Title: Missing
Word Count: 1589
Characters: Gibbs
Genre: Drama/Family
Pairings: None
Line: "Have you ever had a child kidnapped, Agent Gibbs?" "Kidnapped...no." - Gibbs, Season 4 Episode 'Witch Hunt'

He was startled awake, flinging his hand toward his bedside table fro the 9mm he kept in the drawer before his eyes were even open.

"Jethro."

He furrowed his brow as he pried his eyes open, "Shannon?"

He relaxed his grip on his weapon but didn't release it. It was his wife's voice, but she sounded strange. His sleep muddled mind would not allow him to identify what was off about it.

"What's the matter?"

"She's gone, Jethro. I can't find Kelly anywhere."

He sat straight up in bed, forgetting about the gun entirely. Now he knew what the strange quality of Shannon's voice was. Fear. He locked his eyes on hers for a moment. In the light of dawn they were wide and shiny with unshed tears.

Whipping the blankets off his legs, he pulled on the jeans and boots piled on the floor beside him.

"You checked her bedroom? The basement?" he grunted, unapologetic for his gruff tone.

"Yes, I checked the entire house," she snapped at him, while ringing her hands, "don't you think I thought of that already?"

He zipped up his jeans and turned toward her, grabbing her shoulders and ignoring the last question. He could apologize later.

"Call the Tyler's, see if she's with Maddie. If not, call the Jones' and your mother."

"How would she even get over there?"

"Just call them, Shannon," he realized how terse he sounded when she flinched and forced his voice to soften.

"Don't worry. I'm sure she's fine," he said, dropping a kiss on her lips. With that she relaxed slightly and nodded.

"Okay."

"If she's not with any of them, and she's not with me when I get back, we'll call the MPs." He said over his shoulder as he descended to the first floor, Shannon on his heals.

"But where are you going?"

He pulled on his green canvas jacket that sat by the door and flipped up the collar.

"To look for her."

---

"Kelly?" Gibbs called out. Once one crossed the hedges behind their home there was a large stand of trees where he and Kelly had been constructing a tree house whenever they could get a free weekend together. It was his one and only idea.

"Kelly, if you're out here you better answer me right now, young lady," he shouted, the grey clouds and naked trees seemingly mocking his anger-masked worry.

One agonizingly silent moment later, he heard a small voice ring out from the almost finished tree house above him.

"Go away!"

"Kelly. What are you doing up there?" he narrowed his eyes to glare at the bottom of the three house, "you're mother is worried sick. You know better than to run off like that." The only response he received was the sound of a body shifting and a small foot banging against wood.

"Kelly, answer me."

"Just go!"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His little girl sounded pissed.

Gibbs took a deep breath and started to climb, deciding that he should put aside his anger until he was sure she was alright and he'd found out why she'd run.

The 'tree house' was situated only about ten feet off the ground and had high walls all around the small foot platform. The only thing missing was the roof, so he hoped it held off raining for just a little while longer.

"Kelly," he said again once he was inside. The small girl was folded up in one corner of the tree house, wearing a blue winter coat, sparkly tennis shoes and jeans with embroidered butterflies on them.

He noticed her cheeks and nose were red and made a mental note to scold her later for forgetting her hat and gloves. It was winter in D.C. and, though there was currently no snow, it was far from balmy outside.

"Kelly," he reached out to brush her bangs off her forehead and she turned away, refusing to look at him. Well, that confirmed at least one suspicion.

She was pissed at him.

The child swiped quickly at her eyes and nose and then locked her hands around her knees again.

Instantly his anger was replaced with concern, "Kelly, honey, what's the matter? Are you hurt?" he asked, his eyes surveying her carefully for any sign of injury.

She pouted out her bottom lip slightly before informing him begrudgingly, "you lied."

He frowned, folding his legs Indian style and settling beside her, "about what?" he asked hesitantly, really hoping he wasn't about to have the 'Santa and Tooth Fairy' discussion.

"You said…you said you weren't leaving," she muttered, her small voice trembling.

