AN: I finally figured this chapter out and got it written. This is for meherm I hope it's what you were looking for. enjoy and leave your comments on the way out. thanks. dark rolling sea.

Part XXV: Past and Present

Gibbs mentally reviewed all that was to happen this weekend, his mind spinning, trying to remember everything that had to be done and not forgetting to do anything. Colton was going on a road trip with his hockey team, Kate was out of town on a case, and Taylor had a soccer tournament. He folded Taylor's uniform and then moved on to his son's hockey bag, quadruple checking the equipment inside the big bag. He couldn't believe how fast time was moving. Colton had just turned twelve and was playing hockey with a U-15 team, Taylor was ten and playing travel soccer at the highest level and Kate was thriving as Tony's second in command.

Later that day after the kids were home from school and fed, Colton's teammate dropped by and Gibbs bid his son farewell and good luck for the weekend. He closed the door and checked his watch before hollering up the stairs.

"Tay, let's get a move on! You're gonna be late if we don't leave now!"

"Comin', Dad!"

Satisfied that his daughter was on the move he grabbed the keys from the table and headed towards the front door. Taylor bounded out ahead of him with her bag on her shoulder and Gibbs pulled the door shut. Once in the car they drove in silence for a while. Gibbs glanced at his daughter, noting the look of deep thought on her face.

"Something on your mind, Taylor?" Gibbs asked softly. Taylor shifted in her seat, glanced at him briefly before shrugging her shoulders slightly. Gibbs knew his daughter and those were signs that something was surely bothering her. He waited her out, but she didn't reply. He tried to mentally review what was going on in her life and didn't come up with anything jarring. "Something wrong at school?"

"No," she mumbled softly as she picked at the car door. Gibbs sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck. Taylor glanced at him sideways, pursed her lips, and went to say something then stopped. Her gaze returned forward and Gibbs wondered what could be bothering his ten year old so badly.

"You can tell me," Gibbs promoted.

"Later. Ok, Dad? Like tonight or something. Just not now. I gotta concentrate on my game."

Gibbs thought a moment and then decided that he could live with that. They would have the house to themselves this weekend. He pulled into the parking lot and Taylor bolted as soon as the car was in park and Gibbs watched his daughter run to her teammates. He took a spot on the bleachers and settled in for the game.

The game was close and ended with Taylor's team taking the lead in the extra time for a 2-1 final. Gibbs listened as the coach told them when their next tournament game would be and then mentally made note of it. They didn't have to be back to the field until ten in the morning. He could handle that. The ride home was quiet and he could tell that Taylor was working something over in her mind. He was beginning to worry about his daughter and what could be nagging at her so badly. Once they were in the house and a pizza had been ordered-and delivered-they sat quietly at the table.

"What's been bugging you, Honey?" Gibbs asked as he nudged her with an elbow. She looked up at him, twisted her lips to the side and sighed.

"I…" Taylor began but nothing more came out. Gibbs could see the tears building in her eyes and reached his arm out and snaked it around her shoulders, pulling her tightly to his side.

"It's ok, Honey, what's bothering you? You can tell your crazy old dad," Gibbs whispered against the top of her head. She looked up at him and nodded slowly as she pulled back a little. Gibbs kept his arm around her and felt her shifting. She pulled something out of her pocket and slipped it onto the table. Gibbs stared down in shock, forgetting how to breathe.

"I…found this…in the basement…I didn't mean to snoop, I mean I didn't mean to…anyway I found it. That's you," she said pointing to the photo on the table. Gibbs stared down at his first family. They had never discussed it with the kids before. "Who are they?"

Her words broke into his mind and he looked at his daughter. His mind was stuck. Gibbs was unable to form words as memories and emotions jumbled around in his head. Fighting back the urge to run from his daughter he picked up the photograph and stared down at the three smiling faces. He traced first Shannon's face and then Kelly's as his daughter stared at him expectantly. She seemed to understand his need to reminisce before answering her as she waited patiently for him to continue.

"Shannon and Kelly," he said softly.

"But who were they? You look happy."

"I was happy. But I'm happy now too."

"I know. She's my sister, huh," Taylor asked tapping her finger over Kelly's face. Gibbs nodded while blowing out a breath. He then spent an hour and a half telling his daughter about her older sister and his first wife. When he was through he looked at his daughter and smiled.

"How come you never told us about them?" Taylor asked after he was finished. He took in a deep breath.

"I don't know. I guess I was waiting until it was the right time. It's not something that is easy for me to talk about."

"Momma knows?"

"Yes. I told her very early in our relationship."

"Did you tell her…or did she find out like this?" Taylor asked looking up at her father.

"Like this," Gibbs replied with a smile. "She found a box of pictures in my closest and went through them. I walked into the room while she was doing it and knew it was time I had to tell her."

"Why keep them hidden, Dad?"

"The pain, Honey; the pain that still hurts from not protecting them."

"It's ok, Dad, to miss them. We understand," Taylor replied and Gibbs couldn't help the tears that fell down his cheeks. She was well beyond her years in that moment and he gave into the urge to pull her tight and hug her. When he released her she pulled back and stood from the table. "Let's watch a movie."

After the movie was done and Taylor was in bed Gibbs pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Kate. He hadn't talked to her all day and he missed her. He waited patiently as the phone rang in his ear until she picked up.

"It's me," Gibbs said before she could even utter a greeting.

"Hey. Sorry I meant to call it's just been," Kate was saying.

"Crazy. I remember how it can get."

"Thanks for the break. How are things?"

"I talked to Colton. They won the first two games today and have two more tomorrow before the finals on Sunday. And Taylor won her game as well. She plays again tomorrow morning."

"You sound tired."

"I am," he admitted as he closed his eyes. "I had a very exhausting conversation with Taylor today."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She found a picture in the basement."

"Of what?"

"Shannon and Kelly," Gibbs breathed out.

"Oh. What did you tell her?"

Gibbs gave Kate the abbreviated version of his talk with Taylor. They then spent a half hour discussing her reaction and how Gibbs felt about all of it. When he hung up he felt better. He tried to find sleep but even as exhausted as he was he couldn't will his mind to shut off.

Getting up from the bed, Gibbs made his way down the hallway to Taylor's door. Keeping the hall light off, he pushed it open slightly and watched her sleep. His listened to her deep even breathing and leaned his head against the door jamb.

He stayed there for almost twenty minutes as he ran memories through his mind of both his daughters and realized just how alike they really were. He sighed and turned, heading back to his own room. Climbing into the empty bed he soon found sleep.