Hi Readers:

Sorry so long between updates. I haven't abandoned you, I promise.

Gibbs exchanged a weary look with Jenny. A very small part of him was finding the whole situation comical on some kind of crazy level. Who would have ever guessed that he and Jenny would be in the role of parenting? Way back when they were in Paris together, Gibbs had entertained the thought of asking Jenny to do life together. He had felt that desire to commit. It had been both a scary and comforting feeling. After Shannon was killed, he hadn't thought he'd ever feel that longing for commitment again. Jenny seemed to be the one who drew that emotion out of him. Jenny Shepard made him crazy; she frustrated him and made him angrier than Shannon ever did, but he felt alive when he was with her.

Gibbs' heart went out to her. She looked so out of her element. Jenny wasn't used to taking care of anyone but herself. And Jenny wasn't even very good at that. He'd seen her go through so many things while he'd known her, but the expression on her face was pure anguish and he knew that feeling. Children had a way of worming themselves into your heart and nothing was ever the same.

"Security found her, Jenn," he reassured her once again as they walked side by side.

Jenny stopped walking and turned to look at him. "I have no idea what I'm doing, Jethro. Who am I to think I can parent a teenager?"

Gibbs hit the button on the elevator and they both entered the lift. Jenny leaned against the wall looking utterly defeated.

"Jenn, you are the director of NCIS. You make life-altering decisions every day."

Jenny gave him an exasperated look. "This is not the same, Jethro. You interrogate criminals on a daily basis yet you can't get a nine-year-old girl to answer your questions."

Gibbs nodded. "True. I never said I had all the answers. What's with you and Mak anyway? What did she do that was so bad?"

"She keeps skipping school. She won't talk to me about it and whenever I try, she shuts me out!"

"Did you check out her story, Jenn? Rule three…"

Jenny glared at him. "Screw your damn rules. I believe the headmaster at the school. This isn't a conspiracy, Jethro. Makayla is in eighth grade, for Pete's sake."

"Have you bothered to ask her why she skips?"

"It doesn't matter why, damn it! She cannot skip school."

Gibbs sighed. "So, what now? What are you going to do?"

Jenny ran a hand through her hair and heaved a weary sigh. "I don't know."

"She can't run off on you, Jenn. Trust me; it's not a habit you want to foster."

"You don't think I know that?" she snapped. Gibbs was deadpan. He was more than used to Jenn's fiery temper. It didn't faze him. Jenny groaned. "What do you want me to do?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Me? I don't want you to do anything. Not my kid, Jenn. All I'm saying is that somewhere along the line, the two of you stopped communicating. Mak isn't a bad kid."

"I never said she was and her name is Makayla, Jethro. Would it kill you to use her proper name?"

Gibbs ignored her ire. The lift reached the lower floor and he exited knowing Jenny would be on his heels. They walked quietly towards the security office. Makayla had been stopped because she wasn't wearing her visitor badge. No one in NCIS could get in or out with the proper badge. Security was tight, even more so since some of the incidents with Aimee. Just as they turned the corner, Jenny stopped walking.

"Would you talk to her?"

Gibbs stopped and frowned. "Me?"

Jenny's grey eyes shimmered and gave him a pleading look. "Please, Jethro."

Gibbs brows met his hairline as his mind whirled. He had his own hands full enough with Aimee. He didn't need another problem to solve.

"It's Friday night…why don't you take her to your place for the night? You could talk to her and maybe she would enjoy hanging out with Abby and the girls." Gibbs' eyes widened at the thought. "It would be good for her to get some distance from me…and me from her. Please, Jethro."

"Geez, Jenn, do you even like me?"

Jenny chuckled, looking elated at her idea. "NO," she smirked. "Listen, it will give us both some time to cool off. I'll come pick her up after lunch tomorrow, okay?"

Gibbs sighed. "Avoiding her isn't going to help matters."

