Bastiana Wolf vividly remembers when she was kidnapped, drugged, raped, abused, not even half a years ago. She explicitly remembers the dizziness from the drugs, the aching from being raped, the pain from being tortured. Even now, at twenty, she still has horrific nightmares. Bad enough her neighbors called 9-1-1 because she was screaming bloody murder. The nightmares still occur, though.
Being with her family , which was a disfunctional one ,uncondiotional love and comfort for eachother, even if one pissed another off. They were still their for eachother, like under some oath. She overgrew most of her fear of being completely alone.
But sometimes they being pain in the ass.
"I don't like saying, 'I told you so', but-"Travis starts.
"The hell you don't, it's your favourite phrase."
Travis chuckles.
"Not funny, Travis." Bastiana pouts.
"Have you tried to talk him?"Travis asks as he sets down a tray of tea. Amy rivals him with her own unimpressed look, and Bastian ignores them both as he turns back to her papaerwork
"He messed up one of my cases,Travis," Bastiana replies distractedly. "I need to get this finished first-"
"You cannot keep fighting," Travis cuts him off. "Go talk him"
Bastiana pricks himself, credit to her tiredness, and he drops the offending needle and sticks her finger in her mouth as she turns to glare at the other two. They both look tired as well. There are heavy bags under Amy's eyes and Travis looks more pale than usual. It's not right, but Bastiana doesn't comment.
"I have some news if you're interested," Amy pipes up when the glaring contest between Travis and Bastiana is clearly going nowhere. "Although, it might be better for you to have some sleep first. I don't want to overload you."
Bastiana huffs and turns to the tea. Her hand trembles a little as she reaches out to pick up the pot, the lid clattering against the pottery as she pours three shaky cups out. She can see both Travis and Amy focusing on her jittering, but she knows it's just muscle stress from doing fine-detailed jobs. It'll go away soon.
"Fire away," she mutters as he picks up her tea and relaxes back in her chair. It's stiff and hard. It makes sense why her back aches.
"She's gone," Amy says without preamble. Bastiana's mind is too exhausted to keep up with the proverbial she, and the lawyer takes a sip of her tea as she waits for her to continue and explain. She doesn't though, and Bastiana huffs again.
"Who's gone, Amy?" she asks. Her voice is thick and slow. She probably should be asleep right now, but giving Amy that satisfaction is not on her list of things to do today.
Amy glares at her. She's not often on the end of that glare anymore so it takes her aback. "Ziva Davis," she says slowly, as if she's thick. "Ziva David."
"Who..."Bastiana said and saw her daughter head whip towards her.
"Like mother like daughter…" Travis murmured and lowered his head.
"Katrina?"
"Why?" Bastiana asked them. "How?" She moved her gaze from one to the other as she spoke. "Did Tony know that?"
Bastiana's fingers clenched around the mug she was holding. Amy looked down at her lap and Travia cleared isr throat and shifted nervously in his seat.
"She pulled a Bastiana!"
That tells Bastiana everything she needs to know. "She blackmail NCIS…" She trails off. "Tony ?"
Amy shakes hee head, "He doesn't know but he will when he will be informs of David going back." She frowns.
"Why?" Bastina asked before she could stop herself, voice ringing loud in the quiet office.
"Because she is a bitch and..."
"I mean.."Bastiana muttered, finishing the scotch and reaching to pour hersel.."Why no one of you had inform me"
Travis turns his gaze away, can't meet Bastiana's eye.
"We didn't want you to worry"Amy said softly"You have a lot of things in your mind lately and thought that it was the best to not stress you out!"
Bastiana keeps a straight face, her eyes calm, body sighed. They all froze. Bastiana had sighed. When Bastiana sighed, it meant that she was getting frustrated, and a frustrated Bastiana wasn't a good thing.
"Ok!"
Amy and Travis looked at her silently for a long time, their eyes bright and expression shocked.
Amy looked at her husband, , mouthing to him, 'Talk!' Travis smiled and nodding Amy heading for the phone of hers.
It takes a few moments, but Travis finally raises his head and looks at Bastiana. "Okay, cards on the table?"
He nods slowly.
"I am glad that Katrina handled it by herself. It means that I don't need to check my phone every good fucking minute"The words rushed out of her, as if she were afraid if she didn't get them out now then she never would.
Travis merely cocked an eyebrow at her and said,!"What is going on , B?. You let Mike and Dana take your clients, Amy handles almost all your stuff ,you stopped involve in your siblings life and push them towards Neal if they want something!"
"They are big boys, they have been for a while but i was blinded from my fear of abandonment." Bastiana heard hierelf say, the words tumbling out of her much."They have family of their owns, they must learn to fight without me!"
Travis looked at her then, the way he sometimes looked at her when he'd found something in a file or document Bastiana had overlooked and he couldn't quite believe Bastiana had missed it.
"Bastiana!"Travis croaks out.
She knows what she has to do. After all these years it's time to tell them the truth and see what happens. She just needs to find the courage to actually do it.
They heard a noise which make them to look away from each other. Jessica Pearson knocks on the open door and walks in without being invited. "Bastiana, Travis."
"Not now, Jessica," Travis replies, gaze still focused on his friend.
"Yes now!"Jessica hissed"Because the freaking Secretary of the Navy is here and want to see you!"
Vance's words had the effect of a bomb. Gibbs' green eyes went impossibly wide as his mouth opened but no sound came forth.
"Excuse me?" Gibbs finally uttered.
Vance took a deep breath."Someone sent me a files from the personal files of Mossad. Ari Hawari came to America to find you, Eli took advantage of it and sent Ziva , she kills her own brother just to gain your trust."
Gibbs couldn't believe what his Director had just said, but his shock was clear on his pale face as he stood next to Vance at the window.
"What are we going to do?" Gibbs asked hoarsely.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Gibbs finally looked at his Director. "Nothing?!" he repeated, his voice raised.
"We can't, Gibbs."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Leon?!" Gibbs was shouting now.
"We going to sent her back!"Vance replied,"Our people tried to track this person down but nothing!"
"We must keep this for ourselves!" Vance reminded him."Jarvis wants my head in a silver plate already because we have a Mossad in NCIS!"
He took a deep breath."Tomorrow morning Ziva David is going back to Israil, you will have a new agent in your team."
Gibbs closed his eyes tightly and shook his head."Who you think is behind this?"
Vance frowned."Eli has a lot of enemies, we don't have a clue why sent us this after all they could sent it to media or sent it to Jarvis. We think that the main target it David and sent her back is the best for everyone."
"Good!"
Vance could see a vein pulsing on Gibbs' temple and the man clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles were white.
"I want to discuss something else with you!"Vance runs a shaky hand over his face, sighing as he leans back against the chair."We are looking for a new lawyer to represent us!"
"What happen to the old one?"
"We had differents reviews about morals!"Vance answers with a sigh.
Gibbs shakes his head. "You have someone in your mind?"
Vance takes a large drink of water, as if to steel his nerves. "Bastiana Wolf!"
Gibbs just blinks at him, uncomprehending. "Tony's mother!"
Bastiana Wolf is wasn't just Tony's mother to Gibbs.
He had known that his relationship with Bastiana was unique, that it was different to every other relationship he had ever had, but he hadn't realised just how different it was. They had quickly established a good friendship that had been filled with sarcastic banter and witty asides right from the beginning.
