Daddys home (Tagged)

[Deleted]

TAGGED Jessica "Jess" Ranen

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Daddys home...

Well, he'd finally resigned, hung up his gun and retired his badge - finally becoming a civilian. He'd given notice and in the month leading up to his official last day he'd prepared for his move, packing up his home (Albiet somberly and with a lot of difficulty) and his projects, then just a week before his last day he sent it ahead of himself along with some guys to help unpack whilst he tied up loose ends in DC. Then finally he flew to Chicago, bidding farewell to the life he had known for two decades and starting a new one in Chicago. Just before he left however, he'd heard from his DEA contacts that Jess had been shot, well he was then very very happy that he'd retired - he didn't waste time arriving in Chicago and before unpacking he headed straight for Jess', getting the address from his poorly kept records.

At least he didn't look too bad himself, he'd cleaned up, shaved and was in comfortable jeans and his usual Marines T-Shirt, covered by his usual brown jacket. He'd travelled all day and the first thing he wanted to do was what? Unpack? Nope... See Jess...

At least he had his priorities right!

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jess was finally home after what seemed like decades. She'd been in DEA custody and then now she was being watched over by none other than her 'boss' and 'brother' Evan Cross who was probably at his girlfriend's or something. When Jess went to answer the door she wasn't expecting her dad to be standing on the other side. One arm was in a sling but she still threw her good arm around him in a hug. It had been way too long since she'd seen him.

Last time she had seen him was when she had taken leave to go back and visit Virginia, that had been a few months ago. She could already guess why he was on the doorstep. Smirking she smacked him in the back of the head. "That's for not saying hi sooner" she stated as she stepped back to invite him inside

♡ @jethrogibbs

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[Deleted]

As the door was opened he took her in before she threw her arm around him, he wrapped arms gently around her avoiding her other arm which seemed to be in a … sling? “Jess?” he started before feeling her smack him upside the head "That's for not saying hi sooner" giving her a small and gentle smack upside the head in return he entered, closing the door behind him “Hi sooner might happen more often” he replied before looking quizzically at the arm and back at her face, studiously “Are you okay Jess?” he asked, well it was along the lines of ‘how are you?’ which was better than nothing! He was worried of course!. He hadn’t seen her in a few months and now this?! It felt like he had been really out of the loop…Though, he hadn't exactly been living here so... anyway.

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Most people would not understand the relationship that the father and daughter had, most children would get in trouble for swatting their parent in the back of the head. Not Jess. Though she forgot to duck when he retaliated. Though honestly she knew that ducking would do no good so, there was that. "Hi more often is good."

Leave it to her dad to be worried about her arm. "Yeah, I'm good." she stated with a smile. Honestly the sling was just precautionary. "The doctor just doesn't want me lifting my arm above my head until the stitches heal all the way up." One thing about Jess was that she usually spit things out. It had gotten easier as she had gotten older.

"You should see the other guys" she stated. Not that Jess was proud of herself; but she had been taught to protect herself. "I'll take my stitches over their graves anyday" she added. It was probably not the BEST thing to say but it was a very Jess thing to say. "You want a cup of coffee?" One thing she knew about her dad. He drank two things. Coffee or Bourbon, no matter HOW many times she tried to get him to drink a bottle of water.

♡ @jethrogibbs

♡

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[Deleted]

"Hi more often is good." "Yeah, I'm good." Gibbs raised an unconvinced brow "The doctor just doesn't want me lifting my arm above my head until the stitches heal all the way up." Gibbs shook his head, what exactly did she get herself into this time he wondered "You should see the other guys" a wry smirk crossed his lips "I'll take my stitches over their graves anyday" the smirk faded to a frown and he shook his head, knowing better than to push any harder, he’d just got here - the last thing he wanted was to argue right now, but he did intend to go over that later "You want a cup of coffee?" Gibbs smirked, she knew the answer to that one - he made a beeline for the kitchen, one thing he had a habit of doing was going towards where the coffee would be, well - it was a Gibbs habit and it never seemed to break… ever, he glanced over at Jess as he pulled off his jacket “I’ve resigned from NCIS” he announced, oh yeah never one to beat around the bush - he came right out with it - he dumped his jacket over the back of a chair.

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jessica knew the conversation about her arm wasn't over as she got coffee started. She had picked up her dad's habit for black coffee. Whatever the reason was for it, there was always coffee and it was the decent stuff ish. How her dad even managed to find his way around in this way too big of a penthouse she had no idea, why she was even stuck here she still had no idea. What had Evan talked her into when it came to just being safe? She herself still got lost at times and Gibbs was making it look like easy. Then again he was a builder, there was a lot to be said for a builder's intuition about where things would be located.

“I’ve resigned from NCIS” She blinked. Twice. "Dad. What happened?" she knew there had to be a reason for him leaving NCIS. Her dad wasn't a quitter, something got under his skin but she doubted she would get much of a straight story on that. As the coffee finished she brought him a cup, before going back for the other cup in a second trip. She sipped on her cup gently. Jess made a face as she moved her arm. Even with pain killers that hurt.

