Chapter Fifteen: Face to Face

Gibbs and Jack wandered around the park, each of them holding onto one of the kids' hands as they searched for a clean picnic table. Tony followed along holding Dash's leash in one hand and the picnic basket in the other, scanning the area for anything suspicious. They'd learned that too much time cooped up in the house wasn't good for anyone so they decided to take advantage of the beautiful, sunny day and go out on a picnic.

"This one looks good," Jack said. "It's out in the sun, no bird poop and it's close to the field so the kids can play."

Gibbs and Tony agreed and they got settled. Gibbs spread out the plastic tablecloth while Tony poked straws into Capri-suns and Jack pulled out the homemade chicken nuggets he'd made just before they left. The bag of cheese puffs was opened and a bowl of berries strategically placed in the middle of the table where everyone could reach.

"I wish LJ was here," Tony said, and immediately regretted it. He looked at Gibbs apologetically but Gibbs just nodded in agreement.

"Me too."

"I think we all do," Jack said. "We just have to keep believing he'll come home to us."

"I'm about ready to go get him myself," Tony grumbled. "A month! What the hell has Fornell been doing for a month?"

"You're a chip off the old block, Son," Jack said, "but I'm gonna tell you what I keep telling Leroy. Neither of you are going anywhere."

"For now," Gibbs said, sharing a sideways glance with Tony.

"I'll give him another week," Tony said. "I feel like that's more than generous."

"Gampa, ch'k'n," Mason said, pointing at the Tupperware dish full of chicken nuggets. He could smell them and they were making his tummy rumble!

"As Mason has pointed out, it's time to eat," Jack said, passing out chicken nuggets to both kids. "Let's try to have a good time and save the plotting for later."

The conversation turned happier and the group enjoyed their lunch. As the little ones learned more words, they joined in more and more, sometimes dominating the conversation while the adults sat back and listened with smiles on their faces. When what was left of the food was packed away, they walked around the trail and looked at the buds on the trees and bushes and enjoyed the new life spring brought. The day really was perfect—except for their missing family member.

They'd just arrived back at the picnic area when Gibbs' cell phone started ringing. "It's Fornell," he said. "Go ahead and take the kids over to the playground. I'll be there in a minute."

"Tell him he's got one week before NCIS comes in and gets the job done," Tony said.

Jack slapped the back of his head getting a smile out of Gibbs as he put the phone to his ear.

"Tobias, tell me you have news," Gibbs said.

There was a brief pause and some whispering on the other end of the phone before Gibbs got a response.

"Daddy."

The agent's mouth dropped open in shock as he tried to form a sentence. "LJ?"

"Daddy!"

"Hi buddy! How are you?"

"Me okay. Wan go home."

"I'm gonna get you home as soon as I can, buddy. I've missed you so, so much."

"Miss you."

"Jethro," Fornell said, his smile obvious in his voice.

"Tobias, where'd you find him?"

"Me wis Bwake," LJ answered. Fornell obviously had the phone on speaker.

"He's been in Oklahoma. He and Lisa have been staying with a rancher."

"Is he okay? Healthy? Happy?"

"He's doing great," Fornell answered. "He's well fed, clean, in good spirits. He's doin' a little dance right now listening to your voice. The cowboy says he's been crying for you ever since he found 'em on the side of the road."

"Why didn't he get him back to me?" Gibbs asked. He was too happy to sound upset but he did wonder.

"Apparently Lisa weaved quite the tale," Fornell answered. "She painted you as an abusive boyfriend and conned Blake, the cowboy, into taking them in."

"Me fee a chickies!" LJ announced proudly.

"You did?" Gibbs asked. "We're you a good helper?"

LJ looked up at Blake who smiled and nodded at him. "Bwake say yes."

"I'm sure you were, buddy," Gibbs said.

"I hate to make you guys say goodbye, but I need to talk to Daddy in private," Fornell told LJ. "Can you hang out with Blake for a minute?"

"No! Daddy!" LJ said, the tears already forming in his eyes.

"It's alright, big guy," Blake said. "You're gonna get to see Daddy tonight. I saw a vending machine in the hall. Let's go check it out."

"I love you, LJ," Gibbs said.

"Luv you, Daddy," LJ said before Blake carried him away.

Fornell clicked his phone off speaker and brought it to his ear. "Jethro."

"Is he really okay, Tobias?" Gibbs asked.

"He is," Fornell answered. "I'll fill you in on everything when we get back."

"Did you get Lisa?"

