Chapter 19 - Kate's Advice

"We can't talk here Kate. Come on, I want to show you something," he said as he got up off the sofa. He took her hand and pulled her with him. Gibbs lead Kate back to Trisha's bedroom. "Here," Gibbs said as he picked up the photograph that Trisha had been cradling earlier. "Profile this family for me, Kate."

Kate looked at Gibbs with confusion in her eyes. "You want me to profile them just from an old photograph?"

Gibbs nodded and sat on the edge of Trisha's bed. He motioned for Kate to sit beside him. "Go ahead, profile away," he instructed her.

Kate sighed, "Ok. Well, I'd say the woman and the man are in their early thirties. The child looks to be about three to five years old. They obviously look very happy, and it's a sincere happiness. They love each other very much. You can tell because of how close together they are seated and the way the husband is holding his wife. And especially with the little girl; look at the way her father has his arm wrapped around her and how she has her arms draped around his neck. If I had to guess, I'd say that this is on a military base. You can see how all the other homes in the neighborhood are exactly the same in structure. Besides, I've been on enough bases now to know what the houses look like." Kate thought for a moment, "That's pretty much all I can tell from this picture, Gibbs. Now what does this have to do with anything?" she asked him.

Gibbs sighed and took the photo back from Kate. "Eight years ago, this family did indeed live on a Naval base. The man was a contractor for the Navy. And since it was a military base, everyone left their doors unlocked at night, you know, thinking it was a safe neighborhood." Gibbs paused, "Do you see where I'm going with this, Kate?" he asked.

"Maybe. So you're trying to tell me that someone killed this family on a Naval base, Gibbs? I don't see where…" Kate abruptly stopped talking when the realization hit her. "The little girl in the picture, is that…?" She looked into Gibbs' deep blue eyes.

He nodded. "Trisha. She was four when it happened. Someone killed her parents right in front of her. Rochelle told me all that she knew, but she said Trisha doesn't talk about it much. She bottled up. And she doesn't trust anyone anymore. When authorities couldn't find any relatives back then, she was put into foster care. I don't know who was in charge, but this kid got stuck with crappy families. Chelle told me that Trisha sometimes has these really bad nightmares, and apparently the foster parents didn't like that. So they would give her back," Gibbs said, his voice quiet, yet full of anger. "Rochelle also told me that she doesn't think Trisha has ever spent a Christmas outside of an orphanage. Everyone would put her back up for adoption right before the holidays. From what I've heard, this guy that she's living with doesn't want her anymore, either." Gibbs sighed and looked out the window. His attention turned back to Kate when he heard her sniffle.

"That's horrible, Gibbs. I would never have guessed. Trisha seemed fine out there, I mean, I would think she would be more withdrawn from things," Kate said softly as she wiped a tear off her face.

Gibbs wrapped an arm around her. "She hides it well, Kate." He pulled her closer to him and laid his cheek on her head. He took a deep breath and could smell Kate's apple blossom shampoo. Gibbs smiled as Kate nestled closer into him. "Kate?" he asked. He glanced down at her.

"Mmhmm," she responded. Her eyes were closed.

Gibbs continued, "Kate I… I really could use your advice right now."

Kate shot up and looked Gibbs straight in the eye. "You want my advice?"

"Look, there's no easy way to go about this, so I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I'm thinking of adopting Trisha," Gibbs said. "Wait, before you say anything, let me explain. This is not just some ordinary kid we're talking about here. Without Trisha, I probably wouldn't be alive right now. She saved my life. She's such a good kid, and it's not fair that she has to go through all this. I know she has some quirks, but Hell, so do I!" Silence fell between them. "Kate, talk to me. I need your opinion."

Kate took Gibbs' hand. "I'm going to be honest, Gibbs. Do you think you're going to be able to make enough time for her? I know how you are about your work," Kate stated.

Gibbs thought for a moment and nodded. "I know, but I'm willing to make sacrifices. Besides, there's you and Tony, and McGee's probationary period is almost up. You guys are more than capable of getting things done. I don't need to hold your hand every step of the way on every case anymore," Gibbs laughed, but then got serious again. "For some reason, Trisha lets her guard down around me. Rochelle pointed it out, so it's not just me saying this."

Gibbs stood up and ran a hand through his silver hair. He went over to the desk where he had put the photo, picked it up, and brought it back with him. Kate put an arm around his shoulders as he sat back down on the bed.

"Right before you guys came, Trisha had a breakdown. I was holding her and she was crying in my arms, Kate," Gibbs said softly as he stared at the little girl in the photograph. "I held her and rubbed her back until she stopped crying. And then, I made her look into my eyes. I asked her if she trusted me. She said yes, Kate. And if I can give this kid back some of the happiness she once had," he said as he pointed to the picture in his hand, "then I'm willing to sacrifice some time at the office."

Kate brought her hand up to Gibbs and ran her fingers slowly up and down the side of his face. "So much for that second 'b' in your last name," she told him as she pulled him closer. She felt his breath on her face.

Gibbs pulled Kate in the rest of the way as his lips met hers. He wrapped one arm around her and began to stroke her back with his hand. Kate's hands were running through Gibbs' hair as he pulled her closer yet and deepened their kiss.

"Hey you two dinner's ready!" Rochelle yelled as she came bursting into the room. "We made… Oh my God!" she exclaimed at the sight of Gibbs and Kate kissing on Trisha's bed. Gibbs and Kate jumped apart from each other. "Ahhhhhh! My eyes, my eyes! Help me, I'm blind! I can't see!" she cried as she turned and bolted from the room. "Trisha!" Chelle yelled as she ran down the hallway, "guess what Gibbs and Kate were doing on your bed!"

Kate smiled at Gibbs, "Well, I'd say the secret's out now. And Rule 12 has just flown out the window."

Gibbs stood and took Kate's hand. "I'll agree with that, Katie," he responded with a smirk.

"Does this mean I can call you Jethro now?" she asked as she turned to walk out the doorway.

Gibbs laughed, "We'll see," he told her as he playfully smacked her on the butt. "And if Tony makes one smart comment about us, I'll shoot him."

"Gibbs," Kate turned to him suddenly, "how are you gonna ask Trisha about the adoption thing?"

Gibbs' stomach made a loud growling noise, which caused Kate to smile. "Let's just get some dinner now, Kate. I'll think of something."