Ch 19: New Arrivals, Troubles
The rental vehicles arrived one after the other mid-morning on Friday. Tim rolled his eyes at himself when he spotted the small bus following them, of course the company would have figured out transportation for their drivers!
They'd been to Athena and Ducky's for breakfast and stayed to clean up and spend more time with the couple. They were walking back to the Lekkas' home when the parade of vehicles passed them, four of them turning onto the street where Peter and Rhode lived.
The children grinned, "Daddy, are those cars ours?"
"Two of them are, one for your mother and one for me. The other two are for Grama and Poppy."
"Yay! Do you know who the others are for?"
"Uncles, aunts and some new friends we haven't met yet."
Ellanni looked at him, "How can they be friends if we don't know them?"
"I've met two of them online and we've talked several times. They're moving here from the US. He'll teach college here until summer and then they're moving to the UK where he'll teach at another college."
"Oh. Do they have children?"
"Yes, they have two sets of twins!"
"Just like us!"
The four children grinned at each other, giggling. When Artie had recovered from her shock enough to form words, Tim wasn't to that point yet, she asked them how they'd decided that.
Liam grinned, "We didn't, Mama, someone told us when we were really little, I think before Chloe and I came here the first time. When we flew on the airplane with the people we stayed with before."
"The Brudegans?"
Liam nodded. "The lady took us somewhere and a nice man, I think he was a doctor because he wore a white coat inside even though it wasn't cold, said we were twins." He giggled, "The lady was really surprised, just like you and Daddy!"
"Oh!" She looked at Tim, who had finally regained his senses and now was laughing hard enough to worry her. Then it hit her as well and she also laughed, the two of them leaning on each other while their children grinned at them.
Eventually they recovered enough to continue their walk, waving at the rental car company's small bus as it drove back down the street with all the drivers. When the bus stopped, the bus driver leaned out asking if they were the Timothy Gibbses. All 6 of them nodded, which made the bus driver chuckle. He passed a clipboard to Tim, who signed a few pages and then handed it back, with thanks. The bus driver nodded his thanks, adding, "By any chance are the Mellos part of your group?"
Tim replied, "They're friends. Why?"
"We have a car reserved for them but for tomorrow. The address is near the others we just delivered."
"Right, they're not arriving until this afternoon and they've never been here before. I'm picking them up at the airport so they won't need a car until tomorrow."
"Ok, thanks. Not that it was any of my business but I was afraid we slipped up on the delivery day. We're closing at noon tomorrow so we'll be delivering in the morning, between 8:30 and 9:00. They'll receive a message from us this afternoon with those times."
"I'll let them know; they'll be happy to have wheels right away. And don't worry, you had it right and I understand how it would be confusing! As a whole, our family is confusing!"
Mutually wishing each other a Kala Cristouyenna or Merry Christmas, the bus moved on, finally disappearing around a corner.
Finally back at the house, Tim said he felt like he needed a nap after the surprise and then the bus driver. Then he and Artie started laughing again and their offspring laughed with them.
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When they told Tim's parents, they also had a good laugh, although they hadn't known 'the secret' for long. Lu shook her head, "It's strange the foster parents didn't give you a copy of the doctor's report when you took custody."
Artie and Tim looked at each other, eyebrows raised and then shook their heads, Artie saying, "We were very busy with the four children, Chloe and Liam were very young and had lost their mother less than 6 months before. That was also 2013, the year of the 8 new children in the family and baby Alec was born shortly after our new fosters arrived. Between all of us, we were swamped! That's our excuse for never looking through everything the Brudegans gave us or that Social Services sent us."
Tim winced, "We'll look next time we're home."
"You don't have it online?"
The couple looked at each other, both shrugging and Tim saying, "Neither of us remember if their info is online or not."
His father's eyes widened and both eyebrows raised in shock. He said, "That's the first time in all the years I've known you that you've said that. Or maybe admitted it."
Tim closed his eyes and hung his head in mock shame, followed by a laugh, "It's the first time as far as I know. What can I say, my wife, children, parents, grandparents and siblings, my family are my priorities now, you all are far more important than scanning things online."
With a grin, Jethro gave him an affectionate pat on the back saying, "Glad you have your priorities straight!"
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When Sophia called, asking if it would convenient for the children to visit her in her Athens apartment that afternoon, Artie immediately agreed, especially after her mother said she would pick them up and bring them home that afternoon.
When she told her husband that she was going with him to meet the Mello family and who would be with the children, he smiled happily. While it wasn't the first time Sophia had stayed with their children, it was the first time they'd be with her at her place. Knowing Dick Barnes would also be there eased any lingering worries either might have had about her behavior and all four of their children were comfortable with her. With help from her mother, sister and brother, she'd worked hard to gain their trust, both the children's as well as her daughter and son-in-law's and then their affection.
