A/N: Here's another chapter folks! You can thank the long weekend that we've got here in Oz! Happy Birthday to the Queen! One more day of the weekend to come, YAY! To my recent followers/favourites welcome aboard! To my reviewers, thank you so much! I love hearing your thoughts!

Guest Reviewer Momcat: Thank you for your review, you might see that I didn't approve it, it was just because I felt it was rather too personal from your side to put it up at large. You also mentioned something about Kelly/Mike from MHTDO that I didn't want to let out, I'm trying not to spoil things in this story from it, so please refrain from mentioning those types of things in your reviews.

Let the evening continue.. just how will Shannon go with their continued conversation? Let's find out!

Gibbs leaned himself backwards using his good arm to support himself & just watched as his wife played with the grass between her fingers, he still couldn't believe what had transpired this past week! He couldn't help but grin at the thought of having his family back, having his love back and they'd be together for the rest of their lives. The times they had to look forward to was endless & couldn't wait to get started!

Shannon looked up to her husband "what's that smile for?" she asked

"Just thinking" Gibbs answered with a smile leaning forward.

"About what in particular?" Shannon enquired

"Camping" Gibbs smiled, going away somewhere again would be absolute heaven!

Shannon smiled "does sound enticing" but was suddenly joined by Buster, who'd come up & laid himself down right in between them! "Wherever we go though, will have to accept this one"

Gibbs chuckled "yea" he agreed as he ran a hand through Buster's fur, he smiled when he saw his wife do the same thing. He had to admit, he had grown to enjoy having a dog around again, last time that he'd had one was when he was kid.

"What was the thing you wanted to speak about tonight? The thing you mentioned earlier?" Shannon asked as she ran her fingers through Buster's fur. She knew both of the kids would still need some time to process & wanted to know about it.

Gibbs looked up a little surprised "think we're dealing with enough tonight babe, it can wait"

"I don't want to have things hanging around, I'd rather just get it all out of the way" Shannon replied, if they only dealt with one thing at a time, they're going to be dealing with everything for way too long!

Gibbs took a breath & conceded "ok, but the first thing I want you to know is that everything was fine and no harm was caused" he needed to say that first, otherwise she could possibly have a fit.

"Ok" Shannon remarked quietly.

"While you were making your way to Stillwater and Kells and Nix were with me at NCIS I knew we needed to come here to grab a few things for them, but each time I thought I had the chance to bring them something came up, so it kept getting delayed" Gibbs began to explain.

Shannon listened unsure where he was going with it.

"At one point I had to go into MTAC to speak with Johnson & see what they knew, when I came out about 2 hours later, Tony told me…" Gibbs hesitated though, oh gosh..

"Tony told you what?" Shannon prodded

Gibbs took another breath before answering "That whilst I was in MTAC Kells had talked her way into having McGee take her outside for a walk and then somehow sweet-talked him into leaving the base in her car & to come here, he went with her thankfully"

"She left NCIS without telling you?" Shannon asked cautiously, knowing she'd gone out on her own during it all was worrying to say the least, the small grace was that Timothy had been with her.

Gibbs nodded "yea she did & it scared me to half to death, but as soon as I'd gone down to grab Phoenix to head over she walked back into the squad-room, just as we heading to leave" he wanted to tell both that she'd done it but also that she'd gotten back before anything had happened.

"Did she say why she did it?" Shannon asked.

"Said that she knew I was busy and decided to go herself, she said she wanted to grab stuff for Phoenix and herself, and she brought this one to NCIS too, said it was her responsibility to do it all" Gibbs finished rubbing his hand over Buster's head.

Shannon let out a breath "I'm not condoning it by any means, but I can understand her thought pattern" she really didn't like that her girl had done that, she really didn't! But she did understand the thought pattern she'd had, she was just glad that she'd been ok & had gotten back to NCIS before any trouble found her!

Gibbs nodded silently "she's had a lot on her shoulders, but so have you Shan, all of you have had an incredible amount on your shoulders, but she did it for another reason too"

Shannon knew he was right, they'd all had a tremendous amount of their shoulders, but "another reason?"

Gibbs gave a small nod, he was still running his fingers through Buster's fur, just like she was. He took a breath before speaking "she did it to see if…. If I would…" he took a breath "would follow her, would chase her down"

Shannon let out a breath & a tear down her cheek, in some ways her trip across the country had been a similar thing, she'd left clues he would get, she just wondered if he'd figure it out & as he put it chase her down.

"I made her realise that I would & will chase her down to edge of the world" Gibbs stated before leaning forward towards her more closely "just like I would and will follow you to end of the world, go to hell & bring you back, you're not getting rid of me again" he smirked as he leaned in for a kiss.

