Chapter 39

Disclaimer: As I have said before I do not own NCIS or any of its characters. Just enjoy having a little fun writing about them. Thanks CBS.

During the next two weeks Gibbs and Samantha had gotten into the routine of living together. Gibbs would make sure she was awake when he left the house each morning. Samantha would call and check on him after school each day. If the team was working late on a case, Gibbs would give Samantha a call and she would either bring something she had cooked or would call and bring in take-out.

The couple would cook together each night that Gibbs was not working on a case. On the weekends the two would work together with the household chores. Kelly would join them on Saturdays. She enjoyed when she had her two favorite people now living in the same house. Basically they were very happy. There had been a few times things had gotten a little to close between them but each kept their resolve to wait until the wedding night.

NCIS

It was a Friday morning when Gibbs woke Samantha with a smile and breakfast in bed. He came into the guestroom, now Sam's room, carrying a tray with Samantha's second favorite breakfast. The menu consisted of blueberry pancakes and bacon. "Good morning beautiful." Gibbs smiled. "You ready for Spring Break" Samantha sat up in bed and smiled at him. She was beautiful even with her hair eschew, no makeup and the sleeve of her "I am in love with a Marine" T-shirt hanging off her left shoulder.

"So totally ready. I love teaching but I am just plain tired. Ready for a rest." She took the tray and smiled at him. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"You are basically breathing," he smirked. "You deserve the best."

"Why thank you kind sir."

"If you are really that tired, should we reschedule our visit to Stillwater? We could just take some time off here at home."

"No Gibbs, I want to meet your father and see where you grew up. I am looking forward to it." She was really enjoying her breakfast.

"What time do you get out today?" Gibbs asked.

"Kids leave at 1230 but I won't get out of there before 1400 at least. Need to leave my desk ready for a sub since we are going out of town. Why?"

"Thought if we don't have a case I could take a beautiful woman to lunch." Gibbs grinned and then kissed her forehead as she popped the last bite of pancake in her mouth.

"That would be wonderful. I will try to finish up quicker then." She smiled. Gibbs took the tray from her and started to the door.

He looked back at her as she turned to get out of bed. "Sounds wonderful sweetheart. I need to get to work. Call me when you get done."

"You are not leaving me without a proper thank you for breakfast." Samantha jumped out of bed and ran toward him. He took her in his arms and they shared a passionate kiss. When they pulled away Samantha was laughing and fanning her face with her hand. "Why Mr. Gibbs, you just take my breath away," she said in her best attempt at a southern belle accent. "Hope I can expect more of those later."

Gibbs just shook his head smiling. "You can count it my dear." He made an attempt of being Rhett Butler but failed miserably.

"Good attempt Jethro. Maybe Tony needs to give you Rhett Butler lessons."

He kissed her again. "We both need to get to work." He turned to walk out the door when Samantha swatted his rear end.

"Spoiled sport. You had to mention work."

He looked at her with a smirk. "You will pay for that later."

"Promises, promises." Samantha giggled grabbing her jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt and ran toward the bathroom for her shower.

"Not a promise, an assurance. Call me when you are done." Gibbs left the room with a huge smile on his face. He really loved having someone to share his life with.

NCIS

School had finished for the day and all the kids had been picked up by their parents. Samantha went to her classroom to get her desk ready for the day after Spring Break. She did not have much to do since the principal had decided to let the students watch a movie. So the teachers could work in their rooms. Elena, her suitemate, was in her classroom working as well. They were talking through the in suite restroom about their plans for the week off when Samantha's phone rang. "Looks like Gibbs, my lunch plans just fell through. Gibbs must have got a case," she told Elena as she walked toward her phone. Looking at the caller ID she answered it quickly. "Hey Julie, what's up?"

Samantha heard a soft scared voice on the other end. "Sam, Sam is that you?"

"Kelly baby, what's wrong? I can barely hear you." Samantha was afraid what this call meant.

"Daddy's here. I am in my safe room you and Gibbs build for me. Mama sended me her when he drove up. She said to call you."

