Alex liked the silence he could share with Gibbs. It was something he knew wouldn't be possible if any other adult was sitting across from him at the breakfast table. They would pry or try to keep some fake conversation that never participant gave a damn about.
It was quiet. They didn't have to be but they were. Gibbs had fixed him bacon and eggs with a sharp order to "eat it all."
They maintained the comfortable silence through breakfast before Gibbs finally broke it with a question that completely threw the boy off.
"Have you put any thought into what you want to do about your schooling?"
Alex looked up from his near finished plate sharply. Wow. School. He hadn't even thought about that.
"I...really have no idea. I'm more than a little bit behind. I guess repeating a year is going to be the easiest." He said lowering his head embarrasedly. He took pride in his education and he was not stupid by far. Life had just taken over. There was no time for school as of late.
Gibbs rolled his eyes at the kid's shame.
"There's no shame in repeating a year, Alex. Especially not you. But I think Abby has a better idea if you wanna hear it."
"Sure, what is it?" Alex asked. Anything was better than the alternative.
It'll take a bit of work on your part. But it's still Summer vacation. Abby and the team offered to tutor you to get you caught up. That way when school rolls around again you'll be ready."
"Really?" Alex asked mildly stunned by the offer. These guys were really something else.
"Yep. Abby's got the curriculm. Between McGee and Abby fighting over teaching you math and science and Ducky lecturing you on Literature and Ziva covering the foreign language I think you should be all set."
"I'd really appreciate that." Alex didn't even have time to feel imposing. If the team was offering he would love to finish school on time.
Gibbs nodded making a mental note to give Abby the green light to get the books and supplies they would need.
"I'll get Abby to set it up. You're going to be the one to tell DiNozzo you don't need him as your PE teacher though."
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Gibbs sighed silently as he sank into the chair at his desk. He was the first one in for the day. As usual. Ziva would arrive first, smile warmly at him and start her computer up for the day. Then McGee would come with coffee for everyone offering a "Morning, Boss" as he sat down at his own desk. Then DiNozzo would either come speed walking in so his butt would be in his seat before he was late...or he would come sauntering in a few minutes after McGee talking to a fellow agent about a football game or a movie.
Glancing at his watch he could see he still had a good twenty minutes before they filed in. He wasn't technically supposed to be back to work. But Alex was doing okay and thanks to Ziva, his life was no longer in danger. So, he checked with Alex and decided to come in for a half day. Just to make sure the team was still running smoothly. He was still their lead agent and, while Tony could more than handle the job, he refused to leave them high and dry. Not again.
He did have a feeling of wariness about leaving Alex alone. Not really a gut feeling but more of a...protective feeling. This was the first time since they had been rescued that Alex had been out of his sight or with his team. He knew it was irrational. It was yet another parental attribute that was beginning to surface. But he knew better than to give into it. Alex needed to feel like he had some space. He told Alex he would check in with him around 10 and quickly aquainted Alex with Rule 3. So, he would check in at 10 and not a second earlier. If Alex needed him he would call him.
He could feel the eyes on him before he even looked up. Vance was staring intently at him up above him on his "I am the Boss" platform. The Director gestured with his head for the Marine to meet him in his office.
Sighing loudly this time Gibbs hauled himself up to his feet. He made his way a bit more slowly up the stairs. That leg of his sure was taking it's sweet time to heal. Stairs tended to make it throb and two flights were more than enough to put a prominent throb in his leg for the next half hour.
"What is it, Leon?" Gibbs asked opened the door, the thought to knock never entering his mind.
"The boy doing okay?" Leon asked promptly from his seat at his desk.
"Wouldn't be here if he wasn't."
"Yeah, dumb question I suppose. I just thought you'd like to know that Blunt is on his way to DC. He's been summoned by the US court to appear and stand trial. Blunt tried to turn to his government for help and the Prime Minister has basically told him he's shit out of luck. He's apparently fed up with the man. Killing Starbright was a major mistake on his part. The Prime Minister has apparently told Blunt more than once to leave Alex alone."
"So, Blunt's on his own."
"I wouldn't say that. I'm sure he'll be able to afford his own lawyer to defend him. And Blunt is still a very powerful man. He's...not someone we should over look."
Gibbs nodded. No matter what happened Blunt would go down. Either in a civil court case...or by Gibbs' terms.
"When will he be in DC?"
" Within the next couple of days. He'll be staying in a safe house provided by NCIS until the trial." Leon cast a long look at the man before him before adding, "He'll be guarded with NCIS agents as well."
Gibbs huffed out a laugh.
"What? You think I'm gonna go in and beat the Hell out of him?"
"No, I think if given any more fuel to your anger you may do something you'll regret later. Best to cover all my bases."
"I don't need you to look out for me."
"Regardless. Agents will be posted. If anything to make sure Blunt doesn't do anything he's not supposed to be."
