Chapter 16
Well here is chapter 16. I really want to thank all the reviewers and those who added me to their story alerts. I really enjoy knowing that others are reading this. It is a fun story to write.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.
Gibbs had called Abby just after he hung up with Samantha. He knew she and Ziva were not just sitting around his house watching movies. Maybe when Abby got there with the Mexican food for lunch they both would slow down and get some rest. He was concerned that Samantha was over doing it but he knew she would not listen to him as long as she was feeling up to it. He just smiled and thought,"That's my girl. She won't over do it really. She wants to get back to school so bad."
Abby left her lab around noon and headed for the Mexican restaurant that Gibbs had suggested for Mexican take out. She did not know why he had given her the key to Sam's apartment and told her to get chips and green sauce from the refridge.
When she got there she was horrified. "Poor Samantha. That guy really did a number on her place. We will have our work cut out for us when she is ready to go home," Abby thought as she went to the kitchen and got what Gibbs had ordered for her to get. "He really, really cares for her."
After shaking her head another time, she locked the apartment door and headed over to Gibbs' house. When she got there she found Ziva and Samantha in the kitchen, country music blaring, and both were sitting at the kitchen table laughing. " I told you Ziva. There was something in there from the 1990's"
Abby looked at them with questions in her eyes. Samantha turned off the music and smiled at her. "Morning Abby. Lunch time already."
"Yes, What are you do up to? Did Gibbs tell you to not clean his house?"
Ziva was still laughing and pointed to the three large garbage bags full of trash they had pulled out of Gibbs' pantry. "You should have seen it Abby. Have you ever been in that pantry?" Abby just laughed and pointed to the food. "You to ready for a break."
" Sure, let's take the food upstairs and start a movie. Don't tell Gibbs but I need to rest a little bit." Samantha looked into the bags. "Where did you get this green sauce Abby?"
"Gibbs sent me to you apartment for it. I hate to tell you but we will have a lot of work before you can go home."
"That sweetheart. He knows how I love this green sauce with my Mexican food." She smiled and opened the container and quickly dipped a chip into the sauce and popping it in her mouth. "I saw my apartment, Abby. Not sure I should not just move. Isley really invaded my space over there."
"Then we will just have to get the men to help," Ziva said grabbing the food. " Let us find a "chick flick" as Tony would say to watch while we eat." Samantha looked at both women and smiled. She had a couple of friends now. Not just acquaintances but friends she hoped.
The three women went upstairs and instead of a "chick flick" Samantha started the movie Turner and Hooch. She was in the mood to laugh with her new friends instead of a tearjerker. The three sat down on the bed to eat and watch. The laughter was contagious and they were really having a good time.
The team really had a slow day. Tony and Tim were working on their case reports on the Isley case and then started on finishing some other boring paperwork. "Wonder what the women are up too, Probie" Tony said.
"Bet they are cleaning my house against orders." Gibbs walked up and sat his coffee down on his desk.
"Going against orders Boss?" McGee asked.
"Yes I left Samantha a note to rest and not to clean. When I called she had her working music on. Bet I come home to something reorganized."
"Would that be so bad Boss?" Tony looked up from the paperwork he was not doing. "They both love you, Gibbs."
" I know." Gibbs then looked at both of them, "Since you are both not doing anything anyway why don't you go get some lunch yourselves. I need to talk to Ducky so bring me something on your way back."
"On it Boss." They both said as they hurried out of the bullpen before Gibbs had a chance to change his mind.
In the elevator they both thought about raiding Gibbs' house with the girls. " We would not get back in an hour McProbie so guess we are on our own"
" I know but it would have been nice. I have not seen Abby all day."
Gibbs took the stairs down to autopsy to chat with Ducky. He passed Jimmy Palmer going to lunch in the hall and knew Ducky was alone. "Hey Duck," Gibbs said as he entered the room. "Why don't you go to lunch with Palmer?"
" Not a chance. He is meeting Brenna and I will not be a third wheel. Did you need me for something Jethro?"
"Well I have a favor to ask."
"Anything I can do Jethro."
"When are you going over to my house to check on our patients? "
"Around 1 I think. That would give them some girl time with Abby. Hopefully I can convince them both to take a nap after Abby leaves."
"Good luck with that." Gibbs sat down next to his friend at the desk. " Since next Thursday is Thanksgiving I was wondering if I could bring a date to dinner."
"Samantha?"
"Yes, you should have seen her last night Duck. I have never seen her so happy. She cried when they left."
"You enjoyed it a little yourself." Ducky smiled.
"Well, sure I did. It is nice not to be alone. But I want Samantha to be happy. She had been so alone since her grandfather died and she lost David."
"David" the old doctor asked.
" He was her fiancé. He was killed in a car accident on the way to their wedding. She has been alone ever since."