"Yeah, McGee and Sacks are escorting her back. Listen, Jethro, I've got an unusual request I need to run by you. Blake's a good guy. He truly believed you'd been abusive and that he was protecting Lisa and LJ. He asked if you'd be willing to meet him so he knows LJ's safe. He really bonded with the kid and LJ seems to like him. Considering where Lisa could've ended up, I think it's safe to say Blake saved your boy's life. It'd give him some peace of mind to know he's sending the kid somewhere safe."

Gibbs thought it over while Fornell explained the situation to him. He wanted to be angry at the guy for keeping his son from him for so long but he knew how easy it was to fall into Lisa's lies. "Is he willing to come to DC?"

"Yeah," Fornell answered. "He's willing to deliver LJ to you with me."

"Alright," Gibbs said. "I'll meet with him. When are you flyin' in?"

"There's a nonstop flight leaving out of here this afternoon. We'll arrive at Dulles around 6:00. I'll send the flight information to DiNozzo's phone."

"Thank you, Tobias."

"I'm just glad we got a happy ending," Fornell said. "See ya in a couple hours."

Gibbs flipped his phone shut and started walking towards the group with a look of shock on his face. Not only had Fornell found his son, he'd just talked to him on the phone and he'd be home in his arms that evening. He'd gone from not knowing if his son was even alive to being hours away from giving him hugs and kisses.

Tony stopped him before he got too close to the kids. "He's dead, isn't he?" he asked quietly. "You've never spent that long on the phone before. He's dead."

"He's alive and he's coming home tonight," Gibbs said.

"Huh?"

"LJ's alive. Fornell found him. They're flying in tonight. He's gonna send the flight info to your phone."

Tony let out an embarrassingly feminine screech and threw his arms around his boss without even thinking. Gibbs just stood there and let himself be hugged, knowing Tony was as excited as he was but showed it differently. Jack and the kids looked on, confused about what was going on. It was either really good or really bad. They couldn't tell by the noise that came out of Tony's mouth.

"LJ's coming home," Gibbs said. "Fornell says he's happy and healthy and just missing his family."

"That's wonderful!" Jack said, his face lighting up. "Did you hear that, kids? Your brother's coming home."

"LJ bye-bye long time," Sadie said.

"He was gone for a long time," Gibbs agreed, "but he's coming home tonight."

The flight from Oklahoma City to Washington DC wasn't bad at all. It passed a little too quickly for Blake but with LJ sitting in his lap teeming with excitement and knowing how much the boy had struggled over the past month, it was hard not to be happy for him. After waiting for the passengers in front of them to deplane, they stood, collected their things and fell into line.

"You ready, big guy?" Blake asked as he carried the little boy towards the front of the plane.

"Daddy heah?" LJ asked.

"Your daddy's probably been here all afternoon, kiddo," Fornell said with a wink.

LJ started looking for a familiar face as soon as they stepped into the busy airport. Fornell led the way out of the secure area and immediately spotted Gibbs in the midst of the crowd. LJ saw him too and wiggled out of Blake's arms so he could get to him. He ran as fast as his little legs would carry him, pushing past anyone that got in his way.

"Daddy!" he squealed as he was snatched into loving arms.

Gibbs tucked his boy tight against his chest and buried his face in LJ's soft hair, unsure if he'd ever be able to let go of him. Fornell spotted Tony and Jack standing back with the other kids and took Blake over to make introductions.

"Daddy, you cry," LJ said, touching the single tear streaking down Gibbs' cheek.

Gibbs smiled as he wiped the tear away. "Yeah, happy tears because I missed you so much." He pulled LJ into another tight hug and kissed the top of his head as he walked the couple steps to the group. He knew they were anxious to say hello too.

"Welcome home, LJ!" Jack said, rubbing his hand over the boy's back. "We've missed you." He leaned in and kissed him before backing up so Tony could have a turn.

Tony buried his face in Gibbs' chest, right next to LJ's. "LJ," he said in a goofy tone, "are you hiding from us? Did you turn into a shy kid while you were gone?"

Tony couldn't understand the muffled response but the little boy giggled and turned towards him. Tony smiled over at him and pinched his cheek. "Welcome home, little one."

"Me big man," LJ said. That was what Blake always called him.

"Oh no! When you left you were just a little guy. Now you're a big man? It does look like you've grown."

Gibbs stood his son on the floor and decided Tony was right. The boy had grown. Mason and Sadie said hello to their brother while Gibbs introduced himself to Blake then LJ practically climbed up his daddy, wanting to be in his arms again.

"I need to take Blake to headquarters to get a little more information out of him," Fornell said. "How about we stop by your place afterwards?"

"That'd be fine," Gibbs replied. "We'll see you in a bit."

