It was a normal morning. Well as normal as it ever got in the bullpen. Special Agent Sheppard was looking through a list of UA marines and Navy personnel and Special Agent Pacci was rearranging the things on his desk so that they were perfectly aligned and symmetrical, just the way he wanted them. The team hadn't had a case in a while. Special Agent Gibbs walked into the bullpen and set his trench coat on the back of his chair. Just then the phone rang. Gibbs picked it up and said, "Special Agent Gibbs."

"Special Agent Gibbs, Sir. You gave me you card when Petty Officer Wolf was killed and told me to call you if you remembered anything. But I called to report another murder. NCIS investigates on behalf of Navy families right?"

Gibbs said, "Uh-hu," realizing that she might have a case for them, "What happened?"

The petty officer sounded close to tears as she said, "I came and I found my sister lying in a pool of blood."

Gibbs softened his tone. He knew what it was like to lose family, "Tell me her address and we'll be right there."

The petty officer replied, "567 Jefferson Avenue, Apartment 3B."

Gibbs said, "We're on our way," then hung up. Both Chris and Jenny were looking at him. They were surprised by his unusual amount of phone etiquette. Gibbs stood up and said, "Grab your gear."

They grabbed their gear and they all got into the truck and drove to the crime scene in relative silence. When they got to the apartment, they found the Petty Officer who had called sobbing in a corner and heard the wails of a baby. Gibbs quickly gave out orders, "Jenny, sketch and shoot, Pacci bag and tag," before slipping away to their chorus of "yes boss."

He made his way into a room in the apartment away from the primary crime scene. It was a nursery, painted light blue. There was a baby crying in the crib in the center of the room. Gibbs scooped him up and rocked him gently, murmuring soothing words. Soon the little baby's wails became sobs and his sobs became sniffles as he calmed down.

Jenny poked her head in the door to say something and was shocked to find Gibbs holding the baby. She knew he was good with children but she had never seen him look so natural with a baby before. He looked at her and asked, "Something I can help you with, Agent Sheppard?" keeping his voice calm to avoid upsetting the baby.

She gulped, "Pacci and I are done processing the scene, but I couldn't get much out of the witness. She's still crying."

Gibbs nodded, "Take the evidence back to Sciuto. I'll talk to her."

Jenny just answered "Yes Boss," before leaving the room.

Gibbs stayed in the room a little longer, rocking the baby until he was asleep before he made his way out of the nursery and into the livening room where the Petty Officer whose sister had been killed was still sitting. He made his way over to her and sat down and said, "Hey," gently.

She looked up at him through tear stained eyes, "You're from NCIS?"

He nodded, "Uh-hu."

She bit her lip, "The Seahawk had just come into port and I was coming to visit her, to see how she and Jimmy were doing."

Gibbs asked, "Jimmy's her son?"

The young Petty Officer nodded, "She worked at a club downtown, doesn't know who the father was. But she was a good mother, and my sister and she deserves justice."

Gibbs gently laid a hand on her shoulder, "We're gonna find who did this, but we need to know exactly what you saw. Do think you can help us catch the bastard by telling us."

She just nodded once before saying, "I got her around quarter past 1400 hours. I knocked, and Jimmy was crying, so I figured she was rocking him or something and that's why she didn't answer the door, so I opened the door, it wasn't locked and I came in and then I saw her, lying there with the blood and I called NCIS, but then it really hit me, she's dead and I couldn't stop crying, and then you guys showed up."

Gibbs nodded, "Okay, what club does she work at?"

The Petty Officer told him the name of the club and then she said, "Oh shit, what about Jimmy?"

Gibbs raised his eyebrows, "As a material witness to a murder, he'll be taken into the custody of NCIS. Do you object to that?"

She sighed and looked at Jimmy sadly before saying, "It's probably for the best, just… treat him well, okay?"

Gibbs nodded, "Of course Petty Officer."

With that, he stood up and made his way back into the nursery and packed a bag of cloths as well as things like diapers and formula. He then slung the diaper bag over one shoulder and left the apartment taking Jimmy with him.

He made his way to the car and cradled the little boy on his lap as he sat in the stationary car and called director Morrow. He wasn't sure if what he did was legal, but the fact that the Petty Officer agreed with little to no argument was more concerning.

