DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!

OPENING THE PAST

CH 2

Karin had four articles almost ready for submission, so she had time to take off when they were completed. Two weeks would be a good time, plus she hoped maybe Stillwater might offer some interesting material for a getaway.

Gibbs arranged for the team to be off rotation for the weekend they planned to go. Vance eyed his lead agent and before he left told him, "Good luck." He got a silent smirk in response.

Bags packed and stored in the trunk Gibbs and Karin made the trip westward. Due to nerves or anticipation both did little talking, but neither was uncomfortable in the silence. Gibbs held Karin's hand when she rested it on his knee stroking his fingers along hers.

When they reached the town limits Karin began to take in all the detail her trained eye could see. It was a quaint town, as small towns tended to be. She aimed to find the more appealing and positive aspects. Gibbs pulled up and parked near the general store.

"Need some supplies?" she quipped.

"No. This is where we're stopping," he opened his door to get out.

"Oh. Your father is here," she looked toward the store's front door when Jethro opened her car door. As she stood up a white haired man walking with a can approached. She looked from his face to Jethro's and saw a smile on his face she'd not seen before.

"Your father?" she surmised.

"Yep, that's him," he bobbed his head to the left. When Jack reached them Gibbs did the introductions.

"Nice to meet you Jackson," Karin smiled warmly shaking his offered hand.

"It's certainly a pleasure to meet you," Jack grinned holding onto her hand. "Leroy," Jack looked to his son.

"Good to see you Dad," Jethro gave the older man a hug.

"Well come on in, no need to stand around blocking the sidewalk," Jack directed them into the store. Neither mentioned that few people were actually travelling about.

Entering the store Karin was immediately taken with its charm and warm atmosphere. She could sense that it was a place that offered more than just groceries, but friendship in the form of its proprietor. As Gibbs got their bags she looked around as Jack watched her.

"It's a nice place you have," she complimented.

"Thank you. It's been remodeled recently," he said without offering any details to the reasons why figuring that information, if ever told would be best coming from his son.

"Whoever did it; did nice work," she ran her hand along some of the woodwork.

"That would be Leroy and myself," he informed her proudly.

"Jethro and you did all this," she looked at him with wide eyes.

"Don't look so surprised. I still have some good years left in me," he laughed.

She laughed, "That's not what I meant. It's very finely detailed. I knew Jethro did some woodwork in his basement, but this looks like it would've taken quite some time to complete by hand."

"Oh it did," Jethro broke in and put his arm around here eying his father to gauge how much he told her. The tilted head with a slight shake told him his father didn't mention anything.

"How long?" Karin asked figuring he'd downplay the amount of time it took.

"What do you think Dad? Three weeks?" he asked for confirmation.

Nodding Jack agreed, "Sounds about right."

Karin couldn't believe it. "You did all this? In three weeks?" She looked from one to the other both nodding with no hint of being disingenuous. "Color me impressed," she looked around again trying to take it all in.

She spied the shotgun hanging on the wall behind the counter. Not something you'd likely see in any city store. "Ever use that to scare off trouble?" she asked teasingly.

Looking from the rifle to his son he couldn't help the smirk that formed "A time or two."

Not missing the look toward Gibbs she turned to him and asked, "You ever been in need of its use?"

A half smile hid the most recent use his father had for its use, "Later. I'll answer that later."

"Uh-huh," she replied catching sight of some photos displayed on the wall. Most were black and white featuring a younger Jackson and what she could only assume were friends and a few that looked like family photographs. She lightly touched one depicting Jackson with his arm around a young woman and a young boy with a big smile standing in front of them. She smiled realizing that young boy was Jethro.

Jethro looked at his dad wondering when he hung up that picture. It hadn't been there the last time he'd visited.

Answering the unspoken question he told him, "I found it when I was going through some old albums."

"It's a beautiful picture," Karin stated. Before Jethro could distract her she found herself glancing at some of the more recent colored photos. She recognized his face and took a closer look at one. He was sitting on a porch his arm around the shoulders of a pretty woman with red hair and a young girl standing behind them grinning over their heads. The grin very similar to the one the younger Jethro displayed.

It didn't take long to realize that they were a family much like the older picture. She looked at Jethro her eyes asking what her voice couldn't say.

Softly Jethro repeated his earlier promise, "Later. We'll talk about it later."

She then realized he'd brought her here to tell her about his past. She'd have to let him go at his own pace. Still she knew she'd wonder what happened to that happy family she'd seen in the picture. Certain that it wouldn't be a happy story to hear, but it could tell her a lot about the man she was falling deeper in love with every day.

Jack was intrigued by whatever his son had planned. When he called about bringing his girlfriend along to visit he knew it was important that Leroy tell her about his past, but how much was he ready to share.

He watched them leave the store to go to the house. Karin with a reserved yet stunned expression. He had to give her credit for taking his son at his word about telling her what she wanted to know 'later'.

Gibbs led her to the living room and settled her on the sofa. "Coffee?"

She nodded not able to form the words. He nodded put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and went to prepare his favorite beverage.

As the coffee brewed he got three mugs down and thought of the next step in his plan. He filled the mugs, taking one out to his father.

Jack raised an eyebrow seeing Leroy back coffee in hand. "Thanks," he said taking the mug offered to him. He blew over the brim taking a sip with his eyes still on his son's face.

"You going to tell that young lady what she wants to know?" he finally asked.

Sipping his own coffee Gibbs replied with a nod, "Just not sure how much yet."

Jack's nod showed his understanding, "It'll be hard to stop once you start."

"Good thing I'm not much of a talker then," Gibbs smirked leaving his father to his coffee.

He took Karin her mug and sat down next to her. Neither spoke for a few minutes. She stiffened when she him say, "Their names were Shannon and Kelly."

"Jethro," she whispered hearing the pain that still lingered in his voice, but wanting him to share it with her just the same. She turned to face him and saw him looking at her with a sad smile.

He stopped her from saying anything further with a finger lightly held against her lips. "I want to tell you," he told her his eyes narrowing slightly. "I haven't wanted to tell anyone in a long time."

"You don't need…"

"Yes I do. I think you need to know." After a moment's hesitation he added, "Everything."

Her eyes widened not certain that his 'everything' was going to be what she wanted to hear.