A/N: Here's another chapter people, sorry for the delay! To my recent followers & favourites, welcome aboard! I'm so glad to have you with us on this journey! To my reviewers, thank you so much, I love reading your thoughts, so please keep them coming!

Now, let's see what exactly is going on with Kelly...

Gibbs sat leaning against the wall of the hospital, he had his wife leaning into his side as the pair watched their kids talk. They'd stopped yelling a while ago & were just quietly sitting in the grass talking, he knew they were discussing something serious because even though they were a small distance away he could see they were concentrating hard on whatever they were talking about. He hoped they could work it out, because he was at a total loss as to what was the reason was behind his daughter's mood & feelings.

Shannon was concerned about her daughter's state of mind & knew there'd be more tense discussions in their near future. She knew they'd had some very tense discussions back in Houston, she hated herself for what she'd done, but she had to get them away from him & it was the only way she could do it. She knew her daughter spoke the truth, how could she suddenly expect her daughter to all of a sudden change back to how things were before everything happened? "she has a right to be mad, she has a right to way she's feeling. I forced her to take on too much"

Gibbs sighed, he knew she was right "I know, but you did what you had to Shan, we'll get through this, we'll help her through it too. Don't doubt what you had to do Shan" he soothed as he caressed her arm.

"I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to even speak to me" Shannon remarked, she found herself running her hand through Buster's fur as he was resting against their legs, she actually found it rather soothing.

"Don't think that way babe" Gibbs replied as he pressed a kiss against her forehead. He left his head resting against her's for a while but he then saw their kids approach "Shan" he whispered.

Nix had listened to his sister's explanation about her hesitations about going their dad's place, and after she finished, he had to admit, she had a small point. They'd negotiated a compromise of sorts between them & just hoped their parents would understand. He knew his sister wasn't all that with it, and decided it was time for him to step up and help to handle this, as he & his sister approached his parents "I'll help you talk about this Kells" he whispered.

Kelly gave him a weak smile, she was glad he'd understood her feelings & knew as soon as she spoke that he'd taken it on board and considered his own feelings, maybe even feeling the same way, to an extent. She knew he didn't feel as strongly as she did about it, but she understood that.

Shannon saw them both sit down at the end of their feet & as a result, both her & her husband drew their legs in towards themselves, to not crowd them "you two ok?"

"We've talked and we're ok" Nix answered "but.."

"but what bud?" Gibbs asked, he could see hesitation all over his face, his girl though was just sitting with her knees drawn to her chest & head resting on them, her eyes were open but she looked to be staring off into space.

Nix took a deep breath "We want to go home, to our place"

Gibbs had to admit he was utterly floored by that comment, he had just assumed that they'd just head back home, to his place, to their true home. He also thought that the rest of his family would not just be ok with it, but would welcome it "I thought we'd go…"

Shannon had to admit, she just assumed that they'd all go back to their home, not where their kids had lived. She shouldn't have assumed though "why do you want to go to your place?"

"Cause I don't want to go to yours" Kelly whispered as she chewed her bottom lip.

"Yet" Nix added quickly

Gibbs couldn't deny that hearing that had hurt, why wouldn't his kids want to go to their home? "why?" he asked barely above a whisper.

Shannon saw the look of pain shoot across her husband's face, she waited to hear just why her daughter didn't want to go there.

Kelly chewed her bottom lip for a little while before whispering "it's been 13 years…."

Shannon saw her husband was going to say something, but patted his leg trying to convey that they should just wait & let their girl get it all out, she knew there was more but it would take time.

Kelly realised her family were letting her get it all out & not rushing her "…it's not our home, at least it's not for me, it's your home, you've lived your own life there …. without us" she had no idea what to expect from her dad's place & she was scared about going there.

Shannon's eyes shot wide open as her daughter finished speaking, she'd been so focused on the emotions about getting her family back, and having them now that she'd completely forgotten to even consider this. Her daughter was right, while she knew her husband was still in the same house, he had lived there for 13 years, without them. He'd gotten on with his life, maybe he'd changed everything around? Maybe she wouldn't recognise it? Maybe he'd even had partners in that time, that had lived there? Had he? She was now feeling the same nerves about going there as her daughter was. She also realised the size of the mountain discussion they had to have had just doubled in size!

