The Riddle
- Chapter 9: Family Reunited -
Johanna had not been surprised to find Abby on her doorstep, nor did she disagree with the request to go to Gibbs' house. She gave a brief smile as she recognized Jenny's car sitting in his driveway.
"Should we go in?" Abby asked as she got out. Johanna followed and the two quietly entered the house. Abby headed toward the basement and noticed Jenny's purse on the worktable but no sign of either of them. Johanna headed toward the stairs and noticed the bedroom door closed.Well all right, Jenny, that's one way to do it. She gestured toward Abby and the two moved back to the car.
"Johanna I didn't see either of them."
"They're fine Abby," Johanna answered with a smile. Abby caught on and let out a laugh.
"I suppose Gibbs will be in a really good mood tomorrow."
"I guess we'll see." But the two women laughed the whole way home.
---
Tony, Ziva, and McGee sat at there desks waiting. They'd arrived around the same time a few minutes later than normal but the Boss they were expecting was not there. Ziva occasionally beat Gibbs to work but all three had never beat him in one day. The ding they were waiting for finally arrived and they three waited expectantly as Gibbs stepped off holding his cup of coffee. Tony met Ziva's eyes and Ziva glanced up as the Director got of the elevator on the floor to MTAC holding her own cup of coffee. Ziva noticed her friend glance briefly at the floor below.
"Officer David don't you have a report to write," Gibbs said and Ziva snapped her attention to her computer. "And what happened with Abby?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Ziva replied. Gibbs turned and head up the stairs and Tony glanced over. McGee looked up at Cynthia's raised voice.
"I really hope they're not fighting again," McGee sighed. Abby came up and observed the situation
"Gibbs or the Director in?"
"Both," Tony and Ziva answered pointing up the stairs.
"Oh." Abby approached Ziva and stood at her desk.
"Abby?"
"Uh Ziva, could I ask a favor?" Abby whispered. The Mossad Officer nodded and Abby leaned in and spoke in Ziva's ear. Ziva nodded again. Tony was just stepping closer when he felt the whack to the back of his head.
"Hi Boss," Tony greeted.
"DiNozzo never eavesdrop on women exchanging secrets," Gibbs warned going to his desk. Ziva looked toward the stairs and Tony rolled his eyes. He'd play along but Ziva would owe him.
"That a rule Boss?" Tony asked coming closer as Ziva slipped away.
"Common sense, DiNozzo." Ziva withheld her laughter as she entered MTAC and spotted Jenny sitting in the front, unfortunately her amused smile was not so easily wiped off.
"Something amusing, Ziva?" Jenny inquired noticing her friend.
"Tony's in trouble again," Ziva commented. Jenny simply smiled and raised her coffee cup to her lips. Ziva spotted the golden object and glanced away slightly.
"What else is new?" Ziva laughed and waited in silence for about five minutes before standing again.
"I should go, wouldn't want him to pin it on me," Ziva explained. Jenny nodded and turned back to the screen. She was halfway down the stairs when Tony met her.
"Ziva."
"Tony, I'll take the bet on Gibbs' marriage."
"Oh really? So who did he marry?" Tony inquired.
"Still married, first wife," Ziva said and continued down the stairs.
"Riight, you're on David, I'll say he remarried Jenny," Tony laughed following her downstairs.
"Where'd Abby go?" Ziva asked.
"Elevator," McGee answered.
"Gibbs?"
"Gibbs."
"Well than Probie, how about you run a search," Tony suggested.
"On what?"
"Weddings. Groom, Gibbs, Bride, the Director," Tony supplied. McGee looked up amused.
"Alright, running all marriage license fro the last fifteen years. Results, Gibbs married four times, Jennifer Shepard, zero," McGee informed.
"That can't be right."
"What's not right?" Abby asked. Tony quickly glanced around but didn't see Gibbs.
"Gibbs has another wife," Tony reminded.
"And that answer to your question was yes Abby," Ziva mentioned.
"So?" Abby pressed.
"So I bet Ziva that Gibbs remarried the Director."
"But there's no record of a marriage between them," McGee said.
"Well my parents were very much married," Abby replied.
"Almost twice," Ducky announced coming up beside Abby.
"Almost twice?" Abby echoed.
"When could they..." McGee faded off.
"
"I never would have pegged her for ex-wife material, OW!" Tony heard McGee hit a key and watched the search disappeared and knew Gibbs was there. He looked up only to find himself face to face with the Director.
"Director."
"DiNozzo what were you so urgently searching for?" Jenny inquired sweetly.
