Chapter Four: With You

Nicole looked up at him with sadness and he reached over and put his arm around her. She sunk deeper into him then and sniffled. Gibbs took a deep breath and looked around the room. So many other happy children were playing without a care in the world, but the one next to him had had her world ripped from her and shattered into a million pieces.

Gibbs looked up to see McGee standing in the doorway. McGee pointed to the hallway and Gibbs got up to join him. Nicole immediately stuck her hand out and grasped at Gibbs' wrist. Her fingers barely made it around. He stopped and looked at her.

"Don't go," she pleaded softly. Gibbs gave her a smile and a nod.

"Just for a minute, I have to talk to Tim in the hallway," Gibbs said softly patting her hand with his free one. She held on for a moment longer before her hand dropped to the table and she looked down.

Gibbs hurried out to the hallway and saw McGee with two women he didn't know. He walked up to his junior agent and waited for an explanation. McGee looked at the two women and then cleared his throat.

"Agent Gibbs, this is Helen Dumont and Carrie Allicks. They're here to pick up Nicole Conrad," McGee said. Gibbs felt the pain of reality that he was no longer going to be at this child's side. He didn't show it to the people in the hallway.

"Where is the child?" Helen asked him. Gibbs looked back into the room and pointed at Nicole. Helen walked around him and towards the child. Gibbs watched her.

"Agent Gibbs I just need you to sign some paperwork…" Carrie was saying as Gibbs continued to watch Helen and Nicole. Nicole started to get agitated and was crying again. Gibbs turned into the room.

"McGee, take care of it," he called over his shoulder as he hurried to Nicole's side. He came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, Nicole?"

"I don't want to go," she said between sobs.

Her small arms grasped tightly to his waist as he stood there staring at the social service rep. She was pursing her lips and staring at the child. Gibbs squatted down in front of Nicole removing her arms from his waist as he did.

"You do not have a choice in the matter, young lady," Helen said matter-of-factly. Gibbs glared up at her before turning a soft smile to Nicole.

"You have to go," he said gently.

"But I don't want to," she said with a heavy sigh. Gibbs pulled her close and gave her a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around him.

"There isn't anyone else, honey, you have to go with these people," he said soothingly. She started to sob against him.

"No," she chocked out. Gibbs let her cling to him, her arms holding onto each other deftly to keep in place.

"It's ok, she'll be better once we get her placed with a family," Helen said as she reached for the child. Nicole sensed her coming and her grip on Gibbs tightened. Helen tried to gently, at first, pry the child from Gibbs, but as Nicole fought harder and harder, Gibbs put an end to the social service agent's efforts.

He stood with the child still clinging to his neck and turned away from the startled Helen. She chased after him as he took her over to where McGee was handling the paperwork. He stopped and looked down at the documents about to turn custody over to the state.

"Stop, McGee," Gibbs said coldly. McGee almost dropped the pen. He looked up at his boss with a quizzical expression on his face.

"Boss?"

"Stop signing that stuff. She's staying in our custody."

"Agent Gibbs, you can NOT do…" Helen said walking up behind Gibbs. He spun quickly coming face to face, with only Nicole to separate them.

"Do NOT tell me what I CAN and can NOT do," Gibbs said through gritted teeth to the lady. She shrunk back from him and fought the urge to cower. McGee stood mouth agape staring at Gibbs. He dropped the pen this time.

Carrie stepped back from the group and alternated between staring at Gibbs and McGee. McGee didn't know what to do, so he stepped back from the paperwork and looked at Carrie. He simply shrugged his shoulders. Helen was still trying to recover her wits from Gibbs' verbal lashing.

Gibbs turned with Nicole still draped around his neck and headed towards the door, while McGee followed on his heels. Carrie stood dumbfounded at the turn of events, and after a few moments finally started to gather up the documents on the table. Helen chased after Gibbs and the girl.

"Agent Gibbs!" she hollered down the hallway after him. Gibbs ignored her and continued towards the elevator. McGee glanced back at the woman a few times, but didn't say anything, he knew better.

