Title: Once upon a Summertime

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters on "NCIS", I'm just borrowing them for the story.

A/N: Hello everyone, I hope you're all well. I'm finished with chapter 16 now and as you can see it's out. I'm having a little rough time at home at the moment so I would really appreciate a review after you've read the chapter. It would make my day. I know in what direction I want the story to go but its taking me a little time to get there since I don't want to rush it. If you think it's moving too slowly then please let me know. I would appreciate all feedback.

CHAPTER 16

The Senior Field Agent

A piece of cake, huh? Taking care of these kids this summer was going to be a piece of cake. Those had been Jen's words to him, Gibbs thought as he ran as fast as he could through the woods, leaping over rocks and fallen logs as he progressed. What was going on here? Why had they suddenly decided to come here instead of staying at the playground? He hadn't understood much of what Abby had been trying to say between panting and crying. Something about a stream and a snake and Tim's foot and the snake trying to eat him to death. Anyway he had heard enough and had taken off in the direction she had pointed.

Tony's POV:

How could I be so stupid, I wondered? So stupid as to challenge Ziva. I should have known she wouldn't back down. And thinking back I also realized I had done it to make trouble for her because I was angry at her for embarrassing me. I knew now that that was stupid. But it was done and I couldn't jump into a time machine and undo it anyway.

"Come on, Tim! We have to get back right away!" Ziva yelled and signaled for Tim to hurry up and catch up with us. Ziva and I were running as fast as we could, at least as fast as possible with Tim accompanying us. We were trying to get back to explain to Gibbs and Jenny what had happened. But now we stopped to give Tim a chance to catch up. I put my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

"You're right about that," A voice from behind spoke. I didn't have to turn to know it was Gibbs who had spoken. "You can turn around now."

Slowly we did as he said. I heard Tim approach from behind and stop a few paces behind us.

"Are you all right, Tim?" Gibbs asked.

I didn't hear him answer so he must have nodded instead.

"Glad to hear that," Gibbs stepped closer to us and Tim came up and took his place next to me.

Sweat was visible on Gibbs forehead so I assumed he had run fast to find us. I felt bad about that because it probably meant he had been worried. He had a grim look on his face but didn't look like he was gonna start yelling anytime soon.

"If I'm not mistaken I believe we agreed you'd go and play at the playground. Not way out here in the woods."

"With the snakes," Tim added quietly. I scowled at him. If he didn't keep quiet he might end up making it worse.

I looked into Gibbs piercing blue eyes. His gaze was steady and I could feel mine wavering. "What did Abby tell you?" I asked, carefully.

Gibbs was quiet, studying each of us in turn. Then he spoke. "She came running to us yelling about a snake being on Tim's foot."

I felt like Gibbs was mostly looking at me for some reason. That probably didn't bode well.

"I wondered how a snake could end up on Tim's foot while he was playing at the playground. But when she pointed at the woods I came here instead."

He shifted his stare to Tim but softened it a little. "Are you sure you're all right? The snake didn't bite you?"

Tim shook his head and pointed at Ziva. "No, Gibbs. Because Ziva saved me. She took the snake right off my foot and put it in the stream. It was…" he looked at Ziva who appeared indifferent. "It was amazing."

"That true, Ziva?"

She shrugged. "I moved the snake, yes."

"That was brave of you."

"No, not really. I simply did what needed to be done."

Gibbs nodded. He seemed to understand her and what she meant by that. Gibbs crooked a finger at us. I had a feeling it wasn't the last time we would see that finger crooked accompanied by that look in his eyes that said follow me.

We started walking back to the picnic spot on the lawn again. The three of us were quiet and so was Gibbs for the moment. I wasn't going to lie to him when he asked us the reason we had gone into the woods. It didn't seem like a good idea at all to lie to him.

When we reached our picnic spot Jenny was sitting on the blanket and Abby was sitting on her lap, being rocked back and forth. When they spotted us Abby immediately got up and ran to us. She threw her arms around me and almost knocked me from my feet as she hugged me.

"Tony, I'm so glad to see you." She looked up from my chest with tear-filled eyes, "You're alright, "she let a tear fall and then let go of me and attacked Tim with a hug instead. She soon let go of him too and went to Ziva who looked a bit surprised to receive a hug.

Jenny got to her feet. "Thank God. Everyone all right?"

"They're all fine, Jen." Gibbs bent down and took a sip of coffee from his mug before clearing his throat. He then pointed at us four. "Now I'd like to know what events lead to your meeting with that snake."

I gulped and wished I too could have a drink before getting into that. But I didn't think it was the best time to ask for one so I let it go. We walked over and took a seat on the blanket with Gibbs and Jenny seated in front of us. They both wore pretty grim expressions.

"Tony? Could you explain, please." Gibbs asked, or rather ordered nicely.

"Uhm, yeah Gibbs. Well…"I started. I licked my lips and tried not to think of how dry my throat was. "I guess you could say it was a bet." I glanced at Ziva. "I bet Ziva that she couldn't go into the woods by herself. We saw the stream from the lookout tower and I told her she had to go as deep as that stream by herself to win the bet." I looked down, avoiding Gibbs and Jenny' stares.

