A/N: Happy Holidays everyone! Here's a new chapter! Sorry for the long delay, but if you've seen my Facebook page, you'd seen that work & university has been crazy! I'm now on summer break from university & even have a few days off for the holidays! YAY! A massive thank you to everyone for their support, 500 reviews, 101 favourites & 149 follows, when I started this alternate timeline story I never dreamed it would go this far & the only reason it has is because of all of you, so thank you everyone!
So let's get straight back into it!
"Jethro stop it!" Shannon laughed "it's clearly my turn"
"I need the practice" Gibbs countered chuckling as he tried to move his fingers to the keyboard again.
Shannon was sitting nestled into his side & playfully tapped his fingers away from the keyboard "You can practice when its your turn, it's my turn right now" they were having their own Pac-Man Face-off.
Gibbs kissed her cheek smiling "yes dear" he had cherished his memories of precisely these moments, the pair of them having fun & taking the mickey out of each other, and now, well now he was living it again, it was beyond amazing! "Take as long as you want, I'll rest myself here" he murmured into her neck as he kissed her neckline.
"I think I can go slow" Shannon whispered, she couldn't say it wasn't a nice feeling it was absolutely divine! She had laid in bed thousands of nights dreaming of such tender moments with her man, and now well, now this wasn't a dream, this was real, it was just an amazing feeling to be in her man's arms again!
Gibbs grinned but he heard the doorknob start to turn & instantly sat back up, there was a flurry of people enter, his kids, his dad – when did he get here? Ted, Ducky, Mike, some other young kid and…. The Director? He then saw all of their expressions, they were all tense "What happened?" he asked urgently standing him & his wife up.
Shannon had instantly pulled herself together upon hearing the door & she too saw the tension across all of their faces "what's the matter?" she asked hurriedly, but then she saw "Myles!"
"Mrs G" Myles greeted, this was weird!
Shannon would have gone to greet him more but the tension was too high, she looked to her son & the expression she saw was one she knew, he'd gotten scared & he was hovering extremely close to his sister & more to the point, close to Mike "who?" this reaction could have only meant one thing, they'd ran into one Mac's men.
"Barrett" Mike snarled, he felt like going back downstairs & bashing the guy's head through the wall!
Gibbs eyes widened & panned around the room, where the hell did his kids run into that dickhead? "Where?"
"Autopsy I'm afraid Jethro…" Ducky started to say.
"What the hell was he doing down there?" Gibbs asked incensed.
Shannon put a hand on his arm "that doesn't matter right now Jethro" she really didn't want to get into it right now "the only thing I care about is that it doesn't happen again"
"It wont" Gibbs said venomously, while he knew his wife reasoning & she was right, he needed to make sure his kids were ok, he would find out how it happened!
"It wont, I assure you" Jenn remarked "I will make certain that we clear all movements of those men well in advance so you know where they will be" this really was her fault.
Gibbs eyed her, she should have already thought of that "yes you will" he stated with glare lasering into her eyes.
Jenn nodded "well, if you'll excuse me"
Ted watched as she departed, he couldn't believe that his friend had given the Director, his superior! the death glare, sure he wasn't happy, but to do it towards her? Was he in his right mind? He would never do that his Captain! There had to be something more between the pair, maybe he knew her before she became Director?
Shannon rubbed her daughter's back as she put a hand on her son's shoulder & looked down towards him "you ok darling?"
"Ok" Nix nodded, he looked up "Mike nearly punched him again!" he finished with a small smile.
"Squirt!" Mike exclaimed, way to dob him in!
Shannon shot a look up to him "Michael?" she knew he was protective, but she didn't like it when he got physical with them, which he'd done in the past.
"I merely stopped him from getting close to Kelly & Phoenix is all Mrs G" Mike replied "I did nothing more than hold him back, honest" though he wished he'd done more, a lot more!
"Yea but you almost punch him & stuffed his jaw again, Myles wanted to give him a crock nose like Johnson got too" Nix remarked gleefully, he loved that Mike & Myles stood up & gave it to them!
"Squirt!" Mike exclaimed, but this time he was joined by his brother, neither brother could believe he'd said that.
Gibbs just watched the scene unfold, he wasn't quite sure where to go with it, but it sounded like these boys had clearly stood up for his family against those men, and not only had it gotten physical, but they'd gotten one or two up on them? That sounded pretty good to him.
