A/N: Just as I was trying to fall asleep last night, and bam! Plot bunnies attack! I was thinking, what if Jenny's daughter was a star witness, and Gibbs takes a liking to her? So thus, The Secret was born! I would also like to say, I wrote most of chapter one in French class while my teacher was droning like a fool.
Chapter 1: And You Are?
_Greyscale Gibbs Staring at a young redhead._
"What do you think is bugging the Director?" asked Very Special Agent Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo. "He's been acting weird all day." Before anyone could answer, their fearless leader, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, stormed into the squadroom.
"Gear Up! Dead Petty Officer in Quantico." He yelled.
"On it Boss!" Tony called, but the gesture was lost as Gibbs made his way to the elevator.
_Crime Scene_
"This is Petty Officer Jason Brooks. He was honorably discharged in '97 for battle injuries." Droned Special Agent Timothy McGee.
"Any family?" asked Gibbs.
"Lost his daughter Arra in '98 to pneumonia. He takes in teenage foster children to compensate." Tim answered, motioning to a redhead girl by the crime scene tape. "That's Alliyah, his latest foster charge. She's thirteen and has been with him since June of '08, a month after her mother died. She had never known her father, so she was placed in foster care."
"I'll go talk to her." Gibbs stated, walking over to her.
"Hello, I'm Agent Gibbs with NCIS; we're investigating your foster-father's death. He started.
"Je ne parle anglais, je parle francias." Alliyah stated, heavy hesitation, almost fear, in her voice.
"Moi aussi." Gibbs replied.
"Ma pere est tres bien, il adore les enfants, et les animuex." Alliyah continued.
"5 years you've been here, did he have any enemies?" Gibbs questioned, trying to coax the girl into speaking English.
"His ex-wife Diane, his brother Toby, and his ex-sister-in-law Shari." She quipped. She had a thick Southern accent in her voice.
"Last names?" Gibbs coaxed.
"Diane Rousten, Tobias Fine, and Shari-Lee Lancaster." She replied.
"Thank you. How about you come down to NCIS with my team? I have a few more questions for you." He asked. Alliyah nodded, and Gibbs held the crime scene tape up so she could duck under. He patted her shoulder and walked her over to the team. She and Ziva immediately began a French debate about weaponry like old friends. All Gibbs could do was stare.
_Greyscale of Gibbs Staring at a young redhead._
_Greyscale of Gibbs hugging Alliyah._
"I haven't been here in like seven years." Alliyah stated.
"You've been here before? In the Director's office?" Tim asked, shocked. They were in Director Vance's office waiting for Gibbs and the Director. Before Alliyah could say anything, Gibbs and Vance walked in.
"Agent McGee, please go help Miss Scuito process the evidence, this is classified information for Gibbs' ears only." Vance ordered.
"Leon." Alliyah deadpanned.
"Alliyah." Leon retorted.
"You two know each other?" asked Gibbs.
"I know her mother." Was the Director's answer.
"As do you, Agent Gibbs. My mother spoke highly of you in her stories when I was growing up." Alliyah stated. Gibbs took this very moment he took the time to take in her appearance. Waist-length fiery red hair, ice blue eyes, yellow button up t-shirt, acid was blue jeans and black cowboy boots. Her hair was in two long braids, much thicker than Abby's normal braids, and had white nail polish. She reminded him of Kelly. As he took in her appearance, a memory surfaced.
*Flashback*
Jenny was in the bathroom again. Fourth time this week. She keeps insisting she's just sick, so he leaves her alone. In two weeks, they get to go home. 12 months in Paris, they had found their targets and were closing in. Two weeks, they would be home. She didn't want to tell Jethro, for fear he didn't love her. She loved him, with all of her heart. No, she'll tell him when they get home.
*End Flashback*
"Hey Alliyah, when's your birthday?" Gibbs asked.
"September 14, 1999, 7:43 am." She answered.
"W-who's y-your m-mother?" Gibbs stuttered. Her birthday is 15 years after Kelly's.
"Jennifer Rose Sheppard. And before you ask, I've never met my father, but my mother said he was kind, sweet, and yet stubborn, chauvinistic and cocky." Alliyah replied. That simple statement made Gibbs, an ex-marine, no less, want to get up from the table, walk out the door, get in the elevator, and stay in there crying. Three words were clear in all his jumbled thoughts: Fuck! She's mine!
"Alliyah, I think I might know who your father is. Would you be willing to take a DNA test to figure it out?" Gibbs asked, silently praying he was right.
Yes! I'll do it! Anything to meet him, and stay out of the system." Alliyah giggled. Gibbs took her hand gently, helping her up. He proceeded to guide her to the elevator and riding silently to the lab. When they reached the lab, Gibbs told Abby to shut her music off via sign language.
"Abby, this is Alliyah Sheppard. Her foster father was killed today, and she has no other family. I thought it would be best to run a paternity test against all male agents from before '99 because of who her mother is." Gibbs stated.
"Alright, and who is your mother, munchkin?" Abby asked.
"Everyone she worked with called her Jen or Jenny, but her old partner called her Probie and Madam Director." She quoted.
"Your mother is Jenny? As in, Director Sheppard?" Abby squealed. She nodded.
"Alright, come over here so I can get some DNA from your hair." Abby commanded. After taking a few of her gorgeous red locks, she put them in a little vial and put that into Major Mass Spec.
"Hey, could I hook my iPod up to your speakers?" Alliyah asked.
"Sure, go ahead." Abby stated. Alliyah walked across the room and attached her iPod to Abby's speakers. Some faint guitar and fiddle music filled the room, followed by the voice of Alan Jackson.
"Ah, a country girl!" Abby squealed.
"My mom says I get that from my dad. She also said I have his eyes and attitude." She replied. Just as the music got to the chorus of 'Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?', Major Mass Spec dinged.
"That didn't take long. Alrighty, let's see who your daddy is!" Abby mused. She looked at the screen, and her eyes got wide, and her jaw dropped. She turned the screen to Gibbs, who looked happy for once in the last five years. He walked over to Alliyah, who was singing to her iPod. He put a hand on her shoulder, embraced her in a hug and whispered "Mine." Into her hair.
_Greyscale of Gibbs hugging Alliyah_