Kelly sat quietly in the passenger seat. A million questions running through her head but afraid to voice them. She looked out the window as Ziva drove. So of it seemed familiar but she was not sure.
"Kelly, you are going to be alright I promise you. You will see." Said Ziva. She was trying to reassure her. Ziva asked her questions about her adopted parents and about what she had been reading. Kelly answered the questions honestly. Ziva could tell there was a lot of pain behind them. What she was not prepared for was the knowledge that Kelly did not remember who she really was and who her parents were. How was she going to tell Gibbs?
Gibbs waited in MTAC for Ziva after filling in Vance what had taken place while he was in Los Angeles. Ziva had taken Kelly to the conference room. He needed to talk to her before he saw Kelly. Ducky had quietly joined him to offer his support.
Ziva had McGee sit in the room with Kelly while she went to talk to Gibbs. Tony stood outside in the hall. They were not taken any chances even in the building. Kelly was family and they protect their own.
Ziva filled in Gibbs on the details. He nodded quietly as he realized that Kelly didn't remember who she was. It broke his heart. He looked over at Ducky for answers. Ziva slipped out so the two men could talk privately. She was going to check with Abby to see if the sketch had been sent yet.
"Jethro, I don't doubt the amnesia is from the trauma she endured as a child. Seeing you might trigger her memory or it may not. You need to be prepared either way. "said Ducky gently. "Trust your gut Jethro. You are her Father and you have always been. I think you will see the girl you raised for nine years is still there. You will know what to do."
Gibbs put his hand on Ducky's shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. "Thanks Duck." He said as he headed towards the conference room.
Tony opened the door and nodded towards McGee. He stood up and told Kelly he would be back soon. She nodded but didn't turn around from looking out the window. She felt so lost at the moment. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to overcome the fear that was creeping up. How did all of this happen? Would she ever remember who she was? She wondered if she could make it through this nightmare alone.
Gibbs walked in quietly hoping his voice would not fail him. Kelly was standing with her back to him. He realized how much she reminded him of Shannon. He smiled at the thought of her. How he missed his soul mate. He took a deep breath. "Kelly" he said quietly.
Kelly turned around at the sound of her name. The voice sounded so comforting she thought as she found herself looking into familiar eyes. She gasped as memories suddenly flooded her mind at a rate she could barely comprehend. Her legs started to give out on her and Gibbs reached out to grab her and help her sit. He kneeled next to her keeping his hand on her arm on to steady her. He looked at the barely visible scars on her arm and rubbed it lightly with his thumb. He realized they were burn scars and his heart dropped. She just looked at him and tried to find her voice. "Daddy?" she whispered.
Gibbs nodded as a tear escaped down his cheek. He reached up to wipe Kelly's tears as well. He could tell the memories were coming back by the range of emotions on her face. He wished he could take away her pain. All he wanted to do at the moment was hold her and tell her it was going to be all right and that he would keep her safe this time.
Kelly tried to understand the flood of memories. Feeling the explosion, seeing her mom's face, the pain, and falling out of the van. She wanted to explain all of this to him but the words won't come. She stood up quickly and Gibbs stood next to her holding her shaking hands in his. She looked down at them and felt how rough they were. These were the hands that taught her how to sand wood. These were the hands that held her when she was scared. The same hands that ticked her and swung her around in the yard. Kelly buried her head into Gibbs shoulder as the flood of emotions took over.
Gibbs held Kelly and whispered in her ear. "I am here Kel. It is going to be alright. I am going to keep you safe this time." He stroked her red hair and rocked her as he had done when she was little. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he held his beautiful girl. He has a second chance he thought to himself. He was not going to lose her this time.
It took about thirty minutes before Kelly found the strength to talk. She was worn out from crying and reliving so many memories at once. She stepped out of her dad's hug and looked into his face. "He told me that you died in the Gulf War. I thought I was alone. I was so hurt and scared those first few months. I wished I had just died with mom. All I wanted was to be with you and her."
Gibbs didn't know how much more his heart could take. He just held her again. "I am so sorry you had to go through that Kel. If I had known you were alive I would have done everything in my power to find you."
"I know you would have." Replied Kelly. She started to feel a bit shaky. "I think I better sit down."
Gibbs helped her sit and noticed her pale color. She needed to eat he thought. He had forgotten for a moment that she was hypoglycemic. He went to the door and stuck his head out to talk to McGee. He came back in and sat next to Kelly. He held her hand and said, "Kelly, I know we have a lot to talk about but right now we need to find out who is after you. I believe it is connected to me. They want revenge for something I did. Have you notice anything unusual lately? Anyone showing up in more than one place? "
Kelly did not ask what he did. She was pretty sure she had an idea but did not voice it. "Well, I thought I was being followed yesterday so I made sure I lost them before I headed out of town." She gave the description on the vehicle and where she was.
Gibbs wrote it down for Tony to follow up on. A knock on the door came and Gibbs opened it up to McGee who sat down a couple of drinks and bags. Gibbs handed the paper to him and asked him to pass it on to Tony. McGee also passed on some information quietly from Abby. He didn't want Kelly to hear it. Gibbs nodded and McGee headed out to the bullpen. Ziva was taking up her post outside.
Gibbs placed a drink and a bag of food in front of Kelly. "You need to eat Kel. I don't need you passing out on me." He said gently. He was trying to gauge her emotions and decide on how and when to proceed with the questions he needed to ask her. He didn't want to hurt her any more than she had been.
Kelly pulled out the food and looked up at her dad and smiled. "You remembered." At that moment she felt so loved and safe. He had never forgotten her. She took a bite of her favorite hamburger and grinned again at her dad. It was just as she remembered. She knew then that somehow it was going to be all right.