A/N: Next chapter folks! To my latest followers/favourites, welcome! I love it when I see the numbers climb, to know so many people are loving this just fills me with such joy! What I also love are the reviews! So to my reviewers, thank you so much! You help to keep me inspired to write more!

If you recall, this is set at the end of Season 3, where Tim isn't quite the confident agent we have now, so please bare that in mind. Now, let's see what Kelly's up to...

Kelly headed outside with Tim "thanks for this Tim"

Tim was a little nervous, but the Director had given the ok & she'd been cooped up for hours now, so he could understand her wanting some air "no worries"

"Where'd you go to school?" Kelly asked

"Ahh MIT & then John Hopkins" Tim answered.

Kelly was impressed, now his computer skills made sense, she was kinda jealous "Would have loved to have to been able to go to MIT"

"No chance?" Tim asked, he found it really easy to chat casually with her.

"None, wasn't even allowed to move out into the dorms, had to stay at home" Kelly answered, Mac had refused to budge on that issue.

Tim felt sympathy for Kelly, he guessed the reason behind it, but a lot of his good memories came from when he was out of class & amongst his friends "would've sucked".

"Yea it did a bit, but I was 15 when I started my undergrad, so mum didn't want me living elsewhere for it, I agreed I wasn't really ready for it, but it really sucked by the time I did my post grad I wanted to & mum was happy for me to as well, but Mac wasn't having any of it" Kelly replied, she was feeling pretty comfortable with Tim, he was closet to her in age & they obviously shared an interest in computers.

Tim was surprised, she started her undergrad at 15? She must be one smart young lady, he was impressed "what did you do for post grad?"

"Ahh, law, I'm scheduled to sit the bar exam in like 2 months" Kelly answered, she then spotted her car, she had her keys right in her pocket "just need something from my car"

"ok" Tim agreed as they headed closer, he had to admit, fresh air & nice conversation was a nice break from the situation.

Kelly opened the driver's door, she kinda felt bad for what she was about to do, but she had to do this "you know, you can go inside, I'm just going to duck home quickly, be back in flash" she said before hopping in.

Tim's eyes widened in horror "You can't!" he exclaimed, making sure to not let her door close.

"I can & I will, feel free to come along though" Kelly finished with a smile.

"No, your dad will be angry with you, but he'll kill me for allowing this!" Tim replied, he knew Gibbs would rip him to shreds for even allowing this contemplation to happen.

"Look Tim, I appreciate your concern, but there are things at home I need to get for me & my brother, I'm going with or without you" Kelly finished determinedly "your choice"

Tim honestly had no idea what to do, but she'd started the engine "ok, I'm coming" he finally conceded, maybe he could subtly call Gibbs or Tony's cell.

Kelly watched as Tim sat down in the car "your phone please" she asked giving him a good stare.

Tim swallowed, that was most definitely a Gibbs stare "I think I should keep it on me"

"and I think you will call my dad as soon as we take off, so no. Hand it over please" Kelly asked.

Tim was now grief stricken, he had no idea what to do, why didn't he ask Tony to come as well, or Ziva, or someone, he was getting the feeling he was inadequately skilled to deal with this situation. Handing his phone over would be a very bad idea, but leaving her to go off alone, that was suicidal as far as he was concerned, Gibbs would kill him! He made the only decision he saw he could make, he handed his phone over, at least it was still on & could send out a GPS signal.

Tim though watched in horror as she not only turned it off, but removed the battery, thus killing any possible GPS tracks that he could have given off, but wait her phone! "Where's your phone?"

"In the lab, dad thinks that Mac might have the details and be able to track it, besides mum might call it again, so it should stay there so it can be traced" Kelly answered "now, you're going to get us past the MP's at the gate"

Tim now knew he was screwed!

It was a good 20 minutes later when they pulled up in a residential street, Tim felt like hurling, it seemed that she drove just like her dad, he wondered where they were "where are we?"

"My place" Kelly answered "It's on the other side of this place right here" she said motioning to the block of units.

