Summer now seemed a distant memory as the much colder winds of winter set in; November was almost coming to a close, but not before Thanksgiving was celebrated, which was fast approaching. Penny didn't feel that she had a lot to be thankful for at the moment after the year she'd had. She was grateful that Team Gibbs was now back together, and had been for a couple of months, but she still yearned for the one thing she knew she'd never have. Her mom.

Gibbs could see that Penny still wasn't coping well with Jenny's death, just that she had become better at hiding it. Despite how well she'd managed to convince the others that she was coping, he could see that the open wound was still fresh, and was still just as sore as before. Once again she had stopped talking about it and still winced whenever someone else mentioned it. Ducky had also noticed this.

It was for this reason that Gibbs now found himself in Ducky's company in autopsy. Although there was a cadaver placed on one of the autopsy tables and a case to be investigated, they were both more preoccupied with their concerns for the youngest agent; it was just a case of who was going to mention it first.

'What've you got Duck?' Gibbs asked, as usual, as he entered autopsy.

'Nothing unexpected Jethro. Death was as I suspected: suffocation by electrocution; there are no other marks on the body, to suggest he was beaten in any way, other than the marks around his wrists and ankles from where he was strung up.' Ducky explained to his old friend.

Gibbs could tell that he had heard about the latest development on the case, the fact that McGee had just found a link to the NCIS team in LA. He could also tell that he was dying to confront him about it. Ducky had known Gibbs long enough to know how his mind worked, but he also knew that this might be the best thing for Penny, but only if it was done right.

'Be careful with her Jethro. She might come across as tough and as having dealt with her mother's death, but inside that pain is as raw as the day it happened.' He said after a few moments of silence.

Gibbs knew that Ducky was right, he had to handle this correctly and not in his usual gung-ho fashion; he wanted to do right by Penny.

'I know Duck, I know.' Was all he said in reply before he swept out of autopsy and headed to Abby's lab.

Penny was already in the there with her friend chatting when Gibbs appeared. Abby had just put her phone down when she looked at him with a slightly confused expression.

'Well that was weird.' She said.

'What was Abs?' He replied.

'Special projects in Los Angeles just emailed me confirming their interest in our x-man.' She explained as she brought up the relevant information on her screen.

'PFC Chandler.' Gibbs said under his breath slightly as he recognised the officer in front of him on the screen.

'That's him.' Abby replied simply.

'Special Agent Macy.'

'That's her.' She added in response to Gibbs's reply. 'She wants me to copy her on all my findings.' She explained.

'If you find out anything Abs you contact me first and then you can send it on to her.' He said with a small smile.

'Are you going somewhere?' Abby asked with distain, she hated it when the team went away anywhere.

'Yeah, that's what I came to tell you. Los Angeles.' He said calmly, noting the look of apprehension on both Abby and Penny's faces. 'I'm taking McGee…and Penny.' He added as he placed a kiss on Abby's forehead.

Although she looked shocked Penny didn't argue with his request, which surprised Gibbs greatly. He'd expected her to at least attempt to get out of it somehow. Instead it was Abby who commented on the trip, offering words of warning.

'Gibbs, be careful; it's just, the last time you guys went to LA, one of you didn't come home.' She said with a look of sadness and concern.

Penny stood in between them both as they looked at each other, before Gibbs quickly glanced at her. She had hung her head subtly towards the ground and allowed her long red hair to fall slightly around her face, almost shielding her from view. Gibbs wasn't too sure what to say to her, but before he could say anything she'd already said her goodbyes to Abby and was walking out of the Lab. She chose to take the stairs back up to the squad room, leaving Abby and Gibbs staring after her.

She knew that there was no point in arguing with Gibbs; once his mind was mind up, his mind was made up. She was annoyed that he was making her do this though, knowing she was still reeling from Jenny's death, especially since Thanks Giving and Christmas were fast approaching. Then again, she knew that this was exactly the reason he was doing it.

On his return to the bullpen Gibbs sent Penny and McGee home to pack a few items and to prepare for their flight out later in the afternoon. McGee was worried about having to make small talk with Gibbs, not knowing what to talk about. Penny, on the other hand, was trying to figure out the best way to deal with situation.

Once at home Penny felt worse than she had done whilst at NCIS. Everything was reminding her of her mom and her death. Without even thinking she walked straight up stairs to, what was, Jenny's bedroom. She opened the door to find everything as it had been the morning Jenny had left on that fateful day. The room held some comfort for her, making her feel that her mom was never too far away, but this meant that she could never bring herself to pack everything away.

Jenny had left before Penny that day, so the last memory Penny had of them together in the house was of her mom preparing her case for her trip before Tony and Ziva arrived.

