Chapter 41

Thanks for all the reviews. I am over 100 reviews. Never thought this would happen. I had started this chapter on Sunday but guess my computer did not like what I wrote so here goes again.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of the characters from this series. Just enjoy it so much that we need more stories containing our favorite characters so here goes.

Gibbs raced over to the house in Silver Springs with McGee sitting in the passenger seat desperately trying not to look scared as he boss weaved in and out of traffic. He was also talking to Abby as they were searching for Joseph's cell phone with no luck. "Have Abby check the BOLO, McGee. Maybe local LEO's have spotted him." Gibbs growled. He was upset and he desperately wanted this over. Both of his girls were in danger and his gut would not rest until this bastard was caught and put away.

"On it Boss. We will find him." Gibbs made the corner of the street on two wheels throwing McGee into the passenger door. He moaned slightly causing Abby to worry then she remembered the attitude that Gibbs had when he left the lab. He had to be speeding toward Tony and Ziva.

Gibbs had barely turned off the car before jumping out and racing into the house. "What you got DiNozzo?"

"Not much Boss. This was just a campout place for Williams. No clothes, food or furniture. We found where he was sleeping on the floor. "He pointed to a sleeping bag in the corner of the room.

"Anything telling us where this bastard went and how long he has been gone?" Gibbs barked.

"No Gibbs. Just the note on the refrigerator." Ziva reported. "We found some fingerprints around but not much."

"Damn," Gibbs said putting on gloves and looking at the note. "This SOB is after Samantha as well as getting Kelly. "

"Boss, Sam just got a text from Joseph. He blames all of us for losing his family and you for stealing his daughter." McGee reported. "Abby just called. She is trying to trace it but no luck so far."

"Anything on the BOLO."

"No. Boss."

"It's still early. DiNozzo, David question the neighbors. We can hope we have really nosey one." Gibbs ordered.

Tony and Ziva nodded and headed out the door. "Then Gibbs turned to McGee. "McGee, you look around again. See if you can find anything else."

Gibbs and McGee looked around again while Tony and Ziva got witness statements. Nothing surfaced. Gibbs was frustrated and hit the wall with his fist. "Damn, "he said looking at his watch. It was now 0130. "It's late. DiNozzo, you and Ziva head home and get some rest. Be in by 0700."

"Are you sure, Boss? We could still keep trying."

"You are no good to me falling asleep. Kelly and Samantha are safe for now. I want you two to stay together. This bastard is crazy. He is mad at all of us. So nobody is safe." Ziva and Tony looked at each other. "Yes I said together. I want you both back at 0700. So get some sleep."

"Ok, Boss," they said together heading for the door.

Gibbs turned to McGee. "Let's get back to NCIS. You get Abby and take her home with you. I meant what I said. I want everybody safe and everybody needs some rest."

"Sure Boss. Are you going to take Sam and Kelly to your house? Do you need me there for protection?"

"Yes I am taking them home. Call ahead and get a team to watch my house. "

"On it Boss" McGee picked up his phone and called dispatch. He asked for a three agent team to watch the house. "Round the clock, Boss." Gibbs nodded mumbling about something letting them stay home and not spend this entire investigation locked inside Abby's lab. He knew they would be safer at the lab but it was not good for Kelly.

The two men got back into the Charger and drove back to NCIS. McGee and Gibbs got the evidence out of the car and took it up to Abby's lab. When they got there the agent guarding the door nodded as they came in. "All is quiet in there Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded as he walked past him. Abby would have turned off her music so Kelly could sleep. Gibbs walked into the lab with McGee right behind him. He found Abby lying on the floor using Bert as a pillow. She was sound asleep covered up with a blanket. Gibbs smiled at the sight of his sleeping lab tech and walked into the office only to find Samantha and Abby curled up together on the futon wrapped in a blanket.

McGee smiled when he saw Abby sleeping peacefully on the floor. He reached into his pocket and got his phone out and snapped a picture of his sleeping angel. He then followed his boss into the office to see Gibbs smiling at the sight of the two sleeping forms on the futon. "Anything else before I wake Abby up Boss," he whispered.

"Check the BOLO maybe something has turned up." Gibbs whispered back. McGee started to leave the office when Gibbs stopped him. "McGee, you got your cell phone camera thing?"

"Yes, what do you need?"

"Can you get a picture of this?" Gibbs motioned to the two on the futon. "Just too special not to save."

