Hi, Readers

Here is another chapter for you...this was a difficult chapter to write...hopefully, you will enjoy it. Just a reminder that Gibbs is an old-fashioned kind of guy...we wrestled with this one and in the end, Gibbs won out. All that to say that a fictional teen girl is disciplined by a fictional authority figure. Gibbs and I are not on speaking terms at the moment. (I'll forgive him, though...hope you will too) Any negative reviews are to be addressed directly to Gibbs. :P I will gladly accept the postive ones. :)

Gibbs lay on his sofa with his eyes closed, listening to the hubbub around him. Happy voices surrounded him from every corner of his home. He could hear his dad in the kitchen joking with Abby and Janessa; he could hear Tony and Tim arguing about something stupid and insignificant yet totally them; Jenn and Ziva were discussing some new kind of workout program; Jimmy was playing a game with Aimee and Ducky. His heart was overflowing with thankfulness. Aimee's welcome home party was a complete success, but he could hardly keep his eyes open. He was completely and utterly exhausted, content to just relax and everyone was kind enough to allow it. He'd finally made it a priority to be seen at the hospital and received some anti-inflammatories and some real painkillers. His shoulder had certainly seen better days. He wasn't getting any younger and being yanked off ledges of buildings probably wasn't the best of ideas anymore.

"Agent Gibbs? Are you asleep?"

Gibbs popped open one eye to see Makayla looking down at him. "Nope."

Mak sat on the coffee table in front of him, and Gibbs rolled over so he could see her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yep. I'm feeling a lot better after the doctor gave me some stronger painkillers."

"I guess Ducky was right, huh?"

Gibbs chuckled and looked over at Ducky playing a game at the table. The older man was usually always right, but Gibbs almost never admitted it. "Yah, he was right, but don't tell him that. I don't want it to go to his head."

Mak smirked and rubbed her hands on her pants, looking nervous.

"Something bothering you?" asked Gibbs.

"I know you probably want to spend some time with Aimee, but I was wondering if I could stay here with you too. I… um…"

Gibbs groaned as he sat up. How was it possible to be so sore? His entire back was in spasms and his head felt cloudy. He was going to pass out soon if he didn't get some sleep. He hated to be a spoilsport, but if he was going to be any help getting his girls to bed, the evening needed to come to an end.

"You mean tonight?"

Mak looked down at the carpet. "Yah, and tomorrow too…and maybe like until my parents come home. I don't have any school tomorrow because…"

Gibbs stifled a yawn. "I'll tell you what, you can stay here as long as you want, but you need to promise me you will ask your aunt's permission respectfully. You may not have school tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you're on vacation."

"I know," she whispered.

"Okay. Go ask your aunt. If she agrees, then you and I can talk and come to an understanding of the rules of my house, but not tonight. I need to get some sleep."

Makayla looked up and smiled at him. "Thanks."

Gibbs' patted her knee with a smile and pulled himself to his feet. He felt lightheaded and needed to grab the side of the sofa to keep from losing his footing.

"Hey, take it easy, Boss," said Tony, quickly coming to his side and helping him stay on his feet. Gibbs massaged his temples a moment, trying to get his feet back under him. He was feeling like he was in no position to argue with anyone. Tony helped him sit back down and he did so without complaint.

"You, okay?" asked Tony.

Gibbs nodded. Ducky came sauntering over, concern on his face. He exchanged a look with Gibbs and cleared his throat loudly. "Well, everyone, this has been such a pleasant evening, but some of us need to get our beauty sleep."

The room became quiet as people looked at Ducky for a few moments. Gibbs groaned inwardly because he knew everyone last one of them was looking past Ducky to see how tired he was. Janessa came wandering into the living room with a milk mustache and plopped down beside Gibbs. She leaned against him and yawned so big that her little face disappeared. Gibbs chuckled. He wasn't the only one who was tired. After a moment of awkward silence, everyone began to say goodbye and make their way out. Gibbs lay back once again and Janessa snuggled under his arm. He tried to force himself to stay awake to say his goodbyes, but things began to fade out of his awareness.

XxXxNCISxXxX

Gibbs leaned against the wall in the kitchen nursing a cup of strong coffee. His thoughts were cluttered and certainly not his own this morning. He was thankful for the medication the doctor had prescribed had knocked him out so thoroughly. He hadn't even remembered everyone leaving the night before, nor did he stir all night. He'd slept soundly and quite peacefully, something he hadn't done in a long time.

