Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry for the delay. This summer has been way crazier than anticipated, and my writing has suffered. I'm heading off for vacation tomorrow for a week so I wanted to make sure to get this chapter out first. I'm posting before my beta got back to me, so all spelling and grammar mistakes are mine. Feel free to point them out.

Welcome to all the new readers and a very special thanks to all the anonymous reviewers I've had recently. If you guys want a response to your review, just leave me an email address to respond to, because I respond to all my reviews if I can!

Also, thank you to everyone who read/reviewed my one shot "It Happened in Autopsy". It was a fun change of pace from writing this.

I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, it's the beginning of a change of sorts for our characters. I'm hoping to have the case solved in the next 3-5 chapters, but don't worry, that's not the end of this story! It will actually be the beginning of "Part Two" of the story, which I'm really excited about. I hope everyone's having a great summer, and yay for those of you who made it through this super sized author's note. Haha. Onto the story!

Previously on the Middle Ground:

"What's up, Abbs?" Gibbs asked, situating himself in his chair.

"I called her up here." Vance walked down the stair case, slow and steady, all the agent's (and forensic scientist's) eyes on him. He too his time, walking carefully until he was able to speak to everyone.

Gibbs demanded to know what was going on with a single glare in Vance's direction.

"Local P.D. called a few minutes ago," Vance began. "There was a murder at the Motel 6 on Georgia Avenue."

"Who?" Ziva asked simply.

"They were able to identify the body as Lieutenant Brian Flynn."

Chapter Fifteen

"I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out"*

*"Broken" by Lifehouse

Abby gasped, her hands covering her mouth. McGee stood up and put his arm around her and squeezed, attempting to convey some kind of reassurance with his presence.

"I guess that means he didn't kill his wife," Tony muttered, earning a glare from Ziva.

"They're sending the body and the evidence over for Ducky to handle. The scene is secured if you want to take a look at it." Vance directed that last statement to Gibbs, who nodded. "Under the circumstances, and after reading Agent Gibbs' report on this case, I'm placing the minor Flynn children in protective custody."

Abby was shaking now, McGee noticed, and eerily silent. Her hands were fisted in McGee's shirt and her emerald eyes were wide.

McGee's voice was as strong and steady as he could make it. "You think whoever did this may come after Beth."

"I do." Vance nodded. "I don't know if she saw anything, but if our killer thinks she did, she's a target."

"Do not worry, Abby, we will all keep her safe." Ziva's voice was low and directed only at Abby, but everyone heard her anyway.

"All right." Gibbs looked around the room, his gaze telling one and all that nothing less than exactly what he was about to say would be tolerated. "I want two agents at Abby's apartment at all times. Tony, I want you and Agent Paulsen to take the first shift tonight."

Gibbs spun his head around. "Abby?"

She nodded. "What?"

"You and McGee are off this case effective immediately. Your primary duty from now on is going to be to keep Gavin and Beth safe."

Abby's jaw dropped. "Off the case? What about my lab? What about my babies?"

"The most important thing for you is to take care of your real babies, Abbs. We'll bring in someone else to cover for you in the lab."

"But…" her voice trailed off, knowing that Gibbs was right.

"We'll call if we need you," Gibbs voice was a little softer now, a little gentler. "It's only temporary."

Abby nodded. "Okay." She looked numb.

McGee was standing beside her, feeling a little stunned. There was no doubt in his mind that Beth and Gavin were in danger and needed to be protected, but he had not expected Gibbs to pull him off the case too.

He felt somewhat awed and astonished at the same time. Despite the scheduled agents to guard them, McGee could read between the lines and see that Gibbs was effectively putting Gavin and Beth's safety in his hands. He was shocked that Gibbs had that much faith in him. After all that the man had been through, he would have expected Gibbs to place himself in charge of an operation like that. Cases with small children involved always turned Gibbs into the ultimate protector.

And a case that had small children and Abby potentially in danger? McGee was blown away by the level of responsibility Gibbs had placed on his shoulders.

As Gibbs continued briefing the other agents as to what they should expect, McGee felt Abby slip her hand into his. She squeezed his hand so hard that McGee felt several of her rings leaving impressions in his own fingers, but there was no way he was letting go.

He was not going to let anyone down.

Abby was still in shock as she stepped back into her lab. Was it still her lab? Someone was going to be taking over for her… indefinitely. Gibbs said it wasn't permanent, but they didn't know how long finding this killer was going to take.

"Abby?" Jimmy was standing in the doorway of her office looking concerned, Beth on one hip. He had little skull clips in his hair and smears of lip gloss on his cheeks.

