Disclaimer: I only own Aaliyah and Gabe McCallin!
Sorry for the wait, sometimes I cannot get motivated in the summer to get out of bed let alone to my computer. Hopefully my newly acquired beta reader the-vampire-act with help me get the chapters out in a better fashion with better grammar and get my story going smoother though.
Hope you enjoy (:
"Hi Gibbs!" Aaliyah jumped up and down as she opened the door for the older man.
"What did I say about opening the door?" he chastised.
"I looked in the peep hole first, Gibbs, I'm not stupid." Aaliyah rolled her eyes and turned around. "Tony, Ziva, Gibbs is here!"
"Where are they?" he questioned her.
"Kitchen," Aaliyah replied, "attempting to make breakfast for me; personally I feel like I'll just be eating cereal or something again." Gibbs simply grunted.
"Tony, if you don't get away from me I will hurt you!" Ziva threatened.
"Ziva, a spatula is in your hand, not a knife- it won't do that much damage," Tony informed her.
"You wanna bet?" Ziva hissed, and a second later the sound of a slap and a yelp came from the kitchen.
"OUCH! ZIVA!" Tony exclaimed.
"DiNozzo, David," Gibbs scowled, "Don't make me regret putting you two on night protection together."
"Gibbs," Ziva jumped as he looked into the kitchen. There was a red mark on Tony's hand, a spatula in Ziva's, and a multitude of things spread across the counter.
"DiNozzo, you have two minutes to get dressed and into your car before-"
"Before what?" Aaliyah piped up, amused.
"You do not want to know," Ziva smirked.
"I'm not done with you; we have until one," Gibbs glared at her.
"I'm pretty sure that watching her is punishment enough," Tony teased, sticking his head out of the bathroom and pointing at Aaliyah, "You get her either in the morning or afternoon. It's nighttime when the wild child comes out."
"That's because you actually let her have coffee Tony," Ziva rolled her eyes.
"DiNozzo, thirty seconds," Gibbs warned. Tony shook his head and nonchalantly grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter. He then nodded goodbye to Gibbs and ruffled Aaliyah's hair before he turned to Ziva.
"Have fun cleaning up," he laughed and exited the door as quickly as he could.
"Can I trust you to not kill him?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the ex-Mossad officer.
"It will be his fault if I do," Ziva motioned to him. "Right Ali?"
"Do not get me into this!" Aaliyah stuck her nose up.
"Cereal," Gibbs ordered.
"Also known as 'we have information we need to discuss about the case and we cannot let the ten year old child of the perp know," Aaliyah scowled as she grabbed a bowl, milk, and Cheerios from various cabinets.
"She is too smart for her own good," Ziva sighed.
"Abby and McGee are almost in McCallin's computer," Gibbs began the second Aaliyah sat down in front of the TV with her breakfast. "When I get back I'm talking to his CO, but meanwhile the entire base is checking inventory to see what he did or didn't steal. They know he accessed weapons at least once, which wouldn't be suspicious if he was returning to work."
"And what do you want me to do?" Ziva asked.
"She clearly trusts you even more now. It's been two days and you are calling her by a nickname," Gibbs looked at her sternly.
"She told me to," Ziva stuck up for herself.
"Regardless, out of any of us she'd be willing to talk to you,carry out the entire conversation in Hebrew, or whatever. I don't care what you do with her, but just remember rule number ten," Gibbs said.
"I am not getting personally involved," Ziva protested. "I just do not want anyone besides Gunny McCallin to get hurt."
"I think it's safe to say he is no longer a Gunny," Gibbs reminded her. "We need to work fast. The media is circling and-"
"What do you think she knows?" Ziva questioned.
"The plan."
"You said it yourself Gibbs-she is ten," Ziva said.
"What do you want us to do, David?" Gibbs snapped, "Hell, even Homeland security has no idea where they are hiding out. We have every federal agency and LEO out there searching for them and they just disappeared."
"Khouri help?"
"He's getting shipped to Gitmo tomorrow; he's not talking anymore," Gibbs growled. "She's the only lead we have."
