Chapter 6

The Commander mumbled under his breath the entire ride back to the yard and I was about ready to pull my gun on him. However, Gibbs was following me and I didn't think he would take to the idea. I pulled into a parking space and was met by a very expectant team. Gibbs helped the Commander out and led him inside. I didn't move. I couldn't move. Why had I taken this job in the first place? So far it had only been a headache and a nightmare.

The front passenger door opened and shut. I didn't need to look over to see who had climbed it. "So, this is a turn of events." He said.

I chuckled hollowly, "This whole case has been one turn of events after another."

Tony sighed, "I'd ask if you're okay, but I know better than to do that now. So, instead I'll just ask if you want to get a burger."

"Right now?"

"Yes, that is what I intended." He laughed.

I turned to look at him incredulously, "You're joking. I'm not missing this. He's lied to me for 27 years and I want an explanation."

"I get that, Lacey. Believe me, I do, but maybe we should just take a step back here for the day. Give yourself some time to process."

I shook my head, "You know, all my life, all I ever wanted to do was to make him proud. I thought he hated me because I was a girl, because he had only wanted boys and somehow his last child turned out to be me. I just wanted to have him be proud to call me his daughter. I wanted him to love me. How stupid could I have been? Now, at least I know he hated me because I wasn't his own blood."

Tony shook his head, "You weren't stupid, Lacey, you were a kid that wanted the love of a parent and you were willing to do anything to try an attain that. That's admirable."

"Maybe, who knows. I just want answers. I want to know why it had to be a secret. Why couldn't they have just said that I was adopted? It would have made growing up in their awful house so much easier. I would have been so much better off knowing, but I guess it's just another way that the Commander could show me how much he despised me being apart of his family." I shrugged and turned away.

"So what's the plan? Burgers or staying?"

"I want to stay, Tony. I want to stay and hear what he has to say for himself. 2 people are dead because of their tie to me and I need to know why it was important for the DNA to be tested."

He smiled, "Yeah, I didn't think there was a chance for me to talk you into making a trip to Sally's."

I returned his smile with a halfhearted one of my own. He meant well and I appreciated the effort, but I wanted answers now, "Maybe afterwards we can go. I haven't been to Sally's since Valentine's."

"It's a plan then. As soon as we've got this whole ordeal wrapped up today, we're going for burgers and fries." Tony nodded to himself and we both slipped out of my car. It didn't take us long to get into the bullpen and when we did, we found the rest of the team gathered around Gibbs's desk.

"You were supposed to get her out of here, Tony." McGee said nervously.

He shrugged, "What can ya do, McGoo, she's a manipulative one."

"I don't want to interrogate him." I said to no one other than Gibbs, "I just want to watch from the other side."

Gibbs nodded, not contesting me at all, "Tony, you stick with Hart. McGee you're with me, let's go."

We walked down towards the interrogation room and I bit my lip. It was a nervous habit I had picked up in high school and I had yet to break it. Tony went into the observation room and before Gibbs could walk into the room that held the Commander, I stopped him. "I want to speak with him later. By myself. I just need some answers."

"Hart-" Gibbs began and I knew he would protest.

I shook my head, "I promise not to do anything insane. I just want a few moments alone with him. After this, I never want to see him again, but I need to close this case at least."

He contemplated it for a few seconds before slowly nodding, "On one condition, I will be observing from the other side."

I could live with this, so I agreed quickly and left Gibbs in the hallway. Tony carefully watched me as I took my place beside him. His eyes practically bored holes into the side of my head. I stood stoically, my arms crossed in an attempt to make myself look strong.

I watched the man I had called father, at one point, closely. He had aged since I last saw him and his 65 years was showing more than it ever had. Gibbs sat down at the table, McGee just standing off to the side. A file was placed before Gibbs began a methodical approach to laying everything else out.

"I don't know why you're watching me, Tony. I'm not going to do anything crazy." I stated firmly.

"Yeah," He laughed nervously, "I'd feel better if you had left your gun in your desk."

I removed the gun from my side holster and dislodged the clip, setting it on the computer table. I emptied the barrel and laid the bullets down next to the clip before dropping the empty handgun into Tony's hand, "There."

I tapped my foot, ready for Gibbs to get the interrogation started. Why was he stalling? He turned towards the mirror window and gave a pointed look that I know was directed towards my impatience. It was eerie how he knew these things without even looking at us.

"I won't beat around the bush with you, Commander, we know that a certain Petty Officer Nancy Roland was your daughter." McGee said as Gibbs pushed her photo in front of the Commander.

"Why is this important?" He quirked a challenging eyebrow.

I watched as Gibbs pulled out another photo, this being one showing the deceased, "Because she was found dead, murdered in her car."

The commander's face contorted in disbelief, "You're lying."

"Afraid not," McGee stated and pulled out another photo, "Jackson Hart, found dead, murdered in his car."

"This is some sick joke you're playing on me, Lacey." He called out and looked to the mirror. I took in a sharp breath and wished it was just some sick joke.

