Chapter 21
Monday January 1st, 2018
Waldorf, Maryland
Gibbs Residence
10:49 a.m.
"I'll get it Jeth, there is no way this side of heaven I'm going to let you leave me alone in the kitchen with a frying pan again," Jen called as she passed the kitchen on her way to the front door. "May I…" she began, her words trailing off when she realized who was standing on the other side of the door.
"Hi," Nick greeted, Carrie by his side. "May we come in? We kinda need to talk, Jen..."
"We have nothing to talk about, Nick," Jen countered as she heard Jethro walking up behind her.
"Jennifer, who is it?" Jethro asked as he stopped beside her. "Why are you here?" he demanded.
"We're here to speak with, Jen," Carrie answered evenly.
"I know about Nicky," Nick added softly
"I…I don't know what you're talking about," countered Jen before turning to look at Carrie. "Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of my husband."
"We've seen his picture, Jen, it's not just Lindsey saying she saw someone who looked like me with someone who resembled Gina anymore," Nick argued softly, Carrie remaining silent for the moment. "You put my pictures of me at nine next to Nicky and they're identical other than hairstyles..."
"Since for some unknown reason you refuse to let this matter drop, you might as well come in since this is not something that should be discussed on my porch," Jen said as she and Jethro stepped back just enough to let Carrie and Nick into the foyer.
"Can I get either of you some coffee?" Jethro asked as they led Nick and Carrie into the living room.
"Please."
"I'll just have water please," Carrie continued.
Jethro walked out of the living room leaving Jen alone with Nick and Carrie for the short time it took him to gather the coffee supplies, returning with a tray containing two coffees, a cup of hot apple cider, a glass of water and some cream and sugar. He put the tray down on the coffee table before handing Jen her cider and taking a seat beside her, opposite Nick and Carrie.
"Why do you want to know about our son?" demanded Jen.
"Because there is little doubt in my mind that he is mine," Nick countered. "And while I can't say I completely understand why you never said anything or even why Gina never did...and I am upset about not being told...it doesn't change the fact that I have a child I've never known and want to know. And things between the four of us can not be hostile for his sake."
"I've never admitted that he was your son, Nick, and for all intents and purposes, he's not," replied Jen.
"But his blood is mine," Nick countered. "Look, I'm not here to undermine your family, but he's my blood, I want to be part of his life."
"Even if you were his father, Nick and I'm not saying you are, my son knows nothing about you. His father died in a plane crash while serving off the Italian coast and ever since he can remember Jethro's been the only father he's known. Quite frankly Nick, you lost any and all claims to me, my life and my family when you walked out of my hospital room eight years ago and never looked back," Jen argued.
"I had no intention of walking out," he argued with a sigh. "I was coming to talk with you when I saw you with Jethro. It was obvious he cared about you...so I left."
"There was nothing between Jethro and I but friendship at that point, Nick. Gina told me when I woke up that I really had seen you there and that you refused to leave until we talked and yet you see me with another man who was nothing more than a close friend and you turn tail and run? You flew across the country when you heard I was shot determined to talk to me about God only knows what and yet…yet you…"
"Breathe Jennifer," Jethro instructed quietly as he rubbed her back. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere but I need you to breathe for me," he encouraged soothingly.
Jen nodded as she tried to take deep breaths, managing to get her breathing back under some semblance of control. "You had…had the perfect opportunity to talk…talk to me Nick and yet you just up…up and left without a word to anyone after…after telling my sister you weren't… weren't leaving until you talked to me."
"I came because I had to see you, I still cared for you and also felt guilty for the way the others treated you in Vegas. But then I saw you with Jethro, and the love I saw in his eyes...I didn't want to possibly ruin the happiness you had found with him by sticking my two cents in the picture."
"Jennifer, here," Jethro said handing Jen a couple pills and a glass of water that he had gone to fetch shortly after she started having trouble breathing. "Nothing happened between Jennifer and I until almost 9 months after the shooting," he said as Jen took the pills he had given her.
"You alright?" Carrie asked concerned, wondering what the pills she had just taken were.
"I'm fine," replied Jen as her breathing finally seemed to return to normal.
"Jennifer's health is none of your concern," commented Jethro.
"Tell me something Nick, hypothetically speaking, if I had come to you and told you I was pregnant, what would you have done? Would you have given up your life in Vegas and moved out here? Would you have given up everything for a woman you hardly knew, who claimed to be carrying your child and who your friends saw as nothing more than damaged goods?" demanded Jen.
"Yes," he answered simply. "Wait, how did you know Jim called you damaged goods? He didn't do that until you were shot...hasn't since after I told him off..."
"Because he said it to my face, Nick. The last day Gina and I were in Vegas. You think I didn't think of contacting you after I got home, because I did. There were nights I wished I was in your arms again, having you hold me like you did while I was protecting you but I knew that I was not welcome in your life, Nick. Jim's words hit me hard. You think I didn't already believe what he said, that I got my husband killed, because I did, Nick. You started to pull me out of my misery the week we were forced together but then Jim said what he did and it made me believe you were only doing what you did out of pity for me, not because you truly cared about me and I wasn't about to interfere in your life more than I already had," Jen said.
