A/N1: So here is Chapter I (a slightly shorter one^^) thought I better post it before my computer crashes completely and I probably won´t have access to the Internet for a while.
A/N2: Thanks a lot for the reviews I really appreciate them and I´m always open for constructive criticism. But now have fun. =)

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Tell me that you want to dance.
I want to feel your pulse on mine.
Just treat me like a stolen glance to yourself…

Snow Patrol – The Golden Floor

Chapter I - Instinct

"McGee, DiNozzo you start pulling records. Get everything we need." Gibbs ordered and the men nodded, walking over to their desks to get their tasks started. "I´ll go down to the morgue, Kate you´re with me."

The brunette followed her boss to the elevator and together with the five-year-old they boarded the metal cabin. Since they left the scene Brady didn´t say a single word, he was just holding onto Gibbs´ hand.

"Ah Jethro, Caitlin it is a pleasure to see you." The older medical examiner said and smiled at the field agents, they could see at least a little hope in his face that the two would pull themselves together. The last weeks had been bumpy -to put it nicely- for everyone. Finally his gaze dropped down to the boy. "So you must be Brady Carmichael."

Though the Doctor smiled friendly at him the child shied away and half hid behind the gray-haired investigator´s legs, not entirely convinced if he should trust the new man.

"Yes he is. Brady this is Ducky, he will take a look at you just to make sure that you´re okay." Gibbs explained to the boy after he bent down on his height, scooping him up while he stood up again. The silver haired fox sat the child on one of the slabs and took a step back, watching all of Brady´s reactions. "It´s okay I´m right over there just talking to Kate."

Brady nodded slowly and let the older man perform his exam. It seemed like he wasn´t even attempting to listen to Duck´s story but watched the Scot´s actions closely. Every now and then he glanced at Jethro who was talking to his agent in a hushed voice.

"You want me to call the youth welfare?" The brunette asked in sober tone and followed her boss´ look to the fair-haired boy on the slab.

"I think that would be better. We can´t help him here, we can protect him if anyone is still after him but we can´t help him to deal with what happened." The silver haired man replied and Caitlin could see in his blue eyes that he already cared for Brady, a look she had seen not often enough directed at her when they were together. It was a well-known fact that Jethro Gibbs had a softer side and she demanded to see it, she tried hard to break through his guard, wanting to know even more about this enigmatic man but failed, was excluded respectively.

"What if someone is still after him, Gibbs? How can we protect him when he is in some foster home or worse an orphanage?" Caitlin shook her head to get rid of the thoughts about what they shared which stopped her from focusing.

"We will find a way." He stated and ended their brief conversation, walking over to the Doctor again to see what he found. Of course he saw the caring look in his agent´s brown eyes, just like he saw it every other time when they had to deal with children. But at the same time his investigator-side won and told him to focus on the case and not on her, because he already knew it would end in a disaster. "So?"

"Well, he is very healthy little boy, Jethro. You don´t have to worry about this." The Scot explained curtly and Gibbs nodded, understanding the implication his friend used to spare the details in front of the child.

"Alright, thanks Duck." The good Doctor just nodded and watched the gray haired man leaving the morgue with Brady clutching his hand. Caitlin remained with the oldest team member and when she turned slightly she could see the deep lines of concern creasing Donald´s forehead.

"Oh my, what happened to him Caitlin?"

"His parents were killed in the night and he found them in their living room. Slit throats, hands and feet tied…" The female agent explained and sighed, while Ducky just shook his head. "I guess you´ll have their bodies down here in no time."

"Dear god! Do you think someone is still after him?" The medical examiner asked and the younger woman nodded.

"It´s quite possible but we don´t know yet why his parents were murdered, so we go by the book. He definitely needs some professional help." Kate explained and Donald could only agree with her. After all it was the best for Brady. "And we have to look for relatives who could take him."

"Surely you have to." The older man replied and Caitlin left the morgue as well. He watched her go and wondered if the tension between Kate and Jethro would ease anytime soon. They made it possible to work with them but the underlying strain was still affecting anyone around them. "I´m just afraid someone might get hurt, because he is getting to close…"

"Doctor Mallard could you help me here, please?" Palmer asked and appeared out of nowhere at least it looked that way to Duck.

"Of course Mister Palmer, am I right that those two are the parents of little Brady?" Donald asked and Jimmy only nodded. Together the two wheeled the bodies into the morgue and started the autopsy shortly afterwards. When they were done with the autopsy Ducky sighed heavily and looked at his assistant who was preparing the Gunnery Sergeant. "Mister Palmer please add to Mrs Carmichael´s report that she was about three months pregnant."

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