A/N: Here's another chapter folks! To all my new followers & favourites, welcome! I'm so glad to have you with us! I love see those numbers climb!

To my reviewers, WOW 200+ reviewers already! I'm blown away! You all rock! To hear your thoughts/comments & how much you're loving this just inspire me! So keep them coming! Sorry I haven't been able to reply individually to you this time, but I'm running out of battery on my iPad & want to get this chapter up, so apologises!

Now, as we know Patricia is currently based in New Orleans (reasoning will be revealed in due course), so it stands to reason that our NCIS NO crew will be involved, they wont have large roles, but they will be involved as the story progresses, for those that don't watch NCIS New Orleans, I will do my best to intergrate them as raw characters, this is the first chapter that mentions them, namely SSA Agent Dwayne Pride (nickname King; a good friend of Gibbs) & his offsider Agent LaSalle.

Now, let's see how Shannon is doing..

Gibbs allowed the hot water to wash over his body & sooth him. It was just after midnight & he'd just gotten home from another stint in the office, he had to admit, he'd gotten used to the more reasonable hours, so these consecutive & excessively long days weren't really easy to cope with, he was more than looking forward to climbing into bed next to his wife for some sleep.

He was still on edge about the happenings earlier that evening with Linda & was glad when he'd gotten home to find that his wife was sleeping peacefully, he was sure there was an underlying reason for her outburst, but she'd settled down fairly quickly, so for now he'd let it lie. Tony had calmed down after Linda's departure too, he'd conveyed the simple message he agreed to pass on & the response he'd gotten was expected – "I won't be making contact anytime soon, he can shove it'.

The evening had been semi productive; they had discovered that not only had Jacob been released from hospital into his grandfather's care 2 days ago, but that he'd been a regular visitor to the children's hospital over the last few months, however they were still getting stonewalled about the cause of his illness. He'd tried to get King to pay the hospital a visit, but he was on leave overseas, so he had to leave it to Agent LaSalle to pursue, and even though King praised the guy, he didn't know the man from a bar of soap, he just hoped the guy would come through with the goods. Jimmy had also found the remains of a tattoo that one of the men had tried to get removed, he hoped it would help narrow down the search for them!

As he finished up in the bathroom, he opened the door to check on his wife, his gut was still unsettled about it all & when he did, he knew he was right! She was tossing & turning, he quickly finished putting his t-shirt on & rushed to the bed, hoping in next to her, he gentle held her "Shh Shan, it's ok babe, I'm here, come on babe wake up"

Gibbs firmed up his hold on her & caressed her head "you're safe Shannon, your marine is here, just wake up, come on babe wake up, Shannon Marie Gibbs wake up for your husband, please" he whispered into her ear. He felt her jolt away a moment later "easy Shan, you're ok, you're safe, I'm here babe, shhhh" he whispered to her and continued "we're all here, kids are safely tucked up in bed, I checked on each of them a few minutes ago, we're all ok, we're together, we're safe" he said gently, he knew the words she needed to hear to calm down.

Gibbs felt her start to cry into him "shhh, it's ok, you're ok, I'm right here babe" he soothed, he didn't care which nightmare it was, he hated the fact that she had it. He worked to control his anger, it was in these moments that he swore that Mac and Quinn got off too lightly, their deaths were far too quick & painless as far as he was concerned!

Shannon just cried into his chest, she hated the nightmares, she tried to settle her heart rate down as she listened to his soothing voice, she was glad he was home.

Gibbs felt her crying subside a little & wrapped his arms around her tightly, he rested his chin on her head "all over babe, you're ok, I'm right here Shan, never leaving you" he waited a moment & felt her nod into him, he took a deep breath "want to tell me about it?" he knew it was easier for her to talk about it if she could just lie there on him & stare off into the moonlight.

Shannon stared out the window into the moonlight "It was the day….. the day Mac told me….. "

Gibbs knew what she going to say "shh.. you don't have to finish it, I know what you're saying babe, shhh" it was the day Mac had decided to move her to that place! He swore Mac got off too lightly.

"But I've remembered something new, I think" Shannon whispered, that day had been one of the worst, but her dream had opened her memory up again & she thought she recalled something new. She'd tried to block out everything of that time, but maybe she now recalled something she hadn't remembered before?

"What's that?" Gibbs asked genuinely curious.