"Morrow," the director answered his phone.

Gibbs looked down at the baby before saying, "I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but I've got a bit of a situation."

"What kind of situation Agent Gibbs?"

"Well Sir," said Gibbs, "It involves a material witness in our case."

Morrow frowned, "Petty Officer Palmer?"

Gibbs replied, "No sir, she just found the body. I took her statement at the scene; I see no reason to detain her."

Morrow was silent for a moment then said, "There was another witness then?"

Gibbs took a deep breath, "The victim had a son."

Morrow inhaled sharply, "How traumatized is the boy?"

Gibbs replied, "I don't know. He's asleep now."

Something in Gibbs tone of voice caught his attention and he asked, "Where is he?"

"Well sir," said Gibbs, shifting slightly in his seat, "That's why I called. I took the child into NCIS custody."

Morrow frowned, "On what grounds?"

Gibbs looked down at the gently stroked the still sleeping Jimmy's hair as he said, "Well for starters, his mothers dead and his father is unknown. That makes him an orphan. "

Morrow sighed, "And his aunt?"

Gibbs said, "Emotionally unfit."

Morrow asked, "Why?"

Gibbs replied, "When I told her I was taking him into custody, she didn't resist."

Morrow sighed, "Jethro…"

Gibbs cut him off, "Think about it. Your sister just died. They try to take her son into custody and you don't even object?"

Morrow bit his lip, "I see your point. Bring the boy back to the Navy Yard. We should have Doctor Mallard check him out to make sure the attacker left him alone."

Gibbs replied, "Yes Sir," and hung up, focusing on the task of holding Jimmy while driving so that the boy didn't wake up.

Jimmy woke up and began to cry as soon as Gibbs stopped the car in the Navy Yard parking garage. Jethro got out of the car and began rocking him back and forth. He quickly stopped crying and Jethro carried him into the building. It was around 15 hundred and Ducky was getting ready to stitch the Petty Officer's sister up when Gibbs walked into Autopsy carrying Jimmy facing over his shoulder so that he didn't see his mother's dead body.

Ducky looked up, "Jethro, I was just finishing the autopsy on…"

"Got a patient for you, Duck," Gibbs cut him off.

Ducky saw the baby in Gibbs arms and said, "Oh dear. Gerald, would you be so kind as to finish her up?"

Gerald nodded, "Of course Doctor."

Ducky stripped off his bloody gloves as he walked toward Gibbs and asked, "May I ask who the patient is?"

Gibbs said, "He's a witness in our case. His name's Jimmy."

Ducky nodded, "All right, we can do the exam in my office so he doesn't have to see the dead body."

Gibbs nodded and followed Ducky, gently shifting Jimmy in his arms as they headed in a different direction so that he still wouldn't see the body. When they came to the room and Ducky closed the door, he turned to Gibbs and said, "What's this all about Jehtro?"

Jethro sighed, "He's the victim's son. I took him into NCIS custody."

Ducky frowned, "Why in heaven's name would you do such a thing?"

Jethro glared at Ducky, "You weren't there with the sister. She's emotionally unstable, not in a position to take care of the boy."

Ducky sighed, "Did you clear it with the director?"

Jethro smiled slightly, "I need you to check him over, make sure that the attacker didn't hurt him."

Ducky asked, "An official write up?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

Ducky nodded, "Right, just set him down of the table."

The table was cold steel and Gibbs carefully removed his Jacket and set laid it on the table before setting Jimmy down gently. As soon as he left Gibbs' arms, he began to whimper and Gibbs rubbed his hair and murmured soothing words to him. He quieted down.

Ducky began his examination. It was made more difficult by the fact that every time Jimmy lost contact with Gibbs he would start to whimper again, but eventually Ducky managed to finish his exam and declare the baby to be in excellent health.

Gibbs scooped up Jimmy and said, "Send a copy of the report up the Morrow when you finish it." With that, he strode out of autopsy, taking Jimmy with him.

He headed up to the bullpen. Jenny and Chris were sitting at their desks. "Report," he barked.

