Chapter 5: The first day of school

Rory had been up since 0530, that was not normal for her, she loved to sleep. Today wasn't a normal day though, today was her first day of her new school. After much arguing with her mother she had managed to convince her to not send her to a private school. Her mom had wanted to send her to a private catholic school, similar to the boarding school she had attended in London, whereas Rory wished to attend public school like she did when she was younger. After much back and forth and her dad putting in his say here and there, they had all decided that Rory would go to the public high school on the Quantico base. It had appeased her mom because there was security to get onto base and it made her dad happy that Rory was going to get a somewhat normal high school experience.

Jenny looked at her daughter as she held up various different outfits. "The pink dress with the denim jacket at the boots I got you last week." Jenny said from the door way and Rory turned around to her mom and smiled.

"How long have you been up?" Rory asked sheepishly.

"0500, I've been watching you for 10 minutes, sit I'll do your hair." Rory sat at her vanity and her mom brushed out her tangles. "Straight or curly?"

"Straight." Jenny nodded and got out the flat iron and began to straighten Rory's long red hair. "I'm not nervous if that's what you are thinking." Rory stated and Jenny had to purse her lips together to stop herself from laughing. Rory was very nervous, and it showed.

"Oh of course not,' Jenny said nodding. "I mean we went to visit with your dad, and we saw the whole place." Jenny said keeping focussed on her hair

"Exactly and they're going to give me someone to show me around for the first week." Rory said, calming down slightly. Jenny nodded, finishing off Rory's hair. "Mom," Rory said as she got up off her chair, "I'm a little nervous." Jenny laughed, "it's not funny mom!" She yelled.

Jenny pulled her daughter into a hug, "Rory you are going to be fine, it's a good school, you're going to make so many friends!" Jenny exclaimed, "plus you take your people skills from me and not your dad which is a bonus." Rory laughed at that; her mom had a way of being able to take her mind off things. "Come on get ready, your dad will be here soon, and you need to eat something."

Jenny headed down stairs to put on a pot of coffee when her front door went. "Hey Jethro," she said letting him and heading to the kitchen. "You're here early." She deduced and he shrugged.

"Figured if Rory was ready I could treat you guys to breakfast at a diner near Quantico, if she wasn't I could cook her favourite pancakes here." She turned and smiled at him.

"You old softy, you want her to have a good first day at school," she teased, and he rolled his eyes at her. "Yeah she should be down in a minute," Jenny said handing him a mug of coffee. It was weird for both of them, last week they were tiptoeing around each other trying to not cause problems and to keep things civil for Rory's sake, but it had been hard at times.

"I haven't missed a first day of school since she was mine." Gibbs said and Jenny raised an eyebrow at him. "Well Paris was the first one, and then when she was at boarding school I used to get up when she was so I could wish her a good first day at school." He said, his eyes not leaving his coffee mug.

"I did the same," Jenny whispered when Rory walked in. "Pretty girl, dad wants to take us for breakfast you up for that?" Jenny asked as Rory gave her dad a hug and she nodded. "Cool we will take your SUV if you are okay to drop me at work after Jethro?" He nodded, that was fine.

The decision on protection detail was worse than that of sorting out schooling. Jenny and Gibbs fought with each other on it, Gibbs wanted his child to be safe but with a normal life, but Jenny was not up for ignoring orders from SecNav. So instead of fighting amongst themselves they offered Rory a list of people and Rory had been pickier than her mother! Jenny had Melvin and Hector, her protection detail were both males, something that Gibbs would have been happier with for his daughter, but Rory wanted two female agents, stating that it would look 'more cool' to which Jenny corrected her grammar , it was like old times.

Agent Hannah Bruce and Fiona Morgan were waiting outside for the family in Rory's newly appointed SUV. The only good thing about this while situation was that Rory had her own black SUV with federal plates, how many 14 year olds could say that. Jenny informed them, and her protection detail of the plans and off they went. The family had a nice breakfast and Gibbs paid, stating that he could treat his girls to breakfast once in a while. That had made Jenny blush slightly and smile, Rory rolled her eyes and headed for the car.

They were stood inside the principal's office where Rory was being given her timetable and they were waiting for Rory's tour guide. "I assure you Director Shepard and Special Agent Gibbs that Rory will be in good hands, I have one of our best pupils showing her around." At that moment a blonde haired girl appeared at the door, "Ah here she is, Rory meet Neve, she will show you around for the week, you guys have roughly the same schedule." Both girls smiled at each other and Gibbs indicated to Jenny it was time to leave.

"Okay well we should be going," Jenny said getting up to leave before turning back to the principal. "You have all the numbers correct? Well I brought a spare sheet with them all on it anyway," Jenny said pulling out a piece of paper from her bag and Gibbs and Rory rolled their eyes. "So, there is my office, personal and my assistants number on there as well as all of Rory's dad contact information as well as various members of his team in case anyone can't get a hold of us."

