Well, the last part of this took a little turn I wasn't expecting, but it's some of my fave peeps. Enjoy, faithful readers and review on, you wonderful review-ers.

Snow was falling heavily as the car made its way through streets that were starting to disappear under a blanket of anonymous white. Kate glanced over to see how Natalie was doing, noting that the girl was staring out the window, dazed. Poor kid was wiped out, and Kate couldn't think of anything better than an afternoon nap… after a warm shower.

She plucked at the blanket draped over both of them, pulled it back. A moment later, and she realized she was in a Catch-22. With the blanket, she was too hot. Without it, she was too cold. They were bundled in the backseat, thank God for Abby who brought out one of the agency cars for them, complete with a booster seat and a trunk of supplies to last them through the weekend—clothes, sippy cups, groceries, and Pull Ups. Thank God for Pull Ups.

Kate ran her hand across Natalie's back, her free hand taking the cup of water from the sleepy girl and setting it on the rolling table nearby. Across the room, Al was still talking on the phone, and meanwhile the girl had kept down half a cup of chicken noodle soup and juice. She glanced nervously at the television, which was muted but showing the latest weather reports. "Think they'll let us out of here soon?"

Snow was starting to fall, the storm coming in steadily from the West where it had already shut down highways and airports.

Gibbs shook his head slightly, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as Natalie snuggled closer and started to drift off again. "Don't worry, we'll make it home in plenty of time. Darcy'll come through on this CPS stuff, and Abby'll be here in about half an hour with a car."

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she shifted carefully to find a more comfortable position while she held her small charge. "I don't want to get stuck here at the hospital—or worse yet, on the side of the road."

He adjusted the blanket draped over them for the umpteenth time. "We'll be fine. Abbs is gonna stay with us, though. "I don't want her driving out in this mess."

"Of course," she answered, melting a little and surprised to find herself on the verge of tears over the sweet gesture. He had been extra attentive to both her and Natalie while the social worker hammered out details in the corner. "She'll—" Kate was suddenly aware of an unfamiliar sensation. It was warm and wet. "What… oh God… Nat?" she called, trying to jostle the girl enough to rouse her. "Nat, honey…"

"What's wrong?" he asked as the nurse joined them again. As Kate pulled back the blanket, the other adults realized what had happened. "Happens … welcome to motherhood, Kate," he chuckled as the nurse went to find a clean Pull Up for Nat and something for Kate to change into.

Kate plucked at the thin scrubs with a sigh. They didn't offer a lot of warmth, but they had been functional enough to get home. Assuming they made it home sometime soon.

"Earth to Kate," Abby called from the front seat.

With a little start, Kate glanced up at her best friend. "Huh?"

"Is everyone okay back there?" Gibbs asked, angling the rearview mirror for a moment to glance at the backseat and the two sitting back there.

"We're just tired, and a … little car sick," she admitted with a scowl. Natalie was drifting in and out, enough to stay drowsy and seem uncomfortable, but not enough to be content enough to drift off to sleep.

Abby turned slightly. "You should get her to watch the snow, it can have a really calming effect on people. Nat, isn't it really pretty?"

"Not that kid," Kate sighed. "His kid is a little car sick." She'd managed the last few weeks without feeling so sick any more, and but now she was. Tiredness wasn't helping, and she was feeling about a step up from miserable. Come on, Caitlin, you've dealt with worse stuff than this. Deal with it.

"We can trade seats. Sometimes it helps to sit up front—" Abby began, reaching to unbuckle her seatbelt and climb into the back, but a gentle but firm hand on her wrist stopped her.

Gibbs shook his head. "No, Abbs. If you two are switching seats, I'll pull over somewhere, and we'll do it safe."

"Stay," Natalie whimpered, small fingers sorting under the blanket, searching for Kate's hand a catching her sleeve instead and holding on tight.

"I can sit with you," Abby tried to coax as they made another turn and crept their way down roads where snow was starting to coat cars parked on the side of the streets and drift eerily. "Kate'll be right up front."

The dark headed little girl shook her head firm, bottom lip trembling.

Kate felt like crying, too, but she swallowed hard and covered the smaller hand with her own. "I'm staying here, Nat. We'll be okay, just… get us home," she sighed.

