A/N: Here's another chapter folks! To my latest followers/favourites, welcome! To my reviewers, you rock! I love reading your thoughts/comments!

Guest Reviewer: Momcat: thanks for all your comments, i like to hear what characters everyone likes. But as far as Henry Taylor is concerned, remember he'd never met Nix before, Nix was born after Gibbs left for Iraq, but he's obviously spoken with his son & gotten some pointers about how best to connect & that's what he's done, there is nothing untoward about him. He's good guy!

This chapter is a little longer than normal, but there was no option, i couldn't stop it before i did.. so guess you'll just have to read a bit more…Now, let's see how the conversation goes..

Shannon walked back into the living area, she saw Kelly & Nix both sorting the food out but her husband was in the kitchen looking into the pantry.

"Kells, where's your soya sauce?" Gibbs asked, there was none in the bag from the restaurant & he wanted some for the food.

Kelly went to the fridge & grabbed a bottle "here you go dad"

Gibbs opened the bottle & smelt it "this is your soya sauce?" it didn't smell exactly right & the bottle wasn't a store bought one either.

Shannon watched Kelly, she was interested in her reply, this could actually be a very good Segway to the discussion she wanted to have, but perhaps not before they'd actually eaten dinner...

"It's actually home made, and soy free" Kelly replied, but she flashed a look to her mum, she was a little unsure about where this could lead.

"Soy free soya sauce?" Gibbs asked "why do you have that?"

"Cause a Mike, he's allergic" Nix said matter of factly as he pulled out the wontons.

Kelly & Shannon both stared at him not quite believing he came out so bluntly & said it.

Gibbs saw both his girls stare at his boy, he decided to see what else he could get from him, so he walked over to the table & sat down "Mike's allergic to soya sauce is he?"

"Allergic to soy" Nix nodded absentmindedly "so we don't keep any in the house & we eat Chinese off plastic plates & don't take it into the kitchen, just in case he ever comes" he'd agreed to this with his sister instantly when she'd brought it up.

Kelly's jaw dropped open at her brother, she looked at her mum for help, desperate help! She wasn't really sure she wanted the conversation about Mike to happen now.

Shannon sat down between her husband & son, she could see her daughter was desperate for a cease in the current conversation "lets eat before it gets cold, Nix darling do want a bit of the peaking duck?"

Kelly was relieved that the rest of dinner passed without a mention of Mike, she really wasn't sure what her dad would make of him & it all.

Shannon was glad that dinner had been quick & went by without another mention of Mike, but now it was time for that talk, she held the photo in her hands as she came back into the living area. She saw that her husband & daughter were just finishing clearing up & her son was about to sit down on the couch. Taking a deep breath she spoke gently "Kells, Jethro darling, lets sit, there's something I'd like us to talk about"

"I wanted to watch what Keeps recorded for me" Nix pouted

"Not right now Nix darling" Shannon replied as she sat down "come on" she motioned, she looked at her girl & patted the spot next to her.

Kelly wasn't sure what her mum wanted to speak about, and sat down cautiously.

Gibbs wasn't sure what his wife was wanting to speak about, but he noticed that she was holding something in her hands, he sat down next his son, who had his sister on his other side.

Shannon put an arm her girl & pulled her into her side, she knew this was going to be very hard for her to deal with, but there was one thing to speak about first "Jethro, you've asked me a few times about Michael here & I know you're curious about him" she said gently as she held the photo in her hand & turned it slightly to show them.

Kelly's eyes widened, what on earth was her mum doing? But she looked at the photo & couldn't help but smile at him smiling back. Boy did she miss him, what she wouldn't give to have him close right now!

Gibbs eyes widened, what she wanted a family discussion about what him? Really?

"Want to tell dad about Mikey Kells?" Shannon asked, she hoped her girl would do some of this herself.

"Ahh" Kelly really wasn't sure about this "well, he studied Building Construction Management with Keeps whilst I did law" why was her mum doing this? Now?