Shannon had to smile at his words & more than enjoyed the kiss "together forever darling" she smiled only an inch from his lips.

Gibbs grinned, but had to lean back instantly "hey!" he exclaimed "Buster!" the damn dog had leaned himself up & started licking at their chins, apparently wanting in on the kiss, damn dog!

Shannon drew back out of shock "Buster!"

"Down!" Gibbs laughed, he looked to see his wife was quietly laughing too.

"What do you think you're doing mister?" Shannon asked him staring into his eyes.

Gibbs watched as the pair stared at each other.

"Now Buster, there is something you must realise, when we kiss, you do NOT partake! It's only us! Not you mister" Shannon said sternly, part of her couldn't believe that she was having a conversation with a dog!

Gibbs saw Buster lie back down "come 'ere boy" he chuckled as he pulled him to rest his head on his lap "she's a meany I know, but she likes it when you…"

Shannon couldn't hear the rest of his sentence, he'd gone extremely quiet and was whispering into Buster's ear "you better not be leading him astray Gibbs"

Gibbs leaned back up "wouldn't dream of it"

Shannon saw the smirk was as large as anything but she wanted to get back to the discussion "how did that discussion go? The one with Kells?"

"She was pushing me Shan, pushing the boundaries, she wanted to see if I would react, if I'd…" Gibbs started to say

"If you'd what? react?" Shannon asked, she wasn't quite sure what he was getting at.

Gibbs sighed as he looked down "if I'd step up to the father plate & reel her back in" he said just above a whisper, he'd never be able to speak about this with anyone, anyone except her.

Shannon let a few tears roll down her cheek, she hated herself for letting all of this happen, she was still convinced it was her fault. The fact that her daughter pushed the boundaries was something she always did, the fact that she'd did it with her father to see if he'd act on it wasn't something that she shouldn't be doing at the age of 21. And the fact that her husband was having a hard time talking about as if it was the first time she'd done it shouldn't be happening either. "Darling…."

Gibbs looked up "Shan, it's not your fault" he took a breath "she started pushing things even before her little escape, heck she started pushing when she came out & never stopped" he finished with a smile, hoping to get one in return.

Shannon had to smile "she's mastered the art of it"

Gibbs nodded "she certainly has, she didn't even realise she was doing it until we were talking about it"

"So you…" Shannon remarked quietly.

Gibbs knew what she meant "I washed her mouth out with soup, she'd said more than her fair share of foul words during her ranting while I was asking her about her adventure"

"She's got a tongue on her that's for sure" Shannon remarked "how did that go down?" she was concerned with what such an action would do to their relationship? Especially at such a high stressful time, they seemed ok now, but...

Gibbs let out a breath "was hard, never remembering it being that hard"

"Doesn't get easier" Shannon agreed

Gibbs nodded "once we both got through it and I helped her realise she didn't have to push me we were ok, but I still hate her calling me sir"

"Just as I hate it when they call me ma'am" Shannon remarked sharing a smile with her husband.

"There is one thing I'm still not sure about though" Gibbs noted

"What's that?" Shannon asked

"Can't work out why she specifically asked McGee to take her outside, I know there was a reason, but she refused to tell me, said she'd discuss it when you were with us" Gibbs answered

Shannon's eyes widened, oh boy! She'd seen the pair give each other those looks. She knew her girl had taken an interest in him, even if it was just a curious one & she knew how hard that must have been for her girl after splitting with Mike. Now however was a different story, now she knew her girl would only have eyes now for one person – Mike. Timothy on the other hand she didn't know how he'd react, she'd already seen that he'd taken a great interest, that could get complicated, and she knew it was this interaction as to why her girl had chosen him.

Shannon considered how to answer this, especially given the 'issue' behind the reasoning wasn't really going to be a concern for him anymore "maybe it was because they're more similar in ages, similar backgrounds of college study?"

"That's what she said, but there's something else, something more" Gibbs remarked

Shannon swallowed, hmm, how to get around this one, she should have realised he'd see there was more to it "well" gosh, she'd wondered all the years in Houston just what he'd reaction would be to things like this & while she could easily say the reason she knew it wouldn't be wise, especially with Timothy working for him! "she is a good reader of people, maybe she realised that her best chance of getting out would be with him, I hardly image that Tony or Ziva would have allowed it to happen?"

"They wouldn't have" Gibbs agreed "but I asked her that exact question, whether she used him to get out & she was genuinely shocked that I would accuse her of that"

Shannon gave an internal sigh, seriously? Geez! What on earth could she say now? "Well…" she would have continued but saw Phoenix come outside, she smiled warmly to him "how you doing darling?" she said opening her arms for him to come.

