McGee, Abby, Jimmy and Brenna woke up to the smell of bacon cooking. They dressed in casual clothes. Brenna had a light silk beige sweater that flared on the sides and black, form fitting sweats. Jimmy has a blue tee and black jeans. Abby was wearing a light grey cotton sweater with Einstein's head, and black sweats. McGee was wearing a MIT tee and baggy NCIS sweats. They walked out into the living room. Ducky had a tee shirt and sweats. Ellie had on a black halter-top long sleeve shirt and dark grey sweats. Tony had NCIS sweats. They looked into the kitchen, sighing simultaneously. Gibbs was cooking in his red sweatshirt and grey sweats, making his famous pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
"You really need to learn how to relax, Gibbs" McGee told him.
"Ah, I'll go outta my mind just sitting not doing anything. Let me do this for ya." He replied eating a piece of bacon.
"yeah, yeah." Jimmy said.
They ate, watching old cartoons, their morning ritual. Tony made popcorn, throwing it at McGee.
"Stop it Tony."
"Op it ony. He repeated childishly.
So naturally they got into a popcorn fight. They got Abby and Ellie in on it. They were on the ends of each couch. Ducky watching with fond exasperation from the far recliner while Jimmy and Brenna in the other. Soon Jimmy and Brenna were cheering for opposite sides. Gibbs walked in from his walk and they all froze. Gibbs walked over with a stern face, eyebrow raised. He bent down painfully taking a piece of popcorn of the coffee table. He sat down in the recliner by the window. He turned with a leg bend against the arm, facing them. They turned and were parallel to him. Tony was across from him, Abby curled into McGee. By Gibbs were Jimmy, Brenna, and then Ellie. Suddenly threw it, it bounced off of Tony's forehead. They all stared shocked.
"Hey." Tony playfully complained.
"Hey they need help." He smirked throwing another at Abby. They went on for a while until Gibbs was gasping and holding his ribs from laughing. He still had a big smile on his face. Everyone was crying from laughing. Gibbs felt a pain flare and grimaced, stopped smiling.
"You okay?" Brenna asked. They stopped smiling as he grimaced.
"Yeah, probably shouldn't have bent down or thrown popcorn." He smirked.
"I must say it was not you brightest moment, dear lad." Ducky said, chuckling at his pout.
"Ah, Duck I've had worse moments." They laughed.
They relaxed, doing nothing as they listened to the t.v. or in Ellie and Abby case music. They even traded books when they were finished.
"Hey Ellie you done reading yet." McGee asked.
"Yeah, what book you got?" Ellie said.
"New Tech advancement." He responded.
"I have Firewall stabilizing." They traded.
Gibbs coughed saying, "geeks." He smirked at their scowled smirks.
"Hey Duck?' He asked, lazily turning his head, back against the arm, legs bent, curled in a blanket.
"Yes, Jethro." He looked at him.
"What ya readin'?" he asked.
"Murder of Governor Nick." He said.
"Read it."
"I'm reading Endurance." Jimmy said.
"Been wantin' to read that, Marine Biography switch?" They did.
Brenna and Ducky switched their Detective books. They started reading again. They enjoyed the silence. Jimmy and Brenna where curled on the end of the couch by the window, next to Ducky. No one was by Gibbs. The next couch had Abby and McGee curled by the table. Bishop curled on the end, sitting like Gibbs. Tony and Ducky sat with their feet up reclined. They enjoyed the fireplace. Gibbs fell asleep, arms sliding down, book in his hands. They smiled as he shuffled slightly in his sleep.
"What are we having for dinner?" Tony asked.
"Fornel is making us pizza." Gibbs replied.
"Wait making?" Ellie asked.
"He wanted to do something nice. Don't tell him I said that." Gibbs said smirking.
Brenna scooted over slightly shushing him as he slid down, he snorted awake. She turned him slightly, putting his head in her lap. He nodded relaxing instantly remembering they were in a safe house and could let his guard down. They smiled at that fact, clear as day because he went into a deep sleep. He curled into a ball, fixing his blanket.
"He's been so tired lately. Is he okay?" Ellie asked concerned.
"Yeah it is from the healing." Jimmy said.
"Yes, it does take a lot of energy just to heal, especially with the pain spikes he has had." At their reassurance they nodded and relaxed.
Tobias showed up at 8p.m. with the pizza. They complemented his cooking. They joked and laughed. Gibbs kept dozing off they wordlessly decided, having to stop every few seconds that the walk wouldn't be of any use.
"Jethro let's skip your walk and get you to bed." Jimmy said, getting a nod.
He helped him stand. The others showered, went to the bathroom, and brushed their teeth. They He helped him walk to the bed. He guided his descent because he was almost unconscious. The others watched his care, helping him under the blankets. He's asleep before his head hits the pillow.