Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Characters from NCIS. They belong to Belisarius Productions and CBS. I wrote this before Judgement Day so this is an Alternate Universe story. The characters I do own are all mine so you have to ask if you want to use them.
A/N: Well I would like to thank each and every one of you for your reviews. They have spurred me on so much. I never realised how popular Jibbs was here on NFA. I'm grateful that too you all and thank you for your support as I wrote this. A special thanks for my beta on this story Three.Steps.Past.Forever for her help, she is the true Jibbs fan. Thanks Jess. Keep reviewing; we're almost at the home straight.
The doors of Autopsy opened as Ducky walked in and Gibbs followed. Ducky turned around to face Gibbs. "You were going to tell me something Duck? What is so important?" Gibbs said eyeing his friend suspiciously.
"Jethro, you remember when we quarrelled over you quitting and not telling me about Shannon and Kelly?" Ducky said quietly as he sat down at his desk.
"Yeah? What does that have to do with anything?" Gibbs said looking at him, "You're hiding something!"
"Yes, yes I am my friend," Ducky nodded, he looked into Gibbs face, "I'm sorry Jethro."
"About Duck?" Gibbs felt a sinking feeling as he looked at Ducky. "You're not dying on me are you?"
"No, no, nothing as serious as that, but this is serious," Ducky said slowly.
"It has something to do with what happened upstairs," Gibbs said, his mind racing as he tried to work out what his gut was sensing. "It is something permanent though, something Jenny has hidden from me for a long time…" Gibbs closed his eyes for a moment and in that instant something clicked, "Jenny has a kid!"
"I never said anything to you Jethro understand," Ducky said standing and eyeing his friend. "I was sworn to secrecy and she's been very protective of them…"
"Them…?" Gibbs looked wide-eyed at Ducky, "There is more then one?"
"Yes," Ducky said hesitantly.
"Who is their father?" Gibbs said looking at Ducky, "It wasn't La Grenouille? Was it?"
"Jethro…" Ducky started. The doors to autopsy opened and Jimmy Palmer walked in he stopped mid-stride as he took in both Gibbs and Ducky.
Ducky looked at his face and knew what was going on, "The Director's upstairs, Mr Palmer?"
"Yes Doctor," Jimmy said watching Gibbs, "She's upstairs in her office. She's on crutches and she's asking for you."
"Thank you, Mr Palmer," Ducky sighed; he was not looking forward to the next half an hour. "Now I'll deal with this Jethro…" Ducky began but Gibbs was gone before Ducky spoke another word, a certain determination on his face. Ducky couldn't help but feel that Gibbs had already worked out everything.
XXXXXXXX
Gibbs stepped out of the elevator and bypassed the bullpen without a glance. "Ah Boss…" Tony called after him. But Gibbs ignored the call and continued to the stairs, he took three at a time as Tony and Ziva exchanged knowing glances and Abby and McGee both watched Gibbs walk along the balcony, he stopped and began to pace back and forth along the balcony as if he were debating something internally.
"I think the boss just worked out who the mess belongs to and now he's going to start demanding right in front of his kids," Tony grinned at Ziva, Abby and McGee.
"Gibbs would never do that Tony," Abby said softly, "At least not after he sees them."
McGee looked at Tony, "This is Gibbs we're talking about. You've seen him before with kids; he's always great with them." Tony didn't look convinced, McGee tried to continue, and "He won't Tony."
"Did you see the way he was looking when he walked past, I mean look at him now!" Tony grinned victoriously as he pointed at Gibbs who was still pacing the balcony, then back at McGee, "He ignored my call…he is so pissed at the moment he'll yell even if he does see them."
"Whatever Tony," Abby replied her annoyance visible on her face.
Ziva had remained quiet until now, as she weighed all the arguments. She spoke confidently, "Tony I will take you're bet yes."
Tony grinned at her, "Name your prize. If you win."
"Ah…" Ziva started, everything she thought about was something romantic and date like. If Tony had known what was in her mind he would have thought he was in heaven.
"What's the matter Zee-vah you having cold feet?" Tony asked her teasingly.
"I'm thinking Tony!" Ziva snapped at him.
"Yeah Tony don't rush her," Abby replied grinning at Ziva as if she could read the Jewish woman's mind. "She is thinking about a cruel and unusual punishment."
"Pfft, the only thing she's thinking about is procrastinating so she wins," Tony pointed his head toward the door of Jenny's office.
"You have to make us all dinner, you have to wait on us all evening and finally do all the washing up," Ziva replied quickly.
"Wha…what…oh that is cruel and unusual punishment," Tony grumbled as the other three all looked pleased as punch. "Fine I have to win then. If I win then you and I go out to dinner and show. Oh and you have to wear a dress that is sexy and hot, not trousers and shirt like you do usually."
Ziva looked at Abby shaking her head, "If I didn't know better I would guess that he has been thinking about this a long time, yes?"
"I'm inclined to agree with you there Ziva," McGee eyed Tony suspiciously, who just shrugged.