Jenny grabbed the remote and put a picture up on the plasma of the murder victim, saying, "Alyssa Palmer, age 24, sister of Petty Officer Olivia Palmer, worked as a dancer at Club Vlassim, talked to the manager there he claims that he hasn't seen her since…" She trailed off when she turned to look at him and saw that he was holding Jimmy.

He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Since when Sheppard?"

Jenny cringed at the gentle rebuke of her last name before saying, "Since she got off her shift last night at 0200 hundred. He said she didn't show up for her 1300 shift today."

Gibbs nodded, "Ducky puts TOD around half past noon, Petty Officer found her body at 1420." He turned to Chris, "What da you got?"

Chris glanced down at his computer screen and said, "She received 5 calls the day she died, One from John Troison, manager of Club Vlassim, one from the payphone outside the Norfolk main gate, called the guard who was on duty, said he saw Petty Officer Palmer used the phone about the time the victim received the call. One call was from a phone in Ohio, belonging to the victim's mother, the last two both came from the same number, a disposable cell phone purchased within the last three days. One of those calls was received a few minutes before she died."

Gibbs said, "Keep on it." He felt himself being watched and looked up. Director Morrow was standing on the catwalk looking down. He beckoned Gibbs up. Gibbs headed out of the bullpen and up the stairs.

Gibbs and the Director stood next to each other for a while, neither of them speaking for a few minutes until the director broke the silence and asked, "You took him to see ."

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

Morrow looked at him, "How is he."

Gibbs shrugged, "Nothing physically wrong with him."

Morrow nodded, "That's good. Do you think your team is capable of running the investigation?"

Gibbs nodded, "They're good agents."

Morrow simply said, "Then take the rest of the day off."

Gibbs frowned, "Sir?"

Morrow looked at him, "That's an order Jethro. Take the baby home with you and don't come back until tomorrow."

Gibbs said, "Yes Sir," and headed for the stairs. He descended the stairs as fast as he dared with Jimmy in his arms and came back to the bullpen where Jen and Chris were working. He said, "Find out who did this," then grabbed his bag from his desk and headed for the elevator.

He left the NCIS building and headed for his car. He then carefully set Jimmy on his lap and drove home. When he got there, he pulled into the driveway, turned off the car and sat for a minute. He hadn't thought about how the other kids would react when he came home with a baby.

It was mid-July and he was fairly certain all of them were home. He sighed, he couldn't put it off. He scooped up Jimmy and stepped out of the car and carried Jimmy and their two bags up the front walk to the door.

The door was never locked and he pushed it open easily. He heard a squeal and running and looked up to see Abby running down the stairs, Michelle and Sarah following more slowly. Abby stopped short about three quarters of the way down the stairs when she saw Jimmy. She got over her shell shock and made her way toward him, Sarah and Michelle following.

She came up to him and asked, "What's his name?"

Gibbs smiled, "His name's Jimmy and he's going to be staying here for a little while. Where is everybody?"

Sarah shrugged, "Tim and Kate are upstairs playing some kind of game, Tony and Stan are out back playing soccer and Dwayne went to the library to get to his summer reading book. How come you're home so early?"

Gibbs dropped the bags and made his way into the living room saying, "Director ordered me to come home." He sat down on the couch and turned to Michelle saying, "Abby, go and get Stan and Tony from outside and tell them to come in. Sarah, go get Tim and Kate from up stairs." The two girls rushed off to fetch their siblings and Michelle came over and sat down next to him on the couch.

In a few minutes, all the siblings were gathered in the living room and Gibbs said, "Everybody this is Jimmy."

Everyone leaned in to take a closer look, Michelle seemed particularly taken with the baby and stroked his hair gently. Gibbs went on to say, "He's going to be staying here temporarily ."

Tony piped up, "That's what you said when Tim and Sarah moved in." Kate glared at him, and punched his arm and he said, "Not that it's not great to have them as siblings and all, but is Jimmy going to end up being our brother?"

Gibbs looked down at the baby, who was looking curiously at all the new faces from the safety of Gibbs arms. He sighed, "I don't know, but while he's here, I want you to treat him like he is."

Just then, the door opened and Dwayne stepped in. Seeing them all gathered in the living room, he made his way toward them and asked, "What's going on?"

Abby piped up, "We have a new baby brother!"