"I'm sorry," Nick whispered. "Jen...you have to understand, I did care for you, more than anyone before. It wasn't just pity or anything like that."
"What was I supposed to think, Nick? I had my past thrown in my face time and time again over that week, a past that was still fresh, a past I was trying to deal with, which I was starting to do with your help but…but your friends made it perfectly clear what they thought of me so it was only natural for me to believe you felt the same way. Then two years later you show up here telling Gina you're not leaving until we talk and deep down I thought…I don't know what I thought but I guess I had hoped that maybe you really did care about me after all but then you just disappeared again and I thought that maybe I had just imagined the whole thing so I moved on with my life. Jethro helped me deal with the loss of my first husband and what had happened to me in Vegas. He helped me live, Nick. He helped me to see I had a family that needed me, children that needed me…that he needed me. You say that you would have left everything for me, but how could I ask that of you."
"You look very happy," Carrie spoke up, nodding towards two pictures on the living room walls; one of Jen and Jethro at their wedding, the other of the two of them with the four children just a year or two before. "It must be stressful; your jobs are demanding and have long hours if they are anything like Nick's. However can you manage to get them to school and home and such?" she asked, geniuine curiosity in her voice, no animosity.
"Gina helps look after our children while we're at work and ever since I became regional director I have more free time to spend with my children and I make sure Jethro doesn't over do it when it comes to working but there are times when we have to work longer than either of us wish, which is when Gina takes the children or my parents come down and look after them. And we are very happy," Jen said.
"What exactly are your intentions Mr. Stokes?" Jethro asked.
"I just want to know my child, Carrie and I aren't here to try and demand custody or anything like that. We just want the chance to get to know my son, spend time with him...be able to know him, and have him know my side of his family, for my family to be able to know him and love him."
"And I told you Nick, he knows nothing about you. To him his biological father was my first husband Michael Garrison but his dad is Jethro, in every way that counts, including legally since Jethro adopted both my children on our wedding day," countered Jen.
"Then perhaps we can find a way to compromise, let us get to know him as an uncle and aunt, and maybe when he's older tell him the truth?" Carrie offered.
"An aunt and uncle that's materialized out of nowhere? My children are not stupid Carrie; there is no way they are going to buy that. With Rick it was different," Jen countered.
"We're friends of Rick's..." Nick pointed out. "We're not just going to be appearing in their lives, I'm hoping that the possibility of a friendship I had with Gina may be able to bloom once more. Especially now that she and Rick are in a relationship."
"I'm not forcing my children to accept anything Nick. Ginny especially is too sensitive for that and she's extremely attached to Jethro. I'm not going to let my children suffer or be hurt simply because you insist on being a part of their lives."
"Ginny?" Nick repeated shocked. "Two?" he continued, completely lost before looking up at the picture on the wall. "Twins?"
"Yes Nick, twins," admitted Jen. "Nicky and Ginny are the oldest, Toby and Patty are their younger brother and sister, again twins. It's not surprising when you think about it, Nick. John, Gina's husband, was my twin brother."
Nick nodded, still surprised at the discovery. Thinking he had a son was one thing, finding out he had a son and a daughter was another. "I'm not asking you to force them into anything Jen, just for the chance."
"I need time to think about it," replied Jen.
"Understandable," Carrie agreed, sharing a glance with her husband to keep him quiet for the moment.
"It's okay, Jennifer, go ahead," Jethro said knowing exactly what his wife was wanting to do at that moment.
Jen nodded before rising from the couch and making her way out of the living room. A few minutes later they heard the front door open and close.
"What?" Nick asked confused.
"She's on her way over to her sister's place," Jethro replied.
Nick nodded in understanding while Carrie took a sip of her water. "May I ask you a question, Mr. Gibbs?" she asked after a few moments.
"Alright," Jethro agreed.
"You tend to come off as rather...controlling and possessive...at least you did last night. Maybe I'm just a bit too cynical from some of my patients and some of the cases Nick deals with...but it could appear that all is not well in your relationship. On the other hand, I know that your wife loves you very much, that much was apparent when we talked in Vegas two months ago, and from what I understand from Nick, Gina is very protective of her sister and could probably get away with murder if anyone was hurting Jen. So that leaves me also thinking there probably isn't anything going on..." she explained carefully.
"Jennifer told me about meeting you in Vegas and she told me what she believed your thoughts were in regards to our relationship last night after we left. There is nothing wrong with our relationship Mrs. Stokes and if you think I would ever dream of hurting my wife or children in any fashion then you're sorely mistaken. There are no secrets between Jennifer and I, so she's told me everything about what happened to her in Vegas when she was there with Gina and Zoey and I saw what those events did to her, physically and emotionally. We were very lucky that she even pulled through after being shot. Her doctors never thought she'd wake up again. Her life since losing Michael was not easy seeing as Michael was her whole world. I've watched her struggle to rebuild her life and been there for her when she's had any kind of setback. I'm very protective of my wife because of what she's been through. Jennifer's health is my top priority and I was not about to let the events of last night lead to her ending up in the hospital and in order to do that I had to remove her from the situation since she'd already taken her medication and she couldn't take more without serious side effects," he explained.