Chloe didn't remember their scary encounter with a nearly out of control Sophia in a children's park in Denmark 1½ years ago and young Jack only had vague memories that didn't seem at all related to the Yaya Sophia he knew and loved now.
Artie followed up her announcement that their children would be with their Yaya Sophia by telling her husband she was going with him to the airport, which brought an even brighter smile to his face. They'd have the entire drive to the airport to themselves, just the two of them, a rare treat! He also thought it would be much easier for Matt's wife Shelly to have another adult woman with them, especially one who was as knowledgeable about Greece as his love.
They'd rented the largest van available, knowing that with the 6 of them, 4 of them in safety seats, they'd need more room for grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. While it wasn't quite the size of the small bus used by the rental company, it was very close, although called a van, not a bus.
Now they'd test the roominess with 8 of them along with their luggage on the way home from the airport. Although they wouldn't need Athena's SUV after all, they would still borrow the cartop.
Dick arrived to pick up the children, chuckling at their surprise. "I spent the morning with my girls and told Sophia I'd stop to bring her grands back with me. We'll bring them home in time for dinner."
"Thanks, Dick!"
They smiled as their children each greeted Papi with a hug as they climbed into their safety seats, which thankfully hadn't yet been installed in the van. Wondering if they should take Jack and Ellanni's, he mentioned it to his wife who pointed out the Mello children had probably used their own safety seats on the flight from Portugal.
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After going for a walk on the beach by themselves, which they admitted felt strange and wonderful at the same time, the couple returned to the Lekkas' home for a bite to eat before cleaning up and leaving for the airport. Before they cleaned up, Tim, with help from Dad, installed Athena's rooftop luggage carrier onto the van, smiling at the snug fit, perfect!
Tim chuckled when, as they left the house, his father called out, "Don't board any aircraft, we're not leaving!"
And then his mother called, "And no running away, we'll find you, I promise!"
He looked at his wife as they drove down the street, "Are we in that much need of alone time? Never mind, don't answer that!"
Leaning over, she gave him a quick kiss. "We need to get away by ourselves, for a weekend. Did we ever do anything for our anniversary?"
His eyes grew wide and then he shrugged, "I don't think so. So, where and when?"
She gave him a look, "Oh no, you decide on the where, I believe I picked last time."
"Paris and anywhere in Northern Europe is too cold this time of year. Unless we go skiing, maybe in Switzerland?"
"Ooh, that sounds good. For a weekend?"
"Can you take a Monday or Friday off?"
"Yes, I can take both off if I want."
"All right, let's start with that, then when and where."
"After Jack and Ellanni have started school here, say at least two weeks after."
"Makes sense. Okay, that's the when. Next is the where?"
She gave him a bit of a look and he grinned, "Someplace we can't take the kids until they're older. Doesn't have to be warm, although that would be nice, especially if there's a…oops, never mind, I've already forgotten about the storms! Nothing on any coast, unless it's a Mediterranean coast. Southern Spain?"
"That's an idea, we'll have to make sure there hasn't been any damage to their Mediterranean coastline."
"Somewhere on the east coast of Africa?"
"Also a good idea."
"Or, what about going north to ski and to see the Northern lights again?"
She smiled, "That does sound like fun, maybe a ski resort in the Italian Alps?"
"Ooh, great idea!"
Minutes later he said, "What if we went to a country we haven't been to yet, for skiing and sightseeing? I'm wondering if Italian ski resorts might be too far south for the Northern Lights."
"I like the idea of seeing a new country rather than returning to someplace we've already been, although we haven't yet been to the Italian Alps."
"No, but it's close enough to us, either from here or the UK, that we could even combine it with a visit to Nik, Sergio and the girls, maybe they could join us. I'm thinking more of an adventure."
"Yes, that's what we need, an adventure for the two of us. Let's look online when we get home."
"Agreed!"
Grinning at each other, they sat back, chatting about this and that. Turning into short-term parking at the airport, they walked towards the Baggage Reclaim Area, holding hands.
They'd no sooner found seats than Tim smiled as he stood, waving to Matt when he spotted them coming from the Customs area. Next to him, Artie smiled and also waved, noting relief on the tired face next to Matt, his wife Shelly, a nickname for the woman's full name Michelle. Matt also looked tired and Tim was suddenly very glad he and Artie were both here to help their new friends ease into life in a country where they didn't speak the language or know many of the customs.
As the couple approached, Artie and Tim saw their children, two sets of fraternal twins, on either side and between the couple. Their older twins were 5, a few months older than Elanne and Jack while their younger twins were two years younger, born late in the same year as Chloe and only 6 months older than Jasper, also a few months younger than Tony and Maggie's older daughter MacKenna, which would be great if they all became friends.