Dwayne bent closer and smiled down at his new little brother, "Hey there little guy."

Sarah said, "His names Jimmy."

Gibbs stood up handed Jimmy to Kate. Jimmy cried a little at first, and Gibbs stroked his hair to calm him. Then he stopped and Jimmy was still calm, lying in Kate's arms. Once Jimmy settled down, he made his way toward the doorway into the hall. As soon as he was a few feet away Jimmy started crying and Kate looked panicked as she rocked him back and forth and said, "Hey, it's okay, she, it's okay."

Gibbs came back and careful adjusted her arms and Jimmy stopped crying. He ran his hand through his hair and said, "Follow me."

He made his way out of the room and Kate followed, carrying Jimmy. Gibbs kept glancing back to make sure they were okay, but they were fine. He made his way down into the basement, past the boat to where Kelly's old crib lay disassembled in a box, just where Shannon had put it, years ago, when Kelly had gotten her big girl bed, claiming they'd need it again sometime for Kelly's little brother or sister. He almost shed a few tears, but he pushed those feelings aside as he gathered the unwieldy box in his arms.

He brought the crib upstairs, Kate following all the way. Right as he set the box down again in his room, Jimmy started to cry and he took the baby from Kate and told her, "Go and get Jimmy's bag from down stairs."

Kate did as she was bidden and came back up half a minute later with the bag. Gibbs carefully rummaged around until he found what he needed and changed Jimmy's diaper. Kate slipped away at this point and Gibbs just sat on the bed with Jimmy for a little while until Abby poked her head in and asked, "Whacha doin'?"

Gibbs smiled, "I'm just sitting with Jimmy." He jerked his head and Abby came bounding in and sat down next to him. He stood up and set Jimmy down in her lap. She smiled and cooed at him. Jimmy seemed a little distressed at Gibbs getting up but Gibbs patted his head and he didn't cry.

Gibbs then went over to the box and Abby piped up, "What's in the box?"

Gibbs simply said, "A crib for Jimmy."

Abby and Jimmy sat there for a while, watching their father put the crib back together after all these years. When he was done it was it was about 1700 and Gibbs scooped Jimmy up and headed downstairs and outside to watch Stan and Tony play soccer. About half an hour later, Gibbs started dinner and all in all it was a great day.

The next morning he woke up to Jimmy crying and scooped him out of his crib quickly and changed his diaper and made him a bottle. He went downstairs and made coffee, thinking about what he was going to do with Jimmy. He would leave him here with Dwayne, but he couldn't even leave the boys sight without him starting to cry. Just then the phone rang and Gibbs ran over to answer it, "Gibbs."

Director Morrow said, "Good to see you're up. Listen, bring the baby into NCIS with you today, the people form child services want to take him."

Gibbs felt his gut tighten but said, "Yes Sir."

Dwayne, who always got up early, stepped into the kitchen and said, "Good morning, Jethro."

Gibbs replied, "Morning."

Dwayne made his way to the table and sat down, asking, "Have you thought about what you're going to do with Jimmy while you're at work today?"

Gibbs shrugged, "Morrow called and asked me to bring him in today. Something about him being a witness."

Dwayne knew he was lying and asked, "Child Services?" Gibbs glared at him. Dwayne shrugged, "They'll probably grant you custody."

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu," as he poured himself a thermos of coffee. He set the coffee on the table and carried Jimmy upstairs with him. He set him back in his crib and went to take a shower, but Jimmy started crying so Gibbs ended up bringing the baby into the shower with him and washing them both. He managed to get them both dried of and dressed without too much trouble.

He took Jimmy back in his arms and went around to each of his children's rooms and said good bye. Then he came back downstairs to where Dwayne was making toast and patted Dwayne's shoulder said, "See you tonight."

Dwayne nodded, "Bye."

Gibbs left the house and headed to his car, getting in and setting out for the Navy Yard, Jimmy in his lap. He drove slower than he usually did, but still managed to get to work on time.

He made his way into the bullpen, where Jenny and Chris weren't in yet. He set his bag and Jimmy's bag down by his chair and had just sat down when Morrow appeared on the cat walk beckoning him up. He sighed and made his way up the stairs, carrying Jimmy with him.