"I feel out of the rope," Ziva informed him.
"Loop," Gibbs corrected. "You want something to do- look through McCallin's files and try and find out what made him into a homegrown terrorist."
"Gibbs," Ziva scowled.
"Fine. Abby's still processing everything found at the house and in the shed. McGee, like I said, is trying to gain access to McCallin's 'off duty' computer while DiNozzo will return to running down all credit card transactions and calls McCallin that has made in the past month, here and in Kuwait," Gibbs said.
"Is it safe to assume that Karim was set up to take the fall for everything?" Ziva asked.
"And what makes you say that?" Gibbs said sarcastically.
"Can I put my bowl away or must I just sit out here?" Aaliyah called angrily.
"FBI?" they both ignored her for a second.
"Using contacts to see if they know the plan, to see if you can trace more than just the pay for hires directly from the Middle East," Gibbs said.
"So in other words, we have what we had yesterday, the day before, and two days before-nothing," Ziva said dryly.
"Now even I can answer that," Aaliyah averted their gaze, placed the bowl in the sink, and walked to the guest bedroom without another word.
"How did you not know?" Gibbs asked. "He gained access to weapons when he was not supposed to!"
"Gibbs, you didn't know McCallin like I did, I just assumed he came into work anyway… he was always driven and I never in a million years- When I heard it was McCallin I thought for sure it had to be a mistake," his CO told him.
"Do you believe him," Vance asked DiNozzo as they watched the interaction from the Director's office.
"I never trusted the guy, but he never saw him with his daughter, he only saw him as a marine," Tony told him.
"Doctor Mallard, what do you think?" Vance said.
"Gabe McCallin thrives on being manipulative. It could be seen by the way he interacted with his daughter as well as the fact that he needed to be the head of the cell," Ducky explained, "I see no reason why he would not be the same as a marine, except in this case, getting those who served with him to trust him. I see McCallin as a troubled man who did not know what to do so turned his back on his country."
"It explains nothing," Vance scowled. "DiNozzo, what did you find?"
"Missing from the inventory were two long range missiles, McCallin was using them for an exercise and… it's sick how he was able to get them out without notice," Tony hissed, "He used his credit card to buy walkie talkies, rope, and…"
"Have you been able to track down any of the owners from the guns found in his safe?" Vance asked.
"All of the serial numbers were filed off, my guess is some of them are the terrorists," DiNozzo said. "We gave that to the FBI to track down seeing as SecNav managed to piss off their Director enough this week."
"Don't pin that all on Sec Nav," Vance said. "Some of it was me too."
"Regardless, they are doing our grunt work for a change," Tony smirked.
"Where do you think he was?" Gibbs got in his face.
"When?" the CO asked.
"When he was telling his daughter, his neighbors, and everyone except you idiots that he was at work!" Gibbs screamed.
"How should I know?"
"You said you knew him better," Gibbs said.
"Then maybe not."
"And what work would you say we have?" Vance questioned.
"A little more than grunt, less than real," Tony guessed.
"Anthony, I believe that was a rhetorical question," Ducky said.
"Yeah Ducky, I figured."
"Dr. Mallard, are you ready to start another autopsy?" Vance questioned.
"Are you afraid Jethro will kill this marine?" Ducky asked nodding towards the screen where Gibbs looked even angrier than ten seconds ago.
"Well yes," Vance said, "but I was talking more about a psychological autopsy, on McCallin."
"I thought you'd never ask."
"MCGEE!" Abby yelled into her phone. "So how's um, the computer?"
"Abby, remember Goliath?" McGee said.
"Yeah, back with La Grenouille and Gibbs knew everything to hack into his computer," Abby nodded.
"I really need that," McGee muttered, "but Gibbs' computer skills have deteriorated since then and his patience has deteriorated since this bastard has managed to outsmart us."
"Oh McGee, it can't be that hard," Abby said.
"Now that Ducky is finished with Karim he's ready to delve into the sick and twisted world of Gabe McCallin; hopefully he can give us a clue," McGee moaned.
