Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Here you go guys fourth installment. And man from the reviews...you guys never experienced rude then if you think this is rude...I could write rude...anyway...enjoy...dark rolling sea.
Chapter Four: Dinner and Grandpa

Gibbs was glad he was between Kate and Melanie. It was loud most of the dinner as everyone was talking at once. Gibbs had a nice conversation with Melanie for a while as they ate as she probed into his background. He was not very revealing but he made an effort. Eventually she gave up on him and changed the subject. Gibbs was grateful.

Kate's mother had really prepared a feast. Gibbs was impressed. They had so much food Gibbs almost didn't know where to start. There was ham, Polish sausage (upon questioning Kate told him her mother was fifty percent Polish), home made noodles, mashed potatoes, some with ranch mixed in some with out, gravy, rolls, and more.

Finally the meal was done and everyone was leaving the kitchen area, the kids had already vacated and split into smaller groups around the house. Gibbs noticed the oldest girl off by herself. He was standing in the living room just observing as the family interacted when he felt someone come up beside him. He turned and there was grandpa. Gibbs smiled.

"So, you're the one that snagged my granddaughter," the old man said with a smile extending his hand.

"Yes, sir." Gibbs said with a nod.

"Name's Jeremiah Todd, but all call me grandpa, feel free to do the same. That don't suit you can call me Jerry."

"Will do," Gibbs said as he turned his attention back to the room.

"Do you know any history of the state of Indiana?"

"Can't say that I do," Gibbs replied giving a sideways glance. He knew he was in for a history lesson now.

"It became a state on December 11, 1816. It was the 19th state."

"I didn't know that."

"In those days the capital was way down south, place called Corydon. Might as well have been in Kentucky. Good thing they moved 'er up to Indy in 1825. Corydon's so small barely makes it on the map. Now Indianapolis, there's a city. Well I guess in the grand scheme of things it's not really, but for us it's a city. Got some things there, Indy 500, the Colts, a nice state park downtown. Know where the name Indiana comes from?"

"From Indians?"

"Yessiree. Name means 'land of Indians'. Named that ba'cuz of all the Indians that lived here way back when they first settled this land. But they call us Hoosiers. Funny no one really knows why, got us some guesses, yep, but no ones sure why. Couple stories floating around. One that's real popular is the 'who's here' story. Back when Indiana was less populated in the early 1800's people'd shout 'who's here' when someone came 'round. Evolved into Hoosier. 'Nother story tells of the 'who's ear' theory. Lots of fights and brawls in the early days. Saloon and Inn keepers find ears the next morning. Ba'cuz it was dirty fighting back then. He'd kick the darn thing and ask 'all right who's ear'.

"Course they got the two theories about where is came from involves people's names. First one is the Hoosier River Men. They roamed the waterways of this state way back bullying people and hustlin' people. Got the nickname Hushers ba'cuz they 'hushed' their opponents. Then it became Hoosier. Then of course there is Mr. Hoosier. He was a contractor they said was game to hiring men from Indiana to work the Louisville and Portland Canal. Men became know as Hoosier's men, and then later just Hoosiers.

"But nobody really knows where it came from, they just call us Hoosiers. Makes you think about nicknames. Most people forget where they come from but the good ones really stick. Guess it was a good one, but everyone that knew long past. You ever think on it?"

"Can't say that I have," Gibbs replied, trying to express interest. He was watching Kate interact with her nieces and nephews.

"You like to hunt?"

"Not into hunting," Gibbs said. Animals anyway he brain threw in.

"Too bad. Hunting is good in Indiana. Suppose it was better in the old days though. Back in the early 1800's there was much more wildlife, lots more animals around. Couple types not around here anymore. Haven't seen in the state in years. Used to be Elk, but last one was seen round 1830 then of course we used to have Wolverines. But them been gone since early 1850s. Most people don't realize but we also used to have abundance of Bison here in this state. Yeah but they were all gone by 1830 or so. Couple types of Wolves, both gray and red. Neither one around anymore. Red wolf was gone by mid 1830s and the gray one disappeared in the early 1900s. Couple more animals disappeared too."

Gibbs nodded politely. Kate wasn't joking, this man liked to talk, and he didn't need anyone to keep him going. Gibbs was looking around for anyone to "rescue" him but it seemed like everyone else was engaged in conversation. He looked at the floor and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Ever been in a tornado?" Grandpa asked curiously. Gibbs looked up at him and shook his head.

"No, can't say I have," Gibbs replied softly.

"Tornadoes, now those are wild beasts. They eat up everything in their path. Eat it, chew it, spit it out at you, and all in a matter of seconds. No warning just comes down and takes its fill then breaks up and lets the sun come out. Had us some bad ones round here in the past. Was one in 1917 lasted two days. Pretty unusual, since most only last a matter of seconds or minutes, maybe a few hours at most. Two days it chewed its way up the states. Made it across multiple states too. Ended up in northern Indiana. Took a mansion in Kouts, picked the sucker up and moved it an entire block before setting the thing down. And you know what, nothing inside the house was disturbed. Funny things about tornadoes. Sometimes things are untouched. Or take for instance tornado comes through and completely demolishes the house, I mean nothing left right? But the barn twenty feet off the side of the house doesn't even have a scratch in the paint job.

