The only things that Sarah wanted were to shower and to sleep in her own bed.

She was exhausted. Never in her life had she been this tired.

But there were still some important things to take care of. She also noticed Abby watching her with a guarded look on her face. What now?

Jenny walked up to Sarah. "Are you thinking about contacting your boss now?"

"Yes, director." Sarah felt like she was being x-rayed. "How did you know?"

"A hunch. I've already called over there to tell them what's what. Your boss thanked me and then asked me to relay a message."

Sarah prayed for something simple. "What did Avalon say?"

"That everyone is relieved that you and Julia are safe. Avalon also said that you and Clementine have until tomorrow to recharge."

"Thank you. I appreciate what you did."

Jenny gave her a kind smile. "You're welcome, and take care, Sarah. I'll see you around."

Sarah nodded in understanding.

So Jenny departed for her office. "I need to show you something in my lab."

Sarah desperately wanted to leave, but now she was curious. "Okay. Let's go."

She followed Abby away to the lift. Clementine and Scout tagged along.

"So as I understand it," Abby said when they were in her work room. "Lance Corporal Baranski's last act was to compose a text to Sarah."

The younger woman was taken aback. "Really? I had had any contact with him since the gala."

"He was never able to send it. On another note, during the investigation, Tim and Tony encountered Audrey Wildwood."

Both journalists gaped at her.

"Excuse me?" Sarah blurted. "What did she have to do with all this?"

"It's a long story, but part of it is that Baranski had already sought her out for help just before things began unraveling." Abby went on. "She also said that Baranski asked her to hold something… in the case of an emergency event."

Sarah spoke tartly. "My ex is dead now, and that's about as bottom-line as it gets. What did he gave Audrey? I want to see it."

Abby handed her the correct evidence bag. "It's a sealed letter. I have it because I needed to analyze it for prints. All the red tape's been cut through, so it's yours now. Free and clear."

"Much obliged."

Sarah opened the evidence bag and extracted the letter from its envelope.

"I'm going to read this aloud because I don't have the brainpower to give important information twice."

The other women gave nods of understanding, so she began.

"Sarah—

I am so sorry for how I've treated you since you first told me about the baby. Calling that announcement blindsiding was an understatement. It was even more blindsiding when we ran into each other at the gala. Our lives never seem to be quiet.

Something is coming. I don't want to tell you what it is because you don't need to be involved. You don't deserve this mess. Nobody does. I'm stuck, and now I have to see it through.

Sorry if that sounds like something out of a movie.

I want to talk to you if I make it alive. Not about us as a couple, because I doubt that could ever happen again. But we did make a child together. I've changed my mind about wanting to get to know them. God's honest truth. All I want to do is talk about them. Perhaps I could even be involved from afar. Please think about it. But I do understand if you say no.

And… if I don't make it out alive, tell our child something about how I tried. Please? You don't ever have to tell them what my name is. Just tell them that I tried.

To that end, if or when you make it back towards the mansion, go to the First National Bank on Petroville Street. Deposit box 305 is mine. I'm officially leaving its assets to you and the baby. Arrangements will be made if things do take a turn for the worse. Get in touch with Melissa. She'll know.

I'm so sorry that I hurt you. So sorry.

I also understand if you don't want anything do with me. Truly. I was a jerk. I won't deny it. That would make things even more unbecoming. But I do hope that you can forgive me. One day.

Hoping to see you when this is all over,

Ian"

There was a heavy pause when Sarah had finished reading.

"I'm not even sure what to say at the moment." she admitted. "This is the same guy who told me to go away by cutting me a generous check. It's in the same bank that he mentioned, so I guess we'll be in Louisiana for awhile. Good thing we submitted our travel proposal before the Hildebrands arrived."

"That answers that question." Abby chirped. "What are you guys going to do now?"

Sarah shrugged as Clementine helped her to her feet. "Go upstairs and see about getting out of here, I guess."

"The bullpen was actually my next stop. I need to talk to Gibbs." Abby made herding motions with her arms. "Off to the elevator."

When the trio emerged from the lift and strolled to the center of where the Major Critical Response Team's desks were, Tony grew surprised.

"You guys are still here?" he said. "Are you okay?"

Sarah nodded. "I will be, Tony. Thanks."

Gibbs walked over to them. "Do you need a lift?"

"We do." Clementine said quickly.

"Alright. We'll take care of that." Gibbs turned his look on the second-in-command. "Front and center."

Tony responded by hurrying over quickly. "I'm playing chauffeur?"

"Bingo. And you're also going to take our friends for food."

"Yes, boss."

"Hey." Sarah said suddenly. "Where's Tim?"

From her desk, Ziva pointed to the far end of the room. "There."

Indeed, McGee could seen disembarking the lift. He looked puzzled.

"What's happening?" he asked nervously.

Gibbs filled him in. "DiNozzo is going to Sarah and Clementine a lift out of here."

"Boss, shouldn't I—"

"You snooze, you lose." Gibbs teased gently. "And you also need to slow down for awhile."

McGee recognized the wisdom of Gibbs' words and conceded.

Walking over to Sarah and Clementine, he said, "Go do what you have to. Abby and I will see you at home."

"Alright, but are you okay?"

"Yeah." McGee said with an air of casualness. "I was just upstairs telling Director Shepard that I'm all good. Nothing to worry about."

Both journalists believed him, and gave the MCRT a full round of good-byes and thank yous before finally departing. Tony brought up the rear. McGee returned to his desk. He needed to begin his post-case report.

Gibbs moved to the last person left standing. Abby.

"What do you need?" he asked her. "To get all of the daycare stuff out of your lab?"

"Mhm. It's like you know me."

"I think a little too well sometimes," Gibbs winked. "But ask the director. I know for a fact that the people down there like her. She could get them to step on the gas."