"I'm not avoiding her. C'mon Gibbs, you're better with kids than I am. Do some of that Gibbs magic or something." Jenny leaned closer to him, seductively breathing in his ear. Gibbs felt the small hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Her proximity made him weak in the knees, and Jenny nibbled on his ear for added effect.

"You're not playing fair now, Jenn," he groaned.

She pulled away and smiled. Gibbs hated that she could still elicit a physical response from him. His body could not resist her charms. Jenny gave him a sultry smile. She knew that she still had power over him, and it drove him mad.

"You owe me, Jenn." He managed to whisper, his voice deep and hoarse.

Jenny smiled once again, looking a little too pleased and then headed towards the front entrance, leaving Gibbs standing alone in the hallway. He had to take a few minutes to recover. He prided himself on being a man in control of himself but he was still human and heaven knew he got lonely sometimes. Jenny Shepard and he had a connection. Damn Jenny and her womanly wiles.

Gaining his wits, Gibbs continued his walk to the security office. Once he reached the outside of the door, he could hear voices speaking softly from inside. He knocked on the door and straightened his suit jacket while he waited.

"Agent Gibbs," said the security officer in surprise when he opened the door. "I was expecting Director Shepard."

"She suckered you into dealing with me, didn't she?" said a small voice from behind the officer.

Gibbs looked past the security guard to where the young teen girl sat. Her large green eyes were defiant and her long auburn hair fell haphazardly across her face. She didn't look apologetic in the least. Gibbs inwardly groaned at his luck. What did he ever do to deserve to be inundated with strong-willed women? Gibbs glanced at the badge on the security guard's uniform. He liked to address people by name when he could.

"Could we have some time alone, Cooper?"

The guard nodded. "Certainly, Agent Gibbs. Take all the time you need. I'm about to go on my rounds now anyway." The guard turned to wink at Makayla kindly. "Remember to have your security badge on you next time, kiddo." He walked towards his door and stopped once again to address Gibbs. "Just pull the door tight when you leave, Sir."

Gibbs nodded and the guard left the room. Gibbs slipped his hands into his pockets and walked towards Makayla.

"Seems like everyone knows who you are," commented Makayla, sliding down in her chair dejectedly.

"Comes from working here for longer than you've been alive," commented Gibbs, leaning against the table and crossing his arms.

"Where's Aunt Jenny?"

"She went home."

Makayla's eyes widened a little but Gibbs saw her recover quickly, not wanting him to notice her surprise.

"You're coming home with me tonight."

"I am?"

"Yup." Gibbs continued to stare intently at her.

Makayla chewed her lip. "Is that good or bad?"

Gibbs shrugged. "That depends on you. Why'd you take off?"

"I don't need a babysitter, Agent Gibbs."

"Okay, let's say that's true. Why are you skipping classes?"

Makayla looked away and fidgeted in her seat. "I didn't skip exactly…" She stopped mid-sentence and looked up at him. She dropped her hands to her sides. "Okay, I did, but there was a good reason this time. I promise."

Gibbs remained still, his face expressionless. "Why did you run off from the bullpen?"

Makayla stood to her feet, attempting to feel less intimidated by his presence. "She doesn't listen to me." Gibbs lifted a brow causing Makayla to hesitate. "I was going home."

"Are you allowed to stay home alone when your parents are away on business?"

An indignant harrumph could be heard in the room. "Hello. 14, not 4."

Gibbs bit back a smirk at her reaction but immediately wiped it away. He didn't want to make light of her running off. "You might be interested to know how I deal with little girls who run away."

"I'm not a little girl, Agent Gibbs." The ire was noticeable on her face.

Gibbs stood to his feet and wandered towards the coffee maker in the room. A pot of hot coffee sat beckoning to him. Gibbs reached for a mug and poured himself a steaming cup. The aroma was pleasing which surprised him. He usually couldn't find himself a decent cup of coffee within a 25-mile radius of NCIS. He held the mug to his nose, inhaling the liquid energy and taking several gulps. It wasn't bad and he had to say he was impressed. Cooper was someone he needed to get to know better.

