Chapter 17

Thank you to all the new readers that have added my story to their alerts. Also, thank you to Kikillia14 and DS2010 for your consistent reviews.

Again I still don't own NCIS.

Samantha's phone rang just as Abby started to the car to take the trio to George W. Bush Elementary. Samantha looked at the caller ID and smiled. Hello Jethro. "

Abby and Ziva could hear Gibbs on the other end of the phone. He was angry and was letting Sam know of his displeasure at her for leaving his house and going out so soon out of the hospital. "Yes Jethro, Abby is driving. Calm down I know what the doctor said. I am fine. Ducky just checked me over. Isley is in jail and I am traveling with an NCIS agent." Samantha pulled the phone away from her ear. Now Abby and Ziva could hear what he was saying. He was still upset and kept asking why she was going to school. "Jethro, will you just calm down and listen. I got a call from Elena. It is about Kelly. She came to school late and very, very upset. They can't reach her mother and they can't get her to tell them anything." Ziva and Abby looked at each other. They knew that Gibbs would have a connection with a student named Kelly. They wondered if Gibbs had told Samantha about his lost family.

All three women could tell that this calmed him down. "Do you need me Sam?"

"Let me talk to her Jethro. I will call you later. It might be nothing. She has been a little on edge lately and I am not sure why. Possibly she was running late and then when I was not there she panicked"

"Ok, keep in touch. Tell Abbs that she can stay with you as long as you need her." He was still not happy but he had come to realize that Samantha's "kids" were her life and Kelly was super special.

I will. Try not to worry Jethro. Kelly tends to be a little dramatic. Let me find out what is wrong." She was trying to calm herself down as much as him. "Talk to you later. Love you."

As she hung up the phone Ziva looked at her. "He was B. O. ed, yes."

"It is P. and you could say that."

"You know he is not going to stay at the office. "Abby smiled as they turned into the school parking lot. Samantha directed her to the teacher's parking area.

"True. I hope he was not driving here while we were talking. The way he drives when he is upset and on the phone could be a dangerous combination."

The three women got out of the car and walked into the building. As they stepped into the office they could hear a little girl crying almost screaming. I take it that Kelly is in the nurse's office, Mary." The secretary looked at her friend. "Yes, you have to tell me what happened to you."

"I will Mary. These are my friends Ziva David and Abby Scuito from NCIS. Samantha reached into her pocket and pulled out seventy-five cents. She handed it to Abby. "Mary would you show Abby where the coke machine is. We need a Dr. Pepper and two paper cups. Sam instructed. "Mary, is the boss here? "

"No do you need me to call her?"

"Let me talk to Kelly and see what I can find out." She handed Mary her cell. "Try all her mother's numbers with my phone. Maybe she will answer for me."

Ziva and Samantha walked into the nurse's office. Kelly was sitting in a small blue chair tissue in hand. When she saw Samantha she jumped up and ran into her teacher's arms not realizing that Samantha was injured. "Miss Waverly, Miss Waverly. Where were you? I got to school and you weren't here. I really needed you. You never miss school."

The two walked over to a small bed that was next to the wall. Ziva stood helpless and Samantha began talking in a soft voice and stoking the girl's red tangled hair. She looked like she had slept in her clothes and no one had brushed her hair that morning. "Ok Kel. What's the matter sweetheart? Why were you so late?"
Abby came in with the Dr. Pepper, Samantha motioned for her to pour two glasses. She handed one to Kelly who woofed it down. I spent the night in the shed and Mommy did not come get me. I overslept and I raced to school."

"Baby, why were you in the shed?"

"Mommy and Daddy were fighting. It was so loud. I ran in there and must have fallen asleep. Mommy usually comes and brings me in after Daddy leaves. I am scared Miss Waverly."

"Did you look for her in the house before you left?"

"No. I just ran to school. You said …" She stopped talking and held her cup out for Abby to fill it.

"And I was not here. Sorry about that baby. I was in a little accident."

Kelly finally looked up at her teacher and saw the sling and the bandage on her neck. "Did someone hit you too?" Kelly asked.

"No of course not. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. I will be fine. Jethro took good care of me. It looks worse than it is. What do you mean did somebody hit you too? Has somebody hit you?"

"Not me Mommy. Sometimes Daddy hits Mommy when he comes home walking and talking funny. Then he gets mad and I go to the shed to play." Kelly started to cry again. I am afraid for Mommy."