"He was Captain of college soccer team too" Nix added

"He was" Shannon agreed "and he helped Nix quite a bit with his soccer"

Gibbs just listened, he wondered where this was going..

Shannon knew her girl wouldn't say the thing that was important, she took a breath "Michael is a gentleman, he cares very deeply for not just Kelly, but Phoenix too, and it was an absolute pleasure to see him & Kelly together whilst they studied" there, it was out there, bite the bullet & see what fell.

Gibbs eyes widened instantly, he wasn't sure he heard what she'd said, it sounded like the pair had dated? He wasn't sure where to go with that, though the feeling he had about the boy it hadn't been because of that, he'd thought it was something else.

Kelly's eyes widened, had her mum just come out & said it? Really? She looked at her dad & he wasn't saying a word, she started having very worrying thoughts. She'd always wondered just what he'd make of him.

"Mike's awesome! Even for a City fan" Nix grinned

Shannon couldn't help but smile at her son "Mike certainly creates good banter with you" shifting her gaze to her husband she could see he was a little stuck on what to say "Jethro darling?"

"You & Mike dated?" Gibbs asked his girl quietly, he'd really not been prepared to hear anything even remotely close to this topic with the regards to his girl, I mean she was his little girl, his little girl!

"Yea" Kelly answered quietly.

"They dated for just over 2 years" Shannon added, she could see this was hitting him hard. She knew it wouldn't be easy for him to hear about, she imaged he'd always have been tough on Kelly's boyfriends because they even dared to go out with her.

Nix wanted to add something "You should've seen Mac when he arriv…."

"Phoenix" Shannon remarked interrupting him "allow your sister to tell dad about him please" what he was going to say would break open the next can of worms.

Gibbs had seen his girl give her brother a death glare & wondered just what his wife had stopped their boy from saying, it was the mention of Mac that he didn't like though.

Kelly wanted to hit her brother, she seriously wanted to hit him!

"Angel?" Shannon asked, she knew this wouldn't easy for her girl to talk about either "come on, tell dad how smart Mike is"

"Why are we talking about this now?" Kelly asked, seriously why were they doing this now? Yea she still spoke to him regularly, but she was still getting over it all, and they'd only spoken a week ago.

Shannon could see that her girl really wasn't comfortable with it, but they needed to talk about it "because I'd like to discuss it, and we'd discuss it eventually anyway darling. I know you might not want to talk about it angel, but could we?" she knew that their breakup hadn't been easy on her girl, which was making her even more upset at what had happened.

Her mum was right, Kelly didn't want to talk about it but she also knew her mum was right, it would need to be discussed eventually "ok, Mike was on full scholarship at Rice University, he won the Constructionist Award for the highest grade for the major assignment in his class"

Shannon smiled, glad her girl decided to say something.

Gibbs had to admit he was impressed, guess he was smart but he was a little surprised, the guy studied building & construction? That was a little close to home.

"He was one of 5 students from his program awarded the volunteer award for the hours he gave to habitat for humanity over the course of his studies. He won the fairest player award during his final year on the soccer team for picking up the fewest booking offences during the season." Kelly said, now that she was telling her dad about him she realised that maybe she needed to get as many good qualities out there as possible. She'd always wondered what her dad would make of him & wanted to tell him as many good things as she could, she was also buttering the situation up for the part that would come.

Shannon had to smile, she was keenly aware of what her girl was doing "and what kind of scholarship was he on?" she asked as she rubbed her hand up & down her girl's arm in comfort & giving her confidence.

"ROTC" Kelly whispered.

Gibbs wasn't sure if he heard it correctly, it was said very softly "what was that Kell?" he thought he heard something..

Kelly swallowed & looked at her dad "His scholarship was an ROTC one, marine corps" she just waited for the reaction..