'I'll be coming back on the red eye flight in a couple of days. I stocked up the fridge so you don't need to worry about food, Tony and Ziva are coming with me as my protection detail but I've informed Stan that you're here, so if you have any problems just let him know.' She'd said as she worried about her daughter.

Despite the fact that Penny was in her twenties her mom had always worried about her; no matter where she went, or for how long, Jen would always ensure her daughter was safe and happy first. It was one of the things that Penny missed most in the six months since her mother's death.

She sat down on the ornate four-poster bed and looked around. A pair of Jenny's favourite high heeled shoes was still placed on the floor at the foot of the bed. Her nightdress was folded and placed neatly onto one of the pillows. She then glanced from the nightdress to three photographs on the nightstand.

Jenny had always kept photographs of Penny on her nightstand, even when she went away on a trip she ensured she brought one with her. Penny also kept a photograph of Jenny with her, in her purse, at her desk and beside her bed.

It wasn't too long before Gibbs was banging on her front door to pick her up to go to the airport, and needless to say she wasn't ready. In her hurry she bunged a few items into an overnight bag before running out of the house.

The trip to LA was very quiet and Penny couldn't help but feel sorry for poor McGee. Gibbs was never one to make small talk, but Penny would normally have sat and chatted away to him. On this occasion, though, she didn't feel up to talking to anyone.

The last time she'd made this trip she'd just been given the news that her mom was dead; she'd flown out to meet Gibbs to find out what had happened. She remembered how he had received a phone call whilst he was in the bullpen. Neither McGee nor Penny had known who it was from, but with hindsight she assumed it was either Ziva or Tony calling with the bad news. Shortly after getting the call he disappeared, not telling anyone where he was going or why. She couldn't stop herself from imagining how he must have felt when he received that call; how hard it must have been for him to make that journey on his own.

She knew that Ziva and Tony had phoned him after finally agreeing that Jenny was in some kind of trouble. As soon as he'd heard the news he'd flown out to them where they traced Jenny to the diner. Unfortunately the three of them arrived too late and they'd found Jenny's bloody and lifeless body. Gibbs had checked for a pulse, but the look he gave the other two agents conveyed the loss. After that the series of events had panned out quickly. Gibbs first phoned SecNav, instructed the two agents not to touch anything, and once that was done he made the journey into town where he then phoned Ducky. That was the phone call Penny was never going to forget, remembering how Ducky's shoulders had slumped at the news, how his face was contorted into pain when he turned to face her, McGee and Abby, and finally that moment when those six words fell from his lips.

Time really did stop for her that day, the day her life changed forever, and now she couldn't believe Gibbs was taking her back to the place where it happened, to relive those moments.

Gibbs felt concerned for Penny. He watched her for the whole of the journey and noticed how she hadn't said anything since he'd picked her up. He could understand why she felt apprehensive about going to LA again; after all, her last visit held some very unpleasant memories for them both, something he felt slightly guilty and responsible for.

As their plane touched the tarmac of the runway to the airport, Gibbs' attentions turned back to the case at hand. They immediately rented a car to get them to the NCIS office in LA. Penny had never been before, but she remembered that Jenny had often visited; she was glad that Gibbs knew where he was going, because, although she had the map, she really had no idea where to go.

The LA office was tucked away down a narrow alleyway. To those who didn't know, the building looked nothing more than a warehouse, but behind the inconspicuous doors the building held some of NCIS's finest agents and technology.

Penny was completely taken aback by the level of technology that the LA team had, as was McGee; Gibbs on the other hand was less impressed. He preferred the simpler approach of good old fashioned detective work, with the very occasional help from technology.

Throughout the investigation Penny stayed at Gibbs's side, which was exactly how he wanted it. She was not in a very good mood, meaning she was grumpy and snapping at anyone who dared to speak to her. She did feel guilty, and Gibbs could see that she wasn't meaning to be foul humoured, but the fact that she felt so uncomfortable meant she had to deal with out the best way she could.

At one point during the investigation all three agents were in the squad room. McGee and Penny were working with Callen and Sam Hanna as they discussed a lead. Gibbs was standing on the walkway above them, watching his agents intently, or at least one in particular.

'She's very like Jenny.' Lara Macey said as she joined him.

'Yeah, yeah she is.' Gibbs replied proudly.

'How's she been coping?'

'As well as can be expected I guess.'

With his last comment to her, Macey walked away from him and towards Penny and the team.

'Penny, I'm Lara Macey , I worked with your mom on a couple of occasions before she became director.' Macey said as she led Penny away from the team by her elbow. 'I met you once actually, not that I expect you to remember, after all you were about twelve at the time.'

