So I happened to have two chapters done up soI figured I'd get this one published as well. It could be a bit before I get another one posted.

Obviously I do not own anything with NCIS and I'm just playing with the characters in my own little world. I make no money from this but I do own my own original characters.

Reviews are always welcome and I'm flattered to have interest in my story.

Now onto the story, enjoy.

Chapter 2

Natalie sat sipping her chamomile tea and opened the file. The first page was her mother's birth certificate. Parents listed as mother: Mae Whitefield and father: Thomas Morrow. Her mother's full name was Mallory Elizabeth Morrow. There were legal files with Morrow paying Granny Mae a sum of money to care for her mother but then her grandmother moved away and cut off ties from Morrow. There were bank statements showing the returned checks for years. Her mother's marriage to her father was also in the file and her own birth certificate. Natalie Maureen Kane. After that was a letter from her grandfather, hand written.

Miss Kane,

I have asked Mr. Glover to search for your mother. I have been searching for Mallory for over a decade with no luck myself when I hired Ron. Ron and I went to high school together back in the day. He's informed me he has found you and rather than disturb your life too much I thought a letter may be welcome. I would like to start by giving you my condolences on your mother's passing. I'm sorry that I never got to be a part of her life like Mae and I had agreed upon. My marriage had hit a rocky point when I met Mae and started an affair. I deeply regret the pain I caused both her and my wife. Mallory was not something I was prepared to deal with when I had two boys at home. However I fell in love with my daughter the first and only time I held her. My life became complicated after your grandmother disappeared and I was not able to locate her or my only daughter.

10 years ago I was the deputy director of NCIS and thought that perhaps with my newly appointed position I could start looking for my long lost daughter in hopes of catching up. 6 months ago I hired Ron to look for her. He's given me a background on yourself and your mom but I would very much like to meet you. My wife has passed and I've already lost one son in the air force while my only remaining child is in the navy. Scott is married but he and his wife did not have children. You would be my only grandchild, if you accept me.

Natalie, I cannot begin to understand all you have been through and will understand if this is not something you wish. If that is so I will accept it. But know that I would very much like to meet with you, get to know you and you are very welcome in my family. While my wife Janet knew about your mother she never knew about you, nor have my sons Scott and Thomas Jr. You and your mother were kept secret and you can remain a secret if you wish. I understand you are starting Georgetown in the fall to complete your doctorate in Psychology. To have two masters and soon to be a doctorate under your belt at your age is truly remarkable and I want you to know how proud of you I am.

If you would like to talk, I can be made available at your convenience. Anything short of a national emergency can wait. You have my card and I've written my home and cell numbers for you. You can also reach me at NCIS in writing if you prefer. Or e-mail since the younger generation leans towards that. I do look forward to hearing from you but if not, I understand, it's a lot to accept into your life.

With warm regards,

Tom Morrow

Natalie read and re-read the letter in her grandfathers handwriting. It was clear he wanted the personal touch as opposed to a printed letter. He had nice handwriting if a little sloppy, probably from years of writing things out before computers. There was a smudge near the bottom, probably a tear she thought. It brought tears to her own eyes thinking of the hell her whole family had been through. How each member was torn away from each other. Natalie wanted to meet her grandfather. She just didn't know how. How does she contact him? A letter? Just call him out of the blue? Then what? It was almost 11 pm when Natalie made her decision.

Tom Morrow POV

As director of NCIS Tom was often at work late. Since the death of his wife Janet, from breast cancer, he didn't like going home as much. That was unless Scott was home on leave. It was a Friday night and he was going over some of the latest reports when his assistant popped her head in. "Director?" she asked.

"Cynthia I thought I told you to go home over an hour ago, its late and there's no need for you to stay" he told her looking up in surprise.

"I know sir and I was just finalizing your itinerary for next weeks defense conference but I got a call for you, I know its late and she clearly didn't think anyone would still be here…" Cynthia trailed off watching his face. "I have her on line 1, she didn't state what she wanted, but I thought it could be important if she's calling this late."

Tom nodded his head and picked up the receiver on his phone, "Thank-you Cynthia, now please go home," he ordered her gently. "Director Morrow" he stated confidently though the phone.

"Oh, um," said a sweet voice on the other end. "I'm… well. My name is Natalie Kane" and with those words Tom's heart stopped. He gave the letter to Ron earlier this week and never expected to hear from her this soon, if at all.

Clearing his throat he thought of how to respond, "Miss Kane-"

"Natalie please, or Nat" she interrupted.

