Chapter 4! Enjoy!
I DO NOT own NCIS or anything related to it, so stop asking! :-D
When Tony arrived at the hospital, he found Arissa sitting in bed, holding her teddy bear as tears rolled down her face.
"Agent Nozzo!" exclaimed a female nurse as she approached Arissa's room. "She woke up looking for you!"
"Actually it's DiNozzo. She keeps dropping the "Di"" replied Tony.
"Yeah well, she started crying when she couldn't find you. We tried calling but there was no answer."
"I was at a crime scene, I didn't hear my phone."
"Why don't you go inside, I'm sure she will be happy to see you."
Tony opened the door to Arissa's room and nearly lost his footing when the three year old jumped out of bed and ran full force at him, hugging his leg tightly.
"You left me, Nozzo!" cried Arissa.
"I had something to do but I'm here now," said Tony as he scooped the little girl up into his arms trying to ease her cries.
"I no like when you leave!" cried Arissa burying her head into Tony's neck.
"I'm sorry."
"I want Daddy?"
"Your daddy will be here soon, okay?"
"Okay. You no leave Arissa, Nozzo!"
"I won't leave you, Arissa."
It was late afternoon noon before Kate returned to NCIS.
"Stevens?" asked Gibbs as Kate sat down at her desk, exhausted.
"Still at Bethesda. His doctor thinks he may have been on a binder so it may be another twenty-four hours before he's cleared to leave. Where's Tony?"
"At the hospital with Arissa."
"That little girl sure has taken a liking to him."
"Yeah, she has."
"I wonder what it is about him she likes."
"What? As oppose to you?"
"I mean, you would think that a little girl would be more drawn to a woman?"
"She was raised by a single father, Kate. She's not use to being around women, and the last woman she was around cut her face with a crack pipe. It's not you. Don't take it personal."
"Why would I take it personal?"
Gibbs just stared at Kate and smiled. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"Back to the hospital, I want Arissa to identify Alli Jennings," said Gibbs as he headed for the elevators.
The car ride was quiet, not that Kate minded. After sitting with Petty Officer Stevens for eight hours she was beyond tired and in need of a nap. Kate did found it kind of strange that Gibbs didn't seem to mind her closing her eyes for a bit during the ride. Usually, if he suspected one of them sleeping in the car he would slam on the brakes giving them a mild case of whiplash. Instead, he drove with a degree of sanity giving Kate a chance to rest. She didn't even notice when they arrived at the hospital.
"Kate, we're here."
Kate yawned and wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Gibbs. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's fine. You need your rest," said Gibbs as he switched the car into park and turned off the engine. He sat silently for a moment. "So exactly how long have you and DiNozzo been breaking Rule 12?"
"What?" she chuckled.
"I'm not stupid, Kate! When did you and DiNozzo start breaking the rules?"
Kate lowered her eye. "It was during the Briggs case."
"The Briggs case, huh? Makes sense."
"What makes sense?"
"Pretty intense case. I can understand why you and DiNozzo would choose that particular time to…"
"Gibbs, it's not what you think…"
"So how far along are you?" asked Gibbs pointing to Kate's midsection.
Kate looked at Gibbs in shock.
"Four months."
Gibbs smiled. "I figured it would happen eventually. Though I always thought I'd be dealing with Tim and Abby in this kind of situation." said Gibbs as he got out of the car followed by Kate.
"Wait? How did you know I'm pregnant?"
"Easy, you're starting to show!" yelled Gibbs as he walked to the hospital entrance.
Kate looked down to her stomach noting the tiny bump that was peeking through her blouse. She pulled her jacket shut before following behind Gibbs.
They looked through the window of Arissa's room to find her and Tony laughing over a tray of Goldfish and apple juice. Tony was playing with two of the fish crackers, making them swim in the air as the little girl looked on laughing. Arissa picked up a cracker mimicking Tony's actions before they both devoured the fish.
"Aren't you a bit old to be playing with your food, DiNozzo?" asked Kate as she entered into the room followed by Gibbs.
"I wasn't playing with my food, Kate! We were acting out the opening scene of "Finding Nemo", isn't that right, Arissa."
Once again the little girl tensed up at the sight of Kate. Gibbs took notice.
"How you doing, Arissa?" asked Gibbs as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I okay," whispered Arissa, keeping an eye on Kate's location the entire time.
"Hey, do you remember what that "mean" lady who hurt you looked like?" asked Gibbs.
"Yes," replied Arissa.
"If you saw her right now, would you know it was her?"
"I tink so."
Gibbs reached into the envelope he was carrying and pulled out a photo.
"I need you to do me a favor," said Gibbs.
"Okay?" replied Arissa.
"I need to tell me if this is the lady you saw yesterday?"
Gibbs laid down the photo revealing the face of Alli Jennings as she laid on the autopsy table. Arissa tiny body froze. Gibbs gently ran his hand over her stitched up eye.
"Don't worry she can't hurt you now. I just need you to tell me if this is her, okay?"
