Hello, All! I feel like I'm on a roll here. :) I also feel like this chapter was way better than the first, especially near the end. However, it's also a lot longer. :) Hope you like. R&R.

0o0

"Well, it doesn't take a master's degree of Psychology to know this guy's escalating, boss." Tony shook his head as he sketched the scene before him.

The bloody, gruesome scene.

"He's obviously traveling on foot, even though he had the opportunity to take the car." McGee pitched in, "but I'm pretty sure he doesn't look homeless now." McGee let out a small groan as he took pictures of the child who had a stab wound in the middle of her forehead. "I mean, as far as I know, the couple only had one car. Sold one since Neil Warner lost his job as a Insurance Consultant for harassment and needed the money, according to his neighbor, Linda Underwood."

"I talked to the neighbors, seems like Linda Underwood was out with her parents, and Leo and Cathy Fletcher were at their daughter's school play." Bishop said with a sigh as she placed her notepad in her pocket and continued to take pictures.

"Maybe Sandoval was his first kill? I mean, it was pretty messy, unorganized, and looked as if this guy just had a really bad temper and it got way out of hand." Tony started, "then he must've started enjoying it. He found that killing victims and taking their money was a way to get off the streets." DiNozzo shook his head and looked away from the gruesome bodies. "Must of really had a bad temper though."

"I don't think he's targeting the military." Bishop added, "but the wife, Rose Warner, was a naval officer, Boss. But only for a short time before college."

Gibbs nodded in response. He looked at Ducky, "Time of Death?"

"Around the same time of our last victim, Jethro. Between 2200 and 2400 last night." Ducky sighed as he pulled the liver probe out of the child. "However, it does look like the husband died shortly before the wife and child."

"How shortly, Duck?" Gibbs questioned as he tried to avoid the image of the child. Damn it, he wanted to catch this bastard.

"Possibly an hour." Ducky said as he looked up at Palmer. "Help me out, Palmer, will you?"

"Yes, Ducky." Palmer answered as they helped lift the child into the black body bag.

"So, the wife and child watched as-?" Bishop began to speak, but she stopped shortly, not wanting to continue.

"Sadly, if this guy continues with this pattern, we'll soon be facing a body tomorrow morning, and possibly even more gruesome than this." Tony pointed out.

The room was silent as the agents took in that little bit of information. They continued to take photos, bag and tag and search for clues, trying not to let the anger get in the way.

0o0

It was getting close to dark, and the man was impatiently waiting on the side of the small shop waiting for Matt to finish up what he was doing. Time was running out. He needed to make the kill tonight and only tonight. He just couldn't wait.

"Done." Came Matt's voice. The man smiled as he was handed back the computer. But, instead he threw it in the trash.

"What? What was that for?!" His voice rose and his eyes widened in shock. He laughed, feeling as if he just popped a child's balloon. "What's the address?"

Matt stared at him for a moment, then spoke firmly, "His name is Jessie Ross. Wife's dead, has a twelve year old named Tommy Ross. There's practically hundreds of reports saying this man abused this child, but no proof, so he hasn't been arrested."

He smiled then walked off without a word.

0o0

It was 1300. The team had arrived at another house, this time not related to any military personal at all. It was only one victim this time. A kid.

The scene was bloody. The kid was tied up to a chair, a bullet in his head. It wasn't just how he died that scared them, but the fact that now they know he's carrying a gun.

The kid had bruises scattered all over his body, it almost was difficult just to tell what race he was. Both of his eyes were swollen shut, his arms were covered in cuts, and three knife wounds were in his thigh, stomach and calf muscle.

The entire living room was a bloody mess. Blood had scattered across the walls. The couches went from a creamy tan to a crimson red.

He was only twelve.

The team stared in horror, silently honoring the victim.

"Tony, bag and tag. Bishop, sketch the scene and McGee, go talk to the dad and sister." They all nodded silently as they went to their tasks.

McGee walked up to the dad, Jessie Ross. He was tan, muscular, had dark blonde hair, a scruffy beard, and dark brown eyes. He looked calm as he starred at the floor, his arms crossed over him.