Gibbs sighed, he'd been so focused on getting them back to DC & 'home' that he'd totally forgotten to think about how they might feel about it. He berated himself, he shouldn't have assumed! He did though want to nip it in the butt right this minute "I can understand your feelings angel, I can. I want to assure you that the house, my house is our home that has never changed, and never will."

"I just want to go somewhere that's familiar to me, that I'm comfortable in, with my stuff the way I like it... and I want my own bed so I can sleep" Kelly said quietly, lately she struggled to sleep anywhere but her own bed.

Nix saw his parents were a little confused at that last statement "Kell didn't really sleep last night, I came across to your bed hoping she'd sleep if she had the bed to herself, but that didn't really work out"

Shannon sighed "Darling, why didn't you say something during the night?" she now realised why her daughter was so short tempered & where her thoughts were coming from. She had clearly had a lot more thinking time than the rest of them & clearly needed sleep.

Kelly just chewed her bottom lip.

Gibbs shared a look with his wife, he too wondered why she didn't say something "angel, come on, why didn't you say something? We were all awake at some point, I'm sure you realised that?"

"I did" Kelly whispered.

"So why didn't you say something? Could you not switch off?" Gibbs prodded, he could understand it & if he hadn't been physically exhausted, it probably would have taken a much longer time to fall asleep himself initially. He did however berate himself for succumbing to sleep when his girl hadn't got any herself, how could he not have realised?

Shannon watched as her daughter just continued to chew her lip, she'd seen this look before "ok, we'll leave this alone for now angel, but please stop chewing your lips, you'll break the skin"

Gibbs traded looks with his wife, unsure why she'd let this go, all he got was a 'leave it' look in response.

Nix didn't know what his sister's reasoning for this was, but he like his mum, knew the look his sister was currently giving, she wasn't going to answer the question.

"So you both would like to home to your place, yes?" Shannon asked gently

"Yea" Nix nodded "it's not that we don't want to go to your place dad, but right now, we just want to go to our place, and it is already equipped with everything for Buster. Maybe we could go see the place tomorrow or Tuesday?" he explained. He did want to go to his dad's place, that was undeniable, but he agreed with his sister, right now, he wanted to go to his home, their home just for a night or two so they could recharge where they were comfortable "I can bunk in with Kells & you two can have my bed, if you…" he took a breath "if you want to come too, if you'd rather…" he would have continued but go interrupted.

"Phoenix, stop" Shannon said instantly "I don't want to be anywhere but with you two & sleeping arrangements can be worked out later, and if you both want to go to your place, then that's where we will go" she just wanted them happy & comfortable and if that meant going to where they'd been living, then that's what she wanted to do.

"We can spend as much time at your place as you both want" Gibbs added, while he'd love them to be comfortable with going home, he certainly wasn't going to push the issue & he just wanted them happy and taken care of, and if that meant going to their place, that's what they'd do "I realise that it may be strange to go back to my place, but I want to tell you all that the house, it has barely changed, I mean that. And we can make whatever changes to it that we need to for us to be comfortable there together, when you're all ready" the place hadn't changed one bit, and he suddenly realised that maybe it was a good idea they weren't heading there, there was a lot to do to it!

Gibbs saw his family all nod in agreement "so why don't we go? I'd say we're all ready"

Shannon stood & gave her husband a look asking for him to take their son off, she wanted a word with their girl. Upon seeing them go, she took a step & closed the distance to where her girl had risen from, she gently placed her hands on her girl's arm "Kelly angel, I know we have a lot to talk about, I know you're angry with me & I know your feeling out of sorts and not really sure how to act. I want to tell you that all of that is ok" she moved a hand to stroke her cheek that had a few tears trailing downwards "it's ok to feel not ok, we will work through it all together, and I will never get upset with you for expressing your feelings" she couldn't lose her temper like she'd done back in Houston, that would serve no purpose.

