A/N: Sorry for the delay with this new chapter everyone, but life's been mega busy lately! To all my newest favourties & followers, welcome aboard this wonderful ride! To my reviewers, you all rock! Hearing so many people are loving this story, really fills me with joy! Am I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply lately, but I will try get back into the swing of things soon!

Don't want to delay you anymore... so let's see who wins the thumb war! :)

Jack had used his trip to collect breakfast to try to collect his thoughts, try being the operative word. He really was quite overwhelmed by everything he didn't know what part of it all to address first. Arriving back to the hospital he was just glad to be able to provide his family with some much needed food. As he approached the picnic table his family & the others were congregating around he noticed something odd, the majority of people were all staring at his son & Shannon with wonder & confusion. He couldn't see his grandkids faces, nor his son's & had to admit curiosity.

Ted was loving that his good mate was now more than back to his usual self, gosh how he'd missed this side of him! He watched as the pair locked thumbs about to start & leaned in close to his son "my money, on Shannon" he whispered.

Harry smiled at his dad, he had to admit, his dad was showing some well hidden traits too.

Gibbs was getting ready to do battle when he'd heard Ted's remark, he flashed a look at him "Hey!"

Shannon smirked "Problem?"

Gibbs just eyed his wife "none" he grinned.

"Phoenix darling, want to start us off?" Shannon asked, as she stroked his head. Him & his sister had done this plenty of times, she knew there was something they said, but didn't recall the exact wording.

Jenn had moved herself down to where the team were congregated & could not believe her eyes, Gibbs, Gibbs! Was having a thumb war with his wife? Here, now, amongst everything that was going on they were going to do this? Really? She could see that she wasn't alone in her shock, his entire team & Ducky were all looking on not quite knowing how to take this.

Nix grinned & repositioned himself so he could see perfectly clearly "Ready? 1…2…3…..4…. I declare a thumb war… 5…6…..7…..8….. this should be a piece of cake!" he declared.

Kelly watched as her parents engaged in battle, she just grinned loving watching her parents do this, all the memories of when she was younger were coming back. She saw them both moving their hands in their attempts to win, she just leaned in closer to her mum & watched.

Gibbs was laughing as he again & again tried to get his thumb over his wife's & allude her attempts to get his, they used to do this all the time & to do this again, just amazing! "Arggh" he chuckled as he narrowly avoided his wife's thumb.

Tim wasn't sure he wasn't dreaming, he'd never believe it if someone would have told him that Gibbs would engage in a thumb war, he'd have thought the person was insane! but here he was watching his boss, his very mature, no-nonsense, no fun boss partaking in a child's game! Weird!

Shannon kept her eyes firmly focused on her husband, she'd missed beyond anything staring into those gorgeous crystal blue eyes of his, they were so similar to her girl's, but he had a mischievous spark to them uniquely his own. She'd had so many dreams about something even as trivial as this it was just amazing to be able to really do it, and he was really going for it! "Argh!" she laughed as he almost got her thumb secured.

Nix was feeling a lot better than even a few minutes ago as he watched his parents go at it, this was just awesome! When he'd played against his mum, she mainly let him win, but he could tell that neither were letting the other win, neither were backing down "come on dad!" he egged.

"Phoenix!" Shannon exclaimed through a laugh "no sides!" she smirked.

Gibbs grinned "boys V girls" he chuckled.

Shannon's smirk turned into a grin "I see, you're going to start that?" she squeezed her daughter & gave her a flashed nod.

Kelly grinned.

Jack was startled as he got closer when he saw Kelly lung across the table towards her father, he suddenly heard the laughter go up a few notches, what on earth was going on?

Harry laughed, his friend had lunged for her dad & attempted to start tickling him.

"Hey!" Gibbs laughed his girl was trying to tickle him & was distracting him! "Stop!"

Shannon laughed & used the distraction to her advantage, she was now easily able to secure his thumb & she grinned "you said girls V boys & I win!" she laughed. But she pulled her girl back into her spot on the bench fairly quickly, she could hear her husband's breathing was a little laboured.

Gibbs was laughing "not fair!" he couldn't believe they'd done that, he actually loved it but his ribs started to hurt & he knew he had to get his breathing under control.

Ted laughed, he had loved Shannon's trick to win, so typically her! But as soon as Gibbs had continued to laugh he saw the pain in his chest. He wanted to remove Nix from his lap to help him get his breathing under control, but he was firmly in his dad's hold, so she just let him be.

Shannon watched as her husband tried to settle his breathing back down, she was going to get Nix off his lap, but thankfully he'd recomposed himself fairly quickly "I believe I'm still the champion" she smirked

"Isn't it best out of three?" Gibbs retorted with a grin, now he had his breathing under control he could get back to the important stuff.

Ducky had been curiously enjoying the scene but got concerned very quickly, though he relaxed just as quickly as Jethro got his breathing under control. He'd never realised his friend could be so…. Fun? He really was learning a great deal about his friend.

Jack approach & was relived of the tray he'd been carrying by Sgt Evans, he had to ask "and what on earth is going on here?" the laughing was only just subsiding.

"Mum beat dad at a thumb war challenge!" Nix answered his grandfather with glee.

"Hey, I thought you were on my side?" Gibbs chuckled.

Nix looked at his dad, and cocked his head to the side "I was… but mum had the better trick to win" he finished with a grin.

Shannon grinned "that's my good boy" she finished ruffling his hair.

Gibbs eyed his boy "that's how its going to be is it?"

Nix grinned "sides can be bought"

Kelly laughed, she heard Harry laugh too, so typical of her brother!

Gibbs didn't even know how to answer that, but he couldn't help but laugh along with the others, gosh his boy had cheek!

