A/N: Here's another chapter for you fine folks! To the newest followers & favourites, welcome! It gives me a warm feeling inside seeing those numbers climb. And I am always very happy to read reviews, so to my reviewers, you all rock! I just love hearing your comments & know that I do take what you say on board to try to make this story even better!
Now, let's see how Gibbs & Kelly are doing...
Gibbs didn't want to bring it up while they were driving but he needed some answers "Angel, why is mum in Houston, if both of you are here?"
Kelly swallowed "She made a deal with Mac to get us away from him"
"What kind of deal?" Gibbs asked.
"Can we not talk about it while your driving?" Kelly asked, she knew that it wasn't the right time, she didn't want him to react to while driving, it probably wouldn't end well.
Gibbs got the feeling it was something he really wouldn't like "that bad?"
Kelly just nodded.
"ok baby" Gibbs agreed, he tried to steel himself to hear whatever news it was.
Ziva sat there in silence, she just kept flashing looks between father & daughter, neither were talking both looked preoccupied with numerous thoughts going through their heads, it had a been a good half hour before the silence was interrupted by her phone.
Ziva looked at the message & breathed a sigh of relief "They're there Gibbs, they're watching him"
Kelly let out a massive sigh of relief, thank heavens! Though she didn't know these men, if her dad said they could trust them to keep her brother safe, she'd believe it. She wanted to believe in her dad again.
Gibbs too let out a sigh of relief "They'll keep him safe Kell, I promise"
Kelly listened to her dad say 'I promise', the last time he said that was before he shipped out & he said 'he promised he'd come home to her', that didn't really happen... she could get mad, she kinda wanted to know why he never came to look for them. She guessed that Mac had made him believe they died, but how'd he been able to pull the wool over her dad's eyes? It was one thing to do it to a kid, but to a grown adult who would have required more proof, how'd he do it? how'd her dad not seen through it? She shelved those thought though, not wanting to get caught up in those emotions right now.
Gibbs had so many thoughts going through his mind, why did Kelly have F1 privileges? What kind of deal did Shannon have to make? Was Shannon ok & what would her reaction be to him? What was his boy like? Did they have any good moments? He just started to imagine all the moments he'd missed out on, and he was getting angry. First step he knew was to get to his son, next step, get his wife. Then he would get Mac & seriously hurt him! and that was putting it nicely.
Ziva could tell they were getting close to the campsite & the mood in the car hadn't really changed, father & daughter remained silent both lost in their own thoughts. Though one thing she noticed was that Kelly was getting greener by the mile, she looked like she was going to be sick!
Gibbs saw a sign for the campsite as he flashed a look at his daughter, she was green as a marine! "We're almost there angel, hang on!" the last thing he wanted was for her to throw up in the car & not be able to help & sooth her through it.
"Don't think I can" Kelly said trying to hold back the urge.
Gibbs eye's widened at that but he saw the entrance to parking lot & then Tony's car. He pulled up next to it & came to such a sudden stop that he felt it himself, seeing too that Ziva had lurched forward through no fault of her own except the motion of the car.
Kelly felt the car suddenly stop & was lurched forward, but she didn't waste any time, she madly scrambled to get her seatbelt off, which eventually happened with the help of her dad & she almost fell out of the car in her scramble, she was going to hurl!
Gibbs helped his girl out of her seatbelt & just as she fell out of the car he jumped out himself & raced around the car to her. He got to her just as the first lot was coming up, he went down instantly, pulling her hair back to get it out of the way & rubbing her back. Not wanting her to empty her stomach on the dirt, between the cars & seeing a rubbish bin right next to a bench, he managed to move her to the seat, so she could at least sit down & lean over the bin.
Kelly felt herself being guided & just let it happen, she was much too preoccupied to be thinking about anything really. She suddenly saw a bin come into her sight & released the next lot into in, thankful she was also sitting down.
"Shh baby, it's ok. Just let it out" Gibbs whispered. He always hated this, the mere fact she felt bad enough to vomit made him feel horrible. Frankly though given his driving he was quite impressed she'd managed to hold it in until they got here, but it was coming out well & truly now.
