A/N: G'Day All!

This is my alternative timeline story to my epic 'More than he dreamed of'. While it may leave you confused at first if you've haven't read it, it's not necessary to read it first.

On the contrary, I welcome new readers! You will go through this like Gibbs, on a journey of total discovery, there will be action, and plenty of surprises!

Warnings: This is rated T, so while there won't be extreme violence, there will be some action, as well as colourful language. Please also note that as my username suggests, I am from the land down under, Australia - this means that some of my spelling & grammar may be a little different.

Here we go!

A Chance Encounter

Kelly was running, running as fast as she could, she needed to clear her head, how was this possible? He had died, died so many years ago, it wasn't him, it wasn't him… but it was, the chart said it, his face even showed it, it was him, only a little older. She didn't know how it was possible, it just wasn't possible! But it was…

How could he have not come back to them? To her? He promised he would come home! How could he have just gotten on with life without them, without her! She collapsed onto the grass in the park she was running in & was glad when Buster, her german shepherd, snuggled in close.

"How could he have done that to us Buster? How?" she asked.

Buster just rubbed his face into her neck.

"It's like a nightmare, I tried to call mum, but had no idea what to even say to her, what could I say to her? To Nix?" she commented.

"Woof!" Buster barked looking at her.

She stared into his eyes, they'd only had him a few months, he was still a pup & learning his way, but had become a part of their family straight away. The more she thought about it the more she realised just how screwed up her family situation was, it was beyond fucked, though she knew her mum wouldn't appreciate language like that. Nor did she think her dad would really approve of this late night run she was doing in the park, even though it was perfectly lit, but she did know how to defend herself & Buster was with her, so she felt fine.

Kelly just sat there, she couldn't stop feeling numb, she had no idea what to do. Her & her brother Phoenix had only been living in DC for not even 5 months, her mum had tried to get them all away from their grandfather but he hadn't budged. Her mum however had managed to get them away, only thing was it meant leaving her in Houston with him & having to make her little brother, all of 13, believe their mum had died! She was looking after him & she was only 21! Well, she'd be 22 in not even two weeks, but still. It was all because that was the only way her stupid grandfather, Mac, would allow them to go! It just wasn't right!

The damn guy wouldn't relent on that part of it, her little brother, that never even had a chance to know their dad, because he'd supposedly died fighting in Desert Storm while her mum was pregnant with him, had to go through the trauma of thinking his mum had died, when she hadn't. It killed her.

She drew back from Buster with a sudden thought "Mac made us tell Nix that mum had died, but she hasn't. What if he did the same with us & dad? We never got the body back! All mum got was the death certificate & dog tags! What if he faked our death to dad just like he'd done with dad to us?"

"Woof! Woof!" Buster barked in agreement.

She'd barely finished the sentence when she jumped up, ohh no, what had she done! She'd left him! She had to get back to Portsmouth & fast! She ran home as fast as she could. Dropping Buster off she jumped into her car not even bothering to change, she had a spare set of clothes in the car anyway & sped off.

Gibbs lay in his bed, he stared up at the ceiling, he remembered working at NIS, make that NCIS, for Mike, but still how could so much time have passed? The wounds still felt so fresh, he missed them both so much, his heart ached like crazy for his girls, he wondered if it would ever stop breaking over & over. He then saw movement, some woman had just entered his room, he just wanted to be left alone, what did she want?

For a normal person it would take over 3 hours to get there, but she had inherited her dad's driving genes, or so her mum had said, so she was there in a little over 2 & half hours.

She parked the car & took a deep breath, she had no idea what condition she'd find him in, would he be ok? He was unconscious when he'd been brought in, but that was a while ago now. How could it have taken her so long to figure it out!

So many thoughts were going through her head, she tried her best to compose herself. She was beyond nervous about going to see him, were those 2 ladies his family? Had he moved on? Would he still care about her, them? She shook her head furiously, trying to dispel those thoughts, of course he would, he promised her he'd always love her, always be there for her, but still... so many years had past, what if he had moved on? She took yet another deep breath, she had to find out, he owed her a conversation at the very least & explanation, if it wasn't all due to who she thought.

She hopped out of her car now determined as ever to go see him & headed for the hospital, it was still the middle of the night & she knew she'd have to do some sweet talking to get in to see him, given it definitely wasn't visiting hours & was so lost in thought that she didn't realise the company she now had, 3 men had approached her & were standing between her & the hospital.

"Louise" Quinn greeted.

