Title: You Notice Everything Chapter 5
Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.
Summary: At the Reception for Delilah and Tim, a surprise guest shows up. Like always, Gibbs notices everything.
Includes some spoilers for Episode 23 "Something Blue."
All mistakes are mine, this has not been proofed.
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Standing in front of the door Gibbs took a deep breath then another. He raised his hand to knock and stop before his hand touched the wood. This was about Tali. After a fitful night sleep he still hadn't convinced himself that he could keep himself in check. Another deep breath, a shake of his head and he knocked on the door. It opened almost instantly and the smile that greeted him took his breath away.
"Morning."
"Morning." Gibbs managed to get the word out in a huff of air.
"Almost ready." Tony said as he stepped aside letting Gibbs in.
Stepping inside, Gibbs stayed close to the door somehow feeling safer there.
Tali came running out from the spare room, a stuffed alligator held tightly in her arm. She stopped in front of Gibbs and looked up at him. She was wearing jeans with pink flowers on them and a long sleeved white shirt with the same pink flowers. "Can EG come?"
Gibbs squatted down and looked at the stuffed animal. "Sure, but he'll probably need to stay in the car once we get there."
"Okay." She looked up at her dad. "Let go."
"Well, I guess we're ready."
"Do you still use a car seat for her?"
"Yeah."
"We can take the rental or put the car seat in the truck."
"Truck!" Tali chimed in.
Gibbs chuckled. "Truck it is."
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Tali stared out the back side window watching the scenery go back asking about things now and then or getting excited when she saw a bridge or monument. By the time they pulled into the Zoo parking lot she was singing some song in Hebrew that Tony happily sang along with her.
As Gibbs went to climb out of the truck, Tony's hand touched his arm. He felt the immediate warmth spread throughout his body.
"I want to buy the tickets for this today." Tony gave Gibbs a stern look. "And no arguments."
Gibbs reached into the glove box and pulled out several sheets of folded paper. "I already bought them on line."
Tony's eyebrow went up. "You went on line and bought tickets."
Gibbs smirked. "I'm learning."
"Wow I'm impressed." Tony grinned as his hand slipped away from Gibbs' arm.
"Come on, let's go." Talus unbuckled her car seat and was already trying to climb out.
"Alright, we're coming." Tony laughed at his daughter's impatience's.
Making their way through the ticket counter, they walked in to the massive zoo.
"Where do you want to start?" Gibbs asked looking down at Tali.
"Allegators." She roared. Standing between the two men she took both their hands and started to pull them forward.
Tony smiled over at Gibbs as they let themselves be led forward by the little girl. "Did that surprise you at all?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Nope, just wanted to ask."
"Do we even know where we're going?" Tony asked as they were led by Tali.
"I checked out the map. I know where we're going." When they approached a split in the walkway, Gibbs nudged Tali towards the right and shortly after they appeared out front of the Reptile Discovery Center.
Walking inside, they both watched as Tali's eyes went wide. They were looking at a wall of glass that allowed you to see the alligators in the water. Looking up at Tony, she asked permission without saying a word. "Go ahead."
Letting go of their hands she ran to the glass and put her hand on it and watched mesmerized as an alligator swam passed. Eyes still wide and mouth opened, she turned back and looked at them. "Allegator!"
They both chuckled as she went back to staring at the alligators through the glass. When they moved she moved running her hands along the glass as she followed their movements.
"When was the last time something excited you that much?" Tony sighed as he watched Tali. "That was that awe inspiring.
Gibbs looked over at Tony then back at Tali. "Today."
Tony turned to Gibbs. "Alligators exciting to you?"
Gibbs shook his head still watching Tali.
"Abba, Gibbs come see."
Tony watched as Gibbs made his way to Tali. She smiled up at him as he put his hand on the glass and watched the alligator swim by. He stood there a moment just taking in the way they interacted. Gibbs had squatted down and was pointing at one of the alligators. Tali listened as Gibbs spoke then expelled her own knowledge of alligators that she had learned from TV and their computer searches. Without even knowing it he started to smile. Gibbs with kids with this amazing thing, it was like he radiated something magical that just made them trust him.
"Abba."
Tali's voice pulled him from his thoughts and he finally made his way over to them.
"Look at all the Allegators." She said with awe.
"Alligators." Tony said the word correctly. He'd been trying to get her to say it correctly since she'd taken an interest in them, but she was stuck on allegators. Sometimes he thought she did it just because everyone thought it was cute.
She ignored him and just continued to watch the alligators swim back and forth, her hands and nose pressed to the glass.
Gibbs had taken a step back, just standing there as if guarding the little girl.
"She's going to be talking about this for weeks." Tony saw the slight smile curl onto the corners of Gibbs' lips.