It was hard not to take a liking to Bastiana or be intrigued by her. She had always been able to draw people to her like moths to a flame. She was the flame and she burned bright. She was charismatic, intelligent, humble, and eloquent. She was a rare beauty in this world and to those who knew her she never ceased to amaze them.
"And why are telling me this?"
Gibbs blinks confused at the conflicting statements watching as the Director sat up and looked at him half annoyed, and half amused. "I may be aware or may be not about your little friendship you have with her!"
A very faint blush rose to Gibbs' face but he answered."We may have been together grab some coffee sometimes!"
"She have a reputation, a good one!"said Vance.
People described Bastiana Wolf as a formidable and intimidating woman. Someone who liked having things done her way but also someone who was fierce, determined, and dedicated to her work and family.
Both they jerked at the sound of the knock that they heard on the office door. Vance glanced over Gibbs.
Tony walks into the office wearing his Wolf's mask. Cold eyes, unexpression face and of course he walked like a proude man.
"You asked for me , Director"Tony said looking at Vance, then back at Gibbs.
"Yes, Agent Wolf."Vance said, standing."Please take a seat, I would like to discuss something that involves you!l
Silence reigned for a few moments. Tony never moved. He stood at rest looking as calm as the sky on a clear day.
"Agent Wolf "Vance said regaining his footing, "Three days ago something came up unexpectedly, secretary Clayton found a good solution and you can help us with that. We know she had a good reputation but people speak, whispering
that she back off of business..."
"So..!"Tony observed, showing with his tone that he was unimpressed with what he'd heard.
"Well..we want..."Vance starts to say but he can't finish, the thought.
"We want to hire your mother!"Gibbs cut out making Vance glares at him.
"Thank you , Gibbs" Vance said dryly.
Tony began to laugh sorely. There was something in the sound that was so wrong that it sent a shiver down Gibbs's back. It was cruel and merciless.
"Sorry, sorry, it's not funny." Tony wheezed, holding a hand to his ribs. "It's just, from all the lawyer around the world you choose the only one who can't be manipulate and turning to be the Govermen' puppet!"
"Tony - what? Its not like that." Gibbs ground out, and that distraught look on his face was back.
"Really?" Tony challenged. "Let be honest between us director, the NCIS has changed 18 differents lawyes in 5 years because they had different opinions about their cases. Its not secret that secretary Jarvis is a hard man wants the things to be in like he says,but Bastiaja Wolf is no someone that can be order around like a dog!"
Tony saw when his words struck home. The director dark eyes lost that dazed look and cold fury shown instead. Yes, Tony had his number, he realized.
He can feel Gibbs' gaze on him, something he wants to shake off, but Tony just stares staunchly ahead at Vance and curls his hands into fists.
"If you want my motger as your lawyer, you must accept that she will be the one in charge ."Tony continues after he's clearly waited long enough. " Not you or the secretary. Her clients know that , they know that she will fight for them with all her power knowing my mother is aware of the laws better that them and of course they trust her because of her reputation!"
Vance doesn't know what to say. His tongue is in knots and his head is throbbing.
"Tony.."Gibbs says behind him, but Tony shakes his head and pushes his palms, leaning over the desk and speaking right in Vance's face, voice full of strong calmness."If you want a wolf, you jus accept that is going to be only one Alpha in the pack and that's not be you!"
"The what now?"Travis said quietly, looking up at Bastiana."Why the secretary of NCIS ..."
Bastiana, who had been slouched in her chair insouciantly, attention fixed sharply on Jessica, despite not actually paying attention to a word she's saying, sits up in her chair almost comically fast. Her eyes widen and Jessica doesn't think she's ever seen Bastiana so caught off guard.
"Tony..."She murmured.
Travis' eyes widened with the sharp stab of fear that shot through his frame.
"Bastiana..."Travis started saying as his eyes narrowed but before he could finish, Bastian ran out of the office.
Lawyers and secreteries, assistants were witnessing something that was truly frightening. They all saw as their manager and name partner from corridor to corridor, pillar to pillar, running at top speed. Her eyes blazed with purpose as she ran all across the floor to reach her office in time.
Several thoughts had stroke in her head while she was running around the office. Something happen to Tony, he had been shat? Kidnapped? Tortured? Killed?
No
No
NO
NO
NO
NO
This had to be a sick and twisted nightmare. She could not allow this to happen!
Stormed into her office Bastiana froze at the sight of her soon been safe and in one peace.
"Tony?"Bastiana starts off, breaking the timid air. Tony nearly jumps at her voice.
"Mom?"Tony asked, feeling a slight note of panic rising within him. Bastiana remained on edge, tracing Tony's face, anxious and a little frightened."Its everything ok?"
She says nothing, merely pursing her lips as she looks him up and down. Then she looks at the other people in the room, she recognizes Gibbs and the director of the NCIS and of course, him.
"Gentlemen," she says in greeting.
"Clayton Jarvis. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," The man says earnestly, shaking Bastiana 's hand.
"Hmm," Bastiana says dismissively, a small furrow between her brows and her curiosity thoroughly peeked. It wasn't often that the secretary of NCIS came out his office to meet radom people.
Bastiana was smart enough to stay deferential to her guest. He might look like a businessman but this man was War in a suit. You didn't go to war unless you knew you could win. It was not good business sense.
She sighed heavily.
"Tony, you know that I dont like peoole coming to my office without me knowing!"Bastiana said as she examined her nails.
"Let me guess, because you don't have the time to find the right way to torture them"Tony points out, not harshly. Never harshly.
Gibbs gave Tony a sharp look of annoyance when he hears a laugh. Not just any laugh, a throaty, smoky laugh, it sounded sexy and naughty at the same time
Gibbs turned to her course of the voice and he found himself staring into the black void of Bastiana's eyes.
Empty.
Bottomless.
Glaring right at him unable to see.
He barely registered anything else; not the wind that was funneling in through the open doorway like a vacuum, whistling and shrieking like a hurricane, not the way the flames of the candles flickered violently or the way most everything in the room was hovering an inch above any surface.
Gibbs remembers reading Bastiana's chart, the one who had been written by her doctor four months after she released from the hospital.
Paranoid schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder. Asperger's syndrome. Dangerously high blood pressure. Hypermobile joints- and the beginnings of arthritis in at least two fingers, even at his young age. And prior to his catatonic state, severe insomnia.
Gibbs senses Vance tensing in text of stares at Bastiana, defiant, pulling. It is one thing to play the silent conversation game with Tony or Vamce because they know each other so well, but with Bastiana..
Turns out Bastiana is very good at it too.
"Why are you here?"
"I want to hire you!"Clayton responds. His voice is gruff and gravely
Bastiana grin turned positively manic,"Straight to the business, I like it!"
Bastiana just raises her eyebrows. "Why?" she asks, and Clayton knows it's a casual question but he feels his hackles rise nonetheless.
"You are the best in your field!"
Bastiana smiles at him and Claytin just raises his eyebrows back.
"Get out" she murmurs, voice so damn quiet, and Gibbs feels everything in him suddenly freeze.
Everything stops for just a moment as his breath hitches in his throat and it's so painful.
"What?," Gibbs murmurs though.
He misses the look of frustration on Bastiana's face as he turns to face Tony.
Tony took a step forward, frowning. "Mom I dont..."
"I would like to alone with my client"Bastiana raises an eyebrow, "So, get out of my office and go find to entertainment yourself until this thing is over."
Clayton stands there and blinks at her and gives Bastianae enough time to register everything she just said.