"ROTC?" Gibbs asked again, that meant.. so that thing in the picture was dog tags! Wait a sec! His girl had dated a marine? Really?

"Yes Jethro" Shannon confirmed "Michael is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the marines, just like Keeps"

Nix guessed he could say something now "Mac nearly shit himself when Mike arrived for their first date, he was in his full service uniform & everything! It was brilliant!" he finished with a grin, even though back then he'd never met Mike, seeing it had been totally brilliant! It had made his week!

Gibbs stared at his son & then his girl, he was really not sure where to go with any of this!

Shannon let out breath, here comes the hard bit, she drew her girl closer into her side before speaking "they were wonderful together & Mike and his family were very welcoming to Kelly, as well as Nix & I. They only chose to go their separate ways when Mike got assigned overseas, to Frankfurt. They didn't feel it would be fair on either of them to keep the long distance thing going when they didn't really know how long he be away for or where Mike would be sent after his 4 year designation to Frankfurt."

Gibbs was feeling like he was getting a crash course in his daughter's relationship, and he really didn't know how to handle it, but on first glance it sounded very mature of the pair. One thing got him though, normally time limits weren't so long on assignments, it was usually a 2 year max on any assignment, unless it was a 'hot zone' and that would be either 6 or 12 month rotations.

Kelly was playing the hemline of her jeans pocket, it had been so hard saying goodbye to him, and she really had missed him these last number of months. She suddenly realised her mum had asked her when they'd last spoken "spoke to him last week" she said quietly.

"We were skyping during the U.S. match until he had to go on duty" Nix supplied "you should've heard him" he chuckled "he was saying…"

Kelly clamped a hand over his mouth knowing full well what would come out of it.

Shannon looked at her son "Thank you Kells, you know I don't approve of his language during the games mister"

"He's just passionate mum" Nix countered.

Gibbs didn't know what skyping was but could only image the language the boy could have used. He was still wondering why his wife had requested this conversation.

Shannon nodded, she took a final breath "Kelly darling, Nix darling there's something I need to tell you & it is going to hard to hear, but we'll sort it out, that I promise you. Do you hear me Kells? We will sort it out" she needed to know her daughter knew they'd fix it because she knew what her daughter reaction would be. This would also affect her son & knew he'd need support too.

Kelly wasn't liking what her mum was saying, what was coming? she nodded though.

"Ok" Nix whispered wondering what her mum saying.

Gibbs wondered just what his wife was getting at, it wasn't good whatever it was.

"OK, when Keeps & I were speaking he mentioned something to me about the orders he'd gotten that assigned him to DC" Shannon started to explain "they weren't his first orders though, him & the rest of his unit were given tentative orders a month earlier"

That confused Kelly "what are you talking about? Mike only got one set, and it sent him to Frankfurt" he'd only gotten one set & she'd seen them!

"No darling" Shannon disagreed "a month before he got those orders he received tentative order, and those orders had him coming here to DC & Keeps going to Frankfurt. It was the final orders that had the pair's locations swapped"

Kelly looked at her mum wide-eyed "No he didn't! he would have told me!" she insisted.

Shannon gave her a sad smile "darling he didn't want to get your hopes up, so he said nothing until the final orders came through" she saw her girl was already upset & it was just going to get worse "darling, the thing is Mike & Keeps were the only ones who's order were changed"

Gibbs ears peaked at that, he was starting to get a funny but bad feeling.

Kelly was upset & already annoyed at Mike, but she was confused "what do you mean?"

"Everyone else in their unit got their original orders confirmed, the only ones who's orders changed were Mike & Keeps, theirs got swapped" Shannon confirmed.

Kelly was sure there was point to all of this but she wasn't sure what she was hearing "it could happen, no?" but she flashed a look at her dad.

Gibbs wasn't really ready to be suddenly brought into this & he didn't know a lot about ROTC deployments "Not a hundred precent sure angel, but it does seem odd to only have 2 changed & theirs actually swapped & not just changed" it did sound strange & he was starting to form a thought.

