A/N: This story is a sort of rewrite of my story 'Hidden Identity'. For those who read the first version, this version will be much different from it.

This story takes place in early season five. For the purpose of this story, the episode with Tim's sister never happened.

Hidden Life, Hidden Strength

Jenny Shepard was in her office sitting behind her desk when she heard someone coming up the stairs of her home. She didn't bother to get up. She knew who it was. Normally, she locked her doors, and had a security system, but she didn't bother tonight, as she was expecting someone.

Unsurprisingly to Jenny, Gibbs made his way to her office moments later. "Jen."

"Somehow I knew I wouldn't have to come let you in," Jenny said with a smirk.

"You called me here," Gibbs pointed out.

Jenny nodded before getting up and going to a table next to her desk with an assortment of liquor and glasses, and pouring two glasses of bourbon. She went over to Gibbs and held one out to him. "I need your help with something."

Gibbs took the glass and took a big gulp of it before giving her his attention. "I'm guessing it isn't case related since you couldn't just say something at NCIS.

"No, and it's need to know and dangerous," Jenny said.

Gibbs sighed unhappily. "This another La Grenouille type of thing?"

"It's along the same lines, but much more important," Jenny told him.

"So, it's another attempt at revenge," he said.

Jenny glared at him. "It's about justice, and don't give me that look, Jethro. You would do the same if you were me. No, you did do the same."

Gibbs glared back. "I wasn't on the job."

"Would it have mattered if you were?" Jenny shot back at him.

Gibbs didn't answer he question. He was quiet for several seconds before speaking. "The last time you pushed your vendetta, one of my agents was almost killed."

Jenny sighed. She did regret that. She remembered when Tony was thought to be dead. She hated herself for involving him, and for what it cost him. She still felt that way. She'd put him in a terrible position, professionally and personally. "I know, and I don't plan for anything like that to happen again. That's why I'm coming to you, and why I'm going to be completely up front with you."

Gibbs nodded curtly, indicating for her to go on.

"Did you know I had a brother?" Jenny asked. She never told him, but that didn't mean he didn't know. Gibbs had a way of finding things out, and it was all a matter of public record.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You never mentioned that."

"Well, he's dead, so I didn't see the point. There's a point now though," she said.

"Because he's why you asked me here. He was murdered?" Gibbs asked, but it was hardly a question. He'd figured out that Jenny was after the man who killed her brother.

"And his entire family. It was during a home invasion," Jenny said sadly.

Gibbs cringed. Home invasions were one of the worst kinds of cases. They rarely ended happy, and usually no one was spared. That seemed to be the case here. From the way Jenny described it, there were likely children involved, and for that reason alone, he'd help. He wouldn't stand for people murdering children. "Alright, what do you need?

Just then, they both heard a loud thud from downstairs.

"Anyone else supposed to be here, Jen?" Gibbs asked with a hand on his gun.

"No," Jenny said before rushing back to her desk and grabbing her gun. The two of them then headed out of her office, ready for an attack.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Timothy McGee was sitting at his desk at just before nine. He was the only the only of his team there surprisingly. To wasn't uncommon for Tony or Ziva to come in just before nine, or even to show up late sometimes, especially Ziva, but it was very unusual for Gibbs. The boss was usually there by seven-thirty, and it was very rare for him to be any later then eight. Still, Tim wasn't too concerned. Things happened sometimes.

Soon, Tim noticed Tony rushing in, probably trying to make sure he was on time, or face Gibbs' wrath."

Tony checked his watch when he reached his desk. "Yes! Just in time! Gibbs can't kill me today."

Tim snorted. "Given that it's you, I'm sure he'll find another reason by the end of the day. Besides, he's not in yet."

"I'm not falling for that one, Probie. Gibbs is never late. He's probably off getting coffee or talking to the director," Tony said.

"He's not," Tim said.

Just then, Ziva came through. "Good morning, Tony, McGee."

"Morning, Ziva," Tim said politely.

"You're late, Ziva. Gibbs is gonna kill you," Tony said.

Ziva rolled her eyes. "It is only a couple of minutes, Tony. I'm sure Gibbs will not be upset."

"He won't be. He's not here yet," Tim told her.

"Seriously, Probie? Of course he's here. He's always here before us. He probably just hasn't been to his desk since you came in," Tony said.

"Not today. I've been here since six," he told him. There were actually many days that he was there before Gibbs, which was how he knew when the man usually came in.

"Damn, McGee. We didn't leave yesterday until almost nine, with that last case to finish. Did you even sleep?" Tony asked.

"Not much," Tim mumbled. He actually didn't sleep a lot most nights, but he wouldn't be mentioning that to his colleagues, nor would he tell them or anyone else why he spent most nights restless. There were many things no one knew about him, and he had to keep it that way.

"Gibbs really isn't here? Maybe he had car trouble or something. We all know he didn't oversleep. Gibbs doesn't do that," Tony said with a chuckle before going to his desk and setting up for the day.

Time seemed to go slowly for the team, but before they knew it, it was almost ten-thirty, and Gibbs had still yet show up. Tim, for one, was starting to get worried. He could count on one hand the amount of times Gibbs was late, and it was never this late. He thought about tracing his phone, but if Gibbs was working a case or something, he'd kill him if he found out, and since it was Gibbs, he would find out.

"Perhaps we should do something. We could go to Gibbs' home," Ziva said. She too was very worried.

Likewise, Tony was kind of antsy, but he didn't want to think the worst. "For all we know, he could be working a solo case or something. The director probably has him doing something.

Tim's stomach suddenly turned. He hadn't seen her this morning either, and she always greeting him when she came in. Gibbs being missing was enough to rattle Tim, but Jenny…

Tim suddenly got up from his chair and rushed towards the stair.

"Where are you going?" Tony asked.

Tim ignored him and continued to the director's office. He stopped inside her outer office and went over to her assistant. "Cynthia, I need to speak with Director Shepard now!"

"I was just about to come find Agent Gibbs. Director Shepard hasn't been here all day. She said she was coming in at seven, but she hasn't shown up yet," Cynthia said, sounding worried.

The dread Tim was feeling went up several notches. "Have you called her?"

"Many times. I can try again. I'm guessing Agent Gibbs doesn't know where she is then," Cynthia said.

"Unfortunately, I think he does," Tim said in a shaky tony before leaving the office without waiting for a response. He ran back downstairs to his desk.

"Did you talk to the director? I figured that's why you sprinted upstairs," Tony said.

"No. She's not here either," Tim said as he typed on his computer quickly. He checked Gibbs phone first, but there was no signal, which meant his phone was off or dead. Gibbs wouldn't allow either of those things to happen.

Ziva and Tony both stood up, very alarmed now.

"Gibbs' phone is off. The GPS isn't working," Tim said before tracking Jenny's chip. "Je…. The director's is still at her house."

"Okay, maybe this is good. Maybe it's not connected," Tony said. As the words left his lips though, he didn't believe him. Gibbs had a rule against coincidences for a reason.

"We should go to Gibbs' place now," Ziva said.

"Yeah. Let's go," Tony said.

"You go. I'm going to Director Shepard's'," Tim said as he got his stuff together.

"Right, divide and concur. Call in if you need backup though," Tony said.

Tim nodded and ran to the elevator, praying something awful had not just happened to those he cared about. Praying had never worked that well for him though.