Riley leaned against the wall breathing heavily and shivering more from the close call with reality than from the cold. Just his luck to come across agents from NCIS. He was supposed to disappear not bring reinforcements. Gawd! How stupid could he get? The last thing he needed was NCIS sticking their nose in everything. His drill sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant James Adams, would kill him if he found out. Riley slid down the wall and sat on the cold ground. His legs were shaking now and he didn't think he could bear his own weight any longer. He rested his head in his hands just trying to stop trembling. He didn't even know what had possessed him to attack the dark-haired agent. He did it on instinct, without thinking. He'd been terrified thinking the little girl was in danger and he just wanted to help her…protect her. Living in the streets was tough enough and she was just a little kid. In his short time on the run, he'd figured out that most people couldn't be trusted.

Riley jumped to his feet all at once when he heard a loud noise beside him. He strained his eyes in the dimness of the alley, trying to ascertain what had made the sound. It was approaching dusk which made the side streets even darker and more ominous. Something darted quickly in the shadows setting Riley's teeth on edge. His survival instincts kicked in as he pressed his back hard against the wall. He wasn't going to allow himself to be taken off guard this time. Too many times, he'd been beaten just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Who's there?" he growled, making his voice sound deep and foreboding.

An empty metal noise rattled close by and then he thought he heard a whimper.

"I have a gun!" he hissed into the darkness. He didn't. He wished he did but his weapon had been stolen from him. But he was resilient. He'd been surviving on the streets since he sneaked off base several weeks ago. He was AWOL but in his mind, he had good reason. His choice had been clear. Stay and die or run and live. Pretty much a no-brainer in his mind. He'd just have to deal with the consequences of his choice later.

"R-riley?" came a small, quivering voice.

Riley spun around and strained his eyes into the dark shadows of the alley. He could just make out a small figure walking slowly towards him.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

"It's me, Riley. Don't shoot me, kay?"

Riley rubbed his eyes. "Jane?"

She choked back a quivering sob. "Yah."

Riley rushed forward and fell to his knees in front of her. He couldn't help himself. He'd felt responsible for the kid since the moment he laid eyes on her.

"Gawd, Jane, are you alright? Did that car hit you?" He grabbed her firmly and pulled her in for a hug. He berated himself as he held the trembling girl in his arms. He wasn't sure who was shaking more at the moment, him or her. What on earth was he doing? He didn't even know the kid and suddenly he was attached to her? He was definitely losing his mind. He pushed her away and shook her. "Why'd you run away from me?"

The small girl shuddered in his arms. "I'm s-sorry."

"It's too dangerous out here, kid. Don't take off like that!" He found himself alternating between scolding her, shaking her and hugging her.

The little girl kept crying and Riley cursed several times out loud. Now, what was he supposed to do? He was having a hard enough time taking care of himself and now he had an Agent's kid? He thought he was dead meat before, now he'd be tortured dead meat.

"It's okay," he said, willing himself to stay calm. He heard a slight quiver in his voice and pulled in a harsh breath to fight for control. Freaking out and losing control now wouldn't help either of them. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper. You're okay, kid. C'mon, stop crying. You hungry?"

The child nodded, still crying and quivering in his arms.

"Okay. You're okay, kid."

Riley scooped the kid up in his arms and started walking. He needed to get back to shelter before nightfall. The temperature was falling fast and neither one of them were dressed warm enough to survive the elements.

xXx—NCIS—xXx

Aimee wrapped her arms around herself and hid her face in her knees. She couldn't stop shivering and shaking. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the car careening towards her. She saw Gibbs' face plain and clear and his shell-shocked expression haunted her.

"Here, kid." Aimee jumped, startled by Riley's voice as he came close and thrust something towards her. Aimee blinked back tears and accepted the food he offered. "It's not healthy by any stretch of the imagination but it's food." Aimee's hands trembled as she shoved the candy bar into her mouth. She was hungrier than she thought possible.

"Thirsty?"

She nodded. Riley handed her a soft drink. "T-thanks," she managed between sniffles, trying to chew and swallow the food. She took a greedy sip of the fizzy beverage and choked on it. It was cold and the carbonation burned her throat.

