Hi Readers,

Thanks so much for the lovely reviews.

Special thanks to 90theGeneral09 who helped write the scene between Riley, General Marshall and Gibbs (90% of that scene belongs to him). General Marshall is his OC, and I've borrowed him for this story. 90theGeneral09 has been a fantastic help to me when it comes to the military aspect of this fanfic.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Jenny Wren

Gibbs carried a squirming, unhappy Janessa as he walked down the hallway to the bullpen. Her body was rigid, fighting against him holding her but he ignored her displeasure and glanced behind him to see if Riley was keeping up. Riley silently followed him looking distracted and anxious. Gibbs had picked up Riley on the way into NCIS simply because he wanted to have some time to talk with the boy before Marshall arrived. Poor kid looked more than a little worse for wear, but Gibbs had his own problems to deal with and hadn't had a moment to ask the teenager what was bothering him. Gibbs speculated it had a lot to do with meeting the infamous General Marshall face to face. Fear of the unknown could be paralyzing.

Suddenly, Janessa threw her body backwards, something the five-year-old often did when she was protesting him carrying her. Gibbs stumbled to readjust her weight very nearly dropping her. His adrenalin spiked so he had to take a deep breath, checking himself to make sure he didn't react irritably. Every time Janessa did that, it caught him off guard and made him flinch in fear that he'd drop her.

He stopped and narrowed his eyes at her sternly. "Stop that, Janessa! I almost dropped you."

Janessa scowled and hid her head in his shirt, dissolving into sulky tears. Gibbs sighed and continued walking. He'd hoped to let her play at the daycare that morning while he was in the meeting with Riley and General Marshall. His father had taken Aimee to a dentist appointment, and Gibbs thought it would make things easier if he took Janessa with him. Things hadn't worked out as well as he'd planned. He didn't know what happened. Janessa had been in a joyful mood, happily chattering away to anyone who'd listen on the way into NCIS. He'd signed her in with Mrs. Davies, her daycare teacher, but then before he'd even hung up her jacket, Janessa was being reprimanded for kicking another child. Gibbs had been flabbergasted. It was so unlike her to lash out at another playmate. It just wasn't in her nature. Not having the time to deal with it right there and knowing that Mrs. Davies didn't need a meltdown on her hands, Gibbs scooped up Janessa and determined to find a few minutes to speak with her before his meeting.

"What time is the General coming?" asked Riley catching up and standing beside Gibbs.

Gibbs continued walking. "In about an hour. You okay?"

Riley shrugged and continued to lag behind Gibbs. Gibbs knew the youth was nervous, and he hoped to get a few minutes to chat with the kid before the General arrived. They rounded the corner and came into the bullpen only to smack right into a highly overexcited Abby.

"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" she sang, jumping up and down in a way only Abby could at 7 am on a Monday morning.

Gibbs shifted Janessa's weight and continued to his desk, setting the disgruntled five year old to her feet. Janessa threw herself to the floor dramatically continuing to sob over the injustice of her circumstances.

"G'Morning, Abbs. You're here bright and early. I didn't think there was any forensics on the docket for this morning." Gibbs nodded at Riley to take a seat in the extra chair by his desk. Riley obliged, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Abby jumped up and down in front of him. "You're correct, oh wise one."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "So, why are you in so early?" He eyed the folder she was holding seeing that it was marked as a solved cold case.

"Remember last year when we uncovered the animal shelter that was abusing the dogs and…"

Gibbs stepped over Janessa and walked around his desk. "Yes, and I also remember putting the case in the hands of the humane society."

"Well, yes, you did, but this morning on my way to work, I took a scenic route…"

Gibbs lifted a brow. "Abbs, it's 07:00 hours; what time did you get up?" He knew that Abby was at least 30 minutes from NCIS and that was if traffic wasn't bad which it usually was in the morning.

Abby grinned at him sheepishly. "Caf-pow overload, Gibbs."

Gibbs glared at her. She knew he didn't approve of her staying up all night because of caffeine overload, but he didn't have time to address it with her this morning either. "Abby!" he scolded.