"Someone once told me that if you don't like being told what to do, then do what's right. Wise advice, don't you think? You had better not make a habit of running off or you might find yourself upended over my knee."

Mikayla gasped out loud. "You've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, obvious astonishment on her face.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

The young teen girl gaped at him incredulously. Makayla was fairly certain that Gibbs did not joke about anything, and she certainly didn't want to find out if he did anytime soon.

"What was your good reason?" he demanded.

"Huh?" she asked, still reeling in disbelief over his words.

"Why you skipped…what was your reason."

Makayla took a few steps away from Gibbs, looking more nervous and less sure of things than before he'd entered the room. Gibbs took note of it. Makayla wasn't used to being in trouble, and he appreciated that. His gut told him she was a good kid.

"Jessa Collins is a new contemporary artist in DC, so I took the bus downtown to the gallery to see her opening exhibit. It meant a lot to me to see it, Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded his understanding. "And you told Jenny about it and she said no?"

"Not exactly."

Gibbs was quiet, staring at her intently as she spoke to him.

"I didn't ask her because I knew she'd say no. She'd never let me take time off on a school day."

"You don't know that," said Gibbs.

Makayla turned away from him in exasperation. "Yes, I do! She's exactly like my mother. All they care about is good grades in S.T.E.M. I'm not going to be an engineer, Mr. Gibbs. I'm not!" Makayla stomped her foot for emphasis and then turned to face him again. Her face reddened and she looked worried. "You wouldn't really…uh…do what you said, would you?"

Gibbs furrowed his brow. She'd lost him. "Do what?"

Makayla chewed on a hangnail nervously. "Uh, that whole upending thing…" Her face reddened further.

Gibbs chuckled having already forgotten his idol threat. "Don't make a habit of taking off without telling someone where you're going and it shouldn't be a problem." He had no intention of physically disciplining Jenny's niece. He didn't even relish doing it with his own girls, let alone Jenn's niece. Makayla was not his responsibility. He had his hands full enough with Aimee and Janessa. He certainly wasn't looking for any more additions to his already full plate.

Relief flooded the young girl's face, and she managed a small smile.

"C'mon, let's go. My dad is making dinner tonight, and I don't want to be late."

Makayla picked up her backpack and followed him towards the door. "You still live with your dad? Aren't you kinda old for that?"

Gibbs laughed. "More like he lives with me, Wiseguy. He seems to think I can't take care of myself."

Makayla nodded. "Boy, do I know the feeling, Agent Gibbs. Parents can be a real pain in the neck."

Gibbs shook his head with a laugh. He didn't dare reply to her for fear of incrimination. Makayla was becoming too much of a kindred spirit and it felt odd to be identifying with a 14-year-old girl.

XxX—NCIS—XxX

Gibbs returned to the bullpen to see Ducky packing up his medical kit and a rather forlorn Tony resting with his head on his desk. Makayla excused herself to visit the restroom with babysitter Abby in tow upon the insistence of Gibbs. He wasn't taking any more chances that anyone was going to go missing. He just wanted to go home, pour himself a strong mug of Bourbon and get lost in the wood dust as he sanded his way into a peaceful stupor. Not that it would ever happen anymore, not since he'd become a responsible family man. But a guy could dream, couldn't he?

Gibbs laid a hand on the back of Tony's head. "How's the noggin, DiNozzo?"

"Fine, Boss," mumbled Tony, not putting his head up.

Gibbs looked at Ducky with a frown. "He okay, Duck?"

"It appears he has all the classic signs of a stress-induced migraine, Jethro, and I also deduce that he hasn't had any dihydrogen monoxide. That, compounded with far too much caffeine that he insists on ingesting ad nauseam, has wreaked havoc on his body."

