Daddy's Money

            Kelly was driving over to her father and Jenny’s home to pick up her sisters for lunch and a bit of shopping one Saturday afternoon.  Kelly wasn’t about to call Jenny her mother let alone her step-mother any time soon so she just called her by her name. She had been on her phone talking to Emily for the drive over.

            “Emmy, it’s just crazy that he expects me to be all chummy with her. He knows that won’t happen, she comes from money and I don’t. Jenny and I have nothing in common whatsoever.”

            “Jenny is actually quite nice, Kelly. And just because she comes from money doesn’t mean that you can’t find something in common. I mean you get along with your sisters and they come from money.”

            “That’s different; the five of us have someone in common.”

            “You and Jenny have someone in common too, Kelly.”

            “Yeah she and I have Dad in common, but it just bugs me that she’s changed him so much.”

            “Jenny hasn’t changed Jethro at all.”

            “Yes she has. He was into my mom; he was a small town boy who fell in love with a small town girl who worked for everything like he did. Three ex-wives later and Jenny gets her hands on him and he’s Mr. Suburbia living in a monolithic five bedroom, three bathroom home that rivals every other house in the DC area; Emily.”

            “I’ve been in their house before, Kelly and it’s not that bad. You’re just use to living on a Marine base or in an Airstream. Your sisters and Jenny don’t have to since Jethro is a retired Marine now and Jenny inherited her money when her father died.”

            “Not that bad; it’s a five bedroom, three bathroom house complete with a state of the art kitchen, study and whatever else she managed to have in that house. She has turned my dad into a different man.”           

            “No she hasn’t. He is still the same man he was when you were a kid, now you just have to share him with eleven other people.”

            “That’s easy for you to say Emily; your dad didn’t remarry like mine did and well your mom just likes being married.”

            “Can you blame her? Her first two marriages weren’t exactly perfect.”

            “That’s cause my dad and yours were married to their jobs and they didn’t let her boss them around like Victor does.”

            “She has him whipped that’s why. Anyway I got to go, Em; I’m at the mansion.”

            “Okay say hi to your sisters for me.”

            Kelly rang the doorbell. Noemi answered it as Delilah, Emiliana, Arabella and Madison rushed to the door.

            “Dad and Jenny at it again?” Kelly inquired.

            “For once no, we’ve just been cooped up in the house all morning with nothing to do.” Delilah answered her older sister.

            On a subconscious level Delilah found it a bit weird that she had an older sister that wasn’t dead like she and her sister had thought since she had spent the past eighteen years being the oldest in the family. Since Kelly came back into the picture, Delilah had to relinquish that role to Kelly.
            “Wow they’re not acting like rabbits for once, that’s a new one.” Kelly said as she and her sisters headed to her car.

            At this point Madison was getting fed up with Kelly’s angst against her mother. So in the middle of the street Madison in true Madison fashion let loose on her older sister.

            “What the hell is your damn issue with our mom?”

            “Madison.” Arabella chastised her younger sister.

            “No, Aria; I want to know why Kelly has been a bitch when it comes to mom.”

            “It’s a long story.” Kelly answered.

            “Start explaining, we have time.”

            “I’d rather not.”

            “I see what your issue is.” Emiliana said.

            “Enlighten us, Lena.” Madison said.

            “Kelly has an issue with mom cause in her opinion mom has changed dad, mom replaced her mom in dad’s heart and mom comes from money which in Kelly’s opinion only exacerbates things more.” Emiliana explained.

            “If that’s the case then get the hell over it.”

            The quintet finished airing things and Kelly realized that she and her sisters were just as well off or at least they’d be just as well off as Jenny was some day.

            It was another hot June day and even though the air conditioning had been on in the house things were still a bit hot inside. Jenny spent most of the morning in her study overseeing an MTAC op. Jethro was in the basement sanding the birthday present he was intending to give Amira in a few days time. Jenny had decided to slip into one of her string bikinis and tease her husband all the way into the hot tub out back.

            “Hubba-hubba.” Jethro muttered under his breath as Jenny descended the basement stairs.

            “You like what you see?”

