A/N: Here's another chater folks! Again, sorry for the delay, but life's pretty crazy at th moment! To my newest followers & favourites, welcome! I'm so glad to have you with us! To my reviewers, you all rock! I love heaing your thoughts/commets & I love knowing that s many of you are loving this story, it keeps me inspired to write!
Now, enough prelude, lets see what happening with th family, are we going to get som tension between the Gibb men as Jenn tries to oraise some things though?
Jenn had to admit, she was agreeing with Tony & Tim, she was baffled at the scene in front of her, she watched as everyone helped themselves to food. More of the SWAT personnel had shown up, just in time to eat, so there was a definite crowd building but she also saw that parcels were being divided up to take to the others whom were here yet. But her eyes could barely move from Gibbs & his family, the way he was interacting with them, and even how Lt Taylor was behaving was quite… well, fun, immature, kidlike and none of those words she'd ever used to describe Gibbs. Even in Paris, he hadn't even come close to acting anything remotely like this! She really didn't know what to make of it, or how to handle it.
Taking a danish & coffee Jenn stepped a few feet away, she came to the conclusion that she should focus entirely on work. She'd already been informed that all of the SWAT personnel were making the trip back to DC, while she didn't believe that was necessary she wasn't going to deny them it. They were all obviously feeling a similar sense of protection to the family & wanted to see them safely back to DC. The added personnel would be difficult to transport, the tricky part was going to be getting the injured personnel back, namely Joanne & Mike, she wasn't quite sure about where Lt Dayle would need to be transported to yet, but she knew he'd need transportation somewhere. While Mike may be able to make it, she wasn't sure how bad his leg wound was, Joanne definitely couldn't go by road, it was a 4 hour trip. Maybe given the numbers they had it would probably be simpler to organise a medical plane transfer? That should only take an hour & would allow for continuous monitoring for Joanne, Mike & really everyone, because they were all dealing with various cuts, bruises & alike. Besides, she really didn't think any of them would even be up for driving back tomorrow.
Jenn was about to dial her phone, she'd have to get Cynthia to call around the various hotels & motels in the area, see which ones had the capacity to accommodate them all, and allow for the place undergo disruption, as she was certain Gibbs would insist on the place being locked down. She held her finger over the buttons when her eyes drifted, some people had come, some had gone, some were now resting on the ground, she could see that sooner rather than later they'd need to move, or they'd all collapse from exhaustion right here in front of the hospital & that wouldn't be a good thing. She then saw that Ducky was speaking with Jethro's father & she had an idea, the man was from the area, he likely would know which hotel would be best to try for.
"Excuse me, Mr Gibbs, we haven't had the pleasure, I'm Director Jennifer Sheppard" Jenn introduced herself gently.
Jack looked up at her, and gave her a smile "Jackson Gibbs, it's a pleasure to meet you as well Director"
"I was wondering if I could ask you a question or two, I'm trying to organise a few things & wouldn't mind some local knowledge" Jenn explained.
"Of course my dear, what is it you need?" Jack asked, he was more than happy to help with anything, if he could.
"The group obviously won't be able to head back to DC right away, I am hoping to secure a venue for all of us to stay at until everyone's been cleared for travel & I can arrange suitable transport" Jenn explained "I was wondering if you knew of a place, that could not only accommodate everyone, but one that we can secure down for our stay"
Jack gave it some thought, between Bloomsburg, Stillwater & Berwick there were numerous hotels, but a number would have near capacity due to various events & a number were in the heart of the main streets, so not really ideal to lock down, he then consider one that would probably have the space, because it was about to be closed for some minor renovations, but he wondered how his son would react "there's one over in Berwick, it's only 20 minutes from here, it think it would suit your needs" Jack took a breath as he looked across to his son.
Gibbs had diverted his attention to Jenn's conversation with his dad as soon as they'd started talking, he saw his dad eyeing him as he discussed the hotel, he got a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"It's called the White Birch Inn" Jack finished, he'd already seen his son mull over what he talking about & sucked a breath in, he hoped it wouldn't be an issue.
Gibbs eyes widened at his dad "NO!"
"Jethro" Jack remarked quietly, well, there went that thought, his son did had an issue with it.
"We are not going there, think of somewhere else, Jack" Gibbs bit back, glaring at him, how could he even suggest that place?
Jenn suddenly realised the eyes of almost everyone was upon the pair, she wondered what it was about this place that had gotten him riled up so quickly, and he'd called his dad by his first name?
Jack swallowed, hating that his son had called him by name "Leroy please, I think it's the best place, I can't imagine you'll be there for a long time & she's no longer involved in that place anyway, her son & daughter run it now"
"You're right, we won't be in town for long,… Jack" Gibbs retorted curtly "and I don't care who runs it now, I will not have my family stay there, either think of another place, or we will take care of it ourselves & you can take yourself back to Stillwater"
Shannon had no idea what the pair were discussing, but her husband looked incredibly tense, and given his language was clearly distancing himself from his father. He'd done that in the past, they never had the best relationship, but this was clearly more than just the usual tension & she could see that everyone had now stopped eating & were staring at the standoff. She tried searching her memory banks for any possible issues with the place from their youth, but came up empty, maybe something had happened since.
