AN: Hey guys sorry about the wait. This story was moving so fast then I sorta got writers block for a week or so and then it was broken when I got roped into an original work I started and then had to rewrite...anyway here is chapter nine. its short and not much happens but it's important! enjoy. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Nine: Manic Monday
Gibbs woke that next morning a little sore. He stretched his body to alleviate some of the ache and winced as his muscles screamed at him. He wasn't used to the type of physical aptitude it took to play basketball, especially with the likes of the Todds. He glanced over at Kate and noticed she was still asleep. He didn't wake her; he simply pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt and went down stairs.
He found the house relatively quiet, as most of the house was still asleep. Gibbs went out on the porch and saw the sun starting to peak up over the horizon so he sat in the chair, feeling the cool nip of the spring air. The sun poked up slowly, bringing with it perfect hues of pink, orange, and red. The light made a brilliant display of choreographed proportion, as the darkness became light once again.
The giant orange ball was finally hovering just over the horizon line when Gibbs heard the front door open. He glanced over and saw Kate's brother coming out. Josh smiled and then took an empty chair next to Gibbs and settled in. They were silent a moment as they breathed in the fresh air.
"My sister sees a lot in you," Josh said after a while. Gibbs glanced at him but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure where this was going. "I think she's right. Something about you. And you can play ball."
Gibbs smiled and nodded. They were silent again, Gibbs not wanting to ruin the serine quiet of the setting. There was a shrill whinny from behind the barn and Gibbs looked that way. Two horses came out of the barn at a trot. It was the first time Gibbs had seen the horses, he didn't even know they had any until that point.
"She says you're a marine," Josh said with a sideways glance. Gibbs nodded. "Semper fi. What rank?"
"Gunny," Gibbs replied as he watched the horses tear around the white fence in a race. He then saw the 'puppy' that had 'attacked' him earlier bound around the fence after the horses.
"Enlisted man."
"Yes. Was in the reserves."
"Grenada?"
"And Desert Storm."
"I was in the Desert too," Josh said quietly. Gibbs nodded then both were silent again. They remained that way until Gibbs felt the urge for coffee. With the sun all the way up in the sky, it was no longer giving off a brilliant display of color, and thus had lost its pleasure. He stood slowly and again stretched a little. Josh caught the movement and chuckled a little. He felt the aftermath of the game from yesterday as well. Gibbs then went back into the house leaving Josh out on the porch.
When he got inside he smelled the coffee and the breakfast cooking. He found Kathy in the kitchen, again refusing his offer to help. She told him that breakfast would be ready for them soon. Gibbs only smiled, poured a cup of coffee, and left her to do her work.
He went back upstairs, continuously checking the clock. His family came in today. They were scheduled to land in Chicago and drive through the state of Indiana. He was almost giddy, a rare feeling for him, to be seeing his family again.
Soon breakfast was ready and eaten in relative silence. Again Gibbs found Kyler watching him. He would have to ask the lad what was so fascinating. Once breakfast was done, Gibbs retreated to the living room to relax a little. Kate found him and sat down next to him on the couch. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer to him. He gave her a kiss on the temple.
Kyler came up in front of him and stood. Gibbs stared right back at him with his interrogator face. Kyler studied the older man. Gibbs remained stiff. A small smile tugged at Kate's lips.
"Something wrong?" Gibbs asked quietly. Kyler considered his question a moment.
"Aunt Kate told me you were Agent of the year six times," the boy said thoughtfully. Gibbs glanced sideways at Kate, giving her his look. She put a hand to her mouth to hide the smile that was growing.
"That so," Gibbs said.
"Yes. Is it true?"
"Guess if your Aunt Kate said it, it must be true," Gibbs replied looking down a moment before looking back at the boy.
"Could you teach me to be an agent like that?"
Gibbs stared at the boy thinking about his question. Kate cocked her head sideways watching her nephew. Gibbs smiled. "If you want to be an agent, I think we can handle that."
The boy beamed with a smile and nodded. He then turned quickly and disappeared up the steps, taking two at a time. Gibbs watched him. Kate looked at Gibbs with a huge smile on her face.
"You told your nephew about me?"
"A little," Kate said then leaned in and kissed him. Gibbs shook his head. The rest of the morning went smoothly and Gibbs grew anxious. It was getting closer and closer to the time his family was to arrive. Finally they called, their flight had landed at Midway Airport and they were on the road in the rental car. He knew it would be almost three hours before they got there from that point, the time couldn't pass fast enough.
Jeb had the two boys buckled into the back of the rental mini van they had. They had all decided that Ann would drive, with Jeb as navigator, and Kylie would ride in the back with the boys to help with them.
They got on the road after their airplane landed. After leaving the airport on Cicero Avenue they merged onto the Stevenson Express until it in turn merged into the Dan Ryan express. They took the exit that said to Indiana and ended up on Interstate 80/90, also known as the Indiana Toll Road. So far so good, Jeb thought, this was pretty simple.
They were on the toll road for about an hour and a half as they traveled across the northern edge of the state of Indiana. They passed Portage, then Crown Point, Valparaiso, Michigan City, and LaPorte. They stopped at the Knute Rockne Travel Plaza and got a bite to eat, also letting Hunter out of the vehicle to charge around in the brisk Indiana spring.
Once they were ready they all piled back into the mini van and started on the road again. They came to exit 72, and Jeb told his mother to get off the toll road. She did, paying the toll and then they were on US 31 heading towards South Bend. 31 became US 20 and they continued east. They came upon Indiana State Road 19 and headed south towards Nappanee and Wakarusa, until they came upon US 6 and made a left turn.
Jeb was still fairly sure they were on the right track. Hunter was getting cagy in the back seat and Kylie was trying to keep Noah from fussing. Ann was a little tired from driving, and hoped they were almost there. They came upon County Road 29 and made a right turn. The road then became Huntington St and took them into town, when they made a left turn on Main Street. Jeb called Gibbs and got further directions to the house after they had checked into a local motel.
Gibbs stood on the porch and waited. Kate sat in the chair and watched him scan the road for the mini van. She smiled. Finally a red mini van pulled slowly into the driveway and Gibbs went out to meet them. The van had hardly stopped when the side door burst open and Hunter leaped from the van. He hit the ground running, with a grin straddling his face.
He charged into Gibbs and jumped. Gibbs caught him up in his arms with a smile and hugged him tight. He slid him to his hip and smiled as the rest of his family got out of the van. Kylie came out carrying Noah in the baby carrier.
"Hey, buddy," Gibbs said to Hunter with a smile. The boy giggled and leaned his head on his grandfather's shoulder. "Jeb," Gibbs said giving his son a brief hug. Ann came up and embraced Gibbs before taking Noah from Kylie, who in turn hugged Gibbs.
"Hey, Kate," Jeb said with a wave as Kate made her way down to greet the family. Hellos were shared and then all were ushered into the house where introductions were given of the Todds remaining in the house. After a short chat, Kathy announced that lunch was ready to be served.
The food was served and there was a lot of talk and catching up. After lunch, Gibbs sat on the couch with Noah cradled in his arms, sound asleep. Kate was next to him snuggled into his side. Hunter was playing quietly at his feet as Jeb and Kylie sat on the porch. Ann was out with Kathy looking at the horses.
"You ready for this full time?" Kate asked. Gibbs looked at her then down at Noah. He smiled.
"Yeah, I think I am," Gibbs said softly.
TBC…
