Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Special Treat guys. Chapter was in my head so I spewed it out for ya. Hope you enjoy. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Five: Face to Face With Mr. Todd

The conversation died down again and Charlie and Terri decided to call it an evening. They gathered up their four children and said their goodbyes. The house quieted down a bit, but the remaining kids were still causing quite the commotion. Gibbs was just watching the mass chaos unfold. He noticed that Kate's mother was usually with the children instead of speaking with the adults, and the grandfather had found himself a chair and was lightly dosing. Gibbs hadn't seen Kate's dad around for a while.

Finally it felt too stuffy for Gibbs inside and he excused himself from the group. He went to the front door and out onto the porch. It was spring in Indiana and although it was a little chilly, his long sleeves were enough against the bite in the air.

He took a deep breath and leaned against the railing of the porch, staring out into the vastness of open space surrounding the house. He tried to imagine what it was like for Kate to grow up out here in the middle of nowhere and it made him smile. He noticed off the back of the house on the other side of the white fencing there was a wooded area. It was probably where Grandpa hunted Gibbs thought. He heard the door open and he turned to see who was joining him.

Gibbs leaned back into the railing, using his arms to support most of his weight when he saw Kate's dad come out on the porch with him. Gibbs tensed not knowing how to react to the man. It was then that Gibbs felt something rather large hit the back of his legs and he almost pitched forward from the impact. He spun off the railing while struggling to maintain his balance and Kate's dad reached out quickly and grabbed his arm, righting Gibbs.

"Dammit, Bear, get down from there," he yelled. Gibbs looked up to see the biggest dog he had ever seen up on its hind legs with its paws resting on the porch under the railing. Its tongue was hanging out and it had a playful glint in its eyes. It was all white near as Gibbs could tell in the dark. It was then that the dog unceremoniously shook its head rapidly from side to side and drool went flying ten feet in every direction. Gibbs ducked but in vain. He was slimed. The dog didn't move and Kate's dad took a step closer with his hand raised, one finger pointing up. The dog immediately jumped down off the porch and sat down with his head ducked, looking up.

"Sorry bout that, damn dog still learning manners. Not like ol' Beau," Kate's dad said still looking at the dog. Gibbs took a breath and wiped at the slime on his pant leg. He looked up at the dog and shook his head.

"That is one big dog," Gibbs said softly.

"Bear, yeah, he's bout five five five six he stands up on his hunches. Weighs in a good one twenty one thirty. Only a year too."

"That dog is only a year old?"

"Just turned."

"What kind of dog is that?"

"Called Great Pyrenees. Beau out there, he's almost two hundred pounds, though he's on the bigger side of the breed."

"Two hundred pound dog?"

"Yep. So my Ryan tells me you were a marine."

"Was," Gibbs replied his attention still on the dog.

"Says your son was too."

"Yes, one was a marine, the other a Ranger in the army."

"He never said you have two sons."

"I only have one left," Gibbs said quietly. Kate's dad decided to leave that alone. Maybe he would ask Kate about it, didn't seem like Ryan knew much about another son, just the one and his grandsons.

"He told me you saw action. Grenada and Desert Storm."

"Saw some."

"I was a marine too. Force Recon. Did my time in the jungle," he said softly and he leaned on the railing. The dog had given up and bounded off into the darkness. Gibbs was still weary and stayed closer to the house.

"Viet Nam," Gibbs said in respect.

"Yep. Did some growing up there. Was a Gunny. Heard you held the same."

"Yes, I did. War makes everyone grow up."

"Or stay young," Kate's dad said flatly. "Name's Douglas. Can call me Doug," he said turning from the rail and extending a hand. Gibbs smiled and took a step forward gripping his hand.

"Jethro."

"Hope you don't mind me saying, but that is a funny name."

"Suits me."

"That's all that matters. Name gotta fit the person. Hard to know when they're first born what to name 'em."

"Took my son forty eight hours after his little one was born to name him."

"Happens that way. What'd they pick?"

"Noah Simon."

"Good name for a boy. My wife she knew when she was having a girl what the name would be. Always wanted a Caitlin. Course the boys names couldn't agree ever and the more we had the more we couldn't agree. Miracle they all got names."

Gibbs smiled at the comment. He felt less threatened now. He was looking up at the star filled sky. You didn't see one like that living in Washington he had to admit. The entire sky was lit up with tiny lights. Gibbs heard a dog bark. Doug looked out toward the kennel. They were silent for a while.

"Heard you survived round one with my father," Doug said after a while. Gibbs chuckled.

"Wasn't all bad. I learned that there used to be Elk in this area."

