Disclaimer: We all know who it belongs to. Why torture us?
AN: So, this is the last chapter and then I have the epilogue. Thank you for the support throughout the duration of this story! I appreciate each and every one of you!
Rachel and Nikki had made it through the school day. They were picked up by Ziva and taken back to NCIS. They observed their family and saw the tension between them all. They went to Abby's lab and greeted their sister before heading to their blanket to do their homework assignments. After those were done, they worked on their family book more. They hoped to get done with it soon just to show how important everyone is to them and they hoped it kept their parents from quitting the jobs that they loved.
Jenny and Gibbs picked up the girls from the lab and they all headed home. Jenny ordered pizza for dinner and waited for the other kids to get home so that the dreaded discussion could be over and done with. It wasn't too long after the pizzas were delivered that the others walked through the door. They all sat around the table and waited for someone to start.
Jenny took that as her cue and looked to her husband for support and he nodded. She cleared her throat and began.
"As I'm sure you know, Jethro and I are contemplating quitting NCIS. I know that no one wants us too, but if it keeps our children safe then that's what we're going to do," Jenny said, "As for this discussion time, I want no interruptions when someone is speaking. Wait your turn to speak. You all will have your chance. Tony, let's start with you."
Tony sat back in his chair and thought momentarily about what to say. He looked around the table at his loved ones, his family and in that moment he knew what to say.
"Well, you guys may think it's the right thing to do, but let me ask: Do you really want to break up this family you two have built?" Tony asked, "We are a family. I don't want you to quit this job because even if you weren't working for NCIS there are still dangers that we face every day and no one can be protected from those."
Jenny was shocked at the compassion that Tony had shown and at the sincerity of his words. She turned her gaze to Ziva.
"I am in agreement with Tony. All of us were brought together by NCIS and if you leave then it would not be the same. You may think that we are ready to lead our own teams, but for us, we are not. We still need the guidance that you two can provide," Ziva said.
Jenny nodded and looked to McGee.
"I-I, uh, well, I feel that quitting to protect your children is a plausible reason, but what about the other children that you have cared for? What about us?" Tim asked.
Jenny's gaze flickered to Abby. Abby wasn't paying attention to them, but looking off as she tried to hold in her emotions.
"Abby, it's your turn," Jenny said softly. The Goth turned and faced her family with tear filled eyes.
"We can't do this job without you two. Jenny, all you are seeing is the bad, but look at the good we do as well. We reunited families. We've spoken for the dead and got them the justice they deserved. We've helped some people become better persons and we've taken some very bad people off the streets. Sure we've lost some, but we can't hold onto the bad, but look to the good we've done and the good we could do, but that can't happen if you give up. Don't let those people win," Abby said.
By the time she was done, tears were streaming down her face as well as the others. Jenny looked to Nikki.
"Mommy, I don't want you and Daddy to quit jus' because some bad guys almost got us. They didn't win. You did because you were workin' with each other to find us. You can't quit this cuz it's somethin' you love and we want you to stay with the job you love," Nikki told her mother.
Jenny looked to Rachel. She had that faraway look again.
"Rachel?" Jenny said. Rachel snapped back into reality.
"Mommy, I know you want to quit cuz of what happened with me and Nikki. Also cuz of all the stuff that I have been goin' through too, but you can't. Me and Nikki, we know that you wanna keep us safe, but you won' be able to do that forever. Me and Nikki want you to know that we don't want you to quit cuz this is our family and NCIS is a part o-of home," Rachel said.
Jenny looked to her husband who looked at her. They spoke with their eyes. The decision was made and Jenny looked at the group sitting around her table, her family.
"So, all of you don't want us to quit?" Jenny asked and all of them nodded," You know we can't stay at NCIS forever right?"
The team nodded as did the girls.
"But for the time being we will stay," Jenny said with a smile. All eyes looked at her and then Tony and Abby let out big 'whoops' of happiness. The girls jumped out of their chairs and hugged both their parents and their siblings.
"We gots something for all of you," Rachel said and ran and got her bag, "Cynthia helped up with it. Can you call Grandpa and Jimmy over to see it too? It's for them too."
"Sure sweetie," Jenny said and she left to make the call. Rachel looked at her sister for help and Nikki helped her pull the book out and lay it on the table.
The others looked intrigued at the book before them. Jenny walked back into the room.
"Jimmy and Ducky are on their way," Jenny said.
"Ok, we'll wait for them," Nikki said. Her mother sat down and reached for the book, but before she could pull it to her Nikki put her hands on the cover and shook her head. Jenny just smiled at her daughter. Nikki smiled back.
The doorbell rang and Abby got up to let Ducky and Jimmy in. Once everyone was situated at the table the girls stood so that everyone could see them and held up the book. The front cover was decorated with badges, microscopes and NCIS. It was entitled 'Our Family.'
"Me and Nikki wrote this book called 'Our Family.' It's about all of you," Rachel said. They opened to the first page and there was a drawing of Tony leaning against his desk.
"This is Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. We all call him Tony though. Tony is a funny guy and is great to watch movies with. The greatest thing about Tony is that he's our big brother and he loves us a lot," Nikki read aloud. Tony grinned like happily. They turned to page to see the drawing of McGee who was at a computer typing away.
"This is Special Agent Timothy McGee or like we call him Timmy. Timmy is fun to play video games with. The best thing about Timmy is that he's our brother and we love him a lot," Rachel read.
McGee smiled and blushed. Everyone chuckled. They turned the page to show a picture of Ziva standing in the bullpen with her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
"This is Special Agent Ziva David. Ziva is the one who teaches me and my sister to protect ourselves from bad guys. The best thing about Ziva is that she is our big sister and we love her very much," Nikki read aloud. Ziva smiled widely. The next page was a picture of Abby dancing in her lab.
"This is Forensic Specialist Abigail Sciuto or Abby as we all call her. Abby is fun to play with and she lets us dance and help with stuff for cases. The greatest thing about Abby is she is our sister and we love her so much," Rachel read. Abby smiled and 'Aww' ed the girls. The girls turned the page and showed a picture of Ducky and Palmer in scrubs.
"This is Medical Examiner Dr. Donald Mallard or Ducky and Jimmy Palmer. Ducky tells us lots of stories that we love listenin' to and Jimmy plays games with us. The greatest thing about Jimmy and Ducky is that Ducky is our grandpa and Jimmy is our cousin and we love them very much," Nikki read.
Ducky and Jimmy were all smiles after hearing this. They turned to the next page to show a picture of their parents on the catwalk outside of MTAC.
"This is Director Jenny Gibbs or Mommy and Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs or Daddy. They are our parents. They are the best parents any kids could ask for and we love them very much," Rachel read. Their parents beamed proudly. They turned to the final page. This page showed the entire group in the bullpen standing shoulder to shoulder with the twins included.
"This is our family," they both said.
"They are our heroes," Rachel read.
"They help people and take care of us," Nikki continued.
"But the best thing about this family is…," Rachel started.
"That they are our family and we love them very much," Both girls concluded. They shut the book and set it down. They looked at their family once again at the table.
"GROUP HUG!" Rachel cried. Everyone laughed and joined in for hugs.
This was a family that would stick together and this is the family that should've been.
AN: So that's the last chapter! The epilogue should be up soon! Leave a review, please and thank you!