Abby grinned as if she knew all along, "Well he'll have to bring you a rose and he has to promise to pay." Abby looked at Tony, "If you win do you promise to be very romantic, Tony?"
"I'm Italian!" Tony said as if that meant something.
Abby raised her eyebrows, "And so am I but that doesn't mean I'm romantic…I mean I am…of course I am…but that's not the point." Abby felt her face going red as McGee looked at her, then she changed the subject, "Do you promise, Tony?"
"Yeah I promise," Tony said quickly as the elevator opened to reveal Ducky and Jimmy walking out. They walked over to the bullpen, Ducky watching Gibbs still pacing up and down.
"He been like that since he left Autopsy?" Jimmy voice Ducky's thoughts, the good doctor smiled warmly at the younger man. He was just another him, younger perhaps and with fewer stories but Jimmy Palmer was basically a younger version of himself.
"Yep," McGee nodded at Jimmy, "He keeps pacing as if he's waiting for something."
"His conscience is not letting him go in there and yell at her in front of his children," Ducky said very glad of his psychology study.
Gibbs moved to the door his hand on the handle he took a deep breath and let out an even longer breath and opened the door. Ducky smiled conspiratorially at the rest of the group, "I believe my dears that everything in Paris when Jethro and Jenny were partners is about to finally are confronted."
XXXXXXXX
Gibbs walked straight in, the door almost slammed as he stood in the centre of the office. Jenny was sitting on the couch one of the twins either side of her. Gibbs eyed them, his conscience still pricking him as he made the decision to let loose. Jenny was watching him, her eyes told him everything, she didn't want him to start arguing but if he did she was prepared to argue with him just as much.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Gibbs said his voice raised he glared at Jenny, "You could have told me so long ago. Why did you keep them a secret from me? What was I going to do? I love them even now and I don't even know them!"
"This isn't the time or the place Jethro," Jenny said her voice hard as she slowly rose on her crutches. "The decision had a lot more to do with others then just you. Remember you were married at the time." Jenny stood in front of him her gaze just as hard, "You had Stephanie there to have children with, yet I was the one who fell pregnant. I was the one who had to watch you from afar."
"That wouldn't have stopped you from marrying me after would it!" Gibbs edge was less hard but it was there none the less as both Hayley and Laura Jane were sitting wide-eyed as the two twins began to piece the conversation. They were witnessing their first ever family argument. Gibbs, "Or was that too much to jeopardise your opportunity as Director?"
The slap came a second later, Gibbs face rocked to the left as Jenny right hand hit him. It was only now that she realised what she had done. "Jethro, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry."
"Not as sorry as I am," Gibbs voice now had no hardness to it. His eyes were looking at his twin girls, they were so beautiful and now they would have to see their father walk away. "I love you two," Gibbs whispered. His heart felt like it was wrenched from his chest, just like it had when he had found out that Kelly had been murdered.
"Jethro!" Jenny was holding back tears, the shock and realisation of what had just happened and what had just taken place in front of their children was only now hitting home.
"Jen I need time to think and take into consideration all that I've found out," Gibbs turned and headed for the door. Gibbs stopped at the door, he turned to look at his girls, "You be good for mum okay." They nodded still stunned at what had just taken place. Then Gibbs was out of the office.
"Dad?" Hayley said looking at Jenny.
"That was our Dad?" Laura Jane said stunned as she held Hayley's hand.
"Yes, Hayls," Jenny looked at her hand for a moment, "Yes LJ that was Dad."
XXXXXXXX
Ducky and the rest of the group stood in the bullpen they had heard most of what had begun. Now they looked at one another sombrely as Gibbs descended the stairs. Their was no smile of victory now on Tony's face, it was now a terrible feeling that he felt. He had made a bet with the Ziva over something was more then fun and games.
Gibbs slowed as he neared the bullpen, he looked at Duck. "Duck can you drive me home?"
"Of course," Ducky nodded.
Gibbs looked at Tony, "You're team for the time being okay Tony?"
"Sure boss," Gibbs handed his gun to Tony. Tony felt like it was Gibbs quitting all over again.
"Gibbs!" Abby said tears filling her eyes.
"I'll be back," Gibbs replied kissing her forehead, "I promise."
"Boss?" McGee looked at Gibbs.
"Yeah?" Gibbs said turning around to face him. Gibbs looked like an old man, nothing like the man he always carried himself as. "What Tim?"
"How long are you…" McGee began.
"Not as long as last time," Gibbs replied but there was no cheeriness as he spoke next, "I'm not leaving him in charge long term, look what happened last time." Gibb sadly added as he pointed at Tony.
"Ziva," Gibbs nodded at the Israeli woman.
"Jethro, she'll turn up, you know that." Ziva added.
"Yeah," Gibbs nodded as he walked past and over to where Ducky stood by the elevator. He turned and looked back, this time Jenny wasn't standing at the railing on the stairs. "Semper Fi."
A/N: okay I thought this was a good way to end the chapter…leave you at edge of your seats…I also will admit that my OTP of Tiva is also coming out in this fic when I wasn't expecting it too. Please keep reviewing and thanks heaps for your support.