Wedding Shower and Surprise

That day it was pretty slow for us. Jethro had allowed Abby to stay up in the squad room for the day. Kate had finally decided to drop the bitch act and make amends with Ziva. Jethro was slowly coming to terms with Tony, Ziva and I breaking one his rules. He was still kind of mad, but I knew that he would eventually get over it.
“You look like you are still pissed, Jethro.”
“Well of course I’m pissed, Jay. You broke the rules.”
“What about rule 18; it’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.” I said.
Jethro smiled as he remembered when Jenny brought up the same rule.
“I know your rules, Jethro. Jen taught them to me as you taught them to her.”
“So what do you guys plan on doing for your wedding showers?” Abby asked Ziva and I.
“We were thinking that we all would go to the gym to play a pick-up game of basketball, men versus women.” Ziva answered.
“You’re thinking that you, Kate, Abby, Jaylyn, AJ and the Director can take on Ducky, Probie, Autopsy Gremlin, Gibbs and me in a pick-up game?”
“Oh; we know, we can. We’ve got our own secret weapon; Mr. Ohio State.” Ziva said.
“Let’s go.” Tony said.
There was an odd sense of rivalry between Tony and Ziva.
“Someone call Ducky, Palmer and the Director.” Jethro said.
“I’ll get Jen.” I said as I grabbed my gym bag.
“I’ll call Ducky and Palmer.” Abby said as she pulled out her cell to call down to autopsy.
A few minutes later the guys were in the men’s locker room changing into their gym clothes as we changed into ours. Tony laced up his sneakers as he started wondering aloud who our secret weapon was. The others were sort of listening to Tony’s rant.
“We know Kate is athletic just from the ass-kickin’ she left Probie with five years ago.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Tony.”
“Ziva is a bit competitive so she will do anything to win; Abby and the Director don’t seem like the athletic types. It’s got to be Jaylyn.”
“Ya done DiNozzo?” Gibbs asked.
“Yes boss.”
By the time the men came out to the court we were already warming up. After an hour had passed the score was 15-10 our favor. Tony had been sulking that they were down by five.
“Next basket wins.” Jethro called as he threw the ball to Jenny to check it.
“Fine with me.” Jenny said.
Gibbs then passed the ball to Tony, but Ziva grabbed the ball as she knocked Tony down.
“Told you she was competitive.” Tony said to the others as Ziva came to his aide after she passed the ball to Abby.
“I am not competitive. Need help up?”
“Ah yea.”
Before long I had scored the winning basket as Ducky, Kate, AJ and Palmer sat down on the bench.
“Good game.” Jethro said as he kissed Jenny.
“Nice shot.” Nick said as he followed Jethro’s lead and kissed me.
Both Tony and McGee congratulated Ziva and Abby like Nick had just done with me.
As Jenny kissed Jethro and I kissed Nick; we heard a familiar voice that we hadn’t heard in fifteen years.
“Jennifer, Jaylyn.”
Jenny and I quickly pulled away from our respective men to see our father standing on the sidelines of the court. Neither of us knew what to think, as far as we both were concerned Colonel Jasper Shepard had died fifteen years ago at the hands of Rene Benoit. Jethro had that wary look on his face when he saw our father standing on the court.
“It’s okay Jethro. He won’t hurt Jay and me.”
“Who is he?” Kate asked as he joined the rest of us.
“Their father.” Jethro answered.
At that point the men had gone to their locker room to change just as we followed suit. Both Jenny and I were beginning to wonder who raised our father from the grave. Once the entire team was ready to go back to NCIS we had left the gym. Jethro insisted that Jenny and I ride back with Abby and Ziva as he drove our father back to NCIS. When we got back to NCIS, Tony and Ziva brought Jasper to one of the conference rooms. Jenny and I were up in her office.
“Fifteen years and he’s back, what the hell is going on Jen?”
“I have no idea, I’ve been wondering that myself.”
“Kort better not be behind this?”
“I doubt he is. We’ll find out soon enough what’s going on.”
“You want me to tell Ziva to bring Dad over.”
“No, I’ll call her. Just sit down and relax.”