The Final Goodbye

By the time I got to see my sister after she and Jethro got back to the agency it wasn’t long before she picked up on what had just happened upstairs a mere few minutes ago. Between my hair being one big tousled mess then mine and Nick’s hand being laced together was a dead give away.
“I see that you’ve christen the office.” Jen said.
“Oh come on Jen, don’t pass judgment; when you’ve done the same.”
It was nearing midnight at that point and the rest of the agency had left for the night. The custodial staff was on one of the floors beneath us. Nick had gone to wait for me outside of the building just as Drew had. So it was just the team, all ten of us together. Tony, Ziva, McGee and Abby all stood where they had in the squad room when Gibbs retired. Palmer stood next to my old desk while I stood where Jen had when Gibbs was saying his goodbyes years ago. Jen and Ducky were standing next to Jethro.
Everything and everyone was absolutely serious. From where I was standing I could see how much damage this did to Abby. We were all resilient; we had to be with our chosen careers, but no matter how you sliced it saying goodbye was never an easy task. We all knew that this time for Jethro was permanent, there was no way any of us could persuade him not leave or even come back to the agency like Jen had.
Jethro was the first to say his goodbyes. Just as he had years ago after his coma, Jethro handed his badge and gun to Tony.
“It’s time, Tony; it’s your team now.”
Like before Tony was speechless and my heart was beginning to become overloaded with emotions that it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. McGee was up next.
“Remember what I said last time, Tim.”
“I will boss.”
“Gibbs…..” Abby uttered in a barely audible volume.
“Shh, I’ll always be there for you Abs.” Jethro said as he kissed her cheek.
“Keep him in line, Ziva.”
“I will Jethro.”
“Keep an eye on Abby for me, Kate.”
“I’ll do what I can, Gibbs.”
Jethro then walked over to the stairs. I crouched down so that we were on the same level.
“You’re just as good as she is, Jay. It’s time for you blaze your own path and show those politicians that DC can handle two Shepard women in power.”
A tear slide down my face, Jethro always knew what to say to me. Palmer was up next.
“Make us proud, Palmer.”
Once Jethro’s goodbyes were done, Ducky took his turn. Ducky shook Tony and McGee’s hands then he hugged Ziva, Kate, Abby and I before saying goodbye to Palmer.
“I know that you will be a good M.E.; Mr. Palmer. Make that son of yours proud, Jimmy.” Ducky said as he shook Palmer’s hand.
Jenny had said her goodbyes to the team earlier so I was the only one left. I had left where I stood on the stairs to go down to the squad room. We both knew this was the hardest part of the day. The tears were freely flowing down my face at this point. In one instant it was like there was a marine combat knife being jabbed into me. In another instant it felt like my comfort blanket, my shield was being ripped away from me.
“Look at me, Jay. Wipe away those tears. I know that you can do this; I know you can handle the politicians and Leon. Being the youngest agent and a mother of three has prepared you for this. I know you have the strength and the tenacity to be the Director, it’s in our blood after all.” Jen said as she took me into her arms for one last comforting hug.
“I don’t care if I’m prepared for this or not, I don’t want you to go.”
“Jay, you know I’m only a phone call and a short drive away if you need anything. I’ll always be there for you.”
“But you have a new husband and a new family that comes with your new husband. Which means I take the backseat.”
“You will never take the backseat to Jethro, Kelly, Liza and Jason. You were in my life long before they were and that will never change. You will always be my baby sister, even with these on my hand.” Jen said as she held her left hand up.
“And you’ll always be my big sister, even with these.” I said as I replicated Jen’s last move.
A few seconds we let our left hands drop as we looked at the palms of right hands. There was a scar in the center of our palms from a summer we had spent at camp. That summer when Jen was one of the camp counselors and I was six, we had promised not only to be sisters but also to be friends.
“Sisters.” Jen said as she held her right hand up.
“Friends.” I said as I raised my right hand.
“Forever.” Jen and I said in unison.
Jen, Jethro and Ducky left. Which left the seven of us alone in the squad room.
“Now what?” Abby asked.
“Now we go home.” I answered.
Later on after years of not noticing, Jethro and Nick finally noticed the scars on our hands.
Of course they had asked what happened.
“It’s nothing, it’s just something Jen and I did as kids when we were at camp.” I answered Nick.
“It’s nothing, it’s just something Jay and I did as kids when we were at camp.” Jen answered Jethro.