DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!

LIVING AFTER THE DYING

Ch. 3

As Gibbs was driving home from the airport his gut began to tighten. Suddenly it was clear to him why it was important for Kelly to ride back with her grandparents. He had left them still waiting for their luggage, promising to have a nice lunch ready for them when they arrived.

Now sensing, before seeing the eyes that were watching him he pulled onto his street and planned his actions. He quickly pulled into his driveway and threw himself across the seats just as a barrage of gunfire erupted. There weren't as many bullets flying as he expected and it ended much sooner than he realized.

The sound of approaching footsteps had him reaching for his firearm in the glove compartment. As the door swung open he turned and prepared to shoot, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice.

"Whoa there Gunny," the gravely voice of the NIS agent said as he raised his hands in surrender. "You wouldn't want to shoot someone that just saved your life now. Would ya?"

Gibbs sat up looking out the rear window as another agent was inspecting the damage of car across the street. "Hernandez?" he asked.

"Yep. Seems he thought he could get a jump on your little girl, but we had some eyes watching. I would've been here regardless making sure you arrived safely."

Gibbs nodded convinced that the agent meant what he said. He noticed the car Mac was driving approaching and moved to intercept Kelly before she noticed what had happened.

She was an observant girl though and took in the NIS agent standing with her dad and it was only a moment later before sirens could be heard coming in their direction. Still she let her father take her into his arms and carry her into the house. He looked into her eyes and saw some of the fear he'd been hoping to avoid residing there.

"It's okay now," he comforted her pulling her tight against his chest. "The bad man is never going to come for you again."

She looked up, the question clear on her face. Gibbs nodded answering her silent question, but replied out load, "Yes, Agent Franks and his partner killed him."

Kelly pulled herself closer to her father and cried quietly. The nightmares that had plagued her might not end right away, but now she knew that the man who had killed her mother got what was coming to him.

Gibbs sat her on his lap and wiped away her tears. "I have to go talk with Agent Franks for a few minutes. Stay her and your grandma and grandpa will be right in."

She nodded not wanting to let him go, but secure that he'd be back soon enough. She watched her dad through the window as he crossed the street to where the two agents were conferring with the police that had shown up.

The officers seemed to accept whatever they were told and after shaking hands returned to their vehicles and left. An ambulance with NIS on the side showed up and a man with glassed exited and spoke with Agent Franks before peering in at what she assumed were the bad guys. She shuddered and turned to the door to see her grandparents entering carrying their bags.

She hadn't even noticed them walking up to the house she had been so intent on the group of men. Her grandmother held out her hand and Kelly quickly walked to her to be wrapped up in another hug. Her grandfather patted her shoulder and rubbed her back gently between her shoulders. It was so comforting to have them here, too.

"How about we make a pot of coffee for your dad and his friends?" Joann asked. "And some hot chocolate for the rest of us?"

Kelly smiled slightly glad to have something to keep her busy for a few minutes time.

"You planning to hang around to make sure none of his men come looking for revenge?" Gibbs asked not wanting to risk dropping the protection detail if there was still any threat against Kelly.

"We can do that if it makes you feel better, but from what we've been able to gather from our intel without Hernandez to call the shots his cronies will be fighting amongst themselves to keep the product going. I think she'll be safe enough," Franks assured him.

Gibbs nodded observing the work around the crime scene. "I'll leave you to it then," he shook Franks' hand and turned to head back inside his home.

"Hey, Gunny," Franks yelled out stopping Gibbs in his driveway.

He turned to face the agent to find out what he wanted.

"When you get back why don't you come and visit me at my office?" Franks liked something about the younger man and hoped he could convince him a job on his team would be worth taking.

"I just might do that," Gibbs gave another nod and continued back to join his daughter. They had only another day ahead to spend together before he left. He wanted to make the most of it and hopefully be able to leave her with no fear of anything happening to either one of them.

Dinner was accompanied by little conversation. Kelly pushed her food around between glances at each of the adults. Gibbs sent the unspoken message that he would discuss things with his in-laws after Kelly was asleep. The Fieldings altered looks of concern and frustration, but knew it was best to wait until later to hear Gibbs out.

Kelly volunteered to help her grandmother with the dishes while Mac and her father stepped out, so her grandfather could smoke his cigar.

"Is it really over?" Mac asked. The stress had been straining his relationship with Joann. Neither had been able to accept the death of their daughter. If it wasn't for Kelly to give them someone to hold onto, he didn't think their marriage would survive. Knowing they wouldn't have to worry about their granddaughter's safety would certainly give them a ray of hope for the future.

"According to Agent Franks there shouldn't be any more to worry about," Gibbs shared what he'd been told.

"That's good," Mac blew out a puff of smoke. He stared at the end of the cigar searching for the words he wanted to say next. "I know Joann will be relieved, but," he paused looking across to Gibbs who had been staring off as he listened but turned to meet his gaze, "She's going to want to still be needed."

Gibbs gave a half smile. He knew his mother-in-law fairly well. He recalled how distraught she was when He moved Shannon and Kelly across the country. He knew he'd need to figure out a way to assure her he wasn't going to alienate her from Kelly.

The two men remained silent lost in their own thoughts until Kelly came out to stand between them. They both looked down as she took their hands. "Grandma made some coffee for you and she's dishing out some ice cream," she smiled at them. Joann must have worked some magic to bring Kelly out of her sad mood.

"Well I guess we better get in before the ice cream melts," Mac winked at her as Gibbs swung her up into his arms.

"Let's go," he bounced Kelly in his arms as they made their way back to the kitchen.

At bed time Gibbs sat beside Kelly in her bed as he read her a story. He relished the closeness wanting to make the most of the time they had before he had to leave. He was surprised when she put her hand over the page he was reading and stopped him.

He raised an eyebrow looking down into her upturned face. "Something wrong/" he asked.

She played with a button on his shirt trying to voice the fears she still felt inside. "Is the bad man REALLY gone?"

Gibbs pulled her onto his lap and rested his chin on her head holding her tight. He would kill that man all over again for destroying her feeling of safety. He lessened his hold on her, but still held her close. 'Yes, he's really gone. No one will ever hurt you," he promised.

"Do you think Momma is still with us?"

"She'll always be in our hearts and as often as we think of her she'll be with us," he shared his own belief with her.

"Is that how you kept your momma with you?" she asked pushing back just enough to look up into his face.

Surprised she asked about his mother, since he had never discussed her with Kelly. He reflected back to those hard days following his mother's death and wondered if he hadn't quite thought of her often enough.

"Actually I wish I had," Gibbs told her running his fingers through her hair. "I can still remember now though," he smiled, "You have her hair."

Kelly returned his smile loving that she had something in common with the grandmother she never met. Her grandpa had shared a few stories when she'd visited with her mother. She felt sad thought that her dad missed out on remembering her.

"Maybe we can remember Grandma when we think about Momma, too," Kelly suggested.

Gibbs hugged his daughter again his cheek on her head marveling what a precious child she was.

"That we can do," he patted her back. "Now it's time for you to lie down and get some sleep."

He lifted her high off his lap eliciting a giggle and scooped her under her blanket. As he tucked her in he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Kels."

"You too, Daddy," she said softly as he slowly closed her door after turning off her light.