"Hi, Mr. Ross, I'm Special Agent Timothy McGee, I just need to ask a few question." McGee started his normal introduction. The man didn't look away.

"Were you home when your son was -" McGee started, but the man spoke up. "No, I wasn't home." He said. McGee was almost surprised he didn't snap at him, since most parents that lose their children do.

"What about your daughter?"

He was silent at first, "No, she was with me."

"And where were you?" He questioned.

"We were..." More silence filled the air, "We were out for a walk." He said, but something seemed off.

McGee watched as he never made eye contact as he asked the rest of the questions. Still, he felt like there was something off about him.

Next, McGee had went upstairs were the daughter was, Molly Ross, who was only eight.

"Hey Molly, I'm Special Agent Timothy McGee, I'm here to ask a few questions. Is that okay?" He knelt down beside her. She was curled in a ball sitting under her desk.

She nodded with a few tears falling down her pink cheeks.

"Where you here when your brother was hurt?" He tried to soften his words, but she still seemed to flinch. He knew her dad said she was with him, but it was still mandatory to ask.

She nodded 'yes.'.

He stopped.

"You were here?"

She nodded again, "They were fighting again." She cried. McGee sat down, leaning against the bed that was next to her desk. He stared at her bright green eyes.

"Who? The man and your brother?"

She nodded 'no'. "My daddy and Tommy." She cried. There was silence for a moment, then she spoke, still unable to look at McGee. "At least I thought they were. I heard yelling, and I know he was hurting Tommy, just like they always do..." She trailed off, "Then I noticed it wasn't just daddy screaming, but two people. They were...they were both hurting Tommy." She cried harder, and McGee could feel a tug at his heart.

"Are you saying your dad hurt Tommy too?"

She nodded 'yes'. McGee took a deep breath. "Did he ever hurt you?"

She nodded 'yes.' "But mostly Tommy...he always protected me." Then, tears rushed out and she cried harder. McGee pulled her in, surprised she wasn't afraid of him.

Tears seemed to well up in his own eyes as he held her. "I'll protect you, Molly. You don't have to live with your dad anymore, okay?"

He felt her hug on tighter, "Please..." She trailed off, and he could feel her tears soak his shoulder.

He could hear footsteps coming up the stairs. He looked up, seeing her dad.

"Molly, what the hell did you say to this man? They need to be doing their jobs, not listening to your pretend stories." He waved an angry hand in the air. She curled into a ball under the desk again.

McGee stood up quickly, sudden anger rushing through him.

"Molly needs to be under protective custody, Mr. Ross. We have to take her to NCIS right away." McGee tried not to let the anger he felt show, but it was getting hard.

"And why the hell's that? What'd she say to you? I'll tell you something, Agent McGee-" He took a step closer, "She's a filthy liar. Pathetic, that's what it is. She don't need no protective custody." He growled.

"Sorry, sir. But you need to be under protective custody as well. We have reason to believe he'll come after you two. Now please, our agents will assist you to the vehicle." He motioned his head for him to turn around and go downstairs, but he didn't budge. "Now, Mr. Ross." McGee warned. He starred at him, growled, then turned around.

McGee quickly pulled his phone out, dialing Gibbs. He knew he was only downstairs, but he didn't want Ross to hear him.

"Gibbs."

"Boss, don't tell anyone it's me. But, pretend we're having Ross and his daughter under protective custody right now, I'll explain later." There was a sigh, "It's what Molly said, boss."

Gibbs was quiet for a moment, "Got it." He said, hanging up.

McGee sighed with relief then turned around and knelt beside Molly again. "Come on, I'll protect you." He gave a small smile.

"Promise, agent McGee?"

He smiled, knowing he shouldn't make promises when it came to a case, but spoke up anyway. "I promise."

0o0

Molly sat in the interrogation room holding Bert the Hippo Abby had let her barrow. But, even Bert's farts didn't seem to put a smile to her face.

Abby, Gibbs, Tony and even Bishop were on the other side, waiting to hear why McGee had brought both Jessie and Molly Ross into "protective custody."

"Alright, Molly, I hope you don't mind, but I have to ask a few questions again." He gave a comforting smile at Molly who looked at the hippo in return.

"Molly, where you there when your bother got hurt?"

