Disclaimer: Nope…..I don't recall owning anything other than Melanie and any other original characters and the plot.
A/N: Let's see….it's been…four months…I apologize for real life getting in the way, what, with summer plans, after school activities and of course end of school exams I'm lucky I even managed to keep up with real life. So don't think I totally forgot about this because haha, I deff didn't…..but writer's block did play a part….curse you writer's block! Anyhoo, enjoy ahaha.
Saving Melanie
McScaredy Cat
Abby's Lab
Melanie sat on the floor, playing with her Barbies, as well as pushing them around in the small car when a loud beeping was heard. Abby rushed over to the source of the sound as Melanie too, tried to walk over, tripping occasionally before making it to Abby. She had a look of excitement on her face as she began handling the heavily damaged cell phone.
"Bee bee, what is that?" she asked.
"This, my young protégé, is the key to one of our problems. And in about three seconds, the bee-man will be down here," she declared proudly. Right on cue, the elevator beeped signaling the presence of another person. Melanie stared in awe, back and forth between the beaming goth and her latest caretaker, as he strided past her, other three agents in tow, as they began making a bee-line to Abby.
"Well?" he demanded, impatiently.
"I managed to recover about 85% of the date so far. It seems Lucy was a very technologically educated individual," she began.
"So she was a nerd like McGoo, huh?" Tony taunted, his eyes darting over to a blushing McGee.
SMACK
"Shutting up now, boss," he remained silent, as Abby waited to continue.
"So as I was saying, she kept all her important records on this memory card in PDF format," Abby then began pulling up the multiple files that had been stored on the device. On the screen, various documents became visible, ranging from the three family members' birth certificates to bank records, as well as a copy of Matthew's criminal history.
"Two questions, one, why is that on there?" Gibbs asked, pointing to Matthew's criminal record.
"According to McGee, Mr. Riley shared some information about Lucy's relationship with Matthew when they were in the truck. He told him that while they had been having troubles, she'd been trying to make it work, since her job wouldn't be sufficient enough to provide for both Melanie and herself. Maybe she was hoping she could turn Matthew's life around, by constantly reminding him of his flaws," Abby theorized.
"And two, why does she have it in this TGF format or whatever it's called? She some kinda paper-saving tree-hugger?" he asked.
"That is a good question, which I actually am not sure of the answer. There are many reasons for her method of record keeping. I guess she would at least have them whenever she needed them, wherever she went," explained Abby.
"Get me the other 15% of the data. You have two hours," he stalked out of the room, before taking Melanie's hand, the other three agents following him.
"Where are we goin'?" she asked, carrying her Barbie with her to the elevator.
"Lunch," came his simple reply as the elevator groaned shut.
In the Elevator
Melanie sat at the four agents feet, gently stroking her doll's hair, while the four waited for the elevator to come to a stop. She stood up, reaching out to McGee, looking expectantly. Tim darted his eyes back and forth between his co-workers, confusion etched into them.
"Pick it up, McScaredycat, didn't scouting teach you anything," Tony hissed.
He hesitantly reached down and clumsily placed the small girl in his arms, holding her slightly away from him.
"Oh for goodness sake, Agent McGee, it's a kid, not a snake," Gibbs said, agitated. Sensing the probationary agent's slight discomfort, Melanie began to tear up, reaching for Tony instead. He too took her hesitantly, before reluctantly laying her head on his shoulder, rubbing the sniffling toddler's back.
"W-why doesn't he liking me?" Melanie whined, in between sobs, her Barbie doll dangling in her hands by its hair.
"S'ok kid, he just isn't used to this, that's all," he explained, shooting daggers at a flustered McGee.
At last the elevator arrived at their designated floor, as Tony gently set the now calm toddler down. All three male agents exited the elevator as Kate stood, waiting to exit as well. Melanie waited for her, before walking cautiously over to her.
"May I hold your hand," she asked politely, afraid to extend her own hand. Kate just shook her head, smiling, before taking the toddler's small hand in hers, noting the black nail polish with sparkles that coated her nails. Three hours and already she was turning into a mini-Abby. The pair walked over to Kate's desk, Melanie sitting on the floor beside her chair. Hesitantly, Kate patted her lap, as Melanie began climbing onto her. She slowly wrapped her arms around the small toddler, trying to type but finding it rather difficult.
"Didn't I say it was lunch time?" Gibbs demanded from his desk. The three looked at one another before gathering their things and heading towards the elevator. Melanie just sat in Kate's chair, unaware of what to do, looking over to her caretaker.
"Go ahead with them, I have some work to do," he explained softly.
"Gibby no come to lunch?" she whined. He shook his head, before resuming his rather slow pace, typing into his computer. She trudged over to the waiting three in the elevator, reaching up this time to Kate. She effortlessly scooped her up, setting the child on her hip.
"Where we goin'?" she asked, excitement lighting her eyes.
"Well, what do you usually eat?" Tony asked.
"Caroni and keese, kickin' nuggess, pizza, French fries," she replied, excitedly.
"Somebody sure has an appetite," joked Kate.
"Macaroni and cheese it is then. Think we could chill with Mr. Bob Evans?" Tony joked to the other two adults.
"We have an hour lunch break, and Gibbs is already agitated. Do you really wanna risk more head slaps to you?" McGee warned.
"Awwwwww don't be a baby McWhiney, it's for Melanie so he won't get mad, besides, I'm driving," he flashed his infamous grin, as the three left the elevator.
"Crap….we don't have the car-seat," Tony groaned. The three began to turn back around and ask Gibbs for his keys when all of a sudden Melanie took off heading towards a blue sedan. She effortlessly opened the door, as she began tugging at her, well, Kelly's, car-seat.
The three rushed after her, Tony helping her unpeel the car-seat from the actual seat of the car.
"Don't run off on us like that, Mel," he lightly scolded, breathing slightly heavily from running after her. The other two nodded their heads in agreement, as they began walking back towards Tony's car, Tony carrying the pink contraption. Once it was safely and properly installed in the backseat of his cherished Mustang they were ready to go. That is, until Kate and McGee got in a scuffle of who was riding shotgun.
"C'mon Kate," McGee whined.
"You know I'm not good with it," he continued. She just shot him daggers before sliding into the front seat.
"Oh let it up, McBaby. Like I'd wanna be seen with you in my front seat when I can have a hot - Ow!" he whined, rubbing his side, where Kate had elbowed him, glaring at him, forcing him to re-word his last sentence, carefully of course.
"Why would I want to be seen with you in my front seat when I can be seen with…" he struggled for words before deciding on just "Kate".
He backed out of the parking garage carefully, heading out onto the highway. It was only a few minutes into the drive when there was a loud grumbling.
"Guess we'd better get there soon," Tony joked to a now blushing McGee.