Kelly's eyes widened, oh crap! It was Mac's head of security "What do you want Quinn? and it's Kelly, remember"

"Louise suits you better, it's part of your name after all" Quinn replied.

"What do you want?" Kelly asked again, ignoring his comment, she hated that he'd always called that, yea it was one of her middle names, the one she hated the most, for this simple reason.

"Think it would be obvious, I can't let you enter this building behind me" Quinn stated eyeing her.

I knew it! Kelly thought "I don't care, I'm going in!" she tried to walk past him.

Quinn stopped her "you don't care huh?"

"No I don't! Mac had no right to do what he did! and you have no right to keep me away from him either!" Kelly bit back.

"Suit yourself Louise" Quinn said releasing her "just remember something, your brother, he's not exactly close now is he? I mean off on that school camp, got a few friends close the campsite actually. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to pay him a visit & introduce him to the school of hard knocks. And as far as your mother is concerned, well...one call & you'll never see or speak to her again, ever!"

Kelly eye's widened in horror "what are you saying?"

Quinn sneered "I'm saying, you take one more step towards that hospital or ever go close to your father & your brother will be beaten to a pulp and you will never hear from your mother again, that plain enough for you!" he said taking a menacing hold of Kelly by her arms.

Kelly really didn't know what to do, she wanted to run straight for her dad, he'd deal with this guy, but she also knew that Quinn could easily see to keeping her away from mum. She knew that he could warn Mac within minutes & then he'd make sure that they'd never be able to find her. She was also really concerned about the threats against her brother, she wanted to keep him safe, that's what her mum had told her, above everything keep him safe.

Kelly was trying to work out what to do, could she live with knowing her dad was alive but never see or speak to him again? Could she live with never being able to speak or see her mum ever again? Could she live with herself if something happened to her little brother? She didn't know what to do!

She was caught up in emotional thought when she felt herself being grabbed & pulled backwards by not only Quinn who'd covered her mouth, but his two sidekicks too. She suddenly realised why, her dad had just walked out of the front of the hospital.

"Dad!" Kelly tried to yell "Dad!"

Quinn pulled her back even further, why'd the bastard have to walk out right now "Quiet!" he snapped as he tightened his grip on her around her ribs, thankfully her yells had been muffed somewhat by his hand blocking her mouth "Let me remind you, my friends are close to your brother's campsite, they could be there long before you have a chance to get him there to help"

Kelly was hyperventilating, she was really concerned about Quinn's threat to her brother, but her dad was right there, she'd never needed him more in her whole life "Dad!" she half yelled half cried.

Gibbs mind was on overload, Ziva had more than jolted him back into the present, all the missing years worth of memories were now there & they were jumbled in his mind with the memories that he thought were just as ever-present, his girls.

He realised again why he joined NCIS, to stop what happened to him & his girls from happening to anyone else, so he knew he had to get back to the navy yard & get his hands on Pin Pin Pula before it was too late. He hastily signed his discharge waving off the protests from the nurses that he wasn't ready or in any condition to go & followed Ziva outside.

Gibbs walked outside & welcomed the freshness of the breeze that being by the Elizabeth River brought. He followed Ziva towards the car lost in thought, he was trying to rearrange everything in his mind, get it all clear & free of obstacles like it normally was while he was mid-investigation. As he got closer to the car he thought he heard something.

Gibbs stopped & looked around.

"Gibbs, everything ok?" Ziva asked, they really needed to get back.

"You hear that?" Gibbs asked.

"Didn't hear anything" Ziva replied "We have to go"

Gibbs nodded & kept walking.

Kelly was being pulled further & further away from her dad but she saw that he'd stopped & looked around, she tried to break free again "DAD!" she screamed using ever ounce of strength she had.

Gibbs had just gotten to the car, when he could have sworn he heard something again, it wasn't really clear, but it was filled with pain, he felt himself almost compelled to try to sooth it. Slamming the door closed he looked around again, apart from the few lights in the car park, it was pitch black, so he couldn't see very far, he just had this nagging feeling he needed to act.

"Gibbs? Are you ok? We have to go" Ziva prodded.

Gibbs flashed her a look, he knew she was right, they had a terrorist to find, but still...

A/N: Poor Kelly! But will Gibbs act on that feeling? or will he head off?

If you're new to my verse & are feeling a little confused, I can understand that, like I said, you'll be on Gibbs's journey of discovery, so please stay with me!

As a lot of people know, I love to hear what your thought/comments are, so review away! More up soon!