He ducks under the crime scene tape. His team is already at the scene. He finds local LEO's standing in the driveway. He looks to his right, and finds a silver SUV parked in the drive. He finds a one star general leaning against the car, being restrained by an officer.
Gibbs approaches the young officer who has the general pinned against the car. He motions for him to step aside. The young man steps aside, and retreats to his vehicle. The woman spins around, and looks at him. She wears a look of panic on her face. She takes a step forward. He throws his hands up.
"Whoa. Where are you going, ma'am?" He questions the dark haired woman standing in front of him.
"I have to go in there," she insists.
"You can't go in there. You know that."
"I appreciate that you have protocol. I total understand that, but I need to go in there."
He scrutinizes the look on the Marine's face. She remains calm in the face of tragedy. She tries to keep her composure despite her need to get into the house. He notices the vein in her forehead pulsating, a tell-tale sign that she is irritated.
"General, why do you need to get in the house?"
"It's my house," she informs him.
"I understand that ma'am."
"You don't understand," she argues.
"Explain it to me," he insists.
"Well, gunny my daughter is in there. I need to get my daughter. I got home, and my driveway was full of police officers. They put up crime scene tape, and they wouldn't let me in. They won't even tell me what's going on. They just told me not to go anywhere."
"Ma'am please calm down."
"Stop calling me ma'am!"
"General please trust me."
"Trust you? I don't even know you."
"You don't?" He arches his eyebrow, "You called me gunny."
"I only know of you."
"So then trust me."
"I can't. It's your job to investigate murders."
"Yes," he confirms.
"And…"
He cuts her off, "I'll tell you what. You stay here, and I will go in and retrieve your daughter. Okay?"
"Tell me what's going on."
"Please trust me," he begs.
"Agent Gibbs the only two people who are supposed to be in that house are my daughter, and her father. They won't tell me anything. I don't even know if she's okay."
"Give me a minute," he turns and walks away.
He walks into the house. He finds Ducky standing in the entry way, over a body. The victim lies on the floor, face down. He finds McGee snapping crime scene photos to his right, in the living room.
"McGee, where is the girl?"
He looks up at his boss, and furrows his brow, "What girl?"
Gibbs grabs a framed picture off the wall. He holds the eight by ten photograph up to his subordinate.
"This girl."
"Is she supposed to be here?"
"Yes."
"Boss we cleared the crime scene. We didn't find a girl."
"Where are Bishop, and DiNozzo?"
"Bishop is in the kitchen. DiNozzo is upstairs."
Gibbs nods, and heads into the kitchen. He pulls on a pair of gloves, and begins opening, and closing cabinet doors. Bishop puts her camera down on the counter.
"Gibbs what are you looking for?"
He simply holds up the photograph.
"A little girl."
"We didn't see a little girl."
"She is supposed to be here. Did you talk to the witnesses? Did anyone see someone leave with her?"
"The neighbors heard shots fired, and a pick-up truck speeding away from the crime scene."
He shakes his head in frustration, and turns to the pantry. He looks high, and low. He checks in the bathroom, behind the shower curtain. He combs through the dining room, opening, and closing the doors of the buffet. He steps into the laundry room. He checks in the hampers. He peeks in the washer, and dryer. He turns up nothing. He starts up the stairs. Halfway up he hears Tony shrieking like a girl. He races towards the sound. He finds Tony standing in the hallway, with a panicked look on his face. He stares at the bottom of a door.
"What's in there?"
"It's a closet."
"What's in there?" Gibbs queries.
Tony points. Gibbs finds tiny fingers sticking out from underneath the door. He steps between his agent, and the door. He watches as the fingers recoil. He pulls the door open. He finds a pair of hazel eyes staring up at him. He squats to meet the little one on her level.
"Hi. I'm agent Gibbs."
The toddler stares at him with a look of terror. He shows the little girl his badge.
"I'm here to help you. Your mommy is waiting outside for you. Can you come with me?"
She nods, "Yes," she says quietly.
He lifts the little girl off the ground. She wraps her arms around his neck, and buries her head in his shoulder. He takes her down the hallway to her room. He notes the letters above her tiny bed. He grabs the stuffed dog lying on her bed. He hands it to her, and sits her on the floor.
"Isabella it's cold outside can you show me where your jacket is?"
She holds tightly to the scruffy looking dog. She opens the closet door. He grabs a jacket off a hanger for her. He helps her zip the jacket. He looks at a bag sitting on her dresser. He slings it over her shoulder, and moves towards her. She looks sleepy, it's already after eight o'clock. She wears a pair of pajamas with tiny stars on them. Without a word she pulls open a drawer, and retrieves a pair of socks. He watches her as she pulls them on. She closes the drawer, and moves towards him. She attaches herself to his leg.
"Isabella are you ready to go?"
She looks up at him, "Izzy," she whispers.
He grins, and reaches down for her, "Come on Izzy, let me take you to your mommy."
She nods, and he lifts her off the ground once again. He exits the room, and starts down the stairs. Halfway down he calls out for Ducky.
"Duck I need you to…"
Ducky cuts him off, "Everything is covered. You can come down."
Gibbs turns to the toddler, "Izzy we're going to play a game. I need you to close your eyes really tightly. Keep them closed until I say to open them. If you can do that I'll get you some candy."
She nods in agreement. She closes her eyes, and he proceeds down the stairs. He makes a beeline for the door. He closes the door behind them, and then looks at the little girl in his arms.
"You can open them."
Her bright eyes pop open. He pulls a sucker out of his jacket pocket, and hands it to her.
"Thank you."
He carries her over to the car. He hands her to the Marine General.
"Mommy," she hugs her tightly.
She puts the little girl into the backseat of the car. She straps her in, and places the bag next to her. She closes the door, and turns towards Agent Gibbs.