They returned to the N.C.I.S. building after interviewing the warehouse owners and anywhere in a five-block radius. Having found nothing, they were at a stand still as they looked to their boss for guidance. Gibbs threw his hands up in the air, knowing they needed Roper to crack, unable to go any further without a tip or the information he held. Sighing he looked at his watch, it was late, he knew he had to take Kaylie home soon or she'd be up late and cranky tomorrow, standing up the others looked at him.

"Go home. We're done for the night." Gibbs said tiredly, feeling his fifty-one years.

"But Boss…..Kort may not be alive tomorrow. We need to stay. You go." Gibbs turned around and looked at DiNozzo strangely before nodding. He had expected a wise remark, some cutting comment about Kort dying; something that would hurt Kort, Kaylie and him, but only loyalty tumbled from his mouth. He smiled, pride swelling in his chest as he went to relieve Abby of babysitting duties. He walked into the lab to find Abby and Kaylie putting a skeleton together, neither noticed he was there as he watched fondly; flashes of Kelly putting puzzles together with Shannon came back. Shannon had always been so patient but Kelly would only be able to sit still for five minutes if they were lucky. Putting her to bed had been an ordeal; he smiled fondly, his chest aching, as he remembered how he would lift Kelly's fragile frame in his arms and cuddle her into his chest. He would swing her around, swaying to soft music until she fell asleep. For minutes, he would just stand there smelling her hair and knowing how lucky he was to have his precious little girl. He only hoped Trent knew just what he had, swallowing he came through the door fully, face drawn.

"Kaylie. Time to go back to my house." He said gruffly, Kaylie looked up surprised but just nodded mutely, knowing not to ask questions. They walked silently to his car before she finally blurted out.

"Those men hurt my Dad didn't they?" She said angrily, fire in her eyes.

"Yes they did. But we're gonna get them for it." Gibbs said softly.

"You better! They hurt my dad!" She yelled as she closed the door loudly and crossed her arms. She spent the rest of the trip glaring out the window, her eyes darkening every time they passed someone that even remotely looked like the men who had taken her Father. They finally entered his home, he started dinner a simple hamburger and fries, Kaylie sat quietly at the table watching him, she knew better then to ask if her dad was going to be alright, she knew what he did and how dangerous it could be. Not to mention her Mother was shot right before her eyes. She knew better then to ask questions you might not want to hear the answers to, she has been there one too many times. So instead, she just watched and thought about her dad.

"You know my Dad, when he's home, he cooks. He teaches me how to as well. Mom can burn cold water, but my dad you give him some ingredients and he'll cook up a meal fit for royalty. He likes to catch his own food, says it makes you appreciate it more. So we go hunting for dear and turkey, I'm a good shot, not as good as my dad, but I'm getting there." She said, to him.

Gibbs smiled, wondering if he would have taught Kelly to shoot. Maybe when she was a teen, but not this young. Turning he looked at Kaylie, she looked a lot like Kort, the relation was definitely present. However, she was the first child he met that didn't make him think of Kelly. She was nothing like his little girl, but still as precious. There was something about Kaylie that was mysterious, she was so innocent but also wise beyond her years. He set her dinner in front of her, and sat opposite her. She bowed her head. He watched as she prayed, surprised that she had a religion.

They ate in companionable silence before Kaylie slipped out to get a shower and get in bed, Gibbs walked in thirty minutes later, he watched as she lay on her side staring out the window, he felt his heartache as a car passing illuminated her face, showing pearly tears coursing down her face softly. He sat on her bed and rubbed her back, she whispered, "I miss my dad. I want him back."

"I know. I'm getting him for you." He said calmly.

"No you are sitting here listening to me whine." She pouted fidgeting away from him. "Don't touch me." She curled up and went silent, Gibbs sighed wanting to comfort her but he knew there would be no peace for her until he got to her dad. Before it was too late. He never thought he'd be worried about Trent Kort but for once he couldn't deny the anxiety he felt when he saw the vast amount of blood pooled on the concrete floor. He started to sing softly and quietly only for Kaylie to glare at him and tell him to shush and go away. He almost smiled at the Kort-ness of her before leaving.

Kaylie tossed and turned for hours before finally falling into a restless sleep, nightmare after nightmare chased her.

She was watching through the plasma as Anton hurt her Dad, she heard his screams wanting nothing more than to save her Dad and kill the man hurting him she lunged forward and fell through the screen. She fell on her Daddy's lap, hugging him tightly wanting to never let go of him. She kissed him on the cheek, sitting back she saw the pain in his eyes, she put a hand on his cheek, tears in his eyes.

"It's ok Daddy, I'll get you outta here and to a hospital really quickly." She said softly as she began working on his bindings, he hissed as she stripped the ropes from his wrists she winced, looking up apologetically. Standing he gathered her in his arms and held her close, she could feel him shaking. "It's ok Daddy you'll be ok." He put a bloody hand on the back of her head, leaning his head against hers, tears tracking down his face, "I love you Kaylie. I thought I'd never get to see you again." He said hoarsely, tightening his grip on her.

