Ex-Files Take Two
- Chapter 2: The Promise -
It was just hours later, the bad guy having been caught and given a particular nice shiner by Abby that Gibbs realized his day was far from over. Hollis had been edgy since the whole Diane-Jenny thing, and Jenny had pretty much decided that being out of sight was a fantastic idea. He was hoping that perhaps it would be one of those over before it starts conversation but as he stepped off the elevator to find Tobias, with Emily, and Hollis standing around his desk, he knew that was not likely.
"Tobias."
"Jethro."
"Back so soon?"
"Diane needed to come back in, she wanted to know what happened; Jenny's telling her."
"And she's free to go Boss," Tony piped up from behind the group, trying to figure out where to intervene. Gibbs shot his senior field agent a familiar glare and the younger man hurried to catch up with his partner. Ziva had long decided that getting out of there was in her benefit and was heading for the lab to congratulate Abby. Gibbs felt his phone vibrate and grabbed it, noticing the familiar number.
"Gibbs...Yea I'll be right up." Hollis looked at him in surprise. "I'll be right back," he told her heading for the stairs. Fornell noticed the look that crossed the Army Colonel's face and sighed, Gibbs and his women. It was then he noticed he was down one and spied Emily's petite form making a break for the stairs.
"Emily Fornell!" he called and the little girl stopped on the landing, waved, and continued her path. Gibbs smirked hearing the voice and turning the corner to the Director's office. He was met with said Director standing just outside.
"Where's Diane?"
"She wants to talk to you," Jenny explained stepping aside, allowing him to go into her office. He hesitated.
"What about you?"
"I think I'll go make sure Emily doesn't break into MTAC," Jenny assured walking off. Gibbs took a deep breath and entered the office to find Diane seated with a glass of bourbon.
"Diane."
"Jethro, don't suppose you really want to talk to me."
"What do you want me to say?"
"There's nothing to say Jethro, let's face it Laura was your rebound, and so was Stephanie. I was just the one in between."
"Diane, that's not..."
"Jethro, we wouldn't have lasted, I needed someone constantly there, and you needed someone who didn't need you, who would ease the loneliness."
"You married Fornell."
"Well what can I say, some people make two mistakes, but I got Emily from that."
"I...I'm sorry that..." He tried knowing that it was something that came between him and all his ex-wives.
"Don't be Jethro, I understood. At the time I thought I would be okay with it, but things change," she paused a moment glancing over at the desk. "Promise me something Jethro."
"Am I going to like this promise?"
"Probably not, but you might surprise yourself." He gestured for her to continue. "Take good care of her; she's not a rebound, or one in between." She moved toward the door opening it and closing before he'd had the chance to process her words, he decided it would have to be pondered later, but he had the nagging doubt that she hadn't been talking about Hollis.
He emerged from the office just in time to see Diane leave Hollis and Jenny standing on the catwalk, taking Emily with her. Jenny headed down the stairs after them to make sure they got out all right.
"We should get going," Gibbs said to Hollis. She couldn't agree more and went down back toward his desk. He had just sat down on his chair when he heard the stair well door open and then the small voice.
"Uncle Gibbs!"
---
The walk to the elevator was quiet, Diane holding Emily's hand firm, preventing the child from so much as speaking a syllable with out permission. Tobias meanwhile entertained Jenny preventing her from noticing the fact that her 'niece' wanted to have a word with her. Everything was going fine until they stepped of the elevator and Diane let go of Emily's hand to put on her coat. Emily took the freedom and ran with it toward the stair well.
"Emily!" Diane snapped causing Jenny to spot the whirlwind child make a break. She saw her make the stairwell and sighed.
"I'll get her; the only opening that one has is the bullpen. She'll be fine."
"But Jenny," Tobias tried to prevent her from going but failed at that. He turned toward his ex-wife and then toward the security guards. "Don't suppose you have video and audio for the bullpen?"
"Yes Sir Agent Fornell," the men turned the video screen and the two watched as Emily came running out of the stairwell making a beeline for her 'uncle'.