            “Haven’t decided yet.”  Jethro answered as he wondered how he got so lucky to have Jenny as his wife.

            “Well decide soon.” Jenny said as she tossed Jethro a pair of his swim trunks and sauntered back up the stairs.

            Jethro rolled his eyes at her as she went back upstairs and he had connected the dots.

            “Don’t you roll your eyes at me Leroy.” Jenny called back.

            Jenny then headed out back to the hot tub after she had left two beach towels on one of the chairs in the kitchen that sat in front of the center island and instructed Noemi to make sure Jethro picked up the towel on his way out.

            By the time Jethro came out the hot tub was running and was completely warm. Jenny sat in the middle of the hot tub along the back portion of it. The water came up about midway on Jenny’s abdomen.

            “Well it’s about time you showed up.” Jenny said with her head slightly tilted in a seductive sort of way.

            “You know I like making you wait.”

            “Oh I know, just remember payback is a bitch.”

            At one point Jethro took note of a scar on Jenny’s right shoulder that he hadn’t seen before.

            “Where did this come from?”

            “Oh that, it’s nothing.”

            “It isn't anything Jen, something or someone did that to you and I want to know what happened.” Jethro said.

            “I took a bullet to my shoulder one time while was working with Ziva overseas before I became the Director.”

            “At least that explains why you would only hold the girls on your left side whenever you held them.”

            “Yeah Jethro, you know as well as I do that holding a four year old when you have a damaged shoulder makes thing more than just a bit unbearable.”

            “I’m glad Ziva got you to a hospital in time back then.”

            “Jethro, I’m never leaving you. By now you should know that I would never let you be a widower a second time around and to be a single parent on top of it. I’m a fighter just like you.”

            “That’s good to hear.”

            Jenny and Jethro stayed in the hot tub for a while longer. Before long the girls and Kelly were back from their afternoon out together. When the quintet got back to the house they had found Jenny and Jethro in the hot tub. Kelly handed her dad one of the towels as he got up and out of the hot tub. Once he was out he handed Jenny the other towel and like the complete chauvinist gentleman nature, Jethro helped Jenny out of the hot tub once she had the towel around her.

            There is no way in hell she can look that good after having four kids eighteen years ago. Kelly thought to herself.

            After dinner that night Kelly had decided to stay the night. In bed after the quintet had settled in Jethro took a break from the case report he was reading to ask Jenny something.

            “Jen, I want Kelly to live with us. She’s the only connection I have to Shannon; that okay with you?”

            Jenny set down the book she was reading before she answered Jethro.

            “It’s more than okay with me, Jethro. Kelly is your daughter and the girls’ sister; she’s family. She belongs here.”

            “Thanks Jen, it means a lot.”

            With that the two of them returned to their reading before falling asleep.

She's Everything

            It was a warm June night and all the windows in the Gibbs household were wide open. Jenny and Jethro had eased up a bit on the protection/protection detail of their daughters. But of course they were still concerned about them. Jenny knew that Jethro had to be a bit more guarded than she was. It was his Marine nature; she knew that he would always be on guard with her and their girls but now he had to be on his guard with Kelly. Jethro had given things a few days to calm down after the girls’ graduation and Kelly unexpected return before he had started his own personal investigation into Kelly’s miraculous escape from the car accident that killed Shannon and why he hadn’t been put into witness protection  as well let alone told that his daughter was alive.

            Fornell was going to get an earful. Noemi had left for the night a few hours ago. Kelly had taken her sisters out shopping as her gift to them for their graduation. In turn this left Jenny and Jethro alone in the house. Jenny and Jethro were relaxing in the living room. Jethro was watching the highlights from the Phillies and Orioles games on ESPN’s Sports Center while Jenny had the house phone with her.

            “I have to say it is a bit eerie that Kelly has a lot of Gibbs’ features, Jenny.” Ziva said on the other end.

            “It’s not so eerie, Ziva; Kelly has the best of both her parents just as the girls have the best of me and the best of Jethro.”

            “I know, but now the odds are tipped more in Gibbs’ favor since three of his girls have his blue eyes and only two of the girls have your green eyes. I think you need to even the field.”