"Jethro," said an exasperated voice.

"I'm listening, Jenn," he said walking to his kitchen table and sitting down.

Jenn had arrived earlier and let herself in, finding Gibbs still asleep on the sofa.

"I called my sister, Julia, last night. She and her husband plan to fly home in a few weeks. In the meantime, Makayla is still suspended from Xavier Preparatory. They do not take kindly to cheating. Do you realize the ramifications of this? Xavier is a world-renowned Preparatory school…this school has a waiting list that starts in the womb."

Gibbs rubbed the back of his neck. "And this concerns me in what way, Jenn?" Gibbs wanted to make sure he was treading carefully on the situation. His head was clear enough, but at the same time, with Jenn, he could never tell where she was heading in a particular conversation. He'd learned a long time ago to make sure he was on the same page.

"You said she could stay with you…"

Gibbs sighed, remembering he had, in fact, said that. "Yah, I did."

"You're enabling her. She won't work things out with me if you give her an escape."

"Jenn, I'm not enabling her. Look, if Mak stays with me, she and I are going to come to an understanding. She knows I'm not happy with her running away nonsense…"

"What if I don't want her to stay with you?"

"Did you tell her she couldn't stay with me?"

"Well, no, but she didn't really ask me."

"What did she say?" Gibbs was curious. His recollection of the night before was fuzzy, but he was pretty sure he told Makayla to ask for permission and not simply tell Jenn what she was going to do.

"She said you said she could stay with you."

Gibbs' sighed. He should have known Makayla would skate around the issue. He really needed to have a serious talk with the girl. He just wasn't in the right frame of mind last night. He still wasn't sure if he was in a good frame of mind even yet. Mak was becoming a master at manipulating her aunt, and it was beginning to tick him off.

"If you don't want her to stay with me, then she doesn't stay with me. End of story. Jenn, I'm not trying to interfere. I'm trying to help, and if I remember correctly, you were the one who asked if I'd help you with Mak. Neither one of us wants that little girl to run off again. Something tells me that when she finds out her parents are coming home, the panic is going to set in and she's going to take off again. I'm sick to death of kids running away! My tolerance level is zero."

Jenny stood up and walked across the kitchen, hugging her arm around her thin waist. She turned and looked at Gibbs with tears shimmering in her eyes. "What's wrong with me, Jethro?"

Gibbs frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Ever since Makayla came to stay with me, all I've managed to do is push her further away."

Gibbs rose to his feet and went to stand by Jenn. "Have you taken a minute to look at Mak's work, Jenn?"

Jenny worried her bottom lip a moment before shaking her head. "She wouldn't share it with me," she admitted, "And when I attempted to steal a look, she got angry with me for snooping."

Gibbs felt his frustration increase. Makayla was being as difficult and stubborn as Jenn, definitely must be a dominant trait in the Shepard genes.

Footsteps could be heard which made Jenny and Gibbs look towards the doorway. A rather sleepy looking Makayla came into the kitchen. She ran her fingers through her tousled ginger hair and avoided eye contact with Gibbs.

"G'Morning, sleepy head," said Gibbs pleasantly with a friendly smile. He always was one to want to start the day off on the right foot at home, no matter what the circumstances. A warm greeting in the morning was something he always swore he'd give his kids…or any kid for that matter.

She chanced a quick look in his direction and offered him a half smile in return. She sat in a chair, pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. Her silence was loud.

"How long have you been there?" asked Jenny, brushing a hand over the girl's hair to try and tame it.

Makayla shrugged. "Long enough."

Gibbs grabbed the fruit bowl on the counter and placed it on the table, taking a seat opposite Makayla. The girl reached for an apple and began shining it on her pyjama top silently.

"Your aunt tells me you told her you could stay with me," began Gibbs, not unkindly.

"You said I could." Makayla was already in defensive mode.

"I distinctly remember telling you to ask your aunt for permission." His memories of the day and night before were foggy, but he did remember that.

Makayla's face reddened and she took a big bite of her apple, not making eye contact.

Jenn sat down with a loud sigh. "It doesn't matter, Jethro."

"It matters to me, Jenn."

"I'm sorry," muttered Makayla. "It was just simpler to say that last night…"

"Simpler to deceive?" asked Gibbs.

"I didn't…"

"Careful, Mak," warned Gibbs. His frown was not to be mistaken. She was skating on thin ice.

Makayla dropped her chin again, spinning her apple around between her fingers.

