A/N: I planned on having this up yesterday, but due to circumstances outside of my control, it wasn't.
"Okay, what?" Gibbs said, leaning against the door.
"We've deiced that Shadow's our new leader, and that we would like to help you catch Skull," Raven said, playing with a strand of her long dark blue hair.
Shadow nodded. "The guy's a bastard, anyway. Why should we continue to help him?"
Gibbs looked around at the teenagers that were standing or sitting around the room. Raven was sitting next to Shadow, holding her hand, while Vlad had left. Dusk, Felony, Dragona, Drachen, and Necro were leaning against the walls. Most smelled heavily of cigarette smoke. But of course, Gibbs didn't know their names except for Shadow. And even then, he didn't know their real names.
"So you're going to go clean? So easily?" he asked.
"Never said that," Drachen said, snickering. "We just said we'd help you catch a murderer."
"We may never go pure," Shadow said. "But we won't do anything like he did. That's just...Murder isn't something many of us can even think of doing to anyone. We may not be the best kids out there, but we're not stupid enough to kill someone."
"So, pettier crimes?" Gibbs assumed.
"Pretty much, yeah," Felony shrugged. "But, we've done grand theft auto a time or two. That's how we got here. None of us can afford a car or even gas. All the money we had, Skull probably took."
"Alright, we're going to catch Skull," Gibbs said. "I'm going to have to take you guys to my work place, so I can have everyone questioned appropriately. But not till Shadow can leave."
"With or without their permission?" Shadow said, laughing. Her hollow face brightened, and Gibbs was reminded of what his daughter COULD have looked like. He stared at her in shock for a second before shaking himself out of it.
"With," Gibbs said. Back to business, he reminded himself. "I'm going to talk to the doctor, and I'll see when you can be released."
He left, and Necro glared at Shadow.
"What?" she said. "You were out-voted, Necro. I don't care what you say against me right now, but I know at least three people are going to fight against you if you try anything. I don't give a crap if you say this isn't what we should be doing. I don't care if you completely disagree with me, Nec. And that's because...I know I'm right this time. We're doing what I say, and what I say ONLY."
Raven, Vlad and Dusk moved closer to Shadow during what she was saying. Shadow sat up straighter, crossing her arms over her chest.
"So what will be, Necro?" she asked. "Are you going to work with or against the pride? A lone wolf won't prosper, but as a pack, we can take down the stag."
"Don't use those freakin' metaphors," Necro growled.
"What? Flunking out make you not the smartest? Oh, wait..." Shadow grinned slyly at him. "Going to try something, Necro?"
"No," he hissed through gritted teeth.
"Good," Shadow smirked. "Because one, I'm now alpha. That means what I say, goes. No exceptions. It means that you will listen to me, or you get through out of the pack, and you get to fend for yourself. Get your own stag, if you get the metaphor. And two, just because I'm not Skull, I'm not abusive, doesn't mean I wouldn't tell Gibbs some of your "other" business."
"You wouldn't dare," he whispered, fear etched on his tan features.
"Oh, I would," she said, still smirking. "I would."
"Would what?" Gibbs said, coming back in.
"I would try to cooperate with everyone," Shadow said, lying quickly. She stopped smirking. "So when do I get out of this hellhole?"
"Soon," Gibbs said. "I told the doctor your ex-boyfriend was abusive, and he went with it. Sound good?"
"I don't care," she said, snorting. "Anyway, when exactly am I out of here?"
"Tomorrow," Gibbs explained. "They wanted to keep you here over night to make sure every thing's good."
"Did they ask if you really were her uncle?" Vlad asked, holding Shadow's hand again.
"Yes," Gibbs said. "I told them I was not, but that I am an NCIS agent and you're needed for a case, so all worked out."
"Easy enough," Shadow shrugged.
"Now, you seven," Gibbs said. "I'll need to talk to you individually, but later. I'm starting with Shadow."
They all nodded, and said their good-byes to Shadow, except for Raven, who would not leave. Gibbs gave Shadow his number and made sure Raven knew it, just in case.
Shadow smiled at him as he left. Gibbs walked out of the hospital and down to his car. He started it up, and drove to get coffee. He got his coffee and sat in his car for a few minutes. 3:16...He still had time he could be working. He drove back to the Navy Yard, and got out at the NCIS building. He took the elevator up, and walked in.
"Boss!" Tony said instantly. "We know it was the Skull kid, but we have no idea where he went."
"I get the feeling Shadow and her new gang might," Gibbs replied, sitting down at his desk. "Shadow's their new leader, and they seem to be a bit more willing about working for her."
"You think Shadow knows where he went?" Tony said.
"Tony, I think she could have kept track of her boyfriend," Ziva said.
"They weren't dating," Gibbs muttered.
"They weren't?" they asked together.
"No. Skull was simply abusive. He didn't care what Shadow thought of anything. I wouldn't really surprised if she was raped."
"You think that?" McGee asked, coming up from Abby's lab. "She said the code was their security code to their house. That's how Skull and Shadow were able to get in."
"It just wouldn't surprise me if that had happened," Gibbs sighed sadly, shaking his head. "But tomorrow, we're going to be interviewing them, getting what we can out of them. I'm starting with Shadow. Assignment tomorrows. As for now, work on whatever it is you are currently working on."