Life's unexpected journey.
Chapter 3.
The next morning Debra gets a call from Gibbs very early; he tells her that he's had a call from Claire, & that they need to meet her at the airport. Because of being in such a rush she doesn't get the chance of waking Tony to tell him what's happening, & thinks she might get a chance to text or call while they wait for Claire's arrival. As things go; just before going to the airport Gibbs has to stop at the Navy Yard first. While Debra is in the toilet she starts to compose a text to Tony, but gets interrupted by Bishop who says
"Are you ok?" She replies
"I'm fine thanks."
"Are you sure? as you seem to have something on your mind?" She replies wistfully
"It's just me trying to work out what to say to Tony in this text because of having left while he was still asleep, & it being so early." Bishop says in slight surprise
"You didn't?" Debra asks while biting her lip.
"What?" Bishop says
"Sleep together"
"We did, & just say we had the most perfect night; a night I've not had in a long time. I really love him, & I don't know I just can't work out how to put things into words & do this text; but I also don't want him to think that I've run out on him, because I didn't want it too happen; when I did. I don't know I never thought I'd find someone as special too me as Matt was, but I think that Tony could be even more so; & I just don't want to blow it." Bishop says
"I've only known Tony a couple of years or so; & since meeting you he's changed, & I know that he also really loves you, just trust him & let him in; because you two do make a great couple." She replies wistfully once more
"Thanks, I'll try."
In the end while waiting for Gibbs she gets some paper out of Tony's desk drawer & writes him a letter really pouring her heart out, when Gibbs finally comes & tells her he's ready to leave; she hands the letter over to Bishop & asks her to give it to Tony as soon as he gets in.
As things go when Tony wakes up he does miss Debra not being in his arms, so much so he rushes to get dressed & heads straight to the Navy Yard. As he rushes in he says
"Have you seen Debra & Gibbs?" Bishop replies
"They've gone to the airport." As he goes to rush off Bishop runs after him with the letter, she catches up with him at the elevator, as it starts to go down; she flicks the switch to stop it, then says
"Before you go tearing off, she's not leaving." He replies
"How did you know where I was heading off too?" She says
"Just a hunch. Look she loves you, & asked me to give you this. I know because she was trying to work out how to say everything by text, as she didn't want you to think she didn't want last night to happen; because she did. They've gone to meet her sister. In the end she wrote this too you, & wanted to make sure I gave it too you." He replies
"Thanks Bishop, I'm still going to see her; but I promise you I will read it." As he flicks the switch for the elevator to go again, she says
"You'd better; & good luck, because you both make a really great couple."
When he gets to the car park at the airport he opens the letter & reads it, & it makes him feel really emotional. Even though from reading it he knows that she's only meeting her sister & not leaving him; he still has a feeling that she's still going to leave him. So he gets out of the car & heads towards the terminal to find her.
Eventually he finds her as she's coming out of the toilet, as soon as he sees her he yells
"Debs!" As soon as she looks up & sees him, she goes over & they hug; she then says
"What are you doing here?" He replies
"I came to find you, I missed you not being with me this morning." She says
"I wanted too be with you, but Jethro called to say about Claire coming; & you were looking so peaceful & gorgeous, I didn't really want too leave you. Especially as last night was so special, & I really didn't want you to think it was going too be just a one night stand; as there's no way that I want it too be that." He says
"I don't either, & I understand that from you're letter, but I was still scared that you'd meet Claire & decide that you wanted to go back to England with her; & change you're mind about us." As she replies, she gives him a Gibbs slap
"Tony, I love you, you idiot; if I didn't I wouldn't have let last night happen. I want too be with you, even if I do end up going to see my family possibly when she goes home; but I also know that it also depends on the case. Whatever happens if I do go & see them at anytime, I will always come back too you; no matter what." He says
"Hey that's not fair!" She says
"Well I have to wake you up somehow, because I meant every word I said in that letter; I love you & I want too be with you."
"& I love you too." They kiss & after breaking apart she says
"We'd better go & find Jethro; otherwise he'll be wondering where I am, then that way you can also meet Claire as well." He asks
"Are you sure?" She answers
"Of course I am; as she'll love you. Especially as she's the one that's known all along how I felt about you & kept telling me that I should tell you." He says
"Alright I'll stay, as I think I might have to thank her for helping to bring us together."
"Ok let's go." As she goes to walk away, he grabs her hand & drags her back too him; he kisses her & she responds, after breaking apart they then walk away hand in hand.