"The outside exhibit is going to do a feeding in about twenty minutes." Gibbs never took his eyes off Tali.
"Oh god is that where they jump up and eat chickens hanging from above?"
"I think it's more of throw the chicken and they catch it."
"She'll love it." Tony sighed. "The girl is fearless. Nothing seems to scare her."
"Wonder where she got that from." Gibbs balked.
"Yeah."
Gibbs could hear it in the tone of Tony's voice. "You're angry at her?"
It took a moment but Tony finally responded. "Some days." There was a long pause. "I missed almost the first two years of my daughter's life because she kept it from me." Another pause. "Other days I remember that I loved her once and she's missing out on the rest of Tali's life."
"Double edged sword."
"Yes it is." Tony stared at his daughter. "Kinda like these past couple days."
Gibbs brow furrowed.
"It reminds me of how our friendship used to be…and how distant it became that last year at NCIS."
Glancing down at the floor, Gibbs took a deep breath then looked back at Tali. "That was my fault and I'm sorry for that."
Tony never showed his surprise at hearing the words. "What was it? Did you know something had happened between me and Ziva? Was it Zoe? Did I do something wrong?"
"It was none of that." Gibbs glanced at his watch. "We should get outside before they start the feeding."
Tony opened his mouth as if to demand an answer then closed it when Gibbs walked back over to Tali. And yet another unfinished conversation.
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Standing on the walkway above the outdoor exhibit, Tali was standing staring through the fence at the alligators as they made their way out of the water. A handler had stepped inside the enclosure carrying two large buckets. Sitting them down, he reached inside a pulled out a large chicken and tossed it to one of the alligators. Its large jaw opened and it rose up slightly to catch the meal.
Tali's mouth opened in awe as she watched the handler repeat the process numerous times. Then she clapped with excitement. With the last few chickens the handler threw them towards the water and the alligators scramble to get them as the handler left the enclosure. A second later Tali was babbling with excitement to her daddy and Gibbs about what she'd seen. They walked through the zoo looking at the big cats, elephants, and all the countless other animals, but nothing held her interest. It wasn't until they finally reached the interactive aquatic exhibit that she finally got excited.
Standing by the small pools she reached in and touched the stingray smiling with joy as it skimmed by under her hand. Then she was able to touch a star fish talking on and on about how bumpy it felt. Her favorite was the small green tree frog that one of the female employees's let her hold, its little sticky feet clinging to her palm.
"Look Abba, look Gibbs." She squealed with delight as it pulled one foot up then took a tiny step and adhered itself back to her palm.
Squatting down next to her, Tony let her lean back against his chest as she gently touched the frogs head. "He's squishy."
Gibbs chuckled as he watched Father and daughter interact. The woman had removed the little tree frog and now told her to hold both hands out as she placed a much larger bullfrog in Tali's hands. Again, Tali lit up with delight as the frog just sat comfortable in her little hands then suddenly croaked making Tali laugh.
"She's adorable." The woman smiled at Tony.
"Thanks." Tony beamed with pride.
"Nice of you to give your wife the day off."
"Um, no wife."
"Oh." The women's smile widened. "I'm Lona."
Gibbs saw the immediate change in the woman's demeanor. Her smile, the slight gleam in her eyes, how she inched slightly closer and laughed with Tali and Tony as the frog croaked again. She was interested. Taking a step back, Gibbs glanced out at the crowd making its way back and forth across the zoo. He concentrated on that and centered himself.
"Gibbs, Gibbs!"
When he heard the frantic voice behind him calling his name he spun around.
"Look her names peppermint!" Tali exclaimed holding a small albino snake with red eyes.
Gibbs smiled and made his way back over. Tony was right the girl was fearless. She was holding the snake with both hands. "She's beautiful."
Tali nodded. "Abba can I get one."
Tony's eyes went wide. "No."
Her eyebrows furrowed surprised by her father adamant answer.
Taking a deep breath, Tony softened. "Maybe when you're a little older."
She smiled with delight.
"She'll hold you to that you know." Lona grinned as she took the snake back and put it in its home a few steps behind her. "I'd be happy to give you my number and if you decide to get her one you can call me. I'll show you how to take care of it."
"No snakes in her future, makes dad a little squeamish." Tony blew it off and turned around surprised when Gibbs wasn't standing there. Glancing around, he saw him standing just outside the open doors of the exhibit. "Bored already?" Tony asked as they approached.
Gibbs shook his head. "Just thought I'd let you do your thing."
Tony seemed confused then laughed. "Lona, please." He shook his head. "I'm not interested. I'm only interested in my two favorite people and spending the day with them." He smiled when he saw some of the tension leave Gibbs' body. "So no more wondering off just because some woman flashes a smile at me." Tony gave Gibbs a stern look. "Got it mister." He looked down at Tali and she made the same face at Gibbs, but she added the folding her arms across her chest.
