Chapter Thirty Nine: Starting Over

Nicole didn't want to wake up but her body was telling her too. She still felt like she hadn't slept in a while. She felt the warmth of someone else next to her and closed her eyes tighter. There were voices in the room that barely registered with her brain, and what they were saying escaped her. She rolled slightly and bumped her hip on something, causing pain to surge down her leg. She moaned and opened her eyes.

As soon as the yelp escaped she felt an arm close around her gently. Her eyes looked up and were met with Gibbs' own eyes staring back at her with concern. She gave a small smile as her hand touched where she had bumped her leg. She winced and immediately pulled her hand back. The stitches were touchy she noted. She looked across Gibbs and saw Jen staring at her.

"Hey," Tony's voice said from behind her. She rolled her head slightly looking at him before coming back and burying her face in Gibbs ribs. Gibbs winced a little at the pressure but accepted her, pulling his arm tighter around her.

"Have a good sleep?" Gibbs asked her softly. She looked up at him, watched him a moment, then nodded slowly. She realized she hadn't had a nightmare and a small smile came over her lips. Then the thought of having to go back to the Parks crossed her mind and her eyes dropped.

"What's wrong?" Jen asked reaching across Gibbs slowly and placing a hand on Nicole's shoulder.

"It's over now, they're going to take me away," she said her face buried in Gibbs' chest. Gibbs closed his eyes and when he opened them he stared straight at Jen. He was asking her silently to help him with this, asking if she was ready for the long run, if she would commit to him and Nicole on a full time basis. Jen read the emotion and question in his eye and smiled at him, holding the tears in. Tony shifted nervously against the wall, feeling like he was intruding on a special moment. Gibbs looked up at him briefly before turning back to Nicole. He put a finger under her chin, lifting her head up to look at him.

"No," he said gently. "If you want…you can…stay with me." Gibbs felt tears coming to his eyes. It was out there now; his heart was in her hands. He watched her eyes as she contemplated on what he had just said, watching her debate internally what he was asking. He saw the comprehension flit across her eyes and then the smile light up her features.

"You mean it?" she asked holding her breath, not ready to have it all taken away from her, hoping it wasn't some sick joke.

"Yeah," Gibbs replied in a hoarse voice as he smiled at the girl lying next to him. "I mean it from the bottom of my heart. You want to stay with me, I'll make it work."

Nicole smiled then looked over at Jen and cocked her head to the side. She watched as Jen watched Gibbs, noting the change in her eyes, in her demeanor. Nicole thought about living with Gibbs.

"What about you?" Nicole asked, still looking at Jen. The woman slowly turned her gaze from Gibbs down to the eleven year old a little stunned. She then smiled and swallowed.

"I'm willing to help, and see where things go," she said. Gibbs reached over with his left hand and Jen slid hers in. Nicole then scooted up, leaning against the part of the bed Gibbs had moved up, and looked at DiNozzo standing against the wall. Before she could say anything they heard voices in the hall, and then Abby knocked lightly on the doorjamb.

"Come on in, Abbs," Gibbs said with a smile. Abby surveyed the room as McGee and Ziva came in behind her. She smiled as she saw Nicole sitting up next to Gibbs in the bed, and Director Shepard and Gibbs were holding hands. Tony was leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.

"Told you he was here," Abby said turning to McGee who put his hands up in surrender. Nicole watched them a moment as they came in the room but then turned her attention to Tony again. Abby was about to say something when Nicole spoke first.

"And what about you?" she asked him. He cocked his head to the side and smiled.

"I'm game," Tony replied. Abby looked at him confused and then at Gibbs. McGee looked at the floor and Ziva stared at Tony. Nicole's smile broadened and looked at the three that just came in.

"How you doing, Gibbs?" Abby asked. Gibbs looked at his shoulder in the cast and then back at Abby.

"I'm alive," he replied with a small smile. Abby nodded, her eyes traveling to the linked hands of the Director and Gibbs. Gibbs followed her line of sight then looked back up at her. "Something wrong, Abbs?"

"Nope, something's finally right I think," she said with a smile. Nicole looked at Abby, then McGee, and finally Ziva.

"What about the three of you?" she asked as if they should understand. The three in question looked at each other confused.

"What about us?" McGee asked slowly. Abby thought about what she had asked, then thought about what she had just asked Tony. Her eyes widened and she looked at Gibbs and took a step closer to him. Abby licked her lips and too a deep breath.

"You're serious?" she asked Gibbs with a smile. He nodded and Abby let her eyes drop to Nicole. McGee looked thoroughly confused and Ziva looked at Tony for an explanation. "Anything you need."

Nicole looked at McGee and giggled at his confused look. Gibbs looked down at her and she pointed at McGee. He smiled then shook his head. It was obvious McGee didn't enjoy being the center of attention, especially since Nicole was giggling. His face was starting to turn red. Abby turned to him and put her hands on his shoulders and shook him slightly.

"Abby," he said a little embarrassed.

"Tim, you really don't see what's going on here?" she asked him. He looked at the scene in front of him with confusion then back at Abby. Ziva watched intently, not sure what was happening either. "Nicole, Gibbs, Director Shepard."

"It's ok, McGee," Nicole said from the bed.

"Look, guys, it's going to be a rough road, I'm just going to need some help here and there," Gibbs said looking at each member of his team, knowing that they felt the same about him as he felt about them. They were a family, and they would stick together to the end.

"You know we're here, for anything," Tony said. The other three nodded with agreement and Gibbs looked up at Jen, who smiled down at him with a slight nod. Gibbs then looked at Nicole who beamed back at him.

"It might be tough, Kido, I'm not the easiest man to live with. I'm grouchy, and used to being alone. I still have demons, and I still have my problems, but I think we can learn to handle it together."

"It's ok, Gibbs, nobody is prefect," Nicole replied. He smiled at her and as he looked into that child's eyes, the brightness and happiness beaming back at him, he knew that there might just be hope for him after all.

The End

AN: Wow what a story. I'm really happy with this one, and to think I almost didn't continue after chapter two. Anyway, it clawed its way from the creative goo in my brain and made it's way to paper. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly enjoyed writing it. Thank you to everyone who read this, and a huge double thank you to those who reviewed along the way and kept me going.