Kelly rolled her eyes at the look she was getting "I'm not stupid enough to go in through the front, there could be someone watching it. We'll jump the fence & go in through the back & we'll leave that way too, the house is set back, so you can't see in from the front"

"Your dad's already sent agents over to check for anyone watching this place Kelly, it's clear" Tim said.

That was news to Kelly.

"He sent them over a little while ago. He considered there was chance that Quinn might try to reacquire you & your brother here" Tim added, seeing she was a little surprised "look, I'm sure this is important for you, but we shouldn't be here without your dad, I'm sure he's already worrying about you"

"He's interrogating those guys in MTAC, he won't be out for ages, so I doubt he knows I've even gone" Kelly replied.

Tim just gazed at her, there was something in her voice that made it sound hurtful, he knew that him being gone for so long the previous time was hard for her.

"Look, I have things that I need to get for me & Nix & dad's too busy, I can appreciate & understand that. This is something I can do without him" Kelly said "I might have gotten overpowered at the hospital, but it was extenuating circumstance, I was emotionally overwhelmed, it won't happen again, I know how to take care of myself, Chuck Norris didn't give me a red belt for nothing" she added.

Tim really didn't know what to say, this girl went from calm & casual to emotionally charged to headstrong just like a marine, like her dad & now she's talking about Chuck Norris & he has a feeling they've met, he realised that getting her to turn around wasn't going to happen "ok, let's get in, get the stuff & get back, fast"

"Good plan" Kelly said as she hopped out of the car.

Tim saw that the fence wasn't that high, he considered that he should go first "Let me go first"

"Unless you want to get bitten by Buster, think I should go first" Kelly said.

Tim suddenly remembered the bowl that Nix had made, they had a dog! "ok" he agreed.

Kelly jumped the fence & saw Buster immediately bursting towards her "hey boy, how are you?"

"Whoof!" Buster barked as he pushed into Kelly's hand trying to get more petting happening.

Kelly smiled "I know, been gone ages" she turned "come on Tim"

Tim came over the fence & dropped down the short way, he tensed when he saw the dog, a German Shepherd! change its stance & bare its teeth.

"Whoof! Whoof!" Buster barked at Tim.

Kelly was holding onto Buster's collar "Sit" she commanded "good boy" she commended when he finally sat, she rubbed his back "Buster, this is Tim, a friend of mine" she motioned Tim closer "let him smell you & Tim this is Buster"

Tim came closer to the dog, he hated dogs! He held his hand out a short way & the dog immediately started to smell him. He wondered how long he'd have to stay there like that.

Kelly smiled "Good boy, let's get you some food"

Tim followed Kelly towards the house, he saw the dog was right on her side, he gave a quick look around, the backyard wasn't too small & there was a small shed, he watched as she entered the door & by her actions she was obviously turning off the alarm system.

"Come on in Tim" Kelly said over her shoulder.

Tim went in & saw that Kelly was immediately getting food & water for the dog.

"There you go pal, and you know what, you were right before, thanks" Kelly said giving him a kiss.

"Whoof!" Buster barked before he turned his attention to his bowl.

While Tim could have caught himself up with how lovely this place was he knew he had to stay focused on well, getting her to move quickly, maybe they could get back before anyone was the wiser? "need a hand with anything?"

"No thanks, I should only be a few minutes" Kelly said heading for the hallway.

Tim suddenly a jolt, he should clear the house! "Wait!" he called.

Kelly froze "yes?"

Buster had instantly stopped eating & was by Kelly's side, on high alert, clearly off put by the tone & volume of Tim's voice.

"I need to clear the house, stay here" Tim instructed.

"The alarm was on, it hadn't been tripped & Buster would have noticed something, he is a guard dog after all" Kelly replied, she thought that would be obvious given his reaction just now.

"Just stay here, with him" Tim said trying to reassert himself, he was nowhere near as assertive as her dad, Tony or Ziva, but he realised again, her safety was his responsibility & they were in a house that hadn't been cleared yet.