"Slow down, Aimee."

Aimee's eyes widened and her head bolted up. How did he know her name?

"That is your name, isn't it? Damn, kid, was that guy the one who gave you those bruises on your face? Is that why you ran away?"

Aimee blinked back more tears. She'd forgotten about her scraped up face from her excursion across Gibbs roof.

"He said he's your father. Is that true?"

Aimee licked her lips but still didn't answer him.

Riley scooped her up and set her on a table in the room, invading her personal bubble. He gave her a steely glare. Geez, did all marines take a course in glaring at people, she thought? Aimee attempted to avoid eye contact with the man by staring at her surroundings. Riley had taken her into an abandoned building this time. It looked like they were in someone's old deserted apartment.

Riley cupped her chin roughly. "Look, kid, you need to start talking. I can't help you if you won't tell me what's going on."

"I don't need your help!" Aimee snapped, yanking her face from his grasp and trying to slip off the table.

Riley held her tightly, refusing to let her move out from under his grasp. "The hell you don't! That car could have hit and killed you! If that guy is your father then why the hell did you run away from him? He's a friggin NCIS agent for Pete's sake!" Aimee blinked back tears that blurred her vision.

"Lemme go!" she shouted. "I don't have to tell you anything!"

Riley groaned and shook her fiercely enough to make her teeth rattle. "Cut the crap, kid! What are you? Like 8 years old? You do need help, and if you don't talk to me then I'm calling the police! Or better yet, that agent gave me his card. I'll call him and you can deal with him yourself!"

Aimee choked back a sob. "No! Please! Don't do that!"

Riley stared at her severely. "Give me one reason not to."

Aimee grimaced. She couldn't tell him the truth. It was too dangerous. She needed to get back out into the open as soon as possible or it could be too late.

"You just can't, okay? Please, don't call him."

Riley glared at her and pulled away, drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly.

"Geez, kid, as if I didn't have enough problems," he mumbled under his breath. "Damn it!" Riley pounded his fist into a nearby wall putting a huge hole in it. Aimee shrank away and further dissolved into sobs.

"I'm s-sorry," she wailed. Riley was beginning to frighten her now.

Riley's hands went to his hips and he partially stooped over as he closed his eyes. Aimee shivered. She didn't know if she felt any safer being with the marine or not. Riley seemed nice but he was also scaring her. In her short years, she learned to trust military people. She had spent her whole life around them and most of them had integrity and honour but her step-father, Jonathan, had taught her an unforgettable lesson: not everyone was trustworthy.

"I-I need to leave…"

Riley glared at her. "Kid, you wouldn't survive another night out there in that cold. You're staying put! Now, shut up! I need to think."

Aimee felt her temper increase. She slid off the table Riley had planted her on and searched for the exit in the dimness of the room. Light poured in under a door and she ran towards it. She grabbed the handle and reefed the door open in an attempt to escape.

"Oh, hell, kid!" shouted Riley, rushing after her and grabbing her around the waist.

Aimee started to punch him with her fists. "Lemme go! Lemme go!"

Riley managed to subdue her, pinning her arms to her sides as he embraced her against his chest. Aimee flailed in his arms, kicking and screaming and punching at him wildly. She had to get away from him.

"Aimee, for Pete's sake, knock it off! You can't leave! It's too damned cold and you don't even have a coat! You're lucky you didn't freeze to death in the first place." Riley tightened his grip on her. "Now, STOP fighting me!" He squeezed her tight enough to take her breath away and Aimee cried out in pain.

"OW!" she cried and dissolved into tears again.

Riley released her, looking concerned. Aimee tumbled to the floor and looked up at him fearfully. He was strong. Really strong. Marine strong.

"I need to leave or people will die and it will be my fault! I don't want my sister to get hurt. He said he'd kill her like Sarah." Aimee's mind flashed images of her baby sister torn apart in front of her eyes. Brody said he'd kill Janessa and everyone she loved.

Riley narrowed his eyes at her. "Who said that?"