Carrie nodded once more, "Sorry to insinuate then," she apologized softly.
"It's understandable," replied Jethro.
"Why don't we leave for now, and Jen or you can call us when you've had time to think..." Nick offered after a moment.
"That's probably for the best," agreed Jethro as her rose from his spot.
"Do you have a piece of paper or something we can leave our cell numbers with you on?" Carrie continued as Nick gathered his and her coats.
Jethro walked into the kitchen for a moment and returned with a notepad and a pen, handing them to Carrie.
Quickly writing the numbers down, Carrie handed the notepad and pen back to him before slipping into her coat. "Thank you," Nick spoke up softly.
"Don't thank me yet. There's no guarantee either one of us will agree to what you've asked," Jethro replied as he led them to the door, opening it so they could step through.
"But at least you're considering it," Carrie countered before they headed towards their car.
Monday January 1st, 2018
Waldorf, Maryland
Peters Residence
10:51 p.m.
Catherine watched Nick and Carrie get into Jen and Jethro's house before getting out of her car and heading towards Sara's door.
"Catherine?" Sara asked shocked a few minutes later when she opened the door, dressed in her housecoat and clearly just out of bed. "Good God woman, it's the day after New Years Eve and you're knocking on my door before noon?"
"Good morning to you too," she countered with a slight smirk.
"It's not morning until I've had coffee," Sara grumbled. "Can't this wait Cath?"
"No, it can't. I want answers," she countered evenly.
"Haven't we done this before?" Sara asked with a sigh. "Okay, let me take a guess at what this is about, you think that Jen has Nick's son, you refuse to believe that she doesn't, and are here to press your point once more. My answer remains the same."
"I've seen him," Catherine shot back with a smirk. "Pictures on the Former President's website come in quite handy, especially when you can then compare them to pictures of one Nick Stokes at age nine."
Sara frowned before glancing out towards the car Catherine came in to make sure no one else was there. "Fine, come in. I'm not having you going and harassing my sister and brother-in-law this morning." Turning she made her way into the house, heading straight for the kitchen and her coffee pot.
"So, I'm assuming you've known all these years that your nephew is Nick's son…" Catherine challenged after she joined Sara in the kitchen.
Glancing up from the Starbucks coffee Sara rolled her eyes. "I have known about my nephew since the day Jen found out she was pregnant. But my nephew's father is my late brother-in-law, and his adopted father is my current brother-in-law…"
"Bull shit!"
"What the hell do you want from me Catherine?" Sara demanded, spinning around to look at the other woman. "If, and I am saying this only as an if, my nephew is Nick's child then that is Nick's problem, not yours. Whatever happened between Nick and Jen is their business…"
"But you should have said something. You should have told Nick! Especially when he was here," Catherine shot back.
"What was I suppose to do? At the time my sister was dying as far as any of us knew…"
"Even better reason to tell him he has a child, a child who was losing his mother."
"Catherine, back off alright? I was facing the death of my sister, and trying to arrange for custody of my nephew to be placed in my hands officially as her will specified. My nephew who's legal father at the time was the same man on his birth certificate, the same man who was married to his mother for twenty years before his death. Even if Nick was my nephew's father, he would have had no legal say in my nephew's life or future. And what court would have ordered a DNA test with the child having a father on the birth certificate and the mother having already established who the child should be left to in her will, a family member who is very well established in their own life."
"So, your reason for not saying anything is because you were what? Protecting him from the heartache at learning he had a child but had no legal rights to the child? That's ridiculous."
"Until you've been in anyone's shoes in that situation you can't judge!" Sara snapped, smacking her hands against the tabletop in her anger.
"Enough!" Warrick growled from the doorway to the hallway, "Catherine you heard Gina, this is a matter between Nick and Jen whether or not Nicky is his son. Leave Gina alone, walk away now. I'm not going to stand here and watch you harass her."
"Nice to see where your loyalty lies Rick," Catherine rolled her eyes before turning to move past him and leave the house. "Oh, and don't think any of us haven't figured out you've known about Nicky for a while, we may not know how long exactly but we do know you have known."
"Catherine…" he warned low in his throat and she shrugged before heading towards the front door, only to shriek lightly when something snagged her pants leg, looking down she saw Fawkes holding on to her leg.
"Fawkes, let her go," Sara called softly and after a moment the bird did as told. With a huff Catherine stomped out of the house. "You don't have to protect me you know…"
"Who? Me or the bird?" Warrick countered softly, walking over to pull her into a hug.
"Both," she chuckled softly, looking up when she heard the familiar sounds of little claws on the linoleum. "And I thought the bird was bad in Europe during those years…"
"Fawkes protects you, you should be used to it by now considering he's already twelve and counting. If not you better get used to it since he's got another seventy or so years to live."
"Yeah, I know," she smiled softly before they heard a knock at the door, then the door opened and Jen entered the kitchen a few moments later.
"Sis?" Sara asked surprise.
"Girl, what are you doing here?" Warrick continued.