"I love you too Daddy." She said as she leaned back and whipped his tears away, she wiggled down and took his hand, leading him out they only got three feet when Anton walked through the door smirking as if this was his plan, her Dad grabbed her to him roughly, hurting her as he held her tightly. Stepping in front of Kaylie he glared at Anton. Daring him to even think about hurting his child, glaring and growling her dad waited for him to make his move.

"Now Kort…what do we have here? A pretty young lady. How dazzling, I haven't been with a girl in so long." Anton said smoothly, her dad nearly launched himself at Anton.

"You're never getting near my kid. You stay away from her." Her Dad growled, standing even more protectively in front of her. Before she knew it Anton was laughing as he shot her Dad to death, his blood flying over her face and body, she collapsed on top of him crying and pleading for her dad.

Gibbs woke up, something was wrong he could feel it in his gut, getting up quickly he strode to Kaylie's room quickly, opening the door he saw her battling the sheets and crying out for her Dad. Screaming she jerked up and he rushed to her bedside. "Daddy died!" Was all she said before reaching her arms out to him. He gathered her in his arms before he got up, she clung to him as he walked, barely letting go when he placed her in the back of the car and drove them both to Headquarters. She walked solemnly by his side as he entered the Bullpen, DiNozzo just raised another disk, Gibbs sighed.

"Tony take Kaylie out for something to calm her nerves." Gibbs said tiredly.

"Me?" Tony echoed. Gibbs just glared at him as he got ready, to his surprise when he turned around Kaylie was standing there waiting for him, a dull look in her eyes, he nearly jumped when she took his hand and leaned her head against his arm. He steered her to the elevator.

"Tony?" She said looking up at him.

"Yeah Kaylie?" He said nervously.

'I know you don't like my Daddy, but he is a really good dad." She said quietly. "Thanks for staying behind to find him. I don't want him to die."

"He won't." Tony said uncomfortably, she shrugged and suddenly hugged him, Tony patted her back awkwardly. He secured her in the backseat before going out for some hot cocoa.

"You know when I was eight I use to put cinnamon in my hot coca along with apples." He said smiling.

"What did it taste like?" She asked looking at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Like rum." Tony said mischievously.

"You had rum when you were eight?! I would be grounded forever!" She said her eyes huge.

"Oh trust me I got a red bottom for it, couldn't sit for a week. But that rum was good." Tony said.

"Did you get drunk?" She said conspiratorially.

"Oh yeah. Did I ever. I was thirsty so I drank quite a lot of it." Tony said his eyes glazing over in memory.

"What water not good enough for Tony DiNozzo?" She said smirking.

"Nah, no water 'round. I was being punished. Couldn't leave the wine basement for a day." Tony said flippantly. Kaylie fell silent then looked up at him, and took his hand, she squeezed it.

"I'm sorry Tony." She said sadly, he smiled.

"It's alright, I got to have rum." Tony said she smiled for a second but noticed the tenseness in his shoulders.

"I would never trade my Dad for rum. Your parents were jerks." She said simply. He smiled at her, she smiled back. He took out an apple from his jacket, she grinned as he spiced it with a packet of cinnamon and threw it in her hot chocolate. She drank it and grimaced but then stared at it in amazement. "This is real good!"

"My Gram taught it to me." He said.

"Were you close to your Grandma?" She asked

"Yeah. I miss her." Tony said as he showed her a picture of his grandmother.

"She's real pretty. We had to cut all ties with other family members. Daddy's job. I never met any other relatives besides m parents, and no one but them knows I exist." She said shrugging.

"That has to be rough." He said.

"Nah cause when you are a CIA brat the other Agents often take on Uncle and Aunt roles." She explained.

"You want some ice cream?" He asked in a whisper.

"Yeah." She said excitedly.

"No telling Gibbs." He said she just shook her head and put a finger over her lips. Minutes later he brought her back a sundae that soon ended up on her clothes, hair and face. Smiling Tony knew he was dead meat. He looked at her wondering what his own kids would have been like, he wondered what they would look like. He'd probably never know, and should cherish his time with Kaylie. He smiled and wiped off her cheek with a napkin before he got up and paid the cashier. Turning around she jumped on him, looping her arms around his neck, he threw her in the air and landed her in a piggyback to his car and then another ride into the bullpen. Where a stern, stressed and exasperated Gibbs watched Kort being dragged unceremoniously down some stairs and into a building.

Without saying a word she climbed into Gibbs' lap and leaned on his chest, tears gathering in her eyes as she saw her broken daddy thrown into a holding cell, half-naked, bloodied, and bruised. Touching Kort on the screen she whispered, "I love you Daddy, hold on." On the screen she listened as her Daddy moaned and wheezed.