Roxannerolls

Roxannerolls
It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast. You’ve been temporarily blocked from using it.

Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.

Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning :

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories:

F/M Gen

Fandom:

NCIS

Relationship:

Jethro Gibbs/Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane

Characters:

Jethro Gibbs Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2022-03-20 Completed: 2022-06-19 Words: 11112 Chapters: 9/9 Comments: 117 Kudos: 130 Bookmarks: 4 Hits: 1910

Footer

About the Archive

Site Map
Diversity Statement
Terms of Service
DMCA Policy

Contact Us

Policy Questions & Abuse Reports
Technical Support & Feedback

Development

otwarchive v0.9.322.5
Known Issues
GPL by the OTW

On Archive of Our Own (AO3), users can make profiles, create works and
other Content, post comments, give Kudos, create Collections and
Bookmarks, participate in Challenges, import works, and more. Any
information you publish in a comment, profile, work, or Content that you
post or import onto AO3 including in summaries, notes and tags,
will be accessible by the public (unless you limit access to a work only
to those with AO3 Accounts), and it will be available to
AO3 personnel. Be mindful when sharing personal information,
including your religious or political views, health, racial background,
country of origin, sexual identity and/or personal relationships. To
learn more, check out our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

I have read & understood the new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Work Search:

tip: arthur merlin words>1000 sort:hits

1. Earmarked
2. The Leroy Jethro Gibbs College Scholarship Club
3. Presumptuous
4. More Than You Realize
5. Nertz to the Yurts
6. Hello
7. Overture
8. Ogled
9. Epilogue - Cowboys and Indians