"Ok," Clayton began, catching everyone's attention, "Everyone out, I want to talk with my lawyer" Clayton stood up and panic was painted on Vance's face.
"Sir, I don't think the..."
"Get out ,Leon"Clayton cut him, hisngaze never left Bastiana.
"Ok , Sir!"
Leon along with the three bodyguards left the room leaving behind a hesitant Tony and a worried Gibbs.
"You can go to Tony, I am going to be ok!"Bastiana said eventually, a little too belated to be entirely comforting.
Tony decided to follow his mother wish and leaving the office throwing a last look at her. Gibbs followed after him.
Walking out of the office ,Tony found his twin sister standing in front of her office watching Vance and the bodyguards like a hawk.
"They kick you out?"Amy teased,""Can I get you anything? Tissue, glass of water, tampon?"
Tony would always be glad that Amy was a such a snarky sister.
"Ha ha." Tony said bitterly and banged his hand on the table.
"Are you ok?"Amy asks him simply, allowing herself to be pulled into a tight embrace.
"Of cource sis" Tony murmured, kissing the top of Amy's head."How are the things around here?"
"You know the usual. Mike and Dana still be the dynamic duo of the firm, everyone gets on my nerves, Katrina scares the new lawyers, Jessica scares the shit out of everyone, Paulson wants to know everything, Specter tries to get mother attention and..."Amy says and continued το rambling as Tony tried to stop her.
"Don't be so dramatic"Tony calls, and Amy flicks him a rude gesture.
"Me?"She says to him as sge tucks a chair just under his knees, causing him to sit down."Dramatic?"
"Yes!"Tony muttered.
Amy snorts."If I remember clear, you were the one who decided to put nutella in my shampoo when I refused to go shopping with you!"
"You were the one who threw me whole cake when I said that the dress you had picked was ugly!"
"You painted my hair blue!"
"Torn my Armani suit!"
Gibbs and Leon watched the siblings backering and pushes each other buttoms. Gibbs noticed that people not even glance at them or blink at the fight which take place at their floor, noticed that son of the secretaries laughed at Tony , who tried to win a fight against his sister, some other rolled their eyes.
The stuff at the Wolf-Pearson-Specter law firm had been used to have a Wolf against Wolf war. They used to have Tony at their office , some times the oldest son of Bastiana drop by bringing coffee and dunats for them or help them escape their boss anger. The fights between Tony and Amy were legendaries. They were called the "Gemini" behind their backs of course. They were a perfect team.
Amy was ready to hit her brother with a file , when they hear it.
"What did I marry into?!" Katrina sounds both mad and tickled pink at the scene in front of her.
At this point Amy and Tony are too busy laughing to do much of anything else.
"You married into the Wolf family Kat. This is your own fault," Amy sounds drunks and Tony laughs at her.
"Hey honey!"Tony greets her , wrapped his arm around Katrinas shoulder, kissing her on the top of her head."How was your day?"
"Tough"Katrina grumbled under her breath.
Tony and Katrina were looking at each other, the somber mood lightening enough for them to share a small smile with the other, which of course was ruined by Amy.
"Can you stop with the reunion since of a Hallmark Movie?"
At the look Tony sent her, Amy had to roll her eyes.
Unknown to Tony, a pair of eyes were watching him.
The young agent was so much relaxed around them, he hated how casually them and Tony tossed innuendos around, and the easy way they touched without hesitation. He was jealous of how comfortable they were with one another, of how well they seemed to know, understand and trust each other. It was decidedly frustrating.
Gibbs and Tony were on better terms, after the talking, they tried to trust each other again wanting to gain their previous relationship they had. Tony made it clear to Gibbs that he doesn't trust Abby , Ziva and McGee and he will not allow them to disrespect him anymore.
His thoughts cut off by the sour expression in the faces of the family.
Amy scoffed as she raised her drink to her coffee.
Katrina sighed in response. "here we go."
Gibbs turned around to we that its that which make the family if three been frustrated, he saw a middle aged woman with red long hair, walking toward them like she owns the place.
"What can I do for you , miss Paulson?" Amy glared at Donna Paulson before he closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You shouldn't be at your office picking phones call for your boss?"
Tony almost missed the muttered response."Boss, right!"
Katrina clamped a hand over ers mouth to try to muffle the laughter.
"Everyone is making a big fus over the new client!"Donna looks up, her eyes boring into them. It's killing her that she didn't know.
Katrina looks over at her calmly, lifts an eyebrow and says,
"Its not of your business"
"Since when?"
Donna says it incredulously, as if it's this impossible thing, this unbelievable act.
"Look here Paulson..."
"Amy..."Tony warned.
Amy ignored her twin brother. Donna taken far too many liberties lately, and it won't hurt her to be reminded that she isn't in control of their lives, , that she doesn't have special dispensation to decide things for him. Harvey is her boss, not the other way around, and she needs to be reminded of that. It's her business to know only what he decides she should know.
"Just because you are fucking Specter isn't make you better that us or our boss."Amy She takes a few steps forward. "Stop acting like you are the Queen or this firm or I will make you remember your place"
Amy watched Donna tense again, facing away as she worked at the laptop."And let face it, sweetie. You just have Specter because my mother rejects him. "
Donna swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say, but there was nothing. There were no words he could say to make Amy stops. There was nothing either of them could say to change this. Her eyes burned, and she blinked furiously, trying to keep her emotions in check.
I should go." Donna whispered.
Tony rolled his eyes as Katrina leaned in Tony's arms closer.
"Run you little snake!"Amy murmured.
"Dear god, women"Tony arranged his face into a scowl. "You can be very cruel when you want!"
"Thank dear Lord!"Tony continued. " That my son is take after me!"
"Your son?"Katrina turned to look at him, one brow raised. "I gave him life and pop him out of my vagina..."
Tony turned red. "KATRINA?"
"Carried him for nine months and he is your son?"Katrina glanced over at Tony before slamming a file on the desk in front of Amy.
"They were very long nine months!"
FLASHBACK
"Yeah sure; here, and congratulations on the baby."
Katrina waited for it to click.
Tony choked on his wine, sending it spewing all over the table. "A BABY?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN "A BABY"?!"
Cravings.
"Tony baby...?"
And there they were again.
Tony sighed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "What do you want now Katrina?"
Katrina grinned cutely at him. "I want ice cream!"
With the start of the sixth month, also came the beginning of four months of kicking.
Suddenly Tony turned to Katrina with a fearful expression. "Kat...there's a baby in your belly."
Left eye twitching, she stared at him. "Yes Wolf. There is a baby in my belly. I believe I made that clear when I told you I was pregnant."
Tony sighed at her exasperatedly. "Well yeah; you said you were pregnant. I didn't realize that meant there was a real live baby inside of you!"
Katrina put her hands on his shoulders, her nails digging into him. "Tony...darling...what did you think was going to happen? Did you think I was going to give birth to a bloody doll?"
Tony shook his head in acute horror, barely noticing her nails in his shoulders. "No of course not! But...it...it's a baby! That means I'll be a father! And bloody hell! You'll be a mother! And there will be a baby who will depend on us for everything! What if I mess up? What if I screw up its bottle one day, and it holds it against me later when it can talk? What if I don't put its nappy on right, and it shits in its crib? It'll hate me! Shit Katrina! What if I fuck up? What if I fuck up? What if I fuck up? WHAT IF I FUCK UP? THE KID WILL HATE ME FOR RUINING ITS BABYHOOD!"
