Authors Note:

Just a short little chapter, guys. Thanks to all those who have reviewed my story. They encourage me, and I love seeing your comments and ideas.

"Jethro?"

Gibbs was startled awake to see Jenny looking down at him with a strained look on her face. He sat up a little, groaning as his back protested the position he had fallen into during his slumber. He rubbed at his eyes and blinked them several times, trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain. He had no clue what time it was or how long he'd been asleep. Up until he woke up, he hadn't even realised that he'd fallen asleep. The fact that he'd let his guard down enough to do that bothered him a little. He glanced sideways him to see that Riley was still sedated, the bag of saline still dripping. The doctor has said the kid was dehydrated, malnourished and just plain exhausted. Gibbs hadn't been surprised. Sedation was recommended and since as far as they knew, Riley, at 18 years old, was an adult in the eyes of the law, the doctors did what they thought was best. Riley had been in no condition to give permission or protest. Gibbs told them what he knew and stayed with him. He felt obligated to the boy in more ways than one. He had fallen asleep searching his mind for the best way to help the kid. He was going to need to call in a few favours.

"What time is it?" he managed, his voice gravelly.

"Almost 06:00 hours. You've been out a long time. I was starting to worry."

Gibbs frowned. "Heard anything from the surgeons yet?" Aimee had gone into surgery without too much of a fight. It had surprised Gibbs how easily she had submitted to his requests. On one hand, he was relieved but on the other, it worried him. Aimee was a fighter but even Gibbs could tell she was tired. Much too tired for such a young child.

Jenny shook her head and pulled up a chair. "Nothing yet."

Gibbs straightened up in his chair, grimacing as he did. He felt much older than his 50 years and sleeping under boats and in hospital chairs certainly didn't help matters. Gibbs caught the pained expression in Jenn's eyes and from the look of it; it had to be about something other than him.

"What's the matter?"

"Makayla took off again," Jenny blurted out all at once. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she worked hard to blink them away causing Gibbs groan. He hated seeing her cry.

"Damn," he muttered. He didn't need this headache on top of everything else. He knew by the look on Jenn's face that it hadn't been something she wanted to bring up to him right now, but she was desperate.

As if reading his mind, she said, "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have brought it up. I know she's my responsibility…"

Gibbs shook his head. "It's okay, Jenn. I care about Mak too."

Jenny's face was white. "I know you do. I'm so worried, Jethro…"

Gibbs' face was compassionate. "I need ya to trust me on something, Jenn…"

"What?"

"I want you to have faith in Makayla to do the right thing."

"Didn't you hear me? She TOOK off! I have no idea where she is!" Jenny's voice was frantic.

Gibbs nodded calmly. "I heard you, Jenn, but Mak promised me she wouldn't run away again. She knows how I feel about that, and she's seen how Aimee's disappearance has impacted all of us. She's a smart kid. I trust her, and you should too."

Jenny's lip trembled but she nodded. "I hope you're right," she managed, doubt in her voice.

Gibbs looked at his watch briefly. "I know I am. Besides, I already warned her what I'd do if she breaks my trust. I don't think she's going to take that risk." Gibbs had faith that Makayla wouldn't do anything rash, but he planned to check out a few hunches anyway. "How'd the talk go?" he said, remembering his earlier conversation with the teen girl. He was hoping Mak's discussion with Jenn had been at least amicable. A part of him wasn't terribly surprised that Mak ran off from her aunt. Jenn had a habit of laying things on thick at the best of times. He had no doubt Jenny Shepard gave Mak an earful. Gibbs just hoped that the girl gave herself a timeout close by and hadn't actually jumped ship. He didn't need that right now. He didn't have the patience to deal with it.

"What talk?"

"With Mak. You raked her over the coals about letting Riley go free, right?"

"Well, of course, I did. She and Abby…"

Gibbs sighed. "I know all that, Jenn. I'm asking you how she reacted."

Jenny looked at him incredulously. "She took off! That's how she reacted."