Phoenix gave her a small smile as he sat in her lap "ok, Kell is still talking with Mike, he's angry" he remarked as he started running his fingers through Buster's fur.

Shannon wrapped her arms around him "I know darling, it will take them both a while to get through it, did you speak to him?" she was curious as to how he would know Mike was angry.

"Yea, he said he's going to try to get some emergency leave & come over as soon as he could" Nix answered leaning back into his mum & pulling his dog with him.

Gibbs couldn't help but smile at the image in front of him "this is worth a photo" he smiled

Shannon smiled as she hugged her son & ruffled Buster's fur, this dog was most definitely now apart of her family "I'd say the ice cream is ready, should we go have some?"

Nix nodded "come on boy, let go have ice cream" he grinned to his dog standing up.

Shannon helped her boy up & then shared a look with her husband "he's not planning on giving Buster ice cream is he?"

Gibbs had no idea, shrugging his shoulders "no idea, but if he is, he waits his turn we get some first"

"Agreed" Shannon chuckled as they rose & headed inside after their boy. She had to admit she was glad for her son's save from their conversation, it would give her a chance to figure out just what to tell her husband! Cause she knew that look in his eyes, he wasn't going to let it go.

"Oh yea, this is more than ready to eat" Gibbs smiled to his son "so, Chunky Monkey or Cake Batter?" he asked his son reading the names of the Ben & Jerry flavours his wife had taken out.

"Both" Nix answered

Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle "you got it bud, both for you too babe?"

"Please" Shannon nodded "I'll be back in a minute"

Gibbs nodded as he watched her head down the hall. Quickly dishing out the ice cream he carried his bowl & his wife's over to the couch "so bud, what did Samuel record for you?"

"The U.S. game against Jamaica" Nix answered sitting down

"In soccer?" Gibbs checked.

"Yea, do you know anything about it?" Nix asked his dad

"Can't say I know much, so why don't you start teaching me, cause I want to know it all" Gibbs finished with a smile to his son, if the sport was important to his boy, it was important to him.

"I'll restart the game then" Nix surmised "ok, so its 11 players on the pitch, 10 outfield players, who are divided into strikers at the top, midfielders in the middle and then the defenders, the goalkeeper is the 11th man and is the only one who can touch the ball with his hands. There's all different formations, 4-4-2, 3-4-3, 4-3-3…"

Gibbs listened trying to take in everything his son was saying, but he just kept talking, he had to say something "bud, slow down, why don't you explain as the game goes, so you can show me what you mean" he had no idea what a 4-4-2 was or its difference to a 3-4-3.

"Sure" Nix nodded, he got the game cued & paused it on the starting line-up "so Team USA likes to play a 3-4-3 formation at the moment, that means 3 defenders, 4 midfielders & 3 strikers..."

Shannon entered the living area & couldn't help but smile, her boy was just talking & talking about soccer & the look on her husband's face said it all, he was overwhelmed "darling, ease dad into your obsession please"

Nix looked up "I am"

Shannon sat down next to him & brought him into her side "you might think that, but dad's more of an NFL and Baseball fan, so it will take a bit of time for him to understand all the differences & come to appreciate the beauty, skill & talent of this sport" she finished with a smirk aimed directly at her husband, gosh she loved riling him up.

Gibbs looked at his wife, she'd changed into some pyjama's already, he wondered why. "I like all kinds of sports, I'm sure I'll pick this one up quickly too, I mean I can already tell that the guy with the gloves is the goalkeeper" he finished in a chuckle.

Shannon rolled her eyes "such a clever man you are"

Gibbs smiled but then turned serious "how is she?"

Shannon let out a breath "still on with Mike, I think he'll stay on the phone with her until she falls asleep. I'll check on her periodically, once she's asleep I'll join her"

Gibbs nodded, he knew tonight his girl would need her mum, so he'd rack in with his boy. Settling back down he stretched an arm behind his son to rest on his wife's neck, he had them in nice & tight, just the way he liked it. If things went accordingly to plan he was going to try to take his family to his place tomorrow, at least to see it, he really wanted them to see it. He was nervous sure, he knew what his girls feelings were, and it had been a while, who knew what they'd think about it? But he'd deal with that tomorrow, right now he needed to focus because his son had re-started the match & he was already explaining things, he needed, no wanted to pay attention. There was just one issue "Buster!" he called, the damn dog had tried to lick at his damn ice cream bowl, damn dog!

A/N: Shannon sidestepped an awkward conversation, thank you Phoenix! But you gotta love Buster! And in honour of this great pup, I've posted the first image of the great pup on my Facebook page via my new Instagram account, so check it out!

go to Facebook url & then: /A-Chance-Encounter-verse-1107748372628862/

Instagram Account: shellycreates

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