A/N: I am so so sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up, I really thought i'd have time over XMAS/NY to write but alas no! I am so thankful you are still with me on this journey! To my latest followers/favourites, welcome & I'm so glad you're with us! To my reviewers, you're simply amazing!
Now i know this chapter is shorter than my normal ones are, but I wanted to get something up for you!
Gibbs took a seat in the chair by Joanne's bed, he could tell she was asleep, and if he was honest though he knew she needed rest he hoped she wouldn't be asleep for long! He didn't want his wife sitting out there in the hall for who knew how long! He could see that she was looking better than when he saw her last, there was very few cords running from her to the machines now, and he knew that was a really good thing.
Gibbs sat there as he contemplated how on earth he could tell this woman that, that… that well her daughter was alive, granddaughter too! He didn't really do a great job when he tried to tell his father, or Ted for that matter! And thinking about his last conversation with that woman.. yea, best to not to dwell on that one! He just sat there taking some deep breaths, his ribs were still giving some grief but they were slowly getting better, his shoulder was slowly getting better too, and a lot of his cuts & bruises were starting to heal, but he wouldn't completely happy until he could do away with the damn sling! This business of having to have someone drive him was beyond frustrating! There was another issue he would have to deal with promptly too & that was his car situation, his truck only sat 3 people, they were currently using Ted's sister's 7 seater SUV as she was away, but soon enough she'd be back & besides that, he wanted to get his family a car they'd be comfortable in. He started considering the various options, did he go SUV? Wagon? Sedan? He was pulled from his musing when he heard a small groan like moan & he refocused on Joanne. Gosh, how was he going to do this?
Joanne stirred again, she looked around not really knowing what was going on or where she was and as she turned to her side she got the fright of her life "Jethro!" that was when she recalled having seen Jackson perhaps? Yes, she did recall seeing him, but why? And what on earth was Jethro doing here now?
"Hey Joanne" Gibbs said quietly "how are you feeling?" he'd try to take it slow.
"Confused" Joanne "was your father here earlier?"
Gibbs nodded "he was, he's just out in the hall with a few other people" he could tell she was still looking confused, he wanted to check something though "I can try to help clear some of your confusion up if you can tell me what's the last you recall?"
"Ahh" Joanne considered "a doctor had come in here to see me, but didn't really tell me how I ended up in here, but Jackson said that you had checked me in here as your dependant"
"I did" Gibbs nodded, he sucked in a breath before saying the thing, this would be hard "you're family Joanne, and there's nothing more important than that today, tomorrow and into the future" he knew he'd shock her with the statement, but it was the truth.
Joanne just stared at him, she'd rarely heard those sort of words out of the man, especially towards her "Jethro, what is going on?" she then recalled something else "your father was going on about some nonsense"
Gibbs pulled his chair forward & took a good a look at her "MacDonald.."
"What about him? And what happened to you? To me?" Joanne asked having just realised he wasn't looking 100% either.
"MacDonald wasn't a good guy Joanne" Gibbs remarked "he's caused us both a lot of pain"
Joanne took a moment before speaking "I know you two never got on, but he wasn't all bad Jethro, he took care of us, took care of my girl…"
Gibbs had to interrupt "he did not take care of Shannon Joanne, in fact he caused her nothing but grief, Kelly too"
Joanne wasn't sure why he was saying that, but she was still not all that focused so she just listened.
Gibbs knew she was listening to him "I know you believed he was good to you whilst Shannon grew up, but the man didn't care about you Joanne. I'm sorry if that hurts, but it's true, he didn't care about you or your connection with Shannon, nor your connection with Kelly"
"Why would you say that?" Joanne asked, she knew MacDonald cared for the girls.
"Because he denied you the chance to be with them, to watch them grow and experience life with them" Gibbs answered, he was hoping he was doing a better job at preparing her than his previous conversations.
Joanne was perplexed, she then recalled something "are you trying to talk to me about the same nonsense your father was trying, because I'm not amused, especially when you haven't even said why I'm in hospital to begin with!" she finished in a huff.
"You want to know how you ended up in here?" Gibbs asked, this was more alike to their relationship, he took a breath "I'm guessing that MacDonald had asked you to meet him in Stillwater, except it was under false pretences. He wanted you there as a way to try to get at me, to hurt me, to hurt this family & protect his sorry ass." He took a breath to both to allow her time to process and also gave him a moment to try to get his emotions back in check.
"This family?" Joanne bit, she knew she was confused & still pretty out of it but this was not how Jethro ever spoke about them, especially after her girl died.
