A/N: Here's another chapter folks. To all my recently new followers/favourites, welcome! So glad to have you with us! To my reviewers, you're just amazing 400+ reviews and counting, that just blows my mind! This was supposed to be a quick sideline story to my main universe, but thanks to everyone's interest, it has grown into its own world! I'm sorry I wasn't able to respond to your latest comments this time, but I'm super busy & just want to get this chapter posted!
Now, let's check in with the team & see how they're doing!
Ziva stretched her neck, first to the right, then the left, she then bent over and wrapped her wrists around her ankles allowing for another good stretch. Standing back up she double checked her watch, it was 07:30, she'd done as Gibbs asked, she'd rested the previous night & slept in, but now she needed to run.
As she set off down the path, her mind started to go over everything that had happened in the past 3 days, it had truly been a very hectic 3 days. She had no idea that her visit to Gibbs down in Portsmouth would have yielded such events, if she had not been walking out of the hospital with Gibbs at that precise moment, and if Gibbs hadn't heard whatever he had heard, then the family could quite possible have had to continue to live torn apart. She had been glad and maybe even proud that she had been able to help the family reunite.
Unlike her teammates she had known about Gibbs family, so her reaction to it all had been different. She had been able to move very quickly from the shock of finding out about them to the disgust at what MacDonald had done to them all. She knew there was evil in the world, she knew that people could be twisted, but she had never imagined anyone would have been game enough to try to do anything like MacDonald had against Gibbs. Did the man not realise who he was dealing with? She had to admit though that the man seemed quite delusional, and extremely arrogant, so he perhaps he thought he could get it over Gibbs, but boy was he wrong! The man had certainly paid the price for what he had done.
As she rounded a small pond her mind cast to her own father, she respected him, he had raised and trained her to protect their country. He had instructed her on how to deal with emotions in order to get her objective complete. She recalled thinking that Gibbs would have been a strict parent, one to discipline strongly and require total respect, just like her father had, I mean he was Gibbs! A marine, an NCIS agent, one who demanded perfection.
Yet over the last 3 days however, she had started to consider just how different he really was to her father. Yes he had been mad as hell when someone, anyone threatened his family. Her father would have hunted down the people as well, but she considered he would have done so, as he would not have wanted people to see his family as easy targets to take, and go after them to prove such a point and because it would not be good for the Mossad Director's family to be taken.
She pushed herself forward and faster as her thoughts continued to flow, she had seen Gibbs not allow his son to play that game on Abby's computer, and yes she had seen him be quite firm with his daughter when she had gotten back from her disappearance, but that was it. They had been alone for a fair while, so she could only assume that he had spoken at length with her about her actions. But that was it, once they were back in the lab he was cuddling with her and acting like she had not just majorly disobeyed him. Her father would definitely not have acted like Gibbs, her father would have strongly disciplined her, and her time in discipline would have been more than just an hour or so.
But it was more than that, Gibbs was being playful and so fun, it was really strange for her to see. It was like he had a light switch inside of him. He could go from tense & solely focused on details about finding his wife where he was barking out orders to 30 seconds later, where he was laughing, cuddling, and playing around with his kids and their dog and he did it in front of everyone! Her father definitely never did anything like that, he would never have behaved liked that in front of other people, he rarely did it in privacy, but in clear view of others? No, that would not have happened!
And for her, this was the issue, she pushed herself even faster & faster trying to work through her emotions. She had always believed that Gibbs had been like her father, only in the sense where she saw him as a father figure. But she had realised that she was totally incorrect, Gibbs and her father were polar opposite in the parental arena, you could not have two more opposite fathers in hers and Gibbs. She would have to majorly readjust her views on both men, and she wasn't sure how she would go with it. To know that even a man as tough as Gibbs could outwardly show such affection and love towards his children for the world to see, and her yet father never did was hard for her to take.
Tim buried his head into the pillow, hoping to ignore the knock at the door, it was too early to be up. After a few moments he groaned again, the person seemed to be trying to break down his door. Struggling he got out of bed "what?" he groaned as he opened the door & did not expect the reply he got.
"McGee!" Abby yelled barging in "what are you doing here? You're not at work! Tony isn't at work! Ziva isn't at work! Gibbs didn't go home yesterday! You three should be at work! Gibbs should be at home!"
Tim just watched as she ranted & raved, her arms were like lethal weapons at times like this, he just slumped against his table & waited. He knew it was best to just let her get it out of her system. When she'd gotten a fair amount out of her system & took a breath he spoke "what are you doing here Abs? Its zero eight hundred!" he still had an hour before he was going to get up!
"Exactly! You're not at work! Why!?" Abby demanded, when she'd gotten to work and none of them had been there, she'd waited a while, but none had shown up & she was worried!
Tim sighed "Gibbs told us to meet at work at ten hundred Abs & not a minute before"
Abby pulled up short "Gibbs wanted you to go in late?" he'd never ever condoned lateness, it was just the opposite.
"Ahhh today yea, he wanted us to rest, given everything that had happened over the last few days" Tim replied, wouldn't she have realised that?
"Oh right, yea, ok" Abby nodded, she supposed that was understandable "but why isn't Gibbs at home?!" she'd heard from Ducky, via Jimmy that he'd not gone home, but to Kelly & Nix's place, she just didn't understand that. Why wouldn't they have gone to Gibbs's place? It was their home! And she'd done it up so nicely! Not alone, but she'd helped make it ready for them!