"It isn't a joke. We found them dead, James. Someone's targeting your family and I want to know who it could be." Gibbs voice was quiet, but it held a firm sincerity.

"They're gone?" The Commander crumpled under the weight of the information. I watched as he began to weep for the loss of his children. My heart was hurtfully torn between despising this man and wanting to comfort him. I shook my head, not being able to handle anymore of this.

"How about-" my voice was thick with emotion and I had to swallow the lump in my throat before continuing to speak, "How about that burger?"

Tony didn't say anything as he lead me out of the observation room and away from the scene in the interrogation room. I numbly walked, not really registering where I was going or what I was doing. I felt my pants scratch against leather and found myself sitting in Tony's car.

He drove quietly towards the diner. It was situated in a more historic suburb. Old storefronts surrounded the 50's themed diner. Tony helped me out and into the quiet restaurant. He led me to the booth we had sat in that night and it squeaked underneath our weight.

"Alright, Lace, what do you want? My treat alright!" I didn't answer, I just stared out the window. My brain was a jumbled mess and I had so many emotions coursing through me that I didn't know what to do. "I'm guessing a burger, fries, and a mocha chip shake. Yep, that's definitely what you want. I'll go let Ace know our plan. You sit tight."


I looked back nervously as I left Lacey at the booth. I had no clue what to do for her. She was in a daze. I walked up the counter and caught Ace's attention.

"Well, if it isn't mister flirt pants. You staying away from my girls?" He raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Staying away from one of them at least. Listen, I need 2 burgers and 2 sides of fries. I've got an out of it Lacey over there and I have no clue what to do, Ace. Where's Sally?"

Ace's eyes grew wide with worry, "She's in the office, let me go grab her." He ran back and in a few seconds, they both came rushing out.

Sally frantically searched until she spotted me, "Anthony, what happened? Is she hurt?"

"No and yes. She found out she was adopted and her adoptive family is pretty much a mess. Her adoptive brother was found murdered as was her adoptive sister of which she knew nothing about. But I don't know what happened to her. She's been pretty stoic and fine up until the last thirty minutes. We were watching the interrogation of the Commander and she just froze up before asking if I wanted to get a burger. You gotta help her, Sally, please." I was on the verge of begging which is not something I'd pride myself in. Lacey had quickly become one of my closest friends and I needed to help her.

Sally patted my arm, "It'll be alright, Anthony. I've seen her like this before. I'll handle it."

I nodded numbly and watched as she went over to the booth. Lacey didn't even acknowledge Sally's presence, but I knew that she knew. Lacey wasn't one to just give up the knowledge of her surroundings. She was always on high alert. A milkshake was slid onto the counter in front of me and I looked up. Ace shrugged and gave me a half smile.

"Don't go soft on me now, Ace." I laughed uneasily.

"Never, DiNozzo, but I figure you did good in bringing her here. You deserve it this once."


"Lacey, honey, talk to me." Sally's voice was calm and soothing. Her hand found its way into mine and she squeezed it gently.

"I want to hate him." I whispered to the glass of the window, my pitiful expression staring back at me, "I desperately want to hate him, Sally, but I can't."

She chuckled softly, "Of course, you can't. It's not in you to hate a being, sweetheart."

"I want to though. I'm so mad. He- he treated me like dirt all my life and it's because I wasn't his to love. I don't even know what I was or why he would have ever agreed to adopt me." Tears sprang to my eyes and I used my free hand to angrily wipe them away.

"Maybe he loved you then and I think he loves you in his own sort of way. The Commander is a gruff man."

I laughed bitterly, "Gosh, I wish people would stop sticking up for him. Even Noah did. You know that was the last thing we ever talked about? We got into this huge fight because I didn't want to invite anyone from my family besides Matt and Noah told me that I would regret it. He thought it would be a good bonding moment for the Commander and I. Ya know, to walk his only daughter down the aisle? Gosh, how can everyone be so blind to it."

Sally's arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into a warm embrace, "I don't think we're blind. I think we all just hope that it's the truth."

"Yeah, well, I gave up that hope a long time ago, Sally."

"I know you did, sweetheart, I know." Her hand ran gentle circles over my back and I found myself leaning further into her motherly embrace, "Now, listen. You've got a very frantic boyfriend over there that you need to talk to."

I groaned and pulled away, "He's not my boyfriend, Sally. He's my coworker and friend. That's it."

Sally laughed easily, "You both just keep telling yourselves that. Maybe eventually you'll believe it."

She left me in the booth feeling slightly better than when I arrived. Just as she left, Tony took her place and I found myself at a loss at how to explain what I was feeling. I hated emotions and displaying them. I cleared my throat a few times before attempting to speak, "I- I'm sorry if I worried you."

"What happened, Lacey?"

"He would never react like that to my death." I whispered. Tony raised an eyebrow at my statement and I tried to come up with a better explanation, "For 27 years, he was my father. Whether we both liked it or not. Not once did he ever show me emotion such as the emotion he showed today. I may not have been his blood, but was I not still his daughter?"

