Author's Note: This is my first attempt at writing NCIS fanfic, but the beginning of this has been buzzing around in my head for a while. Since it won't leave me alone, I thought I'd take a stab at it. Hopefully, I won't stray too far from the characters. All reviews and constructive criticism are welcome.

Summary: An old friend of Gibbs asks for his help in protecting his teenage daughter. Warning: may contain the disciplinary spanking of a teenager in later chapters.

CHAPTER 1

The ringing phone pulled Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs' attention away from his computer screen. It also drew the attention of the members of his team, who were sitting at their desks finishing up the paper work from the case they had just closed. The ringing of Gibbs's phone usually signaled a new case.

"Gibbs," he answered on the third ring. He listened for a moment then responded, "on my way." Shaking his head in response to his team's unasked question, he made his way to the stairs that led to Director Vance's office.

The first thing Gibbs noticed when he entered the Director's office without knocking was the teenage girl sitting at the conference table. She was slumped in her seat, her arms crossed over her chest. She was dressed in unrelieved black, and her hair had been dyed pitch black with bright red streaks. Her face, which was nearly white except for the dark makeup and lipstick, was set in a mutinous expression. He briefly wondered who she was before his attention was caught by Director Vance and two other people standing in the middle of the room. The woman was a stranger to him, and it took him a minute to two to recognize the older man standing with her.

"Peter, it's been a long time," Gibbs said as he moved forward, his hand extended in greeting.

"Too long, my friend," the older man said in a heavy Russian accent.

"I take it you two know each other," Director Vance stated as he studied the men.

"Jethro became a good friend to me and my daughter shortly after we left Russian and came to America," Peter Sokolov stated.

Vance knew that Peter Sokolov had been a preeminent nuclear scientist in Russian when he and his young daughter, Anya, had defected to the United States in the late-1990's. He hadn't been aware, however, that the scientist and his best agent had known each other. He couldn't think of a reason that a former marine turned NCIS agent would have to becoming friends with a Russian dissident and sent a questioning look in Gibbs' direction.

"We were neighbors for a few years when I first moved to D.C." As usual, Gibbs wasn't willing to go into details, feeling that the explanation he had provided was sufficient.

The sound of a throat being cleared brought the men's attention to the woman. Gibbs looked at her for the first time and instantly pegged her as a young FBI agent. His initial impression was quickly confirmed when Director Vance introduced her as Special Agent Amy Dawson.

"What's all this about?" Gibbs asked, somewhat impatiently. He knew there was a reason for him being summoned to join this group, and he was anxious to find out what it was.

"Mr. Sokolov has asked for your help in protecting his daughter," Special Agent Dawson replied.

Gibbs looked over at the teenager sitting at the conference table. He had a hard time reconciling the smiling, cherubic little girl he remembered with the insolent teenager. "Go on."

Peter shook his head in regret. "Anya has changed since you last saw her, no?"

"That would be an understatement," Gibbs replied. "What's going on?"

"It seems that my daughter was someplace she shouldn't have been when she witnessed something she shouldn't have seen. The FBI want her to testify, but there have been threats against her life." Sokolov turned so that he could meet Gibbs' eyes. "I would not trust anyone but you to look after her and keep her safe until these threats have been resolved."

Gibbs nodded and, with another glance over at Anya, moved to Vance's desk and picked up the phone. "Get up to the Director's office," he ordered when his call was answered. Moments later a knock sounded on the door and Ziva David entered. Gibbs quickly introduced her to Special Agent Dawson and the Sokolovs. "Take Anya down to the cafeteria to get something to eat and then to a conference room. Do not let her out of your site," he ordered.

"Yes, sir." Ziva moved to stand beside Anya. "Shall we go?" she invited.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Anya replied, her voice carrying only a slight Russian accent.

"Please, Anya, go with the Special Agent," Peter nearly pleaded with his daughter to obey.

"No."

Gibbs had seen enough. He wondered whether Peter had asked for his help because the FBI couldn't control Anya well enough to keep her protected. Well, he had news for the girl, he though as he moved to her side. She was going to learn to obey orders or she would sorely regret it. Once he reached Anya's side, Gibbs took hold of her upper arm and roughly pulled her to her feet. "You were told to go with Special Agent David and that is exactly what you are going to do."

Anya attempted to pull her arm out of Gibbs' grasp, but his hold was too firm. "And just how are you going to make me?" she asked.