            “You know that’s is impossible, besides I don’t think Kelly would take too kindly to me having another baby by Jethro even if it were possible or did you miss it at the party the other night, she’s not my biggest fan right now.”

            “She’ll come around, Abby did.” Ziva said recalling how un-thrilled Abby had been when Jenny had assigned Chip as her assistant.

            “Thanks for that reminder, Ziva. I’ve completely forgotten about that mistake until you brought it up.”

            “What mistake?” Jethro asked when Sports Center had gone to commercial break.

            “Chip.”

            “Oh yeah that. That was a major mistake on your part.”

            “Come on, that was my first week as Director.”

            “Tell Gibbs I said to give you a break.”

            “He won’t.”

            “Damn right I won’t. You were a junior Director that day.”

            “Leroy.”

            “And that’s my cue. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

            “Night Ziva.”

            “Night Jenny.”

            Jenny and Ziva hung up.

            “Can we change it to something else besides sports highlights?”

            “What do you want to watch? Action?

            “No, between the office and the bedroom; I have enough action in my life already.”

            “Comedy.”

            “I get enough of that with Tony.”

            “Horror.”

            “Possibly,”

            “Romantic fantasy?”

            “Sure, what’s on?”

            “You’re So Cupid.”

            During a commercial break Brad Paisley’s She’s Everything played on the radio app on Jenny’s iPhone. Of course Jethro started to sing along just to amuse Jenny.

“She's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She's I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
She's I can't find a thing to wear
Now and then she's moody…” Jethro sang.

“Cute Jethro.”

“She's a Saturn with a sunroof
With her red hair a-blowing
She's a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She's a warm conversation
That I wouldn't miss for nothing
She's a fighter when she's mad
And she's a lover when she's loving…”  Jethro sang changing the lyric that Brad sang of “With her brown hair a-blowing” to what he had sung to have the song fit Jenny a bit better.

“Really Jethro.”

“And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me…” Jethro sung the chorus.

 Jenny rolled her eyes at her husband’s goofy-ness.

“She's a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck
And a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
She's a one glass of wine
And she's feeling kinda tipsy..”

            “I can hold my wine, Jethro; you know that.”

            “She's the giver I wish I could be
          And the stealer of the covers
          She's a picture in my wallet
          and my children's mother
          She's the hand that I'm holding
         When I'm on my knees and praying
         She's the answer to my prayer
         And she's the song that I'm playing…”  Jethro sung his version of the song once again.

            Jenny smiled.

            “And she's everything I ever wanted
          And everything I need
          I talk about her, I go on and on and on
         'Cause she's everything to me…”

            At this point the movie came back on but the song was still playing and as much as Jenny wanted to silence Jethro and the song to watch the movie she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.

            “She's the voice I love to hear
          Someday when I'm ninety
          She's that wooden rocking chair
          I want rocking right beside me
          Everyday that passes
          I only love her more
          Yeah, she's the one
          That I'd lay down my own life for…”

            “I know you’d lay down your life for me, Jethro. And I love ya for that.”

            “And she's everything I ever wanted
             And everything I need
             She's everything to me
            Yeah she's everything to me…”

          “Everything I ever wanted
           And everything I need
          She's everything to me.” Jethro recited as he finished singing along to the song.

            “Thank-you, Jethro; that was beautiful. Can we continue watching the movie or do you want to put me in a song next?” Jenny asked using Keith Urban’s song as a part of her sentence.

            “Let’s get back to the movie.”

            Jenny then sent Ziva a quick text message telling her that Jethro had just sung the Brad Paisley song to her and said that she assumed that Tony hasn’t done something along those lines for Ziva yet.

            No he hasn’t, mom; but then again Tony isn’t as romantic as Dad seems to be. Beside it will be years before Tony will do that for me. Maybe when Madalyn and Asher are the girls’ age he will but until then we have our hands full.”

            Don’t rush it Ziva, before you know your kids will be eighteen and heading off to college and it will be just the two of you.

            Thanks for the advice Mom, don’t worry you’ll J’s girls, your extended dysfunctional family and Kelly after you and Dad bring the girls to college.