He met Morrow on the catwalk. The director sensed some of him annoyance and said, "I'm sorry Jethro, but calling child services is the procedure. " Gibbs nodded mutely. Morrow sighed, "They're waiting in the conference room."

Gibbs walked slowly toward the conference room. He held Jimmy in one arm as he opened the door and stepped into the room. A middle age woman was already sitting there. He guessed she was the social worker. She was sitting at the head of the table. Gibbs took a seat one over from the head. She raised her eyebrows but merely said, "You're Special Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs leaned back "Uh-hu."

She nodded and said, "You took the child in question into NCIS custody?"

Gibbs nodded, "I did."

She glanced at Jimmy, "Is this the child in question?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

She looked down at her notes, "It says here that you found the aunt to be emotionally unstable. What gave you that impression?"

Gibbs answered, "She was crouching in a corner, crying her eyes out, barely able to talk. Then she asked me what to do about Jimmy."

The lady nodded, "I see. So Jimmy spent the night with you last night?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

She said, "You had Dr. Mallard do a complete physical?"

Gibbs said, "Yes ma'am. He's in perfect health."

She nodded, "I see. And I suspect you want Jimmy to stay with you until he can either be placed back with his aunt or adopted into a permanent home?"

Gibbs nodded, "Uh-hu."

She sighed, "I don't know…"

Gibbs cut in, "He's doing well at my house."

She bit her lip, "I willing to hand over temporary custody, but first I need to do an independent evaluation."

Gibbs frowned, "Ducky examined him yesterday."

She smiled slightly, "Exactly. That will serve as our basis for comparison."

Gibbs was furious that she thought even for a second that he hurt Jimmy, but he knew there was no way Jimmy could stay with him if he didn't play ball with social services, so he took a deep breath swallowed his anger. "Fine," he said.

She held out her arms expectantly. He handed Jimmy over to her. He didn't make too much of a fuss. Once she had Jimmy securely in her arms she turned to Gibbs and said, "You have to leave the room now. I'll let you know when I'm finished"

Gibbs looked and Jimmy. He knew the baby would start crying the minute he left the room, but he smiled and stroked Jimmy's hair one last time before standing up and walking out the door quickly without looking back.

He could hear Jimmy wailing, even as he shut the door. It tore at his heartstrings and he wanted nothing more than to run back in there and scoop Jimmy into his arms and hold him and rock him and murmur soothing words and kiss his forehead until he stopped crying.

Morrow was waiting outside the door. He said, "You can't go back in there until she's done with the independent evaluation, Gibbs."

Going against all his instincts, Gibbs walked down to the bullpen. He stopped in front of Pacci's desk, "What do you got so far?"

Chris looked up in surprise, but composed himself enough to grab the plasma remote and click it causing a arrest record to appear on the screen, "Our prime suspect is Greg Narin. Hired muscle for the Strip club where the petty officer's sister worked. DNA tests show that the kid we found at the crime scene is his."

Gibbs slapped the back of Chris' head. "His name is Jimmy."

Chris nodded, "Gotcha Boss."

Gibbs nodded at the screen, "You gonna bring him in?"

Chris grinned, "Jenny's just stashing him in interrogation now. You gonna interrogate him?"

Gibbs shook his head. He needed to be available when the social worker finished with her independent evaluation of Jimmy, "Nope. You are."

Chris frowned, "Me Boss?"

Gibbs shrugged, "Or Jenny," before making his way out of the bullpen and up the stairs. Once he knew they had Jimmy's mother's killer in custody, he could breathe easier. He stayed outside the conference room and paced. He knew he should be doing something else, but he couldn't bring himself to leave.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, the social worker came out, holding an hysterically sobbing Jimmy. Gibbs immediately snatched Jimmy from her arms and held him, rocking him back and forth, kissing his forehead and murmuring soothing words. Jimmy stopped crying fairly quickly.

The social worker said, "I am awarding you custody Agent Gibbs."

A/N- Finally finished! Sorry it was so long. The next Gibblets' piece will be a Tony sticks up for Tim piece. I'm also working on updating Jimmy's bullied, as well as a sequel to Elevator Confessions. And, last but not least, I still don't own NCIS.