Gibbs leaned close and spoke quietly in her ear. "Do you remember what happened the last time you disobeyed me?" Anya had been four years old and Gibbs had found her alone at the apartment complex's swimming pool. She had taken advantage of her babysitter's inattentiveness and had snuck out of the apartment. When he asked her to leave with him, she grinned and ran into the pool. Gibbs had had to go in after her and pull her out. He'd turned her over his knee and spanked her before returning her to her babysitter.

When Anya's eyes widened, Gibbs knew the girl understood his threat. "You wouldn't."

"In a heartbeat," he replied. "If you don't do as you're told an accompany Special Agent David."

Anya reluctantly nodded. She wasn't sure that Gibbs would carry out his threat, but she really didn't want to put him to the test either. She cursed viciously under her breath and once again tried to pull her arm out of Gibbs' grasp. She stopped at his warning look. "Alright, I'll go."

Gibbs let go of her arm and stepped back. "Good girl. Just a word of warning, though," he stated when Ziva moved forward to take Anya's arm to guide her out of the room. "She won't be easy to get away from, so I suggest you don't even try."

Ziva nodded at the look Gibbs sent her and started pulling Anya toward the door. "Let's go."

Once the door had closed behind Ziva and Anya, Gibbs turned back to the other people in the room. "Tell me what this is all about," he stated, the order in his voice unmistakable.

Vance nodded and motioned for everyone to sit at the now vacant conference table. When they were all comfortable seated, Peter began talking.

"Looking back, I was far too lenient with Anya. I just didn't have the heart to discipline her as I should. I can only guess that is why she acts the way she does now."

"What happened?" Gibbs demanded when Peter paused.

Peter rubbed his hands over his face before continuing. "Seems she used a fake ID to get into a night club here in the city. I don't know exactly what happened, but she over heard plans being made by the Russian mafia."

Gibbs cursed loudly and turned to Special Agent Dawson. "What's the FBI's involvement with this?"

"Anya overheard Vladimir Lubivich order the death of one of his lieutenants. The man was fished out of the Potomac three days later. Our mole in Lubiv's organization saw Anya before she managed to sneak away. He notified us of that she was a witness."

"Where does Gibbs come into this?" Vance demanded.

"We took Anya into protective custody," Special Agent Dawson explained. "However, Anya made it difficult." She glanced at Peter, who nodded his assent. "She kept running away from us. Apparently, Lubivich learned that she was a potential witness against her. Last week, when she ran again, we found her just as Lubivich made an attempt to grab her. Word has come down from our informant that Lubivich has put a price on her head."

Peter interrupted Special Agent Dawson before she could continue. "I do not trust the FBI to be able to protect her from this Lubivich." He turned to Director Vance and continued. "Jethro has always had a way with Anya. I suppose it was because he accepted nothing less than obedience from her. He always made her face the consequences when she disobeyed." He then turned his gaze to Gibbs. "I know we lost contact after we both moved away from the apartments, but you were the first person I thought of when I realized just how much trouble Anya is in. I admit, I asked my government contacts about you. They all told me you and your team were among the best and had a reputation as people not to be messed with." He paused before continuing. "I'm begging you, old friend, please protect my little girl."

Gibbs sat back in his chair. He certainly hadn't been expecting this turn of events. He had seen for himself the type of person Anya had become and thought she could use some strict discipline. And, truth be told, he couldn't turn his old friend away. That was Rule 47 – never turn your back on a friend in need. He glanced over at Director Vance.

As if sensing the unasked question, Director Vance shrugged. "It's up to you. I can reassign you and your team to witness protection provided nothing major happens that needs your attention." He, too, understood helping a friend who was in need.

Reluctantly, Gibbs nodded. "I want complete autonomy. I won't answer to anyone about what I do to keep her safe." He turned a hard glare to Special Agent Dawson, who quickly nodded her consent. Standing, he pulled out his cell phone to call Ziva to find out where she and Anya were. He and the teenage girl definitely needed to have serious conversation.

"Gibbs."

He turned at the sound of his name.

"I'm dying of cancer," Peter stated in Russian.

"How long do you have?" Gibbs asked in the same language. He moved to stand in front of his friend and put his hand on the other man's shoulder in a show of support.

"A few months at most. It was well advanced before they found it."

"Does Anya know?" Gibbs asked, still speaking Russian.

"No, but that is the other reason I brought her here." Peter paused, gathering his thoughts to say the one thing he hoped never to have to speak. "Will you look after her when I'm gone?"

Gibbs tightened his grip on Peter's shoulder. "All you had to do was ask."

"Thank you, my friend," Peter replied, this time in English.

TBC

Author's Note: I don't know what Gibbs' Rule 47 actually is. But for the purposes of this story, it's never turn your back on a friend in need.