"Earlier in the day I had been at the Country Club" Shannon recalled "I knew Mac was in court, so I'd gone for a ride, alone, needed to clear my head & that was really the only time & place I could"

Gibbs just listened, he hated all this stuff!

"I bumped into an older gentleman midway along the track" Shannon continued.

"ok" Gibbs remarked gently, he stroked her back trying to keep her calm.

"I'd tried to just say hello & go off alone, but he kept the conversation going, he seemed caring & perhaps he could tell I needed an unbiased ear. We casually chatted the rest of the way back, I felt at ease with him, until" Shannon said before stopping abruptly.

"Until what?" Gibbs prodded.

"Until we got back to the stables" Shannon answered "he suddenly tried to make his well, escape, and extremely quickly, almost like he didn't want to get caught there & he took off like a shot when he saw Quinn approach, maybe it's nothing, but I just never recalled it before"

Gibbs had to admit he was curious about it too "remember a name or what he looked like?"

"No name, but he was tall & fairly fit for an older gentleman, short hair that was maybe a coppery or blonde colour? I'm not really sure, not even sure it happened like that" Shannon admitted.

"It could have simply been someone that knew Mac, but don't worry about it" Gibbs said as reassuringly as possible, he was still curious about the incident, but what could he do about it? He considered that it was maybe someone who knew what kind of man Mac was & therefore didn't want to get stuck getting the rundown from Quinn, but what he did know for certain was that he didn't want his wife to worry about it.

"Probably right" Shannon yawned.

Gibbs smiled "sleep babe, I'm right here"

Shannon smiled as she got comfortable on his chest, she let the soothing sound of his heartbeat send her back into blissful sleep.

Gibbs lay there & felt the moment she fell back asleep,it had taken a few minutes, but her heartbeat had settled into a resting rhythm, it was only then that he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

Gibbs stirred, it felt like he'd only just closed his eyes & it was still pitch black outside, rolling over he saw that his wife wasn't in bed, crap! Where'd she get to? He instantly flashed a look up to the clock, it was just approaching 05:00, so he got around 4 and a half hours sleep, that would have to be enough.

Throwing himself out of bed, he quickly checked the bathroom, he was concerned she'd had another nightmare & not woken him. He headed downstairs and not seeing her anywhere inside he peered outside & spotted her, she was wrapped in a blanket & sitting on their outside table, he quickly grabbed another blanket & headed straight outside. This was a new one, she'd never come outside after a nightmare before, so he was a little curious & worried.

He sat himself down on the table behind her & pulled the blanket around his shoulder, then he pulled her into his hold & wrapped the blanket around them both "what ya doing out here babe?" he asked softly as he laid a kiss to her head.

Shannon leaned back into him & sighed in contentment "just thinking" while she'd love to sleep, she just couldn't at the moment.

After a few minutes Gibbs spoke gently "Was it another nightmare? Cause you should have woken me"

"No, just another memory, I think" Shannon replied.

"What was this one about?" Gibbs asked, seemed it was the night for memories, perfect timing!

"My dad" Shannon whispered.

Gibbs eyes widened, he wasn't expecting that at all, her dad? "What about him?" she didn't really remember that much about him, he died when she was merely 5 years old.

"That's the thing, I'm not even sure it's real, I've just got these new images of him, I think" Shannon said, and after the night she had she really wasn't sure it was real.

"What was he doing" Gibbs prodded.

"I got this image of him chasing me amongst all these dogs, beagles I think, I've never recalled it before, so I don't know what to make of it" Shannon replied "I wish I knew more about him" she barely knew anything about her dad, after he died her mum just stopped talking about him, she said it was too painful. She couldn't say she understood it, for her talking about Jethro when she thought he was dead was cathartic, it helped her, she just assumed grief was different for everyone.

"I know babe, I wish we had more to go with, I'd do anything to try to find more on him for you, you said he had siblings, cousins or something?" Gibbs recalled.

"I think so, but names & everything I just don't know" Shannon sighed "I think after Mike's grace and all this stuff about Tony & his mystery sister it's just brought up the past, with some new memory's maybe"

Gibbs had a feeling that was the reason for it all too "Yea, it brought things up for me too" after Mike's little speech he'd certainly thought about the past.

"I suppose it's also made me realise that I really know nothing about my dad & his family" Shannon admitted.

"Tell me about the dream or memory" Gibbs said, hoping if she tried to recall it it may become clearer.

