"After I got away from the van I hid for a while down in an alley behind an apartment building. I was so scared and my head was killing me. I managed to stop the bleeding but I could not tell how deep the cut was. I must of fallen asleep where I was because it was late evening when I woke up and I could not remember at that time what had happened. I did know that something terrible had happened and I knew I wasn't safe. Somehow I ended up inside the apartment building where she found me. She took me home which was a couple of hours away. I couldn't tell them much but I think Mr. Collins had looked into it. They was nothing on the news or in the paper about any accidents or explosions. After a period of time they told me that they couldn't find any missing persons with my description and that probably meant that I had no family members alive and that they wanted to adopt me. I knew they had always wanted a child and felt like they would be ok to be with so I agreed."
"Kelly," Gibbs said quietly. "You don't need to explain or feel guilty about the adoption you were only 9 years old."
Kelly sighed. "But I felt in my gut you were still alive. I just couldn't remember what you looked like or my last name. I didn't realize then I could trust my gut. I think I just wanted to be safe and belong somewhere. Even though I never really felt like I totally belonged. I always felt like something was missing. When I was a teenager I use to spend hours looking up missing children in hopes that my picture would show up."
Gibbs just hugged her and kissed her forehead. He wished he could take the pain away or give her back those missing years of growing up but he knew he couldn't. He would just have to keep her safe and be the dad she needed now. "Kelly why don't you get some sleep and we can finish this conversation tomorrow."
Kelly agreed and laid down as Gibbs got up and leaned over to kiss her forehead goodnight. Kelly grinned as she closed her eyes and sighed. She felt safe and loved.
Gibbs sat in the chair and watched Kelly sleep. As soon as he was sure she was in a deep sleep he got up to check on things downstairs. At the top of the landing he motioned for Ziva to come up and take over his watch.
"Everything is secure outside. Said Ziva. Nothing indicates we have been followed or that they know she is here."
Gibbs nodded. "Just a matter of time. I will be back up in a few minutes."
Ziva nodded. She knew it was pointless to try to convince him to get some sleep.