She couldn't help but smile. Jimmy was going to make one hell of a father someday. Breena was a lucky woman.

"Abby?" He repeated, shuffling his feet a little and looking uncertain.

Abby ignored him, walking forward and pulling Beth into her arms for a big hug. "Hey, munchkin. Guess what? We get to go home early today."

Beth beamed, signing up at her.

"Yup, McGee's coming too." Abby ignored the confused look Jimmy was giving her and kissed Beth on the forehead. "How about you start putting your toys back in the bag, okay?"

Beth squirmed down and skipped off back into Abby's office.

Abby gestured for Jimmy to follow her to a corner of the lab, at which point her eyes welled up with tears and she began to shake.

"What's going on?" Jimmy moved as if to hug her, but she shook her head. "Why are you and McGee leaving so early?"

Abby swallowed. "Lieutenant Flynn was murdered last night. The Director, Leon, thinks that they might be coming after Beth next."

Jimmy's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!"

"Gibbs took us off the case."

"To keep Beth safe." Jimmy understood immediately.

"Yeah." Abby angrily swiped at her eyes. "What am I going to do, Jimmy? How am I going to keep her safe without my lab?"

Jimmy reached for her and this time she let him hug her. Abby wound her arms around his trim waist and pressed her face against the front of his scrubs.

It really wasn't about the lab. Contrary to popular opinion, Abby could live without her lab. The real problem was how helpless she felt without a clear directive. This morning it had all seemed so simple, solve the murder, help Beth. But without her job, without her tools, it just didn't feel possible anymore.

A tiny hand tugged on hers. Abby pulled away a little from Jimmy to find Beth staring up at her, silent questions in her eyes. "Hey munchkin," she whispered, stroking Beth's hair back from her face. "I'm okay, I just needed a hug and Jimmy gives really good hugs."

Jimmy let go of Abby with one arm and scooped Beth up with the other. "You're going to be fine," he told her firmly. "We, the whole team, we won't let you down."

Abby nodded. She knew they wouldn't. There was no one she trusted more than the members of the team. She knew even without her and McGee, they would find whoever was doing this.

It just felt weird. She'd never been kicked off a case before. It was a little like being dumped actually.

A grunt and a gurgle coming from the office announced that Gavin was awake and ready for action.

"You'd better get back to autopsy," she told Jimmy. "The um, the body will be here soon for you and Ducky to work on."

Jimmy set Beth down on the floor. "I'm sure Gibbs will keep you informed. And if he doesn't, I will."

Abby smiled at his newfound bravado. Jimmy, offering to go against Gibbs? Now that was quite an offer. "Thanks for watching the kids again. Beth seems to really like you."

"The feeling's mutual." Jimmy patted Beth on the head. "You don't need any help packing up or anything?"

"That's okay. McGee should be down here to help in a few minutes."

Gavin let out a squawk as Jimmy was leaving and Abby hurried into the other room to find him staring up from the portable crib looking rather perturbed that he had not been picked up yet.

"Sorry, buddy," she said, lifting him into her arms. "How dare I make you wait. I won't ever do it again, okay?"

Beth trailed behind her, watching Abby as she laid Gavin down on her desk and began unsnapping his sleeper. She really loved her little brother and liked being involved in his care. She would sit near Abby while she was feeding him and tickle his toes, or hand her diapers while she was changing his diaper.

That fascinated Abby, watching the sibling relationship between the two. It reminded her of when Luca was first born. Laura was a teenager, and Abby had been eight. Then had come Luca, this squirming, crying little bundle. Laura had loved him instantly, wanting to help take care of him and feed him. It had taken a little longer for Abby. She hadn't been sure what she thought of him until he had smiled at her for the first time. It was that moment that she had fallen head over heels in love with her baby brother, and vowed to protect him and take care of him the best that she could.

"Abby?" She listened to McGee's footsteps as he walked across the lab. He paused in the doorway, his backpack slung over his shoulder.

"Yeah?" Abby waited until the last second to remove the baby wipe she had tossed over Gavin's privates and fastened the clean diaper on him. That was a lesson she had learned quickly when changing Luca as a baby… keep it covered!

McGee patted Beth's head as she hugged his legs. "You almost ready to leave?"

Abby smiled a little at the hesitant tone in his voice. Her Timmy knew her so well. "I'm good," she told him, scooping Gavin up, "but the little guy needs to be fed."

McGee nodded, dropping his backpack lightly on the floor and holding his hands out. "Let me feed him while you finish up."

