Protecting Gibbs

chapter 11

Charity, Tony, and Abby worked out the details of their plans for the evening. Just as Tony was about to leave the room, Duckie entered. "Hello Abby, Tony, Charity." He greeted each of them in turn. "I came to see what the results of the tests were."

"Oh they were fine. I'm perfectly fine. Nothing is wrong with me." Charity said, a little too quickly and nervously.

"What are you hiding?" Duckie inquired.

"Nothing." She answered.

Duckie looked from each of the three adults standing in front of him. He watched as Charity looked up at Tony with some kind of question in her eyes. Tony silently answered with a nod of a head.

Charity sighed and looked at Duckie. "Well, the cat's going to come out of the bag later tonight anyway. You might as well know now."

Duckie rasied an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I'm pregnant." She answered.

"And I'm the father." Tony added with a sigh.

Duckie's eyes widened in shock. He stood there speechless for a moment. Then he looked at Charity and smiled. "Congratulations. I've always thought that you would be a wonderful mother."

Charity smiled and hugged Duckie. "Thanks, Duckie."

'You are quite welcome, my dear." Duckie replied. Then he pulled away and looked at Tony. "What would you like for me to say at your funeral?"

Tony laughed dryly. "Just that I was one heck of a guy and I really looked up to my boss."

"So, how are you two planning on telling Gibbs?" Duckie asked.

"We are having a dinner party. It was Abby's idea." Charity answered.

"That way there are plenty of witnesses." Abby added.

"It starts at eight. Will you be there, Duckie?" Charity pleaded.

"Of course. Would you like me to bring anything?"

"If you would like to bring anything, you are more than welcome to. Anything you would like." Charity answered.

"Alright, I had better get back to work." Duckie said. Then he gave Charity a hug before heading back to the morgue.

Charity looked up at Tony. "You should probably get back, too."

"Yeah, I'll see you when you come to invite us all to the party." Tony said.

"Okay."

Tony bent down and gently kissed Charity's lips. Then he turned and walked away, heading back up to his desk and his huge pile of papers.

Once Tony had left, Abby pulled Charity into a hug. "Everything is going to be just fine. I'll ride home with your dad, so I can help you get things ready."

Charity hugged Abby a little tighter. "You are the best friend a girl could have ever asked for. I don't know what I would do without you."

"That's what friends are for." Abby replied with a smile. "Now go get your game face on and invite everyone over for that dinner party."

"Right." Charity said. She then walked over to the elevator and pushed the up button. She stepped on and waited as the elevator approached the floor she needed.

Back upstairs...

Tony returned to his desk. He sat down and began filling out his paperwork.

"So, what did Abby want?" McGee asked.

"It was nothing." Tony answered, slightly on edge.

"Then why did she ask you to come alone?" Ziva inquired.

"She was just being Abby." Tony replied.

"Come on Tony. Why the big secret?" McGee asked.

"Just drop it, McGeek." Tony said, his voice edged with a note of anger.

Ziva stared at him.

Gibbs walked up from out of nowhere. "What are you all talking about?" He asked.

"Nothing, boss." Tony answered, jumping in his seat.

Gibbs walked over to his desk and sat down. "You're very nervous DiNozzo."

"Nah, I'm just fine." Tony said, his voice a little higher than usual.

"Yes, you are." McGee said.

"As nervous as a long-eared cat in a room full of rocking chairs." Ziva commented.

"Tailed. Long Tailed cat." Tony corrected.

"That makes much more sense." Ziva said.

Just then, the elevator door opened and Charity stepped out. She walked over to stand in the middle of the asile.

"Hey, baby girl. What are you doing here?" Gibbs asked his daughter.

"I just came by to invite everyone over to a dinner party tonight." Charity answered.

"Why didn't you ask me about this?" Gibbs asked.

"If I had, what would have been your answer?" Charity responded.

"No." Gibbs answered.

"Then that's why." Charity said. she then turned to the three other members of Gibbs' team. "The dinner party starts at eight. Would you guys come, please?" She asked.

"That sounds lovely, Charity." Ziva answered. "I would love to come. Would you like me to bring anything?"

"If you would like to. Most importantly bring your appetite." Charity answered. Then she looked at McGee. "How about you, Tim?"

"I have no plans, sure." He answered.

Charity turned to Tony. "Will you come, too?" she asked.

"Free food. It sounds like a plan." Tony answered playing along, still kind of jumpy.

"Great, I'll see you all there." Charity said. Then she turned to her father. "Abby and Duckie are coming, too. Abby said she would ride home with you, after work."

"Alright." Gibbs said, unable to say no to his baby girl on anything.

Charity gave her father a hug and then headed for the elevator. Once she had left the building, she hopped in her car and drove to the super market. She picked up the things she needed and then headed home.