Kelly just nodded

"Come on darling, let's go, after what you've told me about the place, I'm looking forward to seeing it" Shannon said, trying to get a smile happening "do we need to go to the market?"

"Yea, there's one around the corner" Kelly answered quietly.

"Well, what's say after we get there, we check what we need & then we go shopping darling, just us" Shannon suggested "and then we can all have a lie down" she knew that they all, but especially her girl needed rest.

"Just you & me?" Kelly whispered, just a little while ago she was beside her with anger against her mum, but now she just wanted to keep close. She wasn't sure she really understood her own emotions right now. She wasn't even going to try though, she was way too tired for that!

"Just you and me baby girl, just like we used to. The boys can stay home & do whatever it is that they do" Shannon answered, she needed to start mending this broken bridge.

Kelly let out a small smile, that actually sounded nice.

"Bud, why don't you take Buster over to those bushes & let him relieve himself before we hop into the car" Gibbs said, he wanted a word with Ted, without his family. As soon as his son headed off he motioned Ted closer & saw that Martha had come too, he didn't mind that, she knew the issues he was about to speak about.

"Everything ok Jethro?" Ted asked concerned.

"For now, but I have no idea what it's going to take to get them all through this mess" Gibbs admitted.

"Time Jethro, time & probably some tears" Martha remarked, but right now was an opportunity she couldn't let go, she pulled some keys out of her pocket "your house keys, Jeff dropped by yesterday & was able to recut a set of keys from the lock they had on file, front & back doors. Figured you wouldn't want Shannon to know just how available you made your house to the world at large" she finished with a raised eyebrow.

Gibbs nodded "thanks, but we won't need these today" he was glad though that Martha had been so thoughtful to get this done, because she was right, he really didn't want Shannon knowing that he lived without a working lock on the doors.

Martha traded a worried look with her husband "what do you mean? Are you staying here with Joanne?" she was a little confused.

"No" Gibbs sighed "the kids want to go to the place they've been living in, they're a little worried about going to…." He just couldn't finish the sentence, but he knew they got it "I think it's mainly Kelly and if I'm honest Shannon too, they're concerned about what to expect from it after all this time." He'd felt his wife react to their daughter's explanation and knew she'd suddenly shared the thoughts. "we might get there in a couple of days to have a look"

Martha sighed, she could certainly understand the feelings, but they'd just done all the work at his place. Well, it would last for a while, the main thing that mattered was keeping the family together and comfortable "that's certainly understandable, 13 years is a long time. Just do what you need to do to keep them comfortable"

"Yea" Gibbs sighed "Listen, I might need a hand, my place isn't exactly equipped…."

"Don't even finish the sentence Jethro" Ted remarked "I've already spoken to Jeff, and whatever is required we'll get it all done, we'll help as much as we can. Just tell us what you need"

Martha continued where he left off "I've also taken the liberty to give the place a quick tidy up, you've got some fresh food in the kitchen, and your bed is made as well. So it will be nice and welcoming whenever you get there, I didn't want you coming back and having nothing. Our folks helped us, as did Abigail" she finished, wanting to tell him that Abby had helped with it all.

"Thanks Ted, once I take them over and see what they want, we can work out a plan of attack, and Martha, you didn't have to do that, but thank you " Gibbs said "I know it wasn't the first time you've done something like that" he knew she'd come over every few months, at first he tried talking her out of it, but it was like talking to a brick wall. Actually it was like talking to Shannon, so he let it pass.

"Yes well, despite what you both think a diet is not just meat, meat and meat, and coffee" Martha finished with a smirk.

"Coffee's a bean, therefore it's a vegetable" Ted smirked.

Gibbs laughed "he's got a point."

"A point about what?" Shannon enquired coming closer.

"These two still consider coffee a vegetable" Martha remarked blandly. She noticed that Kelly was just standing there with her head lowered and her mother's arm around her.

"So it's meat, and 3 kinds of coffee is it?" Shannon asked the pair with a raised eyebrow.

Gibbs pressed his lips together before saying "coffee beans are vast in their variety"

Ted grinned, they were already falling back into their old habits "see"

"Can we go?" Kelly whispered.