"Pops always did like to talk about hunting, and every other subject. Just wait till he finds out your military. You'll get civil war stories from here to Chicago."

"He sure likes to talk," he replied with a smile.

"Kate tells me you have a small family."

"Yeah, just my boy his wife, my boy's mother, then the two grandsons. Rest are the people I work with."

"Not much at all. Not good to not have family. Need someone to count on."

"I have enough to count on," Gibbs replied softly. Doug nodded. He understood. It isn't necessarily always quantity but quality that mattered.

"Bit overwhelmed coming in here then?"

"Yes, a little. You definitely have a large family."

"Wait till you meet the rest of them. My wife, she invited the entire clan from both sides," he said with a smile. Gibbs only feigned a smile and looked up at the stars again. Great can hardly wait, he said to himself. "I got five brothers and sisters and Kathy she's got six."

Gibbs didn't answer he just looked down at his feet. Doug smiled. He could tell Gibbs wasn't a man used to talking. He was a man used to being in charge of things. He wasn't a man that was comfortable talking about himself. He left it be for a while, as they enjoyed the brisk cool air of spring in silence.

The wind picked up a little and Gibbs felt the chill hit him. He flinched, just a little. Doug didn't even seem to notice. Gibbs found it odd that there was a wind, but no clouds, but when he looked up at the stars again he was shocked. There were a couple clouds moving in. The wind started to pick up more.

"Better move inside, gonna get wet out here pretty quick," Doug said softly as he pushed off the railing and moved towards the house. They heard thunder rolling not to far off and some bright flashes of lightening on the horizon. Gibbs was still staring up at the clouds. "Weather moves pretty quick out here. You'll see that over the next ten days," he said as he passed Gibbs. He then pulled the door open and waited as Gibbs finally turned and moved into the house. Doug followed pulling the door shut. Kate was a little surprised to see Gibbs and her father come in from outside together and she looked at Gibbs questioningly. He smiled at her and went over to the couch. She joined him. No sooner than when he sat down did he hear something slam against the window. He looked up to see rain pelting the pane. He shook his head. Kate's grandfather awoke suddenly and looked around. He sighed and said he was going to leave. After the goodbyes were said Kate made her way towards Gibbs.

"Hey," Kate said as she sat down next to him on the couch.

"Hey," he said with a smile.

"What happened outside?" she asked. Gibbs smiled at the curiously in her eyes. She was itching to know what he and her father had been discussing.

"Not much just talking with your father. Good guy."

"He didn't threaten bodily harm?"

"No but Bear did."

"Bear? The new dog? What happened?"

"He…you have very big dogs by the way…jumped up on the porch damn near bowled me over. Then he slimed me."

"I'm sorry. I should have warned you about the dogs, but Beau has such good manners. I forgot about the new puppy."

"Puppy? That damn thing is huge."

"Yes, but he is only a year old. Just because he grew fast doesn't mean he isn't still a puppy."

"What did you mean did your dad threaten me with bodily harm?" Gibbs asked his eyebrow cocking up. Kate smiled.

"He has a habit of threatening is all."

"Past experience?"

"Well in high school I brought Danny Cooper home one time. Let's just saw Dad met him at the door with the shot gun. Danny didn't want to hang out with me anymore."

"Shut gun?"

"He would never really shoot one. He just liked to…scare. Besides he only did that to Danny Cooper. It was a good thing. I guess Ryan had come home and told him about me seeing him. Danny Cooper was only interested in one thing, and I was naïve. Ryan made sure nothing happened to me."

"Your family is very protective," Gibbs said as he leaned over and kissed her temple. Kate was a little shocked, Gibbs didn't usually show affection like that when other people were around. He noted the shock in her eyes and smiled.

"Very."

"It's being the only girl. He told me that your name was the only one picked out."

"I've heard that story. And I remember when E. J. was born. They didn't name him for three weeks after he was born."

"And I thought Jeb and Kylie took forever."

Kate smiled and snuggled into Gibbs. He felt the fatigue of the day hitting him and his eyes were suddenly drowsy. He looked around the house and saw that Kate's younger brother was getting his children ready to leave. It looked like the four year olds were practically asleep already. They said their goodbyes and left. Shortly after E. J. left Ryan and his crew decided to call it a night as well. The house was empty again accept for Kate, Gibbs, and Kate's parents. It was quiet and Gibbs smiled.

It was then that Gibbs finally saw Kate's mom coming towards them. He smiled and she returned it before picking a chair close to the couch. Kate was curled up, with her legs under her, into Gibbs side with his arm around her. She had her head resting on his shoulder. Kate's mom sat down.

TBC…