"Keeps also mentioned that the project he's just started working on was more in line with what Mike did for his major project than his own" Shannon said, she could see her girl was already coming apart of the seams.

"Keeps is working on post disaster reconstruction?" Kelly asked, she saw the nod "that doesn't make sense why would?" but she stopped mid-sentence by the look her mum was giving her "what?"

Shannon took hold of her hand "darling Keeps had a thought, and I believe its right, he wondered if…." Gosh how was she going to say this, this would make a mess of her girl in so many ways "he wondered if maybe someone had had a hand in their deployments being switched, on purpose"

"What do you mean?" Nix asked, he wasn't quite getting what his mum was getting at.

Gibbs had a hunch, and given the looks on his kids faces, this wasn't going to be easy to take, but was he thinking really what had transpired had? How?

"Well" Shannon said considering how to tackle it

Kelly suddenly realised what her mum was saying "NO! He wouldn't!" she yelled jumping up.

Shannon rose & placing a hand on her shoulder & the other on her cheek "Angel I'm sorry, but yes. While Keeps & I were talking Tony walked in on us looking for someone else. I asked for his help, he looked up the name on Mike's & Keep's orders, a Major J Rooney & while that didn't bring any fruition, Tony found another J Rooney, a 2nd Lieutenant and…" she took a breath "Keeps recognised him, he saw the man at the residence on the day of your 21st talking with Trent & Dan, I'm sorry darling"

Gibbs knew it! That damn bastard! While he was totally thrown by everything, what the boyfriend of 2 years, him being a marine & all that but the pain his girl was emanating was overriding any other emotion, he wanted to kill Mac again for causing her grief & as for that Rooney, he'd nail his arse to the wall!

Shannon could see her girl was crumbling but knew there was one more thing she had to say "there was also his insistence that you remained in the US, he made Mike leave but insisted you stayed. I'm so sorry darling, we will fix this" she wasn't sure how, but she'd get it done, somehow.

Kelly didn't even know what to say "He got rid of Mike?"

Shannon let a tear fall down her cheek "it looks that way angel" she could see her girl was now utterly beside herself, she didn't know what to say or do "I'm sorry darling, I know this must hurt"

Kelly had tears streaming down her face "why would he do that to me?" yea Mac was pretty bad, but she never thought he'd do something that broke her heart!

Shannon brought her girl into a tight hold "I can't answer that angel, but we'll sort it out, I promise you!"

Gibbs was ready to physical assault Mac's body! The hurt his girl was feeling was making his own heart hurt. He didn't want to move from his boy, who even though was silent had shifted into his side, he was obviously feeling it too, so wrapping an arm around him he spoke loudly enough for his girl to hear him too "we'll sort it out Kells"

Shannon kept holding of her girl, trying to sooth her & she was going to say something when the house phone rang, she knew who it was "Darling, answer the phone" she said quietly.

Gibbs couldn't believe she said that, surely whoever it was could wait, they were in the middle of something pretty important.

Kelly shook her head, she didn't want to talk to anyone!

Shannon pulled back enough to take hold of her girl's face "Kelly, answer the phone, trust me, answer it"

Kelly saw a look in her mum's eyes & they widened, she ran straight for the phone & answered it as she ran to her room "Mike"

Gibbs eyes widened at the sight & name that came from her lips, his wife had obviously set that up, probably with Samuel.

Shannon sat down next to her son, he was just sitting there staring ahead with a blank look "Phoenix darling?"

"Mike stood up to him, that's why he got rid of him" Nix grumbled

"I think that's highly likely darling" Shannon agreed "he never took a backward step & Mac didn't like that, he also didn't like that someone else, another man could grow such a bond with you, he was jealous of Mike"

"He was jealous of Mike?" Nix asked

Shannon nodded "yes he was, he was jealous that you were able to have a strong male influence that didn't disparage you, that stood up for you darling"

After a few moments of silently comforting her son she leaned down & spoke softly "why don't you watch what Keeps recorded, dad & I will just be outside. I'll take the ice cream out & when its softened we'll have some together, ok?" knowing full well he'd need some time to process it too.