"I needed someone to talk to," Jen said as she leant against the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Sara asked concerned
"Jethro and I just got ambushed," Jen replied.
"How? Catherine didn't have time to get to you..." Sara frowned.
"It wasn't Catherine," Jen said rubbing her face tiredly.
"Who?" Warrick continued.
"Nick and Carrie. They showed up unannounced on our door this morning while Jethro was preparing breakfast, which we never did get to eat," Jen answered.
"Coffee?" Sara offered, "Since you didn't get breakfast."
"Would love some."
Sara nodded and set about to making the coffee, knowing it was bad if her sister was saying yes to coffee in the first place. While she was at it she grabbed the coffee cake from the counter and put it on the table. Settling into her seat she took a sip of coffee before looking up at Jen, waiting.
"I don't know what to do, Gina," Jen said, taking a sip of her coffee.
"What exactly happened, Sis..."
"Nick and Carrie showed up this morning, wanting to talk about Nicky, saying they knew he was Nick's son. They had compared a picture of Nicky with one of Nick at the same age," Jen said quietly.
"I'm going to kill that blonde," Sara muttered under her breath. "What do they want?" she continued aloud as Warrick grabbed her hand under the table, she mentally smiled, wondering if he was holding on to her to keep her from going after Catherine.
"They want to spend time with him, get to know him, at least as an aunt and uncle if not as his father, but I don't know if I can do that, Gina. I don't know if I can let my children spend time with them," Jen said, her voice cracking.
"Sweetheart," Sara sighed softly, reaching over to take her hand across the table. "Sis...part of me is saying you don't have to...you know that. But the other part is saying that we may not get a choice in the matter, Catherine has her mind set on the truth coming out. She sees a wrong that is wrong in her mind and sets out to make it right…even if it isn't necessarily wrong. I'm worried that if we don't give it a shot...she'll find a way to go behind all of our backs and tell the kids. They're not going to take that well, you know it and so do I. Maybe there's another option..."
"Another option?" asked Jen curiously.
"Why don't we start with the kids simply knowing them as Warrick's friends? Don't even try the 'aunt and uncle' names you know. They're friends from Vegas who came to visit. If you think you can handle it, I can do a party or something here to make up for the messed up party last night before they all head back but make it clear that the only way they are getting past my doorstep without the cops being called to escort them off the property is if they abide by set rules. Wonder if Cath would even figure out the rules are basically for her..." she trailed off with a small smile.
"As long as none of them are alone in a room with my children, either you, Warrick, me or Jethro has to be in the room with the kids at all times. I don't want anything to happen to my children to make this harder on them then it needs to be. I don't want Catherine to screw up my life any more than she already has. If it wasn't for her and Jim I wouldn't be in this bloody mess in the first place," Jen said.
"I know sis, I know," Sara whispered. "And you know how my kids are, they don't leave yours alone at all. I doubt Cath would try anything with my kids there...and I can tell Sha to keep Fawkes with her, Cath won't try anything then either. Fawkes went after her today...we'll have the whole family...I doubt Cath would try anything with everyone here."
"We wont leave them alone though, Jen," Warrick added with a slight smile.
"Make sure that everyone includes my parents. Heck include Jed and Abbey as well, once they know the situation there is no way Jed will let anything happen to his surrogate grandchildren," Jen added. "Thanks Rick."
"Already planned to have them come," Sara smiled. "And I'll get Zoey, Charlie and the kids, Ellie, Vic and the kids...heck I'll even try to see if we can convince Annie and Rick to bring the kids up and Liz to come down and drag Gus and Daria here..."
"Something tells me she'd get every former member of the West Wing who can come here and the President if it would make a difference," Warrick chuckled.
"Don't tempt me."
"Or me, cause the way I feel right now I'm tempted to call Pete and see which of our old teammates he could spare for the day," Jen said.
"Why not, we haven't had the gang over for a while," Sara shrugged.
"I wonder if Tobias would be interested in coming," mused Jen. "Then we'd have a former President and family, the current President and family, the Secret Service, NCIS and the FBI present."
"Leave it to me, Sis, I'll get a houseful," Sara promised. "Hell, I'll have Tony call that lawyer they work with from JAG every now and again and see if he wants to bring his family to a party, sure he doesn't know us but what the hell, right?"
"I just want my children safe, Gina. If I'd had my way…God, when did everything go so wrong? Why can't God just let me be happy in my life? I have a loving husband and four great kids. Why is he doing this to me?"
"Sis...we both know God doesn't dictate everything in our lives. Free will remember? Catherine's just using her's to make our lives hell," Sara sighed. "Damn gift of free will, I'm so giving God a talking to when I get to heaven. After I see my sister, brother, John, Michael, and Mikey first. That way if he decides to kick me out for telling him off...I'm covered," she smirked lightly.
"I just wish it didn't hurt so much…seeing Nick, that is," Jen sighed quietly.
"Oh Sweetheart," Sara sighed. "You want I can make a call...he can visit the fishes..." she winked.
"Should I know something about your acquaintances?" Warrick raised one eyebrow.
"What? I know interesting people..." Sara smiled.
"Remind me to never make her angry, Jen."
