"No! Nellie! Hang on kiddo, hang on!" He shouted as he knelt beside me with his hands pressing down on the gaping wound over my stomach. His cotton black gloves are soaked darker…soaked with my blood. I shake my head, it was pointless.

"You're gonna make it. Just hold on-"

"Gibbs…Go…You and I both know-" I gasp out as I begin to see bright lights ahead of me, he yanks off a glove and presses his hand against my face.

"No. I won't lose you…you're gonna make it…tough it out…Nellie…" His voice fades as I hear what sounds like sirens. A smile crept up to my lips. They were too late for me. I knew it. I didn't blame him. I could never blame him. I just wish I could have told him that. Then I looked up at the desperate white haired man above me and finally closed my eyes….

Two weeks earlier

"Nells! Baby, I've gotta go now."

I was up from the couch by the first syllable that left his lips, I was by the front door by the fifth syllable and smiling at him by the last. Cropped dark brown hair, deep blue eyes, broad shoulders and kind smile met me at the door. He had a black duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a black cap that covered most of his hair. He sighed as he stood a foot away from me, We stayed like that for a minute then I couldn't stand it anymore. I rushed him. My arms tightly wrapping around his chest and back, the scent of old spice and Columbian coffee grounds hit me.

"I'm gonna miss you, kiddo." He says as his arms hold me against him, I smile and look up at him.

"Me too…But maybe if you had taken that job as Marine like I suggested…" I trailed off with a light wink as he shook his head while rolling his eyes.

"You know why I can't do that, Nellie." He said as I sighed breaking away from our embrace, my hand then rested on his back as we walked to the door.

"Yeah, but if you were then you'd be here more often than as a Black Ops. Okay so no on the Marine but what about NCIS? Betcha you could do some serious work there?" I said as he began to chuckle, his hand rested on the door knob. I had come to resent my front door. It meant someone leaving the house, leaving me, whether it be a worried school board member or my dad going off on some high corporate mission. His hand tensed on the knob, with one flick he was going to be out the door and out of my life for who knows how long. But he released the knob, his hand moving to his pocket.

"Nelly…I wish I could do something else. But things right now…they need me kiddo. And I know you need me too but-"

"I get what you mean, dad. Work is important. Lives depend on you." I said keeping my voice firm and tight, he shook his head at me.

"Nellie. Nothing is more important to me than you. You know that…Nells. I…I don't know how long this trip is going to last. But…I wanted to give you this before I left." He said as he brought out his hand from the pocket of his camouflage pants, a chain of silver and a glimmer of ocean blue caught my eye. "My last mission took me to Australia, we met with some Aborigines and they were grateful for our work and one of the older women gave me this. I thought you might like it instead." He said taking my hand in his and placing the cool metal in my hand, I glanced at it for a second before he closed my hand over it.

"Just so you know I'm always thinking about you, Nellie. Don't forget that." He said as I held back the tears and gave him another hug.

"Thank you, Daddy. Come back soon." I said inhaling his scent one last time before he left to some third world country, he gave me a light squeeze then we let go of each other. I stepped to the side of the door with my hands behind my back, he pulled the door open and was about to step through it when he looked at me with a soft smile. I returned it with my hand shooting to my forehead in salute.

"Semper Fi." I said as he nodded, returned the salute and stepped out of my life once again. As the door clicked shut I felt the tears begin to brim my eyes. I set my shoulders back and take a breath, rapidly blinking my eyes. I wasn't going to cry. I hadn't cried since I was five when dad began to leave even more often than I was used to. It was then that I learned what and who my dad was…and that I was going to be just like him. With a few quick strides I was back in the living room and cranking up the volume on the TV, with one hand I pressed on the keys to a certain channel while the other hand slowly opened up and showed the necklace. It was beautiful. The aqua colored gem glimmered from the TV's light and from my guess, it was Sapphire. It wasn't a very large stone. Cut in the shape of a long and slender crystal. With a quick motion I had it draped against my neck and the clasp was firmly in place. By then the channel had changed to one of my favorite television shows. My father was a Black Ops field agent, I was practically his protégé, I was seventeen and was almost at his level of expertise. So naturally I would scoff at the ridiculous crime shows, but this one I happened to take a liking to. The grey letters N.C.I.S appeared and I relaxed into the couch ready to stay up all night watching re-runs and fall into my own little world…