"Why would you do that, Tony?" I heard Jenny ask. I felt Gibbs' hand under my chin and lifted it to look at her. "That really wasn't very nice of you."

My stomach churned at hearing that. "No, Ma'am," I admitted guiltily.

Suddenly something I hadn't expected happened when Ziva spoke up.

"It was not entirely his fault."

Gibbs' and Jenny's eyes shifted to Ziva instead of me and I exhaled.

"No? How was it then, Ziva?"

"I how do you say…annoyed him before he made that bet."

Gibbs nodded, "Not to mention that you also agreed to that bet, Ziva."

"You should have said no and left it at that, " Jenny concurred.

She waited until she had our full attention then fixed us with a serious stare. "No more bets. Understand? It can only end badly."

Ziva shrugged, "Agreed."

I nodded. "No Ma'am, no more bets." I assured her honestly.

She settled for that. "Alright, good. Who's up for lunch?" she lifted the lid on the picnic basket and peeked in. "We have bologna sandwiches, fresh fruit, salad and so on…"

I was just about to ask for those treats Jenny had said she brought when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Jen, I think Tony and I will take a walk before we eat."

I felt my appetite disappear. I looked up at Gibbs. I wasn't afraid of him but I hated when people were disappointed in me and he probably was just that right now. It wasn't really a big wonder though. Usually when I met people I would do something wrong and they would first be disappointed in me and then lose faith in me completely. I didn't like it but that's the way it was. Gibbs was no different than my father or anyone else on the planet.

We walked away from the others and across the lawn, towards a kiosk over by the parking lot. We trotted toward it in silence and I tried not to worry about what he was gonna say to me.

"You want a popsicle?"

I almost fainted. "What?"

"I asked if you wanted a popsicle."

Was he crazy, I wondered. Why would he be nice to me and ask me that now. This was just weird. My dad certainly wouldn't have asked that after I had disappointed him.

"So, do you?"

"Uhm…yeah, I guess."

We walked up to the window and I picked a strawberry popsicle. Gibbs didn't want one so he only bought one for me and coffee for himself. We walked in silence for a while and suddenly ended up on a dirt road that we had driven our way here earlier. I wondered if we were gonna walk all the way back to the house before he finally decided to speak.

"Tony, do you know what responsibility means?"

"You mean the word?"

"Mhm."

I scratched my head. "Well, sure. It means you're responsible for something." I thought about it for a while as I licked my popsicle. "And I guess it kind of means that you're important."

Gibbs smiled. "Good answers," He sipped his coffee and kicked a pebble that skirted into the grass at the side of the dirt road. "Do you know what a team leader is?"

I shook my head, not sure what he was getting at.

"I've been a part of two different teams. In the one I'm part of now I am team leader. That means I am the one on the team who is most experienced." He paused and looked at me. "It also means I'm responsible for the people on my team. I'm responsible for their safety."

I took a bite of my popsicle and a shill ran down my spine. I wasn't sure where he was going with this.

"How old are you, Tony?"

"Nine."

"And a half, right?" Gibbs grinned and drank from his coffee cup with a satisfied expression. He must really love his coffee.

"Yeah."

"And Ziva?"

"She's eight."

"And Tim?"

"Well, he's seven."

"Abby?"

"She's six years old." I frowned, "But you know all that, Gibbs. Why are you really asking?"

"That makes you the oldest, Tony. And guess what that also makes you?"

I was starting to see where this was going…maybe. "Uhm…team leader?" I asked hopeful.

Gibbs gave a little laugh. "Nah, I wouldn't go that far." He said. "But it makes you the oldest and most experienced person in your group. It makes you responsible for the others, Tony. It means it's your responsibility to try to make sure they're safe. "

I looked up. "This is about me betting Ziva that she couldn't go into the woods alone, right?"

Gibbs nodded, "Mhm. That wasn't very responsible of you."

I sagged my shoulders. "No, I guess not."

"Ziva could have been hurt. And so could you. Not to mention the fact that you and Ziva brought Abby and Tim along. "

A car approached slowly on the dirt road so we got to the side of the road. As soon as it had passed Gibbs moved out and made room for me again so I wouldn't have to walk in the grass.

Suddenly Gibbs stopped and sat on his hunches in front me.

"What I'm saying is that you need to be responsible, Tony. Just like the senior field agent on my team is responsible when I, the team leader isn't present, you need to take care of your friends here."

"Since I am the oldest."

"Yes."

I smiled at Gibbs who suddenly took a bite of my Popsicle with a grin.

"So do we have a deal?" he asked and extended his hand to me.

I nodded and shook his hand. "We do have a deal, Gibbs."

He got up again and started walking in the opposite direction, leading back to the kiosk and our picnic spot. "Good. Then let's head back. All this talking has made me really hungry."

For a moment I just stood there, listening to Gibbs' steps behind me and the birds' chirping up in the high trees. I smiled and put my hands on my hips. I now knew for sure what I wanted to become when I got older. A senior field agent.

To be continued

A/N: Please review this chapter. Thank you so much for reading.