Note: this scene is set after Phineas meets his aunt and uncle and before Ziva's goodbye. I would have liked to see a scene where Phineas says goodbye to the team.
Phineas walks down the stairs to the bull Penn with Gibbs followed by his aunt Micki and his uncle George and Agent Sloane. Down in the bullpen is Agent McGee, Agent Torres, and Agent Bishop. They are sitting at their desk and finishing up paperwork.
"Uncle George the last time I was in here I was helping agent McGee… he is really cool… with catching a bad guy by playing KWK3. It was so Awesome." Phineas is so engaged in telling his uncle about the cool experience he had with helping the NCIS team. He doesn't really seem to notice that his aunt and uncle have no clue what KWK3 is but that doesn't really matter. What matters to them right now is that they got their foster son back and he is safe and he seems to be happy despite what has happened to his mother.
"it sounds like you had a good time with Agent Gibbs and agent Sloane," Georges says.
"yeah it was awesome I mostly played killing with kindness 3 with Agent McGee he is really awesome and I know a lot about tech." Jack notices how happy Phineas sounds about being back with his foster-parents. They walk down the steps to the bull Penn.
"hey, Phineas," McGee says.
"hey, Agent McGee. This is my aunt Micki and uncle George. I am going to stay with them now." Phineas says and looks happily up at his aunt and uncle.
"you sure are, big guy." His uncle George says and ruffles his hair. Gibbs walks over to his desk and grabs something from his desk drawer. He pulls out an NCIS cap and walks over and puts it on Phineas' head. He flips it around and smiles proudly to Gibbs. The smile on Gibbs's face doesn't go unnoticed by Jack but Gibbs clearly pretends like he isn't noticing how Jack is looking at him.
"Thanks." He says and looks up at his uncle.
"This is agent McGee. He also plays KWK3. He and I, we fought a bad guy bully in the game so that Agent Torres and Agent Bishop they could arrest the bullies in real life. It was so Awesome, Uncle George."
Uncle George looks over at the tall agent in front of him.
"it was great working with you Phineas," McGee says with a smile.
"even though you lost your place as Gibbs tech guy to a kid.
"dude I'm 9," Phineas says in a cocky tone to Torres. At first Aunt Micki is about to correct her foster son's attitude towards the agent, but once she notices the smile on Agent Torres's face she stops herself. It seems like Phineas has some sort of little inside joke going on with this agent.
"Yeah, I don't mind losing my spot as Gibbs tech guy to Phineas," McGee says with a smile to Phineas.
"hunting bad guys in a videogame?" Aunt Micki asks.
"Yeah. It is just like bullies in school. When they push you. you push back. that was what we did online too." Phineas explains. It doesn't seem to calm his aunt down much.
"don't worry he stayed in our tech room the whole time. he was never near the bad guy in any way." Jack reassures her.
"mom didn't like it at first but then I told her how awesome it was. It was like playing KWK3 on a screen that is the size of a movie theater. It was awesome." Phineas explains.
"that sounds like fun, Phineas but we should go soon. We have a few hours drive home." Aunt Micki says.
"Okay," Phineas says a bit sad and then walks over to Agent Torres.
"well, kid I'm glad you are okay."
"Thanks for finding me."
"well, you didn't make it easy kid," Torres says.
"thank you… I think." Phineas says and then shakes hands with Torres. "and just so you know dude, I'm not a little kid." Phineas says a little cocky and then smiles. It makes Agent Torres chuckle.
"I know that kid. Take care." They shake hands and then Phineas walks over to Bishop.
"are you going to be in trouble for what you did to Victor at the airport?" Phineas asks concerned once he is standing in front of Bishop.
"no, I don't think so. He deserved it." Bishop says and kneels down in front of Phineas.
"I don't want you to get in trouble because of me," Phineas says concerned.
"I won't, Phineas. You handled the situation very well yourself." Bishop says with a smile and it makes Phineas smile.
"Jethro Gibbs taught me that," Phineas says and looks back at Gibbs.
"yeah, he taught me most of what I know too," Bishop says.
