I hope that this chapter fits together the way it's meant to.

"Alexandra Sheppard." The nurse gave a smile as she looked over the waiting room.

Tugging a miserable Lexie to her feet, Jenny managed a small smile while Gibbs grabbed Lexie's forgotten jacket from the chair. As they approached the front desk, the nurse walked with them down the corridor, pausing at one of the doors on the right before opening and letting them inside.

Dr Sam Harper looked up from his desk and smiled. He briefly stood up before kneeling down to Lexie's level. "You must be Alexandra."

Lexie frowned and tightening her grip on her mom's hand she moved behind her slightly. Jenny flashed a polite smile at the younger man. "She prefers Lexie."

He nodded, and looked at Lexie thoughtfully, "Lexie is a very pretty name, it suits you. And who," he held out his hand to touch Jake's fur. "Is this?"

Looking briefly over to her Dad who gave a brief nod, Lexie answered, "Jake."

"Good strong name, I like it."

Lexie gave a soft giggle and moved slightly further forwards. Dr Harper flashed her another smile. "Now I hear that you have had a sore wrist, and today we're going to take that cast off and have a look at it."

"No saw!!" Lexie exclaimed anxiously, her parents exchanging a look over her head. For the past few days, while Lexie was more settled at home she had become increasingly anxious over the idea of a saw that cut off her cast, even though the process had been explained to her numerous times. The main problem being that she simply refused to believe that the saw wouldn't cut her.

Dr Harper however saw the look and turned his attention back to the anxious four year old. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Well how about we sit you on that table and we'll have a chat before we look at your wrist, would that be Ok?"

"Fine," Lexie mumbled unconvincingly, letting her Dad lift her onto the paper covered table, her face still twisted into a suspicious looking expression.

Jenny stood on Lexie's left, stroking her hair soothingly, while Gibbs stood just across from her so that she could see his face, her eyes focussing on his.

Pulling a chair over to the front of the table, Dr Harper sat down so that he wouldn't be towering over Lexie, he didn't want to further her anxieties. He reached to his left and pulled over a small metal trolley. "Can I show you something?" He asked.

Lexie nodded.

Picking up what looked like a pizza cutter, Dr Harper showed it to Lexie. "Do you know what this is?"

"No."

"This is the saw that we'd use to take off your cast."

Lexie shrank back, shuffling closer to her Mom. "No!" She shouted.

"Don't worry, I won't use it without you telling me I can, I just want to show you it's special trick, would that be Ok?"

Looking slightly less nervously, Lexie asked with interest, "It can do tricks?"

"Just the one, but I think it's a very special trick, almost like magic."

"Can I see it?" Lexie leaned forward, looking at it with fascination.

"Of course." Hitting the switch Dr Harper held it up, making sure it wasn't too close to make the little girl nervous. "This saw can only cut plaster, it can't cut anything else, especially not skin."

"Don't believe you."

"I can prove it." Holding up his hand, he brought it against the whirring edge, and Lexie shrank back, eyes wide, until she saw that nothing untoward had happened. He smiled at her, "See."

"What if it only works on you?" Lexie asked, still reluctant to let that thing anywhere near her.

"You're tough to impress, do you know that." Lexie giggled and he continued, "Well if your Mom doesn't mind then I can prove that it doesn't just work on me."

Smiling Jenny held out her hand and let the saw run across it. Lexie watched through narrowed eyes then announced, "Try it on my Daddy."

Gibbs to held out his hand and let the saw run across it, smiling encouragingly at Lexie as it brushed against his skin. Dr Harper turned back to her and asked, "Would you like to have a go?"

Lexie looked between her smiling parents and then back at the saw, a thoughtful frown having taken up residence across her face. "Ok," she finally conceded and gingerly held out her hand. As she neared the whirring machine her hand jerked back and she leaned further into her Mom's side. Jenny kissed her daughter's hair. "It's fine Lex, it doesn't hurt.

Nodding distractedly, Lexie reached her hand forward again, this time letting the whirring machine brush over her skin and she emitted a small giggle. "It tickles."

"So have I convinced that this is a magic saw?"

"Uh huh." Lexie nodded furiously.

"Well then would you be happy for me to use it to get that pesky cast of yours off, so we can have another look at your wrist, check if it's fixed."

"You can take it off," Lexie announced imperiously. "It itches."