Gibbs watched as his son nodded, but instead of staying on the couch he slid down to the floor & wrapped his arms around Buster as he switched the TV on. He followed his wife outside & sat down next to her in the grass, he saw she was a little lost "you sure about this Shan?"

Shannon let out a small sigh "I don't believe in coincidences Jethro, and unfortunately, it makes too much sense"

Gibbs had to smile, neither of them believed in coincidences, he had another thought "do you think we should go check on Kells?" while he was totally thrown by everything he knew she was hurting & wanted to help her.

"No, she needs time to speak with Mike alone, they'll be on the phone a while" Shannon answered "I know this was a lot for you to take in, tell me what you're thinking about, you must have questions"

Gibbs had a lot going through his mind but where to start? "would I have liked him?"

"You mean apart from the whole concept of 'his going out with my daughter so I have to hate him' line" Shannon began with a smirk.

Gibbs had to smirk, that sounded about right.

"Yes, I think you will like him Jethro" Shannon nodded "he reminds me a lot of you & I think that was a big part of Mac's problem. He never liked Mike, but Mike being Mike & a marine he never backed down"

Gibbs couldn't help but be glad for that, because it sounded like this Mike had stood up for his son and family. Then there was the thought that this boy had gone out with his girl, gone out with her for 2 years! So part of him did want to see just how much he measured up.

"Michael was the only one of Kelly's boyfriends that actually stuck around longer than a few months, Mac had the rest all chased away, he tried it with Mike but he didn't budge" Shannon said

"He chased Kelly's boyfriends off, all of them?" Gibbs asked, while part of him thought that should have been his job, he couldn't help but dislike Mac having done it.

"Any that showed genuine interest & were half decent he chased away and the few he did like, the ones that chased Kelly the wrong way I chased away" Shannon smirked.

Gibbs couldn't help but smirk "I'll take those names"

"Their names were erased from my memory" Shannon remarked

"Mike stayed" Gibbs stated

"Yes" Shannon remarked "the pair become friendly & soon enough I heard his name mentioned numerous times, soon after they went on their first date, and it just went on from there. Mike never backed down, never shrank, never gave Mac, Trent or any of them any leeway. He stood up to them."

"Mac wouldn't have liked that" Gibbs observed

"Did he like it when we were dating?" Shannon asked

"No" Gibbs answered, he thought back, Mac definitely didn't like him & tried to chase him away "he did the same thing to Mike that he did to me?"

"Yes, but he also had Trent, Dan & the others, so it was almost 10 times worse" Shannon admitted "I got into more arguments than I could count with Mac about it all, but it was brick wall for a while. He then seemed to dial it down and retreated from standing over the boy, now I know why, he had this up his sleeve & knew he'd be getting rid of him in the end"

Gibbs had to admit his estimation of the boy just went up, if he hadn't backed down going up against them it would have taken great strength & character "the thing you said about him going away but Kells not?"

"I have to admit I tried getting Kells to take herself & Nix over to Frankfurt to join Mike" Shannon said honestly

"You what?" Gibbs asked surprised

"Jethro, I wanted the pair to be somewhere & with someone that would help & protect them & Mike would do anything for both of them. Mike cares very deeply for Phoenix, and I would go so far as saying that on some level the pair really do love each other, watching them split was extremely difficult. I know it greatly affected them both, even though they agreed to remained friends." Shannon remarked

"Love?" Gibbs asked, paling a little.

Shannon let out a breath "Yes, I know for a fact that Mike tried to talk Kelly into moving them over to Frankfurt after he heard.. that…. I…" she just couldn't say the words

Gibbs knew what she meant, obviously after Mike had heard that Shannon had 'died', he rubbed her hand to show he knew what she meant.