As they came to the elevator and the doors opened Gibbs saw Shepard standing there. He stepped on, avoiding eye contact as Nicole picked her head up slightly. McGee slipped onto the elevator and tried to make himself as small as possible in the corner.

"AGENT GIBBS!" the woman screamed down the hallway. This time Shepard heard it and as the doors were closing she reached out and hit the open door button. She looked at Gibbs.

"What's going on, Jethro?" Jen asked looking from Gibbs, to Nicole, to McGee. McGee was turning a light shade of red, Nicole was still clinging to Gibbs' neck, and Gibbs was glaring out the elevator doors at the woman racing towards him.

"Nothing, Jen," he said flatly. She was not convinced. Helen reached the elevator and was about to lay into Gibbs when Shepard spoke first.

"Can I help you?" she asked the stranger. Helen eyed the new red head suspiciously and then glared at Gibbs.

"You have no right to take this child…" Helen began before she was cut off by Shepard.

"Stop," Jen said and then turned to Gibbs. "Jethro, what is going on?"

"I said it's nothing, Jen," he said replied again looking her dead in the eyes. A small smile cracked her lips and she shook her head.

"Are you denying social services to take her?"

"She doesn't want to go, Jen."

"Jethro,"

"I'll take her. It's not a big deal," he said as he reached out and hit the close door button. The doors started to close leaving Helen in the hallway. Shepard hit the open door button. Gibbs let out an exasperated sigh and slid Nicole to the ground. The girl went willingly but clung to his waist.

"Jethro, she should go to protective custody with social services," Jen said. Gibbs gave her an icy look and simply reached out and hit the close door button. Helen reacted quickly and practically dove into the elevator with them. She bumped into McGee who stumbled further into the back of the elevator.

"She's protected enough with me," he said flatly. Both seemed to be ignoring Helen at this point, solely arguing with each other. The elevator didn't start moving so Gibbs reached across both Jen and Helen and hit the button.

"Jethro," Jen said sternly.

"No deal, Jen," he said and turned to face the front of the elevator. Helen went to protest and Shepard held up a hand. They rode down in silence and Gibbs was off the elevator as soon as the doors were opened far enough. He took Nicole to his desk.

McGee followed him closely trying to get distance between him and the two women following. Shepard managed to keep herself between Gibbs and Helen but it was very obvious that the other woman was not happy.

"Sit here," Gibbs said softly to Nicole, who then obediently climbed into his chair. "McGee watch her," he said as he turned back towards the stairs.

"Jethro, my office," Jen said taking hold of Helen's arm and turning her up the stairs.

The party of three walked into Shepard's office in silence and as the door closed Jen turned to Jethro. She looked at him for a moment, studying what she saw in his eyes. Helen had enough thought to keep her mouth shut at the moment.

"What?" Gibbs said with no emotion.

"What are you doing?" Jen asked.

"The girl doesn't want to go with these people, Jen, what's the difference if she goes with them or stays with me. She feels safer with me."

"Jethro, what is with you?"

"Nothing, that girl just saw her mother murdered, Jen, she's scared and she thinks she is alone in this world," Gibbs said managing to keep the calm, cool exterior of his usual demeanor, but on the inside he was fuming.

"Fine. I'll give you 48 hours with the girl, and then you turn her over," Jen said. Helen started to protest and Shepard silenced her with a look. Gibbs eyes never left Jen. He contemplated this new proposal.

"Ok," he said and left the office without another word. He could hear Helen protesting this decision but he didn't care, Jen could take care of it. He walked down to his desk and smiled. Nicole looked up at him.

"Do I have to go with those people?" she asked, new tears forming in her eyes.

"No, you can stay with me," Gibbs said with a smile. McGee looked over at Gibbs then at the stairs as Helen came down followed by Shepard. Helen gave a lingering glare towards Gibbs before she disappeared into the elevator.

The girl brightened for a second, before she turned sullen and frightened again. She tucked her legs under her as she sat in his chair. Gibbs knew, in that moment, this was one case they had to solve.