AN:
Guys I'm so sorry, I promise I didn't forget about this story- I just had some crazy stuff happen in my life- promise I will try to update soon!
One Year later
Kate smiled as she looked down at her phone she saw a text from her boyfriend reminding her to meet him at work so they could leave on their weeklong trip to Israel. It was a huge step for them going away together, but Kate was ready, she was young of course but she really had come to trust and care for Tony. She laughed a bit did he really think she could forget about their trip. She had been packing for it ever since that day 3 months ago when he excitedly told her Gibbs was sending him to a important conference. Kate worried a bit until Tony promised her it would just be boring lectures, no actual field work. She had of course been ecstatic when he'd invited her to come along, the two had barley seen each other since the school year began. Kate busy as ever was trying to balance pre med studies, running, a job, and a boyfriend. While Tony was trying to live up to Gibbs mounting expectations. Since Tony had gotten shot something about Gibbs had changed. While Gibbs had always been grumpy and somewhat ill tempered, he was now positively hateful to Tony as well as the rest of his team. Kate Todd the newest recruit had been yelled at for a quarter of an hour for breathing too loudly in the bull pen. On the other hand, Tony was starting to get worried, Gibbs no longer went home, he slept at the office or once or twice Tony had seen him sleeping in his truck. These days he came to work with alcohol on his breath, while Tony trusted Gibbs he debated going to the director about Gibbs drinking. Stephanie or (wife number 3) as the team called her had left Gibbs at the end of the summer, this Tony supposed was the reason for Gibbs increasingly foul moods.
Gibbs woke with a start, he'd been having a dream about Shannon again... When he found out that Kelly was alive last year, he'd thought there might have been hope for Shannon. However, after an obsessive investigation that he'd conducted almost entirely from his basement he'd come to the conclusion that she had died in that crash and there was no getting her back. Kelly on the other hand, had made it out and this was almost more difficult. His little girl was alive but had never tried to find him, never reached out... he wrestled with the idea that maybe she didn't know she had only been 8 when it all happened after all. Regardless, she was happy, she had a loving family and a bright future how could he burden her with the truth. He also felt that he might be a bit of a letdown, after all the family seemed so perfect and happy...
Flashback: A light coating of snow dusted the ground and large flakes had begun to fall faster and faster from the sky, Christmas lights twinkled and large decorative wreaths decorated front doors. Gibbs turned his old beat up truck onto a side road got out and stared walking towards the Geer's house. He of course didn't plan on disturbing them he simply wanted to leave an anonymous gift for Kelly... he hadn't been able to get her a Christmas gift in nearly a decade. In his pocket he had a silver necklace with an elephant pendant... as a child Kelly had always loved elephants. He approached the mailbox and was about to open it when he caught a glimpse of her through the large window. She wore an elegant long sleeve white dress and had her long hair softly curled falling down her back she was carrying an armful of coats and ushering in the families guests. As a child everyone always said Kelly with her golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes looked like Gibbs, but tonight she looked like Shannon he thought as we watched her smile radiantly then walk out of view. He placed the gift in the mailbox and trudged back to his truck...