Title: I Need to Go Home
Summary: Sequel to Help Me Remember. Charlotte Gibbs is not happy. She is desperate to return to DC. However, her mother won't let her go. But Charli won't take no for an answer.
Second Summary: Despite being nearly 20 years old, Leading Senior Sergeant Charlotte Gibbs is a prisoner in her home in Philly with her mother, Stephanie, her step-father, Markus and her half-sister, Zoey. Her mother has her now and doesn't plan to let her go back to her father anytime soon. So, Charli puts in a transfer and her mother can't stop her.
Disclaimer: I only own Charlotte, Allison, Zoey, Markus, Liam and Heath.
A/N: I have been requested by most of my reviewers to write this. But I would like to clear up something. In the prequel to this Help Me Remember the girls are 18 years old, so anyone who read that and thinks that I had statutory rape with Krystal and Caleb, she was legal age.
Charlotte Gibbs – affectionately known as CJ by her station mates – smoothed down her uniform. She sighed pinning her name badge on her left breast.
Leading Snr Sergeant
C.J. Flynn
She had filled out the application herself, and she knew she'd signed it Charlotte J. Gibbs. But she guessed her mother had gotten to it and signed Flynn instead of Gibbs.
Her mother was trying to trap her there in Philly. She hated that her mother had such a hold on her life. She was an adult. She didn't need to be controlled; she knew her father wouldn't. The only thing she hadn't done was put a lock on her bedroom door and chain her to her bed so keep her there forever. She was not about the just let her daughter go back to her father. Stephanie was being spiteful and Charlotte hated her for it. The only reason she was still there had been because she had to wait until her transfer was approved.
Then there was her step-father, Markus. He was nice enough and he was probably the one that told Stephanie not to lock her up. He respected Charlotte and knew she was a woman who knew what she wanted and he had said once or twice that if she wanted to go back to DC, he wouldn't stop her. Markus liked Charlotte and the feeling was mutual. Of all the men in the world to choose from, Stephanie had chosen a man who Charlotte liked. But he would never be dad to Charlotte.
And finally, there was Zoey. Stephanie finally got her Zoey. After the argument with Gibbs when they were married that their daughter would be Charlotte and not Zoey, Stephanie had another daughter, 8 years younger than Charlotte and called her Zoey. Zoey was a small, slightly chubby 11-year-old, with long red hair and dark green eyes. She was the complete opposite of Charlotte. She was also a whiner. She whined about everything! It was too hot, it was too cold, it snowed too much, her room was too pink, Charlotte's room was bigger than hers, why did Charlotte get a car and she didn't…everything!
Charlotte looked at the reflection in her mirror again and sighed, today she was going to put in for her transfer and when it was approved, she was moving back to DC. She was going back to her family and she wasn't ever going to move away again. DC was home and always had been. She missed her father so much it hurt. And now she had her memories back, she missed everyone.
"You did what?!" Stephanie snapped.
"You can't stop me, Mom. I'm going back to DC; I have my memories back and being here…is just filling me with bad ones." Charlotte shuddered, "plus my transfer to Metro PD has been approved. Philly PD does need me. And I'm kind of sick and tired of listened to Scott Valens go on and on and on about Lily Rush."
"What do you mean? You have a little sister who loves you." Stephanie said, clearly ignoring one of her daughter's reasons for leaving.
"Because I've told her she can have my room when I leave! She hates the fact that I have a bigger room, that I have a car, that I don't have a curfew because of my job! You just don't listen when she whines!" Charlotte snarled.
"Your father won't want you. He'll have changed your room into something else." Stephanie tried to tell her that she'd been forgotten, but if there was one thing she knew of her father, it was that he never forgot anyone he loved. From Shannon and Kelly to her.
"Newsflash, when his first wife Shannon and his daughter Kelly died – he did two things. One – he never slept in the master bedroom for years! And he never changed Kelly's room until he had me. That's like nearly 18 years!" Charlotte snapped.
"He hasn't seen you in two years! He won't know you!" Stephanie growled.
"He'll know me. Because he is my father. And Father never forgets – but you know, I'm willing to take my chances." Charlotte snarled.
"Your car's all packed, Charli. Ready when you are." Markus said as he entered the house.
"You even got your step-father in on this?" Stephanie asked.