She nodded a 'yes'.

"Do you think you can speak up so the recorder can hear you?"

"Yes, I-I'm sorry." She stuttered through tears. "It's okay, Honey. Don't apologize." She looked at him in shock, then quickly looked away.

"Where where you in the house, Molly?"

"I was...in my room, under my desk. I thought daddy and Tommy were fighting...again."

"And were they?" McGee questioned. She looked up at him with glassy green eyes. She nodded, "They were. But after awhile, I noticed it wasn't just him..." She trailed off, tears escaping her eyes.

"Was the other person a man?"

She nodded, "Y-yes. They both were mad at Tommy..."

"And what were they mad at Tommy for?"

There was silence at first then tears erupted. "They kept telling Tommy he was pathetic and a liar and worthless." She cried even harder, "That it was his fault that I was a pathetic loser. I'm the reason Tommy is..."

"Molly, don't say that. You know it's not your fault."

Molly nodded, tears still in her eyes. She squeezed Bert the Hippo. McGee gave a small smile at the noise, even though he hated that Molly was too sad to smile back.

"I remember hearing them hitting him over and over and over...I just wanted it to end!" She raised her voice, suddenly standing up. She was silent, then sat back down, feeling ashamed. "Then I heard the gunshot."

There was silence again. "I'm sorry, Molly." McGee paused, "Did your dad ever hit you?"

She nodded, "Not as much as Tommy. Tommy always protected me. If only I stood up for myself..."

"It's not your fault, Molly." McGee said, feeling his own tears began to rise. He took a deep breath, pushing his emotions aside.

"Did you get to see the man's face?"

Molly shook her head, "Yeah, I saw him."

McGee felt a tiny bit of hope spark within him, "Do you think you can work with the lovely woman that let you barrow Bert to help identify the man?"

She was silent at first, then nodded.

She was silent for a while, then she spoke up.

"You don't understand what it was like..." She trailed off, mumbling under her breath. "You don't understand, Agent McGee. Being alone, being hit everyday.."

McGee froze, shocked by the sudden change of tone. She didn't seem angry, but she seemed ashamed and depressed and isolated.

He knew all too well how she felt.

"And why would you think that?" McGee questioned. She looked at him.

"Your happy. People like me don't get to be happy...don't deserve to." She trailed off again. McGee took a deep breath, then placed a comforting hand over hers, which was still holding Bert the Hippo tightly.

"I know exactly what your going through, Molly." He began, surprised his words were so calm. He felt anxious, knowing what he was about to say was in front of his team. His family, who he never told.

"You do?" Molly questioned in disbelief.

McGee nodded, "My dad used to..." He trailed off, feeling his emotions come on stronger than before, but he tried shaking them off. "He hurt my sister and I too, Molly." Another sigh, "I know what it's like. To feel...alone, like no one is there. To be afraid to go home every single day. Afraid for the yelling, the hitting." More silence. Molly was starring at him in shock, her mouth slightly hung open. He wondered if his team looked the way Molly did too. "I was afraid he would hurt my sister, Sarah. Afraid that it was never going to end. I thought I didn't deserve happiness either, Molly. I know what it's like to be beaten then tossed around like a voodoo doll - to be ignored when I needed the attention most. When I was sick, it was just me and my sister. When it got bad..." He trailed off, then noticed he was rambling. He felt tears in his eyes. "Molly, you deserve to be happy. And you won't have to deal with your dad any more. You're safe now."

"Promise?"

He was silent at first then gulped. "I promise, sweetie."

Molly squeezed McGee's hand, then McGee squeezed Bert the Hippo, the noise echoing the tiny room. Molly laughed, a beautiful, heart-warming laugh.

"Alright, Molly. How about we take Bert here and head down to Miss. Abigal's lab and start finding this guy, huh?" McGee smiled, and Molly smiled in return. He stood up, and she immediately took his hand. He paused, smiled eye to eye, then made his way out of the room. The team had walked out of the observation room. Abby put on a smile, but McGee knew it was fake. He knew she wanted to talk about what had just happened.

Abby held Molly's hand and began walking to her lab as she began to ask what kind of food she wanted from the vending machine.

