Kellie had inhaled the first few fries and sips of the milk shake once Gibbs handed them over.
"So are you taking my statement?" Kellie asked, "Or are the other agents, cops, muckety mucks fighting for the honor."
"Someone thinks a little highly of themselves," Gibbs replied.
"You can't tell me there isn't someone looking for bragging rights to interview me," Kellie said.
"We both know you'd pull the I'm not talking without my attorney present card," Gibbs said.
"Speaking of attorneys," Ethan said peaking his head in the room, "Sonny called. Diane Miller is on her way down. Said not to give your statement until she gets here."
"I stand corrected," Gibbs said, "Your father played that card."
"I may not be giving a statement to you," Kellie said, "But I have questions."
"I may not answer them," Gibbs said.
"Manuel…what's next for him?" Kellie asked.
"Pretty good chance, he'll spend time in prison," Gibbs said, "Can't ask for more than that."
"How long until he's out?" Kellie asked, "What resources does he have?"
"Still working on it," Gibbs said.
"That medical examiner that moonlights as a forensic psychologist profile him yet?" Kellie asked.
"What are you trying to get at, Corinthos?" Gibbs asked.
"Do you think Manuel will cut his losses?" Kellie asked, "Or will he try again?"
"He better not," Gibbs said.
"I'm trying to be realistic here," Kellie said, "Figure out if this Manuel is like men I've known in the past. If he'll keep coming for Tali."
"What exactly would you do about it?" Gibbs asked.
"I don't know," Kellie said, "It's just no way for any one to live looking over their shoulder like that. Especially, a little girl, Gibbs."
"Speaking from experience," Gibbs said.
Kellie shrugged and took a drink of her milkshake.
"Look, you reunited Tali with her father," Gibbs said, "Saved her from the bad guys. That's all you had to do here, Slinger. Keeping the bastard away from her, that's our job. You're going to give your statement, go home, give your uncle some song and dance about your shenanigans, and hold your family a little tighter."
"But Gibbs," Kellie said.
"My case, my rules," Gibbs said, "Not that I imagine you're any stranger to getting your hands dirty. You certainly have some creative ways of stopping bad guys. But anything more than what you've already done is probably not a road you want to go down."
"And you know or assume this how?" Kellie asked, "Previous experience with the cartel."
Gibbs didn't answer.
"I wondered," Kellie replied, "With the kind of feud you had..."
"Knock, knock," Tony said as he and Tali entered the room. Tali was carrying a bright pink and white stuffed animal, "Tali, here wanted to meet her rescuer. Tali, this is Kellie. She's the nice lady who saved you from the kidnappers."
Tali shyly approached Kellie.
"Well, Miss Tali," Kellie said, "It's nice to formally meet you. Who's your friend?"
Tali yanked Gibbs's coat. Gibbs knelt down and Tali whispered in his ear. Gibbs smiled.
"She doesn't know," Gibbs said as Tali handed him the animal and looking at it, "You get to name the fox. It's for you."
"She wanted to get you something," Tony said.
"Thank you, Tali," Kellie said, "I think we should name her, "Sassy." What do you think?"
Tali nodded and smiled, then yawned.
"I'm going to get Tali settled at the hotel," Tony said, picking up Tali, "We'll head back to D.C. tomorrow."
"Bye, Tali," Kellie said, waving. Tali waved back.
"Kellie," Tony said, "Thank you for…"
"Don't mention it," Kellie said, "If you're ever in California, feel free stop by."
"And your goon squad?" Tony asked.
"They'll leave you alone, but only if Tali's with you," Kellie said.
As Tony and Tali left, Pride walked in.
"You ready to leave this joint, Kellie Girl," Pride asked.
"Duh," Kellie said, "But Johnny said the docs won't release because I'm not allowed to sleep and have to an adult not high dosage pain killers to check on me."
"You and the guard can crash at my place," Pride said, "The Australian if he sticks around. I prepared Jambalaya for dinner. There's plenty to go around. You too, Gibbs."
"King," Gibbs said.
"Already arranged it with the docs," Pride said, "Besides a night out in New Orleans should help keep her awake."