It was a few hours later when Gibbs returned to Abby's lab, only to find no one around.

"Abby?" He called out. He heard a thump come from a large cabinet. There seemed to be some sort of barrier made out of chairs and other furniture around it. It took him a minute to clear before he was finally able to get to the doors of the cabinet themselves which were held in place by a light blue bandana. Abby tumbled out the moment the doors opened.

"She's gone." Abby said. She looked ruffled and upset.

"How long of a head start does she have?" Gibbs asked.

"Around two hours." Abby answered. "I'm so sorry Gibbs. One minute we were talking and next thing I know -. Abby stopped midsentence because Gibbs was already gone. He had Tony and Caitlin put out a BOLO and a building lockdown before they joined in the search.

They found that she had taken her bag, doll, and a few other of her items from the evidence lock up. It seemed that despite being dressed so brightly, Punky was small enough not to be noticed when she somehow slipped into the secure area. After a more thorough search they found she was no longer in the building and according to security camera's had left shortly after locking Abby in the cabinet.

Gibbs had everyone get back on their current case saying that Children's Services would handle it. In truth he planned to search for the girl as soon as he solved the case. A murder was on the loose and for now that would have to take priority.

Meanwhile Punky was doing her best to be discrete as she walked down the sidewalk. She had run at first, but she felt like she was far enough away now. Brandon barked. "Of course I have a plan." Punky answered. Brandon barked again. "Well the plan is…the plan is…" Punky started saying when suddenly her face lit up. "The plan is to have no plan! Yeah. See that way there is no way Agent Gibbs can track us. If we don't know where we are going then how can he?" Punky exclaimed, suddenly inspired.

A while later it started raining. "I guess we are far enough away now. So where should we live?" Punky asked as she looked around. She didn't see any good places. As she walked around looking the rain started coming down harder. Suddenly Brandon barked. "What?" asked Punky. Brandon barked again and she seen he was looking up at a window that wasn't completely closed. Punky decided to check it out and started to climb up the fire escape. Brandon barked. "Shhh! I'll come back if there is a place for us to say." Punky told him. As she got to the window she came face to face with another little girl. They both yelped and jumped back.

"I'm Cherie Johnson. Who are you?" Cherie asked.

"I'm Punky Brewster. Nice to meet you. Do you know a place we can stay around here?" Punky asked.

"We?" Cherie asked.

"Yeah me and my dog Brandon. We're new to the area." Punky stated.

"Well, when people are new to the area they usually get an apartment." Cherie looked around. "This one's open. No one is supposed to be in here but I wanted to check it out. No one has lived in this apartment forever. But where are your parents?"

"I don't have any. I'm on my own. Just me and Brandon." Punky said proudly.

"Come on in." Cherie said opening the window up all the way.

"Just a minute." Punky said climbing down the fire escape. Cherie watched as she put Brandon in her bag and tried to carry him up the fire escape. It wasn't working very well.

"Hold on. I'll get a rope." Cherie said as her head disappeared from the window. A minute or so later it was back and she threw one end of the rope to Punky. "Tie it on the bag and we'll pull him up." Cherie advised. Punky tied the rope to the bags handle and ran up the fire escape to help pull.

A few minute later Punky, Brandon, and Cherie were sitting on the floor of the empty apartment. There was water all over the floor from Punky and Brandon but the window was closed and it was better than being outside. Cherie had a whole snack cake in her pocket and gave it to Punky and Brandon. She had grabbed it at the same time she got the rope. They talked for a long time until Mrs. Johnson started looking for Cherie.

"Will you be here tomorrow?" Cherie asked.

"Not til late. I have something to do first." Punky said. With a nod Cherie left and Punky and Brandon were all alone.

"I feel kind of bad for locking Abby in the cabinet. She was nice, but there is no way she would have understood that I need to go find my mom." She told Brandon. "Anyway, I'm glad we met Cherie. She is real nice, and makes good dinner too huh?" She said referring to the snack cake. She looked around the apartment. There was a chair next to the lamp that they had been using. Punky got on the chair with Brandon snuggled next to her and turned off the light. Tomorrow she was determined to find her mom.

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