Ch 2 Papa Smurf
Warning: Child abuse (Don't worry, the only chapter...I think) Just the more we'll appreciate Gibbs when he finds baby Tim.
I Do Not Own NCIS
Wanted to post sooner but had a chance to go to the beach with friends. Just got back.
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Tony ran his tongue over his upper lip licking away the vanilla ice cream mustache' he created.
"Tony. You're going to have to eat it faster than that if you want to finish it before it melts." said Gibbs, patiently.
Both of them sat on wrought iron patio chairs around a glass table top in front of a small ice cream parlor. They enjoyed the afternoon like Mike suggested, playing at a nearby playground then stopping for ice cream cones. The sun was setting and Gibbs could see Tony was having a tough time keeping his eyes open, never mind finishing his cone. "Hey big guy, let's just throw out the rest of the ice cream, you're going to topple right out of that chair-"
"Tony's eyes widened, "No, dad! I'm awake. I'm not throwing away my ice cream! That would be...crazy!"
"Huh?"
"Daaaad. Ice cream is the best thing in the world, well, besides pizza. And, what is rule number five?"
"You don't waste good?"
"You got it, dad."
Gibbs had to laugh. "Sure do love your reasoning."
"Dad, can we go to the playground, again tomorrow? That was a lot of fun."
"We'll see Tony. I have some errands to run early on, then a date tomorrow night-"
"A date, dad?"
"Yeah. You know."
"Oh, when you pick up some girl then you go to the movies and eat lots of candy? Yeah, I think I would like dates. The candy part sounds really good, anyways."
"Usually the girls I date don't like candy. I think they're too busy watching their figures."
"How can they not eat candy? I see no reason not to eat candy, I don't care what movie I'm watching."
"No Tony. I mean they are watching their weight and eating candy could add some extra pounds."
Tony had lost interest in their conversation and was deliberately dripping melted ice cream onto the table, creating swirly designs with his fingers over the surface of the glass. Gibbs occasionally had to remind himself he wasn't talking to an adult. If they weren't discussing, candy, toy guns, cartoons or tree climbing, he usually lost him sooner or later during the discussion.
"Uh, Tony..."
Tony detected his father's annoyance and stopped what he was doing. He always obeyed Gibbs' quiet reprimands, appreciating his subtle way of not making a spectacle out of his bad behavior.
"So, dad?"
"Yeah, Tony?"
"Why do you go on so many dates?"
"Tony, the last date I went on was like, three months ago-"
"I know, so why so many? Why would you want to waste your time on...girls?" Tony's face turned into a look of disgust saying the last word.
Gibbs grinned, understanding the real reason Tony wasn't happy with Gibbs' date nights; sharing him with random girls he had never met wouldn't seem fair to the boy when they could be playing games and spending time together. The time he spent away from his son tore at Gibbs' heart; he missed him when he wasn't near. People often warned him that they grow up fast so enjoy them while you can. Gibbs couldn't believe Tony was already five, and he had been living with him for a total of two years. Gibbs wanted to make sure he would always be there for the boy.
Gibbs still felt apprehensive over the blind date and Tony's negative input just increased his trepidation. He was beginning to conclude tomorrow night's blind date would be a waste of time. Gibbs favored the old fashion way of dating, by waiting till a certain someone caught his eye then the next, nerve-racking step of asking them out and waiting for their reply.
"Well, grandpa Jackson will stay with you when I run the errands and Mike said he'd love-"
"Mike Franks! Okay, you could go dad, it'll be okay."
"You enjoy Mike's company, now, do ya?"
"We play army and he's really good at it! We pertend we're driving a tank!"
Gibbs grinned. "Hey that sounds like fun."
"Yuh, huh. Cause it is."
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Tim woke to the sound of a man laughing coming from the kitchen. It was loud and it terrified him, because he knew who the laugh belonged to. He brought his knees closer to his chest, hugging them tightly, then buried his face deeper under the blanket. It was still night time, but a slight hint of the morning light was creeping through the sides of the shades. He closed his eyes, tightly wishing the man away.
"Timmy boy! Come see mama, honey. Some...one is here who, who... wants to see...yoooou."
Tim tried to maneuver his way in between the cushions and the back of the couch. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest. He did his best to pretend he was asleep but he couldn't stop his chin from trembling.