Jeffrey had gotten concerned as soon as Gibbs started laughing again & again his breathing sounding laboured, he approached him carefully "Sir, may I check your breathing?"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow, while this second lot of laughter hadn't been quite as bad as the first, he didn't want him poking around & giving further details to Shannon right now, but he also knew that he couldn't get away with denying him, so he just nodded.

Shannon had loved her son's remark, but again her husband's breathing had become laboured, she watched concerned as the doctor moved to check him.

Jeffrey placed his stethoscope on his chest to listen to his lungs, he held it there for a few minutes to gage what was going on with his lungs.

Ted could see that the doctor was having a bit of trouble accessing his friends entire chest, he wasn't sure how his thought would be taken, but he wanted to give it a shot "Nix partner, why don't you come & sit here while your dad gets checked out?"

Nix chewed his bottom lip, unsure for a moment, but agreed after minute after receiving a comforting nod from his dad.

Ted smiled, glad it worked, knowing he was a little boxed in between the wheelchair & table, he reached out for him & lifted him up, but instead of placing him onto the bench next to him, he sat down and kept him in his lap. He put a comforting hand on his back & rubbed him soothingly.

Shannon smiled at Ted's actions but she concentrated on her husband as he took deep breaths as per the doctor's instructions, she allowed him some time to be checked before asking "is he ok?"

"Yes, but he probably shouldn't be laughing that much, it really taxes his cracked ribs" Jeffrey answered, he was glad though that he hadn't heard any hissing from his lungs, that wouldn't have been a good development.

"Cracked ribs?!" Shannon exclaimed

"Thanks Doc, much appreciated" Gibbs sighed, crap! He'd tried to keep that quiet.

"How many?" Shannon asked her husband with a raised eyebrow.

"Two, but they're only slightly cracked Shan, it's fine" Gibbs said trying to repair the damage the doc had made, he took her hand "I'm fine now, ok?"

Shannon took a deep breath "Ok, but the Doctor is right because I really didn't like coughing fit you just had…. Is there anything else?" she asked quietly searching his eyes.

"Babe, I'm fine, the ribs will heal in no time, all's good" Gibbs assured her stroking her face "I'm fine"

Ted could tell things had gotten a little tense, Nix had become stiff as a board in his lap, the team were all staring wide eyed at the pair, as was Kelly, he needed to relieve the tension & move people on to something else "Jack, see you've brought some food, I have to say, not a moment too soon, I'm pretty hungry"

Jack was concerned about his son, but could see what Ted was trying to do "yes, we've got plenty of food for everyone"

"Let's dig in then" Ted suggested, he eyed all the different food on offer & leaned down to Nix "let me show you something partner, wanna try something delicious?"

Nix was still watching his parents interact, he was hoping his dad was ok, but he couldn't deny he wasn't hungry, he just nodded to Ted. It did feel a little strange to be sitting in his lap, he wasn't exactly a little kid, but the man had an arm comfortably around him, like it was just normal for him to be in his lap, so he just went with it. It also meant he could be right next to his dad, so for now, he was ok with it.

Ted smiled, he saw slowly everyone was taking some food from the various trays, he spotted the bacon & egg rolls and cheese danishes, he took 2 of each & looked over at Kelly & passed her the same combination "watch how I do this Kells"

Harry smiled at what his dad was doing, he knew exactly & decided to copy "this'll be good"

Nix watched as Ted opened the bacon & egg roll up & scooped out the cheese filling of the danish, placing it on top of the bacon, his eyes glazed over. He watched as he ripped up the pastry & placed it into the roll too, ohh boy!

Gibbs & Shannon were now both watching Ted, both were glad to have him there & keenly adept at being able to sense tension & move things on. Shannon though wasn't quite sure what Ted was doing at first.

"There you go champ, what I like to call bacon & egg deluxe roll" Ted smirked.

"What ya think squirt?" Harry asked, as he created his own roll.

"Yumm!" Nix replied with a full mouth "ca….w…ve t…s…ev…y m….ing?" he asked his parents.

Gibbs had no clue what his son had said beyond yum, he was glad though that the tension was dissipating "sorry?"

"I think we can keep this meal for special treats, not everyday darling" Shannon replied, having understood perfectly, he wanted it for breakfast every morning.

Nix pouted.

Harry leaned into him "we'll sneak out to mum's bakery for breakfast when we get back squirt, all you can eat danishes, we'll then head over to the park" he whispered with a grin.

Nix turned to Harry & grinned.

Ted wrapped his hand around his son's far shoulder & brought him closer "shush, I'd like to live long enough to partake in the adventure" he whispered into his ear with a full grin.

Harry just grinned back.

"What are you three discussing?" Shannon enquired.

Kelly smiled, she knew that look on her brother & indeed on her friend "Want a roll mum? A danish too?" she asked trying to change the subject "what do you want dad? These are delicious"

Gibbs had a feeling about the topic of conversation, he wanted to grin but knew he shouldn't, he smiled at his girl, relieved that she seemed to have handled the news of his cracked ribs ok "a bacon & eggs deluxe roll sounds perfect"

Tony wasn't quite sure what he watching, he leaned into Tim "am I in the Twilight Zone?" he asked quietly, he was seriously considering the fact that they were in an alternate universe, Gibbs was acting…. He didn't even have words for it!

"If you're there, so am I!" Tim replied, he was just as confused as Tony was.

A/N: Think Shannon had a pretty good trick to winning! ;p But I'm guessing Gibbs owes Ted a thank you for diverting all the attention off his injuries that he didn't tell his wife about orginially. Wouldn't mind trying that deathly but delicious breakfast roll though!

Originally I hadn't planned on ending the chapter here, but I had this written & wanted to get up for you, so I hope you liked it. I will do my best to get another chapter up as soon as I can...

Remeber, I love hearing you thoughts/comments, so review away!