Gibbs, Jack and Tony arrived home to a driveway full of cars. Abby had asked earlier if she could throw a welcome home party and Gibbs had agreed. From the looks of it Jimmy and Breena, Ducky, Ziva, Leon and Jackie were there as well. Tim was still stuck with Sacks, escorting Lisa back to DC.

"Let's let LJ go in first," Gibbs said as they made their way to the front door.

He opened the door and as soon as LJ stepped inside 'welcome home' cheers rang out. Mason and Sadie hurried in behind their brother to see what all the fuss was about. It was an exciting evening for them too. The adults were genuinely happy again and their brother was back from wherever he'd been for so long. There was a lot to celebrate.

The living room was decorated with huge, brightly colored helium balloons and a large welcome home banner that looked like it had been made by Abby. There was a large sheet cake on the coffee table along with a few gifts for all three kids so no one felt left out. Dash ran through with a bow on his head, followed by Kayla and Jared.

"Careful!" Jackie warned.

"Cake!" Mason shouted. He raced over to check it out, followed by his brothers and sisters.

Abby and Ziva cut the cake and passed it out while Gibbs personally thanked each person for coming. Unlike trying to get through Shannon and Kelly's deaths alone, he'd had his whole family there to support him through LJ being gone and it really had made a huge difference. After talking to everyone, he recruited Tony to help him retrieve the presents from the basement and they let the kids open their gifts.

"Doesn't this make you want some kids of our own, Jimmy?" Breena asked, hugging her husband's arm.

"Yeah, it kind of does," Jimmy admitted. "They're so cute."

"Well what are you two waiting for?" Tony asked. "It'd be great to have more kiddos running around!"

"I don't know, Tony," Jimmy said. "Are you sure you're ready to be a godfather?"

"Palmer—Palmers, you have never met a more qualified godfather," Tony said. "Hurry up! Let's have a baby!"

"Maybe we should wait till we get home," Breena said with a laugh.

"I suppose you're right," Tony agreed. "There are children present."

Sadie pedaled her new tricycle into the living room and crawled into her daddy's lap. The boys were still racing around the dining room table on their bikes.

"Trust me, Jethro," Jackie said, "it's better than toy drum sets."

"Oh I know," Gibbs replied. "We have one of those too. Tony got 'em a toy grand piano, toy guitar and toy drums. I got serenaded at 2:00 in the morning a couple nights ago."

"Baby grand piano, Boss," Tony corrected.

"I bet that was fun," Leon said.

"You know, Boss, if you cut a doorway in the kitchen, the kids would have their very own race track right in the house," Tony said.

"Maybe I don't want them to have a race track in the house," Gibbs said.

Tony shrugged and sank into the couch next to Abby. Abby smiled at him and patted his knee.

"As fun as this has been, I'm going to head home and soak in the tub before bed," Ducky said. "I couldn't be happier for you, Jethro."

"Thanks, Duck."

"We need to get going too," Jackie said. "The kids have homework to do and baths to take."

"Aw man!" Jared whined. "We just got here!"

"We've been here for two hours," Jackie said. "I'm sure Agent Gibbs is anxious to spend a little time with his family."

"Thanks for coming," Gibbs said.

"Enjoy your evening," Leon said. "Give your little ones extra hugs and kisses."

"Every day for the rest of my life," Gibbs said.

"Thank you for having us," Ziva said.

"Thanks for coming, Ziva."

"Are you ready to go?" Abby asked Tony.

"I don't know," Tony said as he stole Sadie from Gibbs. He hadn't had time to prepare himself to say goodbye and return to his apartment. In the last twelve hours LJ had been found, returned home and now life was getting back to normal.

"I'll keep you company tonight," Abby said with a seductive grin.

"You will, will you?" Tony asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "In that case we better get going."

"I really appreciate your help over the last month, Tony," Gibbs said extending his arm to shake Tony's hand.

"Anything for you, Gibbs."

"You no can go," Sadie told Tony matter-of-factly.

"I can't? You mean I have to stay here forever and ever and ever and take Dash on walks and dig up worms with the boys and wear those princess dresses you put on me and go swimming in the bathtub with you guys?"

"An took as-ghetti," Sadie added.

"And cook spaghetti?" By that time Tony had both boys hanging on him too.

"Yeah!" Mason said. "Gotta stay!"

"What if I promise to come over and do all those things with guys all the time?" Tony asked.

LJ crawled up onto the couch and wiggled his way into Tony's lap with his sister.

"Would that be okay?" Tony asked as he wrapped his arm around LJ.

"Yeah," Sadie answered reluctantly.

"I'm gonna miss you guys," Tony said. He tugged Mason onto his lap with the others and wrapped his arms around all of them.

"Is this gonna turn into an episode of Full House where you end up moving into Gibbs' attic?" Abby teased lightly as she rubbed Tony's back.

