DISCLAIMER: Blah Blah Blah, Don't own......wish I did....

A/N: Hope you are enjoying the story. This chapter is based on season 5 episode "Chimera" in which the team was investigating a murder aboard a ship. Oh and if anyone's confused, River is Tony's child introduced in my story "Like Father, Like Son" that's set in season 3. So this is like a future fic for River's life, and yes he is allowed to accompany the NCIS on missions as well as help them investigate murders. The reason why will be explained in "Like Father, Like Son" soon towards the end of that story. Hope that wasn't too confusing! Send me messages if something is confusing you. And of course, reviews will be loved! Enjoy!

As a child there were them times
I didn't get it but you kept me in line

River raced through the NCIS headquarters as he made his way to MTAC. The whole team except for Palmer and Aunt Abby were out on that Chimera ship, and River was worried about them. What little information he had managed to found out about the ghost ship was more than disturbing, River knew he had to inform Aunt Jen about the news.

As he walked into the command center, his eyes found Aunt Jen standing next to Commander Skinner, the man responsible for the ship operations. River certainly found nothing impressive about the stupid bureaucratic pen-pusher, in fact, he had been tempted to trip the man down a flight of stairs just to deflate his ego.

Heads turned at River's entrance and Commander Skinner's eyes widened, the shock showed clearly in his voice, "What is the meaning of this Director Shepard? Since when do little kids come into a high level command center? This is absurd!"

River rolled his eyes, "You got a problem, go talk with the President of the United States. It was his idea after all."

Ignoring the annoyingness of the commander close by, River went up to stand beside Aunt Jen, his eyes glanced at the screen before turning to her, "They okay? Aunt Abs said something about another bio-weapon and Dad getting sick again, I didn't really get the whole thing because she was talking rather quickly."

Aunt Jen was about to answer when the ship on screen suddenly exploded in a great ball of flames. Shocked gasps could be heard in the following silence.

River's head immediately whipped around, his usual sparkling green eyes suddenly became dark and dangerous, and a hard edge could be heard in his voice, "What did you do!"

Commander Skinner had to good sense to look actually worried and nervous as he stammered out, "Look…there was no other way. The ship cannot be fallen into enemy's hands."

"My family's on that ship you moron! And you didn't even blink an eye before you let them be murdered like that!" River seethed as unrelenting anger rose inside him, anger and hatred directed toward the man standing in front of him.

"Maybe…maybe some of them survived…" Skinner suggested weakly.

Those words only served to ignite River's anger even more. His fists curled and his eyes showing nothing but fury, River took a step forward intending to show the arrogant commander just how he was taking this when he felt a hand on his right shoulder. He turned his head found himself staring into the eyes of Jenny Shepard, eyes that were calm yet still could not disguise the hidden raging anger beneath the surface.

"He's not worth it Ri."

That simple sentence, short and succinct, yet held all the meaning in the world. River understood what Aunt Jenny was trying to convey. He had better things to put his talents to use rather than beating up a useless desk jockey, like bringing his family, alive or dead, back home where they belong. Giving her a quick nod indicating his understanding, River raced to one of the consoles to pull up some satellite images, and as his fingers gracefully flew across the keyboard, a small rueful grin found its way to his face. His Aunt Jen always knew how to keep him in line.