The rest of the day passed slowly. She decided not to mention what Ducky told her and lunch was filled with companionable silence. They talked about little stuff, how her first day went ect.
"I'm assuming that life wasn't always rough in New Orleans." He strolled into the lab at the end of the day for more results from Abby and stopped to talk to Renee.
"No. Until the rape, things were good for me. I had friends, they teased me about being so short and blonde. My closest friends still supported me through it all, and I still talk to them."
"Tell me about them?" He knew from experience that talking about good times would help a victim heal, and she was a victim.
"Well... They're complicated to explain. Malari would be easiest. She is a real Southern sweetheart. Moved from Kentucky when her parents divorced. She could be kind to Satan himself. Isaac has been my best friend since sixth grade. He's the one that I thought would abandon me because of his Christian beliefs. But he was the first one that told me that it wasn't my fault. Tyler, I hated him when I first met him. He was and is a bit cocky. But I trust him. I love them all. They all supported me and understood when I left."
"Well, it sounds like they're all pretty good guys. What did Gloria think?"
"Mama understood, but she misses me and Abby." At that moment Abby's computers beeped and Gibbs and McGee walked in. Renee looked back and forth between the whole group. This was her family now.
"How are you today? Oh I am sorry." Renee jumped at Ziva sneaking up behind her. Renee was beginning to understand why Tony called her a ninja.
"Good thanks Ziva." She had learned to call them by their first names after Tony insisted that last names were seldom used. They were family after all.
"Go home all of you. And you too Renee and Abby!" Gibbs dismissed them a little early. Not much they could do. Their killer was out to sea and the helicopter wouldn't go get him until tomorrow.
"Renee! Let's go do something!" Renee had forgotten how her sister could be. Renee was five when Abby left. Renee wed her sister off and Abby stormed out, annoyed. Tony offered to take her home, since Abby wouldn't take no for an answer. She nodded and followed him to the garage.
"Hey Tony? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Umm... Ducky told me about your mom and baby sister." He stopped breathing for a moment before getting into the Mustang. They both buckled in awkward silence.
"Yeah... They were going to name her Clairina Renee. Claire for short." Renee's eyes widened in shock. Her name was supposed to be part of the baby's.
"Aww. She's in a better place now." She couldn't help but gently hug the agent.
"Yeah. And so are you."
They drove to Abby's in silence and he walked her into the apartment. She laid on the couch and took a nap. Tony watched her almost lovingly. His mother was blonde and with green eyes running in the family, he pictured Clarina to look a lot like Renee if she'd lived.