Gibbs knew immediately that she was referring to the fact that his liberty ended today, and his gut twisted slightly in his gut. He'd thought she was acting strangely last night when he put her to bed, but he'd promised to have breakfast with her and Shannon before he left, hoping it would soften the blow.

He searched his memory for when he might have given his daughter the impression that he was home on more than just leave.

"Oh Kelly," he sighed, dropping his head back against the wall, "that's not what I meant."

"But that's what you said," she protested with the righteous indignation only a child could muster. Her twin braids flipped out as she whipped her head around to face him. He faced blue eyes wide with confusion and brimming with tears.

"I only meant I wasn't leaving for several weeks, Kelly. Because of Christmas."

"But I don't want you to go. You're always gone too too long and I miss you," tears that were in her voice started to stream down her cheeks and her chin began to tremble, "you're gonna miss my ballet recital."

Gibbs felt the devastation in her voice rip unexpectedly through his being and he inhaled sharply.

"Mommy's gonna videotape it for me-" he tried, though it sounded lame even to his own ears.

"It's not same," she cried, "every one else's daddies is gonna be there."

It wasn't true. He knew Lawrence Tyler, Maddie's father, was redeploying a few days after himself, along with several other fathers on base, but didn't say so. To an upset six-year-old, logic and fact rarely held much weight.

"Kelly-"

"I don't want you to go, Daddy," and all of a sudden he found her in his lap. He didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around her small, shaking frame.

"I have to Kelly," he said guiltily, kissing her on the head.

She shook her head and took a ragged breath, "you could stay. You could hide in my room. I won't say anything. Then you won't have to go back to the Marines and you can stay with me."

He took another deep breath and closed his eyes to steady himself. If this kept up much longer he just might listen to her.

"Stay with me Daddy, please," she tightened her tiny fists in his jacket and he tightened his hold on her in return.

"Kelly I-" he paused, trying to think of a way to explain 'duty' to his confused and frightened daughter.

"I gave my word. You remember what that means?"

She sniffled pathetically, "that you have to do what you say you will?"

He nodded, "that's right. And I gave my word to the Marines that I'd be there today and ship out with the rest of my regiment. I can't go back on my word, honey. You understand?"

Reluctantly, she nodded.

"Okay," he pulled her shoulders back and she looked up at him, "you're still my best girl."

With a small smile she nodded again and he lifted her so she was standing and then descended the ladder before allowing her to follow him down.

They'd been walking hand in hand through the forest for almost a minute before either said anything again.

"Oh no," Kelly gasped.

"What?" Gibbs glanced down at her.

"I left so fast this morning I didn't get a chance to help Mommy make you pancakes," she said, the previous light he'd seen coming to her round face darkening again.

"I've got an idea," Gibbs smiled and swung her up onto his shoulders, causing the small girl to squeal with delight, "how would you like to go out to breakfast?"

"Mmm," she made a show of thinking hard on the subject, "can I choose where we go?"

"Of course."

"Okay then," she bounced happily and Gibbs gripped her hands tighter to keep her steady, "but you have to order chocolate chip pancakes."

He suppressed a roll of his eyes, well aware of the 'goodbye breakfast' tradition. One that really did not agree with his 'spam and eggs' palate.

"I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise."

They walked along in companionable silence for a few minutes more until they pushed through the hedges to their backyard. Gibbs swung Kelly down off his shoulders, but instead of allowing herself to be put down, she clung to his neck.

"Love you, Daddy."

Before he could respond, Shannon came bursting out the back door.

"Kelly!"

"Mommy!"

She wriggled and he set her down so she could tear across the yard to her mother. Shannon scooped her up into her arms and clung tightly to her, her eyes screwed shut and crying with relief.

"Love you too, Kelly."

A/N: There was just SO much in those two words when Gibbs said them on the show, I had to explore it. I've been overwhelmed by the response to this fic, didn't have a chance to respond to any reviews yet, but I will tonight. Thanks for reading!

Next Line: "Have you ever lied to someone you love?"