"It's just a headache, Ducky, nothing I haven't had before," mumbled Tony, shakily standing to his feet. Tony had had enough of the coddling. It was time to make his way home.

Gibbs walked towards the water cooler and filled a cup with water. "You sure that's all there is to it, Duck?" Gibbs made his way back to the bullpen and placed a firm hand on Tony's shoulder, forcing him to sit back down. He set the cup in front of the younger man. "Drink all of it, DiNozzo."

"I'm sure, Jethro. Although I'm sure that young Anthony here could benefit from a few mental health days as well. He looks like he is suffering from fatigue as well."

Tony stood to his feet again. "Hello, I'm right here. Stop talking about me like I'm not in the room." His voice held an edge to it.

Janessa looked up from her colouring page. She had been sitting at Ziva's desk watching and listening to the adults in the room with half an ear. She slid down from the swivel chair and wandered over to Tony, leaning into his leg comfortingly.

"Grown-ups do that all the time, Tony," she sympathised. The expression on her face was so sincere that Tony couldn't help but smile at her.

Gibbs hit Tony with a sharp look, wondering if handing the younger man the lead in the case was a mistake. Gibbs knew that the Admiral was a tough man to deal with under normal circumstances, but with his son's murder being the crutch of the case, Gibbs could only surmise that things were arduous.

"Okay, DiNozzo, you get a three-day leave…" began Gibbs.

Tony's face reddened. "What? No! Gibbs, I…"

Gibbs stepped forward into Tony's personal space, scooping up Janessa onto his hip. His face was unyielding. He was not going to take no for an answer.

"And, I want you to spend the night at my place tonight. My dad is driving me insane, and I could use another man in the house to prevent him and all the females from driving me insane. I'm feeling outnumbered."

Tony heaved a weary sigh as he rubbed the back of his aching head. "Is that an order, Boss?" he all but moaned, feeling defeated.

"The leave is an order. Staying at my house is a request." Gibbs shifted Janessa to his other hip. She yawned sleepily. It was getting late and Gibbs figured she was getting hungry as well.

Tony closed his eyes and dropped his chin. He was tired, and he really just wanted to crash at home but he relented. Arguing with Gibbs was futile, and maybe a home cooked meal was just what the doctor ordered. Jackson Gibbs was an amazing cook. Tony's eyes met Gibbs' and he nodded slowly.

"Fine, I'll go. I just need to pick up a few things at home first."

Ducky smiled approvingly and bid everyone goodnight, heading to the elevator without circumstance.

"Ness, go get Abby and Makayla from the head." He set the girl down to her feet, and she happily skipped off towards the washrooms leaving Gibbs and Tony alone in the bullpen.

Tony slung his backpack onto one shoulder and fished his keys out of his desk. "I'll meet you at your place in a couple of hours."

Gibbs stepped into his path. "Forget it, DiNozzo." Gibbs held out his hands, nodding towards Tony's keys. "Driving impaired is a felony."

Tony looked at him incredulously. "I'm not impaired, Gibbs. I have a migraine."

Gibbs held out his hand, hitting him with a piercing glare.

"You're a pain in the ass," groaned Tony, handing his keys to his boss.

Gibbs smirked. "Yah, I know. Too bad you can't do anything about it."

Tony's ire cooled slightly and he chuckled.

The two men stood silently staring at each other. After a few minutes, Tony began to fidget under the scrutiny of his boss.

"Can you stop staring at me like that." His voice was almost a whine.

"Spill it, DiNozzo," Gibbs said softly, knowing the younger man was holding back.

"Spill what?"

"What's eating at you?"

"Nothing is eating at me…" Gibbs hit him with an almost paternal glare making Tony stop mid-sentence. What was it about the older man that made Tony feel like blabbing his problems?

Tony sighed, biting the inside of his cheek, suddenly feeling vulnerable enough to let Gibbs in. "Senior is in town," he almost whispered.