            True, goodnight Ziva.

            Night Mom.

            Jenny shifted her attention back to the movie she and Jethro were watching together as she nestled herself in Jethro.

Milestone

It was the day of Delilah, Emiliana, Arabella and Madison’s high school graduation. Everyone was quite proud of the girls. Abby had planned a graduation party for the girls that was happening after the graduation ceremony. The girls were downstairs while their parents were upstairs. Jenny was dealing with the whole empty nest syndrome as it became all too real that in a few months time she and Jethro would be taking the girls to college. Jethro knew how Jenny felt and was supportive in every way he possibly could. As the girls were having a good time and bonding downstairs there was a knock on the door.

            Since Franks’ death and the details of the mission Franks assisted Agent Whitney Sharp in came to light, Jenny and Jethro had become extremely protective of the girls. Noemi answered the door as the girls made their way to the foyer. After hearing the doorbell, Jenny and Jethro began to make their way downstairs to see who was at the door.

            “Senora can I help you?” Noemi asked when she opened the door.

            The girls stopped dead in their tracks when they saw who Noemi was talking to. They had only seen pictures of her from when she was a kid and they had visited what they had thought was the woman’s grave.

            “Its okay Noemi, we know who she is.” Delilah said.

            “But Senora Delilah, your parents said not to let anyone in the house unless I knew who they were after Senor Franks’ died.”

            “Noemi, this is one of those times where there is an exception to what our parents say.” Arabella said.

            Noemi was puzzled at this point.

            “She’s our sister.” Madison answered Noemi’s confusion.

            “That’s Kelly, our half-sister from Dad’s first marriage.” Emiliana said.

            “But Senor Gibbs has only been married to Senora Gibbs.”

            “No, Noemi; my father from what I’ve heard from Agent Fornell remarried four times after my mom died.” Kelly said as she came into the house.

            “I’m wife number five, Noemi. Shannon was the first then Diane.” Jenny said as she and Jethro came down to the foyer.

            “Then there was what’s her name as wife number three.” Madison said.

            “Stephanie was number four, just before mom.” Arabella stated.

            “And then there’s her; Jenny Shepard, the harlot who made my dad forget about my mom.” Kelly said bitterly.

            Jethro was stunned to see his daughter whom he thought was dead standing before him.

            “Kelly Joann Gibbs, you will not disrespect Jen like that, not in this house.” Jethro said once the shock had worn off.

            Noemi left the foyer and returned to what she was doing beforehand. Everyone else remained in the squad room.

            “Kelly, by no means did I ever intend on replacing your mom in your dad’s heart and mind. I know that she was his soul mate and his first love. Unlike his ex-wives in between your mom and me, I have no problem with playing second to your mom.”

            Jethro was pure business.

            “Kelly why are you here? You’re suppose to be dead.”

            “Witness protection, dad. The FBI put me in after mom died. Then they told me that mom’s killer had been taken care of and later on her killer’s daughter was no longer a threat nor was the killer’s son.”

            Knowing what really happened in the case of Hernandez, Reynosa and Rivera; Jenny looked over to Jethro in an all to knowing way.

            “The FBI said once I turned eighteen I was allowed to leave Witness Protection and find you since all the threats had been alleviated.”

            There was an awkward silence. The collective heard Jaylyn and Kasey come in the back door. The girls then decided to take Kelly into the living room so that they could get to know her better. Jethro and Kasey went into the kitchen to talk over some cold beers while Noemi cleaned off the counters. The doorbell rang again.

            This time it was Stacey and her camera crew. Jarvis had thought that having Jaylyn and Jenny do Stacey’s interview hour show was a good way to promote the agency. He also saw it as an opportunity to show that NCIS was the only agency that had two sisters working together in a career that was considered to be in the realm of a “guy’s world” career.

            Stacey talked to Jenny and Jaylyn for a few minutes as she got her hair and make-up done before she did the show intro. Jenny and Jaylyn stood off to the side while Stacey taped. The trio of women would be talking and walking the grounds of Jenny and Jethro’s home. Minutes later they were outside walking around.