"Deal," replied Jen. "I should probably go rescue my husband if he hasn't already gotten rid of Nick and Carrie."
"Okay, lunch at Red Hot and Blue? My treat?" Sara asked with a smile. "Before we go rescue Mom and Dad from the kids?"
"Sounds good, especially since Jeth and I didn't get breakfast. See you in about an hour?" Jen asked as she stood up.
"Sounds great," Sara agreed. "I so need their blackberry cobbler."
"And to be treated like royalty by our traditional waiter," Warrick teased.
"I can't help it the man has been serving Jen and I since I moved to Waldorf, and he knows us better than we know ourselves..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I swear I should be jealous or something," Warrick countered as Jen made her way towards the door, chuckling at the two.
Saturday January 6th, 2018
Waldorf, Maryland
Peters Residence
10:45 p.m.
"I ever suggest having a party again and manage to invite every member of the Bartlet Clan, the Peters Clan, NCIS Clan, and the former employees of the West Wing...kill me," Sara groaned as she collapsed on her couch. "God, I hurt in places that haven't hurt since I went through twenty-eight hours of active labor."
"Poor Gina," Jen laughed from her spot next to Jethro on the opposite couch.
"Oh, and next time I hear Alicia talk of any more babies...I'm telling her to go through twenty-eight hours of labor then speak to me," Sara chuckled.
"At least you only went through it once," countered Jen.
"So true," Sara chuckled once more. "I think things went well though..." she mused thinking over the night. She had, God only knew how, managed to get every member of their extended family down there. When Abbey found out what was going on she ordered her daughters and family back that weekend. And then she made calls to everyone who used to work in the West Wing...it was just downright scary what the woman was able to accomplish.
"I can't believe you pulled it off and everyone managed not to kill each other," Jen laughed. "Although, I think Abbey had to stop Jed a few times from going after a few of the people from Vegas."
"You and me both," Warrick agreed as he sat down next to Sara.
"You think having the entire former West Wing here made an impact on them? I mean for them to hear us talk about it is one thing, to come face to face with the reality of it is something completely different," Jen said.
"I think we just managed to completely terrify the scientists of CSI...and one former dectective..." Sara trailed off with a frown, sure they knew Jim would be there but seeing him was a whole other matter.
"Where did you and Detective Brass disappear to Jeth?" asked Jen as she remembered seeing her husband disappear with Jim for a short while not that long after the crew of Vegas had arrived, Jim quite a bit paler upon his return.
"Very good question," Sara agreed. "Do tell, my dear brother-in-law."
"I had a few things that the esteemed Detective Brass needed to hear and didn't want it interrupting the party," Jethro said with a shrug. "Something about damaged goods, I believe."
"Good man," Warrick smirked. "He needed a second kick in the butt."
"Believe me, this conversation was well over do," Jethro said.
"Hear, hear," Sara agreed, raising her cup of water in a toast.
"Think Catherine learned not to mess with us?" wondered Jen.
"I would hope so," Sara shrugged. "But she is stubborn as hell, so..."
"I don't think the kids were too impressed at any rate. Ginny reacted exactly how I expected her too never leaving mine or Jeth's side all night," Jen commented.
"Was the first meeting, she didn't know a lot of the people there...kinda to be expected, Sis," Sara countered softly.
"I don't think Nick enjoyed the fact that his kids would barely even acknowledge he was in the room besides the initial greeting and I could see it in his eyes that he was not impressed when Nicky greeted him by calling him Sir," Jen observed.
"Surprising considering he is a Texas boy...he calls everyone Sir or Ma'am...but had to love it when Nicky saluted Jed...and Jed asked him how long it would be until he could attend the Academy," Sara smirked.
"I don't think Nick or Carrie are too thrilled with the idea that Nick's son wants to follow his dad," Jen nudged Jethro, "into the Marines, even though he wants to be an officer like his mother and father."
"You and me both," Sara chuckled. "Well, I think it was more Nick than Carrie..."
"I know but they both know I lost my first husband because he was a navy officer, Jeth is a former marine, and I'm still an officer in the Navy and I nearly lost my life protecting the Vice President. I think they see it as being more dangerous than it really is," Jen said.
"Girl...it's dangerous as hell being in the military, you know that. But we don't do it for the danger we do it to protect our country and the rights of every citizen...even those who don't like us," Sara smiled softly. "And they'll get over it."
"They better because there's nothing they can do about it, hell, there isn't anything Jeth and I could do about it if we disapproved. Nicky's had his mind made up since he could talk," Jen pointed out. "And I think Toby may be leaning the same way."
"I know he is," Warrick smirked.
"Excuse me?" asked Jen in shock.
"Girl, your sons walk around like little miniature General Patton's and Admiral John Paul Jones'. If they don't join the military, who will?"
"Very true," Jen laughed as Jethro chuckled next to her. "At least my girls aren't leaning that way."
"Thank God," Sara giggled. "It's going to be quiet enough around here with the two boys gone most of the year once Toby's old enough to go too."
"I somehow see Patty doing something acting wise, she's the little actress of the group, always putting on plays and acting out her favorite movies while Ginny I see doing something creative, I just don't know what," Jen said.
