Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of the characters (except for Alexandra).

A/N: Thanks to those few who have reviewed thus far. Updates may come slower since I will be at work all day and into the evening. Patience and constructive criticism is appreciated. Some more reviews and suggestions would really be appreciated. And thanks to those that have reviewed!

Chapter 3: Edging Closer

Alexandra was not pleased. She was over two hours late getting off work and had to be back in the office extra early the next morning. All this on a part-time salary. As she made her way down the building stairs she noticed something leaned against her door. She picked up the brown envelope and frowned when she saw no name. Her hands full, she went on inside and dropper her bags in the recliner. "Mags, were you expecting a package?"

Her roommate came out of the living room. "No, where did that come from?"

"Leaned against the front door. There's no name on it."

"I just got home an hour ago and it wasn't there then."

"Do you want to open it?" Lexa asked.

"Oh no, you go ahead. You found it."

Lexa rolled her eyes. "Logical argument." She tore off the flap and pulled out the contents. All it contained was a half-sheet of paper and a wallet-sized photo. Do you miss your daddy? was scribbled on the paper. The photo was starting to yellow and she didn't recognize the man.

"Lex, is that your father? Before he died?" Mags asked.

"I don't know. I've never seen a picture of him. Well, at least not since before the accident."

"So you don't remember him at all?" Mags took the photo as Lex nodded. "You do kinda look like him though."

Lexa took the photo back and ran her finger over the face of the photo. "Mags, this is crazy. You can't tell anything from this photo. It's old."

"This is creep. Cryptic note, old photo. Maybe you should call the police."

"No, it's probably nothing. Probably wasn't even intended for me. My dad has been dead for over 16 years."

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Gibbs had sent everyone home for the night, or at least tried to. Abby had said she was going to stay and try to identify the buildings in the pictures. Feeling useless, he had gone home as well and was now sitting on the couch in his basement, looking through an old photo album. His peace was interrupted though when he heard the basement door creak open and Jen appear at the top of the stairs.

"Checking up on me Jen?" Gibbs asked, setting the album aside.

"No," she answered. "I did bring food though." She set the paper sack down on the work bench and start pulling items out. "Anything new on the search?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Abby is trying to narrow down buildings before we go to the campus in the morning."

"You're going with them?" She handed him a Chinese carton and a pair of chopsticks.

"I need to do something to help Jen." This sitting around is frustrating." Jen started to sit down on a stool to eat her own food but Gibbs scooted over on the couch and motioned for her to join him. Silence reigned again as they ate.

"Jethro, what are you thinking about?"

He started to lie and say nothing but something stopped him. "All the time we've missed together if it's really Kelly. Wondering if Kelly being alive means Shannon is alive too. Wondering where they've been."

"I, um, looked into Witness Protection. No one will confess to anything. We need to talk to someone on the case, someone that put them in Witness Protection, but it was so long ago, I don't know who." Jen sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what else to try."

Jethro turned to face her. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you did try."

"Tell me about her, about Kelly."

"Kelly?" Jethro reached over and put down his carton of Chinese. He had never talked about his daughter with anyone since her death. But right now, it felt right to him. Like he needed to. "She was, she was Kelly. Curious, into everything, wanted to try everything. And so smart. Gifted actually. She was in the gifted program at her school." Gibbs paused, trying to maintain his composure, but it was too hard. "I was building a boat then too. She would come downstairs after dinner and help me. She would get so tired but wouldn't go upstairs to bed. Almost every night she'd fall asleep under the boat and I would carry her. . .carry her up to bed. God I miss her Jen. So much."

Jen gently took his hand in hers and rubbed his palm with her thumb. "I know you do. You were a wonderful father Jethro. And if that girl in the photo is her, everything will work out. We'll figure out what happened, where's she's been. It's just going to take some time."

Gibbs looked at his boat. "We've lost so much time already. I just down want to lose anymore."