"Yeah got it mister." She mimicked her father.
"Got it." Gibbs chuckled. Looking down at Tali he smiled. "How about we head into the aquarium?"
"Let's go." She grabbed Tony hand and Gibbs led them towards the building to their right.
Walking in the room was filled with fish and sea life but Gibbs walked towards the far left and stopped as he reached an open arch. He tipped his head towards the opening and Tony and Tali walked in. He followed a step behind. He watched as Tali let go of Tony's hand and did a slow 360 turn as she took in the water that now surrounded them. It was the underwater exhibit making you feel as if you were walking underwater. Tali looked up and did another 360 as she took it all in with wonder and amazement. When a large shark appeared to her right she ran over to the glass and put both palms against it staring at the creature. It seems to actually stop and look at her for a moment, then swam off. Another shark swam by and she just stood there captivated as endless sea life passed by her.
Tony stood there looking at his daughter when he felt the hand touch the small of his back.
"Imagine all the things she might grow up to be." Gibbs said stepping up next to Tony and letting his hand slowly drift away from Tony's back.
"A marine biologist or herpetologist seems to be making it to the top of the list right now." Tony smiled over at Gibbs. "God she wants a snake." Tony shivered.
Gibbs chuckled knowing that Tony's fear was so much of the snake but what the snake ate.
"Can you see me having to buy mice and rats to feed it?" Tony shivered again.
"You may have to buy them, but I don't think she'd have a problem doing the actually feeding."
"Never once has she asked for a dog." Tony was looking at Tali again. "We stop and pet dogs every day, she likes them, but has never been interested in having one." He chuckled. "Show her one snake and she wants one." He glanced at Gibbs. "Leave it to my little girl to like all the creepy crawly things."
"At least she will be able to kill the big bad spiders for you."
"Oh no. We have to catch them and put them outside."
Again Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle.
"I have to put a cup over it, slid a piece of paper under it and take it outside so she can set it free." Tony sighed. "She even likes bugs." He shook his head. "She already seems to understand this circle of life. She saves a worm from drowning in a puddle of water put them happily give it to a bird that lands nearby." He turned and looked at Gibbs. "I don't think I understood any of that until I was at least seven or eight. And that was only because I saw the neighbor cat catch a baby rabbit." He groaned. "I'm going to have to hire someone to help her with her homework when she reaches second grade because she's probably already be smarter than me." Tony sighed. "Sometimes I think she's already smarter than me."
"Believe me it only gets worse." Gibbs watched as Tali ran to the other side of the room and watched more sea life swim by. "When Kelly started first grade it was like this whole world of knowledge opened to her and she just couldn't get enough." He remembered every moment of it. "She would bring these books home, books that had more pictures than words and she'd just read them over and over and then have all these questions." He paused a moment. "Shannon and I would just grab the encyclopedia and read to her from it." Gibbs smirked at Tony. "This was before you could Google everything."
Tony laughed yet again surprised by Gibbs being so open and sharing a story about Kelly.
"You underestimate yourself. You always have." Gibbs glanced at Tony. "That wonder and curiosity she has is because you let her believe in the wonder around her. Letting her ask explore and ask questions, allowing her to discover what interests her and what doesn't will shape the person she becomes." He sighed. "And she's an amazing little girl already, so don't be so hard on yourself."
Tali ran over. "Come look at all the fish." She grabbed each of them by the hand and pulled them further down the exhibit and to the far left wall.
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Tony glanced in the back seat and chuckled. Tali had been talking and talking as they left the zoo, until suddenly about five minutes ago it went silent. She'd fallen asleep her mouth still open and EG her alligator hugged tightly against her.
"She definitely gets that from you." Gibbs chuckled.
"Yes she does. She can sleep anywhere, for that I am eternally grateful." Tony put his head back. "That was fun."
"Good, I'm glad." Gibbs pulled into his driveway and parked.
Getting out and opening the backdoor of the truck, Tony undid the car seat belt and gently scooped Tali into his arms. They made there was into the house as Gibbs held the door open.
"You can put her in the spare room."
"Thanks."
Making his way into the kitchen Gibbs started coffee.
"She'll probably be out for about a half hour or so then she'll be up and ready to go again."
"We can grab some lunch when she's up…if you want to." Gibbs leaned back against the counter in front of the coffee maker.
"That'd be great."
"Wanna wait for coffee or there's beer or water in the fridge."
"I can wait for coffee." Tony walked into the kitchen and mirrored Gibbs' position against the counter across from the older man.
"Tony if you have something to say, just say it." Gibbs knew something had been on Tony's mind, probably since their conversation was cut short earlier.