Gibbs took a breath as he ran his free hand through his hair, he gave a brief look downwards as he tried to gather his thoughts, how does he do this? He looked back up to her, he knew she was confused, he knew she was still in a great deal of pain and needed time, but he didn't have the luxury of time. He thought he'd try something else "have I ever lied to you?" he saw her hesitate "just answer the question Joanne, have I ever lied to you?"
Joanne studied the man, but she knew the answer "no you haven't Jethro"
Gibbs nodded "so if I tell you something that's hard to believe you'd know I'm not lying to you now?"
"what is it?" Joanne asked, this was getting strange.
"MacDonald, he well… he lied to you in the most terrible way imaginable" Gibbs got out quietly, he took her hand into his for the next part.
Joanne couldn't help but he shocked by his sudden gentleness, she just stared at him in wonder.
Gibbs took a breath "Joanne, Mac… he…" he took another breath "he stole our girls, kidnapped them from right under our noses" he swallowed the lump in his throat as he saw her eyes widen like saucers "not lying to you Joanne, they've been alive all these years"
Joanne really didn't know what to say, this was the same nonsense that Jackson had been going on about, why would they both be saying these things. Looking at Jethro though, she got a sense of something, was he telling the truth? She wasn't really sure she could cope with the answer… either yes or no, she wasn't sure she could cope with it.
Gibbs could see wasn't sure of if he was telling her the truth "I'm not proud of it Joanne, but he fooled all of us." He took another moment to let her process everything she was hearing before speaking again "our girls, they've been alive this whole time, he… he stole them from the crash site in Oceanside, took them to his farmhouse in Borrego Springs before moving them to Houston, Texas"
"The bodies" Joanne stuttered
"Not our girls" Gibbs answered "he must have gotten them swapped out with 2 other people" he added gently.
Joanne really didn't know what to say! She really didn't! "He…. wouldn't take….. them away…. from me!" she tried to get out.
Gibbs swallowed "he did Joanne, he took them away from both of us" he sat back and took a breath as he thought about the best way forward, which he had no idea what that was exactly?!
Gibbs just back & gave her a few moments to try to get her head around it all. He closed his eyes as he tried to work out the next step, she seemed to be coming around to maybe accepting it, how did he get her to be ready though to see Shannon? He was brought from his musing by a small knock. He turned to see Mike at the door, so he rose & went to the door & brought it closed it as much as possible without shutting it completely.
"What?" Gibbs asked quietly, didn't this boy realise the situation & to not be disturbed?
Mike had been nervous in doing this, but he had to "I'm sorry to interrupt you sir, but Mrs G isn't doing so well, she needs you" he whispered as he looked back down towards where the family were congregating.
Gibbs eyes moved instantly and saw his wife had risen from the chairs & had her head against a wall, and he knew she was crying "thank you" he shifted his body to look back at Joanne. He could see the curiosity but knew he couldn't say anything "I'll be right back Joanne"
Gibbs walked swiftly back towards his family, he saw his kids sitting on the chairs with his dad & Myles, they looked really concerned "it's ok" he assured them as he quickly but firmly gave them each a quick kiss to their foreheads. Gibbs saw that Mike had retaken his seat next to Kelly & that the marine had shifted & was already heading back to room where Joanne was, which he was glad for.
Gibbs put himself behind his wife & wrapped his able arm around her, leaning forward to rest his head on her chin he spoke softly "shh Shan babe, shh, it's ok"
Shannon felt his presence instantly & just fell back into him crying "she won't believe you, I heard her, she doesn't believe you, she loved him, she won't.." she sobbed.
Gibbs gripped her as he turned her into him "stop Shan, it's hard for anyone to believe, and she's not well, it will take her even more time, but I'll get her there, dad will help me, it'll all be ok" he just stood there rubbing her back, trying to calm her back down. He wouldn't go back to see Joanne until she was ok.
"I'm going to the bathroom" Nix remarked to his grandfather, not even waiting for a reply he rose & started walking. Seeing his mum upset had really affected him. He had always hated seeing his mum or sister upset growing up, to him it wasn't right, they shouldn't have to be upset.
Nix was walking back from the bathroom when he saw that the door to room where his grandma was staying was open, he took a wide step & looked in from as far away as possible, there was a nurse in there checking the machines & giving her food. His grandma though looked fairly old, but not really old, she had blondish hair that he thought went down to her shoulders & he couldn't tell for sure, but her eyes looked a blueish green maybe. She looked friendly enough, he then froze, she had caught his eye & was just staring at him.. what on earth did he do now?
A/N:What on earth will happen now? What will her reaction be? what will our little Nix champ do?
Stay tuned for more! I promise to update soon! Please stay with me, and keep those reviews coming so i know you're still enjoying the story!