"Of course, I did. Mark and I get along." Charlotte replied, flippantly.
"You call him 'Mark'. Yet, you won't call him, 'Dad'." Stephanie said.
"He's not my 'Dad'. He's my step-father. No offence, Mark." Charlotte gifted the man with a smile. He shrugged unphased.
"None taken. You're right. I'm not your 'dad'. Mark is fine." He said.
"Ok, well, I'm leaving." Charlotte announced.
"Good luck, Charli." A hand landed on her shoulder.
"Thanks, Mark." Charlotte smiled and walked out of the door.
The Metro PD station wasn't as imposing as she thought it would be. She had gone straight there after arriving. She took a deep breath before pushing open the door and she let a smile settle on her face at the noise in the squadroom.
"Help you?" Asked a young officer.
"I need to see your lieutenant." Charlotte explained, looking around the squadroom.
"She expecting you?" He asked, leading her across the room.
"Yeah. I'm just transferred from Philly PD." She said.
"Oh! You're CJ Flynn, right?" He said, realizing that he'd heard that she was arriving.
"Well…it's actually CJ Gibbs, but my mother wanted me to use her name, not my dad's." Charlotte explained carefully. There was little doubt that a lot of Metro PD knew of her father, and his reputation of being the biggest hard-ass in law enforcement.
"Gibbs…like…The Gibbs? NCIS?" He paused and looked at her.
"That's the one. But let's keep that between us." She nodded.
"You got it. Wow. Law enforcement royalty. Lieutenant Mills? CJ Flynn here to see you." He said, poking his head into the office they stood outside of.
"Thank-you Liam." The older woman said glancing at them.
"Officer Liam MacIntosh. Pleasure to meet you." He said, holding out his hand. Charlotte grinned in return, he was cute and really nice. She realized that he had green-eyes the same colour as Tim's and his hair was a caramel brown colour – like Jimmy's.
"Same." She agreed.
"Come in, Charlotte. Can I call you Charlotte?" The Lieutenant asked, with a smile shaking her hand.
"Sure, but I prefer Charli." Charlotte said.
"Charli, it is." The Lieutenant caught Charlotte watching Liam, "I wouldn't bother." She said.
"Oh, yeah? Why's that? He married?" Charlotte asked.
"No." She said, "He's gay."
Charlotte had debated about calling her father or Tony before moving into her apartment. But decided against it. She'd call after she was settled. Unfortunately, once she was settled, she had to start at Metro. Partnered with Liam for most of the time. Soon enough she'd been in DC for six weeks and hadn't yet contacted her family to let them know she was back. She was sitting at her desk in the station slowly typing her report up.
"You ok, CJ?" Liam asked, Liam was the only one who called her CJ. Everyone else called her 'Charlotte' or 'Charli'. But it was only Liam who knew she was Charlotte Gibbs, not Flynn.
"Yeah, I'm ok, Lee. Just thinking that it's been six weeks and I haven't contacted my dad or my friends yet. They think I'm still in Philly with my mom and step-dad." Charlotte said honestly.
"Why were you in Philly, if you don't mind." He said, she had never told him the reason from her moving to Philly from DC and back again.
"Not at all. When I was 18, there was shooting at my school. My two friends and I were shot. Kayla in the leg, Allison in the shoulder and mine…" she trailed off before reaching out and moving her hair out of the way where on her scalp stood a scar. Her hair had grown enough to cover it but she still knew it was there.
"Wow…so you were shot in the head?" He was shocked, he'd not known anyone to survive that.
"Yeah, obviously I was lucky that it didn't penetrate deep enough to kill me, but I was in a coma for about a month. And I lost my memories. I could remember bits and pieces and they came back a bit. I was given photos and they helped. But when I was released, I found that I couldn't deal with the looks and the walking-on-eggshells mentality that people had around me. Like they thought I would break or something. So, I ran away to Philly to rest and regain my memories in my own time. I finished my schooling there and then went into the academy then worked my way up in Philly PD." She said, she'd never told anyone the whole story, not even Mark.
"That's quite a story. So why haven't you called your dad yet?" Liam asked.
"I haven't thought about it. I was thrown in the deep end when I got here and I have been so dead tired after I just haven't had the energy to deal with it." Charlotte said.
