Chapter Nineteen: Family Get Together
As they returned from the farm Kate called ahead and told Jeb that they would meet them back at Kate's parent's house for the dinner. Jeb told her that was fine and that Ann had spent the day preparing for the shindig and they were planning on heading over soon anyway. Gibbs was quiet throughout the drive as the three kids laughed and joked in the backseat. He continued to check his rearview mirror to make sure Abby and Tony were still with them.
Finally they arrived at Kate's parent's house and the kids scrambled out of the car and disappeared, Hunter falling in line with Kate's nieces and nephews. Most of Kate's family was already there and Ann had the grill fired up. Jeb and Donovan were standing in front of it tending to the meat. Gibbs walked over to them to supervise.
McGee was sitting at the picnic table talking to Melanie, when he saw Abby and waved her over. Abby joined him and Tony followed her as Kate migrated towards her cousin Megan who was sitting on the ground watching the kids tussle in the yard. She sat down next to her.
"Hey, Kate," Meg said with a smile. Kate smiled in return as she stretched out, leaning back on her hands.
"Hey, Meg," Kate replied watching Hunter interact with the other kids.
"Looks like he fits in," Meg continued.
"I'm glad," Kate replied her gaze traveling to and settling on Gibbs.
She watched as he laughed at his son when the flame got a little out of control and then he took over the grilling. Ann came out and yelled at him making him give the duty back to Jeb. Donovan had a grin on his face through the whole ordeal. Kate glanced at Meg and saw her staring.
"Oh lord," Kate said shaking her head at Gibbs trying to tell Jeb how to grill.
"He's a good father," Meg said with a smile, but her eyes were still on Donovan.
"He's good looking," Kate said nudging her.
"I'm not commenting on your future hus…" Meg started.
"I wasn't talking about Jethro. I can get you a napkin if you like," Kate said chidingly. Meg looked at her with crimped eyebrows. Kate smiled sweetly at her cousin.
"Kate," Meg said warningly.
"What? You're the one staring at him, not me," she said with a laugh. Meg bit at her lip and ducked her head, her cheeks creeping a little red into them.
"Shut up," she said trying to suppress a laugh. Kate punched her lightly in the shoulder before leaning in close.
"He's available, and you're standing next to him for the wedding," Kate said in a whisper. Meg looked at her a moment before slowly shaking her head again, a grin slowly spreading across her face.
"He lives in DC.," Meg said half heartedly.
"Yeah, so do I, just think," Kate said with a broad smile.
Megan gave her a look before shaking her head and shifting her attention elsewhere. Their conversation drifted away from men as they enjoyed the brisk weather waiting for the food to be done. The yard was bustling with noise as Kate's family took up as much space as an army.
Finally the food was ready and everyone found a space and started to eat. Kate looked around and saw Gibbs' family intermingled with her family and she smiled. She felt someone sit down next to her and looked over to see Gibbs, a smile on his face.
"Everyone is commingling," he whispered to her.
"I know," she whispered back.
"Ducky and your grandfather have been telling stories to each other for hours now," Gibbs replied with a laugh.
"That could be interesting to listen to," Kate said thoughtful.
"Well, if you can follow it. They're both telling a story."
"At the same time?"
"Yep, talking to each other like the other is listening," Gibbs said shrugging his shoulders as he took another bite. Kate covered her mouth as she laughed.
"At least they'll be occupied for a while," Kate said as Gibbs nodded with a smile.
Soon the food was eaten and the family was sitting around the multiple picnic tables talking, as Kate and Gibbs made the rounds, making a point to talk to each table. It was getting later when E. J. stood and looked at Josh. Josh nodded and the two stood up and moved towards the basketball court.
"Time for a game," E. J. called over his shoulder. "Josh and Jeb are captains."
Jeb looked up at E. J. with question but he simply shrugged his shoulders and pointed to the center of the court. Josh was already there with basketball in his hands. He looked around at the people milling about at the tables.
"Who's in?" Josh yelled over the dull roar of noise. Tony stood up quickly and moved away from Abby and McGee making his way to the court.
"Round ball, I'm game," Tony said with a smile.
"Go on, Jethro," Kate said quietly, nudging him in the ribs. He looked at her but then got up and moved to the courts.
