"Come on Ziva, tell me, please?" McGee asked a look of defeat on his face. "Just a hint?"
She shook her head and smiled. "It's a surprise McGee…if I told you that would ruin it."
"It's not my birthday, its Jakes…I'm not 8 years old…you don't think I would really tell him do you?" He got defensive in his tone, but she reassured him.
"Of course not McGee, I know you will."
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
Gibbs approached the two of them, carrying a few gift boxes in his arms. The two stopped their bickering nonchalantly. "Afternoon boss."
He smiled and noticed McGee sticking his tongue out at Ziva discretely.
"You know I see everything McGee."
"Sorry boss, I was just uh, I…well she got something for Jake and won't tell me, cuz she's afraid I would tell."
Gibbs nodded. "You would."
He shook his head. "I would not."
"Wouldn't what Probie?" Tony arrived curious.
"Tell Jake what I got him for his birthday." Ziva added with a smile.
"You so would." Tony replied, a grin coming across his face, and put his hand up in McGee's face to prevent any further argument. "Come on inside guys."
--
Jake raced over to meet them when they arrived, and it wasn't long after their arrival that it came time to open the gifts.
"Any hints this year Uncle Tim?" Jake asked quietly before he grabbed the first one.
He smiled and looked back to make sure no one had heard. "Got nothing this year man, I'm sorry. I'll try and do better next year."
Jake patted his shoulder. "Its okay, I know detective work can be tough sometimes." And for the second time that afternoon, McGee hid his defeat with a smile.
"Leave him alone McGeek, let him open the presents." Tony now stood next to Jake, as his mother and Abby took photo after photo.
Abby had gotten him a wrist watch walkie talkie set, a voice change recorder, a metal detector, a remote control flying bat, and a framed poster of the periodic table.
Ducky managed to stay PG, and got him a Macro microscope, a digital speed sensing baseball; dissect a frog beginner's piece and an electronic chess and checkers set.
McGee: A hydro fueled rocket, an electronical basket hoop, a megaphone with a spotting scope, a hydraulic robotic arm and a few of his favorite PSP games.
Ziva: A jumping skateboard, a helmet, and matching knee and elbow pads. She also bought him a remote controlled Suzuki speed bike.
Gibbs was last but not least, and Jakes face lit up, Uncle Gibbs gifts were always the best….the list began with a USS Enterprise Air Craft Carrier Model Kit, Rip winder scooter, microphone head set, Sky and Land telescope, a digital camera watch and an NCIS zip sweat shirt, and cap. There was also a small card that he asked Jake to open later on.
The five friends enjoyed the rest of the party and each had their fair share of water gun fights with the kids in the back yard. Gibbs lead an assault with Jake that was un-matched, no matter how hard Tony and the rest of the kids tried.
When the party was breaking up, Gibbs pulled Jake aside and had him open the card he had given him. Tony and McGee watched from a distance and were burning with curiosity.
"What do you think it is Tony?"
"I don't know Probie, maybe it's a paternity test and Gibbs was really my dad."
McGee laughed. "Good one."
"It's probably just something for him to keep, something private, ya know, like Gibbs private."
"So we'll never know then?"
Tony shrugged. "Pretty much." But inside his head was already scheming a way to find out.
--
As Gibbs got into his car to leave, Jake stood next to Tony on the steps waving.
"Cant wait Uncle Gibbs!"
Tony turned to look at him. "Can't wait for what Jake?"
"Its top secret dad."
He nodded. "I see, well go ahead inside and help your mother, Mr. Secret Agent."
Tony couldn't sleep until he knew what that top secret card was about. He found the card under Jakes pillow that was where he hid everything "top secret" Gibbs had ever given him. As he read it, he realized he still wasn't going to get any sleep.
He quietly left home and made his way to Gibbs house. He entered through the front door and made his way up the stairs.
Tony lifted his arms up as he looked a pistol right in the face. "It's me boss."
He lowered the gun and rubbed his eyes. "What the hell are you doing here DiNozzo? You ever heard of a phone?"
"It was off…I swear."
"You can put your arms down now."
"Right…look…I needed to come over and talk to you about one of the gifts you gave to Jake."
"In the middle of the night? Couldn't it wait? If something's broken, I'll fix it for him later."
"Normal people just take stuff back when it's broken boss, but anyway…that's not it, it's the card…he wouldn't tell me what was on it and…"
"Let me guess you couldn't sleep until you knew what it said?"
Tony nodded; not confessing that he had in-fact already read the card. He watched as Gibbs reached under his pillow to retrieve another envelope.
"I was going to wait to give you yours till your birthday, but I need my senior agent to be awake at work, so go ahead, open it."
Tony took the envelope, and in shock simply blurted out. "You got me one too?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Tony the kid said it was top secret…you just couldn't resist could you?"
"Sorry boss, I just, you're always keeping stuff so private, and I thought I could finally figure one out…so I had to look."
He raised his hand up in the air and Tony prepared for a head slap, which inevitably came. "Don't you do that again, now I'm gonna have to teach Jake to hide secret things in multiple locations." With that, Gibbs headed down stairs and Tony followed.
"Since you're here, why don't you make me some coffee?"
Tony nodded and did just that, re-reading the note in his hand over and over again.
"I can't wait either boss."
"Yeah, and I can't wait for you to learn how to make coffee."
But even the insult, couldn't shake how Tony's heart warmed at the thought of taking the first trip out on Gibb's boat with him and Jake. He couldn't wait. And though he may not have showed it, Tony knew that Gibbs couldn't wait either.