" I am so sorry about that. No other family then."
"Her parents and her sister were killed in a car accident when she was in high school. I think she has an aunt and uncle on her mother's side but she never sees them. Something about a fight over custody after the accident. Sam wanted to stay and take care of her grandfather. He had very bad heart trouble all her life but he was everything to her. Uncle had insisted she move in with them."
"The poor dear. So she ended up with her grandfather then. "
"Only because she insisted and the judge allowed her to stay. I think that put a strain between her and her Uncle."
"You understand her Jethro. Does she know about Shannon, Kelly and Jennifer?"
"No, Ducky she doesn't. She knows we are kindred spirits but nothing more. She trusts I will tell here when I am ready."
"Special lady. As for Thanksgiving, Jethro I will invite her myself when I go to see her. That way she is not a guest she will be family."
"Thanks Duck. Don't want her to be alone. Holidays are really hard on her she says."
"For you too my friend."
Gibbs left autopsy and went back to the bullpen. Tony and McGee were just exiting the elevator as he sat down at his desk. "Here's lunch, Boss. "
"Since you are back on time I assume you did not go to my house."
"How did he know?" McGee asked Tony.
"He's Gibbs."
Dr. Donald Mallard drove up at Gibbs' house just after one. Abby's black car was still parked in the driveway. As he neared the door he got out the key Gibbs had given him for emergencies. Not that the door was ever locked anyway. It was locked today though. Abby must have locked it when she came in.
He unlocked the door and stepped in. Looking around he did not see the ladies but heard laughing coming from the guestroom. So he headed quietly up the stairs. Not one for eavesdropping he knocked on the door. The laughing did not stop so he opened the door carefully. Just then Abby noticed him. Wiping a tear from her eye from laughter she jumped up and hugged him. " If you are here Ducky then I am late getting back."
"Don't worry my dear. Things are slow today and I am sure Gibbs will approve of the medicine you are practicing here."
All three just looked at him. "Laughter" he said. "You could hear it outside."
Ducky checked Samantha's arm and the cut on her neck and then moved on to Ziva. Both women seemed ok. "Samantha, can we have moment?"
"Sure Ducky." Ziva and Abby realized that Ducky wanted to visit with her alone so they took the lunch trash and left the room.
"I had a talk with Jethro today."
"About?"
" Well he told me about your fiancé and you parents. Did he betray a confidence?"
"No. I have no secrets about that. It is what it is. All those events made me the person you see today."
"That is quite healthy really. Anyway I wanted to ask you to join Jethro at my house for Thanksgiving next week. "
"I would love to Ducky. I have not had a real family Thanksgiving in so long. I insist on bring something." Ducky shook his head. "No, I want to. I would come if you don't let me help you. I remember how hard Mama worked and we were only five of us. I can't imagine this bunch. Tony can really eat. "
"You noticed that did you. Well how about rolls. Jethro is never good about getting anything eatable."
"That won't require much work. I have a bread machine at my house and my mother's rolls are almost a food group in themselves. Do you mind if I make a pumpkin pie?"
"Oh we have plenty of dessert. "
"Just a family tradition Ducky." She smiled wiping away a small tear. "My mother made the best and I can't remember how long it has been since I had one. Can't see just making one for myself."
"Then you bring it. Just don't overdo that arm."
"I won't. I will get Jethro to help me. My mother was a school teacher too and she had Thanksgiving down to an art." Ducky could see that talking about family things hurt her deeply. He put his hand on hers and smiled. "You do what you want to do my dear. That is what family is for."
Just then Samantha's phone rang. Wiping away the tears she looked at the caller ID. She was surprised it was not Gibbs but her teaching partner Elena. She quickly answered it. "What's up Elena? Anything wrong. You are not on conference yet."
"Samantha, it is Kelly. She just got to school and she is in tears. We can't get her to tell us what is wrong?"
" She just got there? It's almost 1:30."
"I know. We tried calling her mother and we get no answer. Do you have another number for her?"
"Tell Kelly I will be there in a minute. I will get someone to drive me. "
"You don't have too. We can handle it. "
"No if Kelly is this upset I need to be there. I will call her mother on the way over. Did you try her dad?"
"You said not to try him unless …"
Samantha cut her off. " I am on my way. " She looked at Ducky. "I need to get to school. One of my kids just got to school and she is very, very, upset. When she gets like that nobody can talk to her but me."
"I will get Abigail. She can drive you over. Is there anyway I can help her?"
"Don't think so thanks. I just need to talk to her and reach her mother. She is not answering."
Ducky left the room and got Abby. Ziva came in and helped Samantha get dressed. All the while Samantha was thinking to herself. "Don't think the worst Sam. We have to reach her mother. We just have to."