"True...they're yours though...they've got endless possibilities," Sara smiled. "Mine have their hearts set on CSI, a skater and Johnny wants to follow his dad...except he's the odd one, not going to military school."
"Sounds just like his father," Jen laughed.
"John always did things to his own tune," Sara smiled softly.
"That he did," Jen said, trying to hold back her yawn.
"Okay, I vote we all crash..." Sara sighed, letting her head fall back against the top of the couch. "You know this thing is looking rather nice to sleep on..."
"As comfortable as these couches are, Gina, I don't think any of us will appreciate them come morning if we all sleep on them so I think I'll take Jennifer home," Jethro said as he helped Jen to her feet.
"You do remember there's a complete bedroom downstairs don't you?" Sara teased. "Your kids are out cold upstairs... if you don't feel like walking..." she shrugged. "Either way I'm taking my butt upstairs..."
"Downstairs works," commented Jen as she leant against Jethro for support.
"The woman has spoken," Jethro teased. "Come on Jennifer," he said as he led her from the room and down to the basement.
"You know, that apartment comes in so handy," Sara chuckled as Warrick helped her to her feet and led her towards the stairs.
"I know, and the bed is quite comfortable. Crashed on it enough times before you officially told the kids," he teased.
"Watch it; you'll end up on the couch since the bed is taken...I doubt my sister and Jeth would want to share."
"Evil woman," Warrick muttered before pushing her slightly towards the bedroom door. "I'll steal the covers if you keep it up."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me," he smirked before shutting the door behind them.
Friday April 19th, 2024
NCIS Headquarters
4:36 p.m.
"I can't believe you did that Tony," Ziva said as she walked through the door Tony had opened for her.
"I can't believe Jethro let him get away with it," countered Jen with a laugh as Jethro opened the door for her.
"Who said I let him get away with it?" asked Jethro as he followed Jen out of the building, along with Tony, catching something out of the corner of his eye. "Jennifer get down!"
"Did you hear that?" Warrick frowned, looking up from the computer, he and Abby were in the squad room with Tim, going over lab results and looking at their suspect's picture
"Gunfire?" Abby frowned. "Oh crap...they just left."
Warrick looked at her then Tim before turning and running towards the stairs, the elevator going to take too long. Abby and Tim arrived just as he reached the lobby though and they reached the doors at the same time. "Shit," he whispered. "Abbs call 9-1-1. Tim...see if you can see any sign of the shooter, if he's still out there or if we can get to them..." he ordered lightly, already reaching for his cell phone. Hitting the speed dial he waited for her to pick up. "Gina..."
Friday December 20th, 2024
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Naval Hospital
11:49 p.m.
Seven hours after Sara got the call, she was sitting in Bethesda Naval Hospital once more in her life, her feet pulled up on the chair next to her as she leaned back against the corner of the wall. Around the room was the rest of the 'family', waiting for news...anything...
Immediately after Warrick told her there had been a shooting, she had called Kevin and Pat, and they said they'd pick the boys up from Fork Union Military Academy where sixteen-year-old Nicky and twelve year old Toby went to school nine months of the year. She had then called Jed and Abbey, and they said they'd tell Zoey and Charlie, while she called Alicia and asked her to get the girls there. Jackie and Shanti were still on permits and couldn't drive on their own, and Sara needed to get there A.S.A.P. but the girls were at the library doing research for school.
By the time she arrived, Warrick was there, as was Abby and Ducky. Tim was leading the hunt for the shooter. And Jen, Jethro, Tony and Ziva were already in surgery...they had yet to see anyone in all the hours they had been there. Alicia, Thomas and the girls arrived; Kevin, Pat and the boys...Abbey, Jed, Zoey, Charlie and their two had arrived as well.
Glancing around once more she saw all of the kids out cold for the moment, though she knew it wasn't a deep sleep. Jed as well had nodded off, Abbey sitting with her head on his shoulder. Zoey had crashed, her head in Charlie's lap while he dozed lightly, his head tipped back towards the ceiling. Abby was pacing then sitting down, only to stand and pace once more. Tim who had arrived an hour earlier, Fornell having taken over the manhunt sent him there, had long since given up trying to get her to stop.
Ducky meanwhile was across the room, what looked to be like he was counting the tiles in the ceiling since no one was really awake he could ramble to. And on the chair next to her feet was Warrick, also managing to doze lightly. Turning her attention towards the clock she sighed once more. Two hours after the shooting, when Kevin and Pat had arrived with the boys, they had a message from Vegas. The shooting had of course made the news...and Nick and Carrie were on their way out to be with the family, whatever the outcome. Not to try and do anything, simply to be there to support Sara, Warrick and the others in any way they could. And they would be landing in an hour, hour and a half at most...
Sighing, Sara let her head fall back to rest against the wall and stared at the ceiling for twenty minutes before the door finally opened to reveal not one, but four doctors. Three men she didn't recognize, and one woman she did. "Dr. Gayle?" she asked as she stood.
"Mrs. Peters," Dr. Gayle smiled slightly. "We really need to stop meeting like this..."
"After sixteen years...yeah," Sara sighed.