Seeing her glaring was doing no good, Katrina walloped her husband one across the face. "GET A GRIP YOU IDIOT! It's a baby! NOT THE BLOODY SEFOND COMING OF THANOS!"
Tony grew a look of dawning horror. "WHAT IF IT—"
He was promptly slapped again. "Don't...you...dare...finish...that...sentence. I do not want to have to give birth in prison because I committed murder on my husband."
"But what if-"
"One word Wolf; just one…and I will kill you."
"Yes Katrina."
The eighth month was upon the couple as they got closer and closer to Katrina's due date. Being on strict bed rest, Katrina was prone to the occasional bought of crankiness.
And she made damn certain everyone knew it.
"WOLF, I CAN'T SEE MY FEET! WHAT FUCKING COLOUR ARE MY TOENAILS?!"
In exasperation Tony glanced at her feet while getting ready for work. "Pink."
Katrina scowled. "I want them blue! Make them blue!"
"Wolf…when I finally get your brat out of me, you are never coming near me again! I HATE YOU!"
Tony didn't even bother to argue the intimacy point; he had learned better. Instead he sighed. "Kat, love…you're a Wolf too—"
He had to duck the plate being flung at his head.
Katrina growled at him in a way he found very arousing. Good thing she didn't know that or his arousal would be gone…permanently. "NO! I am NOT a Wolf; I refuse to be a Wolfs! Wolfs are stupid and entirely too fertile! And I am not stupid; just fertile!"
Sighing at the pout on his wife's face, Tony tried to console her. "It could always be worse you know Bennett."
"How could this possibly be worse?!" Katrina ground out.
Tony grinned at her. "Well, elephants are pregnant for twenty-two months…you only have to endure nine!"
"ANTONY ALEXANDER WOLF, I WILL HAVE YOUR TESTICLES FOR CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO; HOW COULD I BE SUCH A TART AS TO LET YOU TOUCH ME?!"
Katrina experienced another contraction at the same time as she grabbed Tony's hair. "I will pop your eyes out!"
Tony was trying to loosen her grip and calm her down at the same time. "Now Katrima, you don't want to take the kid's rights away from it. It won't be able to make me go bald if you accomplish that all by yourself. Besides, you love my eyes yeah? It is my best feature."
Outside in the waiting room, the group of people were sure Satan heard the shriek from his damnation in Hell. "Wolf YOU SODDING PRAT, I'M GIVING BIRTH TO YOUR SPAWN AND ALL YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IS HOW GOOD YOUR EYES LOOKS?!"
END FLASHBACK
"You were an idiot during those months!"
Tony stared after the secretary with a betrayed look, before settling his glare on the wife of his.
"You went crazy during your pregnancy"Tony ran a hand through his hair."Even mom decided to be away from is during your last months of pregnancy!"
"Because she had never been very good with them. "Katrina grumbled and Tony snorted.
"Babies? "
"Humans"
Their little chat cut of by the door of Bastiana's office, opened revealing Clayton, a annoying one , followed by an amused Bastiana Wolf.
Gibbs furrowed his eyebrow. He wondered if he should worry about
it, he determined look on Bastiana's face, but he decided maybe he was imagining the evil mastermind plotting look.
"Its everything ok?" Tony asks , placing a kiss on Bastiana's head and gently shook her shoulder.
"He protective of her isn't he. «Vance questioned bitterly.
Three pair of eyes glared at him making Vance took a step away from them.
Bastiana stiffened at the question.
"Of course is everything ok!. Isn't it, mister director of the NCIS?"
Bastiana kept looking forward, sarcasm dripping in his gave a smirk at Tony before raising her eyebrows at Gibbs.
Clayton didn't rise to the bait, instead focusing an intense look on the lawyer.
Gibbs and Vance give each other a confused look and the agent silently mouths to his director."What is happening?"
"Of cource ma'am "Clayton shook his head and Vance frowned."We can leave now!"
Without another word, Clayton walked away from them with his bodyguards after him. Vance looks at Gibbs trying to understand what the hell just happened.
"I have to go sweetheart!"Tony told her, kissing Katrina firmly as his arms encircled the woman."See you at home!"
Katrina looked up at him throughbed-messed curls, blue eyes gazing into Tony's own. "Don't be late , i will have make dinner!" she murmured, squeezing Tony's hand.
"Bye!"Amy said clearly, simply.
Without a second glance at Vance and Gibbs, walked away from the group. Vance gave a knowing look at Gibbs before leave.
Gibbs stood there without knowing what to do. Half of his mind is telling him to go back to his work but the other half of his mind is screaming at him , screaming to see Bastiana. He wanted to see if Bastiana was ok, he had noticed the worried expression when she stormed into her office looking around , he noticed how her eyes gone soft when she spot her son be safe and one piece in front of her. He had experiences this feeling before, when Tony get the plague , he was terrified of loosing Tony, of loosing another child.
"Agent Gibbs!"Amy 's voice is a harsh snap that makes Gibbs head jerk around almost instinctively. and came face to face with the two female members of the Wolf family
Amy had crossed her arms over her chest and measured him with a stern look while Katrina leaning against the desk. Both eyebrows raised and smirk on their lips.
Katrina had an uncanny ability to look like a wolf about to pick off the smallest deer in the herd when she smiled. Amy, on the other hand, always looked a bit like she was smiling at a bug that she was about to squish under her heel. Being in the presence of both of these toothy expressions was causing Gibbs to sweat, he could feel a drop trickling down the back of his neck.
Gibbs's facade was back in place. He pulled his self together and plastered back on his best you-have-no-idea-what-I'm-thinking smile.
"What I can do for you!"
Gibbs blinked once, then twice, then shook his head."I would like to see Bastiana!"
The look of surprise on Amy's face made it clear she had thought exactly that. "And why that?" Katrina asked meekly.
"Just to talk!"
Amy's face remained devoid of any expression, only her eyes shining intensely. It made Gibbs almost shiver and avert her gaze, he couldn't trust the feeling settling in his stomach.
"Just to talk!"Amy said, strained and not convincing at all.
Katrina silently stares while Amy pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting a grin.
"Ok!"
He finds her on her laptop, half-empty mug of coffee next to her. There are dark circles under her eyes and he wonders when she last slept, as well. She's obviously no engrossed in her work that she seems not to notice him walk in.
He studied her for a moment. The sunlight streamed through the window, giving Bastiana this angelic, golden glow around her body. Her eyelashes were long and dark in contrast to her beautiful pale skin.
His breath catches for a moment and he watches her stretch in the sunlight like a cat, the rays filtering through her long hair.
He watches how the woman left the papers to take the cup with the coffee that was next to her, crossing her lengs making the dress to up some inches making Gibbs able to see the woman's milk skin and the dreaa she was wearing did not leave much to the imagination.
"What can I do for you Leroy?"
They've been know each other for a few weeks now but Gibbs' heart still swells whenever Bastiana uses his first name. And it makes him feel more comfortable, Leroy is the person he's supposed to be able to tell these things to.
"I'm officially terrified of your daughters."
"...Everyone's terrified of them," Bastiana sighed.
"Those women is scary when it comes to you."
Bastiana smirked.
"Like mother, like daughters!"She admitted
This is a lovely office." Gibbs's voice dripped honey. "But I guess it's only the best for Bastiana Wolf." He walked over to the sofa and took a seat in a corner, leaning back with an arm propped up casually on the armrest and legs crossed, watching her.