She raised her hand in surrender. "I know! I know! I promise to lay off the caffeine today. Anyway, as I was saying, I drove by the shelter and Gibbs! You told me they were going to shut that place down! I saw handlers outside with several dogs and you should have…"

"Abby," interrupted Gibbs, hoping to stop her before she started her tirade. "I told you that the proper authorities were notified. NCIS has no jurisdiction over animal shelters. If that place is still open, it's none of our concern."

Abby scowled. "Gibbs, it's everyone's duty to protect those who don't have a voice…"

"Abby, get to the point," he growled. "What does this have to do with you?" He knew there was a point or she wouldn't be singing his name at 7 am on a Monday morning when there was no case and no forensics.

Excitement flooded her features once more. "Since I'm not needed for forensics right now and probably not much this week, I would like permission…"

"No."

Abby stopped with a pout.

"I wanna go back to daycare!" shouted Janessa from the floor as she kicked around but still didn't stand to her feet.

"After we talk, little miss," said Gibbs patiently, looking down at her over his desk.

Janessa sat up and crossed her arms with a scowl on her face.

"But Gibbs…" began Abby, ignoring Janessa's interruption.

Gibbs walked around his desk once more and put himself right in Abby's personal bubble. "No field trips, Abbs. If you want to take on the injustice, go through the right hoops on your own time. There is plenty to do here."

Abby took a step back. "I only wanted to…"

"The answer is no."

Abby narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms in protest.

Gibbs looked down at his youngest daughter and then up at his oldest and couldn't help closing his eyes to shake his head. This was surreal. Two girls tantruming at him before he'd even had one cup of coffee. They were lucky he didn't skin them both alive where they stood.

"Abbs, look, come over to my place tonight, and we'll talk about it then. Right now, I have too much on my plate to fight with you about saving the animals. No, field trips. Do you hear me?"

Abby sighed and dropped her hands to her side. "Fine, no field trips," she acquiesced. "But, can I at least go take some pictures for evidence?"

"No," Gibbs said firmly, ignoring the grouchy glare he received. "Now, take Riley to conference room three for me. Keep him company while I talk to Ness for a moment."

Riley stood to his feet in protest. "I don't need a babysitter, Agent Gibbs. I can find the room myself."

Gibbs turned to Riley as he fished the 'Accompanied Minor' identification tag from his pocket and held it out towards the kid. "Put this on and go with Abby. I won't be long."

Riley snatched the tag from Gibbs' outstretched in hand in frustration and affixed it to his shirt.

"Not even one picture?" Abby looked at Gibbs with her large puppy dog eyes.

"Abby!"

She made a face at him and said, "Okay, fine," then looked at Riley. "Riley, did you heard about the Ryerson Animal shelter scandal last year?"

Riley cast a pitiful look in Gibbs' direction as Abby propelled him around the corner of the bullpen. As they walked away, Gibbs could still hear Abby chattering about the neglected and abused animals making Gibbs shake his head at the Goth's stubborn determination. At least Riley's mind would be kept too busy to think about General Marshall's visit.

Gibbs turned his attention to the little person at his feet, still sitting cross-legged with her arms crossed in defiance. He stooped down to her level and looked her straight in the eye.

"You ready to talk about what happened?

Janessa glowered at him and snapped, "NO."

Gibbs took her gently by the arm and pulled her to her feet. "Well, we're going to talk about it anyway." He led her over to his desk, sitting down and pinning her between his knees so that they were face to face. "Why did you kick the other little girl?"

Janessa put her hands over her face, refusing to look at him. Gibbs pulled her hands away and offered her a kind smile. "You woke me up this morning singing such a pretty song and now you're all grumpy. What happened?"

"Maddie King is a stinky fart butt," ground out the small girl, trying to break away from his knee lock up.

Gibbs had to bite back a smirk at the little girl's words. "Why is she a stinky fart butt?"

"She called me an orpfin."

Gibbs furrowed a brow. "What's an orpfin?"

Janessa sighed and shook her head, looking exasperated with him. "Daddy, everybody knows what an orpfin is."