As they find Gibbs, he turns to smile at them & says
"So have you two finally got yourselves sorted out?" She replies
"We have & we've got together." He replies
"Congratulations, it's about time. The flight is due in; you go ahead Debra, we'll be right behind you." He lets her go ahead & then says quietly to Tony
"When we get back we need to talk & let them talk on their own. Just promise me that you will look after her, & be there for her no matter what happens." He replies
"I promise you that I will be there for her, I've already learnt the hard way about losing someone you love; & there's no way that I want to lose her, no matter what happens; so what is going on?" Gibbs says
"Claire & the family were going to give us a chance with the case & things; so that we didn't end up having to protect them as well. She's had to come though because Debra's best friend Lauren was killed in a car crash yesterday, so Claire thought it best she came & actually tell her in person. The other thing is I know that she's said about leaving the job, but she might have to make that decision sooner than she thinks; because Lauren had a one & a half year old daughter. Debra is her godmother & Lauren also made her the guardian. So it means she's got to make a decision about taking her on, & where to make a home for them; plus all this will impact on the both of you. So you need to know if with the relationship can you cope with the possibility of being a father as well? As well as of course being there for them both while they're grieving."
"I will be there for her, & I will support whatever choices she makes. Do you think the crash could be connected to the case?" Gibbs replies
"I don't know, Claire's going to be staying at mine & we're going to tell her the news there. I want to be there for her as well, plus everything has happened so fast that I've not had a chance to look into it. All I've had a chance of doing is getting a copy of the accident report, but I've not looked at it yet."
"What will be happening if it is connected, how can we investigate?"
"If it is connected, I hope that somehow get permission to help the police one & make it somehow a joint one. I know she'll want to go back for the funeral, & if she decides that she's going to take Hannah on, we'll have to sort out getting her stuff. So I hope that we'll be able to go & join the investigation if needs be, as well as of course be there for her."
They end up not having to wait long for Claire, & it also ends up being Tony that's a hero, because she has Hannah with her, & just as they come through the doors has her in her arms. She wriggles out of them & then runs off. Tony gets after her & manages to catch her. When Claire gets to them she & Debra hug, then Debra says
"It's great to see you, but why have you got Hannah?" Claire replies
"I'll explain later." Tony then gets back to them & hands Hannah over to Debra, Claire says to him
"Thanks for getting her, & am I right in thinking that you're Anthony DiNozzo?" He replies
"That's ok, & it's Tony." She replies
"Well it's nice to meet you." She then whispers to Debra
"You lucky cow, he's certainly a gorgeous man." She replies
"Thank you, I certainly think I've come out on top." When she notices the look on Claire's face, so realizes what she's said, & they both burst out laughing. When they stop, Claire says
"No seriously, I am very happy for you both. I just hope that you both can be happy." Debra replies
"I think we will be, I really love him Claire, & I never thought I could love anyone more than I did Matt, but I think I do. I know it will be hard at times though because I will always love him." Claire replies
"Of course you will, as he was your first love & you never forget your first one. I can see how much he loves you, & you will need someone to be there for you. I'm glad that you've got Jethro here for you as well, & I know we all be too. All dad knows at the moment is that you came because of a case & got hurt because of it, & that Jethro is looking after you along with his team. I've not said anything about Tony, as I thought you should do it. He has said though that if you end up staying here, as soon as it's safe to come; then he & mum will come & see you, but you must promise to call them."
"I will do & I will tell them about Tony, as I know I'm ready too. They then get to Gibbs car, & after getting Hannah into the car seat, Claire goes with him & Debra goes with Tony.
It's a couple of hours later & Debra has taken the news about Laurens death hard, when Gibbs goes to find her he finds her lying under the boat in the basement, as she always used too do when something was up as a child. Either when they were there for a visit as a child, or when she ran away when they lived near by. As he finds her he says
"Hey, what are you doing under there?" She replies
"Coming to my safe place." He says
"I guessed you would, so will you come out & talk?" She then wriggles her way out, he helps her up & they then both go & sit on the stairs, he says
"So how do you feel?" She replies
"Sad that I've lost my best friend, & a bit guilty that it could be my fault it happened." He says
"We don't know yet if it is connected, but I promise you we will find out the truth. What about Hannah?"
