Disclaimer: To save typing energy, I am now enforcing my "I own nothing but the original characters" act that will be in effect for all the chapters in this story. Thank you for your cooperation (: haha
A/N: None that I can think of at the moment.
Saving Melanie
Lunch with Mr. Evans
Tony pulled into the parking lot, parking in one of the few spaces left.
"Gee whiz, what a crowd," he muttered, as he and Kate exited the car. McGee however was having a more difficult time as he tried to unbuckle the contraption that contained Melanie.
"Man, McGoo they really didn't teach you anything did they," Tony grumbled, pushing him out of the way, un-snapping Melanie from the car-seat. He gently set her on the ground, before whispering to Kate,
"You know, I was kidding before about the whole "not knowing anything from scouting" but this is just sad," Kate just chuckled lightly under her breath, before taking Melanie's hand, as the four entered the red building.
A rather robust woman waited by the counter as they entered.
"How many?" her monotonous tone obviously showed her feelings towards her work.
"Four, please," Tony smiled his infamous thousand-watt smile in an attempt to bring some light onto the woman's face. Surprisingly it failed, as she just gave a dull" Follow me," as she lead one bummed out DiNozzo and the others to find a seat.
"Do you prefer a booth or table?" she asked, clearly bored.
"Boo!" Melanie said with excitement. The woman just pointed to the nearest booth, before setting down the menus and silverware, wrapped in napkins.
"Your server will be here momentarily. Have a nice day," she droned, before trudging back to her position at the front.
"Somebody needs to retire soooon," Tony sang to his co-workers, who only rolled their eyes in response.
"Dibbs on Kate!" Tony announced obnoxiously, pulling Kate into the seat beside him. McGee frowned; Tony really did hate him after all.
"Toh-ee I wanted to sit with her," whined Melanie. McGee just gave Tony a smug smile as Kate began to get up and go sit with Melanie.
"Just keep your distance, McSnuggles," he muttered. Once everyone was seated to their liking, they began going over their menus.
Soon after, a slim blonde who's nametag identified her as "Brandi" sauntered over to their table. Showing her obvious liking to the male special agent, she plastered a bright smile on her face.
"Hi! I'm Brandi! I'll be your server today!" she enthused. Kate bit back a gag, while Tony nearly leaned over McGee, trying to get closer to their waiter.
"Why, hello there, thank you for your service," he smiled his "charming" infamous smile. Brandi gave him a rather odd, not to mention confused facial expression to his boldness.
"Uh….thank you?" she stuttered to Tony, who by now also wore a confused expression.
"Umm…anyway, what can I get you…sir?" she asks.
"I will have the hamburger and French fries platter, please," he smiles at the last word, obviously head-over-heels for their by now somewhat green waitress. She turns abruptly away from him, looking straight at McGee.
"And for you?" she plasters her huge smile that she was wearing before, as it dawns on all three of them that it wasn't Tony she was looking at, but Tim. He clears his throat before speaking.
"Uh…uh…I would like the chicken club sandwich please," he stuttered, his face as red as the building itself.
"No problem," she smiles again, eyes sparkling with admiration. Tony huffed in the corner, pretending to see something interesting out the window, obviously sickened by the interaction.
"And for you, miss?" she turned to Kate, pen ready to write on her note pad.
"I'll have the apple cranberry spinach salad," she turned to Melanie, who sat quietly playing with her Barbie.
"What do you want to eat for lunch?" she asked her. Melanie looked up and began "reading" her menu, before pointing at the picture of a plate of chicken tenders and French fries.
"Chicken fingers and fries it is, then," Brandi said kindly, as she began collecting up their menus. Melanie tugged Kate's sleeve before whispering,
"No caraoni and keez?" she pouted. Kate shook her head no, before turning to give the waitress her menu as well.
"Oh, I almost forgot, what do you all want to drink?"
"Coke"
"Water"
"Tea"
"Ackle juice"
Brandi nodded before walking back to the kitchen. The table was quiet for a little while before Tony broke the silence.
"So Melanie, tell us some more about you," he gently coaxed.
"I like zebras, dogs, fishes, lady bugs, butterflies, and bats," she stated.
"Y-you like bats?" Tim stuttered. Melanie nodded her head, eyes wide.
"Yeah. Bee bee does, so Melanie does too," she said it so nonchalantly that the three adults had to bite back a laugh; they didn't want her crying again.
Suddenly Tony's eyes went wide.
"Oh, no…" he trailed off. The other two looked at him confused before it hit them. They hadn't even thought of asking Abby to go with them. She was gonna kill them.
"Shit…" Tim cursed under his breath, earning a scolding glare from both Tony and Kate.
"Sorry," he muttered, looking down at his lap.
The table remained somewhat quiet for a few minutes before Melanie spoke,
"I like the color pink but I like black more, ok well maybe not more, but I like it a lot too. Look at my nails!" she exclaimed holding out a small hand to show the trio. They looked on in admiratioin, giving her a thumbs up.
"I like slushees and ice cream. But I don't like chocolate ice cream, only banilla or thrawberry. I wanna meet Cinderella someday. She's really pretty," the toddler continued on and on, as the three listened earnestly. Who knows, maybe some of this could lead them further into what happened to her mother.
"I'm gonna be in kinnergarmin this year. Well….I was supposed to be," she trialed off, her eyes going to the table in front of her.
"I want to have my own baby dog but mom wouldn't let me. She said daddy wouldn't like it. I don't see what the big deal is. It would be my own dog," she said this part sadly.
"Does Daddy get along with Mommy?" Tony pressed.
"No. They fight… a lot. Daddy hasn't come home for... I think mommy said it was three weeks," she said, pouting her lip. The three pondered this, before she went on, telling more about herself.
"But I do not like cats. Cats are mean. They scratch and make weird noises at you. Cats scary."
The waitress arrived with their food by now, as she set the plates in front of them, cutting her off, mid sentence.
"If you need anything else, let me know," she said, still gawking at Tim, who suddenly became interested in his chicken club sandwich. They proceeded to eat their lunch in silence, savoring the much needed food. When everyone was finished, Brandi returned with the bill.
"Thank you for eating here with us at Bob Evans," she smiled warmly at all of them; although her smiled lingered much longer for McGee.
"Who's paying?" Tony joked. But after receiving two glares, he hurriedly whipped out two twenties and a five, leaving them on the table.
"Why such a big tip?" Kate asked astonished.
"Hey, she made some moves on our little McSingle here. Gotta give her some credit," he teased. The four walked out the door and headed to Tony's car. Just as McGee was getting in, Melanie made an announcement.
"No."
"W-what do you mean, no?"
"Kay."
"What?"
"You up there."
He trudged around, opening the door motioning for Kate to go in the back. She complied without hesitation as he climbed in, trying to avoid the annoyed look on Tony's face. Once everyone was buckled, Tony drove off.
Bullpen
The elevator doors pinged as a brunette dressed in a gray skirt suit entered the bullpen. She wore a pair of matching gray kitten heels and couldn't have been older than at least twenty five or so. She carried a briefcase, signifying her profession. She scanned the room, before heading over to the familiar silver haired figure.
"I'm looking for a Mr. Gibbs," she announced. Gibbs lifted his gaze from the paper in front of him, acknowledging her presence.
"Yeah,"
Before she could speak, the elevator doors opened again, revealing three smiling agents and a giggling toddler. They walked into the bullpen, before going silent at the sight in front of them.
"There something you need?" he asked gruffly.
The woman turned, staring at the now silent little girl, before turning back to the impatient man at the desk.
"Her."