Gibbs put a comforting hand on Tony's shoulder. The men exchanged a look. Gibbs and Tony had a silent understanding when it came to Tony's father. Gibbs understood that Tony had a hard time dealing with the man on his own. Gibbs had no problem standing in the gap. Tony knew it and appreciated it. He might have acted gruff and annoyed, but deep down he appreciated the support and love that Gibbs offered.

"Let's go, kid. We'll swing by your place on the way home."

Tony nodded. "Thanks, Boss."

Gibbs smiled. "Don't thank me yet. You still have to deal with my dad. Knowing Ducky, he's already called Jack about you."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Great; as if one Gibbs wasn't enough."

Gibbs gently rapped Tony on the back of the head without apology and headed towards the elevator. He didn't stop to look back as Abby, Mikayla and Janessa came and joined him.

XxX—NCIS—XxX

Gibbs tossed the tea towel aside and felt his father's gaze boring a hole in the back of his head. Abby had taken Janessa, Aimee and Mikayla to her room for a spa evening. Gibbs didn't even want to know what that meant. But he was glad to see that all three girls seemed ecstatic to join her. Tony had excused himself to lie down and escape in a few Magnum P.I. episodes on Netflix, something that Gibbs had currently subscribed to much to Tony's delight.

"Dad, if you have something to say, just say it. You're drilling a hole in my head deep enough to forge a canyon."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Leroy," his father said, turning to rinse another mug under the tap just a little longer than necessary.

Gibbs groaned. His father was notorious for beating around the bush these days, something Gibbs wasn't accustomed too from his youth. He found it disconcerting and extremely irritating.

"Jack, you've never been one to mince words so why start now."

Jackson stopped and turned off the faucet. "Unlike you?" he accused.

Gibbs shook his head and took a seat at the kitchen table, waiting for the coming lecture he knew was on the horizon. Jackson hobbled over to the far counter and poured himself a cup a tea.

"Would you like some tea, Jethro?"

Gibbs chuckled. His father was anything but discreet. His dad hardly ever called him Jethro. "Sure, dad, I'd love a cup of tea rather than a tall glass of bourbon. That'd be great."

Jackson scowled at him before pouring the tea. Jackson settled himself for a few moments, added cream and honey to his tea and sat stirring it and staring at Gibbs. Gibbs drank his tea black and returned the intense stare waiting for Jackson to say something. There was no point in hurrying his father along. Jackson Gibbs worked on his own schedule.

"Tell me, son, how long do you plan to allow Aimee to rule the roost?"

Gibbs blinked. "Come again?"

"You heard me. I've spent the better part of a week here watching you and those girls and all I've seen is Aimee controlling you like a puppet on a string."

"Dad," growled Gibbs, standing to his feet incredulously.

"Sit down, Leroy." It wasn't a suggestion. Gibbs sat down. "I've always prided myself on being a good judge of character. Aimee is a wonderful child."

"I agree."

"Then why are you ruining her?"

"What the hell, Jack?"

Jackson scowled. "Watch your mouth, Leroy." Gibbs clenched his jaw. "Oh, I understand that she and her sister have gone through some stuff in the past…"

"A hell of lot more than you realise, dad. How can you say anything when you don't even know the whole story?"

"If I waited for you to tell me anything, I'd already been dead and buried."

Gibbs balled up his fists knowing he was in over his head.

"Abby has been kind enough to fill me quite nicely. She is such a sweet girl that Abby and Tim had been quite obliging as well. If I can't get you to tell me what I need to know, I have other sources, Leroy.

"Apparently," quipped Gibbs, sarcastically. He wasn't mad at his team. He knew his father could be convincing, and sharing information about the girls with his father wasn't a breach of trust in any way. It was probably a good thing.

"Consistency and routine are what those girls need."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Thanks, dad, for that wonderful advice. May I be excused now?" Gibbs didn't bother to stand because he knew his father was even close to being done with him.