Jack Sloane leaned back on the sofa and enjoyed a few moments of rest – which had been a rarity over the past couple of days – and reflected on how amazingly complete her life was, something she would never have imagined when she made that cross-country life-move over six years earlier.
I guess maybe the epilogue to a story shouldn't be the longest chapter, but here we are! Many thanks for those who have hung patiently with me over the past weeks. I hope you enjoy the wrap-up to this little Slibbs adventure.
Jack Sloane leaned back on the sofa and enjoyed a few moments of rest – which had been a rarity over the past couple of days – and reflected on how amazingly complete her life was, something she would never have imagined when she made that cross-country life-move over six years earlier.
As if acknowledging her thoughts, delighted high giggles and deep laughs bounced up the stairs from the basement, drawing a warm laugh from Jack in response.
Knowing her little break was about to be interrupted, she allowed herself a few quick glances around, taking inventory of the changes the old house had undergone over the past three years and smiling as she recalled how surprisingly open Gibbs had been to the updates she cautiously suggested. Fresh sage green replaced the old dull beige paint, brightened further by recessed lighting in the living and dining rooms. Paintings – even one watercolor by Gibbs’ own hands – brought life to previously empty walls. Re-covered chairs and new throw pillows splashed color through all of the downstairs space. The kitchen boasted the most dramatic changes. Its previous stark décor, which Jack had dubbed “Early Americana Hunting Camp,” had been transformed into a sparkling modern galley with granite countertops, stainless appliances, and hand-crafted cabinets.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs might not always say how he felt, but his actions had never left her wondering.
A flurry of footsteps rushed up the stairs, followed by others at a heavier, steadier pace. Even before the basement door was flung open, she heard her name called out in excitement.
“BeeJack! Gunny said I could buiwld my own boat. I tol’ him he can hewlp.”
Jack smiled at her grandson, who raced toward her, heedless of any rules about running inside – as if she and Gibbs actually enforced them. There were still a few of the old Gibbs’ Rules that remained firmly in place – Rule 5, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 23, Rule 28, Rule 51 – and a few new ones that mostly concerned keeping Little Jack safe, like “Never go down the basement stairs by yourself” and “Always tell the truth,” which Jack supposed replaced Rule 7.
Flinging himself into her arms, Little Jack placed a sloppy kiss on his grandmother’s cheek and allowed her to settle him in her lap, at least momentarily.
In the three and a half years he had been on the earth, Little Jack had taken to calling her “BeeJack,” which stood for Big Jack, something Faith and her husband decided could distinguish the two Jacks. Faith’s parents had been generous with their grandparent status, especially since Little Jack had no paternal grandparents. So, Gibbs and Jack had become Gunny and BeeJack. Jack had accepted her moniker; Big Jack would have been worse.
“What are you going to name your boat?” she asked, but her namesake had already moved on to the next adventure, squirming out of her arms and turning his attention to the intricately-carved wooden cowboys and Indians and horses – another creation by Gibbs’ skilled hands – on the floor in front of the fireplace.
She didn’t think she could love a child more than she loved this boy. Still, after chasing him around their Alexandria house for an entire weekend, she could not help but feel some relief when the front door opened and Faith stepped inside, waving at them.
“Look who I see,” Jack called to Little Jack, who glanced up and, seeing his mother, scrambled to his feet, launching himself at her.
“Mama!” he shouted, hugging her hard.
“Hey, buddy!” Faith greeted, kissing him and squeezing tightly.
“He’s waiting in the car,” she answered, then looked at Gibbs and Jack and said, “I’m sorry we were so much later than we said we would be. That means we can’t stay to visit if we’re going to make it back to Philly in time to get this one to bed.”
“We understand. We had a good visit with you guys Friday.” In truth, although Jack had been thrilled to keep her grandson, she was exhausted. Gibbs had told her it was no mean feat keeping up with a three year old – which she knew…but didn’t know know. So, she did not protest the departure plan at all – and vowed to make Gibbs pay for the told-you-so smirk he was now giving her.
“His things are all packed and ready,” she told her daughter.
“We can’t thank you guys enough for keeping him,” Faith said, stepping forward to give Gibbs a solid hug, which was warmly returned. “It was so good to get away for a couple of days.”
Jack gave her a smile that she hoped did not appear too weary. “No problem. We had a great weekend, didn’t we, Little Jack?”
The little boy nodded, already back to creating an elaborate tableau with his carved figures.
Faith picked up one of the diminutive sculptures and studied it before looking up at Gibbs in amazement. “These are incredible! Did you make them?”
The pink that tinted Gibbs’ cheeks made Jack smile wider. When he shrugged, she touched his arm and said, “He did. He has very talented fingers.” The pink flushed to red.
Faith didn’t catch the innuendo – or either she just pretended not to hear it. “Do you like the cowboys and Indians that Gunny made for you?” she asked her son.
“Yes,” he told her, not glancing away from his diorama. “I’m gonna be a cowboy wike Gunny.”
“I see,” Faith said, then asked innocently, “Is Gunny a cowboy?”
Little Jack nodded enthusiastically.
Clutching two horses in both hands, he made them gallop into a Lincoln Logs corral. “I hewrd BeeJack call him that after we went night-night.”
“I fink Gunny didn’t hear her, ‘cause she had ta tell him wots of times and wouder.”
Gibbs coughed, spitting out a mouthful of coffee and sounding as if he were choking.
Jack felt heat rush up her neck at the memory of that very moment the night before when they thought the boy had been fast asleep, and the realization of what Little Jack – however innocently – had heard.
Eyebrows raised, Faith shot them a glance that showed both amusement and chastisement.
Little Jack looked up at his grandmother, dark eyes matching hers. “Wuz you an’ Gunny pwaying Cowboys and Indians, BeeJack?”
Gibbs’ coughing fit intensified as he escaped into the kitchen. Avoiding her daughter’s gaze, Jack squatted next to the little boy. “Something like that. But it’s time to grab your gear and head home.”