It was after three that I woke up from my sleep by the blaring car sales commercial, I was up on my feet reaching for the knife I kept tucked behind my belt. With a sigh I lowered my hand and began to head out of the room, towards my room in the second floor. The small clink of metal from my necklace calls my attention, causing me to stop and stare at it. I stare at it running my fingers over every edge then glance back as I hear the sound of soft sobs. It was the show, the main protagonist, Gibbs was sitting on a park bench with a teenage girl in his arms as she weeps into his shoulder. His face is calm and reserved. The only thing betraying him was his eyes. I stared at the grayish-white haired man for a minute as my hand clenches the necklace.

" I wish you were real, maybe then you could convince my dad to leave the Ops." I whispered with a soft sigh then let the crystal fall against me as I took one step forward…then I heard a single gun shot. I blinked turning around, but then everything began to blur together and suddenly I wasn't in the dark of my living room…but in an alley in broad daylight. Instantly I take in my surroundings, my mind registering the gun shot and that for there to be a shot there has to be a shooter. Then I saw who it was. Caucasian male with green eyes and sharp nose. His eyes widened then looked to his left, I followed his gaze to see another man on the ground with several bullet holes. My hand shot up as I saw a black object flying at me, I felt warm metal as I subconsciously caught the object. I looked down at it to see it was a gun, but when I looked up the man was gone leaving me with the weapon and the dead man. It was moments later that the sound of screeching tires against asphalt caught my attention. I couldn't think clearly as three people leapt out of the car with their own guns pointed at me. But I wasn't simply stunned by the change of scenery, or that I had just witnessed a murder…no I was trained for that kind of situation. What I wasn't trained for was meeting television characters that wanted me dead or something like that.

"Drop your weapon!" A female shouted as the three of them blocked off one exit, she had black hair with the appearance of an Israeli or something like that. Ziva David. Then there were the two men. A dark haired young man. Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo. Last but certainly not least was a graying man. Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I knew what it looked like. I had a gun in my hands and there was a man dead. I also knew that I wasn't in my world and because of that there would be no file of me here. With that in mind, I could be considered a spy or something far worse.

"Drop the gun, kid." Tony said as he and Gibbs tried to surround me. I had to do something. They'd never believe my story, so I did something that I had been taught at the young age of ten. I was in a training class and was sorely losing a 'training' war, after I had completely failed, my instructor told me this "There are times you stand strong…and then there are times where you have to fight another day" Then I didn't know when to fight or take flight. But now it was obvious. I looked at the two, took a deep breath and threw the gun to the ground and ran. The alley had to entries, one led to a backstreet and the other way led to a busy sidewalk along a street. Luck was with me since they blocked the backstreet. Why? Because I could blend with the crowd.

"Don't let her get away!" It was Ziva's voice that called out from behind me as I heard two pairs of footsteps pounding after me. I didn't dare look back. I couldn't afford slowing down. I needed to blend in and escape. My feet raced on the concrete floor I ran through the mumbling crowds and headed straight. As I passed by stores I noticed most of them were tourist shops…tourist shops meant shopping…and shopping meant a mall or department store near by.

"Get back here!" I heard Tony shout, instantly I picked up the pace, now weaving in-between people, then I saw it. A three story mall. Perfect. I thundered inside and dashed into the closest store near me. It was a Dillards store and it was have a huge sale, which meant it was floored with women and men hoping to catch a good deal. If only they knew that the two men after me were hoping to catch a criminal. I ducked into the women's clothes section, my eyes searched until I found a changing room. Instantly I began to head in that direction grabbing a few clothes off the hangar.