"Better get to it then. Now can you hold your arm in front of you, bending it at the elbow." The man demonstrating what he wanted as he spoke. When Lexie followed the instructions he smiled conspiratorially. "Looks like I have a star pupil on my hands here." Pulling on a pair of gloves, he carefully cut two lines down the plaster and removed it, then carefully unravelled the layer of bandage underneath. When done he sat back and asked, "How did I do?"

"Good," Lexie replied as she stared at her wrist in fascination. "It looks funny, and it's got stuff on it."

Dr Harper nodded seriously. "The reason it looks a bit strange and pale is because it's been covered up and hasn't been in the sun. and the white flecks are dry skin."

"Eugh!" Lexie squealed in disgust.

Smothering a laugh he replied, "I know it doesn't look very nice and I have another trick to get rid of it, but for just now try not to touch it. How does it feel?"

"Weird," Lexie replied, crinkling her nose. It felt strange.

"That's not unusual. Now what I want to do next is take an X-Ray of it, do you remember having that done when you first hurt your wrist.

Lexie shook her head, she didn't remember much from the hospital, she just remembered seeing a lot of strange faces and that everything hurt. The man gave a slight smile. "Well it's not a big deal, what happens is you go into a special room and we use a big machine to take a picture of the bones in your wrist to see if it's healed -"

"Don't want to go on my own," Lexie interrupted.

"Ok, in that case either your Mom or your Dad can come in, they'll need to stand behind a special window but you'll be able to see them, deal?"

"Deal," Lexie agreed smiling.

"Good. Then in that case I'll put a sling to hold your arm in place while you wait for the X-Ray." He quickly secured the sling and glanced up at Jenny who was the closest. "You shouldn't need to wait long, about half an hour tops." He could tell that the little girl was not a fan of hospitals and having read her notes he could understand why, on that basis he wanted to get this over and done with as quickly as possible; for her sake.

Jenny gave a small smile, "Thank you," she replied as she helped Lexie off the table, her smile widening when the minute her feet touched the ground, Lexie flung herself across the room and into Jethro's arms.

"Do you want to come and see the big machine with me?"

Gibbs looked at over at Jenny, who gave a small nod to indicate that she was fine with that. He turned his attention back to Lexie. "I'd like that."

Dr Harper opened the door for the small family, saying to Lexie, "I'll see you again very soon, we still have a lot to talk about."

"Ok," Lexie replied brightly. Then the second the door shut turned to her parents announcing, "I like him."

Jenny smothered a laugh at her daughter's adoration while Gibbs just looked horrified beyond belief. Tickling Lexie's cheek she replied, "He was very nice to you."

Gibbs only just suppressed a growl, muttering to Jenny, "If she's like this at four…."

As they sat back down in the waiting room, Jenny whispered into his ear, "Relax, Jethro, it's just a case of hero worship."

"Still." He frowned at the idea of his little girl growing up, she'd be a nightmare as a teenager, he was sure of it. After all she had Jenny's charm and his pigheadedness, there was no way it would be pretty.

He followed Lexie's curious gaze as it landed on a pile of children's books tucked away on a corner table, and let her go when she began to wriggle off his knee, watching her closely as she began raiding the pile. Satisfied that Lexie was other-wised occupied, he turned his attention to Jenny. "You Ok with me going in with her?"

"I'm fine with it." Jenny shrugged. "It makes sense that she'd want her Dad there to protect her from the big bad machine." She grinned at him. "If you're worried that I feel pushed aside by this you don't have to."

Gibbs gave a slight nod, and they fell into a comfortable silence, watching Lexie flick through the books, muttering made up stories under her breath based upon the pictures the book provided.

Almost forty five minutes later, they found themselves back in the consulting room. Lexie once again perched on her Dad's knee, one hand steadily trying to sneak it's way into her cast for a secretive scratch, only to be stopped by her Mom's warning of, "Lexie don't even try it, you've been told not to touch it."

"It's itchy," She pouted in reply.

"I know, but just wait a few more minutes until the Doctor comes back in."

Thankfully, no sooner were the words out Jenny's mouth than the man in question walked into the room, causing Lexie's face to brighten. She sat up straight and beamed at him. "Hi!"

He smiled at her. "Hello to you to, now how did you get on in X-Ray?"

"I was perfect, the lady said so," Lexie declared with great pride.

"Yes I did hear that you were the model of good behaviour, and I have some very good news for you, your wrist is completely healed."

"No more cast?"

