previously…

"Joanna, what are you doing here?"

Now…

Joanna got to her feet as Gibbs approached her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"My carpool dropped me off after school."

"It's six o'clock. You've been out here for three hours?"

"I kept myself busy. Are you mad?"

Gibbs couldn't help but smile.

"I'm not mad. Come inside. It's getting chilly out."

He ushered the teenager into the house and shut the door behind them.

"Does your Mom know you're here, Joanna?" Gibbs asked as he hung up his coat. Joanna remained silent. "So she doesn't know then," he asked, turning to face her. She shook her head. He took out his phone and flipped it open.

"Don't call her!" Joanna shrieked.

"What? Why?"

"I don't want her to know I came to you, Uncle Jethro."

Gibbs hesitated.

Uncle Jethro? It'll take some getting used to.

"Mom told me."

He nodded his approval.

"Why don't you want your Mom to know you're here?" he asked.

Joanna walked over and sat on the couch, looking uncomfortable. Worried, Gibbs went over and sat next to her.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, tears threatening to fall. Gibbs could feel his heart breaking. If it were Kelly sitting next to him, he'd have his arms around her in a heartbeat. But this wasn't Kelly. This was his niece, whom he'd only known for two days. Hugging was out of the question.

"Leroy?"

Gibbs and Joanna looked up. Jack was standing in the living room entrance.

"Who's that?" she asked.

"That is your Grandpa Jack," Gibbs replied. "He's my father." He turned to his father. "Dad, this is Joanna, Lena's daughter."

"Why did he call you Leroy?" she asked. "I thought your name was Jethro."

"Leroy is my first name," Gibbs explained. "I'd rather be called by my middle name."

"Good. I'm not calling you Uncle Leroy." She said with a small smile.

"I'm glad," Gibbs said with a chuckle.

Jack noticed the upset look on the girl's face.

"Leroy, what's the matter?" he asked, crossing the room.

Gibbs turned back to Joanna.

"If something happened to you, don't be afraid to tell me. I won't let anything happen to you."
Joanna looked at him. He could see the fear in her eyes.

"I-it's Ian. He's in big trouble."

"Your Mom brought him home today. He's not in trouble anymore."

"No, it's not that. Some of his friends came to the shop last night, while Mom was gone. Ian and I were watching the store. They broke a bunch of stuff, and threatened to kill Ian if he said anything."

"Anything about what?"

"I don't know."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No, but they made Ian go with them. I haven't seen him since."

"Didn't he come home with your Mom last night?"

She started to tear up again. "I don't want Ian to die!"

Jack put an arm around his granddaughter.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. He's not going to die."

Gibbs leaned over and whispered in his father's ear. Jack nodded in understanding.

"Joanna, why don't we go into the kitchen and make some hot chocolate?"
She nodded and went with Jack. As soon as they were out of earshot, Gibbs took out his phone and dialed his sister's phone number.

"What the hell do you want?"

"I thought you'd like to know that your daughter's carpool dropped her off at my house after school."

"What? Why in God's name would she do that? Is she all right?"

"She's fine. She's in the kitchen with my father, making hot chocolate."

"I'm coming to get her right now."

"Lena, I need to ask you a question, and do not take this the wrong way. Where's Ian?"

"Why the hell do you want to know?"

"I'm trying to help you!" he shouted. "Your son got himself involved with the wrong people, Lena. He could be in more trouble than you realize. I need to know where he is."

"I-I know those friends of his like to hang out in Anacostia. He never tells me exactly where he's going."

"Does Ian have a car?"

"I let him drive my work van."

"Okay. What's the license plate of your van?"

Lena rattled off the plate number.

"Listen to me very carefully. I'm going to give you directions to my house. Come straight here. Dad is here with Joanna. When you get here, Dad is going to let you in. Lock all the doors and don't let anyone in the house. Can you do that?"

"Yeah. I can do that, Jethro."

"Good."

Gibbs gave her concise directions to his house, and then hung up. He joined Jack and Joanna in the kitchen.

"Is everything all right, Leroy? I heard shouting."

"Lena is coming over."

"You called her? You said you wouldn't tell!"

"I didn't have a choice, Joanna. Your brother is involved with dangerous people. I can't risk you guys going home alone."

"Okay."

Gibbs looked at his father. "Dad, go ahead and order a pizza for dinner. I have to go and make some phone calls."

"Will do."

Gibbs went back into the living room and called McGee's cell phone. If he was going to find his nephew, he needed all the help he could get.

"McGee."

"I need you at my house in the next 30 minutes."

"Everything all right, Boss?"

"Would I be asking you to come over if it was?"

"Good point. What'll I tell Tony? He's going to notice me missing from the office."

"Don't tell him anything. Get up and leave right now, McGee."

"What about the case?"

"Let DiNozzo handle it. Now get your ass over here, and bring your computer."

"On my way, Boss."

TBC…