"I'm going to try these on." I said nonchalantly as I passed by a middle aged woman with fake brown hair. She nodded then pointed me to an empty stall. Quietly I shut the door and began to strip off my regular clothes which consisted of camouflage pants, a white t-shirt and dark grey cap. The clothes I grabbed off the rack however were the exact opposite. And were a size too large. Which was exactly what I needed. To change my appearance and blend back into the crowd. As I slipped off my pants, I pulled out my knife and cut off the sensor alarms that were tagged to the clothes. Within a minute I was wearing a yellow sundress that came to my knees, and had slight ruffles off the shoulder straps. My light brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail, which easily came down with a yank sending my long hair tumbling down my back. Running my fingers through it, I looked at my appearance. I looked slightly different but then again there were looking for a ruddy looking teenager, while the girl in the mirror looked like she was about to go on a date. Bundling up my clothes into a ball I stepped out of the stall, glancing at the floor to see a store bag. I quickly dumped out someone's merchandice and placed my clothes inside.

"Mam? Have you seen a tall brown haired young man? He's my boyfriend and I was hoping he had stayed around in the area to show him the dress." I said kindly as the woman shook her head no.

"Sorry, hon. No, guy in sight. You can take a look around if want to see if he's near by though." She said as I beamed at her.

"Thank you very much!" I said brightly then began to look around, as I slowly made my way to the shoe department. I figured my hiking boots would stick out from the yellow dress, it was too easy to just casually walk by and grab a pair. Ducking behind an aisle I kicked off my shoes and slipped into some strapped white sandal flats, with my boots inside the bag I returned to casually strolling through the store. Looking the picture of innocence. Or so I thought.

"Mam, have you seen a teenager with dark green and brown pants, white shirt come by?" My spine tingled at the sound of Gibbs's voice as he asked one of the women behind the cosmetic's counter. She merely replied that she saw a girl with that description heading towards the changing room. I leaned against the counter looking down at the make up beneath the glass, but glanced back at the older man. It was hard to believe that it really was him. That I was actually here. Looking up I saw Tony head towards the changing room, not a good sign. And even worse when I saw him speak with the lady who in turn pointed directly at me.

"Boss!" Tony then called out as he ran towards me, Gibbs followed Tony's direction to me. Well…that plan didn't go quite like I expected. And once again I took off, my hand firmly clenching my bag of clothes as the yellow fabric swished around my legs. I was out of the store when I felt a hand roughly grab my arm…then I went into defense mode.I twisted my arm, ignoring the sharp pains, which in turn twisted the hand that held me. I spun around with my hand clenched, but was easily caught by another hand. I looked up into the face of Tony DiNozzo. He smiled.

"Hey, so after I bring you in. Do you wanna do dinner?" He asked with a charismatic smile, I smirked back at him then stomped on his foot and kneed him. He grimaced as his hand moved away from me to his feet and lower abdomen.

"Sorry Tony." I said then took off again, earning several strange looks from people passing by.

"Ugh…Boss!" Tony cried out and was instantly answered by a reply "On it DiNozzo." I had no clue where Ziva was…and I didn't really want to know. By then I was back on the streets, I slowed my pace and smoothly blended in, after two minutes or so I turned around and walked along the buildings. Gibbs ran right past me, I watched him go by hiding a slight smirk so as I rounded a corner I didn't expect to run into a fist. I was winded only a second, tops, but instantly Ziva yanked me up and her grip on me wasn't too friendly.

"I've got her, Gibbs!" Ziva called out and a minute later Gibbs came around the corner, he didn't look in the least happy. I began to shift to try to run again when I felt Ziva press down on the side of my hand. Pressure point. I grimaced then but pushed the pain back. After all its just a feeling…nothing more. That was what I was taught by the Ops, but my Dad had a different theory.

"I hope you have a good lawyer, kid. You're gonna need it." Gibbs said as he passed us by and towards a black dodge challenger.

"Lets go." Ziva said pushing me forward, I felt my heart sink to my feet. This wasn't going to be pretty…not at all…

Yeah, I know I said I was going to be working on 'A Tale of Hope' but I had an NCIS marathon today and I already had this idea in my mind so I decided to just go ahead and post it. So I hope you like it! Please review! Did I keep the characters in character? Also this is set in the current season! Thanks and ~God Bless!~

PS- I will NOT do :Yaoi, cursing or anything sexual!