Shannon stroked her daughter's arm "yes darling we can, might save dad & Ted from really putting their feet into their big mouths"

"Let me get us a car sorted, we can then head off Kells" Gibbs said softly

"There over here Jethro" Ted remarked leading him towards one of the small outdoor car parks.

As the headed towards to the car park Gibbs saw his team, and some of the SWAT people too all just hanging out "Do me a favour Ted?"

Ted stopped short & grabbed his friend's free arm "I don't ever want to hear that sentence again, ever!"

Gibbs looked at his friend confused, huh?

"You don't have to ask that question, just ask what you need & I will do it, if I can't do it personally, I will figure out a way to get it done" Ted said "and besides, you actually asking me for help, is slightly un-nerving me, so stop!" actually getting asked for help by his friend, he just couldn't get over. He didn't think he'd ever forget the conversation they'd had with him in Texas, and it had all started with Gibbs asking for help, he definitely didn't want to hear that again!

"Point taken" Gibbs smirked but nodded, he knew very well that his friend always tried to help him, but it was help he got shoved into his face, not asked for.

"So?" Ted asked

"When you get home, can you pop over to mine & grab me some clothes? Plenty of t-shirts" Gibbs asked passing the keys back to him.

Ted smiled "of course, will get my lot home, then I'll grab the stuff & drop it off to you" he knew the reasoning for the 'plenty of t-shirts' Shannon liked to wear his ones.

"Thanks" Gibbs remarked, he saw his friend roll his eyes "when my shoulder is better, you & I are going…"

Ted grinned at his friend "looking forward to it" they'd often spared & he enjoyed every session.

Tony couldn't help but notice Gibbs & Ted were just eyeing each other off & they weren't far from them, but they were weird smiles planted on their faces. They then broke off & approached his little group huddle.

"DiNozzo, are you cleared?" Gibbs asked, wanting to make sure his charge was cleared ok.

"Yes boss, doc's have cleared me to go home" Tony answered

Gibbs nodded, he saw Agent Lane "you taking my team home Lane?"

"Yes sir, and collecting them all in the morning" Lane confirmed

"Good" Gibbs nodded, he looked between his team "go home, you need anything, you get Lane to get it before you reach home, I want the three of you fully rested today. Tomorrow we meet at the navy yard at 10:00 to get started on the paperwork"

"10:00 boss?" Tony asked, that late?

"Yes, 10:00, everyone needs to rest, and meeting at 10:00 will give you a sleep in, make use of it, one time only deal" Gibbs replied with a small smirk.

"Right, thanks boss" Tony nodded.

Ted looked at his fellow SWAT Lt's "We're all leaving, so you can guys can head off, we'll hook back up tomorrow"

"The Director's hooked us up at a place in Alexandria, so we'll follow you guys home & then head there" Peters remarked.

Gibbs flashed Ted a look "no need, you guys can head straight there"

"You sure?" Robertson asked

"Yea, you guys need to rest as much as the rest of us" Gibbs remarked "we're… ….. we're headed to the kids place for the night, so it'll out of your way anyway"

That surprised Tim "you're not going home boss?"

"Not yet McGee" Gibbs answered but he looked at his agent, he looked surprised at that. Clearly his daughter hadn't spoken about her issue with him, that gave him so level of comfort. Knowing she hadn't shared her deep feelings with him made him happier to know it was kept within the family.

Tony could tell that Gibbs had issues with where they were sleeping, but it was his issue "we'll see you tomorrow then boss"

Gibbs nodded & headed off with Ted, it was time to take his family home, well, not his home, but theirs & while that held reservations for him, he would do it. He would do anything for his family, and this was a small price to pay to keep them together.

A/N: Well, I guess they're not going back to Gibbs place, but after 13 years, its understandable. Here's hoping that Gibbs can show his family, but especially his girls that his home, is their home.

But what will happen when Gibbs gets some father/son time at his kids place? And will Kelly get the rest she needs?

You know I love hearing your thoughts, so review away! More up soon!