Jenny rubbed her eyes, fatigue showing on her features. Gibbs could see how exasperated Jenny was. The situation was complicated and a part of Gibbs was angry that her sister would dump such a big responsibility on Jenn. Jenny Shepard had an enormous responsibility on her shoulders with being the director of NCIS. Jenn had made decisions in her life, for better or for worse, and that included not having children of her own.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Jenn, but I think it's better if I stay with Agent Gibbs…"

"Why?" asked Gibbs. "Why is it better?"

"Because you listen and try to understand me…"

"Makayla," said Jenn, exasperation in her voice.

"No, listen to me. Please."

Jenny was quiet.

Makayla stood to her feet and tossed her apple core in the garbage. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. "It used to be that you listened to me, Aunt Jenn. You took me and Maddy shopping, and we had fun together. When mom said I was staying with you, I was so excited because I thought you'd be that same fun aunt, but you're not."

"Mak, life isn't all fun and games. Visiting your aunt and living with your aunt can't be the same," Gibbs attempted to explain.

"I know that! I'm not stupid, Agent Gibbs," snapped Mak in frustration. Gibbs lifted a brow in surprise at her outburst but remained quiet. "I knew it would be different, but I never expected her to be worse than my parents. Don't you get it? I can't breathe when I'm around them or her. Their expectations are too high." Tears filled Makayla's eyes and her bottom lip quivered.

Jenny rose to her feet and walked over to Makayla, standing in front of her. "I love you, Makayla. You and Maddy both. Your mom and dad are so proud of you girls. It's all Julia talks about whenever we talk."

Tears fell down Makayla's cheeks. "She's only proud of us when it suits her fancy…"

"Makayla, you know that's not true."

"You don't know her like I do, damn it!" Makayla shouted the words in Jenn's face, the anger and hurt plain on her face. "Why the hell do you even care what she thinks anyway? You're never going to be like Julia…stop trying to be her!"

Gibbs rose to his feet at this outburst, determined to end it before it escalated. He was in no mood for a catfight this early in the morning. He walked up to Makayla and cupped her chin in his hand. He tipped her face up so she was looking directly into his stern blue eyes.

"You may voice your opinion, but you may not be disrespectful while doing it. Understand?"

Makayla's face paled considerably and her bottom lip trembled as she nodded. Gibbs released her chin, but continued to stare at her sternly. He needed her to know that he wasn't going to put up with anything from her this morning. He didn't have the patience.

"Sorry," she mumbled so softly it could barely be heard.

Gibbs took a few steps back and refilled his coffee.

"Makayla, I do know Julia. She's my older sister, and I know her heart," Jenny began, ignoring most of the outburst. Gibbs couldn't help but see the hurt expression on Jenn's face. Makayla's words had touched a sore spot. "You and Maddy are her whole life. She has soaked everything she is into you girls. She wants what's best for you."

"You're wrong. You might not know this, but Maddy went to boarding school to get away. She's just better at playing the game than I am. Maddy wants to be some successful big wig nitwit like them. I don't!"

"Honey, you're 14 years old. You don't know what you want to be yet."

"Yes, I do!" Makayla's voice rose again and Gibbs cleared his throat as a reminder. Makayla clenched her fists and groaned. Gibbs could see the internal battle she was fighting at the moment. Makayla was close to blowing her top, and somehow she was finding it very difficult to express herself without losing her temper. The girl swallowed several times and wiped away the tears of frustration on her cheeks. "I do know what I want to do with my life. It's my life and my decision to make. You can't tell me what to do and neither can they!"

Jenn's hands found her hips and Gibbs inwardly groaned, knowing the look of exasperation washing over her. Gibbs had seen it before. Jenn was finished trying to talk reason and she was moving on to laying down the law. Instead of diffusing the situation, Jenn was about to light the flame.

"Your parents will be home in a few weeks, and until then, you will mind me, Makayla Wallace. I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense from you. I'm done trying to reason with you about this. It's bad enough that you felt justified in cheating to get suspended from school…"

Makayla's face reddened and her eyes blazed. "Shut up!"

Gibbs set his coffee down on the counter and took Makayla by the arm gently. He needed to diffuse things fast or it was going to be a fruitless waste of a conversation.

"Enough. It's not okay to speak to your aunt that way."

Makayla's anger turned on him. "And it's okay for her to belittle me?"

Gibbs could feel the girl trembling in his arms. "Mak, calm down. I want you to go get your sketchbook."