"How about you tell me anyway."

"Orpfins gots no mommy and daddy."

Gibbs smirked in understanding. "Ah I see; you mean an orphan." Sometimes he felt like he needed a dictionary filled with five-year-old euphemisms so he could decipher what the child was talking about half the time.

"Maddie calls me an orpfin every day."

"Is that what happened this morning?"

Janessa nodded. "I gots so mad, I kicked her."

Gibbs pulled her up on his knee and hugged her. "Sometimes other kids can say mean things, can't they?"

Janessa nodded, tears swimming in her eyes.

"Do you think it would help if I told her I'm your daddy?"

Janessa shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Cuz she says you only gets one daddy and mine died."

Gibbs pressed a kiss on her dimpled, chubby cheek. "Nessie, remember I told you that after lunch we're going to meet with the judge?"

"Yuh huh."

"Well, after we see the judge today, you won't be an orphan anymore because the adoption will be final."

Janessa's eyes lit up with excitement. "You mean it?"

"Honour bright," he pledged sincerely, crossing his heart.

Janessa grinned. "Yippee!" she shouted and threw her hands up in the air, nearly smacking Gibbs' face in the process. She wrapped her tiny arms around Gibbs' neck and hugged him saying, "I'm gonna punch her nose if she calls me an orpfin again."

Gibbs pulled her arms away and cupped her chin in his hand. "Janessa, if I hear about you punching anyone, you'll be in big trouble with me. That's never okay."

Janessa's lip quivered at his sudden reprimand. "But…"

"No, buts. You kicked Maddie hard enough to make her cry. That's wrong!" he scolded. Tears swam in her blue eyes. "I want you to apologize to her." Janessa nodded with big eyes and Gibbs softened, releasing her chin. "It's not okay to hurt other kids no matter what they do or say to you, do understand me?"

"Yes, daddy," said Janessa, tears running down her cheeks.

Gibbs hugged her. "Honey, I know that sometimes words can hurt too. I'm not saying they don't, but punching or kicking someone can really injure them. If someone does or says something that hurts you, ask for help from an adult."

Janessa leaned against his chest and was quiet. He took a glance at his watch and saw that time was growing short on him. He really needed to speak with Riley before the General arrived. He set Janessa's feet to the floor and stood up. "Are you ready to go back to daycare now? I heard something about today being show and share."

Janessa shrugged, looking uncertain. "But, I didn't bring anything to share."

Gibbs took his daughter by the hand and led her out of the bullpen towards the NCIS daycare centre. As he walked, he fingered around in his pocket and pulled out a pen. He held it out to Janessa. "Here, you can share this."

Janessa wrinkled her nose as she took the writing instrument into her hand with a puzzled expression. "But, it's just a pen."

"Oh, no it's not. That there pen is the same one I'm gonna use to sign the papers with the judge this afternoon. It's the official adoption pen."

Janessa looked up at her dad and then down at the pen. "Wow!"

"Can you take good care of it for me?"

She nodded with a broad smile on her face. They reached the outer door of the daycare and Gibbs signed the attendance board before opening the door for Janessa to enter. She walked in and he followed behind her. "I need to go talk to Riley now, okay?"

"Okay, daddy."

"Atta girl." He kissed the top of her head. "Do you want me to talk to Maddie after you apologize?"

"Do I hafta 'apologise to her, daddy? I don't feel sorry."

Gibbs hunched down to her level with a stern look on his face. "Should I help you feel sorry?"

Janessa's eyes widened and Gibbs felt certain that she knew exactly what he meant by 'helping' her feel sorry. She shook her head emphatically.

"Do you want to talk with Maddie for you?" he repeated.

"No, I can do it," she said a little pitifully, forcing Gibbs to bite back a smirk.

Gibbs rose to his full height and messed up her hair. "Okay, go have fun."

Janessa hugged his legs and ran into the room. Gibbs nodded towards Mrs. Davies briefly and left the room. As he walked away, a smile played on his lips. His life was very different than he'd expected and often he felt overwhelmed and out of his element, flying by the seat of his pants; but, he couldn't have been happier.

