Tony Entertains the Visitor

Gibbs, in the basement searching for his ball peen hammer, heard the doorbell ring upstairs and within a couple of seconds, little feet running towards the front door. He started up the stairs at a fast trot, calling out, "Tony! Do not open that door without an adult!" The unmistakeable sound of a chair being pushed across the floor was the response, but as the bell rang again he made it up the final stairs, through the kitchen, and into the hall. Tony had managed to drag his chair from the kitchen, topped it with his Cookie Monster booster seat, pushed it to the front of the door, and was in the process of climbing up to look through the peephole.

Jethro marvelled for a moment. For such a small child, Tony was incredibly strong. Actually, it was probably that Tony was more determined than strong. Tony grinned when he saw his father and announced, "It's a lady, Daddy, a red haired lady with a tiny pocketbook." Jethro laughed and swung Tony off the chair like an airplane. He put him down and moved the chair enough to get the front door open. Startled, he recognized Jennifer Shepard standing on the stoop.

"Jen!" he spoke, surprise in his voice. "What are you doing here? I thought you were still in Paris."

"I got home a couple of days ago. May I come in?"

Jethro stepped aside and motioned her into the foyer. "Come on, let's go to the living room." Tony eyed the outsider appraisingly and then trotted behind his father. When Jethro had shown the guest a chair and had seated himself, Tony climbed up in his father's lap and rested his face against his father's chest, so that he could watch the intruder from a safe perch. Jethro pointed in Jen's direction and gave Tony an explanation. When he was in Paris last year working for NCIS, he had been working with Ms. Shepard. He came home, but she stayed. Now, of course, she was obviously back.

Tony looked at her, decided she was acceptable, and started climbing off his father's lap. "I'm Tony, and I'm four. I'm going to spend the night with Ducky and Mrs. Mallard tonight, and I have a suitcase. Do you want to see it?" Jen nodded and responded that she would love to see it and Tony started out of the room, adding, "My daddy likes red haired ladies."

Jethro was too stunned to think up a quick cover up, but Jen laughed and they started catching up. She was just back for a visit- her dad lived in Georgetown, and she would return to Paris in the not too distant future.

Tony returned, dragging his rolling Big Bird suitcase. "Abuela packed it 'cause I'm going to be gone all night and Daddy is going to miss me." He turned a megawatt smile towards his father and Jethro nodded in agreement. "He is going to have to go to NCIS tomorrow and work. I have..." Tony put his tongue against his teeth as he unzipped and started taking out items.

"Stop, don't unpack it. Abuela has it all ready for it to go with you," his father ordered.

"Daddy, I don't see my William Wallace hat! Where is it?"

Relenting, Jethro sighed and slid down to sit by Tony on the floor. Taking out the neat stacks of pajamas and clothing, Tony looked even more worried. "Daddy, I don't see my new shirt for Mass either!"

Automatically Jethro corrected, "Church, Tony- tomorrow you're going to Church. When you go with Abuela you go to Mass."

Jen was smitten with the adorable child, and leaned down. "What is a William Wallace hat, Tony?"

"That's my hat so I can be the Scot patriot William Wallace who fought against that English tyrant, King Edward. I'm gonna be the King of the Outlaws, the ruler for the good people. I will march with the Corgi dog warriors." Demonstrating, he began marching across the floor.

Jethro clarified, "He's picked up quite a bit from Ducky and his mother. You know what a historian Ducky is, and our Dr. Mallard obviously came by it quite honestly. Tony likes playing with their corgis, too."

"Daddy, what about my things?" Tony pulled at Jethro's arm to remind him that there was a crisis.

"If Maria didn't put them in there you don't need them. We are going to put this all back in your case, and then you can go play before Ducky comes to get you."

Jen ventured, "What about toiletries? I don't see any."

"No, he has toys and shampoo and toothbrushes and everything you can imagine at the Mallards. He's even got a booster car seat and a bike there," Jethro explained.

"Daddy, I want my..."

"No, I said we are putting this back up. You take what's here." Tony's lip crept to a pout and he gave his dad a hurt look. Jethro repacked and rezipped and sent Tony and the suitcase out of the living room, telling him to move his chair back into the kitchen.