Makayla narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"

"Go get your sketchbook."

"No."

Gibbs exchanged a look with Jenn. The beautiful auburn haired woman looked beyond exasperated. He saw her tuck stray hairs behind her ears. Her hand was trembling, and he could feel Makayla trembling under his hand as well. Gibbs forced himself to shake off the growing anger in him and take a step back. Makayla's defiance wasn't a personal attack on him or Jenn, well, maybe on Jenn but certainly not on him.

"Mackie, please go get your sketchbook. I want you to show your aunt your drawings."

Mak yanked her arm away, this time appearing just a little more brave and bold. "My drawings are personal and none of her business."

"Jenn will better understand you if you open up and share your talents with her."

"She doesn't care!"

"I do care, Makayla," said Jenn, reaching out to try and comfort the girl.

"No, you don't!"

"Makayla…" began Jenn.

"Shut up and leave me alone!"

Makayla went to leave the room, but Gibbs stopped her. He spun her around and pointed a stern finger in her face. "I won't warn you again."

Makayla's eyes flashed. Gibbs knew that all the girl's reason had left her. She had decided that it was worth the fight, and he could tell that she wasn't about to back down anytime soon. His throat tightened a little as he thought about what he might need to do to deescalate the situation. He knew he was an old-fashioned man with traditional values and not many people shared his views. Gibbs always did what he felt was right in every circumstance. He didn't often waffle or second guess himself, but maybe this time it would just be better to let her leave the room and cool down. He looked deeply into her eyes, pleading with her to see reason, but then scoffed at himself when he realized he was doing it. She was a 14-year-old girl overtaken by emotion; she couldn't see reason right now even if it jumped out and bit her on the nose.

Jenn walked over and attempted to put a comforting arm around Makayla's shoulders. The girl ducked her arm and turned to glare at them both unreasonably.

"Leave me alone!" she said, anger powerful in her features.

"Are you going to get the sketchbook or not?" asked Gibbs once again, growing increasingly impatient with her stubbornness.

"NO!" Makayla screamed the word belligerently, losing all control and shoving Gibbs back away from her.

"Okay, I've had enough," said Gibbs, resolutely. He reached out and grabbed Makayla by the arm and led her towards the pantry. "Excuse us for a minute, Jenn." He heard Makayla and Jenn gasp in unison as he dragged the teen girl with him into his walk-in pantry.

"Jethro," cried Jenn, but he ignored her.

XxXx

Once inside the dark room, he switched on the light and closed the door. The light illuminated the shelves stocked with canned food and other items in storage. Brooms and various household tools and items were hung neatly on the wall as well. The pantry had been Shannon's biggest delight about the house when they bought it, a large walk-in pantry with tons of storage room. Gibbs remembered teasing her about her excitement. Such a small thing had given his wife such complete joy.

Gibbs turned to Makayla and pulled her towards the stool with him as he sat down. He pinned her between his legs and looked sternly into her eyes.

"The way I see things right now, you have a choice. You can cut the crap and go out and work things out reasonably and politely, or I can pull you over my knee and teach you the manners you have so obviously forgotten. What's it going to be?"

Makayla's eyes widened in disbelief, but Gibbs couldn't read the expression on her face. It wasn't fear he saw, so he knew she wasn't afraid of him. Her jaw was set in stubborn resolve though, and he didn't like it even a little. He couldn't figure out what was making her so damned tenacious.

"I'm waiting."

Makayla put her hands on his knees and tried to push him away, but he pinned her tight between his legs. Gibbs grimaced as he struggled to contain her. If she forced his hand in this, it wasn't going to be an easy thing for him to maneuver. He wouldn't be able to hold her without causing himself a whole lot of pain.

"Lemme go," she murmured, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. Gibbs could see that she was starting to realize she was fighting a losing battle.

"Why won't you let Jenn see your sketchbook?"

Makayla stubbornly set her jaw, still trying to push him away.

"Mackie, you need to talk to me, kiddo and tell me what's going on. All this hostility isn't going to win you any favours here."

"I hate her!" She shouted into his face.

"Why?"

"Because I do."

"Mackie, that isn't an answer, and you know it. C'mon, tell me what's going on in that little stubborn head of yours?"

Makayla shook her head and sniffled. Gibbs could feel her trembling beneath his tight grip on her. He released his grip while still trapping her between his knees and wiped away tears on her cheeks. His heart was aching for her. She was fighting some kind of internal battle, yet she wasn't willing to let anyone in to help her.