"What can I get you?" she asked, walking over to the bar.
"Coffee, black."
Bastiana raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. She started pouring, while the silence stretched.
"I remember the convention that we had at our first coffee," Gibbs said conversationally, into the quiet.
Bastiana looked up from her task. "Excuse me?" She took the glasses and walked across the room, passed a drink to Gibbs then retreated to stand by the window, sipping her own drink.
"The convention!"Gibbs continued."With the threat in it!"
FLASHBACK
Gibbs and Bastiana were laughing at the table. The two of them wanted to get to know each other and realized they had a lot in common. The place is rather busy considering it's a Friday mornung.
"Patience:What you have when there are to many witnesses"
"You said that to Maximilian Pegasus"said Gibbs laughing and he felt a new admiration for this woman.
"Boss ladies kick ass. We damn sure don't kiss it" said Bastiana and Gibbs nod.
Gibbs looking at the woman and was dying to asks thing about her personal life.
"You want to ask its?"she asks with a sly smile. From the look on her face, she very clearly knows what he is doing. The awareness in her gaze startles him.
Gibbs hesitated, the man was surprised that Bastiana wanted to spend time with him. When he saw the name of the woman pop in his phone he was surprised and suspicious thought himself in circles, trying to figure out Bastiana's motivation for asking him. Meanwhile, he became more and more comfortable in Bastiana's presence, got to know him on a more personal level, and learned and shared things that would probably never be discussed with someone else.
The topic of conversation wandered, and Gibbs found himself telling Bastiana about the things he had done in Marines, the boats he'd joined, the friends he'd made, and all of the ridiculous things they'd done while drunk. He told Bastiana in more detail how he had gotten in NCIS , and how he'd managed over the years to become a team leader.
He had so much fin with her and didn't want to ruin the happy atmospheric with his questions.
"Do it!" Bastiana said, exasperated.
"I don't want you to feel you uncomfortable!" Gibbs said in a whisper, then cleared his throat.
"Oh Leroy, nothing is this life can make me uncomfortable anymore. I had to sit in front of son unknown people telling them details of how Alan Woodford kidnapped and sexual assault me.
"Bastiana replied, reaching out to touch Gibbs' hand. She could feel the man's skin shiver under her touch.
"Bastiana.."
"Leroy!"Bastiana mocked him, a gentle smile on her face.
"Where have you been when Tony got hurt?"
Bastiana' lip quivered, but her voice was admirably steady when she softly said,"I was there hiding in the shadows. Tony got my paranoia, thinking that it was best for everyone id no one where aware of us. Me and all the family were there when Tony got the plague, called me almost broken, asking me if something happens to him I had to stay by Katrina's side."Bstiana seethed, staring into Gibbs' wide eyes, ."When Tony got shot and unable to remember what it all was about. I was there trying o keep my seflf away but...You know what is the worst part of it?"Bastiana asked almost desperately.
"Couldn't do anything to help him. Just watch him fight alone without doing something because you have to protect tour cover, knowing that if you show up everything you had fought of , will be gone is a nanosecond. When i got the news of the fucking plague, I was at my office..."
"Jesus, Bastiana," he said, voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "I am so sorry...I didn't wanted to..."
"My son. My Tony. He deserved his spot. He earned it with blood, sweat, tears, and the pain he went through to come back here. He deserved the same respect you give each other, if not more because of what he went through. "
Gibbs had been staring at Baatiana through her whole little speech, the faculty of speech having seemingly deserted his itself. But now his mouth started to move as if he'd just remembered how to speak.
"Thank you"Gibbs stated calmly,"For trusting me"
"Trust goes both away."Bastiana croaked, voice thick with emotion.
"Of cource!"Gibbs croaked right back at him.
The silence settled around them once more, neither of them sure what to say to break it apparently.
"Leory.."
Gibbs hearing his name looked up from the plate.
" I would like to be very clear about something."
At Gibbs's silence and questioning gaze, Bastiana continued.
"Beak my trust and 'I will pull your spine out from your ear and choke you with it, cut your foot off and stuff it into your mouth, and fill every pore on your body with salt''
Gibbs nodded mutely, his eyes on Bastiana's hand laying over his. Bastiana rubbed her thumb across Gibbs' hand gently and heard him gasp. Then the moment was broken when the waiter returned with Gibbs' credit card, and they both hesitantly dropped their hands.
END FLASHBACK
"The pack protect each other!"
Bastiana gives him an inquisitive look, "what do you mean ?"
"Blackmail!," Gibbs replies simply. "You were behind this!"
''I refuse to answer that on the grounds that I don't want to' 'she shot back.
Gibbs smiled then , and Bastiana became determined to see that look on his face more often.
He had a nice smile, she decided, warm and boyish, something not rarely seen her first time around, but she wasn't going to say anything, because she didn't want him to feel self conscious.
"Dinner?" Bastiana asked lightly. "I can cook if you want."
"Look, don't change the subject. Not all of us are filled with patience with our old age." He prodded her.
"I am not old, Leory. I can show you just how young I am, if you're not careful." She threatened.
"I'm not scared of you." His mouth spewed words that he knews were a mistake as soon as his lips parted.
"You should be." Bastiana mused, looking at him, again. Her eyes were dark with mischief and other things.
Gibbs laughed. A pleasant sound that stroked a very deep part in Bastiana that was slowly coming to life against her will, wanting to listen to this sound more often. She was shaking his head, openly smiling as he answered
"The dinner is a good idea" , and that catches Basfiana' attention. He looks to see Bastiana shaking her head.
"Excellent. I'll be over about eight."
Bastiana stood to go, stretching out her back slightly. "I'll have the dessert , you bring fhe wine in the fridge,"
He nodded, and watched for another moment or two. "Red."
"Obviously," Bastiana replies her voice becoming low and throaty as she steps closer to Gibbs.
He nods, obviously aroused yet maintaining his composure. It's clear to Bastiana that Gibbs hasn't let his guard down and she smirks in appreciation. She likes his men to be intelligent and it's obvious Gibbs has that going for her.
He cocked an eyebrow and Bastiana shook her head slightly, Gibbs leans down, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and Bastiana spots the little grin he's trying to cover.
"See you at home dear," Gibbs says stepping back and walking towards the door and throwing a wink over his shoulder.
Harvey watched her walk out the office, her hips swaying just a little too seductively. Her cheeks were just a little too bright. Her smile just a little too wide.
It left Harvey feeling lost as to what to say and how to precede. He was annoyed that that man had no trouble getting a response from Bastiana. Bastiana interacted with him naturally and easily, not stilted and careful the way she'd been with Harvey. When Bastiana spoke to him his tone softened, lightened, and took on the playful cadence Harvey remembered.
Harvey hated how easily Bastiana and the unknown man bantered back and forth. It made him feel like an outsider. There was a time when he wouldn't have cared, and he tried to tell himself he didn't care now, but it sounded hollow in his head.
Harvey knew he had no right to be jealous, that he held no claim over the woman, that Bastiana was an adult and could be with whomever she so wished to be with. And Yet..He hated how jealous he felt whenever someone had Bastiana's attention who wasn't himself. He hated the way the emotion clawed at him, as if it was some foul beast trying to rip itself from his body.
Bastiana was different. So different. Harvey had expected that.
Bastiana experienced something no woman should.
