Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS ect….. unfortunately
It was a few weeks since Tony's sudden behavioral change and Special Agent Jethro Gibbs was slowly being driven mad by the happy, cheerful and downright effervescent Agent DiNozzo. So Gibbs had decided to grant Tony his request of an extra day off, so that he could take his new girlfriend Tiana to the beach for the weekend and by getting Tony out of the office, had killed two birds with one stone. Now if only he could do something about Abby who was also acting strangely, but with no obvious clue as to what was causing her sudden subdued mood. Gibbs shook his head and made the decision not to drink the water at work, because lunacy was running rampant at NCIS headquarters, more so than usual.
Gibbs sat at his desk on Friday morning and surveyed his little kingdom: Kate was on the phone, checking up on the progress of some lab reports and McGee was typing wildly, pencil clenched between his teeth. Gibbs settled back in his chair and thumbed through his mail, his attention caught by the thick cream envelope marked 'Jethro Gibbs – Private & Confidential' in flowing, feminine handwriting. Handwriting Gibbs knew as well as his own, handwriting that he had not seen in twenty five years.
Gibbs waited until the rest of the team was out of the office and carefully opened the envelope with his pocket knife. 'Dear Jethro, I know it has been a long time' it began.
Tim McGee stuck his head around the corner of the lab and quietly studied his girlfriend for a minute, watching as she sipped from a bottle of water on her desk. 'That was weird' he thought to himself as he took a deep breath and stepped into the lab "Hey Abs" he smiled as he made his way towards her "Hey Tim" she greeted with a tired smile and turned her gaze back to the microscope in front of her "Are you ok, Abby?" McGee asked, concerned "I'm fine, I wish people would stop asking me that" Abby snapped and immediately regretted her outburst as the hurt puppy look crossed Tim's face "I'm sorry babe, I'm just still trying to shake this virus" Abby explained and felt Tim's arms around her waist "Still? Have you seen a doctor yet?" Tim asked and quickly pressed a kiss on the back of her neck "I've got an appointment this afternoon" she replied allowing herself another moment of leaning in his arms before she chased him from the lab, knowing that if Gibbs caught them, there would be bloodshed.
Tim entered the bullpen with Abby on the brain when he noticed Gibbs heading for the elevator "Have we caught a case, boss?" he asked and stepped back when he saw the look on Gibbs' face "No McGee, we haven't. I'm taking the rest of the day off, Kate is in charge" Gibbs ordered and stepped onto the elevator, leaving a bewildered McGee staring into space.
An hour later Gibbs stopped his car in front of a pretty, lemon coloured house in a quiet residential area and stared at the letter for a minute before he stepped out of the car and walked across the manicured lawn and rang the doorbell. "Can I help-Jethro? What are you doing here?" a petite middle aged woman with short blonde curly hair and sapphire eyes asked and Gibbs half-smiled "Hello Marie. May I come in?" he greeted and without waiting for an answer, stepped past the woman into the tastefully appointed foyer "It's been a long time" he remarked as colour began to wash back into her face "You got the letter?" she asked as she ushered Gibbs into the living room, gesturing to a chair "Coffee?" she asked and practically dived for the kitchen, desperately needing a few minutes to regain her composure. Things were going a lot faster than she expected, but she had no choice, she had to go through with it.
Gibbs stood at the mantelpiece and took a breath to steady his nerves. With one letter, his life had been completely and irrevocably changed. Looking at Marie, Gibbs felt as conflicted as he had twenty six years ago, when he fell in love with the wife of his commanding officer.
Marie entered the living room bearing a tray laden with a two cups of coffee and a plate of cookies, and studied Gibbs for a minute as he stared at the photographs gracing the mantle "Coffee's ready" Marie announced and Gibbs turned around and sat in the proffered chair and braced himself "My daughter Allysia is your daughter too, Jethro" Marie divulged as she handed Gibbs a cup of coffee with a slightly trembling hand "So you said in the letter. What I'm curious about is why you're telling me this now, after nearly twenty six years?" Gibbs inquired as he pulled the letter out of the inside of his jacket "Because I'm dying" she declared.
"It's cancer. I found out a week ago and the doctors estimated that I've got a year, at maximum. Allysia doesn't know, mainly because I haven't seen her since she was eighteen. She send me a card every birthday, Christmas and mothers day but other than that, nothing" Marie explained as she stood up and reached for a photo of a petite blonde teenager staring defiantly at the camera "Why?" Gibbs asked and sadness clouded Marie's eyes "Because she hasn't forgiven me for her childhood. My husband figured out that she wasn't his daughter when she was ten, when she needed a blood transfusion and the blood types didn't match. Ever since that day, he took his frustration out of Ally. I couldn't do anything to stop him, I wasn't strong enough" a tear trickled down her cheek. "Does he know who her father is?" Gibbs asked after a few minutes, his white knuckles gripping the arm of the chair the only proof that he was fighting to control his anger "No, and I don't think he has any idea. I need you to find our daughter Jethro, I need to apologise to her. And I need to tell her the truth about her parentage" Marie wiped at the tears and gazed helplessly at Gibbs who sat absolutely still for a few minutes before he nodded "I'll find her for you Marie, but I want to be there when you tell her the truth" Gibbs demanded before he stood up "I'll make the request official through NCIS" Marie offered and Gibbs nodded "It'll be easier that way" he agreed and ten minutes later he left the house, the most recent photo of Allysia Bradbury grasped in an iron grip. His daughter.
Gibbs thumped his head against the steering wheel a few times before starting the engine and driving off.
Marie Bradbury stared at the retreating car through a gap in the curtains with tears streaming down her cheeks as she lost herself in the past.
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