Disclaimer: Not mine! Except Kaylee, and I think I want to keep her! Can I pleaaaase?

Author's Note: Thanks for your kind words those of you who have left reviews. They're really helping an old time 'ficcer to get back on her feet, though I really am a bit rusty with this whole updating thing. In case it needed saying, this is a slightly AU fic – Jenny's alive for one since though this is Abby/Gibbs centric, I don't intend for it to be a romantic 'ship between the two of them.

Chapter 4

Those three words sent a rush of warmth through Leroy Jethro Gibbs' heart. He truly, deeply loved Abby. Her selfless offer to help him with a baby was just another sign of the huge heart the Goth lab rat possessed. It was impossible to spend any time in her company and not see how deeply she cared for those she loved, and how far she would be willing to go for them.

The Goth in question fixed him with a smile that was pure Abby mischief, as she broke the serious air that had come between them for a moment. "I've always wanted a little sister, Daddy!"

The gruff Marine let out a bark of laughter, and gently kissed the cheek of his 'daughter'. It was no secret he had a paternal affection for his younger friend, and it was a relationship the two of them cherished – but the 'Daddy' comment reminded him of 'Mommy' who was upstairs in her office, no doubt wondering where he had been for most of the morning. Once he had received the phone call about Maria he had shot off to collect Kaylee, then dropped her off with Abby, he had given Jen only the briefest of reports before returning to the lab and his little niece.

"Soooo..." Abby drawled, quite aware that Gibbs was thinking about a certain redheaded director – he always got a certain look in his eyes when his thoughts drifted upstairs to that office – but she wasn't ready to let him leave yet. There were a few important things she needed to get sorted out.

His attention regained, Gibbs eyed her a trifle suspiciously. He knew that tone, and it meant that Abby was preparing for an interrogation. He could only hope it wasn't about where his attention had just drifted off to. "Yes, Abby?"

"How old is she? What does she like? Is she staying with you? Ummm... where's her diaper bag?..." the stream of questions seemed to burst forth from Abby's mouth, in a fast scramble of words that seemed eager to escape and seek their answers, in case he ran off again.

Gibbs was unable to stop one of his brief smiles flashing across his face as he was bombarded with the excitable stream of questions. Gently, he lay the hand of the arm which was not cradling Kaylee on the forensic specialist's shoulder. "Slow down, Abbs," he reminded her gently. She grinned at him in return.

"Well, start answering then!"

He shook his head at her and gently sat, readjusting Kaylee into his lap so she could continue to sleep – without causing the deadening of his arm which had been starting to occur. Speaking softly, he began to answer the questions. "She's six months old. And yes, she is staying with me. I'm counted as next of kin... Shannon, well, she and Maria were the only family they had left." He sighed, grief passing his eyes as he remembered his beautiful first wife and her energetic younger sister, and the fact that now both of them were gone, much too young.

Kaylee woke in his lap at the mention of her Momma's name, though he knew it was most likely a coincidence, it seemed a poignant one. She had never met her Aunty, had barely had chance to get to know her Momma, but it was painfully obvious to Jethro that this little girl was most definitely of their blood. She looked so much like Kelly had, like the baby photos he cherished, and like those he had seen of Maria and Shannon when they were young. He bounced the tiny girl in his lap gently as he continued talking, the words stopping him from drifting in his own thoughts, keeping him grounded. "Her diaper bag... it's under my desk. I guess... I need to go and get it. And, I don't know what she likes, Abby. But I guess we're going to find out."

Abby was prevented from firing another barrage of questions by the familiar 'ping' of the elevator, and the voice of a very confused Director who was lugging a diaper bag over her shoulder.

"Jethro, why did you have a diaper bag under your desk? I know DiNozzo can be a child... but really...." the redhead's sentence was never to be finished however, as she spotted what was sitting in her former lover's lap, and she instead completed her sentence with a very unintelligent, but emphatic, "HUH?"