After the accident that killed Shannon and almost killed Kelly Gibbs had to work to get Kelly back. Joann and Mac took custody of her before he came home and they refused to give her back. They said they would sue for custody and since Kelly wouldn't tell them who she wanted to stay with they could prove their home was better. Moving into a rental home for the time being Gibbs did everything requested and required for the courts before being visited by NIS. "Gunny, is this a bad time?"

"I have a meeting with a psychiatrist in an hour but I don't have to leave yet. How can I help you?"

"I came by to check on you and Kelly. Sorry we haven't been in touch but there are a few things going on and trying to find Pablo Hernandez ..." Gibbs just stares at Mike who frowns. "What is it?"

"Why are you here if you're looking to check on Kelly? She's still living with her grandparents because you gave custody of her to them. My appointment is one of the things required to get her back and you came here to check on her."

"That's not right, they had temporary custody until you came home. They're keeping her from you?"

"Yeah I get one hour a day with her and they said I can't possibly help her. She lost her mother, I don't know what in the hell happened to make her silent and I get one freaking hour with her a day." Mike shakes his head.

"Can I use your phone?" Gibbs motions to the couch.

"It's there I have to finish getting ready." He passed the spare room with Kelly's things from the base in it. He had it set up for home visits and surprise inspections and hoped Kelly would get to stay there soon. When he returns to the living room Mike's looking around. "It's state approved so when Joann gets the stick out of her butt Kelly can come for visits. I'm hoping for next month."

"Does she have her own room?"

"Yeah I set it up for her. They send social services for surprise inspections and home visits. If you want more details then you'll have to talk to her lawyer."

"I will when we get to Mrs. Fielding's home. I called the director, she's filed a motion to move Kelly to Florida calling you an unfit parent." Gibbs was shaking,

"I've done everything she's asked and then some. I go and meet them for the one hour I'm allowed a day and ..." Mike throws his hands up.

"Slow down, she's not taking Kelly anywhere. We're meeting the lawyer at the house because they don't have custody of her. My director called them to confirm they were home and sent an agent over so they couldn't leave. We're going so you can pick up your daughter and bring her home."

Gibbs smiles for the first time since he got home from Kuwait and they leave. At Joann's house Kelly runs to Gibbs as soon as they walk into the house.

"Jethro was this really necessary? Calling NIS and demanding they do something to help you. If you can't handle it ..."

"I've been playing by your rules already Joann. Agent Franks came by to check on us since Kelly was supposed to be with me." Mike nods,

"Kelly, pack up your things you're going home with your dad." Kelly runs off and Mac tries to stop her.

"Now see here ..."

"No Mr. Fielding you see here. As of now you and Mrs. Fielding are not allowed any unsupervised visitation with Kelly until further notice. I think 2 hours a week is suffient since you've kept her apart from her father without permission or letting NIS know. Shannon was clear that you weren't to keep Kelly and I made that clear as we didn't have any other choice at the time."

"We love her and want to take care of her. There's nothing wrong with making sure she's okay."

"Only if you had custody which you don't. If you break the order of protection on you against Jethro and Kelly then we'll place you under arrest. Gunny, go check on your daughter and we'll help with her stuff."

Kelly's room at Joann and Mac's was bare with a few boxes in the corner. It held the basic things but not like they had her bedroom at Camp Pendleton and how he set it up at his home.

"Were you guys going to move?" Kelly nods showing him a brochure from Florida. "Well … do you want to come home with me?" It suddenly occurred that Kelly might like staying with Mac and Joann. Kelly hugs him tight and nods as Mike gets there.

"The Fielding's ask that you leave as soon as possible and they're cutting off all contact." Gibbs sighs,

"Well she's already partially packed and I don't think there's much left." They quickly pack it into Mike's car. "Do you want to say bye to Gram and Gramps?" Kelly started to go to the house to say goodbye when Joann just closed the door.

"It's okay, she's upset that we didn't side with them. Shannon never wanted them to get full custody of Kelly and they knew it was temporary. Let's get you home and then I'll go pick up some groceries for you two." Kelly got out a notepad she used and showed Gibbs a note. Pizza?

"Sure, we can get pizza and we still need groceries. It's only lunch time." They grabbed a pizza on the way home and Gibbs made a list of groceries for Mike and Kelly added her own. "Let me get you some money and ..."

"You're still under the protection of NIS right now and we can help you out. Get her settled in and I'll be back." When they were eating Kelly just looks around the house.

"It's not much but it's home for now. Did you want to go with Gram and Gramps?" Kelly shakes her head before writing on the notepad.

Did you want me to go with them?

"No of course not. Kelly I love you and I wanted you to come home."

What about not talking?

"Well if you don't want to talk then you don't have to. We're close enough to your old school so you can still go there and I'll talk to your teacher."

Can I stay still have my friends?

"Of course you can. This weekend do you want to call Maddie and see if you can go over and play? I found mommy's phone book with your friends numbers." Kelly nods,

What about Grandpa?

Gibbs hadn't spoken to his father since Shannon's memorial that Joann didn't let Kelly stay for long at. Jackson was upset and missing them but Gibbs was having a hard time with everything else.

"Do you want to call him? We can't go see him until after I get a job and save up some money to go for a visit but maybe he can come for a visit." Kelly smiles and Mike got there soon with another agent and a ton of food.

"Agent Weaver came along for the trip and we also brought some other things for Kelly if you don't mind."

"No, I appreciate it." Agent Weaver brings in a suitcase filled with some of Kelly's things and a bag for Gibbs.

"Shannon packed this and asked me to keep an eye on it for you. She said if she doesn't make it she wanted to make sure you got this stuff. Kelly's suitcase is stuff that got left behind in the safe house."

"Thank you so much. Joann said she had everything but I know there were some things ..." Kelly found her stuffed bear that Gibbs sent her when she was born from overseas. He had a mini one that always stayed in his pack. She hugs Agent Weaver and writes her a note.

Thank you.

"You're welcome sweetie and if you ever need anything you can call me okay?" Kelly nods and Weaver gives both Gibbs and Kelly her cards as they leave. Gibbs hugs Kelly.

"How about we finish unpacking your things and then do a little shopping. I think you can use some new things and then we'll call grandpa." Kelly nods and they go to a discount store where Gibbs lets her pick out some new clothes. Shannon always made the budget stretch as far as it could go and had money stashed away so Gibbs figured they could use a few things. Shannon was a stay at home mom and Gibbs planned to get a job right away and be okay though for the meantime he just wanted to be with Kelly and be okay.