Kelly didn't like that he was going to go all through her place without her but she just waited as patiently as possible with Buster, it took a few minutes but Tim came back "so, is my house safe now? No ghosts, no boggy men hiding anywhere? Cause real people wouldn't be in here, the alarm"

"I had to double check" Tim admitted, it had always been drummed into him to check first, better to check & feel stupid, than not to check & find that something had slipped past him. Heck Gibbs had beaten that into him! He just couldn't work how or why she was being so blasé about all of this, didn't she realise how pissed off her dad would be? Didn't she realise the potential danger she could be in?

"My dad scares you huh?" Kelly asked.

"Just slightly" Tim admitted.

Kelly smirked "try being the boy that stole my barbie doll"

Tim actually smiled, but that wouldn't have been pleasant "feel sorry for that one"

"You kidding?" Kelly asked with cheek "it was hilarious, him & Ted turned up the next day at school & almost made not the kid, but the kid's dad wet himself! It was brilliant!" she finished with a laugh.

Tim chuckled, trying to picture Gibbs being all 'Gibbs' about a stolen barbie doll was funny!

"I'm just going to pack a bag, make yourself comfortable" Kelly offered.

Tim did not do that, he kept fairly close to Kelly as she pottered around her room & her brothers, he saw she was packing clothes, as well as 2 DS's, a laptop, some games & other stuff, obviously all to keep them busy while at the navy yard. He also noticed how close Buster stayed to her, as soon as he'd finished eating he was basically plastered to her side, he wondered if she had somehow gave him that signal, or if the dog sensed something?

Following her back into the living area he watched as she packed up some food from the fridge & cupboards "We've got food at the navy yard"

"My brother would probably love that idea, but we've been eating crap all day, and he's been on camp, so he hasn't been eating the healthiest food for a while & besides, this doesn't get eaten, it will go off" Kelly replied.

While it made logical sense to Tim, he started to get a feel of just how much growing up Kelly had to have gone through in the last 6 months, she'd become the parent for her brother & that's who he was clearly with, the parent of a young boy, not a sister & daughter of a father who was supposed to be the one in charge, but the parent. It made him feel sad for her & that saddened him "your brother's lucky to have you"

"I'm lucky to have him" Kelly smiled "cookie?" she offered with a grin, as she took one out of container for herself.

Tim smiled "thanks" he took one & took a bite "these are nice" he normally hated oatmeal cookies, but these were delicious!

"Thanks, the most healthy cookie possible" Kelly replied with a smile, he was geeky, and rather tense, but there was something about him that she found interesting.

"Are you ready to go?" Tim asked, that smile, it was so genuine, it took a bit of his breath away.

"Almost" Kelly replied "just have to grab some of Buster's stuff"

"Why?" Tim asked.

"Cause I'm bringing him back with us, I don't know how long we'll be gone for & I'm not leaving him here alone without food" Kelly answered as she headed for the laundry.

Tim grimaced, he seriously didn't know what the reaction would be to a dog inside the NCIS building "how are you planning on getting him over that fence?"

Kelly came back out with a bag that had some food & toys for Buster, along with his leash, she smiled at Tim "there's a step ladder we can use to boost him up & he'll jump down"

"Ok, then let's go" Tim suggested, she didn't seem all that eager to get going, he was really wondering why she was so relaxed about this entire trip.

Kelly huffed "fine, let's go" she headed outside "Buster" she called.

Tim checked his watch as they approached the navy yard, they'd been gone for over 2 hours! He kinda prayed that Gibbs had stayed in MTAC the entire time, if he hadn't he'd know they'd left & he'd be ropable straight off the bat, if he had stayed in MTAC, then maybe they could come back in, and have him then come out to find them safe & sound, with a few extra things, then the shit would hit the fan… he honestly didn't know which scenario he would prefer.

A/N: At least Kelly & Tim are back at the navy yard safe & sound! Phew!

I know it may seem like Kelly kind of used Tim & I know some might not be a fan of that, but if you bare with me, you'll see that Kelly's reason's for going & why she choose Tim were far from wanting to use him like that.

The big question is how will Gibbs react when he finds out they left?

I always love hearing feedback, so review away! More up soon.