The 2 sets of twins were either older or younger than Liam but then he was friends with all the cousins and friends, he never had a problem making or keeping friends. Artie sometimes thought that of their two boys, Liam was very much like Tim, in looks and temperament, while Jackson, at least at this stage of his life, seemed to be a mix of her, his grandfathers and great-grandparents. While she thought it a bit odd that their adopted son Liam should be like Tim, she supposed it was a mere coincidence. Since Ms. March researched and liked Tom E. Gemcity enough to name him guardian of her children, it made some sense that she'd also selected a sperm donor who had several traits in common with Tim.
As the newcomers approached them, Artemis and Tim noticed a look passing between Matt and Shelly. As the Midei-Gibbses didn't know the couple well, they let it go, although Artie wondered and Tim managed to fight off a feeling of panic. Over what, he wasn't sure.
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Tim went for another luggage trolley and he and Matt divided the baggage between the two trolleys while Artie took the keys to bring the van closer to the doors to the Baggage Reclaim area. Shelly and the kids found seats in the area.
While he didn't say anything, Tim was relieved to see bags with the children's safety seats, it would only take a few minutes to install them in the van. Matt noticed and smiled, "We bought new ones in the UK, left the old ones with the airline to use for anyone who didn't bring their kids' safety seats."
"Good thinking and I'm glad you bought new ones, the European restrictions are a bit different than in the US."
"Yes, my sisters told us before we left home."
"Aren't siblings great? I'm sorry I didn't think of it. Our older twins were only 5 months old when we moved to the UK, all the replacements have been European."
"Older twins? I thought your younger children were singletons."
"So did we, until my wife read an article about twins born 5 years apart! Then we made some phone calls to the various doctors our kids' birth mother had seen and were told that yes, because they were conceived with eggs from the same extraction and the same sperm donor, they are fraternal twins no matter when they were born."
"Wow!"
"The funny part is that we worried about telling them or not telling them, finally deciding not to tell them until they were older. Then yesterday we were walking with four of them and mentioned you and your family and that you had two sets of twins. And Ellanni, our older daughter, says, 'Just like us!'
"They already knew, the four of them, little scamps! Liam, he's the older of the newer twins, has vague memories of going with his foster mother to a doctor who said he and Chloe were twins. At that point Artie and I realized that as crazy as those weeks around their arrival were, 8 children, 4 babies and 4 fosters, joined the family that year, we'd never looked at all the papers their foster parents gave us. There it was, in black and white, Liam and Chloe are twins, born 5 months apart."
"Wow, that's something else!"
Tim laughed, "Oh yeah! We've decided we're glad we didn't know beforehand, we worried enough about Ellanni and Jack before they were born!"
"That's an unusual name, Ellanni."
"As far as we know, we created it. It's a mix of part of my mother's name, Luella, from that we took Ella and combined it with my paternal grandmother's name, Anne."
"Interesting how you pronounce it, it sounds almost Hawaiian, blending it together."
"An unforeseen and fortuitous consequence!"
"And Jack?"
"He's named for my paternal grandfather, Grandma Anne's husband Jackson Gibbs. Grandpa Jack loves having a namesake and that we named young Jack's twin after his Anne, who died when my dad was 14."
"Ouch!"
Tim nodded but didn't expand on the matter, instead asking about their visit to Portugal.
"That was fun and a relief to be with people we know and love, especially when Colleen and her family were there! You know she and I are only related to them through our dad's adoption of us. I think it's wonderful they still consider us family, years after Dad's death. We're their grandchildren, niece and nephew, along with our partners and now have great-grandchildren for them to love."
"Those are some special people, Matt, glad you have them in your life!"
"So am I!"
The two of them smiled as Artie arrived with the van. It took a few minutes to install the four safety seats and then the children climbed in, their luggage was loaded into the cargo area and Athena's car topper, the adults found seats and off they went.
On the way to Varkiza, Tim remembered to tell the Mellos about their rental vehicle arriving in the morning. Matt checked his phone, finding the message from the rental car company and sending an acknowledgement. Shelly fell asleep as did all four of the children.
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Tim later told his dad about his panic. Jethro looked at him, taking him by the shoulders and looking him in the eye before pulling him into his arms, feeling the slight tremble in his son. "That's different, Timson, you don't easily panic. Do you remember any other thoughts?"
"That I wasn't ready, I wanted to take Artie, turn around and disappear."
"Ready for what, son?"
Tim looked at him, taking a deep breath. "I need Mom and Artie to hear this. Artie knows some of it, so does Mom."
"All right, I'll get them."
Nodding, Tim worked on finding calm, thinking about his wife and parents and how much he loved them and they loved him, about all the people he loved and who loved him, how many people he belonged to now.
