The sun is hanging low in the sky by the time the two cars pull into the drive. Kate clambers out of her position in the passenger seat of the front car as soon as possible - the vehicle is practically still moving but she refuses to listen to the boys bickering any more. She was initially floored by Gibbs' offer to take the children in as a temporary measure - where else are they going to go?, had been the beginning and end of his point. But she watches him guide the little girl with pigtails and combat boots up the steps to the front door, and something shifts in her chest. She's worked with the man for a long time, and he has always known exactly what he's doing. This can be no different.
"Come on, man."
She turns at Tony's voice. Tim and Jimmy are still in the car, the latter kind of freaking out. "We're not in trouble like before." He tries again, marginally more tactful. Tim glares at him.
"What he means, Jimmy," He amends, taking the younger boy by the shoulder. "Is that we were never in trouble - we just got confused, ok?"
Jimmy shakes his head furiously.
"You did a really good job talking to those agents earlier." Tony attempts. "And I know it was scary, but the hard part is over. Why don't we go inside and take a look at your new room?"
At this, the boy wipes his eyes, looks around again like he hadn't even seen the house before. Tony reaches out a hand and, after a minute, Jimmy takes it and climbs out of the car on wobbly legs. Tim follows, scooping little Sarah into his arms as they pass her, and then join Ellie as they approach the house. Kate trails behind, ready for them to bolt. That Tony has been nothing but a pain in her neck so far, innocent or otherwise.
...
"You kids happy to share?" Gibbs is asking, but Ellie can't summon enough focus right now to answer. They've shared beds before, having two rooms between the six of them is - well, it's awesome. The house is a bit empty, she'll be the first to admit; there are no family photos, no flowers or paintings. But it's warm, and there are big windows and no pests or rodents that she can see. Tony is saying something. Agent Gibbs doesn't reply, but Agent Todd rolls her eyes. Ellie doesn't like her very much. Her stomach grumbles, bringing her back to the present.
"I'll let you all settle in." Gibbs says, glancing over at her. "Need to get some food started anyhow."
She blushes, but can't say she isn't relieved when he leaves. They split boys and girls, and she shepherds Abby and Ellie into the first spare bedroom, lugging her backpack along with them. Jimmy's things had been taken in as evidence, since he'd had them on him, but the rest of them had been given their bags back, and therefore their clothes and books with them. Ellie even has her cheap cell phone tucked in her back pocket, and Tim his.
"Isn't this fun?" Abby puts her index and middle finger to her nose and then brings them down to meet the same two fingers on her other hand absent mindedly as she chitters. She starts pulling back duvets and testing mattresses. There's a double and a single in here, but they'll probably all sleep in just the one. "It's like a fancy hotel."
"Don't get too attached." Ellie murmurs (Agent Todd is keeping watch in the hall outside), but she can't help but smile too.
"Where's Timmy?" Sarah takes her hand out of her mouth to ask.
"He's just next door." Ellie reassures. "In the boys room!" She injects as much excitement as she can into that statement, but it falls flat. Sarah doesn't seem to mind - she opens the closet briefly, before losing interest and dropping to crawl under a dusty desk in the corner. Sarah sinks onto the double bed beside Abby. It is comfy.
"How long do you think we're gonna stay here?" Abby asks her quietly.
"I don't know, Abs. Not too long."
"But we're not getting split up after, right? We can keep with Tony and everyone?"
"Of course." Ellie clenches her fist, not angry but some other undefinable, fiery emotion. "We'll stay together." And even as she says it, she knows it's true.
...
Jimmy likes dinnertime. It's usually his favourite time, although today might be an exception because it's different and scary. He still likes it though, because he can see everyone and knows that they're happy; Ellie most of all. Tony is keeping watch too - he can see how he keeps checking the windows and doors with quick glances - so he knows they're safe.
"This is good mashed potato, Agent Gibbs." Ellie says for the third time through a mouthful.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth, Little Miss Hungry." Tony admonishes playfully as he takes a bite of steak.
"You're literally eating right now." Tim protests.
"Yeah well I'm allowed, cos I'm the oldest." Tony fires back on instinct, but they all glance to Gibbs as they process what he's said.
"Don't let me interrupt the pecking order." He shrugs. "And it's just Gibbs; no 'agent' needed."
"Yessir." Tim nods.
"No need for that either." Gibbs smiles and Tim flushes. Tony smirks and Ellie kicks him under the table.
"My friend Dr Mallard is going to be visiting tomorrow, to make sure you're all healthy." He continues. "He didn't want to overwhelm you, but I told him how brave you are and he decided it'd be ok."
Tony knows the words are empty but he senses the others glowing with badly disguised pride.
"Mallard like the duck?" Ellie pipes up.
"That's right - that's why we call him Ducky."
Abby giggles.
"Why wouldn't we be healthy?" Tony frowns.
"Well, when was the last time you ate? Before we found you that is. And do you get sick a lot?" Gibbs' expression is perfectly neutral, but Tony understands the implication behind the words.
"Hey, they get plenty of food! And we get shots where we can, at clinics and stores."
"I wasn't accusing you of anything kid. I'm sure you did the best that you could under the circumstances."
Tony's about to retort that he'd like to see him do any better, raising five runaways on the streets, but Tim cuts in.
"I have been worried about Sarah's weight." He says quietly, like the traitor he is.
"She's four, she's supposed to be small!"
"Tony!" Ellie snaps.
"Tiny Sarah!" Sarah squeaks, waving greens beans around on the end of her fork.
"Maybe Mr Ducky can take a look at my wobbly tooth!" Abby exclaims, eyes wide. Tony's eyes widen too, and he looks again to Gibbs defensively.
"Ok fine." He huffs, looking for all the world like he just wants them all to shut up.
"Thanks Tony." Tim smiles. There's a lull in the conversation as they finish eating.
"Yummy!" Sarah hums and Jimmy even cracks a small smile.
"Do you need any help with the dishes?" Ellie asks brightly.
...
That evening, after the kids have all gone up to bed, Gibbs thinks on what he heard. Tim asks for permission, despite his state of almost permanent annoyance with Tony. Tony seems to value Tim's opinion as an equal, despite considering him a child. Ellie knows what they need, and doesn't seem to have the same hang ups surrounding independence and pride as the teenagers do. Poor Jimmy is silent and apprehensive, and from the reactions of the others, that's not unusual for him. The younger girls at least seem to be happy enough. He just needs to give them all some time and space, and a place to stay, whilst NCIS tracks down this killer. And that's all he can do.
He tries not to think about how much these kids are growing on him.