XxXxNCISxXxX

Gibbs set a can of iced tea in front of Riley making the teenager jump slightly. Gibbs smiled at him kindly and sat across from him finally indulging in his first cup of coffee of the day. He took a long drink before setting the cup down. Worst coffee he'd ever tasted and it always was in the conference rooms but right now he didn't care. It was coffee and he wasn't complaining. Riley wrapped his hands around the cold can and wiped at the condensation with his finger.

"Nervous?" asked Gibbs.

Riley shrugged. "A little."

"Can't say as I blame you. General Marshall has a reputation that precedes him, but the thing about scuttlebutt is that it's usually more legend than truth."

Riley puffed out his cheeks and took a sip of his drink. "I only met him once and he scared the crap out of me."

Gibbs chuckled. "He seems to do that to people, but he really is a good guy. Trust me on that."

Riley nodded but stared at his drink, still fidgeting.

"How are things between you and your mom? You were waiting outside the hotel when I picked you up this morning."

Riley stiffened. "Things are fine, Agent Gibbs." The words were clipped.

Gibbs raised a brow. "Doesn't sound okay."

Riley clenched his fist and pounded it on the table. "I said things are okay, alright? Now drop it!"

The outburst didn't rattle Gibbs; instead, he took another long drink of his coffee. He could feel the caffeine working to calm his nerves and relax him. Maybe he should have offered Riley a coffee instead.

"You're going to have to curb that temper of yours while the General is here. One outburst like that and you just might find yourself learning a lesson or two about decorum. I'm very sure you won't enjoy it." Gibbs shot Riley a pointed look.

Riley swallowed.

"Do you have anything you want to ask me before he gets here?"

Riley worried his bottom lip. "What happens after today?"

Gibbs sized up the sixteen-year-old in front of him. It was a good question. After this meeting was complete, Riley's contact with NCIS and the Marines was finished. Riley needed to be older before he could join the Marines again if that was even what he wanted to do after everything that happened to him. The boy's problems would be handled by social services and the rest was in their hands. Hopefully, Riley would get the help he needed; same with his parents. The family was definitely in crisis and required all the help they could get.

"What do you want to see happen, Riley?"

The boy shrugged and was silent a moment before saying, "Will I see you again?"

Gibbs' heart skipped a beat as he looked deeply into Riley's pleading eyes. What was Riley asking him? Did the boy want to see him again? Gibbs felt taken aback. He hadn't expected Riley to ask him that.

"Would you like me to check in with you?" Gibbs couldn't stop himself from asking the question. Riley had touched his heart in a way he couldn't explain. If he was honest with himself, he didn't want to lose contact with the young man either. He'd like to know what became of him. Part of Gibbs even hoped he could convince Riley to not give up on the Marines, despite what happened to him. Riley was a good kid and he deserved a good life. The Marines could be a family to him.

"I'd like that, Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs smiled warmly. "Okay, I'll keep in touch." Gibbs reached into the pocket of his dress jacket and pulled out his NCIS card, complete with his office extension and cell number. He flipped it over and jotted down his home number and slid it across the table. "Call me anytime."

Riley took the card and a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. Just then, the half-open meeting door swung open fully, and Brigadier General Josh Marshall stepped in, followed by a Marine major.

XxXxNCISxXxX

The boss of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island was the poster image of a Marine officer: erect, lean, and flawlessly-attired. Riley immediately noticed the five rows of ribbons that adorned his olive-green coat, one of which indicated two awards of the prestigious Navy Cross, and another, three awards of the Silver Star. Riley wasn't sure, but he thought he saw the "oak leaves" for as many as five Bronze stars, and at least three Purple hearts. A five-pointed Silver star gleamed on each of the General's shoulders.

Marshall surveyed the room with a practiced eye, taking note of the absence of Riley's parents. He had expected to see at least one parent in attendance and was surprised to see there wasn't. One glance in Gibbs' direction told him what he needed to know. Gibbs was representing Riley's guardian in the proceedings. Marshall said nothing for several moments, then took a seat directly across from Riley and began focussing his attention on the young man. For some reason, out of uniform and his hair a little longer, the boy looked much younger than the picture in his file.

