Chapter 8
The truth is revealed and Fathers meet daughters.
Tim had dropped Catriona off at Ducky's the night they had been to dinner and now she walked into NCIS with Ducky, arm in arm. Two men were standing, backs straight and almost to attention in the bullpen, a white box in each one's hands. Catriona pulled away from Ducky and stood to attention and saluted the men who clicked their heels and laid the boxes down on the ground.
"Thank you, gunny. Thanks, Lieutenant." She said to the two men, her American accented Scottish slipping neatly back into place.
"Anything for you, ma'am or to help find Andy's killer." The taller of the pair, a blond man, said kindly, a Texan drawl to his voice.
"I appreciate it, Ben," Catriona said to the blond man before turning to the black haired one. "Is she here?"
"Aye, lass, she's here." The other, who must have been Steve, said as another Scot among their party. Catriona smiled and hugged both the men as they left. "Take all the time you need, lass."
"Thanks boys!" She called as they reached the elevator and saluted. Once they were gone she took a deep breath and stared at the boxes on the floor before picking up the pair of them and sticking them on DiNozzo and Ziva's desks. She moved towards Tim, who smiled and she gave him a look which said "stay". So he did as she moved off to the conference room upstairs leaving him alone with Tony and Ziva, Ducky and Gibbs.
Upstairs, Alice Rose was sat, picking at her shirt sleeve as she waited for her mother to arrive. She was still in shock, she hadn't understood why she had been sent to stay with Steve and his wife, Marissa, the night before... The night of the... Of her godfather's death.
She had cried when Steve had told her and Marissa had hugged her, but all she really wanted was to be with her mother, to support her. She looked up and brushed her dark hair off her pale face and out of her hazel eyes as the door opened. She stood up and rushed to hug herself close to the warm comforting embrace of her mother.
"Hello, lass." Catriona said, her Scottish lilt back, in that comforting tone she used with Alice Rose when she was upset.
"How could someone do such a thing, Ma?" Alice Rose said, tearfully.
"I cannae tell you lass, people do things for all manner of reasons." Catriona, stroked her tall daughter's back. Alice Rose's head, rested on her mother's shoulder with ease and that meant she was almost as tall as Tim, already at nearly 15.
"Ma? Have ye told them? Da and Granddad?" Alice Rose asked suddenly and pulled away from her mother's shoulder.
"Aye, he Da knows. But granddad doesnae yet, lassie. But he will, soon." Catriona promised. "Come on, Ali. There's someone who wants to meet ye."' She smiled and took her daughter by the arm down to the rest of her family.
Back downstairs, Tim smiled as he saw Catriona returned and then stared at her newly acquired companion. He recognised her, the girl from the photograph.
"Everyone, this is Alice Rose. My daughter." Ducky looked stunned at his daughter before he held out his arms for the child.
"Alice Rose. After your mother?" Ducky asked as the child hugged him.
"Aye. I hope ye are not angry, papa?" Catriona said, quietly.
"Nay, how could I be angry, with my ducklings?" Ducky expressed, hugging both of his girls.
"Good. Tim, its time to tell them." Catriona said as she and Alice Rose disentangled themselves from Ducky.
"Yes. Hello, daughter." He smiled to Alice Rose, a head shorter than him, like Catriona.
"Hello, Da." Alice Rose said, meeting her father's hazel eyes, brimming with tears. The pair hugged each other tightly. Tony and Ziva exchanged looks with each other, Abby did the same with Jimmy and Gibbs and Ducky just looked stunned.
"Daughter?" Tony asked.
"Yes, Tim and I met at University at Johns Hopkins, we dated for three years and then I went to Scotland to do my Medical Degree at Edinburgh where dad went. A month after I arrived I found I was pregnant with Alice Rose. Tim is her father." Catriona smiled, her hand on Tim's shoulder.
"And Katie is my fiancée. We're going to get married, now she's back here..." Tim smiled and Alice Rose grinned excitedly.
"I am also going to ask for a transfer to NCIS or the local hospital, Alice's schooling is being transferred too." Catriona said proudly.
"I'm so glad. Welcome to the family, Timothy." Ducky said holding out his hand for Tim to shake.
"Thanks, Ducky. I'll take good care of her."
"You better." Came another voice from the end of the bullpen and Catriona put herself between the newcomer and her family, pushing Alice Rose behind her, protectively.
"Get. Out." Catriona hissed and the newcomer laughed maniacally.