'Yes I remember you; you were part of my mom's training group, you worked with her in Spain too.' Penny replied.

'Yeah that's right.' Macey replied before attentions were brought back to the case at hand.

For the rest of the afternoon Penny's mind filled with the memories of when Jenny worked in Spain. Her memories made her realise that although she'd thought she was beginning to get a handle on her feelings, enough to move on, her trip to LA made her feel as if she'd taken ten steps back, making her inwardly curse Gibbs.

For her the rest of the investigation passed in a blur. Gibbs had ordered her to stay behind whilst they went after their suspect, knowing that she was distracted and he didn't want her to be hurt.

She realised that he had kept her busy during the investigation, but not directly involved with the case, making her wonder why he had asked her to join them in LA in the first place; but deep down she already knew the answer.

With the case at an end she was looking forward to being able to go home and see the rest of the team again; but before she could, Gibbs had one last thing he wanted her to do. Without saying a word he ushered her into his car and began driving out of town.

'Where we going?' She asked, but received no reply.

Realising she wasn't going to get an answer any time soon she decided to remain silent and listen to some music. It wasn't until they'd been on the road for nearly an hour that she realised where he was taking her.

Sure enough, about ten minutes later she recognised the silhouette of the dank diner looming over the horizon. It was a sight that she'd preyed she'd never see again.

'Gibbs why are we here?' She asked quietly.

'Because, I think you have unfinished business here, things that you've not dealt with.' He explained as the car came to a stop.

Nervously she followed him out of the car and walked towards the building. She noticed that there was a sign outside stating that it was due to be demolished in a couple of weeks. Gibbs watched her intently as she examined the exterior of the building, he was trying to read her face, her expression, trying to gage what affect this was having.

He'd known for a few weeks that the diner was due to be demolished after an old friend informed him. The relator was unable to sell the property after what had happened six months previously, and since Decker had no family to speak of it couldn't be passed to anyone.

Penny approached the front door and placed her fingers up to the bullet holes, tracing each one with the tip of her index finger. She didn't feel any better about the place than she had the first time she had come, but she wasn't too sure how she felt about it being condemned. Although she didn't want to remember her mom's death, this diner had been the place where she'd died, the place where she'd lived her last moments, and for Penny that was very significant; almost too significant to have wiped away from the landscape.

She pushed the door open slowly as she took a deep breath before entering. She looked around and remembered Vance's words that day, remembering how he'd described what had happened. She glanced down to where Jenny's body had been found and noticed that her blood, although slightly faded, was still clearly visible. She made her way to one of the leather seats next to the window and sat on the back with her feet resting on the seat. She stared at the remnants of her mom's blood and was surprised to find no tears pricking at her eyes; not even when Gibbs joined her.

'I don't think I'll ever truly know what happened here Gibbs, or at least I'll never understand it. I know that she'd want me to move on with my life and be happy, but there are some days when it's just too hard.' She explained quietly, but he didn't reply, which she was fine with. 'I have often though about this place, especially recently. I can't stop imagining what it must have been like for her, if she was scared when she was waiting, if she knew she was going to die or if she genuinely meant it when she said she'd see me soon; do you think she suffered at all?' She added as she looked at him for the first time.

Gibbs wasn't too sure what to say to her, he knew what it was like to ask all these questions and to want to know the answers, but he wasn't sure if he had the answers to give her.

'Jenny was tough, that's what got her to where she was, but you were always the reason she did the things she did, so no I don't think she was scared because she was trying to protect you; she'd have done anything to protect you, but she'd have wanted to come home to you. Trust me when I say that she'd have done everything that she could to get home to you.' He said with a very small smile.

'But do you think she suffered?' She asked.

Gibbs wasn't sure how to answer this, after all, he was sure Jenny had suffered, but not in the way Penny thought.

'I think leaving you behind caused her more pain than anything anyone else could have done to her, but I can guarantee that you were that last thing she thought about when she died.' He said finally.

They both fell silent for a period of time, both taking in the sights before them and both remembering the events of that fateful day. Finally, it was Penny broke the silence.

'Gibbs why did you bring me back here?' She asked quietly.

'I found out that they were raising the place to the ground and though that you deserved closure, something I don't think you got the last time that we were here.'

Penny nodded her head subtly at him, understanding his intentions but not entirely sure if those were accomplished.

Without saying another word to each other they both left the diner and headed back to LA where McGee was waiting for them. The three agents got the next red eye flight home and Penny was glad to see LA fade away into the distance, but she hoped that she could now allow her grief to do the same, so that she could prepare for Christmas and look forward to what the New Year had in store for her.