            “I’m here walking the grounds of the home NCIS Director Jenny Gibbs, the home that she shares with her husband; NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs and their four daughters. With the Director and I is the Director’s sister, NCIS Special Agent Jaylyn Shepard.”

            The trio stepped off the porch and headed down the driveway a bit.

            “This is a beautiful home you have here Director.”

            “Thank-you, my husband and I worked hard to get it this way.”

            “So it seems that serving the country runs in your family. You, your husband and Agent Shepard come from military families. Your husband was Marine Gunnery Sergeant, your father was a Colonel in the Navy and the three of you serve our country by working at NCIS. Two agents and a Director; Director is there any chance that your daughters will follow in yours and your husband’s footsteps?”

            “Not completely sure what they will do, they are free spirits; they have been since the day they were born.”

            “I bet you and your husband are quite proud of them graduating today, Director.”

            “We are.”

            “Agent Shepard, you and your husband must be anxious for the arrival your babies.”

            “Kasey isn’t my husband, he’s my boyfriend and yes we’re quite anxious for the girls to arrive.”

            “We are; Kasey will make a great dad.” Jenny said.

            “He’ll make a great step dad, Jen.” Jaylyn corrected her sister.

            “Step dad?”

            “The father of my daughters died in the line of duty, Kasey is their step-dad.”

            The walk and talk with Stacey continued on. Shortly thereafter Stacey and her people left. Everyone got ready for the graduation.

            The ceremony went perfectly. Jenny was in tears the entire time. The moment that sent Jenny into a tail spin was when the vice principal called each of the girls on the stage to accept their diplomas.

            “Delilah Jayne Gibbs.”

            Delilah walked to the stage and accepted her diploma. Jenny wept.

            “Emiliana Jayme Gibbs.”

            Emiliana walked to the stage and accepted her diploma. Jenny wept.

            “Arabella Jacqueline Gibbs.”

            Arabella walked to the stage and accepted her diploma. Jenny wept.

            “Madison Jaliyah Gibbs.”

            Madison walked to the stage and accepted her diploma. Jenny wept.

            “At least you got to see them graduate. At least you were there when they were born. At least you were there for all their firsts.” Kelly said under her breath bitterly.

           

           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

           

Visitor

 

“I can understand you not telling your father about the kids, Ziva. But it’s going to be impossible to not tell my father while he’s in town.”

“I hid them from you for years. We can still hide them from your father.”

“Ziva, he’s going to see that there's more between us than what there was the last time he was here.”

“Junior, when are you going to come to your senses and sweep this beautiful creature off of her feet?”

Tony had paused in the middle of his and Ziva’s bedroom recalling his father’s inquiry from six years prior when Senior had been a suspect in the investigation they had.

“What is it Tony?”

“Nothing just remembering what my dad said back during that case we had six years ago.”

“The one where he was a suspect?”

“Yeah, that one.”

Ziva smiled as she recalled the same moment.

“I believe I have swept you off of your feet.” Tony said snapping Ziva back to reality.

“Twice, I’ve been swept.”

Tony and Ziva finished getting ready for work and got the kids off to school.

“I just realized all the times your father has been in town he has never met the Director or Jay. The Director has been out of the office when he came and Jay was out in the field all three times.”

“Well this should be interesting then.”

As if on cue Tony’s cell phone rang.

“What is it McDorkus? I was enjoying the morning with my girl.” Tony said as he picked up the call.

Ziva rolled her eyes as she attached her gun and badge to herself.

“Your father is here, Tony and he’s causing trouble.”

“What kind of trouble and why isn’t Gibbs handling it?”

“Gibbs is out getting coffee and let’s just say the Director and Jay are going to castrate your father if he doesn’t shut up soon, so get down here ASAP.”

Tony hung up.

“We got to go, I’m going to have one unhappy step-mom real soon if we don’t get down there soon.” Tony said to Ziva.

“I take it Jenny and Jay have met your father then.”

“Exactly and they didn’t warm up to him as quickly as you and Abby did. Let’s go, Probette.”

A little bit later Tony and Ziva walked over to the squad room and saw the deadly looks on Jenny and Jaylyn’s faces. Of course neither knew Senior’s true identity. They both thought he was just some chauvinistic jackass that wondered into the agency.