Aimee kept sobbing and trembling as she sat on the cold floor. As much as she wanted to answer him, she couldn't. She couldn't make him understand. There was no point. No one would understand.

xXx—NCIS—xXx

Makayla used the spare key from the planted pot outside the patio to open the door. For being a government agent, her aunt was more cliché than she'd expected. When she'd first arrived at the house, she'd sat in the gazebo in the backyard, trying to weigh her options. She needed a plan and she knew as soon as people discovered she was missing, they'd be checking everywhere for her. She figured no one would suspect that she'd go to her aunt's house. At least not right away. She expected they'd check her own house first before her aunt's. It had only just dawned on her to check for a spare key. Finding the key in the potted pink mum had been a positive long shot.

Makayla heaved a relieved sigh as she entered the house, closing the door behind her. It felt good to be somewhere familiar. Being on the run was bewildering to her even though she'd only been gone for a couple of hours at most. Causing trouble wasn't the norm for her. She wasn't used to being the centre of attention. That was her sister's MO. Makayla was the quiet, obedient child, and she liked it that way. It took a lot out of her to stand up for herself and knowing her aunt would be angry with her wasn't making her feel very good at all. Walking from the kitchen into the front entrance, she beelined for the stairs. She needed to pack a bag and grab some cash quickly before she changed her mind. She'd already been having an intensive internal battle inside her since she'd left. She was a nervous wreck. As she reached the foot of the steps and began her way up them, she was alarmed to hear a familiar voice coming from behind her.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Makayla's blood ran cold as she turned to see Agent Gibbs staring up at her. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn her heart stopped beating. She gulped when she saw the angry disappointment burning in his eyes. She sucked on her bottom lip but didn't say anything. She just stared at him wide-eyed as he started walking up the steps towards her. Makayla instinctively took a few steps away from him. Gibbs had a way of intimidating her under normal circumstances. The irate look on his face now made self-preservation her first instinct.

"You pick now to take off? Have you lost your mind?" seethed Gibbs, continuing his ascent towards her. "We've been searching everywhere for you!"

Makayla gulped and held out her hands to hold him off, all while continuing to walk up the stairs. Gibbs hit her with a steely glare harsh enough to make Makayla inhale a sharp intake of air. Her heart was pounding in her chest and all the colour drained from her face. She was definitely not used to being in this kind of trouble and she didn't like it at all.

"Jenn is going insane wondering where you went!" he snapped. "Just what the hell was so important about New York that you needed to go there now, of all times?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes at her and pounded his fist on the handrail but kept walking menacingly towards her.

Makayla convulsively swallowed while freezing misstep, trying to weigh her options. How did he know her plans? She hadn't confided in anyone. Her eyes darted to the area on either side of the wide stairway. Maybe she could dart past him and escape unscathed. Her heart was hammering so loudly she was certain Gibbs could hear it.

She opened her mouth, trying to find her voice. "I, um, just wanted to find out about…" she tripped over her words as Gibbs kept walking towards her. She fought against her fight or flight instinct as he drew closer, looking, even more, intimidating up close. "I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs. I just needed to…" she stopped talking as he became motionless a few steps below her, raising his hand to forestall her words.

"There is nothing you can say right now that will make this right." His voice was alarmingly quiet this time. "I don't have the time for this nonsense! I need to find Aimee not chase after some self-centred teenager. Damn it, Mak, I thought you were better than this!"

"But…" she began.

Gibbs waved his hand at her. "No! This is where you to zip it, alright? I'm so pissed right now that I'm not sure I can control what I might do if you press me further." A vein in the side of his head was pulsing as he clenched his jaw. "Get your butt in the car NOW! We're going back to NCIS!"

Makayla swallowed and looked past him to the front door. Gibbs took a step back until he was leaning against the railing sideways and pointed down the steps. She tentatively took a few steps towards him, keeping eye contact with him. She kept walking, pressing herself against the other side of the stairs as far away from him as she could. She stopped when she was on the same step and faced him. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"It was my only chance, Agent Gibbs." She tried to plead with him. "Please understand…"

Gibbs' eyes darkened. "You made me a promise, Mak. You may not keep your promises but you're about to discover that I do!" Gibbs reached out and grasped her firmly by the forearm. Makayla sucked in a deep breath and grimaced at how tightly he was holding her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she tried unsuccessfully to free her arm from his grip. "Move it, NOW!"