Dr. Gayle nodded, "These are my colleagues, Dr. Montgomery, Dr. Rizvi, and Dr. Dvorszak."
"Hello," Sara nodded glancing at the three. "What's going on?" she asked softly while Ducky made his way over to join them, Abbey following suit. Noticing the others were somehow still asleep, the seven made their way over to the far corner of the room.
"Okay, Dr. Rizvi and I are in charge of Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. Gibbs respectively. We both know that you are the contact on their files..." Dr. Gayle began.
"The contact for Mr. DiNozzo and Ms. David is a Dr. Mallard..." Dr. Montgomery spoke up.
"Present," Ducky replied.
"Alright," Dr. Gayle nodded. "Of the four, Ms. David was in the better condition when she came in..." she continued before Dr. Dvorzsak stepped forward.
"We patched up her left arm which was hit with a through and through, and got the bleeding under control from the shot that grazed her head, fortunately it didn't need any stitches. We were also able to remove the bullet from her left leg, and right now she is in stable condition though we are keeping an eye on her. She lost a great deal of blood by the time she got here. If all goes well, she should be able to leave ICU tomorrow or the next day at the latest."
"We were able to extract the bullet from Mr. DiNozzo's chest, fortunatly it was two centimeters to the left of his heart. He does have a collapsed lung from the second bullet that hit and passed through his chest, but we have him on a ventilator. As for the shoulder wound, we were able to extract and repair much of the damage from the bullet, he is still in serious condition but we have high hopes," Dr. Montgomery explained.
"What about Jen and Jeth?" Sara asked softly.
"Mrs. Gibbs was in critical condition when she came in, she had one bullet in the chest, another in the abdomen and a third just managed to bounce off her skull. She has a collapsed lung and extensive internal bleeding that we were able to get under control," Dr. Gayle explained softly, and both Ducky and Abbey reached out to hold Sara's arms and keep her from collapsing. "She's still in critical condition...the next forty-eight hours will tell us if we were able to completely stop the bleeding, at the moment she is unconscious, whether it's from the medication or her injuries we won't know until tomorrow."
Sara took a moment to process that before looking towards the last doctor. "And Jethro?"
"Mr. Gibbs took the worst of the attack," Dr. Rizvi began sadly. "He was shot a total of five times, one in his left thigh, one that shattered his ankle. The other three hit him in the back, one that shattered the ribs on his right side, and his right lung collapsed. The fourth bullet lodged near his heart and we were able to extract it. The final bullet is the one that gives me the most concern; it is lodged near his spine next to the T-11 and T-12 Vertebrae in the Thoracic region."
"Dear God," Abbey whispered.
"Paralysis?" Sara asked.
"That's what I'm worried about Mrs. Peters...at the moment he's still unconscious like his wife, we're also not sure if it's due to the medication or his injuries. If he does wake up...there is a possibility he will be paralyzed. That particular region, the most common prognosis is that he may be a paraplegic," he continued softly.
Sara closed her eyes and swallowed back the fear for the moment. Opening her eyes she nodded slowly. "What do we do now?"
"We wait I'm afraid... we're doing everything we can but it's in their hands and God's now," Dr. Gayle answered softly. "I'd suggest sending some of your family home or perhaps to a local hotel so you can get some real sleep. We'll notify you if anything changes immediately."
"Thank you," Abbey spoke up for the three of them before the doctors nodded and left.
"I think I need to sit down," Sara began before her legs gave out and they managed to get her to the floor without dropping her. "Jesus Christ...what am I going to tell the kids," she whispered, looking up at the two.
Wednesday April 24th, 2024
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Naval Hospital
4:23 p.m.
It took Jen five days to wake up, by then Ziva and Tony had both been moved out of ICU and were in a room together, Tony driving them all insane being confined to a bed. They had caught the shooter on the third day, and Fornell had joined the rest of them in waiting whenever he wasn't at work. Jethro had shown no signs of waking so far, and they feared he was in a coma but were still holding out hope…
Sara had been the mean Aunt and mother and sent the girls and Johnny back to school, Kevin and Pat kept Toby and Nicky busy during the day. They didn't want the kids to just sit around all day at the hospital. The others had returned to life as well, only Sara, Nick and Carrie remained at the hospital during the day and night.
When Jen finally woke up, Sara was by her side, and had the heartbreaking job of telling her Jethro's condition…and the possible prognosis. Sara eventually left her sister's side, to get Ginny and Nicky who Jen had asked to see. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something was just…off with Jen. But she didn't push, instead she went and got her niece and nephew, leaving them to go in and see their mom on their own while she went to see what the latest on Jethro was.
"Mom?" Ginny called quietly as she and Nicky sat down next to Jen's bed, taking her mother's hand in hers.
"I'm here honey," Jen replied, her voice hoarse and quiet as she opened her eyes.
"Aunt Gina said you wanted to see us?" Ginny said.
"I do. There's something I need to tell you, tell the both of you," Jen said. "It's about your father."
"Oh no, Dad's not…" Ginny trailed off, panic in her voice.
