Abby's mother had just died. She had been sent to live with her uncle by the people from child services. He had brought her to work with him. She was bouncing around his lab at NCIS.

"Hey uncle Jules, how come people have different finger prints?" she asked. She was genuinely curious about what her uncle did. The lab equipment fascinated her.

He just sighed in response. How was he supposed to deal with Abby, when she wouldn't stop asking questions he couldn't answer.

"Uncle Jules?" she asked more persistently.

"I don't know Abby," he said simply, "Why don't you sit over there and be quiet for a while." He was really at his wits end. It's not that he didn't love her, per say, it was just that he had no idea how to relate to her.
She crossed her arms and pouted, "But that's no fun. Can't I…"

"No," he said without waiting to hear what she said. She grumbled but went over and sat down in the afore mentioned area.

Jules Sciuto lay down on the floor and closed his eyes. He didn't know how much longer he could take of this.

Gibbs came in 5 minutes later with some evidence. He set the box down on the table and offered the scientist a hand. Jules took the hand and Gibbs pulled him to his feet. "What's up?"

Jules bit his lip. "I just, my niece tired me out. I hope you don't mind that I brought her here today, but she doesn't have any other place to go and…" he stopped short as Gibbs slapped the back of his head.

"Work on the evidence, " Gibbs said. He then walked over to the corner where Abby was sitting.

She looked up at him and jumped to her feet and stuck out her hand saying, "Hi, I'm Abby."

He shook her hand, "Gibbs. Nice to meet you Abby."

She smiled, "Do you work her at NCIS too?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

Abby sat back down. Gibbs sat down facing her. She cocked her head, "What was in that box you just brought Uncle Jules?"

He shrugged, "Just some evidence from our latest case."

"Like what?" she asked.

Gibbs thought about it for a few minutes before replying, "Well, there's the woman's computer, which might give us some clues to who she was. There's a sample of her prints, to compare to the ones we found on the walls of her house, so we can see if anyone else was there. There's a sample of the unidentified sticky substance we found on her kitchen table. Stuff like that."

Abby's eyes went wide, "That's so cool."

Just then, the doors to the lab burst open, and Agent Sheppard walked in. "Hey boss I was looking for you. Who's this?"

Gibbs gestured to Abby, saying, "This is Abby. Abby meet Jenny."

Jenny extended her hand which Abby shook, "I'm very pleased to meet you Abby."

She turned to Gibbs, "We found out who she was."

Gibbs looked at her, "Uh-hu."

She bit her lip, "Lieutenant Gina Nightly. Her C.O. IDed her."

Abby, who had been listening cocked her head, "I know what ID stands for, but what's C.O.? is it some sort of military thing?"

Gibbs chuckled, "C.O. stands for commanding officer."

Jenny nodded, "Right, well you said me and Pacci could go to lunch once we IDed her so…"

Gibbs gestured out the door with his head, "Go."

Jenny headed out the door. Abby watched her go with a sad look on her face. Gibbs noticed this and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Abby pulled her eyes of Jenny's disappearing back, "Not really, I mean, when she mentioned lunch, I kinda realized I was pretty hungry."

Gibbs pursed his lips in thought for a minute, then said, "How would you like to go out to lunch with me?"

Abby grinned, "Really?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu, we just have to ask your uncle Jules."

Abby's face fell, "He'll say no."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows, "Not if I ask him. Here, I'll show you."

He stood up and snuck up behind the forensic scientist. "Hey," he said quietly.

Jules turned around, "I'm not done yet, Gibbs."

Gibbs said, "I know. I was thinking of taking Abby out to lunch, if it's okay with you."

Jules frowned, but said, "Sure."

Gibbs smiled, "Do you want us to bring you back anything?"

Jules sighed, "No, I'm good."

Gibbs walked back over to where Abby was sitting. He held out his hand. She reached up and took it, a look of stunned disbelief on her face. "He actually said yes?"

"Uh-hu," Gibbs replied, "So where do you want to go?"

Abby leapt up and they headed out of the lab together. She bit her lip, "I really don't know. Where do you think we should go?"

Gibbs shrugged, "That depends on what kind of food you're in the mood for."

Abby thought about it for a moment before replying, "I'm really in the mood for pancakes."

Gibbs grinned, "I know this great little diner not too far from here, serves the best pancakes you ever had."

Abby bounced up and down a couple of times, "Can't wait. "

They arrived at the diner Gibbs mentioned fifteen minutes later. The place wasn't crowded and they got a booth right away, Gibbs leading Abby gently as she babbled on about the chemistry set she'd had back home. She sat down opposite him before she changed her mind and came over to his side of the table. He moved over and she slid into the booth next to him, "Can I sit next to you?"