"Ok baby. Stay there, I will get Gibbs. He can get there faster than I can. Hold on. Keep the line open." Samantha ran into Elena's room just as she heard a gunshot on the phone. Her stomach just twisted in a knot. She put her phone on mute so Kelly would not hear the fear in her voice. "Elena, I need your phone to call Gibbs. Kelly is on my phone and she needs Gibbs."

"Sure. What is wrong?" Elena handed her the phone and Samantha quickly dialed Gibbs' number. "Please answer," she prayed.

"Gibbs" Samantha relaxed a little on hearing his voice.

"Jethro, its Sam. We have a problem," she said excitedly.

"Sam, what's wrong? This is not your number."

"Kelly is calling on my phone. Dad showed up. She is in her safe room and called me." Samantha blurted out.

"I will come get you and then we can get over there."

"No Gibbs. You get there. I just heard a gunshot." She stopped talking and listened to her phone. She heard another shot and Kelly calling her name and crying. "Make that two shots Gibbs. Kelly is calling for me."

Gibbs turned and looked at his phone. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I have Kel on mute while I talk to you."

"Keep her on the line. Tony, Ziva and I will head over there. I will send McGee for you. Don't worry sweetheart. It will be ok."

Gibbs hung up and turned to his team. "Tony, Ziva with me. McGee get over to the school and get Samantha."

"What? Is Samantha ok Boss?" McGee asked.

"She's fine. Kelly's father is at the house. Kelly called Sam. She heard gunshots."

"On it Boss," they all said grabbing their gear.

Meanwhile back at school, Samantha handed the phone to Elena with a thanks. She turned her phone not on speaker only to hear Kelly crying. "Samantha, I am scared. I heard two shots. You did not answer."

"It is ok, baby. I was on another phone calling Gibbs. He is on his way. Stay put in your safe room until he gets there. He is bringing Tony and Ziva with him," she reassured her.

"Will you be here too?"

"Yes sweetheart. McGee is coming to get me but I won't be able to get to you until Gibbs says ok."

"Ok. I will stay here. I am very scared."

"I know darling. Gibbs made your room very, very safe. Daddy does not know about it. You know how he drives, he will be there soon. Then again he may have let Ziva drive."

Kelly giggled quietly. "Then they will be here very soon then. She drives crazier than Gibbs."

Samantha smiled. Her eyes were filled with tears and Elena could see she was very worried. She put her hand on Sam's shoulder. "It's going to be ok" she whispered. Samantha nodded.

Just then she heard the door of her classroom open in the other room. "Sam, are you in here?"

"I'm over here Tim." She then held the phone up. "Kelly, Tim is here. We are on our way. Just stay quiet. I am listening in. If you need me I am right her. Hug onto Bert Jr. He will keep you calm."

Samantha heard a farting noise over the phone. She knew that Kelly had hugged Bert tightly. "Ok, Sam."

Tim walked through the restroom into Elena's room. "Ready. Ziva was driving so they should be pulling up about now." Samantha pointed to the phone and mouthed "On speaker." "Hey Kelly girl. Start listening for Gibbs, Tony and Ziva. They should be there soon."

"Thanks Tim. Sam, I just heard two cars pull up and one had a siren, like a police car."

"That's ok baby. Somebody heard the shots and called Metro PD. The other car was probably Gibbs."

Tim motioned for Sam to go. She looked at Elena and signed thank you. "I will call you," she mouthed to her friend. Elena nodded and wished them luck.

NCIS

Samantha was right. The two cars Kelly heard were Gibbs with Tony and Ziva as well as a Metro PD car called by the neighbors. Gibbs, Tony and Ziva exited their car guns in their hands. Seeing guns drawn, the Metro cop pulled his gun ordering them to put down their weapons. "Damn," Gibbs muttered reaching into his pocket for his ID. "We are NCIS. The people in this house are Navy dependents. Mom and daughter. The father showed up with a gun according to the seven year old who called us."

"Restraining order on the dad" Tony added.

The officer looked at the badges. "Your case Agent Gibbs. We are here for back-up."

"Ziva, Tony, cover the back. I will go in through the front. Kelly is in a small room I put in the closet of her room." Gibbs ordered heading toward the front door. He knocked on the door. "Julie, Julie are you in here?" The door swung open revealing a horrible discovery. Julie was lying on the floor in a pool of what he assumed was her own blood. Gibbs stepped in carefully surveying the room. He figured Joseph Williams might still be in the house. Tony and Ziva came in through the back door past the kitchen into the living room.

