After quite some time she manages to wrangle her monkey into bed. The little girl passes out with in just a few moments. She exits the bedroom, and heads back into the dishes. She finds Gibbs standing at the sink. She grins.

"What are you doing?"

"What's it look like?" He responds.

"You don't have to do the dishes. I am perfectly capable."

He places a dish on the drying rack, "I'm already finished."

"You didn't have to do the dishes. I…"

"You were kind enough to invite me to dinner, it was the least that I could do."

"Thank you for bringing my container back."

"How is the house hunting going?"

"I hate house hunting. I would be content to stay here, except for the fact that everything reminds me of him."

"It was his apartment."

"I can't even go in his room. I sleep on the couch. Sometimes I sleep with Izzy in her bed."

"She's something else."

"Thank you for entertaining her."

"Anytime."

"You have a gift," she admits.

"Just a little experience," he replies, "I should get going."

"Yeah," she nods.

"You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

"Thanks for stopping by."

"Of course."

She walks him to the door. He leaves the apartment, and she locks the door behind him. She hopes to squeeze in a shower after collecting all of Izzy's toys from the living room floor. Before she can make it to the living room she hears tiny bare feet moving towards her at a high rate of speed. Izzy runs towards her, wearing a little mermaid nightgown.

"Izzy why are you up?"

The two year old attaches herself to Mac's leg. Mac scoops her off the ground. She takes her over to the couch, and cuddles up with her. She kisses her on the cheek.

"It's time for bed, monkey."

"No."

"Izzy, please. Mommy is tired."

Izzy nestles her head in Mac's shoulder, "Mommy?"

"Hm?" She holds her close.

"Where's daddy?"

She takes a deep breath, and looks her daughter in the eyes. She feels her breath hitch, but she powers through with an answer, "Daddy's gone."

"Where?"

"Far away."

"I want daddy."

"I know Izzy, but daddy is gone far away. He's not coming back."

She scoots into a different position. She places her head against Mac's chest. She places her ear against her heart. She closes her eyes as Mac rubs her head. Eventually she falls asleep.


DiNozzo sits behind his desk, with a pensive look on his face. It's late at night, and he is one of that last people left in the room. He looks up, and finds Gibbs standing in front of his desk.

"Go home," Gibbs instructs him.

"What's the point?"

"Go home. Get some rest."

"Can I ask you something?"

He sighs heavily.

"Boss, why is it that we always find ourselves wanting what we can't have?"

"I don't know," he shrugs.

"It's like your attraction to lawyers. You know that you should avoid the temptation, but you still find yourself tempted."

"Are we talking about you, or me?"

"Me."

"You want a wife," he answers.

DiNozzo furrows his brow, "I never said that."

"Stop looking in a bar for her," Gibbs suggests.

"But…."

Gibbs cuts him off, "And go home."

Gibbs settles into his desk as DiNozzo packs his gear. He sits behind his desk as he watches DiNozzo leave. He stares blankly at his computer screen. He reaches forward, and flips the monitor off. He finds himself wondering if anyone ever gets it right. Four failed marriages, and DiNozzo was looking to him for advice. He rolls his eyes at the mere idea. Her realizes that he doesn't have the answers. He can't even answers DiNozzo's questions. He vacates his seat, and heads home.

He makes a beeline for the basement when he arrives home. He flips on the light, and grabs his sand paper. He carefully sands each piece of wood as if it is a delicate piece of artwork. As he sands he realizes that his usual coping mechanism can't seem to quiet his soul tonight. He leans against his work bench, and finds him thinking about a hazel eyed little girl.

Her tenacity reminds him of another little girl. He thinks about his little girl. The little girl he never got to see grow up. He tries to push her memory from his mind, but he can't. He finds himself thinking back to when Kelly was that small. He goes over the things he could have done differently. The ticking clock on the wall reminds him that it's getting late. Too late, he thinks to himself. He glances at the time, and tosses the sandpaper onto the work bench. He glances at a bottle of bourbon, and laughs to himself. He heads up the stairs, flipping the light off on his way. He closes the basement door, and heads to the living room. He takes a seat on the couch, and stares at the walls around him.

The quietness of the room strikes him. He remembers when the house was filled with laughter. The only thing that he can hear is the sound of the washing machine spinning in the other room. The ceiling fan whirs overhead. He closes his eyes, and allows the ambient noise to lull him to sleep. The sound of the alarm on the washing machine brings him back to consciousness. He heads into the laundry room, and tosses his clothes into the dryer.