"Mackie…" he said softly.

"I thought you were my friend, Agent Gibbs." she spat, "I thought you understood me, but maybe you don't at all."

"Why won't you let Jenny see your sketches?"

Makayla dropped her chin to her chest and closed her eyes. Tears continued to trace a path down her cheeks, but she remained silent. Gibbs tipped up her chin, needing to force it up so that they were eye to eye. "Mackie?" Makayla tried to jerk her face away, but Gibbs caught her chin in his hand. "Your aunt deserves your respect. I can't force you to show her your work, but I think you should. I'm willing to allow you to go out and continue this conversation intelligently. If you can agree to that, we will do that."

"Can't I just go to my room?"

"Mak, at this point, I don't know where that room is? You haven't even asked your aunt for permission to stay here."

Makayla was quiet. Gibbs stared at her for a few moments hoping that she'd say something, but she just remained stubbornly silent.

"I'm waiting," he prompted.

"For what?" she screamed at him.

Gibbs bit down on the inside of his cheek. He'd reached the end of his patience. "Ok. I want you to know that you've made a choice."

Catching the girl off guard, Gibbs was able to switch up her position so that she was over his knee with very little effort. She gasped in astonishment, her instincts forcing her to catch herself with her hands. Before she had a moment to process the situation, Gibbs landed a few quick swats to her behind.

"Oww," she yelped, reaching a hand back and fighting to regain her footing.

Gibbs grimaced and a groan escaped his lips. His irritation had prevented him from thinking things through to conclusion, and he'd brought his injured arm down to hold her. Despite the intense pain from her struggling to get up, he landed a barrage of stinging swats to her behind with his good arm. It was definitely what he considered a full-fledged spanking, one that he seldom dished out; not done in anger or malice but unabridged and earned. He wasn't one to talk much when he did it either.

"P-please s-stop," she whimpered pathetically, struggling to catch her breath.

Gibbs did. He rested his injured arm on her back as tears filled his eyes. His own pain was intense as his shoulder throbbed to the beat of his pulse. Makayla's dissolved into sobs, too caught up in her own misery to realise the pain Gibbs was in. Gibbs knew he wouldn't be able to scoop her up so he was forced to let her cry it out over his knee. Her cries pierced his heart only adding to his physical pain. More than anything he wanted to pull her into his arms and hug away her hurt; he certainly never wanted to add to it.

"I'm sorry," she cried.

He rubbed soothing circles on her back as she sobbed, not seeming to realise that he wasn't forcing her down anymore. It was like she was expecting more swats to come. Her whole body was tense but slowly began to relax as he massaged her back. He wasn't able to say anything quite yet as he struggled to manage his own pain.

After several minutes, she found her footing and pushed herself up off his knee. Gibbs caught her in his arm once she was upright and he pulled her into an embrace. She melted into him, hugging him in return. They stayed like that for what seemed like a long moment. Gibbs planted several gentle kisses onto her ginger hair, still rubbing her back.

"I'm sorry," she murmured again.

Gibbs forced her back so he could see her tear streaked face. "You okay?"

Mak nodded. Her green eyes searched his face for a moment, and he wasn't able to hide his own pain; she inhaled sharply at the realization.

"One day you're gonna realise how much adults hate doing that," he said with a grimace.

Makayla touched his cheek where a tear had escaped. "Is your shoulder okay?"

"I'll live. Mackie, tell me what's going on in that head of yours before you self-destruct." He tapped her gently on the temple.

Makayla swallowed, her lower lip trembling and tears cascading down her cheeks. "I can't be who they want me to be, Agent Gibbs. They're never going to love me. They aren't," she sobbed.

Gibbs pulled her into his chest again, balancing her on his knee. He knew her backside must be throbbing about as much as his shoulder, but she didn't seem to care. "I love you, Mackie exactly as you are. You better believe that, kiddo because it's honest to God truth." He grabbed a fistful of her hair and gave it a gentle tug. "Do you believe me?" She nodded under his grip and he released it, smoothing out her hair with his hand. "Then let me help you. Can you do that?" She nodded again, leaning in even closer to him. He felt her finally letting go of herself. "You need to trust me, and you need to trust your Aunt Jenn. We've got you, and we won't let you fall."

Makayla sniffled and nodded again. After another few moments, she pulled away from him. She gave him a watery smile. "Okay, I'll show Aunt Jenny my sketchbook," she said, standing to her feet.

