McGee paused at his desk just long enough to drop his things off before trekking down to Abby's lab. He found Abby at her desk. Abby's hands were folded over her big middle. And she was just staring into space. The whole area was also very quiet.

She softened up when she saw him. "I had turn the music off to talk the baby down from a kicking storm. How did things go? Were you able to find Jessica?"

McGee sighed. "Ziva saw it happen, but Jessica took her own life."

Abby's heart took an express train to the floor. "Annalynn will be crushed! What the hell happened?!"

McGee relayed the events to Abby, saying when he was finished, "Now I feel responsible for Annalynn."

"Welcome to the club." Abby held out a hand-written letter that had been on her desk. "I found one one of the treasures that Annalynn was guarding. Read it."

McGee realized that Abby wouldn't be saying anything else until he did. So took the papers and began to read.

For Abby & Tim

This is Jessica Xander. I work on the Major Critical Response Team floor, but in the foreign affairs area of the room.

We have some important things to discuss.

My late husband wasn't Annalynn's biological father. I cheated and have kept the secret ever since. Not once did Soren ever figure out. Poor bastard.

I cheated with Lieutenant Onyx Clarkson, just before I was transferred to Japan and Soren was deployed. Am I proud? No. But my indiscretion gave me Annalynn Violet. She's a dream.

What happened with Onyx was a one-time drunken event in a bar. Neither of us even exchanged names. Why did I do it? I'd just gotten into a fight with my husband and chose to blow off some steam. Clearly, I went overboard. Soren and I left the country twenty-four hours later. I never saw Onyx alive again.

By now, it's probably clicked for you that my Annalynn and your Rubyjane are related. I started putting the pieces together after Annalynn asked me to save a picture of the two of them from a classroom event. The girls look too much alike to be a coincidence. Everything finally fell into place during the time your team handled Onyx's case. I saw his picture on the plasma screen. With Rubyjane's.

I had no idea that Rubyjane existed until I even saw her picture for the first time. To that end, I don't know who Rubyjane's biological mother is. I certainly hadn't any inkling that Onyx was just as wicked as I am.

Perhaps a soul like mine is only ever capable of attracting souls like his.

Annalynn just turned three on Christmas Day. She was born when Soren was deployed. Onyx's name is on Annalynn's birth certificate. All Soren wanted when he was home was to be with Annalynn, so he never looked at the details. He very trusting. And I abused it. Soren was also KIA before I could come clean about what I'd done.

By the way, my daughter wasn't born deaf. The short version is that major illness and a seizure took her hearing when Annalynn was a few months old. She's lucky it didn't take anything else.

Then there's the rest of this mess... What money I have is running low. I'm afraid I can't provide for my own child much longer. The only feasible option to make more money was to take a position on a ship. I'm very qualified. My plan was to ask Onyx to keep Annalynn for me since bringing her along was not an option. But Onyx went haywire before I could even approach him.

And then you two ended up with Rubyjane.

So I came up with a new plan. Wait for her to settle and then give Annalynn to your family. I'm just sorry that my only way out is my death.

Please let Annalynn grow up with Rubyjane. There is no one else left for her. There is no possible way I know anything about Onyx's kinfolk. Annalynn loves Rubyjane. Talks about her constantly. Your daughter is all my daughter is going to have left.

I hope the two of you can bring Annalynn into your lives. Tell her that we loved her very much. But just don't tell Annalynn about Onyx until she's a legal adult. Of course... I'm such a goddamn train-wreck that you two don't have to listen to me.

Annalynn deserves a normal kind of life with a normal life. That's what we weren't able to give her. But you two could. If you chose to.

Thanks for your tome.

Sincerely,

Intelligence Analyst Jessica Marie Xander

McGee set the letter down. A slew of emotions coursed through his body. Once again, a kid had found their way into his life in an unconventional way. Just like Rubyjane had. More déja vù than ever. And... just like Rubyjane had, Annalynn had gone straight to his heart. Part of McGee had even hoped after seeing the little girl that she was related to Rubyjane. Why? Simply because he'd wanted his daughter to have a playmate her own age.