Gibbs sighed again, frustration becoming his intimate friend where females were concerned. It was no use trying to get her to follow his line of thinking. She was too emotional and distraught, so was he for that matter. "Where's Abby?" he said, changing the topic.

Jenn looked taken aback by the abrupt change of topic but she answered nonetheless. "I convinced her to go home and get some rest. She was panicking and saying it was her fault that Makayla took off…"

"Mak was texting her, Jenn. She told Abby that you were pissing her off."

Jenny sighed. "Glad I'm good at something."

Gibbs smiled sympathetically.

Jenny stood to her feet and walked over to Riley. She stood staring at him for several minutes before reaching out and brushing his long hair from his cheek.

Jenny turned to face Gibbs, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Jethro, I can't hold the SecNav off any longer. Riley's in a lot of trouble. We need to alert the proper authorities."

"I know." Gibbs looked at Riley glumly. "He's so damned young."

Jenny dropped her hands to her side and leaned against the wall facing Gibbs. "A lot of them are young. Hell, you weren't much older when you join the Marines."

"True, but I didn't run away from my father because he beat the crap out of me."

Jenn frowned. "What makes you think he did?"

"Did a little digging. It's not a pretty story."

"So? None of this is our concern, Jethro. Our job is to report him to the proper authorities, and let them handle it. The SecNav wants to know why you're hedging and making his life so damned difficult. He trusts your gut, Gibbs, just like the rest of us, but this nonsense has gone on too long."

"His D.I. was Gunny Sergeant Adams, Jenn," said Gibbs, softly.

Jenn's mouth dropped open and Gibbs knew she recognized the name. "Geez."

"Yah. The Marines best kept secret strikes again. Set aside the fact that Riley is barely 18 years old, Jenn, think long and hard; how many times has that damned name came across our desks over the past several years? Just how many times are we going to turn a blind eye to recruits being injured or killed under the leadership of that bastard?"

Jenn puffed out her cheeks wearily. "McGee told me an irate Sergeant had stormed NCIS earlier this week, but I never paid much attention to it."

Gibbs chuckled sardonically. "What else is new?"

Jenny sighed. "This is nothing to joke about, Jethro. Why the hell didn't you have Riley detained? Why did you leave him where you did?"

"Because he's a kid, and he needed a break so I cut him one. He needed compassion, not condemnation, and when I heard him mention Adams, my gut raged. That idiot waterboarded the kid, for crying out loud. That's a form of torture, Jenn. The kid is 18 years old. Barely out of high school! Riley needed someone to show him they cared. He's been beaten and abused, and from what I can tell, he barely escaped with his life."

Jenny crossed her arms. "He's U.A, Jethro, and that means he's in deep trouble. You aided and abetted him by allowing him to stay in that conference room. That foolish mistake allowed Abby and Makayla access to him."

"You can say what you want, Jenn." Gibbs rose to his feet and paced across the floor, stretching out his legs. He walked the length of the room and turned. "It's not the first time I've been in trouble for doing something outside of the bounds of NCIS, and it sure as hell won't be the last. I'm not above calling in a few favours, and if anyone deserves it, Riley does." Gibbs' voice caught in his throat, "H-He saved my daughter's life, Jenn, and I don't take that kind of thing lightly."

Jenn blinked, taking in his words. Her arms dropped to her side and her heart went out to him. The pain in her old friend's voice was raw. Jenny could see that Gibbs was beginning to unravel. "Jethro, I am so sorry."

Gibbs' face paled as pain etched his features. His heart was aching so badly; he didn't think he could find the strength to take his next breath let alone keep arguing with her. His little girl was in surgery, fighting for her life and suddenly everything else was pale in comparison. He didn't care about his job or the Sec Nav or any other bastard big wig out there with no heart. None of it mattered to him at the moment. Suddenly, without warning, hot tears filled his eyes. As hard as he tried to blink them away, he couldn't. The pressure was unbearable. His face flushed and tears rolled down his cheeks. As much as he fought to stop them, the dam opened and he gave into it. Something had to give before he imploded. He looked at Jenn pathetically. If he had to lose control of himself, he felt safe doing it in front of her.