Driving home from work tonight, I was listening to our local broadcasting station and they were talking about old lost loves and second chances, encouraging people to call with their stories. Made me think of a story I heard many years ago and an idea came to me that just wouldn't leave me.

Bad, I know. I have so many unfinished stories I've been working on and need to get finished, really shouldn't be starting another one. But it kept nagging and begging to be written.

Death of a minor character.

"Kell" her father whispered into the phone line it was 0045hours and she'd been asleep. The shrill ring of her cell phone, had broken her sleep and the silence of her apartment.

"Yeah Dad," she answered, half asleep still.

"Rebecca is gone." Her dad sobbed.

"Dad?" She asked, thinking she might be still dreaming. Sometimes she actually liked and got along with this stepmother. Only when they weren't living in the same state as one another.

"She … she was hit by a drr … drunk driver c… coming home fr..from work tonight." Gibbs stammered. He never thought he'd ever have to bury another wife. Especially one like Rebecca, yeah they had their problems. But they were getting help. Things had been getting better, slowly.

"Oh Daddy, I'm coming." She swiped at her eyes, clearing away a stray tear. "I'll be there as soon as I can. I call you closer to my arrival and let you know what time I'm coming."

"Thanks baby."

Gibbs disconnected the phone. He felt awful for waking Kelly up, he also knew she wouldn't be able to get a flight out from New York until much later in the day. She'd left her car at his home in the garage when she'd taken the internship at Bio-Tech, knowing that it'd be completely useless to have a car, living and working in Manhattan. Which somewhat eased Gibbs gut a little, knowing she wasn't driving in the crazy traffic and spending all her money on parking garages.

He'd dozed off, there was nothing that could be done until morning. Ducky had her body in the NCIS mortuary, which in the morning would be released to the funeral home that Rebecca had chosen for her service. She had a pre-arranged funeral that was paid in full and all he had to do was show up in a suit.

He tossed and turned, not being able to bring himself to go and sleep in the bed that they'd shared. He'd set up camp on his sofa. Ducky had fussed over him a lot and Gibbs had to practically kick the ME out of his home, all he wanted, besides Kelly to come home, was to be alone.

Kelly had wasted no time, she'd sent her boss an email explaining that she had to go to DC due to a death in the family and she would call her later in the day, promising to explain everything. Then she'd jumped online and purchased a ticket for a flight from JFK to Dulles, including a bag of checked luggage. She only purchased a one way ticket, not knowing any details of how long her Dad would need her. She packed her bags, shoving most of her clothes, her black dress, her shoes, her make up, hair straightener and curlers, her laptop, tablet and cellphone in her carry on.

She quickly woke her room mate and told Nikita what had happened and where she was going before phoning her usual cab company for a ride to the airport. She checked in for her flight and loaded her bag, before making her way down the terminal in search of a cafe that was open at 0200 hours in the morning.

Finding a cafe and ordering the biggest strongest black coffee that they had on the menu, she opened the contacts in her cellphone debating who she knew in DC that could get her from Dulles and drop her at home. She called her Uncle Mike first, only to find out Uncle Mike was still in Mexico, struggling to book a connecting flight out of San Francisco due to a bad fog. Next up, she thought about her friend Stefan, but remembered that he lived in Milan now with his fashion designer husband. Finally, she settled on Ducky, knowing he was an early riser and that her flight was due to land at 0330. He was normally awake at 0400.

Ducky answered on the first ring, she relaxed, knowing she didn't wake him up. The kind ME immediately asked her what time her flight was getting in and what her flight number was. After giving over the details she had to cut him short as they were both yawning and she'd heard the first boarding call for her flight. He promised that she'd see him soon and disconnected the call. She contemplated calling her Dad, but decided not to risk it, especially if he was finally asleep.

Her flight was unremarkable and in just over an hour, they were landing in DC. It was a bit chillier in DC than in NYC and Kelly took her time in the plane before debarking, ensuring she had easy access to her heavy coat to keep warm.

Ducky had a hot coffee waiting for her, he ordered just like he'd ordered her fathers coffee - hot, strong and black. "Kelly my dear," he said hugging her tightly. "Let's get you home? Do you have a bag?" He asked taking her carry on bag.

"Yep, I probably overpacked. But Dad didn't say much on the phone." Kelly explained, gulping down the coffee.

"Let's go get your bag and we can talk in the car."

