"You should thank, Taft." He said.
"Yeah, I did. I saw him as I came in. Told him how thankful I was that he saved you life. He asked me if I was the 'daughter' you mentioned and I said I was. He told me that he expected a little girl. Not a teenager. I laughed and told him that I get that a lot. You must talk about me like I'm a child. Not that I mind." She grinned.
"You talk too much." He said, she laughed – it was true that she talked a lot, Gibbs blamed it on spending time with Tony…or Abby.
"Enough for both of us, right?" Charlotte said.
"Yeah." He agreed.
"Remember, while you're here, after school, I'm going to Kayla's to do some homework. It's easier than going home. You rest, Daddy. Ok? You promise." She said. Gibbs knew that going to Vance's house with Kayla to do homework was the best for Charlotte. She'd have Kayla and Jackie there to keep her company. And Jackie loved Charlotte like her own, had since the girls had met.
"I will, I promise. I love you, Charli." Gibbs said.
"I love you too, Daddy." She kissed his cheek, before retreating.
Tim visited the house after Gibbs was discharged. The door was answered by Charlotte who gave him a bright smile and welcomed him in. It was always good to see her family, whether it was 'big sister' Abby, 'big brother' Tony or even now 'big brother' Tim. Even though Tony was still her favourite 'big brother', Tim wasn't upset he enjoyed having time with Charlotte and even helping her set up Skype on her computer along with helping her with her math homework if she needed it.
"Come on in, Tim. He's in the lounge and grumpy as ever. I had to padlock the basement and hide the key. I don't need him collapsing on the stairs." Charlotte said with a heavy sighed, she hated having to tie her father down but there was no other way to keep him resting.
"I'm with you there, Mini-Gibbs. But isn't he always grumpy?" Tim asked with a wry smile, he knew that Charlotte knew he was joking.
"Sometimes. You just don't see him in a good mood." Charlotte laughed in return. In truth, she hadn't laughed much after her father was hurt, but with Tim joking with her it helped.
"I'll have to look out for it." Tim said, Charlotte laughed again and pushed him towards the lounge.
"Be aware, he'll ask about work." She said, pulling her math text towards her and opening it.
"Thanks. Hey Gibbs. How are you feeling?" Tim asked dropping down in the recliner.
"Hey, Tim, I'm good. So, what can you tell me?" Gibbs asked even as Tim shook his head.
Abby had very nearly broken down the door in her anxiousness to see Gibbs. Charlotte looked out at her through the door. The teen cocked an eyebrow at the over excited woman and then carefully opened the door.
"Abby, remember he's still a little sore, so be careful." Charlotte warned.
"I'm always careful." Abby argued.
"Just don't squeeze him to death." Charlotte said, "I have homework to do. Keep him occupied and quiet for a while, but you can't tell him about work. Nothing at all."
"Copy that, Mini-Gibbs." Abby said with a grin, before Charlotte turned to her and shook her head firmly – Abby should know better.
"Only, Tim can call me that. The same as 'Munchkin' is a Tony thing." Charlotte said, "but you can call me anything else you like." Abby frowned then she nodded understanding that Charlotte's brothers didn't share nicknames.
"So how is he?" Abby asked.
"Stubborn, pig-headed and unaware of his own limitations." Charlotte sighed, opening her psychology textbook.
"Sounds about right. Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs! How are you feeling?" Abby said as she hurried to the couch and dropped down beside her Silver Fox.
"Hey, Abbs. I'm ok. It's good to see you." Gibbs said wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in close.
The fruit baskets were sent to the house. Charlotte was able to make a few of them at least a bit more interesting. But she managed to take a lot of the fruit away before it went bad by taking some to school with her. A banana here and apple there – she had one for each day of the week.
"Thursday – what is it today?" Gibbs asked, sipping his coffee.
"Plum. I might even take two." Charlotte said, putting her sandwiches in her lunchbox.
"So, Thursday is plum – what about the others?" He asked.
"Monday, apple or orange. Tuesday, banana or apricots, Wednesday, figs or peaches. Thursday, plums and Friday is mandarin or pear." She recited.
"You have it all planned out." He laughed, "I should have known you'd be organized."
"Each basket has something different in it, so I have to have options." She told him, matter-of-factly, "and just because you're griping about the fruit doesn't mean I don't like it."
"I just don't understand why they send so many!" He groaned, looking at the four in his kitchen and dining room.
