The next morning, everyone seemed to be in better spirits. Ziva decided that after breakfast she will take Sammie to get her hair cut and go to Shaws for a few groceries. No child should have hair the reaches down to her bottom. The others are going to NCIS, to hang out for awhile. Ziva and Tony figure Sammie isn't ready to meet her additional family. She doesn't even consider Tony, Ziva, Kyle, or Johnny apart of her family. Sammie regards them like they're annoying people who won't leave her alone, which is odd because that is exactly how she feels.
Sammie doesn't care about the haircut. She sorta wants one. Grampa promised they'd get one, but Grampa isn't good with promises. Over the course of ten hours Sammie has learned that. Ziva sets down a plate of oatmeal for the youngster whose eyes widen. No! No! No! Her Grampa lets her have whatever she wants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
"I want ice-cream" Sammie complained. Johnny and Kyle exchange annoyed glances. Her unruly behavior is getting on their nerves. It's a damn good thing their parents haven't registered Sammie into Nobles, yet. They're setting up a meeting on Monday.
"Ice-cream isn't a breakfast meal. Oatmeal is healthy" Ziva informed her, trying to control her withering temper.
"It looks like puke" Sammie stated hotly. Ziva squeezes her eyes shut tightly and tries to calm down.
"Eat it we do not have enough time to make anything else" Ziva concluded causing Sammie to stick her tongue out at her.
The six year old glare at the oatmeal, the oatmeal looks disgusting. Kyle has created a revolutionary way to eat the food he dislikes. Kyle quickly gobbles up the oatmeal without even tasting it. That's the point, not to taste the disgusting bird poop they make him eat because apparently healthy eating should be very big on his list. He'd rather lick a toilet seat than have oatmeal…EVERYDAY, but mom wants them to eat healthy. Ever since the soda drinking incident with Johnny drinking four Cokes, mom's been on their case about Healthy foods.
Johnny isn't quite as smart. He hides the food he despises in his napkin. Only mom adds more oatmeal than before to his bowl, which doesn't really help him at all. Since he starts out with more than he had to begin with, it's strange because Johnny doesn't seem to mind at all. He just eats it with a pout in his green eyes; sometimes Kyle thinks his brother really is stupid.
"Samantha, eat you're oatmeal" Sammie drops her spoon into the muck and starts eating; slowly. Ziva smiles and lets out a breath of relief. Johnny grins and starts placing more and more of his into the napkin.
"Look what he's doin" Sammie tattled pointing at Johnny who kicks her from under the table. Sammie yelps, like that light kick actually hurt her.
"Jonathan DiNozzo, stop putting your oatmeal in your napkin. You do that again and I will refill your bowl" Ziva ordered, she's tired of Johnny putting oatmeal into his napkin every morning. Now that Sammie is here her stress level is going up and up.
"But, she doesn't get to eat it" Johnny mumbled. He does stop, but that doesn't mean his pride is hurt.
"J, come on, don't be a jerk" Kyle whispered nudging his brother to behave. At least there's one good child. Ziva smiles gratefully at her eldest son. Kyle nods weakly, feeling only guiltier about what he plans on doing tonight.
Ziva looks over at Sammie just in time to see her spit more into the bowl. She starts pretending to gag. Too be honest, Ziva wishes that Tony could handle the morning routine, but since he gets the warm shower water first. This is a little consolation prize; not dealing with three grumpy kids in the morning.
"It tastes like shit" Sammie said waiting for a reaction to come out of everybody. Johnny and Kyle crack a smile. Ziva's brown eyes become sharp like one of her knives.
At first, the former Mossad Officer considers swatting her bottom, but she quickly remembers how Senior took off. She also remembers how Sammie was on the carpet crying her eyes out, the previous. The poor little girl cried herself to sleep; Tony had to carry her into bed. When Sammie awoke the next morning she was disoriented and grumpy as hell.
"We do not swear in this house, Sammie" Ziva stated. Johnny rubs his ears and blinks, wondering if he heard mom right. She would've smacked his rear if he said that. Kyle can't help feeling the same way. Mom isn't being fair.
"I want pancakes" Sammie grumped. Kyle thought, 'Wow, she's worse than Ally and he thought that never could be possible.' Neither did Ziva.
"We do not have enough time to make pancakes" Ziva takes her original bowl of oatmeal and replaces it with fresh oatmeal. "Sammie, I'll make them tomorrow, I promise. Is that okay?" she promised. Johnny rolls his eyes, clearly angered by this special attention Sammie is receiving.
