Suzanne's familial relationships were strained, as Gibbs learned over a Sunday afternoon Chinese dinner. The two sat at his seldom used dining table with various containers in front of the table.

"Are you mad at her?"

"Honestly…yes." Suzanne provided additional detail. Before continuing, she took a huge breath and paused. "She cleared the house of Daddy's belongings. Okay—understandable, but she put his stuff in garbage bags, as if to say he was baggage for all of those years."

Gibbs listened. By her shaky tone, the emotions were real.

"She didn't wait a year before marrying that clown! They were married 42 years…and but 10 months later, you can commit to another man?" Suzanne scraped the bottom of the container. In between the dialogue, she shook her head in disgust, stared out the window.

"I don't like my stepfather and I'm sure the feeling's mutual! That's why I stay in DC and they're almost 3 hours away in Williamsburg."

"I'm not a good example for speaking about marriage." Gibbs muttered.

Suzanne chuckled.

"Well, I'm not sure if I'll ever get married." Suzanne enjoyed the food, using chop sticks. "I never thought about it, dreamt it, and never really had relationships that led to that level. Maybe that's why Mom and I don't get along; I'm too much of Solomon's daughter! I am a reminder of Daddy in her mind."

A cloud of silence came about in the conversation.

"What about your siblings?" Gibbs asked. In previous conversations with others, he overheard men's names. She was the youngest of three, with all sharing the similar initials: Solomon David, Simon Daniel and Suzanne Denise. Suzanne was a Fort Campbell baby, Simon was Monterrey, and Junior was Fort Sam Houston. All three had similar tattoos in similar places as a reminder of their father, though he did not care for body art.

"Oh, we talk." Suzanne said. "We talk once a week and email every day." She explained that Junior lived in TX with his family, while Si was based in the Silicon Valley. Sol, or Junior to the family, was 40—11 years older and career Army, like their father. Simon was an engineer and 5 years older than Suz. Those two were delighted to have a baby sister; Suzanne was equally ecstatic to become an aunt to four boys by the time she graduated high school. Simon, divorced, had the youngest nephew, while Sol and Samantha had three: 15, 10, and 5.

"It's just my mother and her husband I choose not to continue a relationship."

Gibbs understood as to why all three remained close to their birthplaces. She happened to call Virginia her 'true home,' because it was Daddy's last stations before retirement. Before the Virginia Peninsula, the McNamaras lived on Fort Belvoir six years. He was fortunate to retire at Fort Monroe, the oldest military facility in the U.S. before its deactivation.

"Daddy called me Susie—spelled S-u-i-s-s-e—in the womb when he learned I was a girl. You know, 'Hallo, Suisse!' Well, Simon suggested my name—Suzanne Denise."

"So can I call you Susie?" Gibbs flashed a full smile, his blue eyes twinkling. Gibbs lightly touched her hand.

"Only you may call me Susie." She replied.

"Well, Susie…" Gibbs moved closer. "Let's spend Thanksgiving together." Gibbs squeezed his hand tighter, looked deeply in her eyes.

"We cook dinner, relax…just the two of us."

Suzanne smiled. "I'd like that."

Gibbs' rationalization: Suzanne opened her thoughts. It was admirable, to become so comfortable that she divulged personal, painful information. Why not, he thought. 'I have a lot to be thankful for this year.'