"Gosh, Probie." Tony was the first to speak up, but McGee didn't mind. He needed to keep his past in the past.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" Tony asked. McGee took a deep breath, "Well," He started, "Didn't think talking about my past was a great way to pick up any woman and it sure as hell ain't a great way to start a conversation." McGee joked. Molly had sure made him feel warm and happy somehow, and he wasn't going to let this case bring him down. He was determined.

DiNozzo and Bishop seemed to smile at how McGee was taking it so well, but he could still see the hurt in his eyes. "Guys, come on." He said, pushing through them as they made their way to the squad room. "You couldn't have honestly expect me to randomly go, "hey guys, I was abused." like, really? It's nothing. It's over."

"Well, I told you about my past." DiNozzo still felt hurt.

"Really? Cause it seemed to me that it took forever to find out you had an ex-fiancee." McGee didn't hold a grudge against him. In fact, he respected his privacy. But, he wanted to get his point across. "That was your choice not to tell, DiNozzo. This was mine."

"But that's different." DiNozzo began to argue. Bishop just watched in silence, seeming to be entertained by the conversation.

"And how's that, DiNozzo?" McGee questioned with a glare.

"I don't know! We just-We just always thought you know, everything was all good with the McGee's. I don't know about Bishop here, but it seems that everyone always has some trouble going on with their family."

McGee seemed to tense up a little. Is that how his team felt? That outside NCIS, he had the perfect little family?

"DiNozzo, maybe I didn't mention it because I don't want you to pity me, okay? Plus, it's not just my secret, but Sarah's too."

DiNozzo was silent at first, but he had one more thing bugging him. "What happened to your dad then?"

They had reached the bullpen and began sitting at their desks. DiNozzo couldn't seem to be able to sit down with this new information.

"He was in prison for some time. I don't know where he is now. Last I heard he was on the streets."

There was silence, because now it was obvious this conversation was beginning to bother McGee.

"Well, McGee, you seemed to bond really well with Molly. Made her open up. Because of you, were going to get this guy." Bishop gave a comforting smile. He smiled back, "Thank you, Bishop."

She nodded then began to type on her computer.

"What's going to happen to Ross? I mean, why say he's in protective custody?" DiNozzo questioned, still unsure of what McGee was up to. McGee sighed, "We need evidence to take Molly away. That's why I said we were bringing them in protective custody, so he would agree to separate him and Molly, so I could talk to her. Otherwise, he would demand a warrant and who knows what would happen to Molly then."

DiNozzo nodded, "Good Idea, McSpartyPants." DiNozzo teased as he finally sat down.

They began typing away, searching for anything to find the man that had did this to them.

"So, you think Ross helped all along?" Bishop was the first to question.

The two looked up, and suddenly DiNozzo and McGee rolled their chairs to the middle of their desk. Bishop hesitated, confused by the sudden movement, then quickly rolled her chair in the middle with them.

"I think Ross just played along." McGee said. As sick as the theory was, he didn't doubt Ross' motives.

"You think the guy just comes along and beats his kid and he helped the bastard?" DiNozzo said in disgust, but nodded in agreement. "This guy is sick." He growled as he spoke.

"What happened to the mother?" Bishop suddenly asked. McGee rolled his chair back to his computer, quickly typing something in, then gave a long sigh.

"Died in a car accident." He paused, then quickly looking away. "I bet you he felt Tommy was the reason why."

"Why you think that, Probie?" DiNozzo asked. McGee started reading the file on his computer again.

"Personal reasons, for one. I find that abusers have no logic." He tried to give a small laugh, but couldn't seem to find humor in the situation. DiNozzo was better at that then he was. "Tommy was in the car when it crashed. Just him and his mom. He watched her die." He trailed off, closing his eyes. Molly's case seemed all too familiar. She reminded him of Sarah, and Tommy of him.

He opened his eyes once more, seeing the two agents stare at him in concern.

"Personal reasons, McGee?" DiNozzo began to interrogate him.

McGee sighed, not wanting to explain, but he figured he had already told them about his dad so he might as well.

"When my mom died, my dad blamed me. It's what triggered his abusive behavior." McGee seemed to grimace, as if in pain, at the long ago memory.