A mixture of remorse and anger flashed across his face, "You were his daughter, Lacey, and the fact that he did not show that to you angers me more than you know."

I bit my lip, "Thank you... for understanding, I mean."

"I might have panicked just a little bit." Tony admitted embarrassingly.

"A little bit?" I laughed.

He smiled, "Okay, so it was more than that. What can I say? You were dazed and that is definitely freaky."

I shook my head and our burgers were placed in front of us. We ate and talked like friends would, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I was still thinking about the Commander. It was another hour before Tony asked if I wanted to go back. After talking with him for so long, I was feeling more confident in myself and less emotional.

The drive back to the yard was quiet until Tony decided we needed entertainment. 80's music started flowing through the speakers and I couldn't help, but laugh as he started singing along to the songs. We walked into an almost vacant bullpen. The only people remaining were Gibbs and McGee.

"Are you still going to talk to him?" Tony asked quietly, trying not to draw the attention of the other two.

I nodded, "I'm fine now. I mean, I don't know what I'm going to say, but I know that I'll be fine. Maybe not okay, but I'm not going to freeze up."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I contemplated his question. I wouldn't mind if he came, but I didn't think I would need him. I didn't want the Commander to think that I wasn't able to stand up to him on my own. I bit my lip, "I need to go in alone. Thank you though."

Tony nodded his head and we stopped in front of the team. McGee's head shot up at our presence, but Gibbs kept working. I bit my lip, suddenly becoming nervous that he would no longer let me talk to the Commander. "Are you ready?"

The question took me back quickly, "Uh, yes, I am."

"Good, let's go. He's in a conference room now." Gibbs led the way to the conference room, "You don't have to do this, Lacey. If you're not up for it, I understand and we can send the Commander on his way. The choice is yours."

I had always thought of Gibbs being a gruff man, but he wasn't. Not really, he cared for his team and that made me want to do this a whole lot more. I had people who cared for me. It was time to get answers and then cut off that part of my life, "I'm up for it. I need to do this, boss."

He nodded and stopped in front of the door, "As long as you're not rushing things, I stand by your choice. Do you want me in there with you?"

I closed my eyes and whispered, "Yeah."

I pushed through the door, Gibbs hot on my tail and the Commander's head shot up at our entrance. "Can I leave yet? I would like to see my children." He asked, bitterness laced in his words.

"You can go as soon as I'm done." I took a deep breath and sat down, "Why didn't you or Susan tell me that I was adopted?"

The Commander stared at me for a few seconds before chuckling, "So you've figured it out? Took you long enough. We made a deal with a buddy of mine a long time ago that we'd never say a word about the adoption. He had gone through some stuff and felt like he couldn't give you the life you deserved. It was Susan's idea really. I didn't want you."

I rolled my eyes, "You made that pretty clear. What buddy of yours? I'd like to contact him."

He looked at Gibbs wearily for a long minute before shaking his head, "I made a promise that I wouldn't tell anyone. Contrary to some people, I don't break my promises."

"It seems to me that you broke at least one. Giving me the life I deserved? You treated me like dirt. My whole life, I only ever strives to live up to your standards, but I couldn't. I'm thankful to know now that you were never my father. I'm done with you, Commander." I stood up ready to leave, "I don't hate you, by the way. I feel sorry for you and I pity you. You push everyone away and eventually even your sons will leave. You'll have no one and only then will you realize that you're a miserable old man. Goodbye, Commander, and I am truly sorry for the loss of your children. 3 of them."

I walked out the door and beelined it for the stairwell. I needed quiet and I needed to collect myself. I pushed through the heavy door and as it closed I allowed myself to sink down on the staircase. My breathing was shallow as I contemplated all I had said. I had wanted to do that for years and sure, I hadn't said everything or asked all the questions, but I felt so much better. Now, I knew that I'd never have to claim to be his daughter.


"You're not coming near her ever again." Gibbs grit out.

The Commander laughed, "She's my daughter, isn't she?"

The two men glared at each other, "She was never your daughter. She didn't tell me a lot about what it was like growing up in your household, but one day she will. You better pray to God that I never see you again."

"You left her in my care, Jethro, just remember that."

Gibbs nodded his head solemnly, "I remember it every day of my life and it will always be one of my biggest regrets. Stay away from us, James, I mean it."


Thank you all for your patience in waiting out the next chapter. Life has been one wild rollercoaster for me and I haven't had time to do a lot of the things that I love! I am hoping to be able to come back to writing my stories on here more often! I am working on this one and my Not So Horrible Holiday 2 diligently now in order to get up the next chapters as you all have waited so long for them! I apologize and I hope you understand! Also, I didn't get a chance to edit this story. I really wanted to post it as soon as I finished typing it up. I'll comb through it for mistakes later and fix any thing I find. Thank you for your continued support and follows! If you ever have any requests for me to write something, I'll gladly take those on! Reviews are appreciated!

Until then,

Theatrefreak10