At the baggage carousel, it was easy to spot her bag. Not many people flew this hour of the morning and even fewer of them have a plain black case with a fluorescent pink ribbon and purple polka dots on their case and a bright green luggage tag. Ducky and Kelly made quick work of making their way to Ducky's Morgan. She must have zoned out in her thoughts because the next thing she knew, they were pulling up in the driveway of her dad's house - her childhood home.

"Thanks Uncle Duck" she said sleepily and he immediately got out and helped the young woman unload her luggage into the house. Silently Ducky ushered Kelly upstairs and into bed, before returning to his Morgan, locking it up tight and falling into the bed in the guest room. Gibbs was in such a deep sleep he didn't even stir.

Gibbs awoke with a start, he frantically checked his phone. Seeing no text messages or missed calls from Kelly put him on alert, it was barely 0530 and he couldn't believe he'd slept as long as he had. He made his way to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, noticing that there was a fresh pot that had been set to brew at 0500 made him curious. He didn't know how to set that function, that meant someone had been in his house. He looked around the living room and didn't notice anything out of place. A second scan revealed a familiar suitcase ribbon and he headed for the stairs to see if his guest was awake. The door had been left wide open and as he arrived at the doorway, there was his daughter, fully dressed still including her joggers, face down sound asleep. He heard a light snore from the room next to hers and ventured down the hall to find that door open too. There he saw his dear friend Ducky, curled up under the covers in the guest room, lightly snoring.

He felt a relief that Kelly had travelled through the night and had safely arrived at home, but he was incredibly irked that Kelly hadn't kept her word and contacted him to let him know her ETA or transport mode. She hadn't even called him for a ride.

"Gibbs?" Ducky asked, he'd noted the rigid posture and tense jawline on his friend.

"Am I obsolete?" He asked his friend, looking him in the eye. "Yesterday morning before Rebecca left house, we'd argued, again. She said that Kelly didn't need me anymore, that I was obsolete. Am I?" Gibbs hated second guessing himself, but right now, he was unsure of himself.

"No," Ducky immediately answered. "she simply called me for a ride, wanting you to get some rest. She was worried about you."

"Thanks for getting her, Duck." Gibbs said as the duo made their way down stairs "for taking care of her."

"Always, my friend." Ducky said warmly.

By the time that the afternoon rolled around Kelly was awake. She found a note on the coffee maker telling her to bring his truck to him at the navy yard and they could head to the funeral home together to go over the service details.

Keith had been the security guard on the door at NCIS HQ since before Gibbs started here. He recognised Kelly instantly and came around from behind his desk to say hello to the young woman he had watched grow from a shy and timid child to the woman who stood before him. "He told me he's expecting you, I'll take you right up." Keith told her instantly, giving her a visitors tag as they made their way to the main elevators.

"Gibbs, I've got a present for you." Keith called out and Kelly went straight to her Dad's arms with a huge smile.

"Have ya got a present like that for me, Keithy-boy?" DiNozzo quipped and Gibbs immediately smacked him across the back of the head. "Ouch, boss!" Tony exclaimed.

"Give me ten minutes and we can leave." Gibbs promised, kissing her cheek and pulling McGee's computer chair over for her to sit on.

"Ah boss, Probie's going to be back from lunch any minute now. He's going to need that chair to do some work." DiNozzo said, reminding his boss. Gibbs gave him a scathing look and Tony knew it was time to stop. "Shutting up boss!"

"DiNozzo, I want you on Peterson's alibi, poke as many holes in it as you can." Gibbs instructed, as he began to prepare to leave.

"What about Probie?" DiNozzo asked, not liking his assignment so far.

"Have him keep running the financials, the victims L.E.S, find out how the victim could afford the car and grand piano on his salary." He said as he grabbed his go bag and headed for the elevator.

Tim was cursing his own day, he'd woken up at 0300 and by 0400 had given up on any more sleep and had made his way into the yard. He'd started on a cold case and before he knew it, the three of them had it solved. He'd gone off to lunch and promised to bring back coffee. He was thankful, that it was Friday today and they weren't on call over the weekend.

"Here boss," Tim said handing over the coffee he'd purchased at lunch for his boss. He caught the eye of the woman his boss was with. "Kell?" He asked a whisper. She looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Tim?" She asked, her voice stopping both Gibbs in their tracks. All of a sudden, she flung herself into his arms. Tim managed to keep hold of the cup tray in one hand and support Kelly's lithe body in the other. "What are you doing here?" She asked pulling back from him, her eyes wide and a huge megawatt smile on her face.

"I work here, at NCIS." Tim explained. "You?"

"Ah, that's my Dad" she pointed to Gibbs.