Shannon knew why her son had said it, he always liked it when the boys would stand up to them, she turned her attention to someone to get maybe, maybe get a fair assessment "Ducky?"
Ducky couldn't believe he was being asked for his assessment, he would of course give it "Well, they are both correct, Lt Bond did nothing more than hold him back, while he remarked a few threatening statements they were merely in responses to comments Barrett had made against Kelly & Phoenix, in their defence"
"He was more restrained than I would have been" Ted offered, he had to admit, seeing the scene had given him a new understanding of the young man & his brother, and his estimations had risen.
Shannon just shook her head as she crouched down "I know you like it when the boys give it back to them, but we don't solve our problems with violence.."
"but they…" Nix tried to say
"Darling, that is them, we are us" Shannon said interrupting him "while yes it was Mike & Myles right to defend themselves, and those they care about, we never start the altercation, do you hear me?" she finished, she really wanted to make her son understand this point, violence doesn't solve things!
"Mum's right bud" Gibbs remarked as he sat down on the couch his wife was now sitting on "solving problems through violence is not the sign of a good person, a good man. A good man will do everything possible before having to result in the use of force. That's not to say we can't defend ourselves & those we care about, because we can & it's something I would expect everyone in this room to do. But as mum said, we don't start fights, that's the cowards way out." He knew that there would probably be a few people to call him a hypocrite for his remarks, but that didn't matter to him right now. He wanted to make sure his son knew right from wrong & this was definitely wrong. He also wanted to make it known that it was still ok, no expected that the people in this room, but especially this Mike boy, and perhaps his brother too, that coming to defence of his kids was something that was expected! "ok?"
"Yea" Nix nodded, it was still great to see what Mike & Myles had done to them!
"Good" Shannon smiled as she drew him to her hold.
Gibbs had smiled at his son too but he cast his eyes to his girl, she was standing fairly close but he noticed she had her fingers intertwined with Mike's. Hmm….. he'd also noticed how closely his son had been to the boy upon entering the room too. Clearly they were both seeking comfort from his protection, its something that he wanted to give them himself. While he was glad that they had gotten it from someone else during their time in Houston, he wanted to assert that he was the main protector of his family, he was nothing if not protective. So he reached his good hand out & pulled his girl into his hold "you ok?" he whispered, smiling slightly when she had to let go of Mike.
"Yea" Kelly whispered, Barrett had definitely given her the chills, but she knew nothing would have happened with Mike there. Even so she welcomed being out of the room, and it was rather nice now to have not only Mike there, but her mum & dad too. It was really nice in fact, to move from the comfort & safety of Mike straight into her dad's, that felt pretty good.
Mike took a step back when he realised that Gibbs had pulled Kelly out of his easy reach, he really didn't want to step on the man's toes! And the fleeting look he'd received was clear, back up! He was obviously trying to assert himself as her father & therefore protector and comforter. When MacDonald had tried to bully him away from Kelly believing he was doing it for a similar reason he didn't back away a single inch, in fact it only drove him to push back even more. This though was completely different, this was Kelly's dad, an honourable marine & someone he knew truly wanted nothing but the best for Kelly. He would have to restrain himself from being overly touchy with his girl in front of the man.
As Mike saw Kelly sink into her dad's hold he realised there was an introduction to do "ah sir, I'd like you to meet one of my younger brothers, Myles Bond. Myles, Kelly & Phoenix's father, Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs"
Myles swallowed the lump in his throat as he saw the man rise from his seat "honoured to meet you sir" he greeted, this was definitely a no nonsense marine & the fact that his arm was in a sling, could only mean he'd had a major altercation!
"Myles" Gibbs greeted, he had to admit the pair looked very similar, this boy didn't look much different from his brother, both had light brown hair and solid builds and while he was wearing jeans, his shirt was tucked in & he was looking cleaned & polished, and his haircut was definitely short & sharp.
Shannon had watched curious as to how it went, and was glad it went ok, she had an issue though "Mikey, your wrist?"
"Ah, I can look at that now" Ducky remarked, he'd managed to grab his bag.
"Hey dad" Gibbs greeted now that he was able to get a moment "when did you get here?"
"Just a short while ago whilst Phoenix was outside playing some soccer with the Taylor men" Jack answered "its good to see you"
"You too" Gibbs replied, giving him a quick pat on the back.