"Well, you have all night," Abby said with a smile. "Who knows, sitting around sometimes help."
"Well that is impossible while watching Aaliyah," McGee rolled his eyes. "She's a mini-Ziva, or as Tony has called her, mini-ninja."
"Open the door McGee," Abby said calmly.
"What?" McGee questioned but she heard him walk over to the front door of Ziva's apartment. There she was, standing there. With a smirk Abby grabbed his arm and pulled him next to her before scooting inside the door and shutting it behind her, "ABBY!" No answer. "Abby! Open the door!" Abby opened the door and threw out the laptop.
"Here, have fun," she said.
"Abby, I have t stay here! What are you doing?" McGee yelled through the door. Abby stuck her head out once more.
"You can stay here, just, not inside. It's girl's night-no boys allowed," Abby said as she both closed and locked the door.
"That was smooth," Ziva commented.
"Where's-" Abby began, but she was interrupted by Aaliyah running full force to her.
"ABBY!" she screamed in delight. "I finally get to see someone other than Ziva, Gibbs, Tony, and McGee!"
"What's wrong with seeing me?" Ziva questioned. "McGee and Tony I understand." Aaliyah giggled at that.
"Ziva, you don't like being forced to stay here as much as me," Aaliyah rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Girl's night, modified," Abby smiled holding up a bag of 'goodies.' Since she was technically on duty, Ziva couldn't drink any of the booze Abby brought and Ziva, having seen the effects of caffeine on Aaliyah, refused to let her drink the soda she brought for her. The only thing Ziva had was milk so, that's what they drank.
According to Abby, modified girls night, not being in a bar seeing as a ten year old was there, involved movies, junk food, and makeovers. The last thing scared both Ziva and Aaliyah but they were both too terrified of letting down Abby to protest.
Surprisingly enough, they enjoyed themselves. Between the amusement of watching McGee through the door and the amount of food Abby brought the girls were occupied, and for the first time, Aaliyah seemed to really have fun.
Ziva kept in rule number ten in mind the entire time but couldn't help but laugh as Abby practically held the poor girl down to paint her nails. When Abby offered to give her pig tails Aaliyah scowled.
"Would you rather I do your hair?" Ziva asked her.
"How would you do my hair?" Aaliyah questioned.
"French braid," she offered. While sticking her tongue out at Abby, Aaliyah rushed over to sit in front of Ziva. She took this opportunity to finally involve herself in the investigation. The second she had began to look at McCallin's records, Gibbs got a call from Vance saying he wanted Ducky to look at them. That left Ziva with nothing again, and after overhearing most of their conversation, Aaliyah stayed in the guest room all day. That was why when Abby called about girl's night, she actually accepted.
Now she just had to bring up her father or something related to her past life.
"The last time I had my hair really done was with my Ima, the day she died," Aaliyah said. "According to her my Bubbee taught her."
"You never talk about them, your mother's parents," Ziva fished.
"They wanted her to give me away since she was not married, but they still forced her to move in with them when she got pregnant," Aaliyah said, "They did not like me. I was always in the way and when my Ima would go to work I'd have to stay in my room. That's the only reason my Ima married my Aba. That way she could move out and he could support us."
"That's terrible," Abby whispered.
"They send me 200 dollars a month since my Ima died. They always loved her, just not me, but now that she's dead they feel bad," she said. "My Aba never let me have it, and he got it wired right to my trust fund."
"That's over 9,600 dollars," Abby gasped.
"Do you remember when your father was held hostage?" Ziva questioned.
"Yes, I remember because I was sent to a safe house then, too, except it was scarier and empty," she said.
"Mossad safe houses are not very homey," Ziva smiled.
"How do you know that?"
"I was once an officer of the Mossad," Ziva said quietly.
"Did you know my Ima?" Ali gasped.
"Shahar sounds familiar- I'm sure I met her onc,e and I'm sure she was as great as you said," Ziva reassured, finishing her hair. Aaliyah looked down.
"She was great,. She always said her boss did not like that she left Israel because he did not believe the Israeli embassy really needed her as much as he did, but he got over it for some reason," she shrugged.