"That last year before I left I felt like there was this distance between us, like our friendship didn't matter. When I came to say goodbye to you that night that was the first time I felt like you cared, but…it was still hollow in some way." Tony paused. "Now these last few days it's like I have my friend back…and more."
Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat.
Then it just spilled out the question Tony had wanted to ask since earlier this morning. "That last year, was our friendship so distant and strained because of your feelings for me?"
Gibbs stomach knotted and he forced himself not to show the fear that coursed through his veins. Finally he nodded.
"What's changed, why can you suddenly be okay with your feelings and be my friend again?"
Folding his arms across his chest as if it would somehow protect him from the reaction Tony would have to his words, Gibbs took a deep breath. "What changed was not having you in my life for a year. I thought it would be easier with you gone, that I would be able to let it go and move on." He shook his head. "But it wasn't easier and I couldn't let it go and-" He blew out a breath. "And the ache and loss I felt inside refused to let me move on." Having finally admitted it in some way, Gibbs' hands fell from his chest and he grabbed a hold of the counter behind him. "These passed couple days really were about missing my friend."
"And the innuendo, the touches, the jealousy are those you just missing your friend?"
Gibbs grip on the counter tightened. "That was me walking a very fine line with you, one that I apologize for if it made you uncomfortable."
"You're doing a lot of apologizing lately."
"I have a lot to apologize for." Gibbs glanced at the floor then back up at Tony. "I never wanted you to feel like our friendship didn't matter or that I didn't care, but self-preservation set it. I knew you wanted to leave, long before Tali showed up in your life." He paused. "Stepping back, putting some distance between us was the only way I knew to protect myself from the pain of you leaving."
"You should have talked to me."
"Talking was never my strong suit…but I'm working on it." Gibbs grip on the counter loosened slightly as some of the worry and fear drained from his body. "And I promise you I won't ever take our friendship for granted again."
"Even when I'm back in Paris?" Tony watched as Gibbs' Adams apple bobbed up and down.
"No matter how far away you are." Gibbs heard the coffee pot beep that it was done, but he didn't move.
Tony pushed himself off the counter and walked towards Gibbs. Reaching about the man, Tony pulled two mugs down. "You haven't asked when I'm leaving."
"Because I don't wanna know."
Leaning his hip against the counter, Tony sighed. "What if I told you I was leaving tomorrow, that I had no idea when I'd be back? Would you let this conversation end this wa-" The last word was never finished as Gibbs' lips seized Tony's and a hand cupped his cheek. It was more tender than Tony expected, a kiss fueled by fear of loss than by passion. A kiss that said more than all the words they'd just spoken. Tony's hand fell to Gibbs' chest, his palm pressed against it for stability, until the kiss continued and Tony's fingers knotted into Gibbs' shirt.
"Please tell me you wanted me to kiss you." Gibbs sighed breathlessly as their lips parted.
"I wanted you to kiss me."
Gibbs' hand slipped around Tony's waist. "Tell me you want me to kiss you again?"
The wordless answer came as Tony's lips found Gibbs this time fueling a kiss that was filled with passion. The arm around Tony's waist jerked him forward crushing their bodies together. The tip of Tony's tongue licked at Gibbs's lips and they parted allowing Tony to taste the still lingering hint of coffee. The overwhelming power of the kiss made Tony lightheaded and he tried to draw back only to have Gibbs' lips chase his demanding more. It lasted until neither had air left in their lungs and they parted gasping for breath.
"Tony I-"
Patting Gibbs' chest, Tony took a step back. "Hold that thought." Clearing his throat Tony looked towards the opening into the kitchen just as Tali walked in.
"I'm hungry." She said rubbing one eye still looking half asleep.
"Then we better get you some lunch." He grinned as he went over and scooped her up.
Taking a deep breath, Gibbs leaned back against the counter again and ran his hand over his mouth.
Tali smiled over at Gibbs. "Are you hungry too?"
Another deep breath and Gibbs smiled. "Yes I am." His eyes involuntarily leered up and down Tony's body.
"Gibbs!" Tony's eyes went wide in shock, but he bit back a laugh.
Gibbs ran both hands down his face then shook his head. "What do we want to eat?" He asked walking over and smiling at Tali.
"French fries."
"Okay." Gibbs nodded. "French fries it is."
Tony's hand touched Gibbs' arm. "I know we need to talk."
"I've waited over decade for you…I can wait a little longer.
Smiling, Tony's let go of Gibbs. "You're giving a lot away."
"No, just being honest." Gibbs turned his attention back to Tali. "And what do we want with these French fries?"
"Ketchup."
Gibbs and Tony both laughed.
"Okay that was the wrong question." Gibbs momentarily forgetting the logic of a child. He looked at Tony. "What would you like with some fries?"