Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Here is another chapter in this great saga...ok so maybe not a saga, but it's sure fun right? This one wrote itself tonight so I hope you're pleased with it. enjoy! dark rolling sea.
Chapter Sixteen: A Night for the Team

They gathered in the living room, the noise overwhelming, as everyone was talking to someone else. Kate's dad shook his head as he headed into the kitchen and Kathy came out to see what the commotion was about. Kate smiled.

"Mom, I'd like to introduce you to a few people," Kate said, bringing silence with her. Kathy smiled and walked up to the group. "This is Tony," Kate said pointing towards DiNozzo, who stepped forward, extending his hand with a broad smile.

"Nice to meet you," Tony said cheerfully. Kathy smiled, shook his hand, and then looked at Kate.

"And this is Ducky," Kate said pointing to the older man as he removed his hat and stooped for Kathy.

"It is an honor," Ducky said as he stood. Kathy's smiled broadened and she nodded to Ducky.

Ann grabbed Kate's arm and pulled her aside as Kathy began to mingle with the newest arrivals. Gibbs watched, as the noise level spiked once again as the group resumed their chattering.

"Kate, we should treat your mother, she's cooked so much this week," Ann said in a hushed tone. Kate's lips curled upwards in a grin as she nodded.

"Cook in or take out?" Kate asked quietly.

"Is there a good restaurant around?"

"Nothing fancy, unless we drive a bit. But remember there is my family coming in too."

"We can cook; we'll go to the store and get what we need then make a meal. I can get Kylie to help me, no need for you to."

"But, Ann," Kate said in a mild protest.

"No, Kate, on us, it's your week," Ann said brimming from ear to ear with a smile. "How many should we expect tonight?"

"She's probably already started for tonight, maybe best to do dinner for tomorrow after we get back from the farm," Kate said glancing at her watch.

"Ok, that gives me more time to prepare. How many are there going to be tomorrow?"

"Well, it's all of us, so that's ten. Plus R. J. will be in tonight, eleven. Now with my family, all four brothers and their families are planning on being here Thursday night I think. So that's twenty three more, and then my parents are two more. That makes thirty six oh and Grandpa seems to pop up around dinner time as well. I think my cousin Meg is coming in for the weekend tomorrow as well."

"Thirty eight then?"

"Wow that's a lot of people, I wonder where we'll put everyone," Kate said looking around.

"We can do outside. Like earlier. I'll get grill foods, and Jeb and Tony can cook things up while Kylie and I make some stuff in the kitchen," Ann said confidently. "It'll be fine, just make sure your mom doesn't start supper tomorrow."

Kate smiled as she nodded. "Thanks so much, Ann, you really don't have too."

"My pleasure, Kate," she said as she rejoined the group. Gibbs walked over to Kate and cocked his head to the side.

"What?" Kate asked him as he reached an arm around her. She settled into it and leaned against him.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Dinner tomorrow night. Ann's going to cook and she designated Kylie and Jeb too, I don't think they know yet."

Gibbs smiled and kissed Kate on the temple. He let her go and walked away from her leaving her with a smile on her face.

It was almost eight at night when R. J.'s plane landed in Ft. Wayne. He was tired but he knew he had at least another hour and a half before he reached the hotel. He obtained his rental car and packed his bags into the trunk before climbing in.

The ride went smoothly as he turned the radio on to keep his attention. He pulled his directions to the hotel out and studied them as he drove along. He tucked them away once he was satisfied he had them committed to memory.

Ann had taken Jeb and Kylie with the two boys back to the hotel, after a day of sitting around at the Todd residence. Kate's brother and his family had retired to their rooms for the night. Abby and McGee were sitting on the couch, with Tony in the chair off to the side, in the living room. Gibbs and Kate were sharing the smaller sofa while Kathy had brought two chairs in from the kitchen for her and Ducky.

"So this is everyone you work with?" Kathy asked Kate as the group smiled.

"Yeah, Mom, this is the team," Kate said with fondness. Gibbs draped his arm her. Abby grinned at everyone slightly bouncing on the couch.

They continued to talk, mostly about what each one did on the team and then about their pasts, if they were willing to talk. Kathy didn't want to push anyone. She was intrigued at how much they interacted as each one spoke, small verbal jives and jabs here and there. Their banter flowed with ease as they kidded each other about things. It came to a head when Kathy asked how their trips in were. Abby started.

"The trip was great, Kathy. Tim and I had a great flight in from Washington. And I made him drive in from that other town, Ft something? Anyway, and the drive was just gorgeous, you know, no cities to ruin the view out here."

"Yes, there are a lot of cornfields," McGee added with a smile. "But I agree with Abby. We have a great trip in."