"take care, Phineas," Bishop says and reaches her hand out to Phineas. He doesn't take it. he gives her a hug instead and then whispers to her.
"This is for punching Victor in the face for me."
It makes Bishop chuckle. "but please don't tell Jethro Gibbs." He adds before they break the hug.
"you know what?" Bishop says and looks over at Gibbs who is just looking at them with a smile. "Gibbs would have done it too and it would have been five times as hard as mine was."
"cool," Phineas says and looks back at Gibbs.
"what?" Gibbs says.
"Agent Bishop says that if you had punched Victor instead you would have punched him five times as hard as she did." Gibbs just gives him a sideways smile and it makes the rest of the agents smile too.
"who is Victor?" Aunt Micki is asking a bit concerned.
"the man who tried to kidnap Phineas. Phineas did a great job dealing with him until the team arrived." Jack says. Aunt Micki looks a bit concerned where uncle Georges smiles proudly at Phineas.
"I just did what Jethro Gibbs has taught me. rule 9." Phineas explains with a smile to Gibbs. And Gibbs nods approvingly.
"What is rule 9?" Uncle Georges asks.
"I'll tell you later," Phineas says and then walks over to Jack. Jack kneels down in front of him.
"thank you, Agent Sloane, for finding my Aunt and Uncle for me," Phineas says and reaches a hand out to shake her hand. She takes his hand.
"you are welcome, Phineas. I'm so glad that we found you so you can live with your aunt and uncle again."
"But I have a question," Phineas says.
"yes go ahead," Jack says.
"Victor said that I was going to Libia to my real uncle. What did he mean by that?" Phineas asks confused.
"hey, Phin." Jack says. "don't worry about what he told you. he lied about everything."
"but…" Phineas says confused.
"hey, Phin." Gibbs kneels down in front of him. "do you remember what we talked about, about bullies?" Gibbs asks.
Phineas nods. "yeah. They try to push people around and sometimes you gotta push back."
Gibbs nods. "Victor wasn't just a bully. He also lied. He was really bad but also not a very smart guy."
"I outsmarted him," Phineas says proudly.
"yes, you did," Gibbs says and nuzzles his hair.
"am I ever going to see you again Jethro Gibbs?" Phineas asks quietly. Gibbs looks around to his fellow agents. He doesn't like being soft in front of his team, but he knows he is soft around Phineas.
"I'm am going to walk you and your aunt and uncle to your car," Gibbs says and stands up. He takes Phineas backpack and they walk to the elevator together followed by aunt Micki and Uncle George.
Once the elevator doors are closed the agents get back to their desks.
"I feel really great that we found Phineas but at the same time, I feel really sad for Gibbs. He let that little guy into his heart and now he is loosing him again." McGee says and starts typing on his computer.
"I don't think Gibbs is going to lose Phineas," Jack says.
"Phineas is safe. He is with his foster-parents now and this whole story with his mother is over. He is going to be fine." Jack says.
"not to mention" Torres sats and everyone looks over at him. he stands up and leans against his desk. "that kid will always have Gibbs to look out for him. no kid can have better protection." It makes them all chuckle.
"Phineas is going to be fine and I am sure he will stay in touch with Gibbs. They both need each other." Jack says. everyone agrees with her on that.
Shortly after they hear Ziva walking into the bullpen along with Jimmy and Kasie.
"McGee…" Ziva says demanding. McGee looks up from his computer.
"Check your phone."
McGee takes his phone out. He has received a video message from Tony Dinozzo. Bishop, Torres, and Kasie hurry over to watch the video with him.
post episode:
Gibbs arrives home in his car. He pulls into his driveway and gets out of his car. Before he reaches the front door another car pulls into his driveway next to his truck. It is the familiar car of Jack Sloane. She gets out of the car without saying a word and follows him inside. Once they are inside they take off their coats and shoes and walk into the living room. None of them are saying a word. It hs become their thing to move around in silence. They have build up a routine for their evenings spend together. Jack drops down on the couch while Gibbs goes to the kitchen to grab beers from the fright. He comes back in and drops down on the couch next to her. she snuggles closer to him and he notices how cold her hands are so he reaches over and pulls a blanket over her.