"You never know. Our next case could be Navy or Marine. Then you'd have to talk to them. But it's probably it's best if you call them first." Liam said.
"Yeah…we'll see. I have to finish this first." Charlotte agreed, turning back to her report.
"I'll finish it, you go home. Order Chinese or Italian or something for dinner and call your dad and your friends." Liam said.
"No, it's ok-" Liam cut her off.
"No, it's not ok. Your family deserve to know you're home. Look, if it was me and I hadn't seen Heath in 2 years, then I'd be chomping at the bit to talk to him again. Go home, CJ. Call you father, call your friends. Let them know you're ok." He said.
"If you're sure." She said, pulling her jacket on and picking up her bag.
"I'm sure. Go." He said, she grinned at him leaning forward she kissed his cheek, wished him a goodnight telling him to tell Heath she says hi and then she leaves the station, side-stepping a crack-addict that had been brought in.
"See you later. Gorgeous." He hissed.
"Not likely. Dick." She replied and left without a backwards glance.
"I'd be careful if I were you," Liam warned.
"Oh yeah? Why's that? Are you her boyfriend?" The addict snapped.
"No. Her old man's a former marine sniper, and still a crack shot." Liam said.
It was quiet in the squad room, as Tony, Tim and Ellie Bishop finished their reports on their latest case and none of them expected the call that came on their boss' phone.
"Yeah, Gibbs." He answered his team paused in their typing, watching his face and the colour draining from it wasn't what they expected.
"Daddy?" was the whispered reply.
"Charli?" He asked, Tony and Tim's head shot up from their computers.
"Yeah…hi." She laughed.
"What…uh…" He seemed to be lost for words.
"I'm back in DC, Dad. Have been for six weeks. I've been busy at my new job. Haven't had the time to call." She said.
"That's ok, baby. Where are you?" He asked.
"I'm living in an apartment in Alexandria. Not far from work." She replied.
"What…what is work, Charli?" He asked.
"Metro PD. I started at Philly PD when I was with mom and Mark. Leading Senior Sergeant CJ Flynn. Mom's idea. I'm still Flynn right now – no stigma like with the Gibbs name. Only my partner knows I'm Charlotte Gibbs." She said.
"Not your boss?" He asked.
"She'd ask too many questions." Charlotte said, and she would. When Liam had told her how he told Mills he was gay she had asked if it would affect his work and could he keep both lives separate. But made it like 20 questions.
"Stacy was always inquisitive." He laughed.
"Stacy Mills? You know her well?" Charlotte teased.
"Met a couple of times. I haven't dated or slept with her." He told her firmly.
"Good. That would be weird." Charlotte laughed.
"It's good to hear your voice, Charli." He said honestly.
"You too, Dad. Tell Tony I send my love." She replied.
"I'm sure he knows, Charli. I'm sure Tony knows." He whispered before they said goodbye and promise to catch up for cowboy steaks soon.
"I told you to be careful what you wish for." Liam teased when he pointed out the dog-tags around their victim's neck.
"Yeah, you did. I called my dad last week though, so this won't be so awkward, I hope." She flipped open her phone and called straight to NCIS.
"Yeah, Gibbs." She smiled at the gruff greeting.
"Special Agent Gibbs. Senior Sergeant Flynn, Metro." She said.
"Yeah?" He snapped.
"Got one of yours. Marine, Jefferson Memorial." She said.
"On our way." He snapped his phone shut, cutting her off.
"Was that so hard?" Liam grinned.
"Funny, MacIntosh. Real funny." She said, sarcastically.
"Only my best for you, Flynn." He grinned.
"Whatever, Lee." Until NCIS arrived, Charlotte and Liam cordoned off the crime scene – the entire memorial and several meters out from it. They hadn't touched the body knowing that they shouldn't until the ME got there.
"Special Agents Gibbs, DiNozzo, McGee and Bishop." Charlotte stiffened; she hadn't spoken to Tony yet.
"Sergeant Flynn, Officer MacIntosh." Charlotte said turning, "jogger found the body this morning before the festivities started."
"Festivities?" The woman – Bishop – asked.
"It's cherry blossom season. So, it kind of disrupted the festival." She said, "we haven't touched or moved the body. It's over on the steps. We found his wallet, doesn't appear to have been a robbery, cash and cards still intact."
