NCIS and OTH

Truth or Dare

Chapter 2

Breathe

"Boss, you okay?" McGee wondered having noticed the distant look on Gibbs' face as he entered the squad room just after the other two. With his desk being directly across the bullpen from Gibbs he could see clearly that the team leader was thinking about something.

Gibbs was deep in thought but he was still able to hear McGee and snap out of it for just a moment. He glanced up from the papers he was staring at in his hands making eye contact with Tim.

McGee's question caused both Tony and Ziva to look up from their work to find out what Gibbs' answer would be. For a long time Gibbs was silent as he looked from one agent to the other then back to the papers in his hand. They had just finished a case the day before and if there was no call out then they would be doing a lot of filing of reports and such.

Gibbs sighed before finally deciding what his answer was going to be. He knew, much like the situation with Shannon and Kelly, that the team would eventually find out about this even if he did keep it quiet. For all he knew this girl was just finding out about him as well and it would not be as easy to keep a child who was alive, whereabouts unknown, out of the picture. Not that he wanted to either. Gibbs wanted to know her even if he had never heard of her before today.

Gibbs cleared his throat and removed his glasses while looking in McGee's direction. All he had was a few papers proving that Brooke was his daughter. There was nothing there about who she was or what she did for a living.

"McGee, pull up anything you can find on Brooke Davis." He requested calmly. His tone did not suggest that he was giving an order as it usually did leaving McGee to wonder if it was case related but he did not ask.

"Right away, Boss." McGee replied and seconds later his computer was on and he was typing away like there was no tomorrow.

Tony had a curious expression on his face and he looked from Gibbs to McGee and back. "Why do you want information on a world famous fashion designer Boss?" It seemed strange to him that Gibbs would want to know something about a small town girl turned famous for her clothing line.

It was not unexpected for Tony to know designer labels or say much about them but Ziva raised an eyebrow at Tony from her desk.

"I thought she only did women's clothing, how do you know about her?" The Israeli questioned. Ziva was not exactly the type of woman to wear expensive brands all the time but she knew many of them including this one. With the exception that Clothes over Bro's now had recently come out with a line for men called Clothes for Bro's.

Feeling obligated to prove Ziva wrong Tony stood and stepped out from behind his desk showing off his latest suit. "It's a Brooke Davis original." He said proudly.

"Sit down DiNozzo." Gibbs growled in frustration. Although Tony was unknowingly helpful by telling Gibbs what his daughter was doing with her life.

Tony sighed and returned to his chair smirking across at Ziva who just shook her head and went back to work. Remembering that Gibbs never answered his question Tony turned to look at him once more. "Why are we looking into Brooke Davis?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes at Tony. "We aren't, I am." He mumbled in response. As McGee got to his feet and made his way toward the plasma near Gibbs the boss stood as well and moved to stand next to McGee.

Curious as to what McGee was going to show Gibbs about Brooke, Tony and even Ziva left their desks and walked over to the screen. Gibbs was too interested to get the information to care what the other two behind him were doing.

McGee looked at his boss from the corner of his eye before clicking the remote in his hand. Gibbs became speechless when he saw the photo of Brooke that showed up. She had his eyes and a genuine smile.

"She's a pretty girl." Ziva observed from behind Gibbs. She had only known Brooke by name until now. Tony on the other hand had known what Brooke looked like and had a grin of approval on his face.

Gibbs sighed as he stared at the picture memorizing the details. "She's beautiful." Gibbs corrected Ziva's statement but not loud enough for anyone to hear. He was finding it hard to look away since he had missed watching her grow up.

As McGee began to speak Gibbs continued to study the photo of Brooke taking in every word that McGee said about her.

"She's got a pretty good background boss, senior class President, Captain of the cheerleading squad. She started her clothing line while she was still in high school. Went to fashion school in New York and lived there until a couple years ago. She moved back home to help her friend Peyton Sawyer with a record company called-"

"Red Bedroom Records." Abby interrupted from behind the group. McGee had just clicked the remote again before she showed up to reveal a picture of Peyton and also a legal document with both her and Brooke's signature stating a financial endorsement agreement.

"You know the company?" Gibbs questioned after tearing his eyes away from the screen when he heard Abby.

Abby nodded excitedly causing her pigtails to sway. A smile came to her lips before she answered Gibbs. "It's only the best label out there. Peyton Sawyer is amazing at finding new talent and signing the coolest bands and singers. Haley James Scott is one of them, she works with Peyton too."

"Any chance she's related to the basketball player Nathan Scott?" Tony wondered with a tone of admiration for the point guard.

"I think he is her husband." Abby answered.

"Do you need something Abs?" Gibbs asked with slight impatience at the fact that the conversation had got in the way of what he wanted to know about Brooke. Unless these people were somehow affiliated with her it seemed irrelevant.