"Oh no. "Ziva gasped when she saw the body. All she could think of was sweet little Kelly.

"Nobody out here, Boss." Tony added still surveying the room and heading down the hall with Ziva right behind him. Gibbs bent down and checked Julie for a pulse. Then he saw what had happened. The shooter had tried to disfigure her. He had seen worse but not often. Just then Tony came into the room.

"All clear, Boss." Tony said walking up on Gibbs and the body. "Oh man. Poor Kelly.

"Tony, call Ducky," Gibbs ordered grabbing his phone from his belt. He quickly dialed McGee's number. "McGee, all clear here. Get a BOLO on Joseph Williams and his car as soon as you pull up. Metro police are out front. Get them to start searching the neighborhood."

"Boss?"

"Can't talk right now McGee. Kelly might over here me. Bring Sam in around the back. Avoid the living room at all costs." He told the young man. "Have Sam tell Kelly to stay put. I will be in there to get her in a minute."

"On it Boss."

Overhearing the conversation Samantha knew why he wanted her to avoid the living room without being told. "Kelly, Kelly are you there?"

"Yes."

"Just talked to Gibbs. He will be in there in a minute to get you. Stay in your room until he comes for you. I will be there in a few minutes."

Gibbs hung up the phone and turned to go to Kelly's bedroom. "Gibbs?" Ziva asked.

"McGee is working on the BOLO. Start checking evidence. Going to check on Kelly." He started down the hall toward Kelly's bedroom. He stepped into the room closing the door behind him. He wanted to spare her what was about to happen but he did not know how. So at least he could keep her trauma to a minimum. She did not see the scene in the living room. "Kelly, its Gibbs. Tell Sam I am here. Hang up the phone and you can come out. All is safe now."

He went over to the closet and bend down near the end. He could hear Kelly saying he was there and hanging up the phone. He helped her open the door and come out into his waiting arms. She came out and hugged him to her. He could see that she had been crying. He rubbed her back and she started crying again. "I was so scared. Where is Mama?"

Gibbs really wanted to wait for Samantha until he told her about her mother but he did not want to lie to her. "Wait for Samantha sweetheart."

"Did my daddy shoot her, Gibbs?"

"Yes, baby he did." Gibbs managed to say. He started to tell her about her mother but Samantha came running into the room and stopped him.

Kelly left Gibbs' arms and raced into Samantha's. "Mama is dead Samantha." Samantha looked at Gibbs and he shook his head to say "No I did not tell her."

"I know she is Samantha. If she was just hurt you would have told me and taken me to her. Even if she was on the way to the hospital, you would let me see her."

"Yes Kelly, your daddy killed your Mama. I am so sorry." Gibbs said as Samantha picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Samantha held her close and motioned for Gibbs to get Bert Jr.

"You are so smart Kelly girl." Samantha tried hard to cry too. Gibbs sat down on the bed and held them both after he handed Kelly Bert. She hugged him tightly to her and he let out a familiar noise. Kelly just continued to cry into Samantha's shoulder.

The three sat there letting Kelly cry until Gibbs heard Ducky and Palmer drive up in the van. Gibbs tapped Samantha on the shoulder and signed he was going to check on the investigation. She nodded. "Let me know when we can leave," she mouthed. He nodded. "Love you" she signed. He nodded and signed it back.

NCIS

Ducky came into survey the crime scene and the body. "Such a sad, sad thing. Poor little Kelly. Does she know?"

"She figured it out Duck." Gibbs replied coming out of the bedroom. " What do you got?"

"Pretty sure Joseph did it boss. Metro PD is canvassing the neighborhood." Tony reported.

"Check the evidence and be super diligent with your investigation. We don't want this bastard to get off for this." Gibbs barked knowing that Joseph did this and that sweet little girl would go back to him if he got off on a technicality.

"Absolutely Boss," the whole team replied in unison. All knowing the repercussions of a mistake would be to Kelly as well as their family.

Gibbs watched as he team went about their investigation. Hoping they would find solid proof that Joseph was the killer of his wife.

