A/N: I know this it short, but there is one more chapter after this. The whole thing was actually inspired by the last few lines of dialogue between Mike and Gibbs.

Disclaimer: I own everything except Mike Franks and Leroy Jethro Gibbs (not sure if I should be sad or relieved).


The two men stood silent and motionless at the entrance to the base orphanage; eyes skimming the carnage strewn about them. The orphanage hadn't been very full, just a handful of kids, the two caretakers, and a visiting Marine and his wife. Supposedly they were lucky. But staring about them it was hard to see anything "lucky" about it.

Slowly one of the men took a step inside. He took another slow look around before casting a glance back at his partner.

A scuffling noise had both of them jumping into half crouches, hands flying to their guns. They crept slowly from room to room, being careful to disturb nothing and communicating with hand movements and nods. One by one they cleared all but a small closet at the back of the building. They positioned themselves on either side of the door. At the count of three one man yanked the door open while the other spun into the room gun first.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light but as soon as they did he dropped his gun. A child was curled up into the back corner of the closet, her eyes wide with fear.

"Hey," he crouched down at the closet door. "I didn't mean to scare you." The child curled her knees even closer to her body. "My name is Gibbs. We're not gonna hurt you. We're federal agents, police officers." Gibbs watched the girl uncurl herself slightly, "Are you hurt?" She shook her head. Gibbs reached out a hand, "Come on out. It's safe. I won't let anything happen to you."

With agonizing slowness the girl crept forward and took his hand. Gibbs guided her slowly into his arms. Holding her close he stood and took a step back out of the closet, "Mike." Gibbs didn't bother to look at Mike as he addressed him.

Franks crossed his arms, "It's a kid, Probie. What the hell d'you expect me to do?"

"Watch your language," was the half reproachful, half resigned retort. "You're very brave," he told the little girl in his arms, "In fact, I think you need one of these." He pulled off his NCIS cap and placed it over her matted brown hair. She offered him a shaky smile and he grinned back, tapping her nose. The girl's smile widened and she copied his actions.

"She got a name?" Mike asked.

Gibbs shrugged one shoulder, "What's your name?"

"No," the girls shook her head.

"You don't have a name?"

"No."

Gibbs took in her worried expression and touched his nose to hers. "It's okay," Gibbs told her. She grinned up at him.

Mike eyed them a moment. "I'm gonna call her Red," he announced.

"Red?" Gibbs glanced at his boss.

"Yup. The first non-redhead Leroy Jethro Gibbs ever fell for."


A/N: For those of you reading Gibblet, I will update on Tuesday and will have a little something extra for missing my Friday deadline. I hope that this is okay to hold you over in the meantime.

The second part should be up sometime between now and Tuesday.