Chapter 24 – Reconnaissance at NCIS Headquarters
NCIS Headquarters, Washington D.C. – December 14, 2003
The sound of keyboards echoed through the spacious NCIS bullpen as the team worked on their morning reports. Gibbs sat at his desk, black coffee mug in hand, eyes fixed on the computer screen, but his attention was elsewhere.
There was an eerie atmosphere in the air.
The television in the background, tuned to CNN, endlessly repeated the images that had dominated the news since the previous night:
Saddam Hussein, captured.
U.S. Special Forces found him hiding in a hole near Tikrit.
The anchors talked nonstop, speculating about the secret mission and those involved.
"This is insane, boss!" Tony DiNozzo exclaimed, turning in his chair to look at Gibbs. "They got Saddam Hussein himself!"
Kate Todd, sitting beside him, stared at the TV with her arms crossed.
"Looks like it was a joint operation… special forces and the 4th Infantry Division."
Timothy McGee, a newcomer to the team, fiddled anxiously with his keyboard.
"There are some photos circulating online…" he murmured.
Gibbs looked up, his instinct immediately picking up something different in McGee's tone.
"What photos?" he asked, without taking his eyes off the screen.
McGee clicked a few times and turned the monitor so the others could see.
And there they were.
Unofficial photos, leaked by some soldier in Iraq.
They showed a group of Special Forces operators surrounding Saddam Hussein.
The faces were censored with black bars, but Gibbs felt the impact like a punch to the gut.
He would recognize that posture, that way of holding a rifle, those eyes… anywhere.
His son, Jason Gibbs, was there.
Immediate Recognition
Gibbs rose from his chair, walking slowly to the television screen, as if he needed to see more closely to believe it.
Tony noticed the change in his boss's expression and frowned.
"Boss?"
Kate looked at Gibbs and then at the TV.
"Gibbs… are you okay?"
He didn't answer. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on the screen, while the images looped.
McGee adjusted the monitor again and showed another leaked photo.
In the image, one of the operators held a golden AK one of Saddam's war trophies.
Another held a silver Rolex, the same model Saddam wore.
And right in the center of the photo, an operator held his rifle with the perfect posture of an experienced marksman.
Even without seeing the face… Gibbs knew.
It was Jason.
The silence in the room grew thick.
Gibbs finally returned to his desk and took a sip of his coffee, expressionless.
Tony exchanged a curious glance with Kate, but said nothing immediately.
"Gibbs… do you recognize anyone in these photos?" Kate asked cautiously.
Gibbs looked up at her, his eyes cold and calculating, but something else gleamed beneath the surface.
Pride.
But he only shook his head.
"No."
Later, in the NCIS hallways, Gibbs ran into Tom Morrow, the agency's director.
Morrow smiled at the sight of him.
"I figured you'd recognize someone on that mission."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Director."
Morrow let out a short laugh.
"Come on, Jethro. Your son is in Delta. It's no secret between us."
Gibbs took a deep breath.
"And you know I'm not going to talk about it."
Morrow nodded.
"No need. I just wanted to say… you have a reason to be proud."
Gibbs pressed his lips together, his chest swelling with a mixture of emotions.
He'd known this for a long time.
But hearing someone else say it… made it all the more real.
That night, Gibbs went home earlier than usual.
He sat at the table, picked up a glass of bourbon, and stared at the framed photo he'd kept there for years.
A picture of Jason, still a boy, wearing a military jacket much too big for him, laughing next to his grandfather.
Now, he was one of the most feared and respected soldiers in the world.
Gibbs smiled slightly and took a sip.
His son was making history.
And he couldn't be prouder.
Chapter 25 – An Unexpected Visit
NCIS Headquarters, Washington D.C. – January 2004
The sound of ringing phones, computer keys, and muffled conversations filled the NCIS bullpen. Tony DiNozzo leaned back in his chair, balancing a ball of paper between his fingers, while Kate Todd typed a report. Timothy McGee, as always, was engrossed in the computer, analyzing some data.
Gibbs, as usual, was focused on his coffee.
Everything seemed like a normal day.
Until the elevator opened.
The team barely noticed at first glance, but someone stepped out and walked with firm, confident strides down the floor.
A tall, strong man, wearing dark jeans, boots, and a black leather jacket.