"Don't know Abs" Tim replied rubbing his eyes "don't think his family is ready to go there, they went to Kelly's place"
"Why wouldn't they want to go there? It's their home!" Abby remarked waving her hands.
"I don't know Abby, but could we maybe talk about this later? I'd like to get some more sleep, please!" Tim finished with a small plea.
Abby huffed "well I want to know why they wouldn't go there, it was all ready for them!"
Tim was a little confused by that statement, but right now "can we talk about this in an hour? You can stay, but quietly"
Abby huffed "but to be at work at ten hundred, you'd have to…."
"Abs!" Tim remarked interrupting her "I am going back to bed for an hour, I was going to get picked up by Agent Lane at zero nine thirty. If you'd like to drive me instead, you're welcome to stay. But I'm not going to stand and debate this with you now!" he was now wondering if he'd actually be able to get back to sleep.
"Agent Lane?" Abby asked, she didn't know he was picking them all up, he was already at work, and she didn't like not knowing so much! Especially as it was all related to her team!
Tim just shook his head "stay or go, but be quiet!" he remarked walking back into his room.
Tim closed his door & laid back down, he was more than awake now, but he wasn't going to get back up, he'd rest for another hour. He was going to need all the rest he could get, he knew the next few days were going to be busy, they had so many reports to write, they had people to interrogate, statements to take, this was definitely going to be a busy week!
As he closed his eyes his thoughts drifted to how the family were doing, but mainly Kelly. Had she calmed down? He knew she was tense, overtired and very unsettled, he hoped she'd gotten some sleep and was feeling better. He could see himself becoming great friends with her, if not something more he mused. She was gorgeous, smart, very brave, cared deeply for her brother, she just had a lot on her shoulders, and it would probably take a while for her to get through it all. He hoped he could help her, even if it was just for a friendly ear. He'd already provided that, she hadn't spoken to him about what was really bothering her, they'd merely discussed trivial matters, but she obviously needed a distraction from whatever the issue had been & he was happy to provide that.
Tony woke up & stretched, ok, ouch that hurt, he looked at the clock, it was 08:30, he was being picked up in 40 minutes.
Groaning he sat up & flexed his sprained wrist, yea that hurt, but it was marginally better than the day before, and he still had his pain meds to take. He knew he could manage the crutches he'd taken from the hospital yesterday, but he had to test out his ankle, using his good wrist to balance him, he gingerly stood up putting as much weight on his good foot as possible, once he was up, he eased the weight onto his sprained foot very gently. From experience he knew he had to careful with this first attempt or it would really hurt, he gently bounced on it, testing it. Yea, that still hurt, but like his wrist, it was marginally better today. He could manage it though & he slowly but surely made his way to the bathroom to start getting ready.
Tony had to admit, the shower had been wonderful on his aching muscles, and the pain meds were definitely helping too, he'd managed to secure the straps to his ankle, wrist & even one on his knee that was giving him a small amount of grief with reasonable ease. He was now dressed, sipping his morning coffee & waiting for Agent Lane, he knew the week was going to be busy. With Gibbs having to divide his time between getting the reports, interviews & alike done and being with his family he'd make sure he was across everything.
He would make sure to check everything that McGee & Ziva did before it even went to Gibbs, nothing would get past him. He'd continue to be the Senior Field Agent that had made Gibbs so proud, that had him come & get him, not that he wasn't confused about how he & Shannon had been acting around him, he was utterly confused! But he'd made Gibbs proud, and he wanted to continue to do that.
He was pulled from his musing when his phone went with a message flipping his phone open he read it & his eyes widened in surprise, it was Gibbs "Do not think of arriving at work without having taken you pain meds DiNozzo!" While Tony was very surprised at getting that message from Gibbs, he couldn't help but chock a little at how it made him feel, Gibbs really cared. He of course knew that his boss did, but hell if he'd actually show it, only now he was showing it, he had to smile at that as he replied "yes boss"
Tim wondered if Abby was still in his place, he finished getting ready as he opened the door & looked out, not quite sure of the reaction he'd get. "Abby" he called quietly, but he couldn't see her, he went towards his kitchen "Abs?" she wasn't here, hmmm…
Tim suddenly considered if maybe he'd been too harsh with her, maybe he should have called her yesterday? He'd just been so tired that when he'd gotten home he collapsed on the couch & just starred at whatever came onto his TV screen, not even caring what he watched. That though didn't last long before he made himself some sandwiches, it was the quickest thing he could do, before he took himself off to bed, it was the first time in a very long time that he'd gone to bed before 21:00 with the intention of sleeping!
He'd go see her as soon they got into work, as he started to eat his cereal his mind was again drawn back to the comment she made about Gibbs place being all ready, what did that mean? He just didn't get that remark, so he'd have to have a talk with her. He'd thought she would have stayed & wanted to talk about it when he got up, he thought she'd give him a lift? Something was obviously bothering her, but he was pulled from his musing by his phone it was a text from Tony 'be there in 10'. He swallowed the last bite of his cereal & headed to get his gear, this would be the start of a very busy week, but hopefully not as eventful as the previous one ended.
A/N: Well, it seems they've all got their own thoughts running through their heads, Tim's now concerned about both Kelly & Abby, Ziva's trying to adjust her perspective on Gibbs and her own upbringing really… and Tony, well, he's trying to really step up & make Gibbs proud. How will they all go getting these and the weeks worth of work?
How though is the morning fairing for the Gibbs clan? Kelly did mention something about work, how exactly will Gibbs handle finding out about where & what her job involves?
You know I love to hear your thoughts/comments, so review away! More up soon!