Chapter 3



A picture of Colonel Paul Jackson flashed on the screen. The man was of medium height and build, with brown hair and dark green eye.



"Colonel Paul Jackson, age 35. Wife died in seven years ago in a car wreck. One daughter, as we already know, Claudia. He has no criminal record, and was last seen with," McGee paused as the picture on the screen changed, "1st Lieutenant David O'Reilly, age 42, and no family. Last year, on an anonymous police tip, he was accused of a drug scandal, was tried but found innocent. They were both last seen in Washington DC a day before they were reported missing,"



"Good work, McG-" began Gibbs before Ziva interrupted.



"Boss," she said, hanging up the phone and standing, "Local police have sighted the girl. They said they tried to approach her, but she ran. They've sealed her off in an old warehouse and are requesting our help.



"Good. Let's go," said Gibbs, "I'll drive."

The team exchanged slightly worried looks as they followed their boss into the elevator.





After the 15 minute drive, that should have been 45 minutes, the team, each faintly green, stepped out of the car and faced the warehouse.



"Why are we doing this," Tony was complaining, "Don't they have people that are, like, trained to handle kids?"



"Yeah Dinozzo and right now I'm feeling like one of them," Gibbs remarked, "So everybody get inside and spread out."



"Yes, Boss," answered Tony obediently, with a hint of defiance.

Then team split up, and after an hour of searching and no results, they were about to give in. On the second floor, Gibbs heard a sound behind him. It sounded to him like someone trying very hard not to make a sound. Cautiously turning he retraced his steps. Now he was standing in the doorway of a small office. Seeing a flash of blonde hair under the desk he slowly moved forward. Once he was around the desk he knelt down.



"My name," he said to the shaking figure in front of him, "Is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs." As though she were waiting for him to finish, the girl collapsed.



Working quickly Gibbs radioed for an ambulance. He then wrapped his jacket around Claudia. He took one long look at her, taking in her thin pale frame, before gathering her up in his arms and carrying her out to the awaiting ambulance.





When she first awoke, Claudia kept her eyes squeezed shut. Instead she took in the warmth of the sheets and the clean air. Where am I, she wondered. Then a flood of memories came rushing back, her father dead, the man beating her, escaping, the warehouse. And then, another man, kind and smiling this time, what had he said his name was? Special Agent Gibbs, yes that was it.



Her eyes snapped open. She was in a hospital, that part was obvious, to her left there was a window, displaying the cold winter day outside. Slowly she turned her head to the right, and there he was! The man from the warehouse, and some other girl, with long black pigtails and dark mascara. The girl was wearing all black and a spiky dog collar.



Before she could speak the girl had noticed her wake up.



"She's awake Gibbs," she said smiling.



"Thanks Abs," he said relieved, before sinking into a chair, and falling asleep. The girl shook her head, still smiling and then moved over to sit near Claudia.



"He's been awake all night you know," said the dark haired girl, "he was worried about you. Gibbs' got a soft spot for kids," she remarked grinning.



"Wh-" Claudia tried to speak, but her mouth was to dry. Swallowing she tried again, "Who are you?" she asked, her voice sounding small and raspy.



"Oh, right, I'm Abby," said the girl, holding out a hand, with stubby black fingernails, "I'm the Forensic Specialist for NCIS, and of course, you've already met Gibbs," she nodded towards the sleeping figure.



"What's going on?" asked Claudia, shaking Abby's hand.



"We were kinda hoping you could tell us," said a man dramatically, entering the room, and secretly hoping he looked important.



"Nice entrance McGee," said Abby winking playfully at him.