"Ok, Bishop start taking photos, Tim – bag and tag. Tony…" Gibbs turned when he didn't hear a response from Tony. His 2IC was staring at Charlotte, "DiNozzo! In your own time!"
"Sorry, Boss." Tony turned to his superior.
"Get some interviews from the any witnesses." Gibbs sighed shaking his head. Tony gave Charlotte one last look before turning to Liam who was pointing out the witnesses they had rounded up.
"They only saw the victim after the fact. None of them seem to have seen the actual murder." Liam said as they walked away.
"Well, maybe they saw something, just didn't realize it." Tony replied.
"Hey. I know you and CJ are close – but you don't have to pull a big brother act with me. Ok? Not interested." Liam said.
Tony turned to look at him, "Why not? She's a pretty girl, smart and funny."
"She's cute, sure. And really nice, sweet, smart and funny. But we play on different teams. And I'm married. Happily, for 4 years." Liam said.
"Oh, so you're…you know." Tony made a clicking noise with his tongue.
"Gay? Yeah. So don't worry about it. She's safe with me." Liam grinned.
Tony decided he didn't like Liam. Liam was cocky, young and a little too cool. Charlotte laughed when Tony explained to her why he disliked her partner. They were making Tony's famous pasta alla Norma.
"So…basically he's you." She giggled, grating Grana Padano.
"What? He's nothing like me! And honestly, I don't believe he's gay for a second." Tony protested, turning from the sauce he was stirring.
"You can tell me that again after you meet Heath. Liam's husband, who is a student doctor at Bethesda. He's studying under Dr Pitt." Charlotte explained.
"I didn't know that Brad took students." Tony said.
"Most Doctors are ok with students shadowing them. They know what it was like so why not?" Charlotte said, dusting her hands and putting the Padano back in the fridge.
"I just didn't picture Brad letting someone shadow him." Tony said.
"Whatever. Liam is gay and he's a good friend of mine." Charlotte said.
"Okay, I'll give him a chance. But only because you are my little sister and you vouch for him." Tony said.
"Well, you'd better. He and Heath will be here in twenty minutes. And Dad not long after." Charlotte said.
"Then I'd better go and make myself scarce for a while." Tony said.
"Why don't you leave dinner to me and go home and change?" She suggested.
"I'll see you later then? Be back in about an hour and a half." Tony said.
"You'd better be." She laughed.
Liam and Heath arrived at 6pm promptly. Heath hated being late for anything, so he usually arrived early and if he could, he'd help. But Charlotte shooed them both out of the kitchen and handed them both a beer before telling them to make themselves at home and look around.
"Nice place, CJ." Liam called.
"Thanks! My dad likes it too. He should be here in about ten minutes." She called back. Heath was standing near her fireplace looking at the photos there. Liam knew about some of these so as he stood next to Heath, he pointed out the people he knew and who was coming tonight to the 'family dinner'. From Gibbs, Tony, Tim and Ducky to Abby and Jimmy. But then there were others he didn't know. And they confused him.
Even though he knew Charlotte was very family orientated he was surprised at the vast array of photos on the mantle. He knew she had two on her desk at the station but they were different from the ones here in her home. On her desk was one of her and her father at her first day of school; the other of her and two other girls, grinning madly. Here they were more personal and meant more to her then those. He smiled as he identified each of the people in the photos.
Her father and the team – a rare smile on his face. It looked to be taken candidly at a party. A birthday perhaps?
A photo of Gibbs and Tony, both laughing. Charlotte had taken this; she had told Liam she loved seeing her father and 'big brother' laughing and having fun together.
A photo of Gibbs and a pretty redheaded woman and a young girl. Liam didn't know them as Charlotte hadn't shared that part of her life with him. But, he figured, maybe he didn't need to know.
Then another with a baby cradled in his arms, this picture was taken in a living room. This had to be Charlotte, born in 2000 and to her father's third ex-wife – whom Liam understood Charlotte didn't get along with.
A photo of Charlotte and Tony, his arms wrapped around her 10-year-old waist and lifting her off her feet. She and the older man were laughing together – this was the type of big brother relationship that she had described to Liam.
Her and the team. This was taken on a timer, he could tell by the way Gibbs was at the side of the group and not nearer to Charlotte, who was embraced by Tony again.
