FAMILY PORTRAIT, FAMILY SHADOWS

CHAPTER 5

Three days later

NCIS Bullpen

The bullpen was quiet this afternoon. In between cases at the moment, the members of Team Gibbs were working on cold cases. Tony had gone down to the legal department to ask questions about a warrant, and the boss was up in MTAC with the Director. Gibbs had given the 'Do Not Disturb' order. Tim and Ziva were at their desks, working through files. They were so engrossed in their work, they never heard the ding of the elevator or the arrival of a guest.

"Um, excuse me. Agent David?"

Ziva jumped, startled, and looked up to see Kaity standing next to her 'almost elderly' babysitter, Mrs. Mertz. "Mrs. Mertz, Kaity…..what are you doing here?" Neither had been expected, Ziva didn't think.

The pleasant, white-haired woman seemed concerned. "Is Agent DiNozzo around?"

"I am sorry, he is elsewhere in the building at the moment. Is there something Agent McGee or I could help you with?"

Mrs. Mertz looked down at Kaity, who looked very sad. "It's up to you, sweetie. What would you like us to do?"

"Wanna' stay wif Aunty Ziva," Kaity said softly.

Mrs. Mertz explained. "We were going to go see mommy, but she's in court. Kaity's feeling a little blue this afternoon, and nothing Mr. Mertz or I tried could cheer her up. She wanted to come see mommy and daddy."

"G'ampa," Kaity said sadly around her thumb.

Ziva stood and crouched down in front of the little girl. "I am sorry you are so sad, sweetheart. Would you like to sit with me for a little while?" She was a bit concerned when Kaity just nodded and held up her arms to be picked up. Ziva picked her up and walked back to her desk and sat, cuddling her close.

"Thank you, agent David. Are you sure this is alright?"

Smiling down at the young girl, Ziva said, "it is fine, Mrs. Mertz. I do not get nearly enough time to spend with my niece, so this will be good for both of us, yes?"

Mrs. Mertz looked relieved. "I'd best go save my living room from AJ and Mr. Mertz. There were train tracks all over the place when we left. Who knows where they made it go?" She laughed, and went over and kissed Kaity on the head. "I'll see you tomorrow, pumpkin. Maybe you'll want to play then."

Just then, Tony walked in. He was surprised to see his kids' babysitter. "Mrs. Mertz…? What's wrong? Are the kids…." He stopped and smiled when he saw Kaity cuddled up in Ziva's lap. "Heeeyy! There's the future world champion gymnast! Hi kiddo!" He held his arms open, waiting for her to run into them. He was confused when Kaity cried a little and hid her face in Ziva's shoulder. Mrs. Mertz motioned him over, and he followed her a little bit away.

"I don't know what happened, Tony. She was supposed to go to gymnastics today, right?"

Tony mentally checked his brain's calendar. "Yeah, I'm sure today was the day. What happened?"

The worried older woman shrugged. "All I know is, her friend Mandie's mother was dropping her off at the regular time. I asked Kaity why she wasn't going to gymnastics, but she wouldn't tell me anything. She's been quiet all day, hasn't said hardly anything, didn't want to play. …Just sat watching videos. She even had her thumb in her mouth a few times."

Sighing, Tony wracked his brain, trying to figure out what was going on with his little girl. "Something's been bothering her. I've seen her sucking her thumb in her sleep, and she hasn't done that in ages." He looked back at his daughter cuddled up with Ziva, hating that almost despondent look on her little face. "Thanks for bringing her, Mrs. M. I appreciate it."

She waved it off. "Oh, Tony. You know I'd do anything for those beautiful kids of yours. I've got to be going. No telling what kind of trouble Mr. Mertz is getting AJ into!" She turned and left with a wave.

Tony watched the babysitter walk off, then went over and crouched at Ziva's side, trying to get Kaity to look him in the eye. "Hey, baby girl. What's wrong?" He was confused when the girl turned her head away from him. "Kaity? Honey, you ok?"