Shannon was glad he understood so she continued "Kelly saying no to him was extremely difficult for her but Mac insisted that the only way they could leave was if they stayed in the U.S." she took a breath "Mike tried numerous times, almost pleading with her to move over to be with him, he'd gone so far as to check out appropriate housing, schooling & soccer teams for Phoenix. He wanted to be there for them but obviously couldn't change his assignment, I wouldn't be surprised if after they moved here he still tried talking her into moving over there"

Gibbs sat there trying to absorb it all, his kids could have ended up on the other side of the world? And this boy, this young marine officer seemed more than willing to embrace them both into his life, his mind was filled with so many conflicting emotions.

"I have to say though, maybe it was a good idea that they came here & not Frankfurt" Shannon remarked, if they had gone to Frankfurt who knows how much time might have gone with them not finding each other.

"It was Shan" Gibbs smiled "he checked out schools & soccer teams for Phoenix?" that was going pretty far.

"Yes" Shannon answered "Mike's the 2nd oldest of four boys, and he basically treats Phoenix as his 5th brother. He realised pretty early that Phoenix was lacking in the older male role model & attention giving. He easily created it through their joint love of soccer & it just grew from there. Having Mike around actually made Phoenix feel a lot more safe, it was that extra layer of protection against Mac and his men if I wasn't around" she did her best to shield & protect her son from their disparaging remarks, but she couldn't always be around.

Gibbs tried to calm his thoughts, some of Mac's men were still alive.. wonder if he could pay the holding cells a visit? Elicit some kind of discipline himself on those men!

"They are very close & it was pretty hard on Phoenix too when Mike left, he felt a part of his safety net leave too, though Myles did try to fill that void as best as he could" Shannon remarked she saw a question form "Myles is one of Mike's younger brothers, he's only 3 years younger than Mike & was around a fair amount too. Phoenix would revel in being in their combined company. You'll see" she finished rubbing a hand over his knee.

"I'll see?" Gibbs asked

"Jethro, I have no doubt that as we speak you daughter & Mike are already back together, it wouldn't even be something they would discuss. I also have no doubt that he will move heaven & earth to obtain some emergency leave & come over, he'll want to be here for her, for him, to do what he can" Shannon said cautiously, she saw he wasn't quite coping with it all "just breath darling, I assure you it'll be ok, breath for me" she knew how hard this must be for him to hear.

Gibbs should have expected that but he really wasn't sure what was going on inside his head, there were so many things to think about he was having trouble processing it all. He took a few breaths in time with his wife as he calmed down to continue the conversation.

Shannon waited a moment & saw him take a breath "as I said before you will like & approve of Mike, he is a respectful young man, he is courteous, considerate and caring. He is a true gentleman, and he's an officer" she finished with a smirk.

"Hey!" Gibbs chuckled, it felt good to laugh after hearing everything, it was a lot to take in. Part of him wanted to dig up the boy's record & go through it with the finest toothcomb he could find, make sure he was good enough for his girl. He did want to meet him & according to his wife he would be soon, he wanted to thank him for standing up for his son & family, and really, if Mac somehow had switched his deployment & that in itself was a court-martial offence for the marine that did it & he would make sure of it! But Mac wanting to do it, obviously meant he hated the boy, so he had to like him! But still, he was his girl's boyfriend, and he'd always imagined that he'd be tough as nails on them! They had to measure up! Yea, this boy had a lot going for him but he had a lot to measure up to as well! And he'd make sure he did!

A/N: All I can say is what a bastard Mac is! Kelly's really upset & quite understandably, as for Gibbs, he's certainly had a crash course in his girl's major relationship & he's definitely dealing with a lot, and quite awkward stuff too! There was a lot of information for him to hear, so it might take Gibbs a while to process it all, so the night is not over!

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