His short hair and military posture were impossible to ignore.
But what really caught their attention were his piercing blue eyes… a look identical to Gibbs's.
He walked to his father's desk, ignoring the confused looks of the agents.
Then, he lightly tapped Gibbs' desk with his knuckles.
"You really need to improve the security of this place, Dad."
Silence engulfed the bullpen.
Tony froze mid-movement with the paper ball, his eyes wide.
Kate raised an eyebrow, surprised.
McGee just blinked repeatedly, trying to process what he'd heard.
But the most unexpected reaction was Gibbs'.
He simply looked up, unsurprised, and gave a slight smile.
"Jason."
Tony slowly placed the paper ball on the desk and looked at Gibbs and then at the mysterious man.
"Dad?" he repeated, confused. "Gibbs, you have a son?"
Kate looked at Gibbs, then at Jason, and back at Gibbs.
"Wait… WHAT?!" McGee looked like a frozen computer, trying to connect the information.
Jason smirked, amused by the team's expressions.
"Yes, he does."
Gibbs took a sip of his coffee, as if it were nothing.
"And you really think you know everything about me?"
Tony was still trying to recover from the shock.
"I've worked with you for years and I had no idea!"
Kate crossed her arms, suspicious.
"And how come we've never heard of you?"
Jason shrugged.
"I like to keep a low profile."
Tony let out an incredulous laugh.
"And it seems that runs in the family."
The Investigative Instinct
McGee began typing rapidly, accessing NCIS's internal databases.
"If he's your son, he should be in the records…"
But before he could finish the sentence, Gibbs slapped him on the back of the head.
— Ouch! — McGee complained.
Gibbs pointed to the screen.
— Take your hands off there.
Jason laughed.
— Nice try, McGee. But you're not going to find anything.
Tony leaned forward, curious.
— And why not?
Jason looked directly at him, his tone now serious.
— Because I belong to a unit that doesn't exist in public records.
Kate and Tony exchanged glances.
Gibbs just crossed his arms, watching the team try to piece things together.
Kate looked at Jason with an analytical gaze.
— Let me guess. Special Forces?
Jason smiled.
— Something like that.
Tony narrowed his eyes.
— Wait… does that mean YOU were on the mission that captured Saddam Hussein?!
Silence fell again.
Jason just gave Gibbs a subtle glance, as if asking if he should answer.
Gibbs shrugged.
"I wouldn't confirm that if I were you."
Jason laughed.
"Let's just say I was around."
McGee looked at the computer screen and then at Jason.
"So… you're one of those guys who don't exist."
Jason tilted his head.
"If I existed, maybe."
The Past with Abby and Ducky
Before more questions could arise, an excited voice echoed through the floor.
"JASON?!"
Everyone turned to see Abby Sciuto running towards Jason with a huge smile.
"Look at you! I almost didn't recognize you!" she jumped and hugged him tightly.
Jason laughed and hugged her back.
"Hi, Abby. Long time no see."
"A VERY long time no see! Since you were in the 5th Group!" Tony and Kate exchanged glances again.
"So she already knew?" Tony murmured.
Ducky appeared soon after, adjusting his jacket and smiling.
"Ah, Jason, my boy! How's our favorite warrior doing?"
Jason smiled and shook Ducky's hand.
"Surviving, Doc. As always."
Ducky looked at Gibbs and shook his head with a smile.
"And you never mentioned anything to your team, Gibbs?"
Gibbs just took another sip of coffee.
"They never asked."
Tony threw his hands up, exasperated.
"HOW COULD WE ASK ABOUT SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW?!"
The End of the Surprise
After a few minutes of conversation, Jason looked at Gibbs.
"Dad, let's have lunch? I'll pay."
Gibbs stood up, grabbing his jacket.
"Only if it's a good place."
Jason smiled.
"I learned from the best."
As father and son left together, Tony, Kate, and McGee were still processing everything they had just discovered.
Kate sighed.
"Gibbs has a son."
McGee shook his head.
"And he's basically a military ghost."
Tony crossed his arms.
"That explains A LOT about Gibbs… and at the same time, nothing."
Kate looked at Abby.
"What else do you know?"
Abby just smiled mysteriously.
"Oh, if I told you… I'd have to kill you."
The three swallowed hard.
The day was just beginning… and so were the surprises.
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