NCIS

Samantha sat on the bed holding Kelly rocking back and forth like she was rocking a baby. Kelly's breathing has changed from the hiccup breathing from her crying to the slow steady breathing of someone who had cried themselves to sleep. Sam let her sleep until she was sure that she was sound then she laid her on the bed with Bert still clutched in her arms. She then laid a blanket over as she slept.

Samantha then got up and started walking the room. She thought about Julie and the fear she must have felt with Joseph's gun pointed at her knowing her baby girl was hiding in the closet. Her phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts. She figured it was Elena checking in so she answered it without checking the caller ID. "Hello"

"Don't hang up, Miss Waverly. This is Joseph Williams. Do you have my daughter?"

Samantha stopped short and stared at her phone. He was calling her. He wanted Kelly. "Yes, she is with me. Why?"

" I want her with me. Julie should not have taken her from me."

Samantha looked at the sleeping child on the bed. She said a small prayer that the phone did not wake her up. She knew she had to get Gibbs and she had to keep him talking. She moved quietly toward the door. "What do you want with her? You just killed her mother."

"What makes you think I killed that bitch that was her mother?"

"I just know. Kelly said you came to the house and then shots were fired." Samantha stepped out into the hall and quietly closed the door.

"She was there." Samantha pushed the mute button on her phone.

"Gibbs I need you up here now. Joseph is on my phone." She then got back on the phone and kept him talking. "Yes she called me."

"So that is why NCIS showed up so fast," he growled.

Gibbs came up next to her and signed. "Keep him talking." Samantha nodded. "McGee is tracing the call." Gibbs came to stand next to her so he could hear the conversation.

"Yes, I called them. Again what do you want with her. Julie is dead so you don't have any one in your way. Take off and live your live. Kelly will not cause you any trouble."

"Look bitch. I want my daughter," he screamed. Gibbs tensed when he her called a bitch.

"Well if I have anything to say about it you won't get her," Sam retorted. "I would bet the MCRT team of NCIS won't either."

Joseph growled again at her. "Well if NCIS or you get in my way I will kill you too." Joseph cussed under his breath. "You won't trace this call." Then he hung up. Samantha just slid down the wall letting the phone drop gently on the floor.

"McGee, you get anything." Gibbs yelled sitting down next to her putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Got a cell trace, Boss. Need to go back to NCIS to check it out."

"Do it McGee." Gibbs looked down at Samantha who was trying not to cry. "You did that just right. McGee got some good intel from it."

" I know but he wants Kelly, Gibbs. Not because he loves her but because he can control her. This baby has just lost her mother and then he wants to take her just because he can."

"He won't get her. I promise. He confessed to you that he killed Julie. We will find the evidence to convict him."

"Gibbs, if you put him in prison then what happens to Kelly?"

Just then Tony came upstairs. "Don't think we have to worry about Kelly, Sam. Just found this in the desk drawer." He handed her an envelope with Samantha's name on it. "I opened it before I realized it was addressed to you."

"That is ok, Tony. What does it say?"

"Julie wanted you to be Kelly's guardian if something happened to her."

"Really," Samantha said wiping the tears out of her eyes. "Is it legal?"

"Yes, signed by a lawyer and everything." Tony smiled. "Boss, Ducky and Palmer have the body on the way to NCIS. You can take Kelly out of here."

"Everything cleaned up DiNozzo."

"Sort of. We covered things up and if you take her out the back. She will not see anything."

"She's asleep anyway." Samantha replied laying her head on Gibbs shoulder.

"Well let's get her out of her and back to NCIS. I want to get both you and her out of this guy's line of fire." Gibbs stood up and helped Samantha up. "DiNozzo get the evidence back to Abby."

"On it Boss."

"Come on let's get that baby out of here." Gibbs went into the room and bent down and picked Kelly up. She moaned and then snuggled into his shoulder.

Gibbs and Samantha left the crime scene. Kelly was snuggled on Gibbs' shoulder holding fast to Bert. Samantha put her hand on Gibbs' arm and they walked out the door toward the car. Ziva and Tony followed close behind. "Going to be rough until we catch this bastard." Tony whispered. Ziva patted his arm and smiled.