McGee got out his camera and got a couple of pictures for Gibbs. "I will print these out for you."

"Check out that BOLO and get Abby home. " McGee started to leave the office when Gibbs looked at him. "Thanks, Tim" McGee smiled and nodded and left the room. Gibbs then knelt down and began to gently running his fingers through her hair. Samantha moved into his touch. Gibbs knew to wake her up gently because of the last time he startled her awake she jumped and was very, very angry. He then leaned in and kissed her slowly and sweetly on the cheek and then worked his way to her lips. He then whispered into her ear as she began to respond to his kisses. "Sweetheart, wake up. How about we get you and Kelly home?"

Samantha's eyes opened and she smiled up at him. "Home? Does that mean _"

"No we don't have him yet. Bastard's tricky. But we will get him. Thought you and Kelly could use some home time."

"Are you sure Jethro? We are fine here."

"I know but the team is just spinning its wheels. Maybe we will have a better shot at catching this guy after some sleep." Samantha nodded at him and carefully began to sit up as not to wake Kelly. Gibbs took her hand and helped her stand. She just fell into his arms sleepily. Gibbs wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I will catch him Sam. I promise."

"I know," She rubbed her hand on his cheek. "I know." Just then Timothy McGee cleared his throat. The couple pulled apart and looked in his direction.

"Nothing on the BOLO Boss."

"Ok Tim, get Abby and get some rest. O700 in the morning." Tim left the office and gently woke Abby and left the building.

Gibbs started to pick up Kelly but Sam stopped him. "Let me get her so you can drive. I am just too sleepy."

Gibbs nodded and helped her lift Kelly's sleeping body into her arms. "Ready to go home." Samantha nodded and the two headed for the parking garage and then home.

NCIS

The drive to Gibbs' house was quiet. Kelly was asleep and Samantha was dozing holding her in the back seat. Gibbs looked through the rearview window occasionally to check on them. When they got to their Arlington home, Gibbs got out of the car and took Kelly out of Samantha's arms. Kelly mumbled something about Gibbs and snuggled into his neck. He headed for the house followed by Samantha who noticed the black Dodge Charger parked across the street. "Gibbs, Agents?"

"Yep, want you protected." Samantha smiled and then closed the door locking it behind her. Gibbs started up the stairs but instead of the guest room where Samantha slept he went past it and went to the master bed room. He went over to the king sized mattress in the middle of the room. It was just the mattress set on a bed frame. The couple had bought the mattress a couple of weeks after Samantha moved in. Gibbs was building a head and foot board as a wedding present for Samantha. It was his current secret project in the basement. He laid Kelly carefully on the bed. Samantha looked at him questioningly. "Want you both in here with me. Want to keep you safe." Sam smiled and nodded in agreement. She then yawned. Gibbs walked up and put his arm around her shoulder. "Go get ready for bed. We both need some rest."

After getting into her sweats and an old NIS shirt of Gibbs, Samantha came into the bedroom to find Gibbs sitting on the bed waiting for her. As she climbed into the bed she noticed his Sig sitting on the night table next to the bed. She smiled knowing Gibbs would not sleep much. She then lay down next to Kelly who was now sleeping peacefully covered in a blanket. Gibbs silently lay down next to Samantha spooning up close to her putting his arm around her waist. "Love you" he whispered.

Samantha took his hand in hers lacing their fingers together. "Love you too."

NCIS

Both Gibbs and Samantha did not sleep well that night. Each having their own demons to keep them awake. About 0300 Samantha decided to give up, she carefully moved Gibbs' arm from around her waist and she tried to get up without waking Gibbs or Kelly. Just as she was slipping off the end of the bed Gibbs grabbed her wrist. "You ok. Where are you going?"

" I am fine, just needed to visit the head," she whispered. "Try to go back to sleep I will be right back."

Gibbs mumbled "Ok, bed feels empty without you." Samantha secretly hoped he would fall asleep and not come looking for her. She needed to think about what was bothering her. She went downstairs not turning on the lights until she got to the kitchen. She got herself a diet coke and went into the living room. She was really upset so she turned on the movie The Great Race staring Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Jack Lemon. That was one of her favorite movies to watch when she had something gnawing at her brain. She knew it by heart so she could think.

She had been sitting there about an hour when Gibbs quietly came down the stairs to find her crying during an extremely funny part. He started himself some coffee and then came and sat down next to her. "You did not come back. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said wiping the tears out of her eyes and off her cheeks.