"I don't know, I love her very much, & always looked on her as the daughter I didn't think I'd ever have, especially after losing my baby; & I did always promise Lauren that if anything happened to her I would be her parent. But can I cope with being a single parent? Then of course if I take her now, where are we going to live? Most of all will I be putting her in danger? Plus I'll have to get to England to get her stuff, as well as go to Spain to get the apartment sorted & sold if we're going too be living here. The other thing is what can I do for a job if I do as I've said I would & leave NCIS. I know that there are agents who are single parents, but I don't think I could be one of them. Most of all there's also me & Tony, especially as we're only just starting out with our relationship, so can we cope with being parents this early on? Plus what'll happen if we decide we want our own family down the line? I'm scared that I could end up favouring our own children over her, & I wouldn't want that." He replies
"If you decide you want to make here your home, you'll always have one here I promise you, even if it is just temporary until you find you're own, & I'm sure that everyone will help you out with the moves from England & Spain. Think about possibly taking some personal time out from the job, as you can take up too a year, so you don't have to worry about rushing a decision about giving up totally. Then if you do decide to return I will make sure that you have adequate child care cover. With you & Tony you will need to talk, but I think he does really want you to work out & will take you as you come, if you do take her. Which is also why I suggested taking personal time, because the two of you need to bond; but I am certain that you will be a good mother too her, even if you & Tony do have you're own in the future. If you promise me that you'll come to me at anytime you need to talk, I will promise you that I will do my best to get you back to England to go to Lauren's funeral. Hopefully we'll then be able to get some of Hannah's stuff as well. As I think you're going to need familiar stuff around her. Plus I think you may also need some of Laurens stuff as well to keep her memory alive with her, because she's so young & at an age where she might forget her." She says
"I promise I will always turn too you no matter what, & you're right I don't ever want her to ever forget her mother either, & how special she was." She bursts into tears & he hugs her, just as Tony appears in the doorway, he comes down the stairs, Gibbs lets go of her, gets up & says
"Look you two need to talk, Claire & Hannah will be here tonight, so go back to yours & talk." He helps her up & gives her a final hug, before leaving her & Tony on their own. As he says
"Do you want to go?" She nods & they leave cuddled up together.
When they get back to the apartment the pain from the injury, as well as a thumping headache have got too her, so she flops down on the sofa & closes her eyes. Tony goes into the kitchen & gets her some water & her tablets, When he goes back in he gets her to sit up & take them. Once she's done so she lies back down again, he then joins her & they get cuddled up together, he says
"I'm sorry about Lauren." She replies
"Thank you." He then asks
"So what do you want too do?" She answers
"I know that whatever decision that's made we have too do it together, because all of this effects us as well. I know it's going too be a challenge, but if I'm honest I don't want her to end up in care either in England or here. & even if I'm unsure about if I can be a mother or not, I do want to keep her, but can you cope with being a father?" He says
"I will be here for you, & will support you in whatever you want too do. I know it will be a challenge, but I want too be a father; as I love that little girl so much already, & that's just from being with her tonight."
"The question is can we do this together? We're only just starting out, not only that I'm scared that if we have our own later on, we could end up favouring our own over her." He says
"I know we're only just starting out, but I think we can do this. Which is why I was thinking that we should find somewhere together & move in altogether, especially as it is a bit small for the three of us here. I want us too make a real go of this; & even if it is going too be a real learning curve for us, I don't want you to feel that you've got too do this on you're own; because I love you & want too be with you. If we do have our own, she'll be older & hopefully be able to join in with things, & it might make it easier for us not to favour her over our own."
"Are you sure that you want us too have our own? Because I would love that too; & as Jethro suggested tonight that I take some time off as personal leave & take up to a year possibly, it could be a good idea, as it would give us a chance to get settled somewhere as a family & perhaps be thinking about trying for our own. & who knows it might then make the decision about staying or leaving the job a bit easier."
"Of course it's what I want, so let's see if we can start searching, & I know that we'll have too go to England & get her stuff, as well as pack up your place in Spain. I know as well that I'm going to also have too do most of the care side for Hannah, because you're not going too be allowed to pick her up & things for a while either, & I'm prepared for that; plus of course it's practice for our own. The best thing of course will be getting some practice in before we get Hannah, because when we do get her we may not get so much privacy with a one & a half year old running around."
"That sounds good too me, as long as you're sure about all of this, I know I am. I think that in the morning we should go & talk to Jethro & Claire to tell them our decision, plus find out from him if I have to see Vance or not to put in for my personal leave, & of course we've got the hospital appointment as well. I also want to talk too them as well, as even though we know that it's all official for me being her guardian, we may have too do something legally about it. & I would like too get the wheels in motion if there is anything we have too do." He says
"That's probably a good idea, & I don't want any arguments, I'm taking you to the hospital for your appointment, as I know that Gibbs will probably want to take you."
"Well there's no arguments from me, because I would like you too be with me; especially as we're partners & from now on we're together for everything no matter what."
"We are & I love you, so want too be with you. Plus we'll have a better idea of what you can do over lifting & carrying Hannah, & possibly our own. If your recovery takes us that far. Whatever it takes to get you fit & healthy again. I love you & I'm here for you every step of the way."
"& I love you too." She moves up & as she kisses him he responds, then as she struggles slightly to undo his shirt buttons & stroke his chest, he breaks off from the kiss & jokingly says
"Are you trying to seduce me?" She replies
"I might be, but as you said if we're going to have our own family, then we're going to have to get some practice in first, & I think I'd like to get some practice in already & right now. They start kissing again, then all of a sudden he gets up, & as she then screams, he carries her into the bedroom. They make love before falling asleep in each other's arms.
A/N: So here we are with a new chapter, which I hope you all enjoy! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favourited & followed, it's great to have your support! As I said before there was going too be some things coming up to challenge Tony & Debra's new relationship, & the impending parenthood is one of them! Xxx. :-)