He wasn't alone, he hadn't been for many years now, decades. He belonged to his wife, their children, his parents, his siblings, their families, his in-laws and all of the friends the 8 of them made during their lives on the street and afterwards, along with their newer siblings, Tony, Jimmy, Ziva and Abby. And all of them also belonged to him.
He huffed, he'd belonged to someone since the day he arrived in Baltimore when the bus driver asked him to take a little girl, Sarah, into the bus station with him. A few hours later, they met Geordie and even though the transient camp was a rough place, Tim immediately felt safer when he met Nate and Juanita. By the end of their second day at the camp, he felt a huge sense of freedom, no more moving around for him, here he'd be able to go to the same school for an entire school year, and no more having to adapt to new foster parents, hoping they'd like him and worrying that they wouldn't want him either, that he'd be moved again. That was done, he was here now and he already felt better than he had since he left the hospital. He was sure it would be hard, so far all of his life that he remembered had been hard one way or another and was also sure he would get through the difficulties.
Now, finding the calm he'd been searching for, he was doing some stretches when Artie and his parents arrived. He nodded to them, "Thanks for being willing to listen to me. Dad, Artie and Mom know a lot of what I'm going to tell you. Mom because of my nightmares when we stayed at the shelter and Artie, mostly because of those but also because of our history together at MIT."
He hooked an eyebrow at his dad, who'd nodded. Jethro replied, "Tony, Ziva and I also know about your nightmares, Timson, you occasionally had one, although never the same one, if we were overnight somewhere on a particularly awful case that involved a child or children. Ducky and Jimmy too."
Tim frowned, closing his eyes and then shrugged, finally saying, "Thank you for the comfort you must have given me and for not asking about them."
Dad winced, "I wanted to but Duck convinced me that it should be him and I'm guessing he never did."
"You're right, he did not."
He sat down and then stood again, he needed to be able to move while he told them his story. When he was through, he finally sat, relaxing as three pairs of arms somehow wrapped around him.
As Tim expected, Dad had questions and asked them, even while tears of grief and anger rolled down his face. Tim shook his head, "I don't have enough information to do any searching and I don't want to. I'm terrified of them and now I'm also frightened for my children, for all the family's children."
"Does Leon know?"
"No."
"Why now?"
Tim took a deep breath, holding onto his wife. "Because I think Matt Mello might be related to me. Even more frightening, for me anyway, is I think he believes he is related to me."
"You've never had your DNA tested?"
Tim visibly shuddered, "No. I can't. The agency doesn't even have my DNA. I didn't know this until a year or so ago but I believe my DNA was compromised, that was what they were trying to do. Although there are scientific studies, no living human's DNA has yet been successfully changed, unless it has and it has been kept quiet. My fear is that I was a test subject, I hope a failed test subject, considering how I was left at the hospital in a coma, and that some of those faceless people will find me, or our children, and try again."
He took an even deeper breath, "I also know that I was sold to the goons."
His father jumped up, his eyes blazing, "You were what?"
Beside him, Lu bowed her head, crying for her son. While she had put together bits and pieces of Tim's story over the years, she'd never even considered that. She'd believed his birth parents were responsible for his nightmares, timidness and as a child, his distrust of most people. Believing that, she'd made the same decision she'd made for Freddie, Barry and Bill, who had each been badly abused, physically and emotionally, by their supposed caregivers. She never said anything to anyone but Nate about the four boys, especially not in the condition that Baltimore's foster system was in at the time.
She had not reported their previous lives to any authority, she, Nate and Juanita in her fashion, continuing to do their best to give each of the four, along with the others, all the care and structure they needed.
Tim continued, "Sold. And yes, I remember the big person who took me, he had been my friend, I relied on him and he told me." Tears rolled down Tim's face, "He took care of me when my mother wasn't there. He would come to visit the man who sometimes stayed there and he played with me, changed me, fed me."
"Timothy, son, we need to get Leon in on this. How do you think Mello is involved?"
"I don't think he is, I just know we look enough alike to be related, maybe closely related. I believe he's a few years younger than I am, so he wouldn't have been involved. Dad, I don't know who I was or why they sold me or to whom they sold me. I don't even know how old I really am. Until you adopted me, I never had a father, I'd never called anyone Daddy. I don't know how or why I know or remember these things but I know with a certainty that I'm right."
"All right, son." Jethro wrapped his arms around his son, still trying to absorb everything Tim told them. Knowing there were nightmares was one thing, knowing what they were probably about was horrifying as well as sickening, to say the least. Lu and Artie joined him, the three of them comforting Tim as well as each other.
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Much to his surprise, Tim slept peacefully that night. Sunday morning, he and Artie were up early and once again went for a walk by themselves.