"No" Sammie decided, shaking her head. That isn't good enough. Tomorrow is a million years away.
"I am not making anything else. If you do not eat breakfast, you will be very hungry until lunch and we have a big day behind ourselves" Ziva stated, wondering if her hair will turn gray by the end of the day.
"Ahead of ourselves, my lovely" Tony replied leaning in and giving her a soft kiss on the lips. The kids look at them with pure disgust on their face.
"You Americans and your dumb idiots" Ziva mumbled.
"Idioms" Tony corrected smirking, like a ten year old.
"No I meant what I said. You would think American boys would be smarter, but as you three have proven. That is wrong" Ziva said strutting out of the kitchen. All the DiNozzo men shrug their shoulders, like they couldn't care less.
Luke has been sitting in bed all morning. Abby just phoned Gibbs saying she won't be able to come in today. Instead, there's a Probie coming in for the day and taking over her duties much to the chagrin of Tim. Sometimes in between breaks Tim goes down to see her. Abby locks all of her doors and turns off the security cameras and the two of them play a few games together.
"Sorry mom" Luke mumbled sorrowfully. Abby strokes his cheek and offers him a soft smile.
"Bout' what, sweetie?" Abby asked soothingly. Luke shrugs his shoulders and feels tears on the walls of his eyes. When you're sick you feel sorry a lot and it makes you feel even worse about feeling sorry.
"You missin' work" Luke stated little tears trickle down his cheeks.
"As much as I love work, I love you way more and care about your health. Come on Lukey, you have a doctor's appointment, little man" Abby replied wiping away with those tears. Her green eyes bright, her son has to be the sweetest little boy in the entire world.
"Do I really gotta change?" Luke asked quietly. He'd much rather stay in his pajamas all day and sleep away this sickness. If only, he could actually fall asleep in the first place. Then all of their problems would vanish.
"No, it doesn't matter what you wear" Abby said causing a smile to form onto Luke's light red lips. "Just brush your hair and teeth and you'll be fine. I'll see you downstairs in ten"
"Okay. Can I bring my pillow?" Abby looks at him; suddenly confused. "I wanna sleep for awhile in the car" Luke explained, Abby kisses the top of his head and nods, before exiting his bedroom.
Luke asked, "Mom, can we get a dog?" Abby smirked at him. He looks at her with happy large ocean blue-green eyes.
"We'll see" Abby explained sweetly. She already knows that Tim would never agree to that after the whole dog incident a few years back. He has decided that dogs in general are bad news.
"Cool. I wanna get a big dog! And name im' Shack. Wouldn't that be awesome? I hate it when people name tiny dogs' big things. It's stupid. Don't you think so, mom? I do, cause little dogs should be named Midge or something small like Scope. I think we oughta get a big, BIG dog! Don't you mommy?" Luke rambled, sounding very much like Abby. The Goth stares strangely at Luke and wonders, if this is how she talks.
"Yeah, Lukey-pie if you don't start brushing those teeth. I'll brush them for you, little mister" Abby teased.
"That'd save me a lot of energy" Luke joked with a care-free smile. Abby tosses a pillow at him. Luke ducks and heads for the can as Gibbs would call it.
Thalia is all ready for NCIS. She has her school-bag packed with books and her homework. Being grounded really limits a teen from her items; like their cell-phone and I-pod. Auntie Julie isn't coming. She has to have lunch with her Boss. Julie wouldn't have come anyway, she doesn't really have anything to do at NCIS. Auntie Julie is the type of person who always needs something to do; it doesn't matter what it is, Julie Caruso just needs a project.
"Ally-cat, come on. We have to go" Gibbs almost sounds like he is pleading. Only any form of begging is beneath him, well besides when he has a disagreement with Julie. He admits defeat quicker, even if he is right; Gibbs views that if his girl is happy. He's happy too, most of the time. Julie is his girl after all. That may sound old-fashioned, but that's the way Gibbs sees their relationship and there's nothing that could change that.
"Not ready" Ally mumbled, she looks around for something special to wear. Whenever the first grader goes out with anybody she feels the need to look picture perfect.
"You need to pick something, Al" Gibbs said pleadingly. Usually Julie helps Ally get ready, but since she has a meeting that is reasonably far away. Gibbs said he'd do it, but he didn't think it'd be such an annoying task. He swears there are more willing terrorists than these kids.
"I want mommy" Ally harrumphed. Gibbs lets out a breath of annoyance. As much as he wants to, he can't just call Julie and ask her to come home to help deal with the cranky six year old.
