The Witch

"Morning, Gibbs."

"Morning, George." Gibbs nodded to the clerk at the local grocery store as he put his basket up on the conveyer belt.

"You're shopping early." George reached in the basket to pull out the first item and froze when he realized he had a bag of kale in his hand. "You shopping for a friend?"

Gibbs grinned at the expression on the elderly man's face. "Been eating him out of house and home, figured I'd better replace some of what I've been eating."

"Kale?" He kept pulling items out to ring up. "Spinach? Cabbage? Pineapple? This is more greens than you've bought in all the years I've known you. What the heck is your friend making?"

"Margaritas." Gibbs checked the total on the register and pulled out enough cash to cover it. "Or something pretty close to it. Thanks, George, see you later."

George watched as Gibbs picked up his bag of groceries and sailed out of the store, whistling as he went out the door. Once Gibbs was gone, George turned to the cashier at the next register. "Dorothy, you ever make a margarita with spinach?"

"Spinach?" Dorothy put her hands on her hips as she gave him the eye. "George, have you been into the booze already this morning?"

-NCIS-

Tim was just putting the ham slices in a skillet when he heard Gibbs' car pull into the driveway. "Tiana, hurry up, Papa's here."

That got her up and by the time Gibbs walked in the door, she was bouncing down the hallway. "Papa."

"Hey, Shortstuff." Gibbs dropped his bag on the island and scooped Tia up for her morning kiss before setting her in her seat and accepting a cup of coffee from McGee. "Thanks."

A bowl of beaten eggs was sitting on the counter and Tim pointed to it. "Scrambled all right?

"Works for me." Gibbs watched McGee as he worked the two skillets. "If we ever need anyone to go undercover as a short order cook, you're all set."

"Better than being a waiter." He flipped over the ham and stirred the eggs before turning to the refrigerator for salsa and sour cream. By then the eggs were done and Tim dished up three plates, cutting up the ham for Tiana and adding the salsa and sour cream to her eggs.

Gibbs watched in amusement as she dove into her breakfast before adding a spoon of the salsa to his own eggs. "Was going to mention it last night – nice to see she's not a picky eater."

"Never did the whole jarred baby food routine when she was little, so she was always introduced to new foods. She'd rather eat off the adult's menu in most restaurants."

"Nothing wrong with that. Probably healthier, too."

"I think so. Pretty funny to see the reaction when she wants calamari."

Tia smiled and nodded, licking some sour cream off her fingers. "It's yummy with mary-anna sauce."

Gibbs had to think for a minute. The brock-o-licki the night before had been easier. "Marinara sauce?"

"Yep, that." Tia shared a grin with her Papa. Gibbs was still smiling when he left for the Yard.

-NCIS-

The smile didn't last long. Giving no warning, Tony jumped to his feet. "I'm... I'm going to go see Abby, Boss." Ziva was two steps behind him, both at almost a dead run. Before Gibbs could figure out what had sent them flying, a familiar voice came around the corner.

"Where's Chucky?"

"Diane, what are you doing here?"

She stood in front of her ex-husband's desk, arms crossed. "I was at his apartment, but someone else is living there and when I called here, I was told he's out on leave. Where is he, Jethro?"

"Out on leave."

His deadpan answer did nothing to improve her mood. "Not funny, Jethro."

"Not any of your concern, Diane. Leave him alone."

"Well, aren't you all ferocious protecting your little lamb. You!" She swung around and pointed as Dorneget came around the corner. "What kind of leave is Agent McGee on?"

"Bereavement leave, ma'am." He turned to Gibbs. "I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs, but she scares me even more than you do."

Gibbs just rolled his eyes. "Get out of here, Dorneget."

Diane instantly quieted. "Bereavement leave? Jethro, who died?"

"Leave him alone, Diane."

"Jethro, he was very kind to me when I needed a friend. I'd like to return the favor."

At that moment Ducky came from the back elevator, looking over a stack of photographs and not noticing that Gibbs was in the middle of something. "Jethro, if you see Timothy this afternoon, would you give him these pictures for me? Juliette thought our lovely Tiana might like a memento of our first tea."

Ducky finally looked up just as Diane grabbed the photos from his hands. "Oh dear, my timing appears to be lacking somewhat today."

"Ya think, Duck?" Gibbs snatched the pictures back from Diane, but she'd seen the little girl, leaving him very little choice. "His ex just died, now he's a single dad."

"Oh, that poor man."

Gibbs cut her off before she could say anymore. "He was assigned to protect you and you took advantage of his kindness. You're not going to cause him any more problems, is that understood?"

She hesitated and he pointed a finger. "Is that understood?" Diane huffed and stormed out of the bullpen. Gibbs waited until the elevator left with her on it before calling down to Abby's lab.

"Tell those two chickens to get their butts back up here and get to work."