Riley didn't even blink until Marshall reached over and took a file off the stack the major had taken out of his briefcase.

"So, you're the one who started all this," Marshall said finally.

"Yes, sir," Riley managed to say, wetting his dry lips and inwardly bracing himself for the infamously explosive Marshall temper he'd been warned about.

"This is quite the mess you've gotten yourself into," Marshall observed, his voice stern. "We've had some unusual cases at Parris Island, but never one like yours."

Riley swallowed and looked at Gibbs for courage. To say he was terrified of what would be said next was an understatement. Gibbs nodded at him calmly and Riley forced himself to look back at the general once again.

"Major Knight?" Marshall continued, looking to his aid for the legal explanation.

The major looked at Riley with kindness. "Legally, the entire term you existed as a recruit in the United States Marine Corps is null and void as you signed an enlistment contract as a minor. The Marine Corps has no grounds of Unauthorized Absence, or for fraudulent enlistment as a minor has no power to sign a contract with the Armed Forces."

"So, you see, Agent Gibbs," General Marshall said, looking in Gibbs' direction this time. "The boy gets to go free. He's safe; no charges will be filed against him. His record will be purged because none of it is legally valid to begin with."

Marshall took a packet of stapled-together papers and passed them across the table to Riley. With his pulse pounding a deafening beat in his ear, Riley took the papers and flipped through them silently.

"That is a summary that JAG prepared of the events that led to you going UA over a month ago based on testimony gathered from Gunnery Sergeant Adams, from the chain of command above him and from other Drill Instructors and recruits who were present at the time." He paused, looked at Gibbs in irritation and then added, "I'm sure none of this will be any surprise to NCIS, seeing how they invited themselves in to do plenty of questioning of their own."

"Needs of the service, General," said Gibbs, polite but matter-of-fact and definitely unapologetic. "During certain investigations, NCIS notifies garrison and unit commanders strictly as a courtesy and at their convenience and discretion. You don't have any case against us either."

"Believe me, Gunny, if I did, I'd be raising hell about it."

"You mean, you didn't already?"

Marshall grunted. "I've never raised hell in my life. I just give it to people straight and they think that's hell."

"General, sir?" interrupted Riley, swallowing the lump in his throat so that his Adam's apple looked like it was having a seizure.

"What?" Marshall looked at Riley as the teen handed the papers to Gibbs to peruse.

"That's how it all happened, sir."

"Good. I can't tell you how this thing with Adams will play out, partly because I can't predict the outcome of the court-martial and partly because I can't comment on a Marine who's under investigation for abuse of authority…"

"Even if that abuse involves me?" Riley jumped to his feet, suddenly enraged. "I think I ought to have the right…"

Gibbs cleared his throat and hit Riley with a penetrating look. Riley's voice caught in his throat and he blinked a few times, heaved a sigh and sat down again.

The General looked at Gibbs for a moment but then continued, "As I was saying, in cases of investigations of abuse of authority, everything is classified, but there's no need to worry, Janssen. When you go back, if you go back, even if he is still in the Corps, Adams won't be at Parris Island."

Gibbs spoke up this time. "I hope that means doing what's best for the Corps and not just what's best for the Corps PR."

"Gibbs, no cover-up is happening. I have no time for that. Adams gets his trial, my staff and I will handle the press."

"There will be no need for you to testify at Adam's trial," Major Knight added, looking at Riley directly. "The testimony that has already been gathered between the Marine Judge Advocate General Investigation and that of NCIS has provided us with what we need to know."

"General, Adams can't go back to abusing those recruits," said Gibbs in a low voice.

Marshall slammed his fist on the table, making everyone jump. "I know that, Gibbs! But he's under my command, and while I don't do cover-ups, I don't throw any of my Marines under the bus! He gets his trial! If the decision is that he stays in the Corps, fine, and," the man narrowed his eyes at Gibbs, "this doesn't leave this room. Adams is done being a Drill Instructor. Even if he stays in uniform, he's moving on, and his file will reflect him as being unsuitable for further work as a recruit trainer."

