I am baaaaaaacccccckkkkk. I sped through chapter 5 as soon as I got inspiration, I just hope chapter 6 will be the same.

Anyway, I hope you like this!

Previously

Connie squeezed her sister's hand and caught sight of her watch.

"I have to go. Dad'll be here soon. I love you, sis. Remember to breathe."

Lottie nodded as she hugged her sister.

"I love you too."

Connie smiled at her sister, grabbed her bag and left the cabin.

Connie

Connie walked back past the dock and to the parking lot. She signed out quickly and looked around, eventually seeing a pale blue pickup by the trees. She took a deep breath and opened the door, revealing a man with grey hair in a blue polo shirt and navy blazer.

"Hey, Lot," Gibbs said with a smile as she got in.

"Hi, Dad."

They hugged, with Gibbs kissing Connie's forehead. The two of them broke apart, and Connie took off her bag, placed it on the floor and put on her seatbelt.

"So how was it?" Gibbs asked her as they left the camp.

"It was great. I made friends with the girl in my cabin and we ended up doing a lot together."

"I'm glad. What's her name?"

"Viv. I think she said she lives in Georgetown," Connie responded.

"That's pretty close, maybe we can have her over."

"I don't know, she goes to boarding school in Texas and she said she'll be really busy for the rest of the holidays."

Gibbs narrowed his eyes but nodded all the same. Connie looked out the window and sighed quietly in relief, just as Lottie's phone buzzed.

Text from NCIS Fam.

Connie hesitated briefly before opening the message. It was from Abby.

Lottieeee! We just heard you're on your way back. Text us when you get to the building.

'What building?' She thought.

She quickly took a screenshot and sent it to her sister.

What building does she mean?

Connie closed her sister's phone, just as it buzzed again.

The NCIS building.

"We're going to NCIS?" She asked her father who turned to her briefly, puzzled.

"Yes, why?"

"No reason."

"Are you feeling OK, Lot? You're acting unusual."

Connie nodded.

"I'm fine," she assured him.

'I hope you're having better luck, Lot,' she thought.

Lottie

Lottie watched as Connie walked away and she tapped her fingers against her thy as she waited for her mother to text her. Connie's phone buzzed and she opened it.

Text from Mom.

She opened the text and read it quickly.

I'm in the parking lot.

She took some long, deep breaths to calm herself as she walked to the parking lot. She signed herself out and found a dark blue Nissan Juke with a red haired woman in the driver's seat. Lottie went to the trunk and opened it, placing her bag in gently. She walked round to the door of the passenger's side, caught the woman's eyes and gasped, her eyes filling with tears. It was her Mom. She opened the door and got in.

"Mom!" she said as she looked over at her mother.

"Hello, sweetheart, it's so good to see you."

The two of them hugged, Lottie inhaling the vanilla and jasmine scent of her mother's perfume. Jenny kissed her daughter's forehead and then they pulled back, with Lottie getting tied in.

"How was camp?" Jenny asked as she turned on the engine and they drove out and onto the road.

"It was good."

"Just good?"

Lottie could feel the anxiety rising in her, but tried to ignore it.

"It was fun. The activities were great, especially the canoeing and the raft building. I also became really good friends with the girl in my cabin."

"What's her name?"

Lottie had to think quickly.

"Lily. She lives in Alexandria I think."

"That's not that far away. We could have her over if you wanted."

Lottie's mind spun.

"Um, I'm not sure. She said she's going to be really busy for the rest of the holidays, and she goes to boarding school abroad so I don't think I'll ever see her again."

"If you're sure."

There was a buzz from Lottie's pocket and she pulled out her sister's phone.

Message from Lily.

There was a screenshot of the "NCIS Fam" group chat, with a message.

What building does she mean?

Lottie typed in a response.

The NCIS building.

It was marked as read almost immediately.

"Who's that you're texting?" Jenny asked curiously.

"Viv. She's wondering when we can do a phone call."

"Ah. What do you want to do when we get home? We could watch a film, or play a board game."

"We're not going to NCIS?" Lottie asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

"No. I managed to get myself one day to spend with you before I go into crazy work mode."

Lottie nodded.

"What film could we watch?" She asked.

"You can decide, sweetheart," Jenny told her.