"Now we had some other tornadoes closer here. On April 11, 1965 35 tornadoes came a licking across northern Indiana. Killed some 271 people. 130 of 'em came from towns right round here. Ft. Wayne, Goshen, Elkhart, Dunlop, Marion, towns like that got hit hard. We took some here in Syracuse too. Was a chilling day.

"Course 'nother one ripped through in April of '74. 148 tornadoes devastated the state. Was 'nother big one. Estimated 315 people died in those. Then there was the big one in 1925 that killed 689 people. It lasted bout five hours. Causing all kinds of hell. Took the town a Princeton down south, ate the whole thing. Nothing left at all of that one. They said the costs of damages exceed five hundred million on that one. Think about that. That's a lot of damage. And there were more deaths, they just couldn't officially count 'em. Never found the bodies. Don't know what happened to them."

"Interesting," Gibbs mumbled. He smiled when he saw Kate coming towards him. Grandpa stopped his speal as he saw her too.

"How's it going, Grandpa?"

"Just telling your friend here the finer points of Indiana. You know he doesn't know a lick about the state?"

"He knows the capital," Kate said with a smile. Gibbs ducked his head. "Mind if I steal him back?"

"Not at all," Grandpa said with a smile. The old man then shifted and went off to another corner. Gibbs looked at Kate and smiled an appreciative smile.

"I guess you were right," Gibbs said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Yes, that man likes to talk."

"That he does," Kate replied with a smile and then took Gibbs' hand and led him to another part of the room. "Come on we can chat with someone else for a while."

Gibbs followed Kate and they ended up sitting down with her brother Ryan and his wife Paula. Shortly after sitting down they were joined by another brother Charlie and his wife Terri. The six of them sat in silence for a minute.

"So how'd you two meet?" Terri asked. Kate looked at Gibbs then began the story about Air Force one and her being with the secret service and him being with NCIS. "And how long after that before you became a couple?"

"Two years," Kate said as her hand slipped into Gibbs. He squeezed her softly.

"How'd that happen?" Charlie asked. Everyone gave him a look and he shrugged.

"We had a little help from his son," Kate said. She noticed that Gibbs wasn't even thinking about answering any questions. She nudged him and he looked at her. She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and she gave him a smile. He nodded.

"You have a son then?" Paula asked.

"Yes. His name is Jeb. You'll meet him in a few days," Gibbs replied.

"Jeb? Like the general?" Charlie asked. Everyone looked at him funny. "What! You know the one Gramps is always talking about, Jeb Stuart. Confederate Calvary. Am I the only one that listens to the old man?"

"He goes by his initials," Gibbs replied. Everyone just smiled.

"So his last name isn't Gibbs?" Charlie asked again. This time Terri jabbed him in the ribs. He looked at her with a questioning look. Kate pursed her lips and shot a dagger at her brother from her eyes. Charlie rubbed his ribs and looked hurt.

"No it isn't," Gibbs said looking at the coffee table in front of him. "His last name is McPherson." As they were talking E. J. the youngest came up to them and stood next to Charlie.

"You said you have a grandson?" E. J. asked. He smiled when Kate looked up at him. He had a mischievous smile on his face.

"Yes, I have two. Hunter is seven, and Noah is 2 months old now."

"How old is your son?" Terri asked with a smile. Gibbs was feeling a little cornered with the 'interrogation' that was going on.

"He is twenty six," Gibbs said plainly. Everyone was silent a moment before Ryan broke the quiet.

"What did you do before NCIS?" he asked.

"I was a marine," Gibbs said quietly. "Been with NCIS for over 20 years now."

"You were a marine?" Ryan asked a smile playing on his lips. Gibbs simply nodded.

"You see action?" Charlie asked. He braced for another assault but was surprised not to get one, he smiled.

"Little. Grenada, Desert Storm."

"You were in the first Iraq deal?" Terri asked.

"Yes," he replied quietly.

"What rank you hold?" Charlie asked.

"Gunnery Sergeant." Kate was impressed that Gibbs was handling this so well. She knew how he didn't like to talk about himself and she also knew her family was going to dig as deep as he'd let them.

"What does your son do," E. J. asked.

"He works for a computer company now."

"Now? What'd he used to do?"

"He was a marine until he was medically discharge. Then worked for the CIA for a stint until he found it too dangerous (that received a smile from Kate), now he works for the computer place."

"Medical discharge? Was he wounded in service?" Ryan asked.

"No. He was hit by a drunk driver when he was nineteen," Gibbs replied softly looking down again.

"I'm sorry," Terri said.

"It's not your fault. You didn't hit him," Gibbs said looking up. Again everyone was quiet. The house was noisy with all the kids running around and Gibbs felt a little overwhelmed with the sheer amount of people. But he stuck it out and he continued to answer the questions as they probed him about his past. He said little about where he came from and his own family aside from his son and grandson. They also asked about the rest of the team and Kate helped field some questions and Gibbs was relieved.

TBC…


AN: Hope you enjoyed...good Indiana history lesson. :-)