Abby saluted him in thanks.

One quick visit to Jenny's office later, and Abby soon found herself watching a number of the more muscular employees from the childcare wing move those borrowed items out. They were all gone as quickly as they had come.

Abby found herself sighing in regret when they left. Now it was her turn to begin post-case procedures. The old grindstone.

Hopefully, they wouldn't have any more over-the-top cases for awhile.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Life at the McGee-Scuito house was very subdued by the time everyone was home for the night.

Although... Rubyjane found herself wandering from room to room. She was looking for one person in particular.

"There you are, auntie!"

Rubyjane had accomplished her mission.

Amused, Sarah beckoned to her niece.

Rubyjane ran to the bed and climbed up, settling herself in Sarah's lap.

"I missed you today." Sarah told her.

"Me, too! You!" Rubyjane hugged her. "Mommy said that you had a bad day…"

"I did. That's true, but it's all better now. You make my heart happy whenever I see you."

Rubyjane beamed at the praise, but changed thoughts at top speed. "How is the baby?"

"Just chilling out. Thanks for asking."

"I just love you." Rubyjane said simply. "And the baby."

Sarah gave Rubyjane another hug. Even these quiet moments with her pint-sized buddy always cheered her up.

"Auntie?" Rubyjane said after a pause.

"Yes?" asked Sarah, very patient.

"Are you leaving?" Rubyjane was now pointing to where Sarah's best travel suitcase lay open at the end of the bed.

"I am." Sarah confirmed. "And so is Auntie Clementine."

"What about me?" came a few voice.

Clementine was just walking into the room, with Scout scampering along beside her.

"Ruby spotted my luggage." Sarah told Clementine.

"Oh, I see. Hang on a second."

Clementine paused and gave Scout a boost onto Sarah's bed. The little dog immediately laid on her back and began to doze. It wasn't long before cute snoring sounds could be heard.

Laughing, Clementine spoke again. "What have you told our little visitor?"

"Nothing because you dropped from the ceiling. Did you finish talking to your parents?"

"Yep. Mom said we can make ourselves at home."

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God. I don't mind hotels, but I really do love your parents' place. Being around them will be nice."

Rubyjane surveyed both aunts as she started connecting the dots. "You're going to nana's and papa's?"

"We are." Clementine said to her. "Traveling is part of our job."

"You write stories and take pictures. Lots of people see them."

"Correct. We aren't leaving for a small number of sleeps, which means that we'll still be here when you wake up."

Rubyjane gave her own sigh of relief. "Good."

Sarah quickly tacked on, "We'll bring you back presents. How does that sound?"

"Way good." Rubyjane blew her a kiss. "Thank you!"

Sarah grinned at her, suppressing a laugh when she saw the little girl begin to rub her eyes.

Clementine showed Rubyjane a remote control from Sarah's bedside table. It was for the television set on the opposite wall.

"Do you want to watch cartoons until you fall asleep?" she asked Rubyjane.

She gave immediate protest, albeit punctured by a large yawn. "But I'm not tired."

"I think you are." Sarah spread a blanket across her while Clementine turned on the television and began channel-surfing. "But that's fine. Just rest."

Rubyjane yawned again. "Okay…"

She was asleep within fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, Abby was in the kitchen.

Dinner had been had and cleaned up.

Clementine had long since returned from her walk with Scout.

Rubyjane had had her bath and was in her pajamas.

Bills had been paid. A fire was roaring in the fireplace. Loads of laundry were being run.

Sarah was packing for an upcoming business trip.

The house was locked up.

By all accounts, everything was normal.

But Abby's brain had yet to slow down.

McGee interrupted her thoughts as he came in from the garage.

"Found it." he showed Abby his phone as he set it on the counter beside the door. "It must have slipped out of my pocket while I was driving."

Abby laughed. "Then your crisis is averted."

Moments before, McGee had had a small rout of panic when realizing that he couldn't find his phone. It had been on the floor of his car.

When he sat with Abby at the table, he was quick to notice that something seemed a little off. "Are you alright? You've been quiet since we came home."

Abby spoke with honesty. "Days like today take a lot out of me, but outcomes like what we had remind me why we do what we do. I couldn't imagine working anywhere else."

"Same here." McGee then checked the time on his wristwatch. "Hey, the original Bladerunner starts on channel ten in a few minutes. Where is Ruby?"

"Upstairs, probably with Sarah and Clementine. She told me a few minutes ago that she was going to look for them."

McGee arched an eyebrow. "And was she yawning?"

"Oh, you bet. She'll be a sleep soon." Abby smirked. "We both know that our sisters will put Ruby in her bed when she finally does hit the hay."

This was an established fact because it had happened before.

"Our girl is very spoiled."

"Totally." agreed McGee. "You in for the movie?"

"Mhm." Abby stood and stretched. "I'll get the popcorn bags out. Butter for you, cheesy for me."

"Sounds good." McGee kissed Abby. "We'll check on Ruby at the first commercial break."

"That is a perfect plan."

McGee headed for the living room.

Abby ambled about in the kitchen, getting the popcorn ready. She even made fun drinks. How she loved the quiet moments like this.

But… she had been thinking of something else altogether when McGee had spotted her. She just wasn't sure why she hadn't shared it. Maybe it was because she was just trying to leave work at work.

Her thoughts had been on Tony and Ziva.

Both of their fathers were in town. Would they all be dining together? Had they, already? What would that kind of gathering even be like?

Abby had seen her friends conspiring together about this matter before the MCRT had cut out from NCIS for the night. It had taken a great of restraint not to pry into their chat. The day had been so long.

On the whole, Abby elected to let the sleeping digs lie. She'd ask tomorrow.

Besides—there were better things to do. Like watching a movie with her love.