"Whatever you say, Leon. Anything else?"
"I think we're good. I probably know the answer but is your team having any problems with your absence?"
"Doubt it. But I'm here to check in with them now."
"If they need another man I'm sure I can find a temporary agent."
"I'll be sure to mention that to them." Gibbs called as he left the room.
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"Of course we don't need a probie to fill in. I'm running everything fine, Boss!"
"Yes, we are more than capable of handling things."
"You take all the time you need, Boss. We got this."
Gibbs knew this would be the reaction but he thought he'd get a kick out of it anyways. The fact that his team was absolutely appalled by the fact that he even asked was enough to make him smirk.
"Just checking. You guys know if you get hit with something you can't handle my door is always open."
"Just not unlocked anymore I would hope." Ducky said as he and Abby walked up as they saw Gibbs was in the office.
"Even invested in a deadbolt, Duck." Gibbs assured. While he was not even a little bit regretful of taking Alex in he was, at the very least, cautious. Alex had more than a few enemies. Not that any door would keep an assassin out for revenge out of the house but Gibbs caught the boy testing the loosely locked door and decided to quell the kid's uneasiness. If a lock was what would make Alex feel relaxed then a lock would be what he got.
"Smart man." Ducky praised.
"Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs! Did you talk to Alex about school?"
"Yep. He's all yours, Teach."
"Yes! I've always wanted to be a teacher...well...not really but this is going to be so much fun!" Abby replied happily as she waved goodbye as she went quickly back to her lab to begin enrolling Alex into a homeschooling program.
"Ah, I too will relish the opportunity to dust off a couple literature books and impart wisdom on our dear boy."
"Ugh, school. Thank God that era's over for me."
"And has been for awhile, Tony." McGee said with a snarky grin.
Ziva's laughter could be heard across the office as Tony glared at their friend.
Gibbs managed a small smile of his own before picking up the phone on his desk and calling to check in with Alex.
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Alex sighed as he turned off the video game McGee had installed on his computer. The game had been a nice distraction for awhile but as he glanced around the empty house he realized this was his first alone time in a very long time. He should be enjoying it. So, why wasn't he? He was on edge and couldn't come up with why? SCORPIA was no longer a threat. He had locked the door as soon as Gibbs had left...So, what could it be? Could he really be that dependant on the man that he needed the man around him at all times just to feel relaxed? That was no good. That wasn't who he was.
Gibbs had offered to take him with him to the Navy yard and he was starting to think he should have taken him up on the offer.
He stood up from the couch to move to the kitchen for a snack but as soon as he did a shot rang through the air and Alex was immediately diving to the ground and out of the way of the windows. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins as he waited for more gunshots to pop off or for a door or window to be broken and someone to barge in and attack him. Nothing happened. Realization slowly came as rose up to peer cautiously out of the window facing the road. An old, rusted, and smoking truck being driven by an elderly man was making it's way noisily down the street. The vehicle had back fired. No danger there.
Sighing shakily he slid back down the wall to put his head in his hands as he waited for his body to calm down. He cursed angrily at himself and realized how lucky he was Gibbs wasn't here. Had he been witness to that and the man would've been throwing him into a therapist's office so quickly his head would spin. That could not happen again he ordered to himself. He distantly heard the phone ring. Gibbs had warned him if he didn't answer the phone he was calling everyone from the Military, the local police, FBI, NCIS and even the local neighborhood watch to swarm the house. He forced himself back to the couch to pick the phone up.
"Hello?" He answered, tryin to make his voice sound as normal as possible.
"What's wrong with you?" His luck was really sucking today.
"Nothing? What's wrong with you?" Alex countered the man.
"Why do you sound like you're gasping?"
"I had to run down stairs to make sure the phone didn't stop ringing so the entire military didn't show up at the front door, Gibbs." He lied, hoping the man would buy it.
"Mmmhmm. Whatever you say. I'm gonna stay here until about one. Are you okay for that long? Just got some paperwork the team needs some help on."
"Sure. That's fine. I was just about to put one of Tony's movies in."
"Alright. I'll bring lunch with me. You want sub sandwiches from that deli we tried the other day?"
"Sounds good." Alex replied as he vaguely heard Tony shout "Count me in, Boss!" at Gibbs from across the bullpen.
Alex smirked as he could practically hear the glare he was giving DiNozzo.
"I'll see you soon." Gibbs finally said.
"Okay, Gibbs."
Alex realized his phone call with Gibbs had calmed him down quite a bit. His heart was no longer beating out of his chest. He was safe, he was fine. Gibbs would be home soon with sandwiches and everything would be fine.
A/N- But will it really? ;)
I love you guys! Review and feel free to berate me on how late(and short) this is. Life seriously shouldn't insist on taking up so much of my time. But I graduated and am finding out the hard way how much it sucks to be an adult;)