"Jenny." Gibbs growled

"Mom!" Rory hissed.

"Okay okay," Jenny said throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "Have a good day baby." She said as she walked out of the office and Gibbs signed I love you to her.

The drive to NCIS was a quiet one and when the elevator began to move Gibbs flipped the switch and turned to Jenny, "get it out in the next minute and then the Director façade has to go on." Jenny nodded and began to cry, Gibbs held her close and told her that Rory would be fine, that everything would be okay, because he knew. "Jen," he said looking into her eyes, "she gets all her people skills from you, she will be fine." Jenny laughed and wiped her eyes, flipping the switch back on to get the elevator moving again.

"I know that, I told Rory that this morning." Jenny said exiting the elevator and walking away. Gibbs silently cursed her out, back in the day they would always try to see who could get the last word in, this time Jenny had won.


Both Jenny and Gibbs didn't have much time to worry about Rory's first day at school as they were busy working the case where Zack Tanners dad had been kidnapped. Jenny was standing at the balcony waiting when Gibbs came and stood beside him.

"I always admired your way with children. Ever think of having another?" She asked, she always wondered why Jethro never had kids with his ex-wives

"That an offer Jen?" He asked cocking an eyebrow and they both laughed

"No, it wasn't an offer Jethro, it was merely an observation!" Jenny laughed and Gibbs looked into her eyes

"Thought about it, in Paris." He started and Jenny's heart raced. "Thought it would be nice to give Rory a brother or sister." He said with a shrug and Jenny nodded slowly.

"She would have loved that," she paused, "you ever think about having a baby with Stephanie?" She asked curiously and received a look that was filled with so many emotions.

"She wasn't you," he shrugged, and Jenny felt like she had been trampled on, Jethro had missed on the opportunity of having kids because she had left him. That stung. "Anyway, Director you asked to see me?"

Jenny straightened up slightly and got herself back into the Director role, "with all of the evidence stacking up against captain Tanner I wondered if you had any evidence that suggests he is actually the victim."

"I'm working on it." Gibbs said as he walked away.

"I just want to know this is more than a fatherless child to you?" Jenny said pointedly, she knew how he could get attached to children, hell she saw it with her daughter before Rory became their daughter. Jenny knew that his judgement wouldn't be clouded by this but was worried his heart my take a hit.

"Zack will be under protective custody at my house tonight director." Gibbs said icily , "would It be possible for you to have Rory tonight, just safer in case someone makes a play for Zack."

Jenny bit her lip for a moment, she had a date tonight and wasn't sure how to phrase it, she had said to Rory she would cancel if Rory wanted to have dinner and talk about her first day at school but Rory had encouraged her to go as she would be at her dads anyway as it was a Wednesday night.

"I have a thing this evening, so I can ask Noemi to stay late or I could pick her up from yours at about 2100?" Jenny asks and Gibbs looks at her curiously.

"Just get her from mine, I'm her dad it shouldn't be on Noemi." Jenny gave him a nod and off her went back to the squad room to try and find anything on the Tanner kid.


It had just gone 2100 when Gibbs, Zack and Rory were in the basement sanding the boat. Gibbs had enjoyed spending the time with the pair, he was a bit annoyed that Rory wasn't able to stay at his house that evening, but he would rather she wasn't here, for her protection.

While he got something from the back of the basement Jenny began to descend the stairs wearing a green dress that stopped just below the knees and was very low cut. "Hubba-Hubba!" Gibbs said under his breath and Rory rolled her eyes. A part of Rory loved the fact that her mom could still get that kind of reaction out her dad, but it pissed another part of her off, Rory wished her parents wouldn't be so stubborn and admit their love for each other. "Dinner at the white house?" He asked curious, she looked damn good.

"A date actually!" Jenny responded.

"Must be an important guy for you to get all decked out," he said flirtatiously, and Rory rolled her eyes once again.

"I would prefer if you told me you liked my dress." Jenny flirted back with him.

"I haven't decided." He deduced looking visibly jealous at the fact that Jenny had been on a date.

Jenny gave her daughter a kiss on the head, "do you guys mind giving us a minute?"

Rory nodded and helped Zack off of the boat, "come on buddy, let's get a soda." Rory said taking Zack up the stairs to get a drink.

"How long are you planning on keeping Frank Connell locked up?" Jenny asks

"You making house calls to reprimand your agents now Director." Gibbs said tartly and Jenny nodded.

"Director is gone, I hope you guys had a good night, her detail will drop her off at your house after school tomorrow." Jenny said turning on her heels and walking up the stairs."

"Jen," Gibbs called after her and she turned to him, "this guy met Rory?"

Jenny shook her head and glared at him lightly, "It was one date Jethro, you know the rules Jethro, if I was introducing him to Rory you would meet him first, its co-parenting 101."

Gibbs walked as she walked up the stairs and out of ear shot, "I like the dress."

"Thank you," she yells from the laundry room and Gibbs laughed, she got the last word in again.