"No more cast," Dr Harper declared before reaching into his drawer and withdrawing a lollypop. "And I think that since you were so well behaved that you deserve a reward, what do you think?"

"Yes," Lexie replied, leaning forward her eyes gleaming as she was handed the treat. "Mommy look what I got."

"Aren't you lucky," Jenny smiled.

"Uh huh."

While Lexie attempted to unwrap her sweet with one hand and her teeth, Dr Harper turned his attention to both Jenny and Gibbs. "The fracture's healed well and it shouldn't give her any future complications mobility wise. However I would keep her wrist in the sling for most of today, it's not uncommon for the area to swell after the plaster has been removed, if this happens place some ice on the area for fifteen minutes and give her some suitable painkillers if necessary. I understand you don't have a regular paediatrician for her in D.C."

"No we don't," Gibbs replied.

The doctor gave a small nod. "Well in that case if you feel the swelling's getting worse, or she continues to complain of pain then just bring her back in here and we'll take another look. Starting tomorrow I want her to do some exercises to get the movement back into her wrist, building them up slowly. I don't feel she'll need any physiotherapy, I think given her age and if she repeats the exercises three to four times a day then that should be more than adequate. Again any concerns about her mobility bring her back in." He turned his attention back to Lexie, who had succeeded in her quest. "Now then, I have some special tricks to show you that will help your wrist."

Lexie pulled the lolly from her mouth and asked, "Like how to get the dead skin off?"

He gave a small smile, "That too. Now what you need for that is when you get home, get a warm bowl of water and put your wrist in it for about five to ten minutes. Then when your Mom or Dad rubs it with a towel all that skin will disappear-"

"Like magic!" Lexie interrupted.

"Just like magic. Then get your Mom or Dad to rub a lot of moisturiser into your arm so the skin stays nice and soft. Do you think they can manage that?"

Lexie looked thoughtful for a minute. "I think so," she finally replied.

Letting out a low rumble of laugh, Dr Harper asked, "So will I show you these tricks?"

"Yes."

"Good, just for today I'll show you how to do them on your good hand. Now what I want you to do is place your arm on the desk, with your hand hanging over the edge, then move your hand down to the floor then back up to the ceiling, just using your wrist." He nodded as Lexie repeated the exercise. "You're an expert already," he smiled, causing Lexie to giggle. "Next one is put your elbow on the table and wave your hand from side to side without moving your arm. Perfect. Now." He held up his own hand. "The last exercise I want you to do is tap each finger against your thumb as quickly as you can and then back again." He demonstrated as he spoke.

Lexie frowned in deep concentration as she copied the action. "I'm doing it!" She told him happily.

"Yes you are," Dr Harper laughed, briefly meeting Jenny's amused eyes. "In fact you've done so well that I think you deserve another one of these." He produced another lollypop from his drawer, handing it over.

"Thank you," Lexie replied happily.

"You're very welcome. Now do you have any questions for me?"

"Uh huh, when can I go swimming? I want my Daddy to come watch me."

"Well I'd wait about a week, maybe a few days less depending on how your wrist feels, Ok?"

"Ok."

"Any other questions?"

"Nope."

"Well in that case you are free to go, I won't need to see you again."

"I'm fixed?"

"Do those tricks that I showed you and you'll be right as rain in no time." Dr Harper stood up to open the door, as Gibbs lifted Lexie up, settling her on his hip while Jenny grabbed her and Lexie's coats.

As they passed him in the doorway, Lexie smiled up at him adoringly. "I like you," she told him.

The doctor laughed again. "I like you too, you have been one of my favourite patients, and very well behaved."

Lexie giggled and hide her face in her Dad's shoulder, unaware of his frown. Holding up Jake she waved his paw at him. "Bye bye."

Shaking the bears paw, he replied, "Bye to you too."

As they headed down the corridor Lexie asked her parent's brightly, "What are we doing now?"

"Locking you in your room till you're thirty," Gibbs muttered under his breath, causing a peel of laughter from Jenny and a confused stare from Lexie.