Gibbs was rooted to the spot, he'd taken the coffee cup from McGee and entered the elevator without looking up. He heard Kelly call McGee's name and a rustle of movement. The next thing he knew, his daughter's five foot six body was wrapped tightly around McGee's six foot one frame. For a split second he was in awe that that the young man hadn't spilled the other two coffee cups. Then curiosity set in and he became quiet.

"Your Dad is my boss?" Gibbs heard McGee ask incredulously. "You're one of his Gibbs'?"

"Yep." Kelly confirmed before, flinging herself back into Tim's arms again. Gibbs stepped up and took the tray of cups fromTim's hand. McGee's hands automatically went around his daughter's body. "I've missed you." She whispered softly, but the older Gibbs' hearing had heard every word.

"Dad, you didn't tell me you worked with my Tim." Kelly chastised gently, smacking her Dad on the arm.

"Your Tim?" Gibbs asked Kelly, wide-eyed. "The MIT Tim?" He asked her, in shock. 'How had I not put two and two together?' Gibbs thought stupidly, mentally head slapping himself. "You're the MIT Tim?" He asked again turning to his youngest agent.

"I don't know about 'MIT Tim', but I am Kelly's friend from MIT." McGee answered. He looked over and noticed that Tony had joined the trio, feeling left out of the conversation.

"Dad!" Kelly whined a little at him. "Yes, my MIT Tim." She said, eyes widened and her voice had emphasised the word 'my'.

Tim's mind began racing. 'What exactly had Kelly told her father about us and our time together at MIT?' He'd thought, panicking slightly.

"How the hell did you two meet, anyway Probie?" DiNozzo interrupted, slapping Tim on his back in a jovial manner. Gibbs reached up to slap Tony, but stopped himself. He actually thought it was a damn good question. The younger duo immediately burst out laughing and Kelly reached up and lightly traced a small scar on the side of Tim's face. It was a scar that Gibbs had noticed the very first day they'd met and he'd always wondered where it had come from.

/FLASHBACK/

"Sorry 'bout that." Kelly said sheepishly, as she rushed around to the next aisle. She'd been standing on the supplied step stool trying to reach for the required astronomy text book from the top shelf when a pile of them fell through to the other side and hit the young man on the other side. "I'm Kelly" she said, offering her hand hello.

"Tim" the man answered, shaking her hand softly, his fingertips lightly caressing the inside of her wrist, along her pulse point.. "I didn't think I was a bad guy. Yet you just had to take me out with a computer coding text book." He joked, lamely.

"Sorry again." She winced, she noticed a small knick on the side of Tim's forehead, just up from his temple and towards the front a little. "You're bleeding, let me help you." Kelly rummaged around in her book bag, finding her packet of travel size Kleenex and wet the tissue with her water bottle. She lead him over to the tables at the end of the aisle and ushered him to take a seat. She held the wet tissue to his head and lightly applied pressure.

"It's ok," Tim smiled. "So, what book was so important, it was worth my life?" He quipped and she revealed the Astronomy 101 text book.

"Astronomy 101" Kelly answered, she quickly removed the tissue to check the bleeding. It was slowing down, but hadn't stopped. "What book were you looking for? Maybe I can help."

"Computer science, the offending book that hit my head."

"Didn't know computer science was so painful" she joked and he let out a laugh. When they'd finished laughing, Kelly checked the wound again and found it had stopped bleeding now. She looked into her bag again and found a Band-Aid. She blew on the wound to dry and expertly applied the small bandaid. Stepping into his personal space, she gave the bandage a featherlight kiss "there, all better."

"Indeed it is." Tim confirmed, catching her eyes, making her blush. "So, stargazing?"

"Huh?!" She asked confused.

"Astronomy student? We should go star gazing."

"It's a date!"

"I tried to kill him with a computer science text book." Kelly joked and Tim laughed hard. He and DiNozzo shared a look. They didn't get what was so funny about it, clearly it was an inside joke between the two of them.

"You always did give me a headache." Tim jested and Kelly swatted his arm playfully. "You in town long?"

Looking at her Dad quickly then catching Tim's eye, she bit her lip and watched his eyes widen with desire. She knew he always love biting her bottom lip. "For a little while, let's get dinner tomorrow and catch up. But Dad and I do have to run out right now."

"Stargazing?" He asked and she chuckled before widely smiling at him.

"It's a date!" Kelly said and Gibbs automatically head slapped Tim

"Better not be, McGee!" Gibbs quipped and ushered Kelly into the elevator. "I'll be back in two hours, I want the case solved. Get back to work." He barked and the boys simultaneously answered him.

"On it boss."