"Mommy, left early this morning. You know that, princess" Gibbs reminded her, Ally remembers. Mommy came into her room and gave her a kiss goodbye. Ally honestly didn't think mommy would leave though. She thought her mommy didn't do anything, but stay home and do nothing.
"How come?" Ally asked, more like whined in Gibbs opinion.
"She has a lunch meeting that's far away" Gibbs said kindly causing the six year old to stare at him angrily.
"Why couldn't I go with her?" Ally asked, but she already knows the answer. Her mommy wouldn't want her coming because she would get bored way too easily.
"You'd get bored, princess" Gibbs said smoothing out her bright red hair. Ally pushes his hands away and glares at him. "Mommy doesn't want you to be bored all day."
"I want mommy" Ally shouted, stamping her foot.
"Ally, you really need to chose something" Gibbs said quickly shuffling through her closet, trying to pick something that looks comfortable and nice.
"NO! I want mommy!" Ally screamed, Gibbs can already tell that she's about to throw one of the biggest tantrums in the world. He tries to think of a good way to stop her.
"Ally, you have two choices; either you pick something or I will" he warned causing the little girl to stop shouting. Gibbs has the worst taste in the enitre world. He never wears anything pretty, cept' when he goes out with mommy. But dat doesn't happen a lot cause Thalia doesn't like to babysit.
"Is she ready yet? It's been almost twenty minutes. How hard can it be to get a first grader ready for work?" Thalia questioned, her smart-ass tone coming into play.
"Thalia" Gibbs warned. His patience is running and if the two of them don't drop the attitude. Then there's a defident chance their bottoms will sting.
"What? I'm just saying is all" Thalia shrugged her shoulders, looking as innocent as ever. Gibbs wonders if he'll lose his hair by the end of the day.
"Thalia, go wait in the car" Gibbs ordered firmly. Ally looks from her cousin to Gibbs; knowing this won't end well. Thalia should learn to shut up. Sometimes Thalia can be really stupid.
"Why should I?" Thalia asked folding her arms over her chest.
"Because I said so, that's why" sometime's that's the only answer an adult needs to give a child. Thalia glares at him causing Gibbs to do a doube-take, nobody has ever glared at him like that. Well besides his ex-wives.
"Ooh, I'm so scared" Thalia groaned her stubborn blue eyes staring into an older pair of ice blue eyes. Gibbs folds his arms over his muscular chest, Thalia copies his motions.
"Thalia, my patience is almost out. I think it'd be in you're best interess to wait in the car" Gibbs warned. He's had enough of her sour and bratty attitude.
"You need to learn to get a damn sense of humor" Thalia said sarcastically.
"Thalia, you gotta show me respect" Gibbs said through clenched teeth.
"Why should I? Is it cos your dating my aunt? Cos I don't care" Thalia stated angrily. She really doesn't want to be grounded and wants to go to the party without sneaking out.
Gibbs lightly smacks Thalia's jean covered ass."Enough, I've had enough of this. You need to show me some respect, not because I'm dating your adult, but because I am your elder. If we have to talk about you swearing. Then you're butt will regret it. Do you hear me?" Gibbs asked landing another smack to the seat of her jeans.
"I hear...you" Thalia mumbled as she turns and starts to walk out Ally's room.
Gibbs stops her. "Hey if there's something bothering you, can always talk to me about it. I may be your aunt's boyfriend, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you or Ally. Do you understand?" Gibbs promised. Thalia nods and tries to push past her guilt about the sneaking out.
"Yeah" Thalia answered calmly and coolly. Her blue eyes are full of guilt. Gibbs is being way too nice to her. This doesn't seem very fair for him.
"Good, go wait in the car, Thallie" Gibbs resplied gently. Thalia nods looking both angry and guilty. She reluctantly does as she's told, which is odd bcause Thalia never listens.
Ally is too stunned to speak. Gibbs hardly ever smacks Thalia's bum like that, only when he really is mad and has had enougg. Ally decides to wear a sparkly purple top with a giraffe on it and jeans. She's also wearing pink flats. Gibbs can't keep the smile off his lips. Ally snags her hairbrush and hands it to Gibbs.
"You gotta brush it just like mommy, okay?" Ally holds the brush in her hand. She doesn't look very willing to give it to Gibbs, who tries very hard not to smile.
"Okay" Gibbs promised as Ally squints at him; thinking thoroughly. The six year old thinks for another moment and a little reluctantly hands the brush over to Gibbs.
"Good, cos I wanna look pretty. How long will I be your princess?" Ally asked. Gibbs puts down the brush and turns her so they can have eye-level.