Soon they had ten people interested in playing a game, one of them being Megan. Josh and Jeb took turns picking teammates. Jeb ended up with Megan, Donovan, Ryan, and Gibbs. Josh's team consisted of E. J., Charlie, Josh Jr., and Tony. They set up to play a five on five full court game.
The rest of the family gathered around the outside of the court, some dragging the picnic tables closer. Abby, McGee, Ann, and Kylie all moved closer and took seats at a table with a couple of Kate's sisters-in-law. Kate sat on the grass with Hunter between her legs.
The game was fast paced and physical back and forth. Neither team had an edge as they worked the court. The score stayed pretty even with one team taking a lead then the other team taking it back. The rest of the people were into the game, each cheering for one side of the other.
Kate grinned as Megan held her own in the game and even bested the guys on occasion. The two of them had been trouble for opposition when they were in high school together. Finally the game was coming to an end as the sun sank in the sky. The game was tied and Josh's team had the ball on the far end of the court.
"Next bucket wins," Doug yelled out from the table. Both teams nod in agreement as the ball starts to move down the court. Josh in-bounded to J. J. who dribbled towards the other half of the court He watched as Jeb's team played man to man defense.
The ball came over the half court line and Megan came up guarding J. J. He went to move to the right but Megan read the move and stepped into his path, he pulled the ball up and spun, bouncing the ball the other way to Charlie, who looked immediately and tossed the ball cross court to E. J. Tony was posting under the basket and E. J. tossed a pass his way but Megan reached out and knocked the ball sideways into Donovan's hands.
Jeb broke up the far side and Donovan flung the ball towards him with force, while Megan sprinted up the near side of the court. Tony and J. J. both sprinted for Jeb trapping him, but he was able to bounce the ball out for Megan who was heading for the net when E. J. came up from behind her. She noticed another body at the three line behind and flipped the ball towards him.
Donovan caught the bounce pass and gently pulled up and put the bull through the net with ease. A smile crossed his face as Megan, Jeb, Gibbs, and Ryan came up to him. The others stood hunched over wondering what went wrong. They all shook hands and the crowd started to dissipate as people started to go home. It was dark now as the smaller party moved into the house.
Kate sat on the couch with Gibbs next to her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Donovan sat in the recliner to their right as Kylie and Jeb sat on the smaller couch together. Megan sat down next to Kate, while Ann pulled up a chair from the kitchen. Tony took a seat on the floor and Abby joined him while McGee grabbed another chair from the kitchen.
Their conversation was light and jovial as they shared stories with each other. Megan embarrassed Kate a few times with stories from their childhood while the team shared stories of the last couple years. Soon everyone was starting to call it a night.
Kate had kept an eye on Donovan and Megan throughout the night and knew she would tease her cousin in the morning. It was almost eleven at night when Kate and Gibbs retreated into their room for the night. Gibbs slumped to the bed with a sigh as he felt himself already falling asleep. Kate gently snuggled in next to him and he pressed his forehead into her shoulder while wrapping his arms around her. He let out a contented sigh.
Kate smiled. She was reaching up to turn off the light when they both heard the thump at the door. Gibbs opened his eyes and raised his head enough to peak over the top of Kate. He smiled then looked at her. She gave him a quizzical look.
"Blukie," he said with a smile.
"You got the bond, you open the door," Kate said with a smile. Gibbs groaned but then released his hold on Kate and pushed himself from the bed. He walked around to the door and opened it enough for the tubby cat to waddle through, before closing it again. Blukie jumped up on the bed and settled in next to Kate looking up at Gibbs.
Gibbs lay down again and nestled into Kate as the cat settled between them. Kate watched him for a while as his eyes closed and his breathing started to even out. His eyes fluttered then opened and he looked up at her and smiled.
"You gonna get the light?" he asked leaning in and kissing her gently. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation before pulling back slightly and reaching up flipping the switch down and sending the room into darkness.
It wasn't much longer before Gibbs was sound asleep and Kate was quietly watching him. She couldn't get enough of him. She also couldn't believe that he would be her husband in three days time. With that happy thought she drifted into sleep.
TBC…