Lottie smiled softly.

'I hope you're doing okay, Connie.'

Connie

Gibbs pulled into his driveway and Connie looked at the house.

"Wow," she whispered as they stopped.

She and her father got out and went in.

"Do you need to change?" He asked her.

"No, I'm fine."

"Great. I just need to grab a couple of things and then we'll be off."

Connie nodded as Gibbs walked to the basement. She went up the stairs and to Lottie's bedroom. The walls were pale blue, with photos and artwork dotted all over the room. Connie put her bag gently on the floor and went back downstairs, sitting on the sofa. A moment later, her phone buzzed. It was from Lottie.

We're not coming in until tomorrow so I'll call you tonight to discuss a plan. Is 9 okay?

Connie thought briefly before she replied.

That should be fine, I'll let you know if it isn't.

She put the cell in her pocket and Gibbs came in a moment later with a couple of files.

"That's me ready to go," he told her and she nodded.

The two of them walked out to the truck and got in. Gibbs turned on the engine, drove to NCIS, and then he and Connie got out and went in, with Connie sending a quick message to "NCIS Fam".

That's me here!

She looked at the walls, shocked.

'Why in the name of Pemberley are these walls bright orange?!'

They went to the elevator, got in, and Gibbs pressed the button for the second floor. The elevator moved and the doors eventually opened, revealing even more orange walls. Connie followed her Dad out of the metal walled box and into the bullpen, where Abby was waiting.

"Lottie Lottie Lottie!" She screamed, giving the redhead a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

"Can't... breathe..." Connie said.

"Sorry," the goth said, pulling back. "Anyway, how was camp? What were the activities like? Did you make new friends? Ooh, did you meet a boy?"

"Camp was good, the activities were fun, especially the canoeing, I made friends with the girl in my cabin and no, I did not meet a boy."

"Ooh, what's the girl like?" Abby asked.

"Abs, slow down," Tony told the forensic scientist. "Let her breathe."

"It's fine," Connie assured him. "She's nice. We share similar interests and styles."

"What's her name?" The goth questioned.

"Viv."

"Ooh, pretty name. Is it short for Vivian?"

"I think so. Anyway, how have you all been?"

"We've been good," McGee told her.

"Oh, I forgot to give you all hugs," she remembered so she did that.

"It's good to have you back," Ziva whispered in her ear.

Connie smiled, but it did not quite reach her eyes, and Ziva looked at her in concern.

"I'm fine," Connie lied, but Ziva nodded all the same.

"Lot, go with Abby to her lab. We have paperwork to do," Gibbs told his daughter and she did just that.

She and the goth went down to the lab, and watched videos until the door opened.

"A little bird told me Lottie's back," Ducky said as he walked in, Jimmy following behind. "How was camp, my dear?"

"It was good. I made friends with the girl in my cabin. She was really nice," Connie answered as she hugged them both.

"That's good."

21:00 that night

Lottie picked up Connie's phone, found her number and pressed the FaceTime button. It buzzed a couple of times before her sister answered.

"Hey, you okay?" Connie asked.

"Yeah, fine. We just need a plan for tomorrow."

"We both have that green flowy top right?"

Lottie nodded.

"Wear that, the darkest blue jeans you own, and your navy Converse sneakers. Do you prefer French or Dutch braids?"

"I don't mind."

"You sure?"

Lottie nodded again.

"Okay, double Dutch braids then. How was your day?"

"It was good. Mom and I had a Disney marathon. I cried a lot."

"Was most of it at Up?" Connie asked and her sister nodded. "That makes sense, Mom loves that film."

"What about you? How was everyone?"

"McGee was really nice, Abby was slightly hyper, Ducky and Jimmy were really sweet, Tony was interesting, and Ziva was really nice. I screwed up though."

"How?" Lottie asked.

"Ziva whispered that it was nice to have me back and I smiled but I don't think it reached my eyes so she looked at me in concern and I responded that it was fine."

"I'm sure it's okay. Anyway, we'll sort everything out tomorrow."

Connie was the one to nod this time.

"I'll see you in the morning," she said. "Love you."

Lottie smiled.

"Love you too."

They pressed the hang up button, got into their pyjamas and went straight to bed, nervous about the next day.

Thanks for reading, I love you all.