Zivaa gave the girl a comforting squeeze. "She does not appear to have a fever," she whispered to Tony. "She just seems incredibly sad about something."

Nodding in thought, Tony held out his arms. "Wanna come sit with me and tell me how I can make it better?"

"Want g'ampa," Kaity said quietly into Ziva's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, baby, he's up in MTAC with Uncle Director, in a very important meeting. You sure your ol' dad can't help?"

Kaity just shook her head. Tony stood and looked down at her for a moment. "Well, if you change your mind, I'm right at my desk, ok?" She didn't even nod, just ignored him. Back at his desk, he kept looking across the room at Ziva working on her computer around Kaity in her lap. What the hell was going on with his sweet girl?

A little while later, Ziva stood, Kaity in her arms. "I am sorry, little one, but I have to go run an errand. Here, let's go sit with your daddy…"

"No! No daddy. Wan' Unca' Tim."

Ziva saw the hurt and confusion on her partner's face. "Are you sure? Your father has been waiting to hold you…"

Kaity firmly shook her head. "Unca' Tim. P'ease."

Shrugging at Tony, Ziva looked to Tim, to see if he was willing. He nodded and pulled out his laptop. "Hey Kaity. Want to watch some of your princess videos while I work? I've got some on my laptop."

The little girl nodded sadly. "Yes, p'ease."

Ziva carried her over and went to set her on her feet, but Kaity held out her arms for Tim to hold her. He scooped her up and she snuggled into his chest.. He did some re-arranging of both her and the computers on his desk, and then the laptop was in her view. Tim pressed 'play', and one of her favorite Barbie Princess movies began. As Ziva walked away, Tony got up and followed her.

"What's going on, Zi?"

Ziva shrugged, as concerned as he was. "I have no idea. Mrs. Mertz just showed up with her, said Kaity was feeling a little sad today, and wanted to come see you and Abby. Abby is in court, so she brought her up here."

Tony was at a loss. He had no idea what to do in a situation like this - it had never happened before. "Do you think she's sick?"

"She did not have a fever. She was not warm. Maybe she misses being in school. Being with all her friends, and then one day she hardly ever sees them anymore. What do they call it…separation anxiety?"

Tony wasn't convinced, but it did seem plausible. She loved school. "Yeah…maybe. I'll wait a little while longer. If she doesn't perk up, I might bring her down to Ducky."

Ziva gave him a part on the arm and walked away. Tony walked back to his desk, watching his daughter snuggled up to McGee, watching her princess movies. It was eating him up that she wouldn't come to him. She's always come to him for comforting. He shook his head. He couldn't believe he was jealous of someone else - family - taking care of Kaity. He shook his head to clear it and went back to work, checking on Kaity and Tim every few minutes. Though he didn't say anything, he frowned in concern when he saw her thumb make its' way into her mouth.

It wasn't too long before Tim had to leave, too. Kaity begged him to take her with him, but he was leaving the building and didn't know when he'd be back. Her choice was to sit alone, because grampa was still up in MTAC, or sit with daddy. While she obviously wasn't happy going with dad, she didn't want to be alone, so she allowed Tony to take her. He immediately hugged her, running his hands over her body, not only to comfort, but also checking for anything that might be bothering her, like bumps or bruises. Ziva was correct, Kaity didn't feel feverish at all, and nothing seemed to bother her as he checked her over. It wasn't until he saw she had silent tears slipping down her cheeks that he realized - while he was cuddling and holding her, she was not cuddling or holding onto him. Just resting against his chest, thumb in her mouth.

He tried singing, telling her a story….nothing seemed to stop those damned silent tears. Maybe mommy….he called down to security, but they told him Abby wasn't back from court yet. Tony sighed. "I don't know, Kaity-did. I want to make you feel better, but you're not talking to me. Did something happen this morning to upset you?" No answer. He sighed again and kissed the top of her head. "Baby, I wish you'd tell me how to help you."

