Chapter 7

"So we have to go back?" Fran asked.

"Yup. I think that's where Mathew's been living and he may need medical help, especially since he thought I was Mom," said Dabi.

They were gathered in Fran's room and she was moving furniture around in a fit of maniac boredom, as she called it.

"Okay, how much trouble are we in?"

"Stern warning trouble," said Gibbs.

"I'll get the map." She headed for the closet and pulled out a roll of paper before laying out on her bed. "This is where we came in and I think it was in this area that we found the room."

"The Fitzworth Library head librarian is aware of what's going and they're expecting us. I've left out a few details so they can't charge you with trespassing, but you're pushing your luck," said Gibbs, studying the map. "Let's go."

As they left, a letter quietly fell to the floor from where it had been stuck to the wall, thanks to spilled coffee.

At the library, the head librarian, Raymond Sites, was waiting for them, along with Tony, Ziva, and Tim.

"Where do you think this guy is?" he asked.

"We have a pretty good idea, based on the ghost stories that have circulated around here," said Gibbs. "We think he's hiding on the third level, in one of the wings that's not frequently seen to, except for storage."

"There have been a lot of stories about a ghost in that area, especially in the room that used to be connected to a bedroom."

"Let's go," said Gibbs.

It didn't take them long to find Mathew, who was coughing badly in his bed. Just like his daughter and granddaughter, he had a shock of red hair and eyes that reminded Gibbs of Amanda's eyes. He was scruffy, but had still managed to retain some personal hygiene, such as combing his hair and attempting to shave.

Dabi and Fran were right about the room, too. Just like a Marine, the room was tidy and in orderly fashion, what Gibbs might expect to find in a Marine's tent.

"Lance Corporal Moore?" Gibbs asked, shining his flashlight on the man.

"Who goes there?" Moore asked hoarsely.

"Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs," said Gibbs, using his old Marine rank. "Are you alright?"

Moore sat up, or rather, tried to. "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think so."

"We can get you some help, Lance Corporal," said Gibbs, approaching carefully.

Moore eyed him suspiciously. "You're not in uniform, sir," he said.

Damn it, thought Gibbs. "I'm off-duty," he said. "I heard you coughing and was concerned about you. If you come with us, we can get you to a doctor. Your daughter is waiting for you."

Moore's face lit up. "Maddy? She's waiting for me?" Then his brow furrowed. "But my Maddy's just a little girl."

"I grew up, Daddy," said Dabi, coming out of the shadows. "You need help. Please, go with Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs. He's a good Marine, just like you, and he and his people can help you."

Moore nodded and sat up carefully. "All right, baby girl. I'll go with him, but would you see to it that the library books are returned? They're good books and I don't want any late fees on them."

"Of course, Daddy," she soothed. "These are Private First Class Tim McGee and Tony DiNozzo, and Petty Officer Ziva David, with the Navy. She's on loan as an assistant to the gunny."

Moore smiled. "That's a new one."

"Times, they are a-changin'," said Gibbs.

"Hoo-rah, sir," said Moore.

"Hoo-rah, Lance Corporal," Gibbs replied, watching as Moore was carefully escorted out of the room, his mouth covered by a ragged cloth.

An ambulance was called and the paramedics promised the agents and the teens that Moore would be looked after.

"I'll come visit when the doctor says it's okay," Dabi promised as the paramedics strapped Moore in.

"That's okay, baby. I'll be waiting."

She tucked the picture of her mother back in his hands and he smiled at her.

"Any idea what's wrong with him?" Gibbs asked one paramedic.

"From the looks of it, I'd say pneumonia, but we'll know more when we get him to the hospital. He'll get the treatment he needs."

"Keep me posted," said Gibbs said, handing the paramedic his business card. "He's a former Marine and my daughter's grandfather."

"Understood, sir. Do you know if he has any other surviving family we can contact?"

"His records say otherwise. His daughter, Amanda, died several years ago, and so did his ex-wife, Evangeline."

"So the girl is the only surviving family?"

"Dabi Moore, yeah."

"And you're her father?"

"Yeah. Records say he dropped off the grid some time after 1972, when his wife divorced him. Looks like he tried to take care of himself though."

"Okay, we'll let the attending physician know. Thank you, sir."

As the ambulance left, Fran stared after it. "Wow," she said. "That's another mystery solved."

Sites nodded. "I hate seeing our military personnel fall through the cracks like that. My dad was Army, and when he came back from Vietnam, he was never quite the same. Mom was stubborn, though, and she hung on, getting him the help he need. He has his bad days, but they're outnumbered by his good days."

"Guess not all the stories are true," said Fran.

Sites smiled. "Oh there are some stories, especially with the ghosts. I just haven't had the time to check them all out, or find someone who would treat the Library with respect while they were hunting."

Fran's eyes lit up and Dabi cringed.

"In that case, sir..."

Yup, thought Dabi. Here we go again.

A few days later:

"Hey Gibbs, you around?" Fran called.

Gibbs was around, all right, in his basement, working on his latest wood project.

"Down here," he called. He smiled when he saw the teenage girl. "Dabi with you?" he asked, liking Fran, despite her tendency to get into trouble with her ghost hunting.

"No, she's with the lust of her life," said Fran, smirking as she came down the stairs. When she was at the table, she reached into her purse and pulled out a coffee-stained envelope with writing on it. "Found this behind the dresser while I was moving things around after spilling my coffee on the dresser. It's addressed to you and it's from Amanda. I think you need to read it." She handed the envelope to him, which wasn't sealed, and continued, "I haven't told Dabi, and I think you need to. I think it will answer some questions."

She left, an almost sad smile on her face.

Curious, Gibbs carefully took out the single-page letter that was in the envelope and began reading.

"Dear Leroy;

I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you. My name is Amanda Moore and eleven years ago we were lovers. When you left for an over-seas assignment, you left not knowing I was pregnant.

I know we used protection, but I desperately wanted a baby, a child of my own, so I put a few holes in the condoms that I offered you. It worked. I thought about telling you, hoping that maybe we could work something out.

But then you came back and I found out you were married. I know I should have told you about our child, but I was so afraid you'd try and take her away from me, especially since I was just a single mother and you were a married man who could probably provide better for her.

I was afraid. And for that, I'm sorry. I remember you being an honest and kind man, and I hope that this is still the case.

Her name is Dabi and she's eleven. She's a sweet, gentle child, even with her hearing loss, which was caused by meningitis several years ago. It is my sincere hope that you'll want to meet with me and her and that we can work out some kind of arrangement.

Please forgive me for denying you her for so long.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Moore."

There was a picture included in the envelope, of Dabi, age eleven, and it was a school picture from the looks of it. She was smiling at the camera, with an incisor missing and her hair in cute braids.

"Damn it, Maddy," Gibbs said aloud. "I wouldn't have taken her away from you. I would have demanded shared custody, but I wouldn't have taken her away from you."

He didn't know what to think and he didn't know what to do. Ducky, maybe? Sharee and Daniel, maybe? He was going to have to talk to someone. He just didn't know if Dabi should know.

What do I do now?