"Trying," Gibbs muttered.

The former secret service agent sighed, biting her own bottom lip in an attempt to keep control of her emotions. She wasn't sure if she was on the verge of anger or tears, or angry tears, but she knew enough psychology to know she didn't have control of her emotions enough to answer. Damn hormones.

Despite the fact that Abby was fantastic with kids, Natalie hadn't quite clicked with her, yet. Unfortunately, the goth's appearance was probably partly to blame for that. When she showed up in a black tshirt with a skeleton outline and a somewhat accurate red heart graphic under lying… well, she could see how a kid might get the wrong impression. In time they would be good friends, but so far they hadn't had much time. Once Abby showed up, things moved pretty fast, and they were on their way home within twenty minutes.

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

"One more load," Abby said quietly as she set down another set of shopping sacks on the kitchen table—a table that had all but disappeared underneath the collection. She hadn't exactly meant to buy so much, but she wasn't sure how long they might be stuck at the house, either. There were warm clothes, pajamas, tooth brush, tooth paste, and dozens of other things.

Her boss's hand cupped her elbow, steering her back toward the kitchen. "Start getting stuff into the fridge and freezer, I'll get the last load."

"On it, boss-man."

"Hold onto me nice and tight, I'll get you there safe," Gibbs soothed, making sure she had a good hold on him. Small arms wrapped around his neck, legs wrapped around his hip, and one arm was like a firm band around her as his other slid around Kate's to keep her steady as they made their way along the walk and up the porch steps.

Abby paused a moment, watching the three of them and wondering. That will be the three of them in a few months. Only her boss's holler about being careful on the steps snapped her out of the reverie, saving her from freezing any more than she already was.

By their second trip, Kate had already dug out a pair of warm footie jammies and had Natalie snug in them. She even found the little sock monkey that Abby had purchased on a whim, thinking that something soft to snuggle might help the girl adjust to all of the chaos suddenly thrown into her life. By the time they made a third trip in and out, Kate was in sweats and curled up on the couch with the toddler.

Abby quickly put away perishables and began to stow the rest in the cupboards. The sippy cups were quickly washed and left in the empty half of the sink to air dry while Gibbs carted clothes upstairs and Abby's overnight bag was tucked into a spare corner by the couch.

The couch were Kate and Natalie were curled up together, looking very much like they belonged there. It struck Abby now that with her coloring, the little girl could pass for a little Gibblet. "Is Kate okay?" she asked quietly, seeing the circles under her friend's eyes and the paleness of her skin.

"She'll be okay," Gibbs assured, grabbing some wood and stacking it in the fireplace. He tucked the newspaper under the collection and lit it, blowing gently until it caught. "It takes a lot of energy to grow a kid."

Abby shrugged, pacing a little before picking up a book and taking a chair. "She's always kept up with us, but, Gibbs, she was practically in tears on the ride home—"

"I know, Abbs."

Abby set down the book she had yet to open, hand gesturing emphatically. "But, it's not like her. She's so tired all the time."

He shook his head and checked the rarely used guard that would keep the fire safely out of Natalie's reach if she woke and went exploring. "I know, Abbs."

"But, Gibbs!" she protested, "This is Kate."

"He knows, Abby," came the drowsy reply from the couch, Kate blinking owlishly at her. "Watch the snow fall. It has a calming effect. I'm kinda busy growing a tiny human over here."

Abby's mouth dropped for a moment as she glanced between the couple, who were both sporting small matching smiles. And then she glanced at the snow falling steadily. It did seem to have a calming effect. She picked up her book meekly. "Sorry, Kate."

"Ssssh," came the soft answer, the last words before Kate's breathing evened out and … the snoring started.

The goth's eyebrows lifted a little in surprise. "She…"

"Mhmm," Gibbs sighed, the corner of his mouth twitching into a small smirk as he checked the fire one last time and pulled out his own book on nursery furniture.

"A lot?" Abby pressed as Kate's snores paused a moment and quieted a little.

The silver head shook slightly. "Don't ask, don't tell. You're gonna get me in trouble."

"My lips are sealed," she tried, but he merely shook his head again.

"Sssh, that's my kid she's trying to grow over there."