Gibbs nodded his approval. "That's all I want, General. Just see that justice gets done here. Make sure your Marines are living up to the real values of the Corps, the kind of values you represent."

Gibbs and Marshall shared a companionable look for several moments while Riley digested the information. He was out of the woods by the skin of his teeth, and he knew he owed much of that to Gibbs.

"Well, now that that's settled, how would you like to be a Marine officer?" asked Marshall suddenly, eyeing Riley astutely.

Riley was so jarred by the unexpected question that he sat speechless for several minutes looking from Gibbs' equally surprised face back to the general. His first thought was on the brass on each of Marshall's shoulders, and the responsibility that the man had weighing on him. Officers led their Marines into every situation imaginable, and they went first. They put their Marines before themselves. Sometimes they didn't make it back alive. And you had to be a damned good Marine to make it as an officer. Riley wasn't sure if he had what it takes to qualify for that.

Riley thought about his dad, and then Gibbs, both enlisted men, just regular, plain old leathernecks with a knack for surviving. Wasn't that more like him? Riley had thought of joining them, not of commanding Marines as an officer. That thought had never entered his mind. Was that what he wanted? Or did he like the idea of being an enlisted man better?

"General," Riley finally managed to say, "I don't know anything about it, sir. I'm afraid I wouldn't be cut out for it."

The general grunted and looked annoyed. He shifted in his seat and threw back his massive shoulders. "That's what Gunnery Sergeant Adams thinks too. Matter of fact, during your time under his command, he wrote a lot of harsh things in your file regarding you, your attitude and your prospect of ever making the cut in the Marine Corps…"

"Like his judgment matters," groused Gibbs, setting his cup of coffee on the table firmly.

"Keep your shirt on, Gunny; I never said it did," Marshall said to Gibbs then turned to address Riley once more. "Your record with Adams is very bad. But after receiving testimony from others, as well as the classmates in your platoon and company, and the good folks here at NCIS—I rather think you'd do all right. That's why I came here to speak with you today."

Riley was baffled, and it showed. "Sir? I thought you were coming here to yell at me."

"He got that out of his system on the phone to me," Gibbs, replied, a wry smile on his normally stoic face. "Isn't that right, General?"

"Gunny, if they took away every medal I actually owe to a damned good sergeant, I'd have to hand in my whole damned fruit salad." Marshall returned his focus to Riley. "Marine officers get better pay than enlisted men, better housing, better benefits, especially if you get married."

Riley's eyes widened at the mention of marriage. He couldn't even imagine such a thing. Everything seemed to be going a little faster than he knew how to handle. He cast a panicky look in Gibbs direction, but the man just nodded at him in return. How was a kid like him supposed to make a decision like this by himself? The words struck Riley as almost humorous. He'd been fighting so hard to be considered an adult capable of making his own decisions, yet when a decision was to be made, he didn't even think of himself as an adult.

"Thank you, sir, but I better not. I didn't even make it through the Crucible. I…umm…I've never trained for anything like that. I'd probably mess it up."

Marshall frowned and took a long drink from a scratched, worn-looking canteen he must have carried in with him in his briefcase. For a moment, Riley wondered if it wasn't a leftover piece of gear from earlier in the general's service. Maybe it even went back to when he and Gibbs had served together. When Marshall spoke again, his deep bass voice seemed to rumble from way down in his mirror-shined dress shoes.

"The Marine Corps has a tough fight ahead in this war. The only way we can win is by showing everyone that we're either their best friend or their worst enemy. We have to be able to destroy the rest so that we can offer them a better future than they'd have otherwise. When the American people and their allies dial 911, they call in the Marines, and the officers pick up the phone. I have a responsibility to my Corps and my country to get the men who have what it takes wherever I can find them"

Riley tried not to visibly squirm where he sat. The General didn't seem to be paying attention to his uncertainty. Riley worried his lip, thinking that maybe a Marine—which he had almost become—should always listen to his commander, regardless of whether he personally liked what was being said. So long as that commander wasn't Adams, at least.