Jack turned his attention to someone he'd never get tired of looking at "Kelly darling" he smiled, he hadn't wanted to disturb her whilst she was obviously dealing with tension.
"Hi gramps" Kelly said with a small side, she suddenly realised something "ah, this is Mike. Mike this is my grandfather"
Mike's eyes widened, this older gentleman, someone he'd basically ignored for last few minutes was her grandfather? Crap! "Lt Michael Bond sir, great pleasure to meet you"
"Jackson Gibbs, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well Michael" Jack replied before he turned his attention to someone else "my dear"
Shannon smiled "it's a pleasure to see you again Jackson" as she went to give him a quick kiss & hug.
"That it is" Jack smiled as they came out of the hug.
Shannon had to admit she was curious about something else, she turned to her son "so where'd you come across this one?" she asked motioning to Myles.
"He arrived whilst we were playing soccer outside with Harry & Henry" Nix answered with a grin
"I see" Shannon remarked, she saw though that Mike was eyeing his brother "boys?" they were clearly having a silent conversation.
Mike let out an internal groan "its nothing, my brother & I just need a private word at some point" he really didn't want to discuss this in front of the family, but he needed a private discussion with his brother, and very soon!
"I'm good" Myles remarked, he really didn't want to speak to his brother, because he knew the topic of discussion.
"All done" Ducky remarked, there was clearly a little tension creeping in & wanted to relieve some of it.
"How'd you manage that?" Ted asked, trying to shift focus.
"Just banged it up on my hop over here sir" Mike remarked.
"I would hardly call getting your hand caught in barb wire 'banged up' Lieutenant" Ducky remarked, he'd seen his fair share of injuries & this was definitely as a result of barb wire, but his disregard for the serious injury was so… well, it reminded him of another marine.. one whom he'd know for a fair while..
Kelly shared a look with her mum before looking at him "what was your hand doing in barb wire?"
"Ah" Mike remarked, how does he say this? "another marine caught himself caught up in some & I had to help get him out of it" it wasn't a lie.. it just wasn't the entire truth.
Gibbs kept his eyes on the young man, he could see it clear as day, he was leaving something out, he didn't think he lied, but he definitely didn't say the whole story. He then considered something else, this boy had come through Manchester from Frankfurt, that was where Tony said Rooney was on his way from, could there be connection? He was about to say something when the door opened again.
"Sorry to intrude Gibbs" Fornell remarked, he panned the room, there were certainly numerous bodies in the room, he wasn't sure how the reactions would play out.
"What's up?" Gibbs asked, he could see his friend had news.
"Well" Fornell started "just got word that Lt Rooney has arrived and ahh.." he saw numerous faces harden into almost stone "the officer that escorted him here wants a word with you..and"
"I'm coming" Gibbs remarked interrupting him, he was glad the asshole was finally here, and wanted to hear about the pot-shot someone took at him.
"Ah Jethro, he doesn't want just a word with you, but with your entire family as well" Fornell remarked, he wasn't sure how he'd take it. The officer had made his request quite specific, he wanted to see the entire Gibbs family, he just hadn't a clue as to why!?
Gibbs couldn't help but show surprise at that, he shared a look with his wife who was equally as surprised. Maybe the officer had been told what Rooney had been responsible for & wanted to express their sympathy? That's what any honourable person would do. And maybe it would provide some information to if there was any connection between what happened to Mike's hand and Rooney? After all, he didn't believe in coincidences. But he couldn't help but be a little apprehensive at this request, he didn't want to expose his family to an unknown person, even if that person was the officer responsible for bringing Lt Rooney. He just couldn't help but be protective of his family, it would take a long time for him to relax & allow strangers too much access to his family. The safety & wellbeing of his family would always come first, and he wouldn't bow to anyone on that, perhaps he'd go see this officer first & then if he deemed it ok, he'd bring his family out.. yes, that's what he'd do, he'd investigate & then if he thought the officer was well intentioned, he'd allow the visitation to his family.
A/N: Well, Gibbs certainly didn't like that his kids had come across Barrett! And he seems to be already asserting himself over Mike, that interaction is sure to be interesting! But just what happened to Mike's hand & could it have something to do Lt Rooney? Will Gibbs be able to get anything from this officer? And just who exactly is it that wants a word with the entire family?
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