"Don't worry honey. We will find her." A male voice said from the doorway. Samantha looked up and saw Gibbs standing there. She could see a tear in his eye.

"Jethro." Kelly said, Are you going to save me again?"

"I'll try baby. Let me talk to Miss Waverly." He looked at Abby. "These are my good friends Abby and Ziva. You can tell them anything about your mother. Gibbs motioned to Samantha to meet him in the secretary's office.

"Are they from NCIS too?" Kelly asked. Jethro nodded and winked at her. "We will take care of everything." He smiled.

When they stepped out Mary told them that she had reached Kelly's mother and she was on the way over. "That bastard is hitting Kelly's mother Jethro. Not that she will admit it."

"This is a NCIS case now. She is a Navy dependent and falls under our jurisdiction."

I know but will you let me talk to her when she gets here?" Samantha asked him. Mary, maybe you should call the boss and let her in on what is happening."

Mary agreed and picked up the phone. Just as she did in walked Julie Williams, her hair was a mess and she had been crying. Both Samantha and Gibbs noticed a large bruise on her shoulder and there were bruises on her arm like someone had grabbed it hard. Samantha walked up to her. "Samantha, what happened to you? Where is Kelly? Mary said she was very upset."

"She is ok. I have some friends watching over her right now. What about you? You look like you have been through the wringer yourself. Can I get you something?"

Samantha took Julie by the hand and led her into the conference room next to the principal's office. Gibbs followed amazed how natural an interrogator Samantha was. The three sat down and Julie tried to keep up a good front. "Julie, Kelly says her father hit you."

He does not mean it. He only gets that way when he is drunk."

"Tell me how long has this been going on?" Samantha asked holding Julie's hand.

"Since he came back from Iraq. He used to be so gentle with Kelly and me but since he came back. Well….."

Julie, this is my friend Jethro Gibbs. He works for NCIS and he wants to help."

I remember you. You helped Kelly when those boys were picking on her. She sees you as her hero. She might even have a bit of a crush." Julie told him. She looked into his blue eyes and saw safety not anger like she was constantly seeing in her husband's eyes.

"Mrs. Williams, you need medical attention. Let us take you to the hospital."

"No they will call CPS. I don't want to loose Kelly." Then she looked at Samantha. "Oh no! Now that you know you have to report it don't you. I will loose Kelly for sure."

"She already has reported it to NCIS. We will get to the bottom of this. You still need medical attention but ….." Gibbs replied.

"Ducky could look at her."

"You read my mind. He smiled. "Mrs. Williams let me take Kelly and you to my house. I have a friend who is a doctor. We can get both of you checked out. Looks like you both need a good meal. Then we can go from there."

Mary stepped to the door. "Samantha, Mrs. Brown would like to speak to you." Samantha rolled her eyes. She knew that this was not all according to policy. Gibbs said, "Let me talk to her. I bet I can smooth things over. Take her to see Kelly and get Abby and Ziva to get them to my house. Call Ducky to meet us there. After I talk to Mrs. Brown we can pick up something for them to eat. Not sure what is at my place."

"Not much. We cleaned out the pantry. You had stuff in there from the 90's Gibbs but nothing eatable."

Gibbs smiled and went to speak to Mrs. Brown. Julie and Samantha walked into the nurse's office. Kelly ran to her mother. They shared a very special hug. "Julie, you sign Kelly out. Abby will you drive Julie and Kelly to Gibbs' place? Ducky is on the way to check them out."

"Sure." She looked at Samantha. "I will come with Gibbs and we will bring food. I won't be long. "Samantha introduced Abby and Ziva to mother and daughter. When they walked into secretary's office Gibbs was just getting off the phone. "Mrs. Brown is letting NCIS handle the situation but we have to submit a report to her and the superintendant later."

Julie smiled and hugged Kelly. She knew Miss Waverly would protect Kelly at all costs but now she had Gibbs on her side. Somehow she knew everything would be ok. Samantha gave Kelly a hug. "Baby it will be fine. Jethro and I will be there in a minute. McDonald's be ok for lunch."

"Yes, Daddy never let's us get a Happy Meal anymore."

"Ok, when you get there my laptop is upstairs. Abby will find some cartoons or something for you."

"Thanks Miss Waverly" Kelly smiled.

Jethro smiled at the sight. Samantha truly loved Kelly. He just hoped she would not end up getting her heart broken. These things very seldom turned out good. He just hoped that this time his gut was wrong.