Jethro Entertains the Visitor
Gibbs looked at Jenny closely as their conversation resumed in the living room. They had enjoyed a no- strings- attached relationship when both were in Paris, and had found that their compatibility was uncanny. They played off of each other, and made a good working team. As a couple, they were also pretty good together. He had missed her. Looking at her now, Gibbs realized that the attraction was still there, and if he were reading Jen correctly, she felt the same way.
Tony came racing back into the living room, holding the cordless phone against his ear and talking rapidly in the earpiece.
"I didn't hear the phone ring," Jen remarked, puzzled.
"Hmmm... I didn't either. Tony must have climbed on the counter and gotten it. He knows how to call, though he certainly didn't ask permission to make this one."
Tony was begging on his end, "Abuela, please, I promise I won't get it dirty or tear it. No voy a entrar sucio. I don't like the other one as much. Don't you want me to look handsome?"
Jen shook her head in amazement as Jethro started laughing. "I can guess this argument. He wants to wear his new clothes, which he just got yesterday, because my son is a connoisseur of good fashion and pays particular attention to the way he looks when he goes out. She, on the other hand, wants the outfit saved. So..."
Tony interrupted before he could finish, pushing the phone at his father. "Abuela wants to talk to you, and I have to go upstairs 'cause she told me to look in my toybox for my Willam Wallace hat."
Jethro took the phone and caught him by his waistband. Looking sternly at his little boy he reminded, "Are you supposed to get on the phone without permission?" Tony shook his head and appeared chastened and Jethro released him. He raced off full tilt.
Jen sat back in her chair and listened to Jethro's end of the talk with Abuela. "Ok, you mean to let him take the long sleeved striped one he just got? I can find it, but is he supposed to go with the pants you already packed? Which khaki ones? What about shoes? Ok, I got it." He nodded and paced a bit as he talked.
Tony raced back in the room, clutching his prized hat. "Let me talk to Abuela again, Daddy!" Jethro handed him the phone, then left the room to get the substitute shirt. "I found it, Abuela. Yes, I know not to play in my new clothes. I know to change to play clothes. Uh huh, yes ma'am, yes, I know not to be bad at mass- I mean church. Yes, I know the good manners please and thank you. I love you, too- te amo. Bye."
Tony hung up, dropped the phone on the sofa, and proceeded to hold one leg so that he could hop around the living room. Jethro returned with the prized shirt and held it out to Tony, who reached greedily for it.
"Wait a minute," Jenny intervened, taking the shirt. "Let me fold it right or it will be wrinkled and you won't be able to wear it." Tony nodded in agreement, and when she got up to put the shirt in his case, he took her hand and smiled angelically.
Looking at her carefully he asked, "Why is your clavicle so tiny? Did some of your bones not grow up?"
Jethro called out, "Tony, she's a small lady. We call that petite. That's as big as she's going to get."
Jenny nodded seriously, trying not to laugh at Tony's concern. Tony smiled again and said sympathetically, "I'm sorry you won't get to be a big girl. I'm going to be a really big boy."
The doorbell rang for the second time that day and Tony flew towards it with Jethro calling, "Don't open that door!"
When they finally opened it, together, Ducky was there, ready to collect his young guest. He was surprised to see Jenny, as well, glanced at both agents, and correctly guessed that the two needed some time alone to catch up.
Taking Tony's bag he ordered, "Come, young Anthony. It's almost tea time, and Mother made bangers since you like them so much."
Tony ran to his father, who swung him up and kissed him, then released him.
Politely, Tony held his hand out to Jenny to shake and said, "It was a pleasure to meet you." Jenny beamed in return and Tony raced to Ducky, grabbing his other hand.
Jethro and Jen both walked to the front stoop to see them off.
"On to the Morgan steed, Ducky knight!" Tony sang out, pointing at Ducky's vintage Morgan parked in the driveway. Then changing his tone he asked, "Are we going to watch Braveheart again?"
Hearing the question Jehtro shook his head slowly in disbelief and called out, "What is that rated, Ducky? You know he's only supposed to watch G movies!"
Ducky turned and winked, "The lad falls asleep before we get to the PG and R parts." Smirking, he buckled Tony in the car seat and then drove off laughing.
Jenny stepped back into the foyer and Jethro followed, leaving the front door wide open. She felt like she'd just witnessed a tornado. "Wow- he's an energetic little fellow, isn't he? And bright- he's very intelligent, Jethro. You know that, though, and that the girls are going to swarm him- he's just gorgeous."
Jethro laughed, and Jenny spoke softly, "So, did you have any overnight plans, yourself?"
Leaning behind her, Jethro slammed the front door shut, reached down to cup her face in his hands, and answered, "I just made some, with you."