Sensing that today her husband's thoughts were occupied by something or things other than his past, Artie took a guess. "Timόtheos, are you thinking about your job again?"
He chuckled, making her very happy. "Not exactly or at least not about losing it. If I do, so be it, if I don't, yay! What I have been thinking about is that I need to see my staff at the London office, to resume my work schedule. I feel like I've been away from work for weeks, rather than a few days."
"You're not thinking of doing this to prove Porter wrong?"
He made a derisive noise, "Honey, I have enough confidence in myself and the work I do to know that she's wrong. Dead wrong. I mean, she's not dead but very wrong."
She chuckled, "I knew what you meant and I like you saying that she is dead wrong, I agree with you."
Giving her a lingering kiss, they walked on before Tim squared his shoulders, saying, "Artemis, I need to go to London for a few days. We'll ask Mom and Dad to take care of the children and as it's winter, you'll be home close to sunset. The kids can go to day care and then Ellanni and Jack will start at the International School on Monday. I'll be home, this home, by then."
"When are you thinking of leaving?"
"Tuesday morning, Paddington has a flight out at 0600. The Clachers, Powells, junior Mallards, the Scottish Mallard cousins, Freddie, Abby, Menolly, Joe, Char, Tommy and the Porters are flying home, first to Edinburgh, then to London and across to the US. The Porters will stay in Arlington for the air crew layover before continuing to San Francisco.
"Tony and Nigel have a meeting they need to attend so they're also going, Dick will stay with Maggie and the girls. Rob needs to get back to work and I believe Geo and Bec are taking Brian and Mia home. Classes start for all four of them next week and they'll want the children to see their new school and maybe meet their teachers before they start."
Artie nodded, "Nik and Gaia and their families are also leaving Tuesday morning, probably right after your departure. I believe Ned, Barry and the girls will be on the same flight as theirs. How long do you want to be there?"
"I'll be in the office early enough Tuesday to put in a full day and then Wednesday I have an early appointment, before his office hours, with Dr. Landers. I'll go into work from there and work all day Thursday as well. Friday, I'll go in early and leave for the airport around 9:00. Tony's got a flight booked back here at 10:30 AM and he's holding a seat for me. That'll get us here between 3:40 and 4:00 Eastern European time, depending on the air traffic in London.
"Until we know that the Jaxton house is empty and has been cleaned, we Jaxton residents will stay at the townhouse in London. The Mallards may stay there until the baby is born, don't know. George and Edie will be with Sarah, Breena and Donnie during the day, so they won't be alone while James and Jimmy are at work."
"Good, I wondered about that. And I bet the townhouse will be fun! Honey, I'm proud and relieved that you've made an appointment with Dr. Landers and I understand your need to see your staff, especially after yet another storm." She looked at him, "Will you want to return to the UK next week?"
He shook his head, "Next week, I want to do one full week here, then four days in London and 1 day in Athens and then maybe reverse that, sort of going back and forth."
She made a face, "That sounds confusing although I understand you not wanting to be away from us for a full week."
He nodded, "I know it's confusing and I may just be in London two days a week and the rest here. Did we decide if we were going home every weekend?"
"I think we decided to wait and see what the weather was doing any particular weekend. We may want to play in the snow one or more weekends!"
"True, I forgot about that and playing in the snow will be fun." He smiled, "I remember you talking about the children forgetting what it's like to be cold and playing in the snow is a great way to be reminded! All right, for this week, I'm leaving Tuesday morning and will be back Friday around 1600, local time. Huh, I guess I'd better tell Leon!" He twisted his lips, "There is something else. How about we move into our usual rental on Saturday?"
"Yes! There's room for your parents as well. I love my parents and Amara but I think we're all feeling a bit cramped, especially Amara!"
"Shall I let our landlord know we won't be there until Saturday?"
Tim shook his head, "Nah, he already waived the deposit and in a couple of years we won't be renting from him anymore, he can have the few extra dollars." Smiling, he asked, "Is there anything you want from home, if I have a chance to get out there?"
"The Christmas gifts!"
"Ok, then I'll borrow a car and drive out."
"Oh no, Tim, that sounds like a hassle. You'll have to go after work, find everything, load it up, unload it at the townhouse or leave it in the car and worry about it and then haul it all to the airport on Friday! We haven't set up a new date yet, leave everything there and we'll take them when it's time. Otherwise we will have to leave them with someone here in Varkiza and all that seems unnecessary."
Laughing, he agreed.
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When Tim spoke with Leon, the man agreed to his plan, before sighing, "I should also do that. Not your exact schedule but I need to visit our offices while I'm over here."
"Take Jackie with you to Hamburg, go skiing in Germany."