Leaning against his boat, Gibbs stared at the slightly faded photograph as he swirled the small amount of bourbon around the mason jar. His lips twitched with the ghost of a smile as he took in the image of Kelly sitting on the beach, smiling cheekily into the camera, the wind whipping her hair backwards. It had been a while since he'd sat like this, with only the memories of his past for company, and normally when he did so the darkness threatened to engulf him. This was the first time that he'd been able to look at these pictures and not re-live the agony of losing them. He picked up the next photo, one of Kelly and Shannon together, laughing happily together. Placing the mason jar on the concrete floor, he traced a finger over their features. He admitted that he still missed them, that he'd never forget, never really get over that big a loss, but finally he felt ready to let them rest, he'd never stop wishing that he'd been there, that he hadn't been able to somehow prevent it but he could finally stop torturing himself for it.

Sighing he leaned his head against the smooth wood of his boat. Jenny and Lexie weren't replacements, although he recognized that it could be construed that way. They were different, if someone told him to pick between them, to give up one to have the other he knew that he wouldn't be able to do it. He wasn't betraying Shannon and Kelly by loving his new family, he was living his life instead of just existing.

Today with Lexie, having her look to him to protect her just reinforced the fact that he had to move forward, and properly this time.

Hearing a creak on the stairs, he looked up, seeing the now familiar figure of Jenny in the doorway, saw her smile as she told him, "Lexie's asleep, finally."

"In her own bed?"

"Yep," Jenny replied as she made her way carefully down the stairs. As she reached the bottom step she cocked her head to one side. "You Ok? You've been quiet today."

He gave a slight nod. "I'm fine."

"Thinking about Lexie as a teenager?"

Glancing up he gave another slight nod. "Kind of," he muttered. After all it was that line of thought that had brought him here. He'd missed all of that with Kelly, and as much as the thought of his little girl growing up terrified him, he looked forward to it, looked forward to seeing and doing all the things he'd lost out on before. And that was when he'd realised how long it had been since he'd looked through these pictures and for once he'd wanted to look at them, not to torture himself but to remember the happier times.

"She'll be a nightmare." Jenny's voice interrupted his reverie.

Gibbs gave a wry grin. "Oh yeah." He patted the floor next to him, indicating that she should join him.

Almost unsurely, Jenny made her way over and sat next to him. Nodding her head at the photos she asked, "What you looking at?"

Glancing once more at the photo, Gibbs slowly handed the one he'd been looking at to her. Watched as her eyes widened, as realisation dawned. He expected a barrage of questions, expected her to react as all his other wives had, insisting they know every detail. Instead Jenny whispered, "She has your eyes, and your mouth."

He nodded once. "Her name was Kelly, she and my first wife Shannon died in 91, while I was serving in the Gulf. Shannon had witnessed a murder by a local drug dealer and was due to testify against him, they were under protection, but he took out the driver of the car they were in and it crashed…." He tailed off, his eyes fixing on the two smiling faces in the picture. "Kelly was eight."

Jenny gave a small nod, she turned to look at him, eyes filled with different emotions. Her hand wrapped around his, she didn't say anything, knew that she couldn't quite put what she felt into words and didn't want to give the usual obligatory 'I'm sorry'

His grip tightened around hers, drawing solace from the gesture. "I've never really told anyone, just my ex-wives, even Ducky doesn't know." He let out a slightly shaky breath, and let his eyes briefly flutter shut, he could almost hear their laughter this time without the sharp pain that usually accompanied the memory. "I'll never get to see her grow up, never know what type of person she'd have been. I'll get that with Lexie, and you're right she'll be a nightmare." He gave a small laugh at the thought. "I don't want her to grow up to quickly, but at the same time I can't wait to see all the different things she'll do, all the things she'll achieve. I won't let her down."

Jenny let placed the photograph carefully down beside her and let her hand trail over Gibbs's jaw, angling his head so she could look at him. Her voice slightly cracked she told him, "You didn't let them down and I know that you'll never let us down."

He caught her hand and placed a small kiss to her palm, before tangling his hand through her hair and leaning his forehead against hers, he breathed out, "Jen…..you and Lex." He breathed out and tried again. "It doesn't hurt to remember them anymore."

Jenny gave a small nod, moving closer to him. They sat in silence for a few moments before Jenny brushed her hand over his cheek before kissing it softly. "I'm glad you felt you could tell me." then wanting to give him the space he needed, and needing time to get her head around what she'd just heard she told him. "I'll be upstairs." she gave his hand one last squeeze, letting him know that if he needed her he only had to ask, and left the quietness of the basement. Reaching over, Gibbs picked up the picture and slipped it slowly back into the pile. Staring at them for a moment longer, he put them back into the box he'd kept them in and glanced upstairs, knowing that he wouldn't stay down here for much longer.