"Wan' G'ampa," Kaity whined.

"I know, babe, but he's with Uncle Director right now."

"G'ampaaaaaaaaa" she whined again, crying a little harder.

MTAC

Gibbs and Vance were in a video conference with the lead NCIS agent in Colombia, being briefed on a drug-smuggling ring operating out of the port. It was suspected that the drugs were being distributed through sailors on Navy ships that berth there. NCIS had planted a mole onboard one of the ships, and DC was getting the intel.

They had been in discussion for several hours when Gibbs' cell rang. He didn't miss the dirty look from Director Vance as he noted that the call was from DiNozzo. Who knows better than to interrupt something like this. Gibbs turned away from the giant screen and answered his phone. "DiNozzo!" He whispered harshly. "You'd better have a damned good reason…" He didn't get to finish, as he heard the teary voice of his granddaughter.

"G'am…g'ampa?" Kaity hiccupped. "G'ampa-a-a-a-?"

His granddaughter was crying. Whoever caused it would die. Gibbs looked at the director, who had heard Kaity crying over the phone. With a softened look, he nodded for Gibbs to go. "Sweet Kait, what's the matter, honey?" He started walking out of MTAC. "I'm on my way, baby girl. See? Look up the stairs - Here I am!" He closed his phone as he walked down the stairs, worry on his face. When he was close enough, he opened his arms and Kaity dove into them, crying. "What happened, DiNozzo?"

Tony looked just as concerned as he did. "I don't know, boss. Came up from legal, the babysitter was dropping her off, said she'd been mopey all day. She was supposed to start gymnastics this morning, but she had her ride take her to the babysitter instead. She hasn't said a word to me. Didn't even want me to hold her. Ziva and McGee took turns with her."

Gibbs held Kaity on his hip, one arm under her bottom, the other on the back of her head, bouncing and rocking her like he would a baby, soflty 'ssshhhhh'-ing and telling her it was ok. When she had calmed down a bit, he went to his desk and sat, Kaity in his lap. He kept his arms wrapped around her tight, letting her know no one would hurt her around him. "What's the matter, sweet girl, huh? Tell ol' grampa what the problem is."

Kaity didn't say anything for several minutes. "You love me, g'ampa?" She asked in a soft, sad voice.

"What? Of course I love you, Sweet Kait!" He gave her a little extra squeeze. Her tight grip around his neck almost choked him, but he didn't care. Something was going on, his gut was telling him something was off. "I've loved you since the minute you were born, you know that?"

Kaity barely nodded.

"I was the first person to hold you right after you were born. Mommy was finishing up with the doctors, and daddy….well, daddy was trying to pick himself up off the floor." Gibbs felt Kaity start to smile. Like every other young child, she loved the story of how she was born. "See, mommy was ready to have you, and daddy was still here at work. So when we got the call that you were on your way, we all just dropped everything and ran. Daddy never even stopped to take off his jacket or tie, just ran right into the delivery room to be with your mommy." He saw her sneak a peek at her daddy, who was sitting on his desk, watching. "Well, mommy was in a lot of pain, and daddy, being the kind of daddy he is, came through the door to her room, singing at the top of his lungs this old, old song…"

Kaity giggled and sang the first line for him, knowing this story by heart. " 'Having my baby!' "

"What a lovely way of sayin' how much you love me…." Gibbs finished. "Of course, your daddy sang the whole song. By the third verse, your mommy wasn't feeling too good, and daddy was too busy singing, so mommy reached up…."

"An' grabbed daddy's tie!"

Gibbs smiled. "Yes she did. And she wrapped it around her hand, and pu-u-u-u-lulled!"

Kaity looked over at her daddy, who was rubbing at his throat in memory, and giggled some more. "And all the doctors and nurses in the room clapped for her!"

"They thanked her for stopping the noise. She pulled your daddy's face right up close to hers and said that if he sang 'one…more…note…,' she'd…"

"Rip his heart out through his nose and feed it to him!" That part always made Kaity laugh hysterically, as she was doing now. Gibbs rolled his eyes and shook his head. Definitely her mother's daughter!