"Great idea! Kayla's flying back with you on Tuesday along with her roommate and her family. Jared has asked to stay here to attend the International School with Kyra, the Russells' youngest."
"Glad Kayla's with us and wow about Jared!"
"Yes, he has this term and then next year will be his senior or last year of high school, I mean secondary school. We believe it will be good for him to experience more real life, meaning not just vacationing, in another country and where better than here? He speaks the language, he loves it here, has friends and family, it's perfect! He would be somewhat like an exchange student, only unofficially and he'd live with the Russells. With her sister and brothers either at college or on their own, Kyra is as excited as Jared!"
"He'll also be safer."
"Yes, there is that, in fact both of us admit to being a bit relieved." Leon took a breath, "That also means we don't have to worry about my job."
"Right. Have you heard anything?"
"No, how about you, got that written apology yet?"
Tim made a noise and they both laughed. Tim finally said, "As Secretary McCord is a peer of Smythe's and to me, from his actions, he seems arrogant. He probably deleted her e-mail. And as he is Porter's boss, not McCord, he may have told Porter not to bother."
"Yes, sadly I'm also coming to that conclusion." Leon huffed, "Not the first SecNav or SecDef who's lost my trust or done us dirty but hopefully they will be the last."
"At least Mrs. Bess knows the truth."
"Yes, it helps knowing that, both personally and professionally. How about this, we'll go to Hamburg, haven't been there before and you go to London. Then on some of your London days, you and I will visit the other offices."
Leon smiled at Tim's enthusiastic response. He'd thought there was something else going on but that 'something' was not evident, at least not today. He thought about going to Naples, almost smacking his lips as he thought about eating at Nik and Sergio's restaurant in Sorrento, only an hour from the NCIS office by train.
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One of the 'fallouts' from flying straight to Greece from the US was that the Greek family had planned to celebrate Christmas in Jaxton. Now they would celebrate at Yaya's as she, Artie, Lu, Susannah, her mother-in-law Fiona and Rhode would do most of the cooking, unless of course Nik decided to cook which would be wonderful! Sophia would handle the table decorations and other holiday décor with help from her grandchildren, nieces and nephew.
Feeling bad at not having the Christmas gifts they'd found for their Greek family, Artie was relieved when Susannah mentioned they hadn't brought any of their gifts. The adults eventually agreed they'd buy a few little things for the children but that they could wait until they were all together again to open their other gifts.
When Artie suggested planning another get-together in January or February, everyone liked that. For now, they'd celebrate their traditional Christmas with good food, their family and whatever little gifts they could find before Monday. To make it even more fun they decided to have a limit of how much could be spent for each person. While the grandparents objected, the parents were very happy with the limits.
Late Monday morning, Tim and his dad chuckled as they loaded the SUV with everything Lu and Artie would need today, both food and equipment. Before they left Tim remembered the box of gifts they'd purchased. While Artie drove and Rhode, her daughter Amara and Lu rode, Tim, the children, Poppy and Pappouli Peter walked to Athena's home. The SUV was still in the process of being unloaded by the time they got there and everyone pitched in.
When they entered the house, the aromatic smell drew them to the kitchen where Nik and Sergio were busy putting something wonderful together. The group smiled happily. The women, with the exceptions of Sophia who was still a beginner, Sarah and Maggie who'd purposely married men they loved and because both men liked to cook, were all good cooks but they were excited whenever the family chefs took over!
Not only did it give them a break, everyone there would be happy with the feast Chefs Nik and Sergio prepared. And, as Athena now had a dishwasher, a name day present from the entire family, clean up would be fairly easy.
Sophia smiled as she decorated the dining table, the children helping her, this was something she liked to do and was fairly good at. This year, she'd found table decorations representing the countries of their large family, England, Scotland, the US, France where Ned and Barry lived, Italy, Israel as Ziva's birthplace and of course Greece. She'd found tiny little artificial pine and fir trees and scattered those around, setting the table with festive napkins.
Their dinner was delicious, as Nik's creations always were and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Before dessert was served, they opened their presents. The children each had several gifts and the adults laughed when each of them also had the same number as the children!
They had fun opening them and showing the others what they were. There were puzzle books for the children and also for the adults. A book on parenting for Geo and Bec, who were very happy to see it while Brian and Mia laughed. Plushy animals, a canister of a favorite tea or a jar of a favorite and hard-to-find jam, freshly baked cookies, a new book or two as well as a few old favorites in good condition, a few DVDs of classic movies, new games, warm scarves for cold weather, pretty scarves for date nights, sunhats, child and adult sized gardening tools and packets of seeds for all the gardeners. It was fun to see everything and they laughed at themselves as they 'oohed and ahhed'.
NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS
That night, Tim gathered their children in his and Artie's room, telling them he had to go to work in London and would be back Friday night, for dinner and would talk with them every day.
When Jack asked if he would be gone every week, like their mama used to be, Tim shook his head. "Do you remember that I'm in charge of all the people in the office in London?" Four nods and Tim smiled at them, "Remember how bumpy our plane ride was when we crossed over the ocean?"
They nodded again and Tim continued, "All the people in London who report to me also went through that big storm only on the ground. I knew they were safe, they stayed at Uncle Tony and Aunt Maggie's house but I still need to see that they are all right."
"And," he leaned down as if to tell them a secret, "I have a lot of work to do. I'll start in London tomorrow and then next week I'll work here at the Embassy, remember when I did that last summer?"
They smiled and nodded at that. Taking them to their rooms, he watched as first the boys and then the girls dropped off to sleep. He kissed each forehead whispering that he loved them, and would always love them.
Walking back into the living area, he smiled at his wife, parents and in-laws who all seemed to be waiting for him. "What's up?"
Sounding very much like Boss Gibbs, his dad said, "I'm going with you to London" in his 'argue with me and you'll pay the consequences' voice.
Tim very carefully kept his lips curled in where they couldn't get him into trouble, although he really really wanted to say, "Yes, Boss", while Rhode said, "Your mother, Athena, Maggie, Sophia, Richard, Donald, Peter and I will do fine with all 7 of the children. They're looking forward to seeing the friends they made at daycare last summer and will have plenty to keep them busy. If it's warm enough, they can swim here or perhaps in the apartment building pool, Athena knows the owner and we have permission. And you'll be home before Monday, in time for Ellanne and Jackson's first day of school in Greece."
Amused, Tim nodded with a smile, realizing she was including Jasper, MacKenna and Madelyn with his children. Then he looked at his dad who gave him one of his smiley-smirks, "George and I have a crib and bassinet to make, we'll be busy! Once we're in London, we'll drop you at work, drop our stuff off at the townhouse and then take the tube out to Jaxton, take a look at the house and gardens, gather what we need and then bring it back in one of our cars, probably George's."
"Great, this all sounds wonderful, thank you!"
His mother looked at him carefully, "You're not upset?"
"Me? No, this sounds great! Maybe Dad, George and Tony, if he's available, can come in for lunch on Thursday." He turned to his in-laws, "How about you two meet me at the Embassy for lunch one day?"
Peter and Rhode smiled at him, "We'd like that, thank you!"
Rhode added, "I've never been in an embassy!"
Tim nodded, "I hadn't either before I started working in this one in whatever year that was, 2012?"
NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS
Leaving the house at 4:30 AM Tuesday morning for their 6:00 AM flight, Tim had one thought, that as soon he was aboard the jet he could sleep for 4 hours. He followed that thought by leaning back and shutting his eyes, a little nap now wouldn't hurt. He and Dad were riding to the airport with Geo and Bec, Brian and Mia. While Geo was turning in their rental car, Tim and their father would get the luggage off-loaded onto a trolley and hang out with the children while Bec checked them in at the FBO desk.
Everything went according to plan and the 6 of them joined the rest of the traveling group of family and friends, Larry and Cyndie Porter were returning home to California, at the FBO. Young Brian was excited about flying again, this time without any storms to worry about. While Mia liked flying all right, she wasn't as excited about flying in a private jet as Brian was. Considering this was only her third flight and the last time had also been on a private jet and that she was younger than he was, he guessed she hadn't really noticed the difference.
Saying goodbye to those returning to their homes in Europe, the UK bound group boarded, several of them thinking about their flight from the US nearly a week before.
Tim and Jethro sat across from each other in two rows turned inward. That way each had a window seat, although Tim planned to sleep as much as possible. He sat in the middle seat so he wouldn't bump his head on the 'wall' of the aircraft while he was asleep and so that he could stretch out a bit more. After buckling his seat belt and tucking a bottle of water safely nearby, he smiled at his dad and closed his eyes. Jethro shook his head at his son's ability to sleep through a few announcements, taxiing and takeoff, although he himself had been known to fall asleep as soon as he had the harness fastened on the C-130s of his Marine and NCIS days. He waited to enjoy a cup of coffee from the beverage cart before also falling asleep.
As Tim had promised himself, he didn't wake until the jet landed in Aberdeen. He said goodbye to all of Ducky's cousins as they left the aircraft, thankful that Ducky would stay in Greece until his new grandchild was due to arrive. Next it was goodbye to the Clachers as they landed in Edinburgh. Goodbye for them meant hugs as well as kisses for little Alec from Poppy and Uncle Tim.
