Rvwrs: TYSM! U ROK! (hah, you got it in middle school texting-language there!)

Alright, so this chapter comes with a warning: it ain't a happy picture. But rest assured, I hate NONE of the NCIS characters and my logic will make sense in the end. I promise.

Again, I own nothing. At all…RIP Doodlebopper the Goldfish.

That day, no one had looked at the loose alliance of six children or considered adopting any of them. The six, though, had grown closer. After several hours of standing together with nothing else to do, you get pretty tight. No longer were they just together for the "what if"s, they were together because they wanted to be. They were getting to be great friends.

The group of boys had taken over the seat behind the girls, though with only two stops left there was really no point in it. Tomorrow, the train ride would turn around and make a beeline back to where it had come from.

This was currently the topic for discussion between Ziva and Tony, who were both the last ones up again. "Tony, we will not go to the same orphanage. And chances are, Jimmy will be sent back to his, away from you as well. He will not survive." She said it without emotions, holding everything back. She was worried for all of them. "Tomorrow, we have the highest chances of being separated."

"I know," Tony said sadly. "I'm worried about Jimmy. All the other boys from his orphanage that are his age got adopted, just the scary-tough older guys are left. The kid's already a bully magnet. And I don't want us all to be split up into different orphanages after we made it this far!"

"I think it is time we change plans again," Ziva said. "But this time, we must keep it between us."

Tony looked at her, immediately suspicious. "Why?"

"Those of us who get adopted tomorrow will get adopted together. From this point out, none of us go alone. Those who do not get adopted will run," ZIva said simply.

"Ziva are you nuts?" Tony exclaimed. "We can't run!"

"Why not? I was trained to survive in terrain much like this, and you grew up on the streets. If not all of us get adopted tomorrow, the rest of us will run while they load the trains and try to make it back to where the others were adopted to."

"Ziva, I don't-" Tony never got to finish his thought. There was a loud thunk as the train doors were thrown open, and three men stepped into the car.

"EVERYBODY UP!" one of them shouted. They began moving down the aisle, banging on the walls and hitting people to wake them up. When they walked by Tony and Ziva, the two shared a look. The men had guns!

"Alright, this is how it's gonna go, folks," the man that appeared to be in charge said. "All your valuables in the bag, no exceptions! We don't want any trouble, and so long as you cooperate, no one gets hurt!" He waved the gun around.

Ziva looked to Abby, who was crying, and to Kate, who looked serious. The two other men began moving down the aisle carrying burlap sacks. When Kate looked away to start gathering her valuables and hiding certain things that she knew she could, Ziva, who had nothing to her name, glanced at Tony, who was helping Jimmy take off a gold watch. Tony looked up at her, eyes calm but worried.

"You!" One of the men shouted, and ZIva turned to see him pointing at Abby. "The doll."

Abby's eyes widened. "I-I…please, mister, not Marie."

"Now!" the man roared. When Abby hesitated again, he snatched the doll from her and stuffed it in the bag. Abby began sobbing.

"Good, good," the lead man said. "Now you," he said, pointing to Kate. "Up."

Kate stood slowly. "What do you want?" she asked calmly.

The lead man darted forward and grabbed her by the arm. "If any of you send the law after us, she dies!" he shouted, backing towards the train doors again.

And then, Ziva knew what she had to do. She looked at Tony, who met her eyes and shook his head emphatically. She mouthed the words "No one left alone" and looked at Abby. She squeezed Abby's hand and stood up.

"Take me instead."

The men stopped and shared a look. The lead man motioned to the lackey with the smaller bag. "Take her too, then," he said. The man grabbed Ziva and before anyone could stop them they jumped off the train.

"ZIVA! KATE!" Abby screamed, jumping up and running towards the door. Tony darted out and grabbed her just in time, pulling her into a tight hug. She began sobbing, because the unthinkable had happened.

Her sisters were gone.

Tony pulled her down onto the seat next to him and the two other boys. Tim looked at her and hugged her, feeling really bad for the little girl. She had just lost her only doll, which she was so attached to, the letter from her mother she had shown him, and her sisters, all in the course of five minutes. She clung tightly to him as Tony watched over them and Jimmy tried to tell her it would be alright.

The next day, ironically, was the prettiest day out of the entire trip. They were unloaded from the train and lined up quickly, no one wanting to risk another incident. Abby never let go of Tim's hand, and now and then a stray tear slipped down her face. She had yet to say a word.