Gibbs stifled a laugh. "I had to do all that to get you to listen to me?"

Makayla sucked in her bottom lip. "I'm not doing it because you…did that…"

Gibbs lifted a brow in mild amusement.

She smacked his chest. "I'm not." She sniffled again and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I want her to see my work. I'm just afraid she'll hate it and it won't change anything."

Gibbs rose to his feet and pulled her into a sideways hug but remained quiet. He was silently praying that Jenn heard every word spoken between them in the pantry. Something desperately needed to change in Makayla's life. She was screaming to be heard and if he had anything to do with it, people would listen to her.

XxXx

Gibbs opened the pantry door to see Jenn standing with her arm wrapped around her waist tightly. Her face was pale and tears stained her cheeks. Gibbs couldn't tell if her expression was displaying hatred towards him or herself. Once Makayla came out behind him, Jenny rushed towards her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Are you okay?"

Makayla nodded and wrapped her arms around her aunt in what Gibbs felt was a genuine hug in return. Makayla had finally let her walls come down which he was very relieved to see. If he'd have done all that to no avail, he wasn't sure what he would have done next. He stepped forward and wrapped both women into an embrace, albeit one side was just a damaged limb resting limply.

Jenn was the first to pull away. "It's not true, Mackie Wallace. I will love you no matter what you do. Don't you ever doubt that!" Jenn gave her a little shake before pulling her into another hug. "I'm sorry I've been so hard on you."

Gibbs took a step back and a smiled blossomed across his face…just the use of Makayla's nickname proved to him that Jenny had had a change of heart, letting go of some of her stodginess.

Makayla pulled away from her. "I want to show you something, Aunt Jenny."

Jenny's hands dropped to her side as Mak disappeared from the room. Jenn turned to Gibbs with tears still lingering on her cheeks. "That was…" she attempted.

Gibbs lifted his injured arm up, cradling it with his other. "What?"

"It was the worst thing I've ever heard."

Gibbs frowned and nodded. His mind criticized him as the memories came back. He hated what he'd done with a passion, but something needed to be done, and for better or for worse, he wouldn't apologise for that or regret it. Before Gibbs could say anything else, Makayla ran back into the kitchen with her backpack. Gibbs had no idea where she had hidden it. She set the book on the kitchen table and pulled her aunt by the arm to sit down.

Jenny sat down and opened the book gently while Makayla backed away. Gibbs stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her affectionately. He was proud of her. It was a big step to open one's self up to possible condemnation. Makayla had given him a glimpse of her deepest fear: the dismissal of her talent by those she loved the most. That rejection had taken over her.

Jenny flipped through the sketchbook in quiet awe. Gibbs smiled as he saw the life like sketches and drawings on the paper. Makayla's talent was unmistakable in his eyes, but he was no art critic. Jenny looked up at Makayla and smiled. "I don't know what to say."

Gibbs felt Makayla tense up. He hugged her tighter, hoping that she wouldn't take her aunt's words for criticism. Gibbs didn't believe it was.

"Mackie, this is unbelievable. Have you shown your work to your parents?"

"No…not really; just a few drawings here and there."

Jenny held up the sketchbook so Gibbs could see a pencil sketch of Janessa. Gibbs blinked several times when he saw it; it looked like a black and white photograph, complete right down to the highlights in the little girls' blonde hair and the sparkle in her eyes.

"That's beautiful, Mackie," he said, reaching out to take the sketchbook. He flipped a few more pages to find equally stunning pictures of Aimee and many of the staff at NCIS.

Jenny stood to her feet slowly and looked at her niece. "Mackie, honey, you should share this with your parents. I don't think they truly understand how talented you are. Julia mentioned to me once that you liked to doodle. Those aren't doodles. It's raw, unmitigated talent."

Tears shimmered in Makayla's eyes as she soaked up the long-awaited praise and approval. Gibbs felt his heart grow a little lighter.

Jenny pulled the girl in for a hug. "You should have shown me this a long time ago, sweetie. I had no idea. I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you."

"You really think I'm good?" whispered Makayla in disbelief.

Jenny laughed. "Oh, Makayla, good is an understatement. Honey, you have a gift!"

Gibbs watched as Makayla began to stand a little taller and straighter in her aunt's arms. Her posture changed and her body relaxed visibly. Gibbs took that moment to back out of the kitchen, leaving the two alone. Makayla and Jenny had a lot to talk about and finally, they were on the same page.