"Move from the table and I'll take a stick to you."

Gibbs smirked. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if you still could."

Jackson raised a brow. "OH, you know I could," he assured him. Gibbs licked his lips and shook his head, finding the whole conversation amusing. "The trouble with Aimee is she has no respect for you. She does what she pleases around you, son, and you seem oblivious to it."

"Dad, I'm doing my best here."

"No, Leroy, you're not!" Jackson smacked his fist on the table.

Gibbs rubbed his temples waiting for the punch line. It was coming, but his dad was always good at beating the crap out of the bush first.

"Ok, enlighten me, Jack. Tell me what I'm doing wrong."

Jackson glared at him. "It has nothing to do with doing things right or wrong, son. Don't you get it?"

"I guess I don't," muttered Gibbs, baffled.

"From what I can tell, that child has been raising herself and her sister since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. She doesn't feel like she needs anyone. Authority figures in her life have only hurt her…"

Gibbs couldn't disagree. Aimee was an independent soul and she was very much used to calling the shots but he had seen improvement. Just then the phone rang, interrupting Gibbs' train of thought. He rose to his feet and went to retrieve the cordless phone sitting on the far counter by the fridge.

"Gibbs," he said when he answered the fourth ring. He exchanged a look with his father as he waited for the person on the line to say something. Instead, he was greeted with a click. Gibbs frowned as he hung up the phone.

"Let me guess. Just a click?"

"Yah, but I could hear someone breathing on the line, so I know someone was there."

"Fourth call like that today. Aimee answered a few others herself, and she said the same thing. Only I know she was lying to me."

Gibbs furrowed his brows. "Why do you say that?"

"I may be old, Jethro, but I'm not deaf. I heard her talking to someone."

This news sent a wave of concern through Gibbs. He knocked his knuckles on the counter as his mind began to wander in several different directions at once. Could this unknown caller be the same person who upset Aimee the other night?

"Stop fretting like an old woman, Jethro," scolded Jackson, gruffly, pulling Gibbs out of his thoughts. "Can't you get Tim to bug your phone or something?"

Gibbs groaned inwardly wishing he'd thought of it himself. Whenever his father was around, it seemed like his own pride took a bruising. Gibbs ignored his father's comment and headed towards the family room.

"Where are you going, Son? I'm not finished speaking with you!" complained Jackson as he immediately was on his feet and following after Gibbs.

The phone rang again and Gibbs regretted leaving the cordless sitting on the counter. He rushed to grab the corded phone sitting on the side table but as he reached out to pick it up, the receiver stopped ringing. Gibbs clenched his jaw in annoyance.

"Leroy," began his father, coming up behind him.

Gibbs lifted a hand to silence the man. "Not now, dad." Gibbs spun on his head and approached the foot of the stairs. "Aimee! Please come downstairs!" he called up the stairway.

Jackson came up behind Gibbs glaring at him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to ask her who she talked to today. Why the hell didn't you tell me this before, dad? You knew the last call upset her! Why would you withhold that information from me?"

"I didn't withhold it. I told ya, didn't I? Besides, I wanted to speak to you about something entirely different."

Gibbs shook his head, swallowing back a snide remark that was forming in his throat.

"Aimee!" He called up the stairs once more.

"For goodness sakes, Jethro, don't shout up the stairs like that! Didn't I teach you anything about decency when you were a boy?"

Gibbs felt his temper brewing and his patience waning. Choosing to ignore his father's annoying remarks was the best he could do in the moment.

"Aimee Percy! NOW!" he called again. This time he heard a door open and some padded feet in the hall. The face that appeared at the top of the steps was not who he expected at all.

"She's not here, Agent Gibbs," said Makayla. "She rushed out to answer the phone and now we can't find her."

Gibbs frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked, confused. There wasn't any way that Aimee could have disappeared from upstairs.