"Well, I'm done," Ziva said quickly. "I'll be back." She pulled out her cell phone.
"Did I say something?" Aaliyah said, eyes wide.
"You know Ziva," Abby reassured. "She's going insane with nothing to do with the case."
"Have you ever been to Israel?"
"I wish."
"I miss it, sometimes. I think I miss my Ima more, and speaking Hebrew, and eating kosher."
"Doesn't Ziva?"
"Tony orders pizza almost every night," Aaliyah giggled.
"Oh, then I understand completely," Abby joked as Aaliyah looked down again. "What's wrong?" Abby said, concerned.
"Why do you think he did it? Why did he hate me so much to want me dead?"
"He hates himself-that's the only way someone could hate a girl as sweet as you." Aaliyah tried to smile.
"I hate him, ever since my Ima died and he started to hurt me and get angry all the time," she sniffed. "I hardly remember when I didn't hate him. The first memory I ever have of him is when I was three. He brought a Christmas tree to Tel Aviv and taught me about Christmas. Then I taught him about Chanukah. And afterwards we went to the beach, all three of us. My Aba and Ima were so happy, kissing and I thought it was so gross. He chased me down the beach and scooped me up in his arms. I told him Ani Ohev Otach which means I love you, he said back Ani Ohevet Otcha and told me he learned it for me. It's the last memory I have of him telling me that." Abby said nothing but grabbed her tightly in a hug, "I have no one now. Dani and Mr. and Mrs. Walker were my savior from him and he had them killed too."
"You do not have 'no one'; you have us," Abby reassured. Ziva walked back into the room and nodded.
None of them said what they were thinking. No one wanted to think what would happen if McCallin was successful nor if he wasn't. No matter what, she'd lose them.
"You look comfortable," Tony said, amused.
"Tony!" McGee yelled. "You're late! You were supposed to come home two hours ago!"
"Blame the ninja and mini-ninja," Tony said. "Ziva realized how McCallin got all the money; he basically stole from Aaliyah and made a separate account for his, taking all money Aaliyah got from her grandparents and investing it into their 'program.'" McGee stood up. "Speaking of, why are you out here?"
"Abby came over. I was kicked out," McGee frowned. Tony smirked and began laughing.
"Watch and learn, McPushover," Tony said. He knocked on the door.
"No, you can't come in Tony," Abby said.
"But Abby I have to go to the bathroom," Tony winked at McGee.
"Lame excuse," Aaliyah piped up. "Go outside."
"Or use next door," Ziva added.
"ABBY! ZIVA! AALIYAH!" Tony yelled and pounded on the door. "You guys realize I have a key."
"You realize we barricaded the door," Abby said. Tony turned around towards McGee and scowled.
"All I learned is that a ten year old called you out on a lie and managed to knock your ego down a few pegs," McGee informed him, "Now if you excuse me."
"Oh no, McGee, you're staying with me," Tony grabbed the back of his shirt, "or I'll let Gibbs know already that you have not cracked McCallin's encryption things or password yet."
"How do you know that?" McGee narrowed his eyes.
"Because you're sitting out here and not taking Abby back to HQ and freaking out in her lab," Tony said, "See, I observe."
"Not well," McGee rolled his eyes.
"So what are they doing in there, anyways?" Tony asked.
"Girl's night," he shrugged. Tony's eyes widened with an evil smile.
"Don't even think about it DiNozzo," Ziva snapped behind the door.
"How did you know what I was thinking?" Tony piped up.
"Because we know you," all three girls said behind the door at the same time, and for the first time that night, Tony fell silent and Tim laughed at his expense.
Did you like the girls night in? I figured I wanted some little fluffy tidbits about bonding and sharing plus info before… well, you'll see ;)
Please R&R and just let me know you are still interested, I have a lot of story alerts on this fic and I would like to know that I am not wasting my time!
Also, please vote on my poll in my profile for the next NCIS fic I am going to write, I don't know which one to start first and I will be starting one soon because I am almost done my Grey's fics.
Thanks!