“I’m six months pregnant you jackass.” Jaylyn said to Senior.

“And I’m married woman, so don’t even try.”

“Sounds like your dad just said something about J’s stomach and crossed a line with the Director.”

“Pregnancy and marriage hasn’t stopped me before ladies.” Senior said digging himself a deeper hole.

“Oh dad, shut up.” Tony said as he and Ziva drew closer to the squad room.

At this point pretty everyone that was within the general vicinity heard what was going on and was eavesdropping.

“Sir, if I were you I’d stop slinging insults and flirting unless you want to be singing soprano.” Jenny advised.

“Dad cut it out. Director, J; I am terribly sorry for the way my father is acting.”

“Don’t apologize for me Junior.”

“Dad just shut up, and respect them like you respect Ziva and Abby.”

“Eh.”

“Respect them; Jaylyn is a federal agent and Jenny is the Director of NCIS. She also happens to be Gibbs’ wife.”

“Okay son. Ma’am; I apologize for my indiscretion; and if I do say so myself Agent Gibbs is truly lucky to call you his wife.”

“Now apologize to Jaylyn, Dad.”

“Why?”

“Cause she’s the Director’s sister, Gibbs’ sister-in-law besides being a federal agent.”

“I am sorry Agent….”

“Shepard, Special Agent Shepard; Mr. DiNozzo.”

“Call me Tony. And I am sorry for the indiscretion; Director Shepard.”

“Actually it’s Director Gibbs, Mr. DiNozzo.” Jenny responded choosing not to call Senior Tony like he had said.

With that Jenny returned to her office, Jaylyn took her seat at her desk while Ziva said hello to Senior. A compliment to Ziva and Senior reiterating what he had said six years earlier, McGee took Senior down to say hi to Abby. While Senior was visiting Abby, Jethro came back and saw the look of disgust on his sister-in-law’s face.

“DiNozzo’s father here or something, J?”

“Yeah he’s here Jethro. He pissed me and Jen off.”

“Where is he now?”

“Downstairs with Abby, boss.” Tony answered.

“DiNozzo control your father.” Jethro said as he made sure Jaylyn was okay and went upstairs to Jenny’s office with his coffee and Jenny’s latte in hand to make sure she was okay.

Once Jethro was out of sight Abby and Senior came into the squad room.

“So have Ziva and Tony told you about Madalyn and Asher yet?”

“Abby!!!” Tony and Ziva rebuked.

“No they haven’t. Who are Madalyn and Asher?”

“Your granddaughter and grandson.”

“My granddaughter and grandson. Sounds like you have swept this beautiful creature off of her feet, son. How old are my grankids?”

Before answering Tony and Ziva gave Abby their version of Jethro’s stare and Abby darted back to her lab.

“Madalyn is eleven and Asher is six.” Ziva replied.

“And why am I only just finding out about them now?”

“I can think of a few reasons.” Jethro said as he rejoined his team.

“You’re only finding out about them now because Abby let it slip. Ziva wanted to keep their existence to just us and the team, Dad. In fact I only just found out about them a few months ago.”

Ziva went to the lounge at that point. Jaylyn went to Abby’s with McGee while Tony went to check on Ziva leaving Senior alone in the squad room Jethro.

“Ziva is a very private person. It’s the way Mossad and the Israeli Army trained her.” Jethro said.

“From what my son says, Ziva is just like you in that respect; Agent Gibbs.”

“She is and like I let Director Gibbs in, Ziva has let your son in. Ziva is not the same person she was twelve years ago.”

The work day progressed. The air had cleared between Jenny, Jaylyn and Senior. By 2000 everyone was heading home for the night. Senior went back to Tony and Ziva’s to meet his grandkids while Jaylyn was picked up by Kasey, Jenny and Jethro went home to their girls, Ducky went home as did Abby and McGee and Palmer went to pick Breena up at her job.

Once they got home, Jenny slipped into the bathtub and relaxed. It wasn’t long before Jethro joined her in the bathtub and relaxing after a stressful workday was out of the question.