"Right. You always cry during this movie." He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. "Come on don't make me interrogate you. Tell me. I am here to help. Is it about Julie?"

"Sort of. I look at Kelly and it hurts, Jethro. She basically has lost both her parents. She is alone."

"She has us. We can get her through this. She is a really tough kid. What else is bothering you? This is not just about Kelly." He leaned in and gently kissed her lips. "Can't help you if you don't tell me."

Samantha snuggled into his arm and put her hand next to his heart. "It is silly Jethro. Just my anxiety bothering me."

"Are you worried about Joseph?" She shook her head no. "Then what?"

Samantha then just looked at the floor. "I'm afraid Gibbs and not about Joseph. I know you can protect us from him. He is a nonissue. It is after he is caught I am afraid of." Gibbs looked at her in shock. His mind racing about what she was talking about.

"Sam, I don't understand. After we catch him, things will go on as normal. We have a wedding and then a special honeymoon trip."

"That's my point Gibbs. It won't be normal. I am Kelly's guardian. That means to me that I will take on the role as her mother. Hell I feel as if she is mine already. I want nothing to happen to her."

"That is why Julie picked you. She knew you loved Kelly like your daughter. What is your point?"

"Jethro, do I have to spell it out? I will be Kelly's mother. She will have to live with me, with us." The tears started again. She looked him in the eyes. "Have you not thought about it?"

"What? "

"If we get married and I am Kelly's mother that would make you her father," Samantha blurted out as she burst into tears.

"What do you mean if? When I marry you, I will be Kelly's father." That is when it hit him. When they catch Joseph no matter what happens Kelly would be living with them and he would be her father. He thought "Kelly's father. Can I do this?" He now knew what she was referring to.

"See you have not thought about it, Jethro. Can you be this Kelly's father?" Samantha took his face in her hands. "I can't ask you to take on Kelly knowing what you still feel for your Kelly and her loss. That would be totally unfair to you and to her. Wouldn't it?"

It was like he was hit in the gut. She was saying she would leave him if he would be hurt by her actions. He would not lose her over this. Thoughts of Shannon and Kelly Gibbs ran through his head. Could he really take on another child with the same name and about the same age as his dead child? He looked into her eyes and saw unconditional love for him and Kelly. "You are not going anywhere." He managed to say. "What makes you think I would let you go?" He turned her to look at him. "First, I love you no matter what." He picked up her hand and began to twist her engagement ring. "I asked you to marry me and you accepted. I did not give you this just to let you bail because of this. Sure there may be some problems with me being Kelly's father but nothing we can't work out. I love you and her that is what is important." Samantha smiled and stared into his eyes. "Let's just take this one day at a time. Catch Joseph and then we will face each challenge as we come to them. "

"Don't borrow trouble. Right."

"Exactly, I love Kelly as my own. She is a special little girl. I would love to replace that bastard that is her father. She deserves better than what she has had so far." He then took Samantha in his arms and kissed her passionately. The couple continued to make out on the couch until their moment was disturbed by a blood curdling scream coming from the master bed room.

Gibbs and Samantha raced up the stairs Gibbs stopped by Sam's room and grabbed her service weapon from the locked box in the dresser. The screams continued. Kelly was calling for both of them. Samantha looked at Gibbs and signed "Bad dream"

Gibbs signed back "Hope so." Gibbs led the way into the room with the gun drawn. There on the bed was Kelly holding Bert tightly, tears streaming down her face and shaking violently. Gibbs quickly checked the room and then motioned for Samantha to go to Kelly. "All's clear." He put his gun down and moved to the bed sitting down on the other side of Kelly. "You ok baby girl."

She snuggled into them both. "I had a bad dream. Daddy came to my school and tried to take me away from you."

"He's not here baby. I am here, Gibbs is here and he had two guards outside to protect us." Samantha hugged her close and Gibbs began to stroke her back.

"Kelly, I won't let him get to you. I promise to keep you safe." Kelly looked and him and wrapped her arms around him giving him a big sloppy kiss. Then Samantha took Kelly and began to rock her like a baby. She began to softly sing a lullaby. Gibbs looked at both of them and smiled as Kelly's eyes began to droop as she went back to sleep. He adored this side of Samantha. She was now Kelly's mother. He knew he loved them both with all of his heart so any issues he had with being Kelly's father figure would fade away with time. He hoped.