Hello :)

So sorry. It's been ages since I said I would upload this, but exams and study have meant I have had hardly any time to write. But only have two exams left now, so heaps of writing time!

Will hopefully be getting a chapter up a day. Don't hold me to that though ;)

As this is an epilogue to Ghosts From The Past. I do suggest you read that first, if you don't - Do not complain if you don't understand something. :) Go through my profile to find it, it will now be quite a few pages back in the archives.

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway own NCIS.

Read and review please!

Enjoy xx

When you're in the balance of life or death, things move quickly, in a blur. You can't keep up; you just follow along, and take what comes your way. No time to prepare yourself, you're too busy dealing with all of your other problems.

That was how it was for Blair. Despite the fact she had a roof to live under, things weren't the same, they were still just as hard. Ranging from the fact the small flat had no heating to how her boyfriend got high and beat her every other night. It had only been a couple of months since she'd run away that night, she was now 16, with her life hanging in the balance.

She worked at a small diner during the day, it didn't pay well but it helped pass the time. She knew the owner, Jessica suspected something. She often came into work with a bruise or two on her face, but she never brought it up and Blair never mentioned it.

She missed her past life. Well the few months she'd shared with Tim. At the time she'd taken them for granted, had expected things to go her way. But they didn't and she'd run off. Ending up where she was today, months on. It was harder then she'd first thought, and at times she thought about going back, but she could never bring herself to do it.

"Table three." Jessica told her, passing her a tray with a couple of coffee's on it. Having no reaction she repeated herself. Blair shook her head, her pony tail moving from side to side,"Hmmm?" She asked looking up at the older woman.
"Table three!" She replied, smiling at the younger girl. She watched as the teenager turned on her heel and moved over to the couple waiting for their drinks. They thanked Blair, before going back to their conversation.

As Blair came back Jessica noticed how tired she looked, it wasn't just the dark rings around her eyes but the ghostly paleness of her skin and the way her cheek bones cut in. Instead it was the way her eyes were, the deathly stare that was in them, all of the time. "Come on, I'll make you a coffee. You look exhausted." Jessica said, ushering her into the small kitchen.

"Thanks," Blair murmured taking the warm mug of coffee gratefully.
"Okay, now tell me what's wrong." Jessica started, leaning against the bench and crossing her arms."Nothing's wrong, I'm fine…" Blair stuttered after sipping at the creamy liquid.
"I know that's not true, I know you know that too." She pressured.
"It's complicated." Blair shrugged.
"There's hardly anyone here, there's time."

"No, that's okay." She said, finishing the coffee and putting the cup on the bench next to her. Turning away, she moved back into the diner as she heard the door chime as someone entered. She did a double take when she saw who it was; she had to blink a few times before she figured it was real. I mean, there was no doubt that it couldn't be possible, she just hadn't expected Gibbs to turn up. At the embarrassing place she worked, only to get away from her abusive boyfriend. Oh, but the way life worked out, always surprising you, throwing in something to make it all the more harder.

She met his eyes and smiling slightly, almost shyly, walked over to offer him a seat. "Can I get you anything?" She asked after a moment.
"Just a coffee – Black." He replied without hesitation.
"Sure. Um, why are you here?" She finally questioned and he chuckled softly.
"Came to make sure you were still alive, and doing okay."
"Oh. Ah, thanks. I guess then. I'll be back in a minute." She hurried off, secretly wishing something would come up and he would have to leave. She didn't need this at the moment; she was also hoping he wouldn't make her feel guilty for leaving. After all, she could have had a better life with another family somewhere else. She went about making his coffee, not noticing Jessica make her way out into the dining area and over to his table.

"You know Blair?" She asked, bluntly. He nodded,
"I do. Good kid, how is she doing?" Seeing as he did, she sat down in the chair across from him,
"I don't know, I mean, she seems okay. What can I say? I've asked, she says she's fine. I know she doesn't look it, a couple of times she's come in with a bruise or two on her face, she won't tell me anything though." She stopped as his expression grew stonier, "I'm sure it's nothing though..." She finished as his eyes narrowed at her. She stood from the seat as Blair came back with his order. She placed it on the table in front of him and turned to leave. "Blair." He said and she stopped, desperately wanting to leave and go hide somewhere, to never be found again. "Sit. I need to talk to you." He ordered and she winced. She couldn't exactly ignore him now... She turned back towards him, forcing a smile on her face. "I'll leave you to it." Jessica muttered, retreating back to the kitchen.
"So how have you been?" Blair asked, sitting down.
"You don't get it, do you?" He questioned, and she shook her head, going slightly red.
"Get what?"
"Exactly my point. Do you not understand how worried we've been?" She looked down then, chewing her lip. He didn't press it any further, "Where have you been living?"
"Why?" She asked, starting to get defensive.
"So I know."
"Why?" She repeated and he sighed.
"Blair, cut it out. Where do you live?"
"Round the corner..." She murmured.
"And who do you live with?"
"A group of people..."
"Yeah. Who are they?"
"Just... Friends..." At his slightly disapproving look she continued, "They're good people, okay! You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."
"Really?" He questioned, his eyebrows raising as he took another sip of his coffee. "Then why do you come into work covered in bruises every morning?"
"I don't." She replied, her defensive walls going up even further.
"You know your father. He sits at his desk at work, and tries to track where you are and where you're going. He hasn't had any luck though. He's worried sick about you Blair."
"How'd you find me then?" She cut him off.
"You know how good Abby is." He simply said, and she nodded, smiling slightly... "Do you know how much Abby misses you? And Ziva..."
"I don't want to know." She shrugged.
"They're engaged. Just in case you do want to know." He finished his coffee.
"Who? Tony and Ziva? Finally!" She exclaimed, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Nah. Abby and Tim. Weddings in a couple of months. Both of them wanted to wait till we found you. But no one knew when that would be..." The smile disappeared, quickly.
"Look. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run away. It was really, really stupid. I know that now. But I can't just turn up again. It wouldn't work. I'm fine where I am. Everything is how it should be."
"How so?"
"I've got a roof to live under, a job? Isn't that enough."
"What about school? You're not just going to throw that away are you? You're a smart kid Blair."
"I had to make a choice." She replied as if it were obvious.
"Well you didn't make the right one." He said insensitively.
"Thanks. I think I can handle my own life."
"Yeah, well I don't."
"Thanks for that."
"Blair. I didn't mean it like that." He told her as she stood and began untying her apron.
"Yes you did." She muttered, before walking off.

She pushed the door open and flinched when it slammed shut behind her. "Blair wait!" She heard Gibbs call, obviously following her. She spun on her heel to come face to face with him. "Look. I'm fine. Now get lost and let me live my life."
"What you're doing isn't exactly living, Blair." He told her, looking her in the eye. His icy blue eyes staring into her bright green ones, he nodded at her before moving around her to his car. She watched him pull away from the curb, away from her and unsatisfactory way of living.

Hope it was alright for a first chapter.

Review please! (:

Next chapter up tomorrow.

Willa xx