Getting to know Kelly

The next morning I had awoken to see the entire group sound asleep in the living room of my sister, Jethro and Kelly’s house. Before Abby and McGee put Addie and Jake down for the night Jethro pulled out Kelly’s old crib. Surprisingly Addie and Jake only woke up once during the night. What surprised me more was that they only woke their parents up. I guess that those of us that were seasoned parents weren’t as worried as Abby and McGee were as long as it wasn’t our kids crying at the top of their lungs.
When I got up, my instincts took over as I carefully made my way to the kitchen to get breakfast for my girls and make coffee for me and Nick. I knew that the aroma of coffee was bound to wake Jethro up so I decided to save that for last. Before long I was joined by one of the others.
“I’m surprised at how well you know where things are in here.” Kelly said as she made herself tea.
“Well I practically grew up in this house.”
“Practically grew up in this house?”
“Kel, my sister and your father have been a couple for longer than you think.”
Kelly had that look of bewilderment and curiosity on her face.
“Don’t worry; Jethro was completely faithful to your mother when she was alive. Jen and Jethro weren’t an item until 1999.”
“What happened between ’99 and now?” Kelly asked.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at Kelly’s question.
“What happened between ’99 and now?” Kelly asked again.
“Three cheating redheaded ex-wives, a mystery redhead, a blonde Army CID Lieutenant Colonel, a redhead former DC Madam and a brunette lawyer.” I answered.
Kelly was completely stunned.
“Don’t tell you thought he was celibate after your mom died.”
“Kind of did.” Kelly said as drank her tea.
“Ha, he was anything but celibate. I’m just glad that he ended up with the right woman.”
Kelly suddenly got that pissed look on her face.
“Besides Shannon, of course.”
After I quickly recovered from my slight faux pas, Kelly and I were joined by Abby, Ziva and Kate. Jethro had some Caf-Pows stashed in the refrigerator for Abby.
“Jay, did you start making the coffee?” Kate asked.
“And run the chance of waking Jethro up after he’s been up all night working on that his boat; ah no.”
“We were all up late, Jay. Not just Gibbs.”
“Fine, I’m not gonna argue with you; Kate. I’ll make some coffee; just don’t blame me if Jethro drinks all.”
Once I got the coffee going, I went to wake the girls and Nick up. I knew that it would only take a mere two seconds before I had Nick fully awake. So when I got over to Nick, I knew how I would wake him. Within a matter of seconds my lips locked with his as I kissed him like I did the night we conceived JD seventeen years ago and then again that night thirteen years ago when we had the house to ourselves when we brought our twins into existence.
Just as I had predicted Nick woke up within seconds of the kiss.
“Wow, you haven’t kissed me like that since….” Nick whispered.
“Since we conceived Jay and Joce. I know.” I answered mischievously.
Meanwhile as Nick and I got our daughters up for breakfast, Abby and Kate had gone out to sit on the porch before they followed my lead. So Ziva and Kelly stayed in the kitchen. At first there was an awkward silence between the two of them.
“Ziva, I hope you don’t mind me saying this; but it seems like you see my father as more than just your boss.”
Ziva knew where this was going. The rest of us knew and understood why Ziva was so close to Jethro.
“It’s a long story.”
“Well we have time, Ziva; so you might as well start sharing.”
“I’d love to but I have to get Tony and the twins up.”
With that Ziva stepped out of the kitchen and left Kelly to wonder why she was being so evasive. Just as I had predicted the aroma of freshly brewed coffee had woke Jethro up. In a matter of minutes Jethro had joined his daughter in the kitchen as he got himself and Jen some coffee.
“Hey dad, you got a second?” Kelly asked.
“What’s up, Kels?”
“It maybe nothing, but I’ve been getting this vibe since I came back that Ziva sees you as more than just her boss. Like she sees you as her father.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Come on dad, tell me. You owe me that much.”
“Ziva killed her half-brother twenty-three years ago to keep him from killing me.”
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why she acts like you are her father instead of acting like her own father is her father.” Kelly said.
“Kels, Eli David wasn’t and still isn’t the best father to her. He has put her through hell and expected her to be a soulless killer. Eli wanted Ziva to be just like her half-brother, Ari. If Jen hadn’t approved Ziva’s liaison position between NCIS and Mossad after everything that had happened twenty-three years ago then Ziva would still be in harms’ way instead of being with us and her family.”
With that Jethro left the kitchen and his daughter with both coffees in hand. Just as Jethro had left, Ziva had return to the kitchen to refill her coffee cup and to get some for Tony.
“Hey, Ziva.” Kelly said.
“Yeah.”
“Thanks for saving my dad; I know it must have been hard for you.”
“Your welcome.”
Shortly after Kelly thanked Ziva, Addison and Jacob woke up. This time when Addison and Jacob woke up, they woke up everyone else who was still sleeping. Now the day had begun. By 8am we had all the kids off at school. Soon after the kids left for school Jordan left for work as the fourteen of us headed back for yet another day at the office. Kelly had no appointments today at the Veterinarian hospital she worked at so she had volunteered to baby-sit Addison and Jacob for Abby and McGee. Ziva, Kate and I found it quite amusing that Kelly thought it was going to be a piece of cake taking care of newborn twins.
“This should be interesting.” I said to Ziva and Kate once we were at our cars.
“I know.” Ziva said as she got into the passenger seat.
It still amazed me that Tony still insisted that he drive instead of Ziva driving after all these years.
“If we were able to take care of our twins when they were Addie and Jake’s age then Kelly is more than capable to watch them for a few hours.” Kate said as she got into the driver’s side of her and Drew’s car.
“Look who’s the eternal optimist at forty-nine. It’s about time.” I said I got into my car.
I knew Kate would let me slide with that comment until we got to the squad room so I reveled in my wit as Nick and I drove to work.