"may I ask you now how you are doing?" she asks and it makes him chuckle.
"year you may and I am doing fine. I'm glad Phineas is safe with his aunt and uncle. They seem like great people.
"you really care about that boy," Jack says and rests her head against his chest.
"yeah, he is a good kid," Gibbs says and takes a sip of his beer. Then his phone rings. It isn't a number he is familiar with.
"Gibbs…" He simply says as he answers.
"hey, Jethro Gibbs." A familiar young boy's voice says. it creates a smile on Gibbs's face.
"Hey, Phineas. How are you?" Gibbs asks. Jack sits up straight by the mention of Phineas' name.
"I'm good. I am at my Aunt and Uncles house now. I asked my aunt if it was okay that I called you to say goodnight. She said it was okay but that if you where already asleep then I shouldn't keep you up."
"I am not asleep, Phineas," Gibbs says. he can't stop smiling by the sound of the young boy's voice.
"I told my uncle George about how you taught me to play baseball and he says that tomorrow he and I are going to go to the batting cage nearby so we can play."
"That is so great Phineas."
"and I also told my Aunt about when you and I made the volcano that won first place and I showed her the picture and aunt Micki says that she will help me get a frame so I can put the picture in a frame for my room."
"that is so great Phineas. Your aunt and uncle sound like great people who will take good care of you."
"yeah, they are the best. I got my old room back, but it is a little kid's room. It has all of my toys from when I was a little kid. I even found the first police car that my uncle gave me when I was little. I put it up on my shelf over my bed together with the police car that you fixed for me and the NCIS badge agent McGee gave me."
"that is great Phineas."
Gibbs doesn't need to say much. he gets the feeling that this call from Phineas is something Phineas needs to make sense of his new life.
"Phineas have you brushed your teeth yet?" it is Phineas aunt Micki who has entered his room. Gibbs can hear her in the background.
"no, not yet Aunt Micki I am still talking to Jethro Gibbs."
"Okay honey, but you need to go brush your teeth soon. It is late and it has been a really long day."
"Okay, Aunt Micki," Phineas says a little sad.
"hey, Phin…" Gibbs says to get his attention back to the phone. "do as your aunt say and go to bed. Get a good night of sleep and enjoy your day tomorrow. You can call me again whenever you need to have a chat. I am never more than a phone call away."
"aunt Micki…" Phineas says. Gibbs gets the feeling she is sitting right next to him. "is it okay with you and Uncle George if I call Jethro Gibbs every once in a while?"
"of course it is Phineas. He is a part of your life." Aunt Micki says and places a kiss on top of Phineas' head.
"Aunt Micki, can I tell Jethro Gibbs one last thing and then I will go and brush my teeth?" Phineas asks.
"sure…" Gibbs hears the sound of a door closing at Phineas' end of the phone. Aunt Micki most have left his room again.
"Jethro Gibbs I told uncle George about rule 9 and how it helps stop Victor from hurting me until you could find me in the airport and uncle George said it was awesome and he said that he would get me a pocketknife so I can always carry a knife but… he did say that I couldn't bring it to school and I can only use it when he is around or when I go visit you… he said I could visit you sometimes still… if it is okay with you."
It makes Gibbs smile. "it is okay with me. I would love that Phineas. You should do as your Aunt told you and go brush your teeth now."
"okay. Goodnight Jethro Gibbs." Phineas says and then hangs up on the phone. Gibbs places his phone on the coffee table. He then notices a big smile on Jack's face.
"what?" he asks.
"you and that kid. it is pretty amazing to see." Gibbs just shakes his head at her and takes a sip of his beer.
"I think it is really sweet how he changes you."
"he doesn't change me." Gibbs protests and leans back against the back of the couch.
"no…" Jack says and snuggles into Gibbs's side. "you are always soft. You just let it show when he is around."
"Stop it, Jack."
Even though Gibbs doesn't like it when Jack analyzes him like that he knows she is right. He does have a soft side he rarely lets show.