But his wish had come true.

McGee set the letter down and turned to his fiancée. "Oh..."

Abby was in tears. Like someone had unstopped a dam of water. But she was pleased when McGee helped her through it very patiently.

"I can't let Annalynn vanish into oblivion." Abby finally said when she was calmer and cleaned up. "She and Ruby are already best friends, but they're also siblings."

"And sisters to Riversong." McGee added. "Both of them are along linked for life because of who their father was."

McGee kissed Abby and then knelt in front of her. "We won't let it happen. Annalynn went straight to my heart when I saw her at the house. Part of me imagine some reality on the spot where they were siblings. I also saw the resemblance between them. My imagining came true... but at a horrible price now."

"A very sad truth. I also don't blame you for thinking the way that you did." Abby took McGee's hands in hers. "Rubyjane loves people, but is almost always around adults all the time. I can't begin to imagine her thoughts on the matter. But it helps that she and Annalynn are close like they are."

Abby heaved a sigh.

"But what about now, Tim? After Jessica's letter? We're looking at so much more trauma than we saw with Rubyjane."

"I think," McGee moved forward even more and put his hands on Abby's burgeoning middle. "That our next kid just fell out of the sky. I also love Annalynn already. Truly. I also know I'm ready to help her out. However she needs it."

A huge weight lifted from Abby's shoulders immediately. "Thank you. I love you."

McGee kissed her again. "Did we just agree to bring Annalynn into our family?"

"Mhm." Abby tapped the letter envelope again. "I found notarized adoption papers in here, along with Annalynn's important documents and all of her medical records."

"Wow." McGee paused. "I—"

But anything else he was going to say was cut off when they heard the elevator ding out in the hallway. Visitors.

The couple stood quickly. Four people had come calling now. Gibbs. Director Lauren McGarry. And Morgan Barrios. It was time for a different chat.

Jenny spoke first. "Gibbs just told me what happened. I told Lauren and Morgan. Please allow me to express my condolences."

"Thank you, director." Abby and McGee said together.

Director McGarry furrowed an eyebrow. "The only thing I'm having trouble on is why did Jessica lead you all around."

Abby offered her insight. "I think that Jessica Xander executed her 'grand finale' to make sure everyone was paying attention. Her mind was made up. But she just needed to make sure people were looking."

Jenny told her, "That's a good theory. Probably the best one we'll have."

Gibbs nodded in agreement.

Morgan blurted, "What will happen to Annalynn? Foster care?"

"Uh-uh." said Abby. "We just finished discussing a long letter that Jessica left personally to the two of us."

"Oh, boy." said Gibbs. "Did she explain herself?"

McGee nodded. "Yes, boss. It also explains why 'I know what you did' was written on Jessica's living room wall. Turns out that Rubyjane and Annalynn are half-sisters."

"What?!" the visitors yelped.

"I know it sounds made up, but it's all true."

Jenny's heart skipped a beat, like she'd missed a step. "Do you mean to tell me that Lieutenant Onyx Clarkson slept with two different women around the same time a little over three years back? And both of them got pregnant?"

"Yes, m'am." Abby confirmed. "That's right."

"And you did say that one time that Rubyjane never quite knew her birth mother because she abandoned her when she was teeny tiny, not long before overdosing."

Abby just nodded but said nothing.

McGarry sighed. "What a rough start."

Morgan gave a nod. "What about Annalynn's mother? Director Shepard said she was a war widow."

Abby spoke again. "To make a long story short, Jessica cheated with Rubyjane's dad just before she was transferred to Japan. Her husband was deployed at the same time. Annalynn was born while Jessica's husband was away."

"And he never had a clue about it. How sad is that?"

"Unfortunately, I've heard sadder." Gibbs reflected. "And I take it that Onyx never knew about his other child?"