"How'd she die?" Bishop asked, curious.

"Car crash." He began to trail off, "Molly reminds me of Sarah." McGee finally chocked out, and he suddenly felt weak. He didn't know why, but bringing up his past to the team didn't seem as hard until now. Until he finally admitted how similar the two cases were to each other.

"You said your dad's on the streets?" DiNozzo pointed out. McGee looked at him. At first, confused on where he was going, then his eyes widened. "DiNozzo, you can't be seriously considering my dad-"

"It's a possibility, Probie."

McGee shook his head, refusing to believe it. "I think we're getting off task here, Tony. We should get back to work." He stood up and left the squad room, making his way towards Abby's lab.

0o0

The team sat silently in the bullpen typing away as they searched for any possible evidence to get Ross behind bars, and anything to identify the killer and who Ross had worked with that night.

Abby and Molly strolled into the squad room, hand in hand.

"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" Abby's perky voice echoed across the orange walls. All the agent's head popped up to see Abby gripping a paper and Molly still holding onto Bert the Hippo as if her life depended on it.

"What, Abs?" Gibbs questioned as he took his glasses off. Abby handed him the paper. McGee squinted, then gave it back. "Alright, send out a BOLO." He ordered. The team all stood up to see the sketch Molly had helped Abby with.

"Abs, are you sure?" Came McGee's voice.

Abby looked at him with curious eyes. "Did you seriously just ask that? Of course I'm sure!"

There was a small moment of silence, then DiNozzo spoke up. "McGee, do you recognize him?" He asked, fearing he knew the answer.

That seemed to get everyone's attention. Gibbs starred at him with concern. "That's my dad." McGee's voice came out firmly, but inside he didn't know how he felt.

Scared? Disappointed? Sad? He wasn't sure.

He felt DiNozzo place a hand of comfort on his shoulder and he tensed up at the sudden movement.

The case was getting too personal for him. He was starting to edge back into his previous ways. He didn't want to be that scared little boy again. No, he wasn't that scared little boy again. He was a grown-ass federal agent.

"You think he's been trying to contact you, McGee?" Bishop interjected. McGee gave a nervous sigh, "I don't know why he would want to." He spoke, a hint of anger in his voice.

He moved on, so why couldn't his dad move on too? Why couldn't he just leave him alone?

"I should call Sarah." He said, rubbing his temples just as he felt a warm hand intertwine in his. He looked down seeing Molly staring at him. She smiled, "It's okay, Agent Timmy. You protect me, so I protect you."

The room was in awe. McGee smiled and knelt down. He gave the young girl a warm hug. For some reason, she made him feel like everything was going to be alright. He only hoped he wouldn't get too close to the girl, and vise versa. Child protective services would soon take her away and she would end up stuck in foster care.

His heart ached, knowing exactly what she was about to go through. But, instead, without the protection of her big brother.

"Do you have any idea where he might be, McGee?" Gibbs questioned, knowing it wouldn't be that easy.

"Haven't spoke to him in years." McGee said as he stood up. Molly held his hand again and he smiled, but he knew what his boss was thinking.

Don't get too attached. McGee seemed to repeat over and over in his head, but his heart only seemed to sink more. All he could think about is what Molly was about to go through. The seemingly hundreds of foster homes she was going to go through, the schools and friends she would have to continuously get attached to and leave, knowing she would have to do it all over again until finally she just stops feeling completely.

Stop thinking like that.

"You okay, Probie?" DiNozzo snapped McGee out of his thoughts. He put on a fake smile, "Yea, I'm fine." He lied.

This case was going to be harder than he thought.

0o0

Ahhh, who else is falling in love with Molly? Me for sure! I'm loving her character. Funny how I named her after my dog, whose nothing like her and is actually a tiny bully. xD But, I felt like adding Molly to the story was the perfect entrance for...Bert the Hippo! Who doesn't like that farting hippo? -Suddenly googles where to buy one-

Actually, you should google it, because I just came across an article about a lawsuit against bert the farting hippo! Yes, I realize how stupid it sounds.. anyway, just an interesting fact. But, I still want one. Alright, rant over. Peace.

-Toxxic