"Come on Charity...we have got to go out tonight." Katie called from outside of Charity's bedroom door.

"I don't know..." Charity said, trailing off.

"Don't tell me you want to stay in again. I have got to get out there and move and shake it up...specifically up against some string strapping man." Katie said. "Two years is far too long to be without a man, if you know what I mean."

"I know exactly what you mean, Katie." Charity replied. "If you haven't forgotten, I spent those two years right there with you."

"I know, but you don't seem to act like you need a man as much as I do."

"I'm just not into the whole "hooking up with some random random guy at the club" thing. I like to be romanced first."

"You want love when you should just get laid. It might loosen you up, Gunny."

Charity opened the door and stepped out of her bedroom. "Okay, fine. I'm ready to get this over with."

"Hold on, let me inspect this outfit." Katie said, grabbing Charity's arm and spinning her around to inspect her. Charity wore black strappy stilettos, a pair of dark-wash skin tight jeans, and a black corseted top. Her long firey locks hung down her back in loose curls. Her makeup was simple, a little blush, a eyeliner, mascara, and a bold red lip.

"Do you approve?" Charity asked.

Katie pursed glossy pink lips for a moment and then smiled. "Yes, I approve. Now let us get out of here and meet some men!" She grabbed Charity by the wrist and led her out of the door.

Charity was barely able to lock the door to her apartment before Katie dragged her to the cab awaiting them below. They soon arrived at the club. They ordered drinks and sat at the bar for a few moments, sipping at them. Once they finished their drinks, Katie was pulling Charity on the dance floor.

After a few moments, Charity let the music take her and she swayed her hips to the beat. She and Katie were quickly approached by a couple of guys. Katie eagerly invited them into their dance. She looked at Charity and mouthed the words Cut loose, Gunny.

Charity held back a sigh and danced with one of the men, not really paying attention to him. They spent the next few hours dancing with a few different men and accepting a few free drinks. The club closed and the two friends headed to a coffee shop with two men. The sat and sipped coffee and talked. Katie was obviously enjoying the attention from her suitor, while Charity's mind wandered.

"So, you're a Marine?"

Charity looked over at the man sitting next to her. The one she was supposed to be on a mini date with. She thought his name was Jeff. "Uhm...yeah." She answered.

"That's cool. I like strong women." He said.

Charity gave him a weak smile. He wasn't a bad looking man...he was actually quite attractive, but she just wasn't feeling it. She then looked down at her cell phone and noticed the time. "I can't believe it's five in the morning." She exclaimed. "I...I really should be getting home. I have to rest up for work."

"Can I get your number?" Jeff asked.

Charity didn't want to just shoot him down there in front of everyone, so she scribbled a false number on a napkin and handed it to him. She then began walking out the door, calling a cab. She looked over at Katie. "You coming?"

"I guess." Katie answered. She then wrote down her number and handed it to her "date" before slipping out the door with Charity. "I saw what you did." Katie accused once they were in the cab.

"Saw what?" Charity asked innocently.

"I saw you give that guy a number that wasn't yours."

Charity just shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

Katie sighed dramatically. "What's your problem? He was one hot tamale."

Charity shrugged. "I just didn't feel anything."

"What are you expecting to feel? Love at first sight? You know that's a myth."

Charity sighed. "To you maybe, but not the way that I was raised. If love at first sight were a myth, I wouldn't be here today."

"Oh, I get it. You're looking for something more than just an attraction...you're looking for the love your parents had."

"Exactly." Charity answered. "I honestly don't know what I'm expecting to feel, but I just know that I haven't felt it yet."

"So, this it you think you'll know it when you feel it?"

"Yes...no...maybe...I have no idea." Charity admitted with a resigned sigh.

"Then maybe next time we go out and you meet a guy, you should give him your real number and an actual chance." Katie suggested.

Charity sighed once again. "Okay."

The cab soon stopped. They paid the driver and exited the car. They made their way up to Charity's apartment. "I thought you locked your door..." Katie said, trailing off, as they made their way down the hall.

Charity looked towards her door which was standing wide open. They walked closer, being cautious. "The lock's been broken." Charity said. Then they looked inside.

"And it looks like your place has been trashed." Katie observed.

Charity got a bad feeling in her gut. "Shhh." She told Katie. Then they both proceeded into the apartment with caution. Charity headed toward her bedroom and Katie headed for the kitchen.

Charity walked into her bedroom. Her dresser drawers had all been open and her clothes were thrown all over the room as well as her letters and make up. She then heard something coming from her closet. She pulled the knife she always carried out of her pocket and began to make her way over to her closet. She opened the door and was surprised by a pigeon that had gotten inside. She jumped out of the way when it flew out and headed for the open window. Charity breathed a small sigh of relief.

Just then a man dressed in black jumped out from behind Charity's door and grabbed her. "You're coming with me Gunnery Sergeant." He said in a heavily accented voice. "You must pay for your crimes."

Charity reared her head back and knocked him in the nose. "You bitch!" He shouted at her, grabbing her hair and shoving her head into her wall.

Charity's vision blurred slightly. She began to struggle with him. Kicking and flailing her arms and legs anyway she could. After a few moments of struggling, Katie came in the room and knocked the stranger out with a frying pan.

"You alright Gunny?" Katie asked.

Charity shoved the man off of her. The room spun around her. "I'm fine." Charity answered. She touched her fingers to her nose and pulled them away. She looked down and saw the blood.

"I'm going to tie him up and then call 911." Katie said.

"Don't call 911." Charity replied, pulling out her cell phone and hitting one on her speed dial.

"Who are you calling?"

"My dad."

NCIS...

Gibbs sat at his desk, filling out paperwork. The rest of his team began trickling in through the elevator. "Good morning Gibbs." Ziva greeted him.

"Morning Ziver." Gibbs replied.

McGee and DiNozzo soon followed. "Any case yet boss?" DiNozzo inquired, taking his seat at his desk.

"Nothing yet." Gibbs answered. Just then his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller id screen. "Hello." He greeted.

"Daddy?" Charity's voice came over the line, sounding slightly scared.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Someone broke into my apartment." She answered. "He attacked me. Katie and I took him down."

"We'll be right there." Gibbs replied. "You call if anything else happens."

"I will, Daddy." Charity replied. "I love you."

"You, too." Gibbs replied and then hung up. He looked to his team. "Gear up. We've got a case."