He knew she would be different, but Harvey had not been expecting this.
Bstiana was empty.
Her mind, her heart, her soul. There was nothing there anymore. Her eyes were so dull, with only ever flickers of anger ever seen in them, but even that was muted. No matter how hard Harvey tried, how he insulted, pushed, tested and openly mocked her, even to go so far as to literally supplant Bastiana's own role as a father, by playing with her children. Nothing. It was disturbing.
Bastiana didn't even seem to relate to her clients, her employers, her fellow lawyers. Harvey remembered the vibrancy of his once friend, of his once love, and yet when he looked at her now, there was nothing. But Harvey was not worried. He was not.
He had loved her. And she had broken him in the worst way possible. Not even by telling that they wouldn't work. Not, by cheating with the man she'd supposedly gotten over.
He didnt care for her but he's jaw clenched when he saw the man rest his hand on Bastiana's arm, so close to the woman, and Bastiana did nothing to stop the action. Harvey wanted to scream when he watched Gibbs hug Bastiana, fucking wrap his arms around her and hug her, going so far as to place a kiss on the woman's cheek before he let her go.
How could this man Baatiana barely knew managed to see through her walls when even her own siblings and children couldn't?
But Bastiana didn't open herself to them, her smile was just as guarded and her eyes just as clouded whenever she was around them. And angered him. How managed to reach her, make her laugh, make those beautifull blue eyes of her been back to life.
Harvey's brain finally seems to come back online at the sight of a red hair. For the last few minutes his brain has been cycling through the words 'Bastiana' ' 'kiss' and 'man' on a loop.
Donna.
The secretary and girlfriend of his.
He remembered the night they got together.
The night was so perfect just like the last several 12 years of their relationship had been, but Harvey had not even said I love you yet.
That night lying awake in bed with Donna next to him he knew he should have stopped it. Slipping out of the bed frowning as he slipped his clothes back on because he needed space away from the man, he just promised to spend the rest of his life with. RJ stomach felt in that moment like it would empty itself if he didn't move. He took the longest shower as the panic settled in, as the weight of his actions weighed on his shoulders.
The next morning, Harvey played it off as nerves, never told anyone about it-until weeks later.
Harvey for the next few weeks just couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew something was not right. Donna started to plan their future dates, That was when it hit him again, he had promised this woman, a woman he never said he loved that they would spend forever together.
Donna is…. ignoring what happened. Which Harvey is grateful for. Don't get him wrong, he knows this isn't the right way to deal with problems in a relationship. Jessica, Marcus, Louia and everyone else in his life made sure to tell him that on a regular basis. But he's just..not in the mood for talking about it and dealing with it like an adult.
Dealing with love.
The love that was unrequited.
Gibbs sat back in his chair and looked at each member of his team, and even though they were all extremely bored, especially through the fact that they had no open cases, and it looked like it was going to be a slow day.
He looked at Tony ,who was talking in his phone probably with Katrina. Gibbs may not admit it out loud but Katrina Wolf was a scary woman but he respects her as he put up with Tony and she stood up to him daring to challenge him.
He looked at McGee, the young agent was looked at Tony with an annoyed expression on his face but Gibbs could have seen the jealousy behind his eyes.
Even the young agent didn't want to admit it, he was jealous of Tony. After all the man had it all, coming for a rich family with privileges, a beautiful wife , a son, family who had his back ,many people in high places respected him even he acted as a clown 24/7. MeGeee couldn't understand who people didn't see that Tony was an idiot and didn't deserves the position of the right hand of Gibbs. McGee has double degrees of Tony and he didnt get the half respect of it.
His eyes fallen at Abby, who was sitting in the corner like a putting brat. Storming into the bullpen demanding Ziva return, demanding Gibbs to do something about it, stop Vance from breaking their family apart. Abby had acted like a spoiled brat , so she will be treated like one.
Gibbs took the watch in his hand and he started to show all the symptoms of anxiety. The quickening heart beat. The sweaty palms. The shaky hands. What the hell is going on here?! It's just Bastiana! A friend. A really good friend! There's no harm a dinner with her he told himself. Well then, why was he acting like this?! He hadn't felt this nervous since he first took Shannon out on their first date. He sighed.
"All right, Tony?"Gibbs asked ended with phone call with his wife.
Tony had the softest expression come over his features the team had ever seen,"On yes everything ok Gibbs , just Katrina threatened me on couch hour if I am not at home in two hours!"
McGee raises an eyebrow in surprise."Your wife must understanding that you have a strict schedule because of your work!"
The expression on Tony's face got even softer if that was possible and he said a little breathlessly,"I may be an Agent but I am also a father ,and husband!"
Gibbs shook his head.
"You look happier," was the first thing Ducky said as Gibbs walked into the room. It had been a slow day, with barely anything to do, so Gibbs had told them all to go home and enjoy their free afternoon as much as they could.
"Coffee does that to a man," he said as deadpan as possible, not even bothering to look at Dukcy. He knew what the other man was hinting at, but he wasn't ready to discuss friendship with Bastiana with anyone.
"I'm serious," Dukcy said with his smug smile, looking at Gibbs as if he knew everything Gibba was hiding. Fighting with every instinct he had, he forced himself not to squirm underneath Ducky's profiler eye. "There's a lightness in you there hasn't been in a while."
"Maybe I've just been missing summer," he replied, crossing his arms as he reclined on his chair. "Seasonal depression is a real thing."
"Jethro…" Ducky began saying, in his tone that meant 'I'm disappointed in you'. And Gibbs lost the restraint he had. Duxky wasn't his father, but he hated when the man pulled that card. It brought back bad memories. "Spring doesn't start until the 21st."
"I don't know what you want me to tell you, Ducky," he said as he uncrossed his arms and passed a hand through his hair and face. "I am as I always have been. Nothing has changed."
The doctor was ready to respond but he was cut off by Gibbs's phone which was usually signaled a new case.
"Gibbs," he answered on the third ring. He listened for a moment then responded, "on my way." Shaking his head in response to Ducky.
Bastiana cannot believe she fell asleep for over an hour. She got in from work a little after 4 and she laid down to close his eyes for maybe 45 minutes. Next thing he knew it was a quarter to 6. Of all the times to be too tired to be unable control falling asleep, it has to be the night of her dinner with Gibbs.
She walks into the bathroom and uses mouthwash. After a while of going through her closet and criticizing her many clothes, Bastiana finally chose the perfect outfit. She looked at the clock and looking in the mirror, she fixes her hair. It's parted down in the middle and she uses a little water to push it back.
She looked at his watch and frowned. Gibbs was late. He had been very specific about Bastiana being ready at exactly 8 but it was 8:01 now. She paced back across her lounge, not wanting to admit to himself that she was actually getting nervous. It was stupid, he told herself. It wasn't like she and Gibbs had never spent time together, but now it was different m They would be alone , alone in Bastiana's home.
It was just a dinner between friends. But why she was pacing about like a nervous teenager waiting for her date to show up and thinking that maybe ahe should go and change this shirt for the first one ahe'd chosen and then rejected. As her subconscious pointed out just how ridiculous she was being, Bastiana forced herself to stop and sit down.
She walked toward the bar and takes a drink, hoping to calm her nerves and temporarily hide but then hears a knock on his door.
She walks over and taking a deep breath, she opens it and sees him.