"It can wait." Abby replied gently. "Sorry to interrupt."

Gibbs turned back to the screen along with the others. McGee clicked again and a picture of the Tree Hill Clothes over Bro's store popped up.

"Davis opened up a store after moving back to Tree Hill, used to be a café. It was actually a success up until recently." McGee explained.

"What does that mean?" Gibbs asked.

McGee clicked the remote once more and a video came up but he waited to press play. "It was discovered that Victoria Davis, Brooke's mother lied to investors about the company's line for men and forged her daughter's signature. Mrs. Davis just got out of prison for time served. Brooke just sold the company and handed over her own personal fortune to repay the investors."

McGee nodded to the screen. "This was the press conference at the store where Brooke made the announcement."

McGee clicked once more and the video began.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

"What are you going to do?" Haley asked from the couch as she watched Brooke pace back and forth from the kitchen to the door and back repeatedly.

The petite blonde had showed up after Brooke called a meeting seeking advice from her and Peyton. The two sat in the living room with worried expressions while Brooke was having a bit of a panic attack.

"I don't know Hales, what would you want to do?" Brooke returned the question running her hands through her hair.

"I'm not sure what I would do but I know I'd probably want to see him." She answered truthfully.

Brooke ceased with her pacing and stood between the kitchen and entry way. "I don't even know what he looks like Haley or where he is, what he does. He's a complete stranger to me just like Richard Davis. This is the last thing I needed after losing everything I have."

Peyton bit her lip as she watched Brooke on the edge of a mental and emotional breakdown. She sympathized with Brooke. Most of her life she thought the people who raised her were her birth parents only to find out she had been adopted. Even though she understood she had no idea what to say.

"Brooke, you have us and you know we'll help you through this. Maybe we can find him on the internet or something. I just can't believe your mother wouldn't at least give you some contact information." Haley said.

"I believe it, this is just like Victoria. Make a mess of everything and leave me to figure out how to clean it up." Brooke replied sadly with a hint of resentment in her voice.

Haley sighed and rose from the couch making her way toward Brooke. Peyton also stood and moved with Haley to where the brunette stood.

"Let's just breathe and take this one step at a time okay?" Haley suggested gently with her hands on Brooke's shoulders.

Brooke nodded as she allowed tears of frustration that she had held back for so long finally fall. "Okay." She whispered. She let Haley pull her into a comforting embrace and Peyton joined in turning it into a small group hug.

NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS

The words spoken by Brooke during the press conference video on the plasma gave Gibbs some insight about who she was as a person but it was not enough for him. He wanted to learn about her through conversations with her not from what could be found on the internet.

Gibbs sighed as the video ended and McGee turned off the screen with the remote. "That's all I could find Boss. There wasn't much else other than a few false tabloid headlines."

Gibbs turned to look at the members of his team. Abby still stood in the bullpen along with them. They each seemed to be affected by Brooke's speech in some way.

"Takes a lot of heart to do something like that, give away everything you have willingly." Abby said softly. She seemed to admire the young woman.

McGee went back to his desk and Tony and Ziva were about to do the same until Gibbs stopped them from doing so. "DiNozzo, bring her in her. Ziva go with him."

"What for Boss?" Tony wondered unsure of what reason they would have to bring in Brooke Davis unless it was case related.

"What reason do you need other than my telling you so, go, now!" Gibbs barked. He watched as the agents grabbed their bags and stepped into the elevator.

"I would have thought you'd be more excited to be going Tony." Ziva said with a smirk once they were in the privacy of the elevator.

"What makes you say that?" Tony asked making Ziva chuckle.

"Tony, she is an attractive woman who dresses the famous movie stars you're always going on about as well as the general public. She's young, talented, and you're wearing her." Ziva explained.

Tony raised an eyebrow and his famous grin showed itself. "Just the clothes that she designed but I'd rather be wearing her in a more literal since."

Ziva rolled her eyes but she realized she had set herself up for that. "She's quite young for you Tony."

"I've been with younger women." Tony replied.

"That's truly shocking." Ziva answered back.

"Your Israeli sarcasm is not appreciated Zee-vah."

In the bullpen McGee and Abby watched Gibbs curiously as he returned to sitting behind his desk. He looked up remembering that Abby was there and seemed confused by the fact that she and Elf lord were staring.

"What?" He asked them both looking from one to the other.

"It's just…" Abby started then trailed off.

"You've never had us pick someone up without a reason for it." McGee finished for her.

Gibbs glared at each of them and gathered the papers from Victoria together. He stood and walked to McGee's desk. "You let me know if this isn't reason enough."

Gibbs slapped the envelope down and stormed out of the bullpen to get a coffee and take the time he had to clear his head.

A/N: Okay, I am well aware that Brooke Davis has Green/Hazelish eyes but to make it flow a bit more I am writing her as blue eyed like Gibbs.