“How are they, Duck?” Gibbs asked as he walked in to check on Maggie. He was carrying a bag full of muffins and other breakfast items, as well as coffee.
“Young Shannon is still sleeping soundly, but her vitals are fine. She should have no lasting effects from the drugs; at least not physical,” he began.
“And Maggie?” Gibbs asked, not wanting to sound too eager.
“She’s splendid, Jethro,” Dr. Mallard responded with a smile. “She awoke about forty minutes ago, and is in very good spirits. Her brother Morgan and Jaime are with her.”
Gibbs looked into the room where Maggie and Shannon had been recovering, and laughed at the sight that greeted him. Maggie was sitting up in bed, a tray in her lap. On the tray was a plate with two large steaks, a huge salad and a bottle of Irish whiskey. Morgan and Jaime were sitting next to her bed, telling her stories and making her laugh.
“I brought breakfast,” he said with a smile.
“Thank God, I’m starving!” Maggie said meeting his eyes, her smile matching his.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m okay,” she confirmed with a smile, taking two muffins and a cup of coffee from him. “Thanks,” she said. He gave a sideways smile at the amount of food on her plate.
“How’s Shannon?” he asked Morgan.
“She seems fine. I’m hoping she will wake up soon,” the worried father replied.
“Me too,” Gibbs agreed, nodding his head.
“Let’s take a walk, Morgan,” Jaime said. “I’m sure Maggie needs to fill him in on a few things.”
“Shhhh…” Maggie said, nodding toward the hall into which Morgan and Jaime had just exited. She signed “they can still hear us”. Gibbs nodded in understanding.
Gibbs sat in the chair closest to the bed, and moved it so that he was sitting as near as possible without actually sitting on the bed. He smiled as he watched her alternate between staring at him and eating.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly. “Eat.”
She blushed, making him chuckle. She quickly finished her food, not leaving a crumb behind. He could hardly believe that someone as tiny as she was could possibly have eaten all that food. But then, there was a lot he didn’t know about her. He was determined to change that.
“Just a heads up,” Maggie noted, “Caper will probably disappear from custody soon, never to be seen again.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” he smirked. She smiled back, moving the tray from her lap.
“Thanks for thinking of breakfast,” she said.
“Apparently I wasn’t the only one,” he quipped. She laughed.
“No, the boys had my back as well,” she added.
“Whiskey for breakfast?” Gibbs questioned. She giggled.
“Yeah, I guess that could seem strange,” Maggie answered. “Morgan brought it with him to celebrate our return and didn’t see any reason to wait for a later hour. Want some?”
Gibbs shook his head, knowing he was both at the NCIS offices and on the clock, but then thought better of it. “Why not?” he said, taking a large swallow. “Good stuff,” he said, when he could breathe again.
“Of course,” Maggie said, feigning offense. “It’s Irish.”
“I just have to say, I’m getting really tired of you being in danger all the time,” Gibbs said gruffly.
“It’s what I do, boss,” she replied, one eyebrow cocked. “Same as you.”
“Touché,” he responded with a grin. “About what we discussed before…”
“Yes?” she asked hesitantly, wondering if he had changed his mind.
“I was thinking we should get together this weekend. We aren’t on call; another team is working the hotline this weekend.”
“Sounds good to me,” Maggie agreed. “What’s on the agenda?”
He gave her a very heated look, “You want an agenda?” She blushed, making him chuckle.
“I guess not,” she answered, meeting his gaze. He passed her a key.
“Here’s the key to my house. Lock it behind you. Some people have a habit of just walking in when I leave it unlocked,” he said, his eyes making promises she couldn’t wait for him to keep.
She looked toward the doorway. “Someone’s coming,” she whispered. He moved his chair slightly away from her and altered his stance to a more professional one. He gave her a wink.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Agent Sullivan,” he said just as Abby and McGee walked into the room.
Abby was carrying a sack full of food. “Have you eaten?” she asked. Gibbs laughed. Maggie reached for the bag, and took out a banana and a cheese Danish.
“Thanks,” she said with a big smile. “I’ve eaten, but could still use more.”
“How’s Shannon?” McGee asked, walking over to look at the sleeping child. He could still remember how it felt to carry her out of that house. She looked so fragile. She couldn’t be seven years old.
“Oh, she’s resilient,” Maggie said with a smile. “She’ll be up and driving us crazy in no time, I’m sure.”
About that time, the subject of their conversation shifted in her sleep and sighed, her mouth relaxing into a smile. Everyone watched as she opened her eyes and sat up in bed.
“I can actually hear you staring at me,” she complained.
“Top of the morning, sweet Shannon,” Maggie said with all of the love she felt in her voice.
“You sound like my mom, Aunt Maggie,” the young girl responded with a smile.
“Hungry?” McGee asked, offering her the remainder of the food from both the bag Gibbs brought and the bag he and Abby brought.
“Am I ever!” Shannon said, grabbing the bags from his hand. She smiled. “Thanks for the save, by the way,” she said almost shyly.
“You’re welcome,” he said returning her smile. “You talk awfully big for your age.”
“What can I say? I’m a prodigy,” she responded with a heavy sigh.
“And you’re very naughty,” Morgan said as he and Jaime entered the room.
“Daddy!” she said with delight. He quickly made his way across the room and gathered his daughter into his arms. He squeezed her tightly.
“I love you, Princess,” he said softly.
“I love you, too,” she said contentedly. “Can we go home now?” she asked. “Not that I’m not happy to meet my rescuers,” she said as a side note.
“Yes, baby,” Morgan answered. “Your mom is quite anxious to see you,” he said happily.
Gibbs smiled at the scene between the father and daughter, he mind flooded with memories of Kelly and his Shannon. Maggie noticed the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes as he made his way to the door, slipping out almost unnoticed. Of course, she noticed everything about him. She would have to wait until that evening to find out what was on his mind.
“Can we talk?” Noah said quietly, when he and Ziva were finally alone. She breathed a long sigh and then turned to meet his eyes.
“I suppose,” she said, rising from her seat. “Wanna grab a bite?”
“More than you know,” he said seductively, making her laugh.
“That’s not what I meant,” she said, shaking her head.
“I know,” he answered quietly. “Let’s go,” he said, placing a hand on her lower back, guiding her to the elevator. She smiled at him. How would she ever learn to resist him?
Author's Chapter Notes:
Another short one...