---
"Uncle Gibbs!" Emily snapped and Gibbs was on his feet ready to go find whatever bad thing had happened, more than a little worried until he noticed the light on the elevator signaling that someone was coming up.
"Emily Fornell!" He said sternly.
"I know I know, I shouldn't wander off by myself but I forget to say goodbye," Emily began with an adorable smile spread over her face. He melted, as he knew he would and knelt to be at her level. She put her arms around him hugging him for a second.
"Now Emily you..."
"Uncle Gibbs I forgot to tell you," She whispered.
"Tell me what?"
"I'm free every day once school is out except for Tuesdays and Thursdays and then I'm free after ballet, and I'm free all day Saturday now too," Emily explained.
"Okay?" He agreed sounding hesitant.
"So when you and Aunt Jenny get married I'm available to be a flower girl," she finished sounding very proud of herself. Gibbs' mind went blank and as he looked up to see who had gotten off the elevator, he wished he hadn't.
"Emily Fornell!" Jenny called worriedly.
"Hi Aunt Jenny."
"Don't hi Aunt Jenny me, young lady, you're in big trouble, you know better than to..."
"Than to walk around the building without guards, I know, Uncle Gibbs reminded me, but I wanted to say goodbye."
"Okay, but next time, ask, please?" Jenny bargained knowing it was impossible to stay mad with the little girl. She nodded and went to take Jenny's outstretched hand.
"Uncle Gibbs?"
"Yes Emily?"
"You'll tell Aunt Jenny later right?" Jenny looked to him in confusion and found an expression she did not recognize on his face.
"Yea I'll tell Aunt Jenny later," he agreed. Much later.
"Promise?"
"Of course." Not.
"Good!" He watched Emily wave and waved back as Jenny took her back downstairs. He sighed in relief, till he felt Hollis at his shoulder. Awkward moment, 903.
"Everything alright?" She inquired.
"Yea, yea."
"Something wrong with her Aunt?"
"Uh no, probably just afraid that Jenny might be mad at her," Gibbs covered.
"Really?"
"Seems like they get along fine." He just nodded. "Jethro, what did she say?"
"Who?"
"Emily."
"Just kid stuff," he tried again. He knew she didn't believe it, and he knew she was a trained investigator.
"She obviously said something worth the thought you're giving it," Hollis retorted angrily. He ignored it.
"Hey let's get dinner?" He suggested quickly. "DiNozzo, finish those reports! Ziva!"
"Yes Gibbs?"
"Make sure the reports get done and on the Director's desk." Ziva nodded and said goodnight to Hollis as the two left.
---
Jenny stood with Emily in the elevator wondering what could possibly have been so important that the little girl would risk getting in trouble for. Emily stood silent tapping her little feet on the ground watching the numbers go by.
"Emily, what does Uncle Gibbs have to tell me?"
"Oh...uh...he'll tell you, he promised!"
"Why can't you tell me?" She asked curiously, tugging at the little girl's ponytail.
"Well Daddy and Mommy made me promise not to tell you, but they didn't say I couldn't tell Uncle Gibbs, so he'll tell you!" Jenny wondered what it could be that her parents would make her promise to keep from her. She debated that she probably didn't want to know if it involved Gibbs, but she knew her curiosity wouldn't let her leave it alone. She decided she'd ask Gibbs later. They got off at the front entrance and Diane was waiting with Tobias looking mildly irritated. Emily slinked her way over giving both parents the sad puppy face.
"She had something to tell Gibbs," Jenny defended and to her surprise saw Diane crack a smile and laugh a bit.
"Let me guess she made Gibbs promise to tell you?"
"Yes..."
"Oh good, you don't let him forget that one," Diane warned. Jenny nodded and said her goodbyes.
"Try to stay out of trouble, Jenny," Tobias sighed affectionately.
"Try telling that to Gibbs," Jenny mumbled.
"You be careful too."
"I will." She watched them leave before returning to the bullpen, not entirely surprised to find that Gibbs had left for the night. She felt a brief sting of jealousy, but quickly squashed and decided that she might as well have a quiet night at home.