Shannon smiled as she did her best to recall it "We were on some kind of farm or large property, there were some horses & a lot of dogs, I had a feeling that I was loving being basically in heaven amongst all of the animals, I ran between them all trying to pat them all & then my dad started chasing me & we just ran around laughing, but then it just goes black, I've tried to remember more, but nothing, I'm not even sure its real" she sighed, she wished she remembered more.

"I'm sure it is babe, and look you remembered something from when you younger than 5, that's impressive, keep hold of the memory" Gibbs soothed "but I have to ask if you loved dogs back then, what happened? Cause I can clearly recall you adamantly declaring the no dog rule, hair on the couch & all that"

Shannon let out a laugh "because I saw what it took to get hair out of the carpet & off the furniture!"

Gibbs smiled as his question brought a smile to her face, the fact it got a laugh was even better!

Shannon felt herself being laid back & snuggled into her husband's chest, she was always the most content nestled into him.

"What else do you remember about him?" Gibbs asked gently

"His voice was so soothing, I've just got these images of him holding me & singing me to sleep, but he didn't need a lot of sleep himself" Shannon whispered.

"Why do you say that?" Gibbs asked.

"Not sure, I've just got these images of him being up in the middle of the night whenever I'd had a bad dream, he'd just hold me on the couch until I fell asleep. Not sure its real though" Shannon admitted.

"I'm sure it is babe" Gibbs assured her "what's say, after all this mess is sorted out, we put our detective hats on & try to find someone, how's that sound?" he'd give anything to find some details on him for her.

Shannon wasn't too sure "let's just deal with this first" if her father had siblings, why hadn't they kept in contact?

Gibbs used his index finger to lift her chin to make her look at him "we'll take it as slow or fast as you want, but it might bring you some peace to know something about him, think about it at least please" he was glad the nightmare was long gone, dealing with this he could handle a lot better.

Shannon just nodded & buried herself back into her husband.

Gibbs thought he heard something, he tried to dismiss it, but there it was again

"Dad" Kelly whispered, what the heck were they doing outside? Getting no response she had to try again "Dad" she said while gently shaking him, trying not to wake her mum.

Gibbs managed to open one eye & saw his girl standing over him "yea?"

"Ahh, not sure what you're doing outside, but it's 07:00! & your phone is going crazy!" Kelly explained quietly, as she held her dad's phone up to him, showing the numerous messages & missed calls.

Gibbs eyes widened, they must have fallen back asleep on the table, shit! He had to be gentle though, his wife was still asleep "help me manoeuvre mum will you?"

"Mum's awake" Shannon remarked "but I'm warm & far too comfortable, so you're not moving Jethro"

Even though she was buried into him under the blankets Gibbs could feel the smile on her face, gosh he wished he could give her what she wanted, what he wanted "Babe, there's nothing I would rather do, but I gotta get moving, I'm running late"

"You can't run late, you're the boss!" Shannon retorted.

Gibbs gave her a kiss to her head, he realised that while she was joking about it, there was a little truth to her not wanting him to go, he guessed it was due to the night they'd had "you're right, I am the boss, but I have a meeting set for 08:00 & need to speak to Vance before that"

Shannon groaned into her husband, she was far too warm & comfortable & truth be told she'd prefer him to stay home today, but she felt him sit them up "meany, I want coffee at least and… argh!"

Gibbs chuckled at her shock, he'd stood up with her in his arms rather quickly "I'm putting you back to bed & yes, coffee & breakfast shall be delivered before I go babe" he finished softly giving her a kiss.

Kelly just smiled as she held the door open for the pair "you might wanna call someone.. phone, messages.." she hinted.

"After I've put mum back to bed, be a good girl & get us some coffee & start making your mum some breakfast please, I'll finish when I come back down" Gibbs smiled at his daughter.

"No need Jethro, breakfast is almost ready" Jack remarked from the kitchen.

Gibbs had to smile at his dad, who he'd just spotted "thanks dad, could you put Shan's on the tray? She's taking hers in bed"

"Breakfast in bed?" Nix asked coming down the stairs bleary eyed "can I join?"

"Of course darling, that sounds wonderful, breakfast & cartoons are in order I think" Shannon remarked "are you going to put me down?"

Gibbs eyed her "I shall, when you're in bed" he remarked making a move for the stairs.