"Everything will be ok Kells" Gibbs whispered as he continued to try to sooth her through it, but then he heard her retch. He repositioned himself moving from beside her to behind her, so that he could better help her through this part by rubbing her upper back & neck, that used to help. He remembered two things, one this was the part he hated the most because the action of retching actually made her stretch her body to try to get the contents out, so it hurt her. The second was that it meant it was almost over, because it meant her stomach was basically empty & she was bringing up the last of the fluids "almost over my angel" he whispered.
Ziva had moved the car to the other side of Tony's to move it away from the vomit & was now just staying by them trying to give the pair space, she saw Gibbs the father take centre stage, he was caring & soothing her, while looking pained at her pain. She realised that he knew exactly what to do or the routine of it, because of the way he repositioned himself at one point or another. She saw him motion her to get a bottle of water, which she did straight away.
Kelly was bent over the bin feeling horrible, it had been a while since she'd last been in this situation given she'd been the sole driver for her & Nix, but it's been much much longer since she'd had her dad to sooth her through it, she knew it was all finished but she just sat there staring down into the dark bin, everything was just so screwed up.
Gibbs rubbed his girl back as he passed her some water "take some water angel" he said, he waited & took it back after she took some. He sat down next to her.
Kelly was thankful for the water, it took the taste of vomit away, but not the rest of how she felt. She just started crying, sobbing really & couldn't help but feel thankful when her dad brought her around & into his embrace.
Gibbs heart broke when his girl started crying over the bin & he immediately turned her around & brought her into his hold, trying his best to sooth the sobs "I'm here angel, everything's going to be ok"
Having been in her dad's hold Kelly gripped her dad as much as possible and just cried, she'd missed the feeling of total security his embrace brought.
Gibbs felt his girl grip him tightly & cry even harder, it pained him but he only gripped her tighter "I'm here angel, dad's here"
Kelly was sobbing, but she needed to tell her dad before she saw Nix "mum tried to get all of us away from him but he wouldn't budge, all she could do was get me & Nix away"
Gibbs was having to really focus to understand what she was saying because she was sobbing between every word, sometimes even in the middle of a word.
"He... he only let us leave if... " Kelly cried, she just couldn't finish the sentence.
"If what angel?" Gibbs prodded gently, wondering what condition the bastard put on them.
"if Nix thought... mum died" Kelly sobbed into him.
Gibbs was shocked, surely she didn't say what she did, but the way she was crying, scratch that utterly sobbing maybe that is what she said, he just had to check "angel, are you telling me that your brother thinks mum is dead?"
Kelly just nodded "it was the only way he'd allowed us to go & mum said we had to get away from him" she sobbed.
Gibbs thought the level of anger he already had for Mac was as high as could be, but he was wrong, this new piece of information had propelled it even higher. He was utterly furious at the man, he was going to rip his head off & then shoot him!
Ziva had heard Gibbs question & saw Kelly nod & was utterly stunned, she had heard bits of what Kelly had said so she was positively shocked & could understand Gibbs look of utter fury, she couldn't believe a man would something like to a family, no wait, she honestly wouldn't have put it past her father, but her father was a very different proposition.
"I tried to say no & that she had to come too, but she F1'd me, said I had to take Nix & get away from him, said no matter what I had to protect him. She had to quit work & stay at home with him" Kelly continued to sob.
Gibbs just held onto his girl as she continued to sob the story, his heart was shattering with every sentence.
"Mum didn't want Nix to grow up another a minute with him, Mac treated him like shit. Mum said it was because he's too much like you. She wanted to get us both away anyway she could. We came to DC 5 months ago & I've only spoken to mum a few times since" Kelly said, trying to get her tears under control, tried "How do I even tell Nix, he's going to hate me" she sobbed, that was one thing she was certain about as well as being utterly petrified about.
Gibbs had to admit he was still trying to comprehend everything, hearing that Mac treated his son like shit made in boil yet again, but the small glimpse into his son that he was like him made him feel partly good . But there was one thing he knew, none of this was his girl's fault, he lift her head to him "Look at me Kelly" he waited for her to open her tear filled eyes to him "this is not your fault, none of it! There is only one person responsible for it all & that is Mac and for it, I will deal with him."
