Jethro’s Dysfunctional Family

By the time that Ziva and I had hobbled back to the squad room a few minutes later we both noticed that Jethro had left for coffee. Tony and McGee were busy working on the case as Ziva and I got off our crutches.
“Well we know that Mrs. Riley didn’t kill her husband and Commander Andrews didn’t murder the Staff Sergeant.” McGee said.
“That leaves Lance Corporal as a suspect.” Ziva stated.”
“I still think the widow did it.”
“Of course you would.” I said.
“Some things never change.” McGee quipped.
“I know.” Ziva said as a smile played across her face.
“Hey!” Tony responded.
By the time Jethro came back Ziva and I were back on our crutches again. As Jethro walked back to the squad-room he found both Ziva and me on our crutches in front of the plasma next to his desk with McGee, Tony and Abby around us. The five of us had been in an argument for the past six minutes. At first we had been arguing over the case; McGee, Abby, Ziva and I thought that the Lance Corporal had murdered the Staff Sergeant whereas Tony thought that Mrs. Riley had murdered her husband. As Jethro heard us arguing he had the same thought he had six years prior when he watched Tony and Kate argue like teenagers.
“Why do I feel like a high school principal?”
“Try Assistant Principal, Jethro.” Jenny said as she joined us in the squad room.
Once again Jethro attempted to give Jenny the ever so recognizable Gibbs stare which just made Ziva, Abby and me laugh.
“What?” Jethro asked.
“It's nothing, Jethro.”
McGee and Tony were just as puzzled as Jethro was.
“I love how we keep them guessing.” I said.
Jethro grabbed his coat as Tony called Ducky. McGee followed Jethro’s lead and grabbed his coat. Once off the phone Tony picked up his coat and met the rest of us at the elevator. We were going to dinner, all eight of us. Jenny and I had come up with the idea on our way in earlier that morning.
At first Jethro protested, but Jenny convinced him to go along with it. I had always admired the way my sister had with Jethro; both times they were a couple. The dinner we were all going to was a celebration of my 25th birthday. We were going to a quaint café Abby found in Georgetown. Ziva was right before; Jethro and the team were family just as Jenny had been for my entire life. At that point I realized that I had it all.
Once we arrived at the café the men were complete and utter gentlemen. Jethro pulled Jenny’s chair out for her, Tony did the same for Ziva as McGee followed suit with Abby’s chair. Ducky pulled my chair out for me; then he grabbed my crutches and set them against the wall as Tony did the same with Ziva’s. The seating at the table was perfect; Jethro sat in between Jenny and Abby, McGee was on the other side of Abby, Tony sat in between Ziva and me as Ducky sat in between me and Jenny. As I predicted both Jenny and Gibbs ordered bourbon to drink. Ducky ordered scotch; Abby ordered a Red Bull, McGee ordered a rum and coke.
Tony ordered a Bombay Sapphire as Ziva ordered a Corona and I ordered a Mint Mojito. I had a feeling that Tony would order a drink that was somehow related to one of his many movies. It was Tony after all; as we all discussed various things I couldn’t help but noticed that Ziva had changed Tony. Before Tony and Ziva got together, Tony had been movie obsessed and a player. Once Ziva got a hold of him he became a gentleman like Jethro and Ducky.
The dinner was nice, the eight of us together outside of the office with no pressing matters in front of us. One point I looked over to Jethro and saw the ever so allusive Gibbs smirk play across his face as Jenny ran her fingers over his hand. Jenny saw me looking over to her and Jethro, the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. A few minutes later I got up from the table to go to the ladies’ room; Ducky grabbed my crutches for me as I balanced on my good leg. Instead of Ziva following me to the bathroom like before Jenny came.
“It's good to see you haven’t lost your touch after all these years.”
“I’ll let that slide since it is your birthday.”
“Thanks for reminding me.”
“What’s wrong? I thought you enjoyed your birthday, Jay.”
“I do; it’s just bittersweet without Dad around and then there’s the whole thing with Ethan.”
“What’s keeping you from moving in with him?”
“You.”
“Really Jay?”
“Why is that so hard to believe Jen?”
“You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know, but you’re the only family I have beside Jethro and the others.”
“Jaylyn; don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself, you should move in with Ethan.” Jenny said as she hugged me in a reassuring manner.
Now came the time when I would have to make a decision about Ethan and me. Later after dinner Jenny went over to Jethro’s as Ethan and I settled in to watch a tv movie. Ziva went home with Tony. McGee and Abby did the same as the rest of us. Ducky went home to the corgis.
Jenny and Jethro went down to Jethro’s basement once they got to his house. Jethro worked on his boat as Jenny perched herself on the chair Jethro had just as she had four years earlier. Before Jethro had started sanding his boat he had set his cell on his work bench next to Jenny. As Jethro sanded the boat his cell phone rang. Jenny picked up Jethro’s phone and looked at the caller id on the front of his phone.
“It’s Ziva.”
“Answer it.”
“Hello.” Jenny said.
“Gibbs.”
“It’s Jenny, Ziva. What do you need?”
“I just called to thank Gibbs for saving me five months ago.”
“You needed to be saved?”
“Pretty much, Director. Back in May I went back to Mossad and Director David put me back in the field. Gibbs, Tony and McGee saved me from being held hostage by a terrorist.”
“Okay, here’s Jethro.”Jenny said as she handed Jethro his phone.
“Gibbs.”
“I just wanted to thank for saving me again.”
“Not a problem Ziva.” Jethro said before he hit the end button on his phone.
Jethro looked over to Jenny once he set his phone down on the work bench.
“What?” Jethro asked.
“Thank-you.”