While Shannon loved being held by her husband, there was one issue "your back Jethro"

"Never felt stronger or better in my life Shan, don't worry so much, I can easily manage you" Gibbs replied, he hadn't felt this fit & strong in a great many years. He put it down to all the runs & gym work outs he was now doing with his kids, it really was doing wonders for his health & overall wellbeing.

Nix's grin settled on his sister as he waited for his dad to pass him.

"He gets cartoons & breakfast in bed & I get….. a cranky JAG judge….soooo not fair!" Kelly groaned.

Jack had to chuckle at his grand-daughter "life isn't always fair Kell darling I'm afraid, but you get first pick on the bacon & eggs. I could pack you some Mac & Cheese up for lunch if you'd like?" he offered.

"I already called dibs on the mac 'n cheese!" Nix called from the top of the stairs.

"You get breakfast in bed & cartoons! The mac 'n cheese is mine!" Kelly yelled.

Gibbs laid his wife back into bed & tucked her in "enjoy, I'll call you straight after the meeting, I love you babe" he finished caressing her hair & planting another kiss on her.

Shannon smiled "Sound good, and I love you too darling, thank you" she replied before giving him a kiss in reply.

Gibbs smiled as he watched his son climb into bed & cuddle up next to his mum, he had to agree with his daughter, "I think Kells is right, you two get breakfast in bed & cartoons, we can at least get the Mac & cheese mister"

"I think that's more than a fair trade darling & there's some leftover cake & cookies too, divide that between you two as well" Shannon agreed.

"What?" Nix asked grouchy "they get the Mac 'n cheese and the cookies and the cake?! How's that fair?"

Gibbs raised his eyebrow "if you'd prefer you can leave our bed, have your breakfast in a roll like I will be doing & proceed straight to the base library to do you college work, then you can partake in sharing the leftovers, or you can remain in our bed, have breakfast laid out for you on a tray & enjoy yourself with mum whilst watching cartoons, your choice Phoenix"

Shannon saw her son pout, was he a 5 year old or a 21 year old? "I'd much prefer you stay here with me darling, but dad is right, that is the sacrifice you will be required to make, so?"

"I'll stay" Nix replied

"Good" Shannon smiled "but that frown, turn it upside down young man & get us some cartoons, preferably in English"

Gibbs got up & left to it, he couldn't believe some of the peace treaties he was dealing with, breakfast in bed & cartoons V leftovers.. seriously? His mind happily boggled at that as he returned to the kitchen, he could see his girl almost throwing the breakfast down her throat "slow down Kells, don't choke"

"I also slept in, got to be at JAG in 45!" Kelly groaned as she swallowed.

"Just give me 10 & I'll be ready to go" Gibbs replied "divide up the Mac & cheese, cake & cookies, we're both taking the leftovers, your brother has relinquished his claim to it all" he turned to his dad who'd already got the breakfast for the pair upstairs "thanks"

"Anytime, but you need to eat too, shall I make a roll for you?" Jack offered.

"That would be great dad" Gibbs smiled, it really was nice to have him here but he felt bad for Shan, he saw his girl was occupied so stepped closer to him "can you spend some time with Shan today? She's.. she's feeling a bit off, memory of her dad, her real dad"

Jack looked at his son surprised, he knew nothing about Shannon's real father but he assumed that is what led them outside during the night "more than happy to do that Jethro, we'll have a great day"

Gibbs nodded in thanks

"Dad! Hurry up! We have to go!" Kelly exclaimed "I think we may need to consider hiring a spare car while gramps is here!" she was having to car pool with him to ensure that her mum had the car while her grandfather was in town.

Gibbs took hold of the tray & headed back upstairs "think you're right"

9 minutes later

"You drive, I eat" Gibbs remarked as he & Kelly rushed out of the house.

As they set off Kelly was curious "why were you in the backyard?" she asked cautiously.

Gibbs considered how to answer his girl as he swallowed when his phone rang again, it was Ziva "I'll be there in 10"

"We've got names Gibbs!" Ziva exclaimed, she was glad he'd finally picked up!

Gibbs froze, FINALLY!

A/N: So they've finally got names! Can it help them locate Patricia? And maybe her family too? What exactly is wrong with Jacob?

Good thing Gibbs was able to help his wife! But what exactly was the root behind those memories getting stirred? At least she's ok now & I'm sure a day with Jack & her son will help sooth her! Especially with breakfast in bed & some cartoons! ;)

You know I love to hear your thoughts/comment, so review away! More up soon!