Jethro's Choice

Later that night, by 11:30; Jen and Jethro arrived at home. When they had gotten home they had found Kelly and Jackson bonding in the kitchen.
“Now that’s sweet. Grandfather and granddaughter together; I wish JD and the twins were as lucky as Kelly.” Jen said as she and Jethro stood in the doorway.
“I know you do; Jen, but they have the one person in their lives that they will always have. Someone that Kelly hasn’t had in her life for thirty-two years and can never get back.”
Jen knew that Jethro didn’t mean for what he had said to sound like it had. But no matter what, no matter how many times she told herself that she and Kelly would just be friends; it still felt like he was reminding her that she was unable to have kids of her own, like I did. If it hadn’t been for the fact she had gone through menopause while contending with her disease then she would’ve been able to have a child or two of her own. A baby that she could say that was the best of her and the best of Jethro Gibbs. But Jen was beyond pissed at Jethro to the point where it would be in his best interest to be as far away from her as humanly possible.
As if it were cued, Jethro’s phone rang.
“Its Ziva, I have to take this.” Jethro said partially sensing Jen’s mood.
“Ziva always had perfect timing.” Jen thought as she remembered Ziva saving her in Cairo twenty-five years ago and the time when Ziva knocked her out of the way when Sergeant Wright jumped from the sixth floor of the hotel Jen was at for the agencies security summit with Ziva and Tony as her protection detail twenty-two years ago. Jen also knew that there was a reason why Ziva had to be calling and she knew exactly what that reason was, Eli was in DC.
“Sorry to call so late; Gibbs, but Eli is here. Tony looks like he’s about ready to kill Eli and I have to admit that I’m not that far behind him on that one.” Ziva said.
“I’ll be right over, where are the girls?” Jethro asked.
“We sent them to Abby and McGee’s when we got home.”
“Good, I’m on my way.”
“Is everything okay, Jethro?” Jen asked.
“Eli is over at Tony and Ziva’s.”
“Where are Hannah and Leah?” Jen asked.
“Hannah and LJ are safe at McGee and Abby’s.”
“Good, do me a favor; Jethro?”
“What do you want, Jen?” Jethro asked as walked to the front door.
“Don’t cause an international crisis between us and Mossad. Things have been tense enough between the agencies with Ziva leaving Mossad, becoming an NCIS agent and renouncing all her ties to Israel. I don’t need SECNAV having my ass for a crisis you started with Eli David.” Jen said.
“I promise; I won’t start an international crisis.”
“Make sure Tony doesn’t do anything either. This is her fight, she has to face it on her own; Jethro.” Jen said.
“Got it, Jen.” Jethro said as he walked out.
“Drive safe.” Jen called after Jethro.
Jackson and Kelly had pretty much overheard Jethro and Jen’s entire conversation from the kitchen.
“It’s nice to have someone that cares about you, someone to come home to every night, someone that would put their life on the line day after day just to keep you safe.” Jackson said to his granddaughter.
“That was subtle; Grandpa, Jenny will never know that we were eavesdropping after that comment.”
“Kelly Shannon Gibbs, don’t you know better than to tease an old man like me?” Jackson said as he teased his granddaughter.
Within a matter of minutes Jethro was at Tony and Ziva’s. Jethro wasted no time in getting to Ziva and Tony, Jethro knew what Eli David was capable of and he wasn’t about to run the chance of having Hannah and Leah become orphans before their eighteenth birthday.
“Tony, please go in the other room; I’ll be fine. I can handle Eli on my own until Gibbs gets here.” Ziva said.
“So you called the bastard that stole you from me. I honestly don’t see why you have him on a pedestal.”
“Watch it; Gibbs has been more of a father to her in the past twenty-three years than you ever were.” Tony said as he started after Eli.
“Tony.”
By this point Jethro was in the house and took Ziva subtleness as his cue. In a matter of second Jethro punched Eli square in the jaw.
“I said she was off limits.” Jethro said as he ushered Tony into the kitchen.
Jethro knew that Jen would read him the riot act once she got win of what had just happened, but he didn’t care; Eli David was a bastard.
“Nice punch, boss.” Tony said once they were in the kitchen.
Jethro nodded as he poured a cup of coffee.
“Call Abby and McGee, tell them to send the girls back in an hour.”
Tony did as instructed. Meanwhile in the living room Ziva let loose.
“What the hell gives you the right to be here, to be in my home?”
“You are my daughter, Ziva and the girls are my granddaughters. Despite all my attempts that hot headed man you call your husband is my son-in-law. I think in all my years, I have the right to visit my family.”
“Newsflash Eli; you lost that right the second you had my mother and Tali killed. Because of you, I lost everything. Because of you I lost my mother, my sister, my brother and myself. Now it is time for you to get over yourself, I have found my place and people who genuinely care about me, people that love and care for me, people who would rather risk their lives to keep me safe than risk my life to do their bidding. I found a man that loves me and you are just gonna have to deal with the fact that I choose him, whether he lives up to your insane standard or not. I love him and he is the father of my girls. I’m NCIS now and nothing you say or do will change that, I’ve found my home.”
With that Jethro came back into the living.
“There’s a midnight flight leaving Andrews for Tel-Aviv; I highly suggest that you take it.” Jethro said as he came to Ziva’s side and place a protective arm around her.
“You don’t frighten me, Agent Gibbs.” Eli said in his broken English accent.
“Take the flight, Eli. Don’t come back, don’t call, and don’t write. Ziva doesn’t want anything to do with you. And if you do anything to her or the girls, I will personally hunt you down myself and kill you.”
Eli nodded as he headed for the front door, knowing that he was no longer welcome.
“One more thing, Eli since you didn’t get it the last time.”
“What?”
“She’s off limits. The twins are off limits. Stay away from them.”
An hour later, Eli David was waiting in the Andrews airport terminal. Jen casually walked down the hallway to where Eli was sitting. Jen had her sidearm attached to her at her waist, her NCIS id was in her pocket and her badge was at her waist. She briefly flashed her badge to airport security and they let her past. Within a matter of minutes Jen was a mere five steps away from the man she hated with every fiber of her being.
Without any hesitation Jen walked over to Eli and punched square in the jaw just as Jethro had.
“That’s for being a bastard.” Jen said.
Once the shock wore off, Eli looked like he was about ready to strangle Jen.
“That’s for setting Ziva up to meet the same fate as Ari.” Jen said as she sent a right hook to the other side of Eli’s jaw.
Eli was beyond pissed now.
“And this is for attempting to damage the twins like you damaged their mother.” Jen said as pulled her sidearm from its holster and shot Eli in his right shoulder.
Jen then walked away. In a futile attempt Eli started after her, but was stopped by airport security.
“Sorry sir; we can’t let you go after her, she’s the Director of NCIS.” one of the airport security guards said.
“I know who she is.” Eli said as he was escorted onto the flight.