A/N: This is not the first fan-fiction story I've written, but it is the first one I've submitted to FanFiction and the first one based on NCIS.

Two 12-year-olds, one a brunette, the other a redhead, were walking home from school discussing their homework assignments.

"Have you been able to get through the book assigned to us?" the brunette asked.

"I'm about halfway there," the redhead answered as the pair approached her house. "What time did your mom say she was picking you up?"

"Around 5:30," the Brunette replied.

"In that case, we'd better get to finishing that book if we want to enjoy our weekend. You know how much of a stickler my dad is about homework," the redhead stated as she opened the door to her house. "Dad, I'm home," she continued as she entered the foyer. The lack of a response concerned the young daughter. Normally, her father would be home before her, and would usually let her know via text message if he was going to be late. Nothing, however, could prepare the two pre-teens for what lay before them as they entered the kitchen.

The father was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A bullet hole had gone straight through his forehead.

It had been five months since a car bomb had tore through the NCIS Navy Yard office. Much of the physical damage had been repaired, and most of its staff had recovered from their physical wounds. Emotional woulds, however, were still healing. The crisis counselor had a chance to speak with everyone and left his card in case anyone wanted or needed additional support.

For the number one Major Case Response Team, Friday was a day to catch up on paperwork. Although Director Vance would never admit it, he knew that were still healing in their own special way.

Special Agent Tim McGee had brought in an advance draft of his latest book for his peers to review before he submitted it to the publisher. It was well-known fact around the office that the core characters in his book series were based upon his team.

"'And so, for the first time in his life, L. J. Tibbs realized that his team was much more than just that,'" Senior Field Agent Tony DiNozzo read aloud. "'Even though they were not related by flesh and blood, the shared experiences among them made them a family.' What kind of sappy story is this, McNovelist?"

"Actually," Special Agent Ziva David spoke up, "I think McGee has captured our essence quite well this time, although a story about a ghost haunting the main character is a little far-fetched."

"That's why it's called fiction," McGee noted.

"Well, Thom," Special Agent Gibbs noted as he entered the bullpen, referring to McGee by his nom de plume, "it's time to head to the world of reality. Grab your gear, we got a marine shot to death in his own home." Gibbs made a bee-line for the elevator as his team geared up. "There's a daughter out there that lost her family today," Gibbs stated as the elevator doors closed.

McGee and DiNozzo started to take pictures of the scene while Gibbs and Ziva talked with the daughter and her friend. "I'm Special Agent Gibbs and this is Special Agent David, NCIS," Gibbs stated to the girls, "What's your names?"

"Catherine McCoy," stated the red-haired daughter, "but everyone calls me C. J."

"Tessa White," stated the other girl.

As Gibbs continued to interview the girls, Tony and Tim chatted while collecting evidence. "You know, that redhead looks familiar."

"Tony, she's way to young for you."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Probie," Tony retorted. "I'm thinking maybe I've met her mother before or something,"

"Probably not," Ziva interjected, "her mother was killed in a car crash in 2006, it's been father and daughter ever since."

McGee took a fingerprint scan of the victim. "AFIS confirms that this is Gunnery Sergeant William McCoy."

Before anyone could speak further, Acting Medical Examiner Jimmy Palmer took a liver probe reading. "Time of death, Palmer?" Gibbs inquired.

"Based on liver temperature, I'd say that it hasn't been that long," Palmer noted. "Rigor mortis hasn't set in yet either. I'd say he's been dead for about four hours, tops."

"The daughter indicated that he left for the Pentagon at 0500 this morning. He usually gets home around 1430. Ziva, take the girls back to the Navy Yard. Miss White's mother will pick them up tonight. Child Services will meet you over there."

"Understood."

"DiNozzo, you got anything besides idle gossip."

"Of course, boss. We found a .45 round embedded in the wall behind our victim. It definitely could have made that hole in his head."

"Okay, get it to Abby for processing."

"On it, boss."

"So, ma'am," C. J. inquired to Ziva, "what's going to happen to me?"

"Well, for starters," Ziva started, "being called 'ma'am' makes me feel old. You can call me Ziva. From what I understand, you'll be staying with Tessa over the weekend, after that, I don't know. Do you have any family in the area."

"I don't have any other family, period. My grandparents have all passed away, I have no aunts or uncles. To be honest, my dad wasn't interested in seeing anyone since mom passed. He just wanted to make sure that I was taken care of. Mom and Dad took me in because they wanted to have a family, even though they couldn't do so by themselves."

"So, you are adopted."

"Yes, ma – Yes, Ziva. They never tried to hide the fact from me, and they also made sure to tell me that they loved you like I was their own."

"I see," Ziva answered before continuing. "We have a grief counselor meet you when we get to the Navy Yard. He's a good man."

"I heard about what happened to your building," Tessa stated. "Some of our classmates had parents who worked on the Navy Yard. We talked about it in class."

"You two are brave young souls," Ziva commented. "But it's all right if you want to cry. We will find who did this to your father, C. J."

*foof*

[edit 10/22/12 - minor tweaking to the story]