Makayla blinked quickly, brushing tears from her eyes as she took a tentative step down and was escorted quickly the rest of way by Gibbs. Once on the main floor, he twisted her around so she was facing him. His grip on her arm hurt.

"Taking off like this wastes valuable time and resources that could be used to help find Aimee. McGee has been checking the bus, train stations and airports looking for you! Abby's been calling everyone your aunt could think of trying to find you." Gibbs' voice became even quieter, dangerously so. "I thought maybe you'd taken it into your head to try and find Aimee on your own. That idea was frightening enough and maybe even redeemable but you using these circumstances for your own selfish agenda…" Gibbs' face reddened further as his voice trailed off, seeming to lose all ability to finish a coherent thought. Makayla's stomach churned with fear mixed with deep-seated guilt. Had she jeopardized Aimee's safety? She did feel ashamed of herself but she'd forced herself to push common sense away. Convincing herself to follow through and stand up for her own convictions had been hard enough. She had planned for it for such a long time and Aimee's predicament sucked big time but it wasn't her fault. But on the other hand, she couldn't deny anything Gibbs was saying. Her timing was terrible and hurtful. She'd known it was selfish but she convinced herself it was her only chance. She knew Gibbs had every right to be angry with her but she still didn't want to let herself regret it. Gibbs didn't understand her side. How could he? No one did.

Makayla held out a trembling hand. "It's not like that…I didn't mean to…" Makayla stumbled finding the right words to explain herself as Gibbs continued glaring at her with anger. His unnerving glower was making it impossible for her to calm herself enough to think straight.

Gibbs dropped his hands to his side and stood to stare at her. The silence permeating the room was probably the loudest she'd ever heard. Finally, Makayla couldn't take the pressure any longer and she broke down into sobs, covering her face with her hands.

xXx—NCIS—xXx

Gibbs scrubbed a shaky hand across his face when he saw the young teen girl dissolve into sobs. He forced himself to inhale and exhale deeply so he would calm down. He needed to dial his anger back and remember that Makayla was just a kid, not some criminal he was interrogating. He was so caught up in his own distress that he'd probably overreacted. Not probably. By the looks of Makayla's reaction, he'd definitely overplayed things. He reached out and pulled the girls trembling hands away from her face, stroking her cheek gently.

"Hey, kiddo, it's gonna be okay," he said softly, pulling her into a gentle hug.

"I'm s-sorry," she sobbed into his chest, "I didn't think…" The rest of her words were muffled into his shirt as he ran a hand through her long auburn hair.

His rested his chin on the top of her head. "Exactly, kid. You didn't think." His words were soft but impacting. He felt Makayla shuddering against his chest. He'd learned a lot about her since he'd known her. He knew Makayla didn't like conflict or confrontation. She wasn't used to it, and she struggled to maintain her composure under scrutiny. If he expected to get anywhere with her, he needed to dial himself way back, and speak much more gently. It wouldn't take much to break her down and that wasn't his intention.

Gibbs pulled away and cupped her chin in his hands. "I don't think I need to tell you how much trouble you're in, Makayla." The girl swallowed convulsively and shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How about we take a moment to regroup? Okay?" He nodded towards the front sitting room to the right of the steps. Makayla sniffled and pulled away from him, crossing her arms over her chest.

Her red-rimmed eyes looked at him nervously. "What's gonna happen now?"

Gibbs didn't answer but put a hand on the small of her back and with a firm push, escorted her towards Jenny's front room. He pointed at the nearby sofa chair and Makayla sat down. Gibbs pulled out his phone and dialled. First things first, he needed to let Jenn know Makayla was alright, and he needed some direction as to what to do next. Makayla wasn't his. He had no authority over her. He had his own ideas but without Jenn's permission, he wouldn't do anything. Gibbs listened as his cell phone rang and was glad when Jenny picked up on the second ring.

"Jenn, I've got Mak."

"Is she okay? Where is she?" Jenn's voice was a mixture of relief and anger.