"Right. And at that moment, you decided you wanted to be born. And in all the rush of things going on, mommy didn't realize she'd never let go of daddy's tie. It wasn't until the doctor wanted daddy to cut the umbilical cord that we all realized he was on his knees by your mommy's head, tie still twirled up in mommy's hand, having trouble breathing. When she finally let go, daddy slid to the floor, gasping for air. Then they had to call more doctors in for your daddy, who was over-acting, pretending he was really hurt."

"I was not pretending!" Tony pouted from across the room. Grandfather and granddaughter looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Well, I wasn't."

"So, with daddy on the floor, trying to remember where he was, the doctor asked me to cut the cord. And as I did, you opened those beautiful green eyes and looked right at me. The nurse put you in my arms, and you managed to get your teeny, tiny hand out of all those blankets, and looking at me with those green eyes, you grabbed onto my finger. Now, I'd been a little scared and sad about being a grampa…."

"Cuz you still miss your little girl, Kelly."

"Right. But one look in your eyes, and I was a goner. I couldn't wait to be your grampa, because I already loved you so, so much."

Kaity sat up and gave her grampa a kiss on the cheek. "I already loved you, too, grampa."

Gibbs smiled and chuckled. "And then all your aunts and uncles came in to meet you and hold you….."

"Uncle Autopsy Gremlin got to hold you before I did," grumbled Tony. Kaity and Gibbs shared another look and laughed.

"That's cuz you was still bein' over-dramatic, daddy."

Tony huffed. "You've all got my kid brainwashed."

Gibbs smiled and turned back to face Kaity again. "Now I have a question for you." He tapped her on the nose.

"Shoot, grampa!"

"Do you love your ol' grampa?"

Kaity smiled and threw her arms around his neck. "Almost as much as I love my daddy!"

Chuckling, Gibbs hugged her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Good. Cuz right now, your daddy is kind of sad. He misses you. Think you can go over there and give him a big ol' hug?"

With a huge nod and one last kiss for grampa, Kaity slipped off Gibbs' lap and ran across the bullpen to Tony, barely giving him time to prepare for the jolt of her jumping in his arms. She sniffled, about to start crying again, thinking maybe daddy was angry that she wouldn't sit with him before. "I'm s-sorry, daddy! I didn't mean to make you sad!"

Tony closed his eyes, delighting in the feel of his baby girl in his arms again. "It's ok, honey, it's ok, ssshhhhhhhhhhhh…."

"You still love me, daddy?" Kaity asked timidly.

He titled her chin up so he could look in her eyes and see how serious he was. "I love you more than anything in the whole world, Kaity-did. And there's nothing you could ever say or do that would ever make me stop."

With a shuddering sigh, Kaity lay back down against Tony's chest, snuggling into his shoulder. "I love you more than anything too, daddy." Tony gave her a kiss on the forehead and a little squeeze. "'ceptin' for maybe pizza." Tony stopped hugging and looked at Kaity. "And ice cream….but after all those, I love you best!

When he was about to protest, Gibbs interrupted Tony. "Take what you can get, kid! Wait 'til she's older, and you're not in the top ten anymore! You good?"

Tony nodded, over-dramatically put out by finding out he was third on her list. "We're good."

"Good. Going back up to MTAC." Gibbs walked over and gave Kaity a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for getting me out of that, Sweet Kait!"

Kaity smiled. "Same time next week?"

Gibbs was still chuckling when he walked back into the darkness of MTAC.

NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS**********NCIS

A/N - HUGE-O THANKS TO MANDIELOULUVSEWE (Read her stories - they're awesome!) FOR HER HELP IN THIS CHAPTER. KAITY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BORN WITHOUT IT! LOL NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE HAPPY, HAPPY, I PROMISE!

DISCLAIMER - THE USUAL - NOTHING and NO ONE.