WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
Based on the TV Show "NCIS"

There was a review that said that Kelly seemed more like she was ten than 13 and that most girls are wearing makeup at 13. Maybe it is a generational difference but I was born around the same time that Kelly would have been – had she been a real person – and I can tell you that at 13 my mother would not have let me out of the house with make up beyond – maybe – a little lip gloss. Also, keep in mind Kelly's been raised by her FATHER who probably would be content to have her remain in pigtails and pink frilly dresses (I speak from experience with my own father whom I think would have been quite content if my sister and I had never grown up) and besides he probably would not think about something like getting her daughter make up. I can agree that at certain points she may act a little younger than her age but keep in mind that I am now nearly twice that age and I am rarely around kids that age so if I make mistakes please bare with me; I am trying to make her not too mature but also not too young; I may have slung it too far to one side, I am going to try to do better.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all of the reviews! I am so sorry that the updates take so long! Thank you to MatteaAM for telling me when Kelly's b-day was, though I'm still working the year-wise timeline…eh…they make it so complicated on the show! I hope that this chapter is ok!

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Chapter 8: Birthday

Jenny supposed that compared to some kids' birthdays Kelly Gibbs's was tame, but as it was it still appeared to be chaos to her, and not even controlled chaos, just plain chaos. Most of Kelly's class along with a couple of her friends from riding class had been invited over to the Gibbs house. There was a slip-and-slide, a sprinkler, water balloons, water guns, excessive amounts of sugar, and basically the only rule was that adults and food were not permitted to get wet.

A soft chuckle came from next to her. "Crazy, isn't it?"

Jenny turned to Samantha Tyler, eyes still quite wide. "I have to admit I haven't been around this many kids in a long time."

The older woman nodded. "It can be overwhelming. I heard that the first time you met my daughter was under such circumstances."

Jenny grinned. "Yeah."

Samantha rolled her eyes. "I apologize for my daughter's carelessness."

The redhead waved her hand. "It's fine; no harm was done."

"That's a better attitude than many would have."

The younger woman shrugged. "She's a child; she was being a child as she should be."

The blond nodded thoughtfully. "How long have you and Jethro been dating?"

Jenny swirled her drink. "About a year now."

Samantha nodded, taking in the expression on the other woman's face. "So Kelly and Maddie say that you work for NCIS…"

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"Happy birthday, to you. Happy birthday, to you…"

Kelly and her friends were all wrapped in towels, sitting around the tables having just finished lunch and now it was time for cake. What she liked about her friends was that they had been with her since before she lost her arm and they treated her normally; not like she was an invalid or a porcelain doll that needed to be coddled. Most of the adults here were the same, though some of them who had not been around her that much still seemed to not know how to treat her but at least attempted to follow the others' lead. She did wish Ducky could have come but Mrs. Mallard had broken her foot while playing croquet and he had to take her to the hospital; he promised to bring her present to dinner on Sunday and to try and save him a slice of cake.

"Happy birthday, dear Kelly!" Her dad set the cake down in front of her. "Happy birthday, to you!" There were cries of "Make a wish!"

She squeezed her eyes shut, reaching for the secret hope in her heart; then blew out the candles to the results of applause and cheers. She turned to look at her father. "Can I open presents while we have cake?" She gave him her best pleading look.

He rolled his eyes but nodded and turned to Jenny. "Could you cut the cake while I get the presents?"

Jenny nodded, smiling as she took the knife.

"Thanks." He pressed a kiss to her temple as he turned toward the gift table.

Kelly's heart froze in her chest; for a moment she could not move.

"Kelly!"

The now-14-year-old turned at her best friend's voice. Maddie handed her the first piece of cake; Kelly managed to put a, relatively, genuine looking grin on her face.

The teen did not know how she managed it but for the rest of the party she was able to keep a smile on her face that convinced all but her two best friends that she was having the time of her life.

All the while the look in Jenny's eyes haunted her.

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Later that night…

Kelly quietly made her way down the uneven wooden stairs that lead down to the basement. As usual her dad was working on his boat. Many nights she would help him with it; some of her earliest memories were of sitting on his lap with him guiding her hands with the sander over the boat. But not tonight. Tonight she needed to talk to her dad and, quite likely, get him straightened out.

He looked up from his work, seeing the intent look on her face. "What's up Kel?"

"Do you want to keep Jenny?"

His eyebrow's shot up at her blunt, and somewhat strange, question. "She's not a puppy dog, Kel."

"I know that," she said, rather impatiently. "But, no offense Dad, after two divorces and a bunch of girlfriends asking if you love her and/or want to marry her doesn't exactly carry the same weight with you as it does with others."

She could tell that while still surprised he could see her point.

Kelly placed her hands on her hips. "What I mean is: Do you want her to stay with us – long term; maybe even forever?"

Her dad looked down at his boat. "It's not that simple, Kel – "

The teen scowled. "First, that's a copout, Dad, and second: It's been over a year; you never dated any of your girlfriends or exes that long."

"Kelly – "

"Have you even told her about Mommy?" Kelly interrupted him.

He closed his mouth and looked down, his silence giving his daughter all the answer she needed.

She frowned. "You haven't told her." She snorted. "No wonder Jenny's thinking about leaving."

His head shot up. "She told you that she's thinking of leaving?" he demanded.

Kelly shook her head. "No, but it's there in her eyes." She pulled on the right sleeve of her robe. "I think she wants to stay and commit but I think she's maybe unsure of where you stand; whether or not you're ready. The fact that you haven't trusted her to really tell her about Mommy I think has her believing you don't really trust her and aren't going to really let her in." She looked down, scuffing her slipper. "That doesn't do much to convince her that your relationship has a chance."

"I hadn't – " her dad began.

She looked up. "I know you didn't, Daddy." She took a deep breath. "But now you need to decide if you want to keep her or not." Kelly bit her lip. "I want to keep her. I want her to stay," her voice was tiny. "I like her and I like how happy she makes us."

They stood in silence for several moments.

She scuffed her slipper again. "I'm…gonna go to…bed, now," she said haltingly; then went over and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the stairs. "Night, Daddy. Love you."

"Night, Kel. Love ya too, sweetie." He stared at his boat.

Kelly climbed the old, familiar stairs.

"Kelly."

She at reach the door; she turned back. "Yeah, Daddy?"

He looked up at her. "Thank you."

She gave him a half-smile; then turned and went through the door.

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I don't know if that was any good; it all kinda came out in one rush. That last part with Kelly and Gibbs is another scene that has been in my mind in some form or another for a long time, but always with Kelly saying she wants them to "keep" Jenny, along with her reasoning behind using that word rather than "marry" or "love". And now I am hoping after being told Kelly was acting too young that I didn't swing too far in the other direction! Ack! I hope it was ok! Sorry if you found having water-themed party was redunant with the water fight at Halloween but my experience growing up with a summer birthday was that that was one of the least expensive and one of the most fun type of parties to have. Thank you so much for reading!

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