"No," Tony said, "although…" He pretended to consider it for a moment then winked at Abby.

A knock at the door got Gibbs out of his chair. He answered it and invited Fornell and Blake in. Tony gave each child a kiss before standing them on the floor, saying goodbye to Jack and following Abby to the door. Abby gave Blake a hug for taking such good care of LJ then she and Tony said goodbye to Gibbs and left.

"I'm gonna take them up to get their jammies on while you guys get settled, Leroy," Jack said.

"You bringin' 'em back down?" Gibbs asked. He knew it was bedtime but he really wasn't ready to say goodnight yet.

"Yeah, we'll be right back."

Gibbs served Fornell and Blake cake and coffee. They sat in an awkward silence in the living room until Fornell told Gibbs about his decision to get Lisa back to DC on a different flight than LJ in hopes of lessening the likelihood of her making a scene. Blake talked about the challenges of living with the woman and how LJ coped and before they knew it the kids had returned with Grandpa.

"Are you guys ready for bed?" Gibbs asked.

"Now?" Mason asked.

"Yep, it's time," Gibbs answered. "Actually it's past your bedtime so you can sleep in in the morning if you want."

Mason and Sadie both giggled. They may not get up as early as their daddy but they didn't sleep in either.

"You're being awfully quiet all of a sudden, LJ," Gibbs said. "You okay?"

"No go," LJ said.

"Nobody's going anywhere, Buddy," Gibbs assured him. "How about I lay down with you till you fall asleep?"

LJ shrugged, still unsure but not wanting to disobey his daddy. What he really wanted to do was stay up all night with his daddy. Gibbs pulled his son into his lap and held him tight while Mason and Sadie snuck into the kitchen with Grandpa to sneak a cookie.

"Blake, you're welcome to stay here tonight," Gibbs offered. "We can talk after I get the kids to sleep if you want."

"I can stay in a hotel," Blake said. "I don't wanna put you out."

"Hotels around here are ridiculously expensive," Gibbs said.

"If you're sure it won't be any trouble," Blake said.

"I'm sure."

"If you don't need anything else from me, I'm gonna head out," Fornell said. "Some of us actually have to work tomorrow."

"Funny," Gibbs replied.

Gibbs and LJ walked Fornell out then Jack passed LJ a cookie as he sat down to talk to Blake while Gibbs took the little ones upstairs. Gibbs left Mason and LJ in their room giggling while he rocked Sadie and sang to her. After she fell asleep, he headed across the hall and got the boys calmed down. He sat down between the beds and rubbed their backs while he told them a story. Once they were both finally asleep, he headed back downstairs.

"I'll leave you two to talk," Jack said. "I might actually be able to finish my book tonight."

"G'night, Dad."

Gibbs settled in his chair and made himself comfortable. He was finally face to face with the man who'd had his son for the last month. "I appreciate everything you did for LJ."

"You're not upset I didn't call the police sooner?" Blake asked.

"I was conned by Lisa too," Gibbs said, "and if a woman had given me the same story she gave you, I probably would've believed it too."

"Agent Fornell told me how she conned you."

"I may not have had any intentions of having children but I love 'em more than life itself."

"It wasn't that I thought… Lisa just said… I didn't know what to think but I had to make sure, you know? I didn't want to be disrespectful to you. I really appreciate you agreeing to meet with me."

"Were you a cop in a former life?" Gibbs asked with an easy smile.

"No, but I lost someone I loved because I couldn't protect them," Blake said. "My wife was killed in a head on collision almost a decade ago. She was on her way home from work. We were supposed to celebrate our one year anniversary that evening. The nineteen year old driving the other car was texting her boyfriend."

Gibbs suddenly felt a stronger connection to the man sitting in the living room with him. "I'm sorry," he said. He knew there was nothing he could say to make it better and he wasn't going to spout off any of the one liners that people thought they needed to say when they heard about someone else's hardships.

"Thank you," Blake said. "I'm sorry about your wife and daughter too. I found out when I was doing research, trying to figure out if Lisa was lying."

"Thank you," Gibbs said somberly.

"You did a lot more with your life than I did with mine—big city investigator, making a real difference. I moved out to the middle over nowhere, bought a farm and spend most of my days hiding from civilization."

"We all cope as best as we can," Gibbs said. "You made a difference in our lives by getting LJ back to us safely."

"It was nice having him around," Blake said. "I'm gonna miss him but I'm glad he's home. He'll be happier here."

"Why don't you hang out with us for a few days, Blake," Gibbs offered. "We'd love to have you."

"I don't know."

"A little vacation never hurt anybody."

"Alright," Blake said, "I'll stay."