Halfway through the night Cassie's cellphone rang. She answered it not surprised at who was on the otherside.

"You asleep?"

"Tony, your timing really sucks," she groaned wanting to hang up, but knowing she needed to hear his voice.

"What's going on Cassie? You didn't just come home a few days early for the heck of it."

"How would you know?"

"Let's see you've been gone for three months. I've written and called you almost everyday there was no mention of you wanting to come home. You would have just done it. I know you Cassie girl."

"Tony, I can't talk about this right now."

"Cassie, I can't help you if you won't talk to me,"

"Goodnight Tony," she said hanging up the phone. She c losed her eyes as a single tear fell down her cheek. She couldn't sleep so she grabbed her sweatshirt from and tiptoed down the steps and into the basement. Her father was asleep upstairs. She ran her hands over the wood. The feel beneath her hands calmed the nerves in her.

The pain was still there. She knew it would be, but she was hoping that there was a way around it. She missed being home more than anything in the world. Her father was the most important person in her life. The only thing that was worse was the secrets she kept within her. The one thing she couldn't let her father know.

"How is your sister?" asked Jeanne as she lay next to Tony

"She's good. Glad to be home."

"You sound worried."

"She left in the middle of a hard case. Something was on her mind she wanted to talk about, but I didn't press the issue,"

"Now?"

"Something happened in Mexico that has her running scared. Maybe it's the same thing."

"She'll talk when she's ready. Maybe she just needs to be home for a while. You want me to talk to her?"

"Actually not right now,"

"You haven't told her about me?"

"I want her to feel safe first before I tell her. With all the changes going around lately and most of them happening without her here…"

"I understand Tony, but you are gong to tell her?"

"Yeah, she will love you,"

In the morning Cassie slept for awhile before getting up. She found the note that her Dad was at work. She unpacked her things went through her mail. Among the last pieces of mail was a letter. It was adressed to her with no return address. She recognized the writing though.

"Dear Cassie, I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you away. I hope that someday you can forgive me. Love J.P."

Cassie read the letter and picked up her phone.

"Hello,"

"Hi, will you meet me?" she asked

"Yeah where?"

"Coffee shop two blocks from NCIS?"

"Yeah, I think I can swing it. Everything OK?"

"No, not everything we need to talk."

Meanwhile at NCIS the team was starting their day. Ziva and McGee were the first ones there.

"Morning McGee," said Ziva

"Morning Ziva,"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure,"

"Who is this mystery woman that has DiNozzo so preoccupied?"

"What do you mean?"

"I tried to call him last night and he would not answer his phone. I left him messages and he did not call,"

"I bet he was with Cass. He won't answer his cell if they are together. I had to go get him once from the apartment for a case. They'd fallen asleep watching movies."

"I see, thanks,"

"Morning," said Tony walking in and sitting down.

"How's Cassie?" asked Ziva

"She's good. Why so concerned Zivah?"

"Just that you are different when she is around no? You are caring,"

"I care about everything. It's different with Cassie. She's like the little sister I never had."

"I'm surprised Gibbs lets you within ten feet of her."

"What's the supposed to mean?"

"Your truck record isn't well very good in that area,"

"Well first of all she's too young for me and second Gibbs would kill me,"

"You got that right DiNozzo," said Gibbs walking in

"Morning Boss,"

"Grab your gear dead Marine, someone call Ducky!"

Two blocks away Cassie was waiting for the man in the letter to arrive. She spotted him walking towards her and she got nervous. How was she going to tell him what she'd done? How was he going to react? Would he tell anyone else?

"Thanks for coming," siad Cassie

"Thanks for calling. How are you?"

"I'm Ok, how are you?"

"I'm good, busy with cases. How was mexico?"

"That's what I want to talk to you about,"

"Hang on one minute," he said picking up his phone. "Yeah, I'll be there in five minutes I'm stuck in traffic. Yes Doctor. Sorry, I have to go, but I do want to talk about this."

"Yeah, go, we'll talk later."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, better go before they wonder what is really going on."

"Bye," he said kissing her on the cheek.