The last few were of Gibbs and a young Charlotte at varying ages. From newborn to 17 or 18.
Until the last photo where she had to be about 18 and she was clinging to the back of another young woman both laughing. Charlotte with her long brown hair and the other girl with blonde tips in her hair.
"Who is that?" He asked out loud, almost not expecting a response.
"My best friend. Close enough to be my sister. Allison DiNozzo." Charlotte said, joining them, "that was taken the summer between junior and senior year. We've known each other since we were 4 years old."
"Been best friends ever since." A beep baritone said, making the three turn around.
"Dad! I didn't hear you come in! Beer? Or Bourbon?" Charlotte asked.
"Beer is fine." Gibbs said with a small smile for his daughter.
"By the way," Charlotte returned handing Gibbs a beer, "you remember Liam, right? My partner at MPD? This is Liam's husband of 4 years, Heath. Heath is a Doctor at Bethesda." Charlotte said smiling. The men shook hands and fell into easy conversation. Mostly shop-talk but at least they were talking. She just hoped that Tony would also fall into easy conversation with them.
"Liam…Liam, honey – you stay with me, ok? You hear me? Don't you close those eyes. Come on, Liam. Don't let go. You're gonna take Heath to Australia for your anniversary remember? You got it all planned! You hang in there." Charli said holding tight to Liam's hand and pressing down on the wound to his shoulder, "WHERE THE HELL ARE THOSE MEDICS!"
"They're on their way. Don't let him go, hold on and press down harder." Tony said, kneeling beside her.
"It hurts, CJ." Liam coughed, blood coating his lips.
"I know, Liam. I know it hurts, but don't you dare give up on me! I am not going to let you die today. Not today." She told him. She glanced up at Tony when she heard the sirens. He got to his feet and started waving his arms to alert them where they were.
"Over here! We're over here!" Tony called out to the medics.
"Hang in there, Liam! Don't you go…don't let go." Charli said, even as Tony lifted her away as the medics got to work.
"Let them work, Charli. Come on. We'll follow them to the hospital." Tony said, Charli gripped her radio.
"Officer down, MacIntosh enroute to Mercy General." She said into her radio getting into Tony's car, "DiNozzo and Flynn following."
Charlotte sat with her head in her hands in the waiting room. Tony by her side as he watched the doors waiting for either a doctor or Nurse to come back for an update but also listening for Gibbs or Heath to join them. Whoever came first.
"Charli!" Tony looked towards the doors, Heath had arrive, Gibbs on his heels.
"Heath!" Charli was on her feet embracing the other man, "oh it was horrible."
"Have you heard anything yet?" Heath asked.
"Not yet. He's in surgery." Charlotte said.
"I'm sure he'll be ok. I know Liam, he's a fighter." Heath said.
"Charlotte." Her eyes swung to the blue ones she'd missed the most while in Philly.
"Daddy." Charlotte hugged him tightly.
"Are you ok?" Gibbs asked.
"I'm fine, Tony looked after me like always. But no piggy back rides for now." Charlotte grinned.
"Family for MacIntosh?" Both Heath and Charlotte stepped forward.
"Husband and sister." Heath said without thinking. The Doctor nodded, leading them down the hall to Liam's room.
"He's a very lucky young man. Another inch to the left and we'd be having a very different conversation." The Doctor said.
"So, he'll be ok?" Charlotte asked.
"With rest and a few weeks off work, he'll be just fine. He's going to be a load of pain when he wakes up, but for now he's comfortable. You can both go in and see him if you like." The Doctor said, with a smile.
"Thank-you." Heath breathed.
"You go in first Heath; I'll go and tell the others the good news. Have the first five minutes and I'll join you later." Charlotte said. He nodded and thanked her before pushing open the door. Charlotte returned to the waiting room but before she could say anything she was tackled to the floor by two people and she couldn't help but laugh when she realized who they were.
"Well, I'm happy to see you as well!" She laughed.
"Don't you ever leave again! Ok?" Allison punched her friends' arm.
"We missed you too much, Charli!" Kayla agreed.
"I missed you both as well. But I told my mother, I need to go home." Charlotte said, "I need to see my friends and my family." She hugged the two girls close before she was able to get up and report to the others on Liam's situation.
A/n: If you like it drop me a line and say hi! If not…don't bother.