"Hey," says Bastiana whose face lights up when she sees how handsome the man looks. Gibbs looked fine in the black trousers and dark blue shirt but the thing that really got Bastiana's attention was the leather jacket. It looked like his suit jackets, similar style, but in black leather and it suited Gibbs perfectly.
"Hey yourself," says Gibbs as Bastiana ushers him inside. He looks at her thinking that she looks great, greem is a good color on her
Gibbs walked into the house and she lead him to the living room where the table and flowers where standing. She had candles light everywhere. Gibbs couldn't believe his eyes. It was just so romantic, why was he actually wearing a leather? This was just friends having dinner right? Bastiana can't be more right? She was his freind, and probably the best friend he ever had. They were just friends… just friends.
"So what are we having''
''Good question, why don't you investigate that yourself?''
''You are the one who cooked it''
''Of course I do…. only my grandfather gave it to my mother and she gave it to me but I can't put a name on it''
"You have no servants?" Gibbs asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I tend to like my privacy." Bastiana answered as she turned from Gibbs and heading to the kitchen.
Bastiana walks to the kitchen to serve dinner.
''Voila! Bon appétit!''
''Bon appétit'' Bastiana raised her glass.
''A toast to us''
''To us''Gibbs raised his glass and met Gibbs'
It was tasted good, everything went great and the spent the entire time talking about their childhood and stuff. They found out things about each other they would have never known otherwise. They actually talked about everything except work. That would probably spoil everything.
The dinner goes surprisingly well. They have fun, there is wine and great food. Gibbs laughs for the first time in far too long.
Gibbs wanted to help clean up, but she didn't want that. After she quickly washed everything hlshe returned to the living room finding Gibbs looking through the family photos.
He ran his eyes across the photos on Bastiana's wall, and frowned, noticing a pattern. He thought back to his own memories, and realized that the pattern held true there, too.
"Leory? What's wrong?" He'd been so caught up in thought he hadn't even realized that Bastiana had reentered the room.
Leroy meant to stay something neutral, but what came out instead was a sad sounding, "Your smile is not as bright as it used to be."
Bastiana's expression faltered for a second. "What do you mean?"
Leory gestured at the pictures. "Look at you a few years ago, with Mike and Spencer. Then with Neal and your children. And now that last picture, with me. Your smile gets progressively more fake in every picture." He tried not to sound bitter about the fact that Bastiana looked least happy in the picture with him, but Bastiana caught it anyway.
The picture of them had been taken in their second date for coffee. The person behind the camera was a young student of photography and take photos of strangers for her project, at first Bastiana was shy but Gibbs agreed if he got a copy of it.
"Leroy," Bastiana said, "What I will tell you does not know it except Neal''
Bastiana falls into Leroy arms, knowing he makes her feel safe. She let her emotion show, there no cane and she doesn't have to hurt herself but in like a reflex.''I alrealy lost my brother for one time. And that kills me. But you? Trust me, my smile wouldn't even exist right now without you. So. Thank you for giving me something to smile friendship we have make me so happy and confused at the same time because is new to me
"Having dinner with a friend?"
"No, having friends," Bastiana laughed.
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Wolves don't have friends, we have minions," Bastiana rolled her eyes, "I think it's gonna be a learning curve for both jobs."
Gibbs looked at her. "You deserve to be happy."
Bastiana said, "I feel like I could be. Someday."
Gibbs stepped forward, and pulled her into a hug. "I hope someday comes fast."
"Me too," Bastiana whispered. "Me too."
Gibbs turned around so that they were face to face, only a few inches apart. Neither of them seemed to mind and just stared in each others eyes.
"What about you?"Bastiana
asked uncertainly but with deep concern."
"Are you happy?"
Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a man who had crossed the golden border of 50, was way past trying to find happiness. After the deaths of his wife and daughter, he had tried it many times; three marriages, all ending with an ugly divorce, and way more other attempts at starting relationships than he dared to count. So while he still did see some woman now or then—redheads of course—he had given up trying anything serious, which was the number one reason why his relationships failed in these days; women wanting more than he could or was willing to give.
Losing the love of his life, and his baby girl, was still something he could not truly live with. In order to survive, he had become numb, while keeping the outward appearance of temperamental moodiness that drove most people away. Grumpy and scary, some said. He had come to terms with the reality that this was his life. It was what it was, and he was now married to his job at the NCIS. He didn't ask for anything else, because what was lost would never be returned.
But Gibbs still believed in true love. It wasn't something he really talked about and most people would probably question how he could believe that after 4 wives and the horrors he saw daily with his job. To Gibbs though, it was just a fact.
He knew if Shannon were still alive that they'd still be married as she was his first true love. Having a big family. Shannon and he had wanted more children but they had never felt the urge to explore the reasons for it not happening, content with their beautiful, only child.
Shannon and he had discussed how they would bring up Kelly and decided that the most important thing was that they would help her to be happy, well-adjusted and would support her in whatever she wanted to do. 'As long as it's not immoral or illegal,' Shannon had said as she smiled.
He daydreamed. An adopted son to be a brother to Kelly, taken out of an abusive situation, with them trying to repair some of the damage done by his background in giving him a stable home, a safe place, where he was loved and encouraged.
Kelly, grown, happy, successful, making him and Shannon grandparents or Kelly happily single, at the top of her profession or Kelly…
And by now they would have moved to a house big enough for any grandchildren to stay and he would finally have built a boat for them to take the voyage of a lifetime.
He didn't realise the tears were sliding down his face as he looked up on hearing Bastiana's voice.
"J-Jethro, come here," and was enveloped in a warm and loving embrace, soothed by the endearments that Bastiana was uttering.
How comforting was the bear hug, how safe and cherished he felt in those arms.
Bastiana was looking at him with a comforting smile tinged with sadness but also with determination. Gibbs did not know how this wan's many smiles had such an effect on him but at this very moment he did not complain. The smile gave him a feeling that everything would turn out alright in the end and gave him the courage to relax and be himself.
The cell ringtone and the moment breaks, but something between them is different.
Almost like a spark caught flame.
Bastiana looked apologizing grapping her phone from the tablenand pushing 'accept call' button before taking a few steps away from Gibbs.
"Hello."
Gibbs watched subtly as Bastiana spoke. The lawyer paced a few steps before turning on her heel and doing the same in the opposite direction. Her expression strongly contradicted the words ahe spoke, it was quite clear from her facial expression that he really wanted to talk to this person. Gibbs' stomach suddenly recoiled as if he had been kicked in the gut, his expression one of confusion. Ahe never looked that happy when he was talking to Gibbs. Gibbs looked down and shook his head, was he feeling jealous?
Well that's settled then." Baatiana stated with a smile, looking up and shooting Gibbs a knowing glance and she threw Gibbs a playful smirk as she hung up her phone and returned it to on table.
"I am so sorry" Bastiana said to Gibbs as she walked past him and retook her seat opposite Gibbs. "I just fine out that i will spent my time with the most handsome man tomorrow!"
Gibbs doesn't hear anything after that. Only the roaring of his own heart in his ears as it begins to beat in triple time. The overwhelming envy from a minute is still lingering, only adding to the absolute, all-consuming panic that is flooding his system.
"Katrina wants me to stop by Jason's school and take him!"
"Really," asked Gibbs, his cheeks blushing a light shade of pink as they often did when he felt a little embarrassed."And i was about to ask you if you want to grap some coffee!"