"Sir, if I became an officer, how would I go about it? How would I get to Quantico in the first place, or—what would I be expected to do?"

"Ever considered going to college, son? Ever hear of The Citadel?"

Riley exchanged a look with Gibbs, who raised a brow and shrugged.

"No, sir," Riley managed to say although the words came out quietly, showing his uncertainty more than he would have liked.

Marshall didn't seem to notice as he took another drink from his canteen. Riley saw him shift his right hand, perhaps unconsciously, pressing his weathered thumb against the large gold class ring on his third finger. He could see the lettering on it, and it looked like there was a miniature palm tree where Riley figured the gemstone should have been, with letters and some numbers encircling it.

"There's a special clause in the charter for provisional appointments at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. It's right in the middle of Charleston. I recently took the liberty of calling another man from the Citadel's Class of 1982; he just got appointed Director of Admissions and he's looking to stay awhile. A provisional appointment to the future Class of 2011 has been made for you. Meet the physical and academic requirements in effect at the time, by January 25th of the year you arrive and you're in. Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps offers Navy and Marine tracks. Take the Marine route, three years, then OCS and one more year and you commission at graduation."

Riley's pulse continued to hammer loudly in his ear as he listened to the General. He couldn't help noticing that the man was now speaking in the present tense, as though Riley had already agreed to accept attending the difficult college and take on the challenge of becoming a Marine officer.

"Keep in mind," he continued. "That you'll spend most of the first year as a recruit, but it'll be easier that Parris Island and there'll be no Adams. After your knob year, you'll take on more responsibility, gain rank in the Corps of Cadets while you're attending classes, one of which will be ROTC. You were never officially at Parris Island, but if you survived all that plus a month on the streets at sixteen, The Citadel won't be too hard for you. You'll excel."

Riley took a deep breath and nodded, uneasily. "All right, sir." His skin began to have goose-bumps, half in anticipated excitement at the idea and the other half in pure terror. Then a disquieting thought struck him and he garnered up the courage to say it. "General, sir, could I have some time to think about all this? I just…umm…I need some time, sir. Just a little time, sir, and I…umm…maybe then I can decide on it."

Marshall nodded. "A little confused about things after all you've been through? Not sure if you want to go to a military college and wear brass? Thinking you might rather be an enlisted man?"

Riley took a deep breath, again looking at Gibbs' for some kind of direction. Gibbs was stoic as usual. "Yes, sir," Riley admitted quietly. The General had hit the nail on the head.

"When you do make a decision, call Agent Gibbs or Admiral Harrison in Admissions at The Citadel. Either way, just tell them you want to talk to me. If you decide The Citadel is for you, maybe you'll see my boys there."

Riley blinked. "Your boys, sir?"

"Yes, I have twins your age, Janssen. They haven't decided on what college, but if they went to The Citadel, they'd be in your class, provided you start right after high school."

Riley didn't think it was the right time to say that he'd graduated from high school already.

"You could have told me you were thinking about springing this on him, General," Gibbs said, finally speaking after being silent for so long.

Riley shot him an annoyed glance in spite of himself. The man could have jumped in a lot sooner than now, Riley thought. Gibbs looked at him impassively. Riley couldn't help sighing. He would never figure the man out.

"Thinking about it? Hell, I'd made up my mind the last time you called me. Remember when I said he should have had his EGA and been at SOI with his fellow Marines by now? I'd already decided then he has what we need to make a Marine officer."

"My point still stands."

"Just because you saved my life doesn't mean I can't keep some secrets from you, Gunny," Marshall replied with a wry grin. He stood. "Janssen, best of luck to you, son, whether you decide to enlist or commission, the Marine Corps is waiting.

Riley stood up, snapped to the position of attention and saluted. "Yes, sir."

Marshall returned the salute. "Keep your eye on him, Gibbs."

Gibbs smiled. "I'll be sure to, General."

With a final nod, Marshall picked up his briefcase, tucked his canteen in a side pouch and left the room with Major Knight.