"No honey, it's not Dad. His condition hasn't changed any from what Gina's told me," Jen reassured. "Honey, you and Nicky know that Jethro adopted the both of you when you were four."
"Of course," agreed Ginny.
"It's not Jethro I'm referring to. Jethro's your dad, the man who raised you. I'm referring to your father, the man who gave you life," Jen said by way of explanation. "God, how do I say this…"
"Just say it, Mom. Just tell us what you wanted to tell us," Ginny said.
"The man who fathered you…he's alive," Jen said as tears starting falling silently down her cheek.
"But you said that your first husband Michael Garrison was our father," Ginny said. "You said he died in a plane crash in Italy."
"I know and Michael did die in a plane crash off the Italian coast…" Jen trailed off. "But he was never your father."
"Then who?" asked Ginny in confusion.
"What does it matter Ginny, she's lied to us for years. How do we know we can trust her to tell us the truth now?" snapped Nicky angrily.
"Nicky," Ginny hissed in annoyance before turning back to face her mother. "Mom, do you know who fathered us?"
"I do," Jen said, a sob catching in her voice.
"Who is it?" asked Ginny quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Nick," Jen said.
"Mr. Stokes?" asked Ginny in confusion.
"Yes."
"Does he know?" wondered Ginny.
"He does," Jen replied. "He's known since you were ten. He found out that Christmas they came by after Rick moved here to be with your aunt. He hasn't approached either of you about it because he didn't want to disrupt your lives. He knows that Jethro is your dad and that you're very close to him and he didn't want to come between that."
"Oh," Ginny said. "Did you always know he was our father?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Ginny, no recrimination in her voice, just curiosity.
"I was afraid," Jen admitted. "When I met Nick I was still grieving for husband, Mike. I was a mess. Nick and I were together that way only once and I thought to never see him again until I ended up protecting him for a week while we were in Vegas with Zoey and Charlie. It wasn't until months after I returned home that I learned I was expecting the two of you. I hardly knew Nick and I wasn't about to ask him to give up his life in Vegas for a woman he barely knew who was now carrying his children. I did what I thought was best at the time and named Michael as your birth father and then when Jethro and I married, I could finally give you what you needed. A father. Jethro loves you like you were his own…"
"But we're not," snapped Nicky. "I can't believe you've lied to us our entire lives. Did you really think I wouldn't notice the odd resemblance between us?"
"Nicky, you were never supposed to know, let alone meet each other," countered Jen.
"Then why are you telling us this now?" he demanded.
"Because…because if something happens to your dad and I, I wanted you to know that you had family out there you could turn to other than just your aunt Gina and uncle Rick. Nick and Caroline will do anything they can to help you, both of you. I'm not saying you have to have any kind of relationship with them. If you don't want anything to do with them that's your choice and they know that."
"I hate you," Nicky snarled as he jumped to his feet. "I hate you and I hope you die," he said as he ran from the room.
"NICKY!" Ginny cried out after him before chasing after her brother, only to crash into Nick and Caroline in the hall. "Oh excuse me," she said.
"Is everything alright, Ginny?" Nick asked in concern having seen his son tear past them and then to have his daughter crash into them as she chased after her brother.
"No, it's not," Ginny said. "Mom just told us about you Mr. Stokes and Nicky didn't take it too well. I'm afraid he said some things he may regret if Mom…his words hurt her Mr. Stokes, they hurt her badly."
"Go after your brother, Ginny, we'll look after your mom," Nick said.
"Thank you," Ginny said before running after her brother. By the time she caught up with him, she didn't have time to call out a warning before he ran smack into Sara, who nearly ended up on the floor from the force of it.
"Whoa, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Sara asked with a frown once she was steady. "Nicky? Ginny? What's wrong?" she asked concerned when she got a good look at them.
"Nicky, how could you? How could you say something like that to her?" Ginny demanded.
"Because she deserved it," Nicky snapped back.
"Nicky, she could die. Do you really want her to die believing you hate her?" asked Ginny in concern.
"Okay, back up the argument here," Sara ordered lightly. "What is going on? Why did you tell your mom that you hate her?"
"Mom told us the truth about who our biological father is and Nicky told her that he hates her and that he hopes that she dies," Ginny said, ignoring the death glare her brother was sending her.
"Well, that happened a bit earlier than planned..." Sara sighed, "Nicky, Baby, I know you're angry but Gin's got a point, do you really want to risk your mom dying believing you hate her?"
"You knew?" he demanded.
"Honey...I was there in Vegas..." Sara answered softly, mentally kicking herself for opening her mouth.
"I can't believe this," Nicky said. "I hate all of you!" he cried before turning and running off.
"That so didn't go well," Sara sighed. "Come here Gin, let him go...I'll send your Uncle Warrick after him in a few minutes, okay?"
Ginny nodded; finally letting her tears come as she stepped into Sara's arms.
"Shh, it's going to be alright, Sweetheart," Sara whispered as she brushed a hand through Ginny's hair.
"Code Blue, Code Blue, Room 4789!" came over the loudspeaker a moment later, causing both Sara and Ginny to look up.
"Oh God," Sara whispered.
"No!" Ginny cried in anguish as her knees started giving out on her.