"I know it's not my fault, but all Nix knows was that I, I dragged him half way across the country! Yea, he hated Mac, but I took him away from his friends when he thought his world had caved in!" Kelly cried back. She knew this stupid mess was no one's fault baring Mac, he was a bastard! But in her brother's eyes she had been the one to decide to move them & while he had liked getting away from Mac, he really didn't like having to leave all his friends.
"We'll explain it to him Kells, together. We'll make him understand that what you did wasn't your call & that it was to get him away from Mac. It will all be ok" Gibbs said as reassuringly as possible. He was now facing the prospect of a having to have a very serious conversation with his son, a son he hadn't even met yet! He was however glad that she knew it wasn't her fault.
After a few more minutes of caressing the tears away from his girl Gibbs knew they should get themselves up to his boy, while he knew Tony was there with him & he was at the campsite's entrance, he wanted to get there himself "come on angel, let's go see your brother. Everything will be ok"
Kelly nodded & wiped her tearing eyes with her sleeve.
Ziva led the way up the path as she saw Gibbs walking side by side with his daughter, he had an arm around her trying to help comfort her.
Gibbs had his girl under his arm as he followed Ziva who he'd made take point "I know your scared about talking with your brother, but it will be ok. I know he loves you, he can't not. So it will..." he had planned on continuing but a gun shot rang out & he instantly threw them both to the ground making sure he was on top of his girl covering her as much as possible.
Kelly had been listening to her dad, but almost as soon as the sound rang out her dad had basically thrown her to the ground & laid himself on top of her, it freaked her out the speed at which he did it, but she didn't feel the thud she thought she would, he'd obviously made sure to somehow get her down 'gently' if that was possible?
Ziva immediately tensed & spun around as soon as she heard the shot. She saw Gibbs had Kelly on the ground trying to shield her. With her weapon drawn she surveyed the direction she thought the shot came from & spotted movement "I see them Gibbs, stay here."
Gibbs nodded, he held Ziva's backup immediately taking the safety off. While he knew Ziva going alone wasn't ideal, there was not a chance in hell he'd leave Kelly alone. He quickly looked around to see if there was anywhere he could move them to, lying on the path wasn't exactly the best place, it was way too open. He saw a massive tree trunk not too far away & knew that was the best option, of all the crappy options "Everything's going to be ok Kelly, I'm going to move us quickly to some cover, just let me guide you"
Receiving a nod Gibbs quickly lifted himself & Kelly off the ground & moved them at record speed to the base of tree. Gibbs pushed Kelly down into a crouched position & stood over her, trying to cover every side of her. He did a quick surveillance of the area around them & saw no threat coming from the immediate area. He focused himself on Ziva as she got further into the trees. Another shot rang out & he immediately threw himself down to cover his girl even more.
Kelly was crouching down being utterly covered by her dad & was beyond scared, she knew it was Quinn, or his men at least she suddenly realised why she was so scared, it wasn't that she was scared for herself, ok, she was scared for herself, but she was more scared for her brother! "Phoenix! We have to get to him!" she cried "arrghh" she yelled as another shot rang out.
"Shh angel, I wont let anything happen to you" Gibbs reassured her "My guys are with Phoenix, he'll be ok. As soon as it's clear we will get up there" he whispered as he tried to calm her, but truth be told he was petrified & felt utterly torn, he wanted nothing more than to stay here & protect his girl, but he also felt a very desperate need to charge up to the campsite & make sure his son was ok.
Gibbs just covered his girl, hoping no praying that Tony would take care of his son while he waited for Ziva to take care of Quinn, or at least drive them away far enough for them to get up to the campsite.
A/N: Looks like Kelly is ok for now, but what will Gibbs do when he eventually gets his hands on Mac?
Everyone now seems to be caught up in this gunfire, will they all be ok? Is it Quinn? How will Ziva & McGee go chasing them down? Can Gibbs & Tony keep Kelly & Nix safe?
I always love to hear what your thoughts/comments are, so review away! More up soon!