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Kelly busied herself in the kitchen the majority of the morning, making food for the team. She had persuaded her father to go with the grocery store, convinced he would know what his team would like. He had been tense when she first found him drinking coffee at the kitchen when she woke up, but as they circled the grocery store, he seemed to relax.
"I thought this was going to be a low-key get-together, not some big party?" Gibbs walked into the kitchen and surveyed all the different salads and side dishes Kelly had prepared to go with the hamburgers and chicken-burgers.
"I know, but I mean, we'll be nine people, so that's sort of a lot, and I want there to be a variety."
"My team isn't picky, and Tony will eat just about anything." He gave her shoulders a soft squeeze
"I figured that, about Tony."
"Anything I can do to help?" It looked as though everything was under control, but he thought he'd offer.
"Nah, I'm just about done. We won't need to do the hamburgers and the chicken until people get here, so-"
"You two done hogging the kitchen?"
Kelly and Gibbs shared a look and then both rolled their eyes playfully.
"Plenty of room in here for you too, mom. But uh, no offense, you aren't exactly kitchen friendly." Kelly smiled sweetly
"I was going to bake cookies, but if you'd rather I didn't…" Shannon shrugged and looked away to keep from laughing.
"No! Okay, plenty of room for you to make your cookies." She spun around to look at Gibbs. "She makes the best chocolate chip cookies."
"I remember." Gibbs smiled. "It's how she'd get me to do stuff around the house when we were first married. She'd bribe me with cookies."
0o0o0
Abby and Tony were the last to arrive, just behind Ducky, whom they followed inside. "Abigail! You look well rested." Ducky hugged her gently. "I suppose Anthony makes a wonderful and attentive nurse." Ducky pat him on the shoulder and smiled. "Lots of ice cream, I assume?"
"Isn't that what the doctor prescribed?" Tony joked.
"Tony just likes to take care of me when I'm sick or hurt because it gives him an excuse to eat a pint of ice cream." Abby rolled her eyes but leaned into him to show she was just teasing.
"It's a tough job, but someone has to do it." Tony grinned.
"I thought I heard you come in! How are you?" Kelly rounded the corner from the kitchen and pulled Abby into a hug. "How is your head?"
"I'm fine." Abby returned the hug and then stepped back, her fingers automatically reaching for the small lump on the side of her head. "I've still got a bit of a lump, but no headache this morning."
"I'm glad you're doing well." Kelly moved out of the way as Gibbs moved in front of Abby.
"You sure you're alright."
"Absolutely." Abby gave a sloppy salute, grinning when he rolled his eyes. "I'm just wondering if you're the one with a head injury. A party at your place? Never thought the day would come."
"It's not a party, it's a barbeque." Gibbs grumbled.
"Whatever you say, boss-man." Abby patted his chest gently and stepped past him to hug Ziva, McGee, Palmer, and Shannon.
The group eventually moved outside and the men gathered around the grill while the women sat down with a glass of ice tea to talk.
"Those burgers done yet?" Tony nudged McGee as he flipped the chicken on a second grill.
"I, uh… I'm not sure." McGee poked at one of the patties and shrugged.
"Oh c'mon McGoo, haven't you ever grilled before? It's part of becoming a man." Tony smiled and hit his palm against his chest a few times.
"Shut up Tony." McGee glared.
"How about that chicken, DiNozzo? It supposed to be that black?" Gibbs fought a smirk as he carried out a tray with buns to be toasted.
"Shit." Tony flipped the chicken and then glared at McGee when he started giggling. "Shut up, McTakeout."
"They don't play nicely, do they?" Kelly asked, leaning back in her chair.
"Depends on the day." Abby shrugged. "They love each other, they just don't want everyone else to know it."
"Abby!" Tony and McGee both snapped.
It was almost six by the time they were all sitting down with their food. "This is nice," Ziva smiled. She was finally starting to feel at home in D.C. and spending quality time with the time outside of work was just what she needed to feel like part of the NCIS family again.
"It is," Abby agreed. "Thanks for inviting us."
"I'm glad you could all come." Kelly pushed her food around on her plate. "It's nice to get to know you guys. And I'm happy you're okay."
Shannon watched quietly, noting the way the team interacted with each other and how Kelly subtly watched her father and his reaction to everything Abby said. She picked up on the chemistry between Tony and Ziva, how they teased each other with ease. She smiled at the way Palmer seemed so desperate to fit in; unaware at how the fondly everyone looked at him when he spoke. She noticed the look of care and concern in McGee's eyes each time he looked at Abby. There must've been something there once upon a time. She laughed along with the rest of the team when Ducky told the same stories he had shared the day before in the hospital with Abby. She also watched the way Jethro almost refused to look away from Abby, only ever tearing his gaze away from her if he was directly spoken to.
"These cookies are amazing," Abby gushed. "I might need to take a few with me when I leave."
"Not if DiNozzo hasn't already finished them off before the evening is over."
"Hey!" Tony protested.
Ziva patted his stomach with a smirk on her face. "I think he's had enough."
"You people are cruel." Tony pouted as he took a second cookie.
"Thank you." Shannon was finally able to get a word in.
Once it got dark, and the food had been picked up, people were slowly getting ready to leave. Palmer was the first to go, followed closely by McGee. Ziva was next, and soon it was Shannon, Kelly and Ducky on the sofa, and Gibbs, Tony and Abby on dining room chairs that had been pulled in.
"Have you talked to the insurance people about your car?" Kelly asked.
Abby nodded. "Car is being held by the police as part of the investigation, but they had an insurance guy out looking at it, and I guess they are just calling it totaled. It hopefully won't be too long before I get a check, but I can get a rental tomorrow." Abby turned to Gibbs. "Have you heard anything about the shooter?"
Gibbs nodded. "Charged with murder, plead guilty. Should be open and shut."
"Will she have to testify?" Kelly asked.
"Nah, she didn't see anything, and since he's pleading guilty, it's more about figuring jail time." Gibbs answered. "But the police will want her to stick around just in case."
"I know the drill." Abby smiled. "I should get going though, well if you're ready Tony?"
"Yeah, of course." Tony stood and went for their jackets which he had hung up in the closet when they arrived.
"Can I talk to you a moment, Abbs?" Gibbs stood with them.
"Well I should be on my way as well," Ducky added. "Walk an old man to his car, Anthony?"
"Ducky, are you calling me old?"
"Oh, my dear boy." Ducky chuckled.
"Come on, let's get the dishwasher going." Shannon patted Kelly's knee and headed for the kitchen.
Gibbs waited until they were alone. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm fine. My head is a little tender if I touch it, but no headache."
"I saw photos of the car." Gibbs looked her over and thought a moment. "You're sure nothing else hurts? The insurance company wasn't kidding when they said the car was totaled."
"I was a little stiff this morning, but really, I'm okay."
Gibbs was about to step forward to hug her, when the front door opened. "Dad, are we out of – oh – sorry, I didn't realize… sorry."
"No, it's okay." Abby side-stepped Gibbs and pulled Kelly into a hug. "I had a good time tonight, thank you for inviting me. I'll give you a call tomorrow."
"Thanks again for coming. Talk to you tomorrow."
"Abby, you coming?" Tony was leaning against his car.
"I've got a head wound, Tony. Don't rush me." Abby turned to Gibbs with a wink. "Night Gibbs."
0o0o0
TBC…
Getting close to the end!