Ducky took the opportunity once McGee finished to let them know of his two day drive from Washington DC to Indiana. He had stopped over night in Ohio staying in a hotel. His long winded version of the trip had Abby fiddling with her hair and McGee lightly snoozing by the end. Tony was sitting quietly trying to avoid telling his story. Finally Gibbs cut Ducky off and looked at Tony with his lips curling up in a grin.

Tony licked his lips and shook his head. He looked at each face as they returned his stare and finally he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Trip was great," he said with an enthusiastic smile. McGee burst out laughing at this point and Abby grinned at Tony. Gibbs smiled and Kate put her hand over her mouth to keep herself from following McGee. Ducky shook his head with the knowing smile on his lips.

"That so, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked. Kathy looked at them with a confused expression.

"So going the wrong way for two hours is great?" McGee asked only to be greeted with a flying pillow off the edge of the couch. He caught it just as it hit him. He didn't stop laughing. Gibbs picked up a pillow from the smaller sofa and whipped it at Tony. Tony wasn't expecting anything and it bounced off his head and over the back of the chair.

"Hey," Tony said. Gibbs grinned.

"Oh dear, you poor thing, you drove the wrong way?" Kathy asked leaning forward in her chair.

"He drove to Kokomo, Mom," Kate said with a chuckle. Kathy's lips grew into a smile as she realized what Tony had done. Tony ducked his head.

"It's ok, Tony, you didn't know," Abby said cheerfully.

"Thanks, Abs," Tony said with little enthusiasm.

"Kokomo is quite a ways from here," Kathy said with a smile. Tony looked at her and forced a weak smile.

"Yes, I realized that after I called Kate," Tony said with a sigh.

"What's the matter, DiNozzo, directions weren't simple enough?" Gibbs asked. Tony took a breath and shook his head.

"It was a minor error, going on the wrong road. Like you've never been lost, Boss," Tony said exasperated.

"Me? No, never," Gibbs said confidently. Tony gave him a look.

"Come on, Boss, never?" McGee asked with surprise.

"Marines don't get lost, McGee," Gibbs said with a sigh.

"Got that straight," Doug said as he came down the stairs. Gibbs looked up at him and smiled. Doug leaned down and kissed Kate on the head. Tony sulked in the chair as McGee and Abby just smiled. Kathy looked up at her husband. "Who got lost?"

"He did," everyone said together. Tony threw up his hands and groaned.

"I'm not going to live this down am I?" Tony whined.

"Nope," Gibbs said and tossed the other pillow at him. Tony caught it and whipped it at McGee. It caught him in the head and bounced back towards Tony who reached out and snatched it up again.

"Hey!" McGee said rubbing his head. "What was that for?"

"I have to have a reason?" Tony quipped and held the pillow tightly to his chest. Doug shook his head and walked out the front door. Kathy smiled.

"You are a very close knit group," Kathy said quietly as she rose from her seat and headed into the kitchen. Kate removed herself from Gibbs' grasp and followed her. Gibbs watched her go and as his attention was diverted Tony threw the pillow across the room at him. He caught it with his hand before it even came near him, his eyes never leaving Kate. Tony's mouth dropped open.

"DiNozzo, you asking for trouble?" Gibbs said as his head slowly turned to bring Tony into view. Tony shook his head quickly and cringed. Gibbs tucked the pillow behind him and nodded.

Kate caught up with her mom in the kitchen cleaning up some of the mess left by having so many people in the home. Kate started to help her mom who gave her an appreciative smile.

"Mom, about tomorrow night," Kate said as she rinsed a few plates.

"Yes, dear?"

"Don't worry about dinner; my friend is going to take care of it."

"Oh, Kate, she doesn't have too."

"She wants to, and she told me to make sure you don't try to cook. She thinks it's her turn to take care of you."

"But so many people are coming."

"Yeah, we know. She is going to do an outside dinner, grill foods and some stuff from inside."

"Oh, I suppose, but she really doesn't…"

"Mom, it's a done deal," Kate said with a smile. She glanced at the clock and saw it was nearing ten o'clock.

Donovan pulled into the town of Syracuse around quarter till ten. He easily found the motel and went into the office. He registered and got his keys from the manager. He then found his room and started to unload the trunk of the rental car. He looked around and wondered which rooms the others were in. He pulled his cell phone out and dialed Jeb.

"Hey," Jeb said into the line.

"Hey, what room you all in?" Donovan asked.

"You here?"

"Yeah I'm standing outside my room, ahh, 6."

"Hey, I'll be right out hold tight," Jeb said and then the line was dead. Donovan slipped his phone into his pocket then looked around. A few seconds later he saw Jeb come out of a room a few doors down with a grin on his face.

"Hey little man, how's it going?" Donovan asked returning the grin to Jeb.

"Not bad, getting better everyday," he said as they embraced. Donovan nodded.

TBC…