"Fruit baskets are in vogue now, Dad! But I could probably convince one person to send a muffin basket. But you can't send Coffee baskets and you're not really a flowers kind of guy." She grinned, stepping in to kiss his cheek.
"Have a good day at school, Charli." He said.
"I love you, Dad! And rest!" She warned as she stepped outside to greet her current ride to school, Kayla and Director Vance.
The office wasn't as lively as it would be even the other agents were quietly working through their paperwork. But there was something missing from the squad room and Jethro would soon find out why it seemed so very, very quiet.
"And what good is the chest-thumping in the world can't hear it?" Tim was saying as Gibbs approached the two agents at the plasma.
"Ruthless dictators do love an audience." Ellie replied. Tim sensed the presence behind them and turned to see who it was.
"Boss?!" He exclaimed.
"Gibbs! You're back!" Ellie cried giving him a hug.
"I thought we weren't supposed to see you for another few weeks." Tim said shaking his hand.
"Hey, did you ever get that last fruit basket from me and Jake?" Ellie asked.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I got it." Gibbs said, "Where's DiNozzo?" That's why it's so quiet, He supposed.
"Oh. Right. Uh, you wouldn't have heard." Ellie hesitated, "He and Officer Teague are on assignment."
"Boss, I'm sorry. They…they pretty much put us under orders. We're not allowed to talk to you about work while you're recuperating." Tim said.
"Oh, yeah. Well, that made for some riveting home visits. But, uh, no, I'm – I'm back. Yeah. I'm good." Jethro said.
"Let me be the judge of that. Take the elevator." Vance's voice came from above, Gibbs sighed and followed orders going to the back elevator to go up to Vance's office.
Charlotte stared her father down as she stood in the bullpen, hands on her hips and the look on her face was murderous.
"Daddy! You told me you'd rest! This is not resting!" she cried.
"I was bored, Charlotte. I had to do something." He said.
"I'll take the padlock off the basement. I'll do anything to keep you resting at home!" She told him., tears filling her eyes. She'd worn out her welcome at the Vance's and she had to now stay at home. And it was lonely and quiet when her father wasn't there.
"No! No, Charlotte Joan Gibbs – you do not get to order me around! I am your father and you are my child! I make the rules and you do what I say. End of story." He growled.
"Maybe…but I don't want to lose you – because I'm following your damn rules and you aren't!" Charlotte screamed before turning and walking away.
The diner was dim but then at that time of day it would be. Gibbs slid into the booth opposite Cyril as the Doctor chuckled at his appearance. Charlotte – who had entered behind her father took a seat at the counter.
"Hmm, well I'll be damned. The mountain came to Mohammad." Taft said with a grin.
"You can't be surprised." Gibbs replied.
"You cancelled your last two follows up at Walter Reed. And you still owe me that single malt." Taft reminded him.
"Been busy." Gibbs said lifting a bottle of single malt scotch from the seat beside him.
"You know, I do make house calls. I'm not easy to shake. Especially with patients, I find challenging." Taft told him; they ignored the scoff from Charlotte at the counter.
"I'm a challenge?" Gibbs paused for a moment before continuing, "Oh, you know, everybody watching me telling me to take it easy. Afraid I'm gonna break."
"Are you?" Taft asked.
"It hurts. The pain doesn't go away." Gibbs said honestly.
"The leg?" He asked.
"Yeah, all of it." The Agent said.
"Well, going back to work after all you've been though, uh, is ill-advised at best." Taft told him, honestly.
"Yeah, this coming from the guy who keep leaving private practice to work on a ship?" Gibbs teased.
"I do that out of boredom. Which I guess is just a nicer of saying…depression. My, uh, my wife and I lost our son two years ago. Leukemia. Uh, if I wasn't back at it, I'd be nowhere. Literally." Taft said.
"Well, I am glad you're back at it." Gibbs said.
"Are you?" Taft asked.
"Well, what does that mean?" Gibbs asked.
"Mm, just a feeling I get you see, uh, I have two kinds of patients. Uh, those who revere me for saving their lives, uh, and those who despise me for the same reason. Which one are you Gibbs?" Taft posed.
"Things are changing, can't do it alone." Jethro said.
"I've met your team, who says you're alone? And your daughter too, Charlotte? Brilliant mind that girl has." Taft told him.
"Don't worry, Dr. Taft. I'll keep him in line. And if I can't, I know another Doctor who can sedate him if I need him too." Charlotte grinned.