"Forever and ever, Princess" Gibbs promised, these three girls are the only ones who can make him be as soft as he is now. Ally looks down sheepishly.
"What if you leave?" Ally asked. Her birth-father left before she was born. Gibbs has only been around for two months and Ally can't help, but wonder when they'll meet.
"I'll never leave you, Thalia, or mommy. That, Ally-cat is a promise" the former Marine promised.
"So I'm stuck with you?" Ally asked raising her eyebrows at him.
Gibbs answered thoughtfully, "That seems to be the case."
"I hope it's a really long case, Gibbs" Ally whispered quietly. Gibbs smiles warmly at the six year old; she has to be the sweetest kid on Earth.
"Me too, Princess" Gibbs said brushing out snarls of red morning hair. A large grin forms onto Ally's face.
For once the DiNozzo men are the first to arrive at NCIS. Kyle sits down at his mother's desk. He knows what being grounded means with his parents as agents; all you do is sit there and work on your homework. When you're done and Uncle Tim has checked it. You have to organize files and work all day. This is totally gonna suck. "Johnny, come with me. Kyle, I expect you to be working when I get back. You understand?"
"Whatever, dude" Kyle said sounding so much like an annoying teenager. 'Great, just great' Tony thought knowing all too well that with Kyle in a mood like this. Then it won't be a good day for the fourteen year old.
"Where are we goin?" Johnny asked as his father presses an elevator button.
"You're going to the daycare. I have to work a case and you'll be wicked bored" Tony commented. He watches as his son looks down sadly. Tony's a bit sad himself, he was hoping to spend the day with his boys, but a case came up. In addition doesn't want Ziva to have to put up with three kids while shopping and getting Sammie's hair cut.
"What about Kyle?" Johnny complained his anger coming into play. How come Kyle always gets to do all the fun stuff just because he's older? Johnny never gets to have any fun. He has an earlier bed-time and when Kyle babysits; he actually hasta listen to the guy.
"Your brother is grounded. He'll be working all day" Tony explained briefly.
"That sounds like fun" Johnny mumbled.
"It won't be, Sport" Tony said trying to cheer his son up.
Johnny nods sullenly. It really sucks being the younger brother to a perfect older brother. Kyle does great in school, he's popular, and he's amazing at sports. It isn't fair. Johnny does okay in school, he's a trouble-maker, and he does alright in sports. All the teacher love Kyle; some don't even know him, but they've heard great things from him and expect the same out of Johnny. That stinks worse cos what if he can't wear Kyle's oversized shoes?
"Do I really hafta go to daycare? That's for babies" Johnny whined. The way he sees it, Kyle will always out-shine him. Kyle's perfect and he's just...Johnny.
"It won't be that type of daycare, trust me. You'll have fun" Tony encouraged, his green eyes bright with happiness.
"Will Luke be there too?"
"Kiddo, Luke's sick" Johnny's face falls. "But, don't worry. I'm sure you'll still have lots of fun. I think Ally will be there too. You can come back up after lunch, alright, Bud?" Tony nudges his son hoping he isn't upset about this. He knows how much Johnny likes hanging out with him, but the cases have become more frequent lately.
"Why does Kyle get to stay?" Johnny whined.
"Kyle's not going to have any fun, John. He's going to be working the entire day. You'll have so much more fun than him, trust me Sport" Tony promised kindly. Johnny looks down trying to hide his hurting, behind a mask of jokes.
Johnny said sadly. "I wanna work too"
"Johnny, trust me. You'll have fun" Tony promised once again. The two of them are so much alike. Johnny desperatly wants to hang out with his father. Tony was the same way. Only that ended when Johnny was around Kyle's age. Tony hopes that Johnny will always want to hang out with him.
"But, I don't know anybody there" Johnny complained, feeling glum. Tony feels bad for the kid, but he can't miss out on this case; with both Ziva and Abby out today. Everyone has to come in.
"You'll make new friends, you're great with people. You get that from me" Tony praised causing Johnny to smile brightly at his father's praise, but that doesn't still mean he's sad about this arrangement.
"I guess" Johnny agreed. Tony's lucky Johnny is such a good, agreeing child. If he weren't then they'd have so many problems; Johnny is actually really supportive of everyone in the family. Tony feels guitly because whenever its his time to shine, something always comes up.
"That's my boy. Be good" Tony said with a supportive and caring smile.
"Can't make any promises" Johnny answered shrugging his shoulders. Tony ruffles his boy's brown curls and leave to go back upstairs. He doesn't want to leave a bored Kyle all alone for too long.