Shannon placed a hand on his thigh & spoke quietly "Jethro, can we talk?" she wanted to both calm him back down & figure out a way to get through this bypass that had been created.
Gibbs didn't really want to talk about it, because he knew what it would bring up, but he did want to get away, so while he nodded he looked to his kids "why don't we go see grandma kiddos?"
While Shannon wished he'd just have agreed to the pair of them going, he obviously wasn't comfortable with speaking about it, and the kids had been asking about seeing her mum "ok, let's go" she'd have to get to the bottom of this situation later on.
Ted leaned into his son "Can you go with them & push Jethro for me bud" he wanted a word with Jackson.
Harry nodded & rose while he swallowed the last bit of coffee in his cup.
Kelly had to admit she was curious about what exactly had her dad so riled up, but she like her brother just rose & followed her parents & Harry back into the hospital.
Ted saw 2 SWAT officers head off as well, they really needed that FBI team to get here fast, because they were running on empty! He waited until the family had gone far enough away before moving himself.
Approaching Jack, Ted spoke carefully "Jackson, could I have word in private please"
Jack just nodded, he wondered if perhaps Ted knew what the issue was. He berated himself for causing enough tension to have his son take his family away in the middle of breakfast, as well as have everyone else halt their eating. He should have realised it wouldn't just all rosey with his son that he hadn't since in 13 years, not since that day..
Tony watched the older Gibbs walk away with Ted & as soon as they were clear spoke quietly "what was that about? And Gibbs called his father Jack?" he finished looking up the Director, who had paled considerably.
"Beats me" Tim replied.
"Jethro obviously has some issue with a lady that used to run that hotel" Ducky summarised, they'd gotten very few clues as to the reason for the stalemate. "Perhaps you should ask Cynthia to make some calls Director?" he suggested.
"Yes, I think I will" Jenn agreed, hating that her question had created enough tension for not only Gibbs to bail & speak to his dad in such a manner, but for Ted to request a private word with the older Gibbs. She then considered something else "Ducky, could I ask you to get a status update on the health of our party, I'm thinking it will be easier & faster to arrange a medical plane to transport us back to DC, and the sooner the better"
Ducky nodded "of course, and I've still some contacts in the Medical Core for the Air Force, let me make some calls to see what I can do" he agreed, getting back to DC quickly was now looking like the best option.
Ted followed Jack around the side of the hospital & away from prying eyes & ears, upon reaching a picnic table & taking a seat he spoke quietly but sternly "I'm not quite sure what you were thinking, but I think you need to find a different place Jackson"
"You know?" Jack sighed.
"That the date you took to Shannon & Kelly's supposed funeral was the owner of that place?" Ted asked with a raised eyebrow "not specifically, but I connected the dots." He remembered the ranting session Gibbs had done after the funeral about his dad bringing a date, and that she ran a hotel in the region, so it was all he could surmise.
"I didn't think it would be such an issue" Jack remarked quietly, he'd guessed that was part of his son's issue with him & reason for the 13 year silent treatment.
"Guess you thought wrong" Ted replied "look, I don't want to get in between the pair of you, but emotions are running at fever pitch at the moment, and I would hate for the pair of you to go another 13 years without speaking, especially now. So let's think of a different place" Ted finished, he really didn't want a stand-off erupting between the two Gibb men right now.
"I suppose you're right, but honestly Ted, I think it may be the best place currently available" Jack sighed.
"Then think of the next best place, we don't need a perfect place, if it's a pain to secure then so be it, SWAT knows how to secure those kind of places, if there's other people around, we can deal" Ted remarked "but for your sake, as well as his, and theirs, not to mention the atmosphere as a whole, think of something else" he needed to move Jack on from considering that place.
Jack nodded, he knew Ted was right, he gave it some thought & started musing out loud "There is a place right down the road, its grounds are spread out, and I imagine it would easy to secure & ample rooms, they have dining on site, conference rooms & even allow pets.. "
"That sounds perfect" Ted interrupted him, that actually sounded beyond ideal, why hadn't this been the first one he thought of?
"Yes, but last I heard they were closed for refurbishments" Jack replied "not supposed to open until the end of the month" which was a good 10 days away.
"There's only one way to find out, what's the place called?" Ted asked, if they could work out a different place to stay, and to have it so close to the hospital, even better!
"It's the Inn at Turkey Hill" Jack answered
"Then let's go make a call, or if it's down the road, we could hop down there & speak to them? Let's see if they're ready for an early opening" Ted offered, he prayed that the place could do so. He really wanted to move them on from this, because not only did he want to relieve the stress between father & son, but if the reason came to the fore, especially to Shannon & the kids, it could potentially spill over into a greater issue that he knew no party would want to deal with right now.
A/N: Hmm.. that got a little awkward! Glad it didn't come to boil though, that wouldn't have been pretty or good timing! Here's hoping the Inn at Turkey Hill can open early!
Disclaimer: I have no association, or information on the two hotels mentions more than a google search. I have never been there nor do I know who owns them. I merely needed 2 hotels for the plot.
How will it go for Kelly Nix with Joanne? Will Gibbs & his dad be able to overcome this impass or will it boil over & come to the fore for them all to deal with?
Remeber, I have hearing your thoughts, so review away! More to come!