"Come on big Tim, get into the kitchen. I have something for you!" Tim could hear his mother whisper to the man. "You do not, Steve. Why did you say that?"
"Tim! Get in here!"
"Steve, quiet. You'll, you'll wake the... neighbors. It's like... four in the morning."
Tim yelled, unpretentiously. "I'm seeping!"
"And, I said get up and get in here, now!"
Tim knew he had to obey his mother's friend. He squeezed his teddy bear to his chest and gripped his blanket and action figure as he cautiously entered the kitchen. Steve was smoking while he sat at the kitchen table with Tim's mom. Tim hated when Steve smoked which was pretty much all the time. Steve wore a dirty, brimmed hat and a flannel shirt with cut-off sleeves. His blonde beard was scraggly and wet looking.
Steve pointed his finger directly at Tim, then bent it, motioning for him to come closer as he glared, ruthlessly.
Tim shook his head, frantically. "But, I gotta... go and, and hug, mom." Tim pointed at his mother as Steve roughly grabbed Tim's arm then pulled him close to him. Tim slid on his slippers over the floor refusing to take steps that would help bring him closer to the loud man.
Steve held him within inches of his face so he could stare into Tim's eyes. "What do you mean you have to hug your mother? Are you a Sally Boy little Timmy?"
Tim shook his head, his chin trembling as big tears welled in his eyes. He didn't like Steve's brown teeth when he smiled. "No, I hafta go-"
"Are you gonna cry little Timmy, Sally Boy?"
"Leave him alone! He did nothing to you!" Tim and Steve hesitated, both looking at his mother surprised to hear her speak up in his defense.
"You're going to make him into one of those little mama boys if you keep that up!" Steve shoved Tim away disgusted as Tim fell onto the floor, bumping his head and shoulder on the corner of the kitchen cabinets. Tim rubbed his head, quietly crying. "Look at him, he carries that teddy bear everywhere he goes-"
"It's special to him, it was from his Grampy Mitch before he died. Just leave him alone and go back to finishing off your bottle of Jack."
Steve swilled down the remaining amber-colored liquid in the glass then slammed it on the table. "I think I need to teach that kid a lesson about being tougher."
Tim struggled to rise, the smooth soles of his slippers making it difficult to find traction on the linoleum floor. He managed to scurry back into the living room.
"Don't you run from me boy."
"Leave him alone! He's just a baby!"
"Not after I get a hold of him."
Tim crawled behind the couch just as Steve entered the living room.
"Think the couch will save ya boy?" Steve lifted the couch moving it away from the wall revealing Tim crouched on the floor. He lifted Tim by his arms bringing him face to face, giving him a quick shake. "When I talk to you, don't you run away from me!" Tim felt light-headed looking into Steve's eyes, only seeing anger and hatred. He was so scared all he wanted to do was go to sleep, as his body went limp.
His mother stood behind Steve hitting him on the back, frantically. "Put him down or I swear, I'll kill you!"
Steve hurled Tim across the room, abruptly, bringing his full attention around to face Tim's mother, grabbing her arm. "Don't you ever lay a hand on me!"
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Tim walked out the door looking over his shoulder to see if anyone was following him. He still held onto his teddy bear, power ranger and blanket, walking down his driveway. The day was cool and calm, not a soul in sight. The sun was rising. Tim stood enthralled with its beauty as it slowly rose behind the houses across the street. He had never seen anything like it. The unusual silence of his neighborhood combined with the orange and red glow in the sky soothed him.
Steve had violently thrown Tim, but, miraculously he had landed safely on the couch. His mother had continued to hit Steve, and scream so Tim had run out of the living room into the kitchen. The door in the kitchen was slightly ajar so he quietly walked out. Tim felt bad leaving his mother but he knew he did not want to stay in the house, it was just too scary. He decided to walk towards the sun. If he could get close enough, maybe he could reach out and touch its warmth.
He walked across the street then ran quickly into the neighbor's backyard. The sun was quickly rising and Tim realized it was already much higher in the sky than when he had first seen it. How would he be able reach it at this rate? He yawned, rubbing his heavy eyes. He spotted an old dog house near a shed. He trotted over climbing inside the small house. He curled up in a corner, using his blanket as a pillow. He closed his eyes then fell instantly to sleep.