"Natalie then. I am very pleased you called. I wasn't sure…" he trailed off.

She chuckled, "Neither was I to be honest."

"Are you here is DC, my understanding was you hadn't moved from New York quite yet," he asked. He heard her ascent through the phone and continued, "I'll be honest I'm not sure where to go from here and I desperately don't want to pressure you."

She chuckled again and Tom smiled at the sound. "I'm not sure either sir, but I would like to maybe sit down sometime." Tom felt himself relax. She wanted to get to know him. He was glad. He always wanted grandchildren and his eldest son was close once before his death. Scott and his wife had no interest in children. He had three fine grand-dogs. Two beautiful German Shepherds and one funny little daschund.

"I'm free whenever you would like my dear," he told her.

Natalie responded, "Well I start course planning next week and classes after that, along with my research." Tom worried it might take a bit to co-ordinate their schedules. "But I am free this weekend. Not tomorrow night though, I have a prior engagement."

"How does dinner Sunday sound?" he asked hopefully.

"I am free for dinner tomorrow if you wanted something sooner sir. My engagement is my trainer at 9:30." She gave him such hope when she said that. She wanted sooner.

"Tomorrow night then. Say 1800, sorry, 6 pm?"

Natalie chuckled for the third time during their conversation and Tom couldn't help but chuckle back. "I'm familiar with military time it's okay. My academic advisor was former military at Columbia so I learned pretty quick," she told him. He felt honored that she was sharing information about herself and her life with him. He wanted to know so much more. "Did you have a place in mind? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Washington yet." She asked him shyly. Tom had to remind himself she was just 20 years old.

"The Marriott is easy enough to find and has a wonderful dining room and an excellent chef. This is my treat so please don't worry about the cost." He assured her, "It's also pretty quiet and private if you prefer."

She said, "Sounds wonderful and it's not to far from my apartment either so I can walk."

"Where did you get a place, if you don't mind me asking?" He was worried, there were some parts of the city that weren't acceptable for young ladies to be walking alone.

At his question she laughed full out and Tom loved the sound. "I have a place at Georgetown Historical Mall, actually a floor above Mr. Glover's office." And at that information Tom chuckled as well at the coincidence. He could understand her laughter more now.

"That's a nice building and a decent part of town. I will meet you at the Marriott tomorrow evening then. Have a good night Natalie," he told her.

"You too sir."

Tom took a deep breath, "You can call my Tom if you'd like. I don't expect anything too familiar until you are comfortable with it."

There was a pause on the other end, "Goodnight… Tom." She almost wanted to say it, Tom could tell. She might be desperate for family ties, to feel accepted and loved again.

They hung up and Tom sat is silence for some time. It took him a bit to realize he was crying. He hadn't cried since Janet's passing. This meant more to him that he obviously realized. His cell phone started ringing and he glanced at the clock, almost midnight now. "Morrow" he answered.

"Sir, we have a dead body in Shenandoah park, appears to be a marine. Who do you want on it? Special Agents Pacci and Gibbs are on call and are currently on cases." Dispatch informed him. It was an unusual occurrence that both his on call teams had other cases they were working on.

"What are their cases?" he asked.

"Pacci has the Norfolk rape case, the numerous petty officers sir. And Special Agent Gibbs team has been working the pentagon fraud case."

Tom knew the rape case was important to solve and many of the female petty officers stations at Norfolk were getting very nervous and Agent Pacci was narrowing in on a suspect and he didn't want to pull him away from that. The fraud case however could be passed off to a lower agent. "Get Agent Strickland to take over for Gibbs on Monday and tell Gibbs that this now takes priority."

"Did you want me to pull Strickland in on the weekend or just leave a message for the changeover on Monday?" dispatch asked for clarification.

Since the fraud case was slow going waiting the weekend was no big deal and knowing Strickland, she would pull the files from home and catch up to where Gibbs was at anyway. "Message only please."

Dispatch hung up and Tom realized it was long past time he went home. He finished signing the report he was reading before his eventful night and grabbed a stack of files to leave for Cynthia on Monday. He locked his office and the outer office and left the building before heading home. He took a very scenic route to pass by his granddaughters building, wondering which apartment was hers and just wanting to feel close for a moment. He went to sleep that night very anxious which was rare for him. He didn't get to be the director of NCIS with anxiety but something about meeting his granddaughter had him nervous and excited. But also, scared. He had lost too much family, he didn't want to lose anymore.