Ch. 2
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All standard disclaimers apply.
McGee stared wide eyed at Tony and the little girl in his arms.
Ziva watched the situation with more interest than she usually showed.
"McGee, get over here now and take this kid. I need to have a talk with DiNozzo."
"Uh boss I don't know anything about kids."
"Yeah boss I really don't think she'll go with McGee. She's just now letting me hold her without kicking and screaming. And she has a scream that'll shatter glass."
Gibbs fixed both men with a steely eyed glare.
Tony peeled Krissy off of him and held the child out to the younger man.
"Her names Krissy, she has a cup in her bag if she gets thirsty and for God's sake don't lose the baby doll."
DiNozzo was well aware by the way the child's face was scrunching up and her breath was hitching that she was getting ready to scream.
Gibbs and DiNozzo had just reached the conference room when the screaming started.
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"Sit down," Jethro ordered.
Tony slumped down in the leather chair.
"You had better have not known."
"I didn't boss, I swear, I had no idea. I don't even remember this woman."
"Not helping DiNozzo."
"Sorry boss."
"How did you end up with her?"
"When I got home last night a CPS worker was waiting at my door. She said Krissy's mother was dead and that I was listed on the birth certificate and in her last will and testimony as Krissy's father."
"What do you plan on doing now?"
"The local CPS worker is supposed to contact me by the middle of the week. I guess I'll turn her over then."
Tony felt a flash of guilt at the look he saw in the man's eyes he considered a father.
"What am I suppose to do, boss? I don't know how to be a father. I mean I didn't exactly have the best role model growing up."
Tony could hear his father's voice yelling in his head. Most often followed by the sting of flesh on flesh the feel of leather against his bare back or when his dad was in a particularly bad mood the buckle of the belt. As bad as the physical blows and the harsh words hurt it was the silences that really bothered Tony. He was well aware of how strange that sounded but he was a social creature by nature. There were times when his father's silences could last for days, weeks, or even months. When Tony was eight his father had grabbed him by the arm and shook him because he hadn't done his homework the night before and the teacher had called him at his office. His father had been holding his arm so tightly he had left a hand print shaped bruise on his arm. The next day had been hot and Tony had worn a long sleeve shirt to hide the bruise but he had gotten hot and pushed the sleeves up exposing the bruise. That had resulted in another call to his father who did not speak to his son for two months.
Gibbs knew that while Tony had, had every advantage monetarily growing up that his life was far from perfect. He had very little doubt that his senior field agent had endured some kind of abuse growing up. He knew that like Ziva and Abby, Tony looked at him as a kind of father figure. He wanted to help Tony he really did but Tony was a grown man capable of making his own decisions. DiNozzo had made a decision and now he was going to have to deal with the repercussions. As much as Jethro would love to make this all better there was nothing he could do.
"You do what you have to DiNozzo."
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The bull pen was quiet as the two NCIS agents entered.
"McGeek where's Krissy?"
"She's right…uh oh."
"What do you mean 'Uh oh'?"
"She was laying right here asleep. I swear boss."
Tony felt panic gripping his chest he'd only know Krissy for less than twenty-four hours and most of that had been hell. But the thought of that little girl getting hurt made his blood run cold.
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Dr. Mallard was finishing up an autopsy when he saw something he could say he had honestly never seen in all his years of practicing medicine. Upon hearing a small noise Ducky glanced up to see a child no older than two standing in the doorway.
"Well my dear I'm quite sure you're not supposed to be in here."
The toddler stared at him with big blue eyes and stepped farther into the room.
"What doing?"
I'm performing an autopsy. But I believe the real question is what are you doing here? Who do you belong too? I'll give Jethro a call surely he'll know what's going on. Now you stay right there."
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McGee call security have them lock down the building nobody in nobody out. DiNozzo search the entire floor every nook and cranny that a child can hide in. Ziva…"
Gibbs's instructions were interrupted by the ringing of the phone.
"What is it Duck?"
"I have a situation down here."
"What kind of situation?"
"There seems to be a child in my autopsy."
Gibbs held up a finger indicating that McGee should wait.
"We're on our way Duck keep her there."
"She's in autopsy."
The words were barely out of his mouth before the team was headed for the elevator.
XXXX
Ducky hung up and turned around to find the room empty.
"Oh my."
XXXX
Abby glanced up when she heard the door to her lab slide open.
"Uh that's weird." Abby startled a couple of minutes later when a young child came around the counter and stared up at her.
"Where'd you come from? My names Abby what's yours?"
Krissy moved closer staring up at the flashing lights on her machines.
"There're pretty aren't they?"
The little girl moved her cupped shaped hand to her mouth and tilted it.
"Do you want a drink?" Abby asked, repeating the movement.
The little hand flopped up and down.
"Ok but just a little," Abby said, reaching for the Caf Pow.
Krissy put the straw in her mouth and took a long drink.
"Good?" Abby asked, signing and saying the word.
"Good" Krissy signed back.
"Who taught you to sign?"
"Mommy."
"Where is your mommy?"
"Mommy gone" Krissy said, holding her arms in an 'I don't know' gesture.
.
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"Where is she Ducky?" Tony rushed into autopsy.
"I'm afraid she got away from me while I was on the phone with Jethro but I found this in the hallway," Ducky said, holding up Krissy's baby.
Tony reached out and took the baby doll from the doctor.
"Crap!" Tony said, running his hand through his already messy hair.
"We'll find her DiNozzo she couldn't have gotten far."
"Who is this child?"
"Tony will explain later Duck."
"Maybe she's in Abby's lab." McGee suggested.
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"Oh thank God," Tony said, as he entered the lab.
"Look at what I found. Isn't she cute?"
"Baby!" Krissy squealed, reaching for the baby doll.
'Love baby mine give' Krissy signed. "Mine," Krissy said, when signing got no response.
"She's just so cute and she signs. You think I can keep her? Do you know who she belongs too?" Abby asked squeezing her.
Tony handed her the baby. DiNozzo felt a strange twang of jealousy at how relaxed Krissy looked sitting in Abby's lap. Every time he held her every muscle in her body was rigid.
"She's my daughter."
Please don't forget to feed the monkeys on your way out.