Gibbs smiled, "sure."

Just then a waitress came over. "Are you two ready to order?"

Gibbs glanced down at Abby, before saying, "I think so. I'll have 2 eggs, scrambled, with a side of sausage and a pot of coffee." He looked down, "How 'bout you Abs?"

Abby bit her lip, "I'll have pancakes and bacon and hot chocolate." She looked up at Gibbs, "is that okay?"

He nodded, "Fine by me."

The waitress smiled and said, "Your drinks should be here in a few minutes," as she left then.

Abby reached up and grabbed Gibbs' hand, which was resting on the table.

He frowned, "Something wrong, Abs?"

She squished her eyes closed, trying to stop the tears that ran down her cheeks. He gently took her chin and turned her tear streaked face to him, "Are you alright Abby?"

She shook her head slightly, before climbing into his lap, throwing her arms around his neck, and laying her head on his shoulder. He gently put his arms around her and whispered into her ear, "Shh. It's okay," while he rubbed her back.

She sniffed and looked up at him,"I'm sorry."

He gently wiped a stray tear off her cheek with his thumb, "You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about."

Abby sniffed again, "It's just that my mom used to call me Abs, before," she paused and drew a shaky breath in before continuing, "Before she died."

Gibbs sighed, "I bet you really miss her."

Abby nodded. The waitress came back and placed a mug of hot chocolate and a mug of coffee and a bowl of creamers on the table then left quickly when she saw how upset Abby was. Gibbs stroked her head gently a couple of times before he scooped up her hot chocolate and held the mug a few inched from her face, saying, "Here, have a sip. Chocolate is scientifically proven to make you feel better."

Abby obediently took a sip and asked, "Is it really?"

Gibbs smiled, "Uh-hu. The endorphins in chocolate make the brain feel the same as if you were falling in love. "

Abby gave him a watery smile and took the mug from him. She carefully took another sip, then set the mug on the table and slid out of his lap.

Their food came then and Abby and Gibbs began to eat. By then end of the meal, Abby was back to her cheerful self. They talked about this and that. Finally they finished eating and Gibbs paid and they left the restaurant. When they were back in the car, Gibbs turned to Abby. "I have to do one more thing before we can go back to NCIS. How would you like to meet my family?"

Abby cocked her head, "Your wife and kids?"

Gibbs sighed and said, "My wife died, years ago."

Abby bit her lip and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

Gibbs smiled slightly, "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Abby nodded, "So are we going to meet your kids?"

Gibbs nodded, "You're going to meet them. Being their adoptive father, I already know them."

Abby was quiet the rest of the drive. When they arrived, Gibbs turned to her concernedly and said, "You can stay in the car if you want to Abby."

Abby shook her head, "No. I want to meet your family. Are they nice?"

Gibbs chuckled, "I think so, then again, I'm biased. Come on." They got out of the car and he led her up the walk then up the steps to the front door. He opened the door and they stepped into the front hall.

Abby looked up at him, "You don't lock your door?"

He shook his head, "Nope."

He herd arguing from the top of the stairs and motioned Abby to be quiet so he could listen. Tony's voice came down the stairs, "Come on guys, he'll never know."

Tim said, "Tony, he's not going to break his promise to Misha."

Kate piped up, "That means he'll be probably be home any minute now."

Gibbs began to creep up the stairs. Abby looked after him, but stayed by the foot of the staircase.

"Besides," Tim tried to reason, "Even if he never found out, are you still sure you should do this?"

Tony frowned, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Kate sighed, "Because, Tony, it's a bad idea."

"What's a bad idea?" Gibbs asked, having reached the top of the stairs without their knowing.

"Nothing," came the reply, all three of them at the same time.

Gibbs snorted, but didn't force the issue. Instead he turned around and beckoned then to follow his down the stairs. They followed him wordlessly. When he got to the bottom, Abby reached out for him and he scooped her up.

While he had been upstairs, Stan had come up from the basement and had been watching Abby from the door way to the living room. Gibbs noticed him standing there with the unspoken question in his eyes and said, "Stan, meet Abby. Abby, this is my son Stan."

Stan raised his hand in greeting, "Hey."

Abby smiled at him, "Hey yourself."

Gibbs set her down and gently turned her to where the other three were waiting, "Abby, these are Tony, Kate and Tim."

Kate extended her hand which Abby shook, "It's nice to meet you Abby."

Gibbs turned to Stan, "Where's Michelle?"

Stan sighed, "We ate lunch without you, and Misha refused and said she was going to wait for you, so now she's holed up in her room, and is refusing to come out, saying you promised you'd come have lunch with her to make up for having to work Saturday."