Another short flight brought the flight to the FBO at Luton Airport near London, their final destination. Gathering everything, Tim remembering his garment bag, they disembarked, finding a bus waiting for them. The bus would first drop Tim off at the NCIS office before continuing to Tony's townhouse. Jethro would deliver his son's garment and carry-on bags to the bedroom room they would share this week.
Tim felt like a school kid going on a field trip as he stepped off the bus near the NCIS office. He smiled at the sign in the lobby, thinking it was meant for the entire office as it read, "Welcome Back, Everyone, Glad We're All Safe!"
Then his smile grew wider, realizing it was what he'd said in an office-wide email he'd sent on Friday. Checking in with Security, he was told who had suffered damages to their homes or vehicles. While the Thames Barrier protected central London, not everyone lived in the protected area, many, like Tim, Nikki and James, lived outside of London. Now Tim was relieved that only a few people had suffered damages to their homes and/or vehicles and none of it seemed catastrophic. He climbed the stairs, happy that they'd walked on the beach as much as they had as he made it up to his office without having to stop.
When he walked in, he smiled at Cynthia who was wearing a mask over her mouth and nose and held up a sign that said, "Welcome back, consider yourself hugged! Kids have colds so don't come near me, please! Did Nikki come with you?"
Grinning, he shook his head and signed "Happy New Year, hope you don't catch the cold!" to her before heading into his office. Then he popped his head out, "Any calls on Friday?"
When she pointed, he headed to his desk, of course she would have left him a call list! He laughed to himself at how out of practice he was, but then the last 10 days had been hectic as well as a little scary.
Logging into his email, he spotted one from Under-Secretary Leo and opened it. Over the weekend, he sent her a list of the first three locations for relocating part of the fleet that currently occupied Flauvtic and she'd seen the list as well as his analysis and rationale.
Her message said, "Thank you, this is a wonderful start! If the governments agree to these, we're more than halfway there! A much better start to the year than the end of last year. Happy New Year, Michele."
Looking below, he saw an attachment and clicked on it. Reading it, he shook his head, sending it to his personal email. Looking at the time, he'd forgotten how big the time gap was that separated the US and the UK. It was 0900 here, he'd have to wait at least another 3 hours before he could talk to anyone at the State Department.
Deciding to take the treats he brought from Greece to the break room before he ate them all, he took care of that before sending an office-wide message that treats from Greece were in the break room.
When he couldn't stand it anymore, he sent Michele's email to his phone and then forwarded it, attachment and all to Leon. Then he got back to work, spending the rest of the time until the US Government's business day started, at least for the early birds, meeting with his department heads as well as his field, cyber and cold case teams.
At some point Security notified him that Dr. Mallard had arrived and he headed downstairs to welcome Jimmy to London.
When he arrived in the Autopsy suite, Jimmy was unpacking the boxes he'd shipped the day after he and Breena said yes to the transfer. He looked up as Tim walked in, "Good Morning, Dr. Mallard and welcome to NCIS: London Euro!"
Jimmy beamed, "Thank you, Agent Gibbs, I'm excited to be here. Do you know if there's anything different here, I mean in the suite, that I should know about?"
Tim looked around before remembering Jimmy's assistant was off today. "Yes, two things. One, your assistant is off today, will return tomorrow and two, there are no liquor bottles in the suite." He started to ask a question and then smiled as Jimmy held up Ducky's tea pot. "That's wonderful, our new CMO for NCIS: Europe, a good omen and you're now officially open for business."
"Thanks, although I hope we don't have any business today."
"Copy that! I don't know if you'll see her but stay away from Cynthia, her kids have colds."
"Will do. That's so weird, her being here!"
Tim chuckled, "She'll probably say the same thing about you being here. I'm off to IT, welcome again and see you later."
"Wait, uh, what do I call you in public?"
"Agent Gibbs."
"That's going to take some getting used to. The last time I called anyone Agent Gibbs at the office, it was Jethro back in '08!"
"And you can call him that again tomorrow, he, George and maybe Tony are coming in for lunch, please join us if you don't have a guest. We'll get takeout and eat in my office. It's easier that way."
"Will James also be joining us?"
"Yes, unless he has plans or there's something going on with the system."
"Good!"
Swinging by IT, he saw that James was in his office with one of his techs, the door closed. He hoped that wasn't bad news! James looked up but Tim gave him a little wave and left.
Now there were only a few minutes left before he could catch the early birds at State. Remembering he'd brought something from Abby for his lab techs, he walked to the lab. The techs looked up, smiling as he entered.
Returning their smiles, he put two packages down on the table, turned and left. The packages contained two autographed advance copies of his and Abby's updated book. He smiled to himself as he heard barely contained squeals behind him.
Walking up the stairs again, he entered the suite just as Cynthia said, "He's here now, sir, I'll transfer you back to his line."