“I wanna stay wif you and Gunny and pway Cowboys and Indians, too.”
“You got a few years yet, kid,” Gibbs quipped from the kitchen.
Shaking her head, Faith nevertheless smiled as she grabbed Little Jack’s go bag. “Say thank you to BeeJack and Gunny for letting you stay with them.”
Pressing a kiss in the silky blonde hair, Jack hugged him tightly as Gibbs returned. “You know BeeJack and Gunny love for you to visit them. You were so good this weekend.”
“I was,” Little Jack agreed, turning to his mother and confiding, in a stage whisper, “I didn’t saying anyfing about the new baby.”
“What!” Jack squealed, looking at Faith, who shook her head.
“Well, guess that cat’s out of the bag,” she laughed.
“I’d say it is!” She pulled her daughter close before stepping back to look her up and down. “How far along are you?”
Faith pressed a hand against her abdomen, which Jack noticed was already slightly rounded. “Just hit fourteen weeks. We were going to wait a couple of more before we said anything.”
“Congratulations,” Gibbs said, leaning in to engulf her in another hug.
Jack watched two of her three favorite people in the world share genuine affection for each other. Gibbs had welcomed her family as his. She had no doubt that Faith would soon discover another contribution from the Leroy Jethro Gibbs College Scholarship Club.
“Keep it on the down-low,” Faith asked, when Gibbs straightened from their hug. “We haven’t told my parents yet.”
Unable to stop smiling, Jack assured her they would wait until they heard it was okay to share the exciting news.
Finally, she tugged Little Jack away from the cowboys and Indians again. “Come on, buddy. Time to go home.”
Gibbs leaned down to get one more hug from the boy. “Next time you visit, we’ll start on your boat.”
“Can we take it to Awaska to sail?” Little Jack asked.
“You bet,” Gibbs said. “We’ll go in the summer when the ice melts.”
“’Kay.” His dark eyes suddenly grew contemplative, and he looked up at Gibbs. “Gunny?”
Gibbs looked back at him with the same intensity. “Yes, sir?”
“How we get it outta th’ basement?”
It took all Jack could do to keep a straight face, and she marveled at Gibbs’ ability to assume the same attitude of seriousness as Little Jack.
He placed his hand on the little boy’s back, his large palm spanning almost all of it, and leaned down to look Little Jack in the eyes. “We break the bottle, buddy.”
That seemed to make perfect sense to the boy, who obediently took his mother’s hand and, after another series of goodbyes and hugs all around, headed out the door.
Jack wasted no time collapsing onto the sofa with a deep groan.
“You look like you could use a drink, BeeJack,” Gibbs said, his tone both amused and empathetic. He had done his fair share of entertaining a non-stop three year old, so she figured he was ready to put his feet up, too, and enjoy a shot – or three – of bourbon.
“I’ll take you up on that… Gunny . I’m so excited about the baby, but I swear I don’t know how we’ll keep up with two of them!”
She heard him chuckle while he gathered the bottle and glasses. Closing her eyes, she hoped she could stay awake long enough for a little snuggling by the fire. “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” she called, not bothering to open her eyes.
“Yeeeesss?” he murmured, mouth right at her ear, and she would have jumped had she not already smelled the sawdust.
Looking up at him, she accepted the bourbon he held out. “Katherine from Gold Creek Lodge called. She said our yurt is reserved for June.” She was proud of herself for delivering the line straight-faced.
Too tired to draw out the tease, she admitted, “I told her we’d take the same cabin we always take.”
For a good long time, they sat on the couch, watching the flames dance in the fireplace, legs propped on the ottoman and entwined. Jack thought back to Faith’s challenge years ago.
I think you need to talk to him, she had said. I think I’ve heard enough about Leroy Jethro Gibbs to know that…he means something to you…and I think you mean something to him. Maybe more than you realize.”
Sometimes she allowed the thoughts to creep in about what might have happened if she had not let Faith push her toward Alaska and Gibbs, but then she shook them away, the pang of imagined loss too sharp to consider.
It was not until Gibbs rubbed her arm and asked if she was okay that she realized her body had tensed. Forcing her mind to more positive thoughts – mainly that she was lying here in the arms of a very handsome and sexy man to whom she definitely meant something – she sighed and kissed him softly.
“I am very okay,” she murmured, lips still lingering on his.
His hands slid down her body, gliding over every curve. “You certainly feel very okay ,” he agreed.
Her lips nibbled over his jaw. “Jethro?”
“Have I ever told you I’m really glad you came back to DC with me?” She wasn’t sure why she just blurted that out, except that the moment seemed so perfect, and she wanted him to know how significant it was to her. “From Alaska, I mean.”
He twisted his head to watch her, eyes soft. “Have I ever told you I’m really glad you came to Alaska to get me?”
He actually had, more than once, but she didn’t mind hearing it again.
“I wasn’t sure you would leave, you know.”
"Leon told me that Tim said you were more at peace than you had been since Shannon and Kelly. And you told me yourself on the phone that you were ‘really good.’” She lifted her fingers in air quotes. “So…I didn’t know what to expect.”
He leaned back, tugging her close as they gazed into the crackling fire. She waited, her head on his chest, listening to his solid heartbeat. Finally, he took a breath. “I was…at peace. More than I had been before, anyway. But being at peace…and being truly happy…” He shook his head slowly, pressed his lips together. “Not the same.”
“And now?” she asked hesitantly, although he had given her enough evidence the past three years to have a pretty good idea.
“I never thought I could be truly happy again,” he said, then slid his arm from around her so that he could hold her face in his hands. Those lovely blues looked straight into her eyes. “But you make me happy.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Love’ll do that.”
Joy warmed her, tears brimming. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “I love you, too, Cowboy.”
After several minutes of completely satisfying cuddling, she felt the weekend catching up with her. “Okay, you were right about three year olds. I am beat.”
Gibbs grunted, nuzzling her neck lazily. “Does that mean no cowboys and Indians tonight?”
The touch of his lips sparked renewed energy in her. Swinging a leg over to straddle him, she said, In her best John Wayne imitation, “That’ll be the day.”

Izzawild Mfc
Azzoverload.Net
Stacy_Doll

Roxannerolls

Report Page