"Uh...well," Tony shut his mouth at Gibbs' look.
"Perhaps we could all discuss this over coffee?" Ducky suggested "Or lunch?"
"Good idea, Duck," Gibbs replied glancing at Jenny. He and Jenny turned to leave, Abby falling in step alongside Gibbs. Jenny turned back for a moment.
"Oh and Ziva, you won the bet." Tony gulped as Ziva laughed and they followed with McGee and Ducky bringing up the rear. They walked up to the coffee shop a few blocks away and sat down a large table. No one but Abby noticed the other redhead in the restaurant who took a picture of the group as they entered, Johanna waved as she left and Abby knew they'd gotten what they needed.
The coffees were had, the team swapped stories, Ducky being the one to talk the most. Abby occasionally glanced at her parents and noticed them sitting closer than usual. She merely smiled and turned back to the team. Afterwards they walked back to headquarters. There were no cases or work so Gibbs let them go home and rest. The rest of the team watched as Gibbs and the Director got in his car together. The car was pulling away but all saw Gibbs take Jenny's hand and place a kiss to it.
"That proof?" Tony inquired. Ziva sighed and forked over the money she'd just won.
"It'll do."
---
In the car Gibbs looked in the rearview mirror and saw Ziva give Tony the money. He looked over at Jenny who had also noticed the transaction and laughed a little.
"They know," he said.
"It's all right, Jethro, they're kids," she replied.
"Our kids?"
"Our kids, we always said she needed a sibling," Jenny reminded. He laughed and nodded. They pulled up in front of her house and he by habit glanced around and noticed the NCIS sweatshirt on the couch. "Ignore the mess I..." she saw him holding the sweatshirt and felt her cheeks redden.
"Little big for you," he commented finding it adorable how she blushed. He went to grab the first aid kid and she removed her jacket and reached behind her to undo the banged when she felt his hand on her shoulder. "Come one, I'll do this for you."
Gibbs helped her lie down on her bed and shifted her out of her shirt. He changed the bandage making sure everything was all right, glad that it wasn't bleeding anymore. He moved to the other side to lie down facing her. She snuggled closer resting her head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around her and pressed a kiss to her lips. He pulled her closer and only the need for air broke them apart.
"I love you, Jethro," she whispered and felt as if a burden had been released, he tightened his grip on her.
"I love you too, Jen." This time he kissed her softly at first and than with more passion and he felt salty liquid course over their mouths and pulled back afraid he'd hurt her. He wiped the tears from her eyes. "Kissing you is not supposed to make you cry, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she replied. "Everything is right for once."
"Come on Jen."
"You haven't kissed me like that in fifteen years."
"Jen..." he breathed.
"Shh Jethro...happy tears." She returned his kiss and he thread his hands through her hair holding her closer, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her good arm around him.
"We can always do this when you're feeling better?" He teased, lightly kissing her cheek tenderly.
"Not on your life," she laughed kissing him back. He pulled her closer still and shut off the light, throwing them in darkened sunlight.
"Remind you of
"Reminds me of our wedding," she whispered back. Both smiled and wrapped his arms around her, mouths fusing together. The sun fell from the sky as they fell into their passion, promises being reaffirmed and hearts healing.
oOo
Epilogue
Johanna opened the copy of Stars and Stripes, Abby had brought her. She flipped to the marked page and found the highlights of the Marine Corp Birthday Ball. She read the story and found that the Director of NCIS had been in attendance. Johanna flipped to the next page to see the photos and her eyes drifted to the center image. The caption read:
Director of NCIS, Jennifer Shepard and her escort Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Johanna could easily make out the gold bands on their left hands and let out a small laugh as she cut the image out and placed it into a photo album. She flipped through it and gave a small laugh as she compared the clipping to a wedding day image with the two in the exact same pose. Guess it was meant to be. She picked up the rest of the paper and read the gossip section. She nearly fell over as she read a gossip piece regarding the image she'd clipped.
Many hearts were upset as it became obvious that the beautiful Director of NCIS was so
well guarded. Although no records can prove it, it is believed that Jennifer Shepard and Leroy Jethro Gibbs were married in secret.
At this Johanna laughed and laughed as she clipped the column and moved it into the photo album alongside the other clipped photo. Wouldn't they all love to know how that one happened.
THE END
Author's Note: Thank you all very much for your wonderful reviews of this story. I was rather surprised everyone seemed to like this and I had mixed feelings about doing it, but I'm glad you all enjoyed.