"That's right." McGee told him.

Jenny spoke in another 'thinking aloud' tone. "And what? Jessica's first plan was to leave Annalynn with Onyx for her own reasons, but she was too late because he died?"

"Yes." Abby said. "That's exactly what happened. Her second plan was to wait for Ruby to settle with us before going though the events of today."

"Madness. And she asked the two of you to take her child because she connected the dots on her own." Jenny shook her head in a fascinated wonder. "Brilliantly mad."

"We're going to tell Annalynn as soon as possible." McGee told her. "I imagine that we're also going to get Rubyjane soon."

"In that case," Morgan chimed in. "I'll go get her things together."

"I have some items to take care of in my office now." McGarry said in a 'that's that' tone. "And thanks for keeping us in the loop. We appreciate it. Please excuse us now."

Abby and McGee thanked the educators and watched them leave. Gibbs tagged along. He had an after-action report to work on. And he already knew what the next part of the conversation would be about.

Jenny remained behind and said gently to her friends, "How are you two? Quite a lot has been dumped into your laps again."

"A lot has been dumped into our laps, but we're going to tackle it." Abby told her.

"She's right." agreed McGee. "It's going to be harder this time for obvious reasons. We're also going to have to figure out how to tell Rubyjane and Annalynn that they're sisters. That'll be a trip."

Jenny chose her words carefully. "All of us are very sympathetic of the situation, and as such… I have an offer."

"Yes?" McGee said curiously.

"Take the rest of the week off to be with your family. Annalynn and Rubyjane are both going to need it."

Of all the things that Director Shepard could have said, neither Abby nor McGee had been expecting such a kind gesture. Especially because this was Monday.

"R-really, m'am?" sputtered McGee.

"Yes. Really." Jenny replied. "I've already made the arrangements with Gibbs."

Then she turned to Abby.

"I understand that you have a 'how-to' manual for this place?"

Abby nodded again. "Yes, but make sure Gibbs tags Jimmy in to work things."

"Okay. I'll pass that message along later on." Jenny surveyed the couple again. "One thing I would like for you two to do while you're out this week is write up reports about what happened today, and email them to me at your earliest convenience."

"It sounds doable." Abby said confidently.

"Excellent. The other favor I ask is that one of you calls me on Sunday night so I can see where your heads are." Jenny then tacked on one last thought. "And yes, I will see to it that the time off is paid."

"We can definitely check in, too." McGee told the director. "Thanks for everything."

Abby gave an emphatic nod. "Yes. Thank you, m'am."

Jenny smiled warmly at her friends now. "You are both very welcome. Best of luck with everything. I will also send you a contact of mine who can help with legal issues."

They thanked her yet again and watched as she also made her exit.

"Time to go get Ruby?" Abby asked when she saw Jenny step on to the elevator and the doors close.

"It is." McGee said. "How about you do what you need to do here, and then we can go up to the bullpen together?"

Abby followed through on the suggestion.

"Do you have a clue about how we'll explain this to our parents?" she asked when she'd finished. "Or Sarah and Clementine?"

"I don't." McGee admitted. "My biggest goal now is to just get from here to my desk.

Abby crossed the room and pulled McGee into a hug. The weight of all that had happened was yet hitting him. Of course Abby also felt it. But she was determined not to have a cry until she was home. Still, she was going to show McGee the grace he had shown her earlier.

"The rest of the world can wait for a few more minutes." Abby fell into McGee's arms when he returned the hug. "We'll cross the bridges of talking to the girls when we get there. For now, you and I are going to have a moment that is only ours."

Abby and McGee held each other. Everything else was quiet. They were each other's anchors. And it was enough.

"The rest of the world can wait." Abby repeated. "We'll be okay."

And they continued holding each other. For a few more minutes.

Before the world interrupted. It was going to be very crazy. And then some.

But… one certainty was very solid.

Their lives would never be the same again.