Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of their characters, plots ect… If I did, Twilight would never have happened. I am in Twilight Denial…. I do however, own Tiana…
Chapter Twelve:
Alone in his toolshed where he was never disturbed, away from all the pressures of the world, a man sits in the dark, drinking expensive scotch from a chipped porcelain mug and staring at the wall in front of him. A wall covered with photographs, all depicting the same young girl gracefully blossoming from adolescent to womanhood. In his lap he holds a photograph album of newspaper clippings, these are his proudest memories. Here, in this toolshed, he can truly give into his feelings and come to terms with the future….
Gibbs sat in his car, in front of Tony's apartment building and took a few deep breaths that one of his ex marriage counselors had recommended. With a snort Gibbs gave up and exited the car, making his way into the building towards Tony's apartment.
Tony was making pancakes for breakfast while Tiana used up all the hot water in the shower as she sung along loudly to Frank Sinatra, making Tony laugh. The doorbell rang and Tony flung the door open and found his boss standing on the other side, looking slightly uncomfortable "Morning Boss" Tony greeted and ushered Gibbs into the surprisingly well furnished apartment "Tia's still in the shower, want some pancakes?" Tony asked as he lead the way to the kitchen and settled Gibbs at the glass topped table near the window. Before Gibbs could answer Tony leaned out of the doorway into the living area "Tia, visitors. And the pancakes are nearly done" Tony called and turned back to his boss, seemingly unsurprised at the early morning visit "Coffee?" he asked as he pulled three mugs from the cupboard and poured without waiting for an answer. "This is a nice apartment, Tony" Gibbs said, sounding a little surprised as he settled back into the chair and studied the room "Thanks, I think. Contrary to popular belief I don't actually live like a college fratboy" Tony said and set the coffee and a plate of pancakes in front of Gibbs "Eat. If you don't eat, Tia won't eat. She's still getting used to the fact that I can cook" Tony said and Gibbs shrugged and dug in "Tiana, the pancakes are going cold" Tony called and Tia appeared in the doorway, clad in a short red silk kimono, black stockings and black knee high boots, blonde hair tumbling everywhere "I'm here, I'm here. Relax honeybaby, I won't make you late for work" she added and spotted Gibbs "Morning, Special Agent" she added as she walked across the kitchen, grabbed her plate of pancakes and settled herself at the table. Gibbs stared at her for a minute before he shook his head, picked up his fork and settled down to eat.
"You know Tiana, maybe you could call me something other that 'Special Agent', seeing as I am your… um father?" Gibbs asked and Tia looked up at him, her dark blue eyes into his frosty blue eyes "Have the tests come back yet?" she asked and Gibbs shook his head "Then until they do, I'll stick to 'Special Agent'. After the tests come back, we'll reevaluate" Tia added and swallowed the last of her pancakes, then looked over at Tony with sad eyes and pouty lips "Forget it angel, you're not stealing my breakfast. If you don't get a move on we'll be late" Tony said and Tia looked up at the grinning Garfield clock on the wall "Oh crap" she said and stood up, quickly stacked her plate in the dishwasher "Give me ten minutes" she said over her shoulder as she dashed towards the bedroom.
"What's going on?" Gibbs asked as Tony ate his last pancake "Tia was going to come in with me and check how the DNA tests were going. Plus she figured the Director would want a chat with her" Tony said and Gibbs' head snapped up "What made her say that" Gibbs asked sharply and stood up to put his plate in the dishwasher "Her stepdad was the one who requested that we look into her 'disappearance' and she guessed that you would have to explain how we found her. She wanted to be there for that, I guess" Tony explained as he cleaned up the kitchen and topped up Gibbs' coffee cup and listened for sounds of Tia thumping around their bedroom "So when does she move in?" Gibbs asked awkwardly and Tony grinned "We're moving her stuff on Saturday. She says she's already packed, because military kids travel light" Tony said and heard Tia's boots in the hallway "Okay I'm ready" she announced as she stood in the doorway and rummaged around in her bright yellow courier backpack, not seeing Gibbs and Tony's faces as they realized what she was wearing.
Tiana was dressed in her black leather knee high boots that Tony had only ever seen her wear in the privacy of the apartment, black sheer stockings and a blood red leather miniskirt. She wore a black lycra sleeveless t-shirt and a leather jacket that matched the skirt and her hair tumbled around her face in messy curls, makeup dark and flawless. Gibbs cleared his throat as his face reddened "You're going to meet the NCIS Director dressed like that?" Gibbs asked and Tia smiled "Actually I'm going to work dressed this. I've got a couple of high-bond skips to grab today and one of them is a teenage boy busted for selling X to an undercover cop. If I can't find him today I've got to go to a rave on the weekend. Which I don't really want to do, and if I go hunting dressed like this then he will be so much easier to find" she added sweetly and looked up at Tony "What?" she asked defensively and Tony just smiled "Nothing, nothing. Madame Tiana, Mistress of Pain" Tony laughed and shooed Gibbs and Tia from the apartment, to begin the day.