♡ @jethrogibbs

♡

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[Deleted]

Staying where he was he watched her "Dad. What happened?" Gibbs shrugged "Decided that it was time to hang up the badge" a beat and he leaned back against the wall behind him "Wanted to be nearer you and Jen" he answered honestly, sure he didn't usually open up but this was his daughter - taking the coffee he inhaled the smell and smirked at her. As she made a face Gibbs regarded her, most of him wanted to fuss and look after her but he knew she was just as bad as he was "Does your mother know?" he asked indicating with his head her bad arm.

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Her dad retiring? What had the world come to? That was a shock to her. Pushing her flaming red locks from her face as looked towards him her facial expression did not betray the feelings of hearing her dad mentioning turning in his badge.

Jess wasn't against her dad being closer but... he had so many years with NCIS it was just different to her. She was about to say something when he pointed out her bad arm. "No Sir" she said simply. One of Jess' many habits. Yes sir, Yes ma'am, No sir, and No Ma'am were second nature to her. And not to save face. That was just Jess. The military brought it out more in her though. Except how did she explain she had not told her mother about her arm... he was going to ask, but maybe he wouldn't?

♡ @jethrogibbs

♡

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[Deleted]

Gibbs narrowed his eyes at her as she said that Jenny didn't know, he took a gulp of the coffee before placing it down and approaching, once he was in front of her he gently touched her cheek and brushed some of her hair aside before letting his hand fall to her good shoulder "Why doesn't she" he asked, she had to have known he would ask - he studied her, she was just as bad as him when it came to talking and not talking "Jess?" he probed. He'd discuss his own decisions later, first he wanted to know about hers.

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jess hated when her dad got onto her and she knew that is exactly what the look was for, but she hadn't lied to him. Though Jess didn't make a habit of lying, sometimes she'd accidentally lie but not when it was this important even. Jess knew the truth was always better, even if it would get her in trouble. She set her own coffee down seeing him approach. Jess wasn't scared of him. She stayed right where she was planted on the floor.

The redhead looked up at her dad. Her mind was racing back to almost a decade ago. When Jen had been injured. The reason for the move to Chicago. It had turned Jess' whole world upside down and some of it for the better. But it was hard to forget seeing your mom scared. Jess remembered the fire department having to get her out of the tree.

Jess wanted so badly to just tell him she didn't know, but the truth was she did know. "And give her a hear tattack when it's just a few stitches? No" her last word was rather defiant sounding albeit not rude sounding. The bad thing about inheriting things from your parents, you were called out on it because they understood. "You both would just worry and.. and.." she had fired her weapon and killed the assailants. She just shook her head. "I just did what I had to do. Worrying won't change anything. So why should I cause worry?" she replied.

♡ @jethrogibbs

♡

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[Deleted]

"And give her a heart attack when it's just a few stitches? No" Gibbs gave her a look "You both would just worry and.. and.." Reaching out Gibbs touched her shoulder gently, her good side "I just did what I had to do. Worrying won't change anything. So why should I cause worry?" She was so much like himself and Jen "As long as you are safe, right?" he asked pointedly, he was far more protective of Jess but he also let her learn for herself, he could be the overbearing dad if he wanted to, and from time to time he would get really over protective, but he didn't like Jess getting mad at him for being too overbearing, so sometimes he did keep his distance "We worry cause we have to" he added with a smirk.

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

At her dad's look she knew it was probably time to stop blabbering but she felt she needed to explain. When he put his hand on her shoulder, she moved to hug him and did so with her good arm tightly. "It won't happen again" she assured him. No Jess didn't apologize to her dad, she knew better. Truth be told, she was still terrified that it had happened; but like her parents it took a bit for her to really show it.

"I'm safe now" she told him. Jess really was messing up this whole being on her own thing. And she was realizing it. There were days. Jess always knew she had her parents to fall back on when things went sideways but she was stubborn like that. Jess sometimes tried too hard to be independent that it blew up in her face. "I know dad, I know." that didn't change the fact she didn't like it when they worried.

♡ @jethrogibbs

♡

[googlefont="Pinyon Script"]

[Deleted]

As she hugged him Gibbs returned it gently before pulling back "It won't happen again" he fixed her with a steady gaze, one that said he’d hold her to that, but he knew there was more "I'm safe now" "I know dad, I know." putting his hand on her head he slightly, gently pulled her head towards him so that he could kiss her forehead then gently he ruffled her hair.

A comfortable silence fell, but Gibbs became aware that his latest decision could be questioned at any moment - he busied himself picking up his coffee and taking  a few gulps, yeah that was something he wasn’t too keen on actually dealing with. It wasn’t like him to willingly hang up his gun and badge, especially after all this time - but he was done, close to 60 and after several close shaves with death and having so many close to him die it was something Gibbs had to do - live for a while.

"So, what you been doing lately?" he asked casually, carefully stepping ahead attempting to divert any attention from himself.