Gibbs explained the situation and Jenny listened without comment. Her silence was disconcerting. A quiet Jenny Shepard was never a good thing. He narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what she was thinking and then covered the mouthpiece for a second as he spoke to the teen girl sitting anxiously looking up at him, "Stay put while I chat a minute with your aunt privately." Makayla nodded without a word. Gibbs tapped her firmly on the top of her head. "I'm serious here, Mak. Don't move from this room!"

The girl bit down on her lip. "I won't."

Gibbs hesitated a moment before slipping out into the hallway and shutting the door. At first, he thought he'd move down the hallway to speak more privately but decided against it. Makayla looked spooked and he wouldn't put it past her to take off again. He didn't need that hassle.

"How do you want me to handle this, Jenn?" He kept his voice low and even.

His question was met with silence.

"Jenn?"

A soft sob was heard, crushing him. He knew how she felt yet he didn't want to acknowledge it.

"Jenn?"

"I'm sorry, Jethro. She's really okay, right…I mean, gawd, what was she thinking taking off like that? I shudder to imagine what could have happened to her if she'd managed to make it to New York…"

"Jenn, she's safe. I don't think either one of us knows the whole story behind this. Maybe she has a good reason; I don't know, but the question remains, how do you want me to handle this?"

He was met with more silence before she finally whispered, "I don't know, Jethro."

Gibbs ran a hand through his hair. He didn't know either. "Anything on Aimee?" He knew it was pointless asking. He already knew the answer but a small part of him was not past looking for a miracle.

"Nothing yet…" Her voice trailed off.

Gibbs grimaced. Each minute that ticked by, each hour that disappeared without a lead meant they were one step closer to a cold case. His clenched his jaw tightly as he made himself swallow his emotions. Now wasn't the time for him to lose his edge. He needed to keep going.

"Jenn, what do you want me to do? I can bring Mak to you if you want but you can't just let this slide."

"I know. Maybe I should just call Julia…she should handle this. She's her mother, for crying out loud…"

Gibbs groaned. "I think Julia is the problem! That kid doesn't want to be some famous scientist brainiac, Jenn! She wants to draw and no one's listening to her. What's the kid supposed to do? Just suck it up? It's her life! What is it with parents today? Why can't kids just be kids and discover who they are without meddling interference? What's a matter with being a Picasso instead of an inventor? I'm telling you, Jenn, that kid's gifted and she's passionate about it."

Gibbs heard Jenn sigh. "Taking off to God knows where without telling anyone doesn't have anything to do with that, Jethro!"

"It has everything to do with it! New York has some of the largest art galleries and schools in the US. She's not a stupid kid. Jenn, if she can't get what she wants legitimately, then she's going to seek out other ways to get it. How can we blame her for that? I'm not sure I can."

"So, what am I supposed to do now?"

"The ball is in your court, Jenn."

Jenn heaved another sigh. "Damn it. I hate this…"

Gibbs waited for Jenny to decide. Her breathing was accelerated and he knew it was because she felt out of her element. He swallowed slowly, deciding he'd take the lead. It was what he was good at and he was getting tired of the waffling. It wasn't good for any of them. "I could bring her back to NCIS and let you handle it…" he suggested, "Or I can handle it here."

"Jethro…"

"Do you trust me, Jenn?"

"Jethro," she tried again but he cut off her conjecture.

"I'm serious. Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. I wouldn't have allowed Makayla to stay with you if I didn't trust you, but…"

Gibbs cut her off briskly. "NO buts, Jenn. Either you do or you don't. Which is it?"

Jenn was quiet for a minute…a long minute… which made Gibbs reconsider his own choices and notions. Just how well did he know Makayla? How well did he read her?

"I trust you." Her voice was stronger now, more confident.

"Okay. I'll be back to NCIS soon." Gibbs waited for several seconds to see if Jenny would protest or try to say something else but she didn't. He ended the call, dropping the phone back into his pocket.

A/N I think Gibbs has reached the end of his rope with Makayla. He's tired, fed-up and up to his ears in teenage drama. Boy, do I ever know the feeling! I could use a very long vacation to a warm Carribean Island sans kids, especially teen girls! Someone make me a tea, please?