"Yes," Bastiana says, nodding incredibly quickly. "Yes, I was—I was thinking that maybe after we pick Jason up from school, we could all go," Bastiana blushes, scratching at his cheek,"for a walk together!"
"Oh"Gibbs stutters out, his cheeks so, so hot as a matching smile begins to stretch across his face. "That sounds perfect"
"Honey I'm home," Tony said as he walked through the door. He always entered his home that way when he was in a good mood.
Katrina smiled softly.
It had become a joke between the two of them some time ago, back when they originally purchased the two-bedroom bungalow and moved in together after a few months of dating.
Regardless of where he was coming from, how long he had been gone for, or if she was walking through the door with him, he would shout the greeting to her through their small home.
It was particularly funny because Katrina hated pet names. Babe. Baby. Honey. Love. Sweetie. Sweetheart. They made her cringe every time, but from Tony?
It was the best part of her day.
She hears a noise coming from upstairs. Katrina looks upwards, trying her best to follow the noise with her eyes. She trails the movement with her eyes, hearing it get louder as it comes closer. Looking out to the living room, Katrina sees her boy running down the stairs and charging for the front door.
"Daddy's home!" He screams.
Katrina smiles as she approaches her husband.. She stands behind her son who hug his father. Katrina leans forwards, turning her head and Tony kisses her on the cheek. She smiles, folding her hands together as she watches Tony roughhouse with their boy. It's the little moments like these that get her heart swelling up.
Before she could pry the kid off to let Tony breathe for a moment or have them take this to the living room, the cell rings.
The parents pause and Tony looks over his shoulder.
"I'll get -" he insists before Katrina cuts him off.
"Go rest," Katrina says. "I'll get it. Our son misses you and you've had a long day."
Tony smiles before giving Katrina another quick kiss. She walks over to the phone as Tony picks up one of the little boy and swings them around.
She grabs the phone and immediately throws it toward the couch after see the phone number of the office. She doesn't have the time for this, it was time for the family.
Because of their strict schedule, Katrina and Tony spent their time in their office leaving their precious son to his grandmother, Bastiana. The older lawyer is happy to have the little boy in her house as she works most of her time from home, some times Jason spent his time cousin Zenobia .
They tried to spent their time together, act like a family, walking around the park, laughing and enjoying the time but they weren't in a move with a happy ending, because of their works both of them made a lot of enemies, people trying to blackmail Katrina using her private life, threatening Tony using his family. They couldn't have a normal life , so they tried to enjoy the small moments .
The woman walked toward the living room and stared at Tony playing with the cute little boy on the couch. The boy was sitting on Tony's lap and they seemed to be having so much fun. Tony had one of those big smiles -one of those that made Katrina's heart melt - on his face, and the kid's laughter was the most delicious sound she'd ever heard. She'd been watching them for the past ten minutes and she didn't want to interrupt, she was so amused, but it was late and they had lots of things to do the next day.
"Tony, Jason," she said softly, taking a few steps towards them. "Don't you think it's late?" she sat next to Tony and smiled at Jason's yawn.
"We should go to bed," Tony said and placed a hand on Katrima's thigh and she looked at him maliciously. "To sleep," he added. "We'll have a busy day tomorrow."
Katrina laughed and then nodded. "Your father is correct, Jason, we'll have a busy day tomorrow. Let's put your pajamas on and go to bed."
"Just five more minutes, mom," Jason asked and looked at her with those deep dark eyes.
Katrina looked at Tony and she knew he was thinking the exact same thing she was. They just couldn't say no to him when he spoke like that.
It felt so good to have him calling her "mom", it filled her with happiness.
The happiness she'd tried to find in different men; The happiness that Tony had tried to give her when he let her go; The happiness she never actually knew what meant, until now.
The happiness she knew, now, that she would always find simply by looking at the two people in that room.
"Jason, you're already sleepy. Let's go to bed." Tony pointed out after another yawn coming from his son.
"Fine!"he whispered slowly and then closed his eyes again, finally falling asleep.
She kept staring at him for a few seconds, smiley. He was the most precious thing that had ever happened to her and Tony. He was the perfect mixture of the two of them.
Tony kissed her shoulder and she turned to face him. "Can you believe it?" she looked back at Jason.
"That he's asleep? That's quite surprising." he smiled at her.
"Let me get him in the bed and then I am all yours!"
The woman waited for her husband to disappear into the room with her son before going to the kicthen, nearly breaking her neck as she stumbled over a toy.
Walking toward the stove , she throw a handful of shrimp into the boiling pot on the stove.
"That smells wonderful. Are you making your famous shrimp creole?"
"Yes. Figured we both deserved it after the day we had." A tired smile crossed Katrina's face as he began dicing tomatoes. "Can you grab two onions, please?'
Getting up, Tony pulled them out of the fridge and put them on the cutting board. "Can I help with anything?"
Katrina shook her head. "I got this. Just sit and talk to me. Grab a glass of wine if you want." She added the tomatoes to the pot and began to stir everything together with a long wooden spoon. "Get one for me, too."
Tony pulled two glasses out and uncapped a bottle of red wine before handing one over. "Did you wrap up your court case?" he asked. Katrina had been at the courthouse all week.
KaTrina nodded again. "Jury's out. Hopefully they won't take too long deliberating." She shrugged. "Shouldn't. The case was pretty cut and dried." She looked up."What about you?. Any news about the case?"
"We got a new suspect but all the evidence is pointing at the ex- husband!" Tony said as he leaned against the counter and sipped his wine. "Gibbs thinks so!"He watched as Katrina added a dash of hot sauce to the mix. "You can add more. I like it hot."
She raised an eyebrow. "There's peppers in there," she reminded him. "And cayenne."
He shrugged. "And your point?"
She added a few more dashes of hot sauce. "Not too hot," she said. "We both have to get up tomorrow."
"Got it." Getting out another pot, he began filling it with water. "For the rice," he explained.
"It's gonna be awhile," Katrina said. "At least a couple hours. Don't need it on yet." she smiled. "But thank you. It was a nice thought." she put the rest of the ingredients into the soup pot and out the lid on it. "There. We can eat in," She checked her watch,. "About an hour."
"An hour?" A spark of mischief lit up Tony's eyes. "What are we gonna do in the mean time?"
Katrina pulled him into his arms. "I can think of a few things," she said as she cupped Katrinas' face in her hands and drew him into a kiss.
Tony chuckled as he pulled away a little. "I like the way you think." He began leading Katrina toward the stairs. "Is it safe to leave on the stove?"
"It's on low. And Ive done it before." Ahe smiled. "The last time I made shrimp creole if I rememberit right."
"And it was delicious then, too," Tony said as they went into the big bedroom.
A spark of mischief suddenly appeared in Katrina's eyes.
"You know"Katrina said as she licked her lips. " I always know that my food is your favorite thing to taste but I thought that after three years of married , I would be the best thing that you had tasted!"
At this looked like a blind guy , who finally saw the light in his life for the first time
He wraps his arms around Katrinas waist pulling hr flush against his own body and their lips find each other almost automatically. Eagerness and lust fueled and make the kiss feel electric, but yet somehow it still manages to also be tender. When they break apart both are breathing heavy. Both are left desperately wanting more.
"What that?"She murmured, her fingers brushing over Tony's face.
"For been you'," Tony whispered, mirroring her gesture. "Katrina...I love you so much."
"And I love you." Katrima rolled over, pulling Tomy on top of her. "Show me."
Tony did enthusiastically. They saved dinner just in time.