They all stood side by side, waiting for people to pass them by. Tony watched couples come and go from the town hall they were standing in. He watched with interest as a tough-looking grey-haired man walked in with a red-headed woman. Something about them seemed different. They just seemed…right.

Jimmy turned to him and pointed at them. "Tony, did'ya see them?" he asked. Tony nodded. "That's them," he said with certainty. "They're gonna be our parents."

Sheriff Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his wife, Jenny, entered the town hall and were immediately greeted by the head caretaker.

"Sheriff Gibbs!" he said. "Welcome. If you have any questions about anyone, just ask. Other than that, you're free to talk to the kids," he said nervously.

Gibbs frowned. He knew the man was hiding something form him, and he wanted to figure out what. But he was distracted when he saw a little boy pointing at him.

"Jethro," Jenny said. "Did you see that little boy just now?"

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, sure did Jen."

"Why don't we go talk to them?" she asked, indicating him and the boys he was standing next to. They all seemed rather close. "We both know we won't be able to walk out of here with just one." She looked at him knowingly. They had decided together that they would adopt a child after trying for years to have their own and being unable to. Though neither would admit it, both of them were too kind to help only one orphan child. Neither of them did anything half way.

"Jimmy, you don't know that for sure," Tony said, though he did think the couple looked really nice. "Stop pointing."

"But Tony, it has to be them!" Jimmy said fiercely.

"Which ones? The woman with the red hair and the scary-looking man?" Tim asked, leaning over to look.

"Yeah, them!" Jimmy said.

"I think Jimmy's right," Tim said. "That has to be them. Look, Abby, do you see them?" Tim said, trying to show her.

Abby nodded, sniffling, but still didn't say anything.

"See, look, Tony, they're coming over here!" Jimmy said, pulling on his shirtsleeve. Tony, smiling sadly at the younger children's antics, nodded and decided to let them have their fantasies.

"I see, Jimmy. I see them," Tony said. "Now shh, and be polite!" he cautioned.

"Hello," Jenny said as she and Gibbs walked up to the children. "My name is Jenny and this is my husband, Jethro, but everyone calls him Gibbs."

"Good morning, ma'am," Tony said. "My name is Anthony, and these are my siblings, Timothy, James, and Abigail." Each boy waved when his name was called, but Abby remained clinging to Tim, staring at the adults with watery eyes.

"Well, Anthony it's nice to meet you," Jenny said. She faltered, not really sure what to say. "So, um, tell me about yourself. What are some things you like to do?"

"I don't really know. I guess I like sports and begin outside. Tim here likes to read a lot, and Jimmy just likes to walk around and see everything. Abby's more of a people person, she likes playing and making new friends. Well, usually," Tony said. "We're a pretty quiet bunch."

"Don't forget that Ms. Hastings at the orphanage called you incorrigible!" Tim said. Tony winced.

"Oh, yeah, forgot about that…"

Jenny laughed, and Gibbs smirked. "Why'd she call ya that?" Gibbs asked.

"Because Tony likes to play pranks!" Jimmy said. "Or at least, that's what Tim said. I didn't-" He stopped when Tim stepped on his foot and looked at him.

"Ow! Tim, why'd ya do that?" Jimmy asked, trying to hold his foot. He ended up tripping and crashing into Gibbs' legs. "Oh, s-sorry, sir," he said quickly, scrambling to get up. Tony shook his head and Tim laughed.

"That's alright, kid," Gibbs said. He turned and crouched down in front of Abby. "Hey there," he said. "Your big brother said that you like making new friends, and I've been looking for a friend. This lady right here," he nodded up at Jenny, "Is just plain crazy. Not my best option."

"Hey!" Jenny protested. "I am sane enough to know that you're the crazy one, Jethro."

Gibbs just rolled his eyes. "See, now she accuses nice, normal, sane people of being crazy. So, anyways, I was wondering, do you wanna be my friend?"

Abby just looked at him. For a long moment, she didn't do anything. And then, she jumped at him, wrapping him in a bone-crunching hug. He smiled and hugged her back. It was then he noticed Tony's nervous look. The boy looked like he was deciding whether or not to call Abby back to him and away from the adults.

Gibbs stood up slowly and glanced at Jenny, who nodded back at him. Jenny turned and smiled at the boys, who had both hope and fear shining in all of their eyes.

"How would your four like to come home with us?" she asked, breaking out into a grin.

Alright, that ran on a bit longer than expected…sorry, I probably went waaay OOC and for that I would apologize but there's a whole rule against it…so yeah. Until next time, this is BA&A, signing out.