"Yes," replied Arissa coldly. She continued to stare at the body. "What's wrong with her?"
Gibb looked over to Tony and Kate for help. They simply shrugged their shoulders unsure of how to explain the situation to such a young child.
"She's sleeping. Is she the lady who hurt you?" asked Gibbs.
"Yes, that her," replied Arissa
Gibbs scooped up the photo and placed a kiss on top of the little girl's head. "Good girl!"
Just then a tall, brunette entered the room.
"I'm Sharon Lee, with Family and Child Services," said the woman.
"Agents Gibbs, Todd and DiNozzo, NCIS," said Gibbs introducing his team to Sharon.
"I'm sorry, for the delay. Fridays in our department can be pretty hectic. Is this Arissa?"
Arissa slid close to Tony as Sharon approached her.
"Hello, Arissa. My name is Sharon," said Sharon as she reached out her hand for Arissa to shake.
"Nozzo!" whined Arissa as she jumped into Tony's lap, hugging him tightly.
"She's not really fond of women," interjected Kate.
"I've noticed. Can we talk in the hallway?"
Sharon exited the room followed by Kate and Gibb while Tony stayed with Arissa.
"How is she holding up?" asked Sharon.
"Pretty good, for a girl who just experienced abuse at the hands of a junkie. What are you going to do with her?" ask Gibbs.
"Well, seeing as how it's the weekend and our offices are closed, I'll probably have her stay here until Monday morning."
"You are going to leave her here all weekend?" asked Kate.
"She's scared enough from this whole situation, she doesn't need the added stress of spending the weekend alone in the hospital," added Gibbs.
"Do you have a better suggestion?"
Gibbs stared at Sharon for a moment, allowing the wheels in his head to turn. He turned and signaled for Tony throw the window.
"Yeah, Gibbs?" asked Tony as he walked out the room.
"Tony, I want you to take Arissa home with you," said Gibbs.
"What? Boss? No! I can't do that!" replied DiNozzo in shook.
"She likes you, Tony! She feels safe around you. Take her home with you. Let her stay at your place for the weekend."
"What? I can't authorize that. You are not relatives or even guardians for that matter? Besides, who's to say going home with Agent DiNozzo will ease her level of stress? She may not want to go with him," exclaimed Sharon.
"Why don't we ask her?" said Gibbs as he walked back into Arissa's room. "Arissa, you'll be okay going to Nozzo's house for the weekend, right?"
"I go to your house, Nozzo?" said Arissa with excitement.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Gibbs.
"Fine," replied Sharon. "I guess there is not safer place for a child then the home of federal officer, huh? I'll go fill out the paperwork."
Sharon exited the room.
"Are you serious, Gibbs? You're really going to leave a little girl in Tony's care for the entire weekend?" asked Kate shocked by what just happened.
"Nope, I'm leaving her with both of you for the weekend! It'll be good practice for you," replied Gibbs as he exited the room.
Tony looked at Kate.
"You told him?"
"No! He just figured it out! Apparently, I'm starting to show!"
"I didn't want to say anything but…"
Kate gave Tony an evil glare indicating that he should probably shut up.
"What did he say?"
"He wasn't surprised that we broke the rules. He thought McGee and Abby would be the ones in this situation and not us."
"Ha! McGee doesn't have it in him!"
Kate slapped the back of Tony's head.
"I guess we're babysitting," sighed Kate as she looked over to Arissa who sat staring at her from the bed.
Gibbs entered the room carrying a pair of kid-sized scrubs.
"Come on, Arissa! Let's get you changed into some clean clothes," said Gibbs as he approached the little girl. "Tony, Kate, why don't you pull the car around?"
Kate and Tony left leaving Gibbs alone with Arissa.
"Is she going to Nozzo's house?" asked Arissa as she wiggled into the scrub pants.
"Who, Kate? Yeah, she's going with you guys."
"I don't want her to go!"
"Hey, cut Kate a break, okay?" spat Gibbs as he pulled the shirt over the girl's head.
"She mean Gibbs!"
"No, she's not mean! She's really nice, and I think you will like her if you give her a chance. You know it really hurts her feeling that you won't talk to her."
"I hurt her feelings?"
"Yeah. You're the one being mean not Kate."
"I sorry, I hurt her feelings," replied Arissa. She felt bad knowing that she hurt Kate's feeling.
"Try to be nice to her this weekend, okay?"
"Okay."
Gibbs wrapped a blanket tightly around Arissa and prepared to take her out into the cold, winter night.
He placed the little girl in the backseat of Tony's car, latching her into the booster seat the hospital gave them for her. He wrapped the blanket around her, as she leaned her head against the side of the door. He figured it wouldn't be long before she was sound asleep so he wanted to make sure she was comfortable for the nearly hour long ride to Tony's place. Kate had settled into the passenger's seat. The look on her face told him that this may not be an easy ride.
"Boss, are you sure about this?" asked Tony as he closed the truck.