Gibbs turned to where Abby, Tony Tim and Kate were standing. "Abby," he said gently, "Why don't you hang out with Tony, Tim and Kate for a little while."

Abby nodded, and he patted her on the head before hurrying up stairs to Misha's room.

Abby watched him ascend sadly for a few moments before the others noticed this. It was Tony who broke the silence, "Well, I don't know about you three, but I vote we stop standing around on the staircase."

Stan shrugged, "I'll leave you four to figure that out, I'm going to find Dwayne so he can meet Abby," and with that he slipped away.

Tim spoke up, "We could down into the living room."

Kate smiled, "That's a great idea, what do you think Abby, the living room is pretty cool."

Just then Tony elbowed her in the ribs, hissing, "What the hell was that all about?"

Kate glared at him and elbowed him back.

Tim tried to get their attention, "Um, Guys." They both spun around to look at him and he gestured to Abby, who had wandered off toward the dining room. They all hurried to catch up to her.

She stopped and looked a spot on the wall. The three of then stopped short behind her. She turned to look at them, "Do you see this?"

Tony frowned, "What are we supposed to be looking at?"

Abby sighed and pointed, "See right here, the paint is a little lighter."
All three of them leaned forward to take a closer look. Kate spoke first, "Huh, I never noticed that."

"How do you think it got there?" Abby asked fascinatedly.

Tim shrugged, "There are slight variations with any paint job."

Tony smacked the back of his head, "Where's the fun in that Timbo? I'll bet some blood dripped there."

Tim frowned, "Blood is pretty much neutral as far as PH goes. If something had dripped there, it would be much more likely to be something like stomach acid."

Kate cocked her head to get a better look, "Or bleach."

Just then Sarah came up behind them saying, "What are looking at?"

Tim turned when he heard Sarah's voice, saying, "Oh hi Sarah. This is Abby." He turned and pulled on Abby's shoulder gently and said, "Abby, this is our sister Sarah,"

Abby spun around and held out her hand. Sarah looked her up and down before shaking Abby's hand and saying, "Now that we've been introduced, are you going to tell me what you were looking at?"

Abby grinned and pointed, "See where the paint is a little lighter here?"

Sarah bent down and squinted, before saying, "That's what you guys were so focused on?"

Abby sighed, "We're trying to figure out how it could have happened."

Sarah bit her lip, "I read in a book that heat makes paint fade, so somebody must have been playing with matches in the corner and gotten careless."

Just then, Stan and Dwayne walked in. Stan grabbed his brothers arm and led him down the hall to where the group was clustered in the dining room. He smiled, "Hey Abby."

Abby Grinned, "Hey again."

Stan gestured to his older brother, "Abby , this is Dwayne, our oldest brother."

Abby stuck out her hand and Dwayne bent down closer to her level before sticking out his own hand and saying, "So you're who Stan dragged me home to meet. It's a pleasure, Abby."

Just then a set of footsteps came down the stairs and Gibbs walked into the dining room, carrying Misha. He gently set his girl down and grabbed Abby's shoulder, "Come on, we have to go back."

Abby pouted, "Can't I stay a little bit longer?"

Gibbs shook his head, "I've got work to do."

Abby looked up at him with her puppy dog eyes, "You do, but I don't. I could stay here with Dwayne…"

"Your Uncle would be worried about you," Gibbs said.

Abby rolled her eye, "No he wouldn't."

Gibbs scooped he up, "This is not up for debate, come on."

Abby looked down, "Good-bye everyone."

"Good-bye Abby," they all chorused as Gibbs carried her out.

He careful set her down in the front seat before getting in on the other side and driving toward the NCIS building. Abby bit her lip, "Can I come back to your house again some time."

Gibbs nodded, "Of course, you can come visit whenever you want, as long as your uncle says it's okay."

Abby shrugged, "He probably wouldn't even notice."

Gibbs hid his growing anger. If Sciuto was mistreating the girl…

Meanwhile, back at Gibbs house, Michelle was sitting on the couch with Tony, Kate and Tim.

She broke the silence, "So, is that our new younger sister?"

Tony shrugged, "My bets by the end of the week."

Kate sighed, "Tony, it's Saturday. "

Tony sighed exasperatedly, "By the end of next week then."

Tim nodded, "They did seem to be attached to each other."

Kate nodded, "Plus she seemed to genuinely think her uncle wouldn't care. That probably means he doesn't."

"She'll probably have moved in by the time school gets out for the summer on Thursday," Michelle agreed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/N This is a flashback to when Gibbs first met Abby. She does end up moving in with them (Duh), but I thought it was long enough. The next piece will be a Gibblet Thanksgiving. I was going to start it sooner, but it took me long than I expected to finish this. I hope you enjoyed it and I love reviews(Hint, Hint)