"You'll be fine, DiNozzo," said Gibbs as her watched Kate through the window. "You might want to take the short cuts, Kate doesn't like too well."
"Kate told me that you know about…"
"Yeah, I knew."
"You're not mad?"
Gibbs raised his brows.
"I mean aren't you going to give me a speech about why we have the rules or slap me in the back of the head or something?"
"Is that what you want, DiNozzo?" For me to slap you in the back of the head?"
"No."
Gibbs smiled. "Get them home."
As he drove, Tony's attention shifted between the road, Arissa and Kate. Just as Gibbs predicted, shortly after leaving the hospital, Arissa had drifted off to sleep. The same could not be said for Kate. As they drove down the highway, she became more and more uncomfortable. Her stomach was in knots and she was starting to get a bad headache.
"Just a few more minutes, Kate."
Kate swallowed hard hoping to keep the contents of her stomach down.
"Tell that to my stomach!" groaned Kate.
"Just a few more minutes!" chuckled Tony, as he leaned over to talk to her midsection.
"You won't be laughing when I vomit all over this car."
Kate rolled down the window, trying to find relief from the sudden flash of heat that hit her body.
"Pull over, Tony!"
"What?"
"I said pullover!"
Tony was barely able to stop the car before Kate flung the door open and emptied her stomach onto the side of the road. Tony got out of the car and walked to the trunk pulling out a bottle of water. He walked over to Kate's side, pulling her hair out the way as she continued to vomit. He peeked into the backseat where Arissa sat; eyes wide as Kate throw up. Once she was finished, Tony handed Kate the water allowing her to rinse her mouth and collect herself before he got back in the car.
Tony tried his best to get back to his place as fast as he could. When they pulled into the garage, Arissa had fallen back to sleep but Kate still wasn't feeling well. While Tony got Arissa out of the car, Kate headed up to his apartment. Reaching his apartment with the sleeping child in his arms he knew exactly why Kate had left ahead of him. The light coming from the bathroom and the sounds of Kate's groans said it all.
Tony gently laid Arissa down on the couch then shuffled through the hallway closet to find a blanket to lay over her. He walked into his bedroom, to find Kate lying in bed in her pajamas. Her forehead was covered in sweat as she wrapped herself in the covers. Tony sat down next to her, gently stroking her cheek.
"Baby being fussy?"
"What do you think?" she snapped pulling the covers tighter around her.
Tony left the room going into the kitchen to get Kate some ginger ale, water and crackers. He returned and placed them on the nightstand, pulling a trashcan close to the bed.
"Maybe this will help? Arissa is asleep on the couch. I'm going to jump in the shower."
Kate nodded before rolling over in the bed as Tony went into the bathroom to shower.
It wasn't long before, Kate found herself head first in the trash can. She felt a tiny hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to find Arissa's hazel eyes staring at her.
"Are you sick?"
Kate took a sip of the water as she sat up in bed. While still nauseous she was surprised that the girl was actually talking to her.
"No, I'm not sick."
"Then why you throw up?"
At that moment, Tony emerged in the bedroom wearing his pajamas. He was surprised to see Arissa talking to Kate.
"Nozzo? Is she sick?"
Tony looked at Kate.
"No, Kate's not sick. Not exactly."
"Then why she throw up?"
"Kate has a baby growing inside her tummy and it makes her sick sometimes."
Arissa focused her attention on Kate's stomach looking for any signs of a baby.
"That not nice of the baby! Nozzo, you take care of Kate?"
"I'll try," said Tony as he took the little girl's hand and led her towards the living room. "Why don't we get you back to bed?"
Arissa stopped in her tracks. "I's scared! Can I sleep with you, Nozzo?" asked Arissa as she wrapped herself tightly around Tony's leg.
"That sounds a lot more appealing coming from an older women!"
"Tony?" shouted Kate at his inconsideration for the little girl's presence in the room.
Tony's lack of an answer caused Arissa to turn her attention to Kate.
"Can I sleep with you, Kate?" asked Arissa staring at Kate with her sad, hazel eyes.
Kate was shocked. Just a few hours ago, Arissa was completely afraid of Kate and only wanted to be near Tony. Now, she was asking to sleep near Kate. What changed?
"Sure," said Kate pulling back the covers.
Kate and Tony looked at each other in surprise as Arissa climbed into the middle of the bed nestling in next to Kate, wrapping her tiny arm around her.
"I sorry I make you sad, Kate," yawned Arissa.
"It's okay, Arissa."
Tony turned off the light and climbed under the covers next to Arissa. He had often dreamt of the day he would share his bed with two women but this wasn't exactly what he had hoped for. It didn't take long for Arissa to fall asleep. Kate's stomach bothered her for the next half hour before she was finally able to settle into bed and drift off to sleep. Knowing that the two girls were comfortable, Tony allowed himself to settle into bed and get some much needed sleep.
What do you think? Gibbs knows Kate and Tony's secret, surprised by his reaction? Now, Kate and Tony have to babysit for the weekend, how will this work out? Reviews are welcomed! :-)