"Thanks." Abby handed the baby over and walked back into the lab, half listening to McGee talking to Gavin and Beth.

She shut down her computer first, feeling a twinge of anxiety with every switch she turned off. The closer she got to leaving the weirder it felt. This wasn't just a job to her, this lab was practically part of her family. She spent more time there than at her apartment. She almost slept there more than her apartment.

She saved Major Mass Spectrometer for last. As she listened to the machine power down, she took a deep breath.

This is important, she reminded herself. You're not going to let Gavin and Beth down.

No matter what.

Beth had no idea what was going on.

As she stood in the driveway holding tightly to Jethro's leash, she practically shook with excitement. She had no idea why Abby had insisted that they go get him from McGee's apartment, but she sure was happy about it.

Jethro was big and soft and never tried to run away. Beth hoped he was going to stay with them from now on because he made her feel safe.

Abby and McGee made her feel safe too, but it wasn't the same.

Right now McGee was getting her brother out of his baby seat and Abby was carrying a bunch of bags. They were going home from work early today.

Abby looked sad to be leaving, but Beth was happy. She liked being at her new home with Abby and McGee. It was fun and Abby let her color as much as she wanted. She didn't even care if she got marker on her clothes.

Beth missed her old home, but she liked her new home better. Abby didn't talk on the phone too much or yell or anything, and McGee didn't hog the TV to watch sports.

Abby had said that her Mommy died, and that was why she was staying with Abby and McGee. Beth didn't really understand what 'died' meant, just that she couldn't see her Mommy anymore.

She didn't like to think about that, because it made her sad.

Gavin was just a baby, he didn't understand about Mommy. He just smiled and drooled and pooped a lot.

Jethro licked her cheek and Beth giggled. Jethro was funny. He had a big tongue and he liked to lick her just like he licked the floor when McGee dropped some food on it. Maybe she tasted like food to Jethro.

Abby said Jethro would keep them safe. Beth didn't know why they needed Jethro to keep them safe, McGee was big enough to scare away any bad guys.

She was really glad they got Jethro anyway.

McGee made her feel nicer than anything else in the world. He'd found her when the bad men scared her and made her hide, and he hugged her and told her everything was going to be okay.

McGee gave really good hugs.

Beth didn't like to think about the bad guys either but sometimes when she was sleeping they came in her dreams. She wondered if Jethro could keep the bad men out of her dreams. Maybe that's why Abby said they needed Jethro.

McGee let her hold Jethro's leash as they walked up the stairs to her new home. Jethro didn't go too fast up the stairs, he waited for her and didn't pull.

McGee took Jethro's leash off when they got inside and Jethro went around and sniffed everything. He ate something off the floor near the stove and Abby yelled at him, but she was smiling so it was okay.

McGee patted her on the head a lot, like her Daddy always did. It must not be Daddy's turn to have her and Gavin. Her Mommy and Daddy didn't live together anymore so they had to take turns.

Abby was watching her with a funny look on her face. The same kinda funny look she had before she told Beth about her Mommy.

Beth decided to follow Jethro into the living room to play. She didn't want to think about sad stuff anymore.

"Did Beth look nervous to you?" Abby asked, staring towards the living room where Beth had just followed Jethro.

"What? Just now?"

Abby nodded. She had a peculiar look on her face.

"She just looked like she was having fun playing with Jethro to me." McGee looked around for somewhere to put Gavin. He considered the swing they had gotten from Abby's neighbors, but it kind of made him nervous. He wasn't sure he trusted a swinging baby seat on a plastic frame.

In the end, he just grabbed a blanket and lay it down in the corner where Gavin wouldn't get stepped on, and set the baby boy down softly on his back. He set a bright colored rattle (another hand me down) on Gavin's chest and watched the baby's eyes cross as he tried to grab at it.

When he stood back up, Abby was still staring off into the distance. "Abby? You okay?"

She blinked and turned towards him. "Yeah, just thinking."

"Everything's gonna be fine." It was such a stupid thing to say, but McGee couldn't think of anything better. It probably would be fine. He was about 97% sure.

Abby looked better now that they had Jethro. When she'd first said she wanted to bring his dog to her apartment McGee hadn't been sure, especially since he knew her landlord didn't allow pets. But the big smile that came across Beth's face when Abby asked… he couldn't say no to her, and Abby must have known that.

Now that Jethro was there, though, he could see the wisdom in her request. With agents outside and Jethro inside, he and Abby could concentrate on the kids without worrying every second. Knowing how loud Jethro was when the UPS man came (even if he was just walking past McGee's apartment on his way to another for deliver) was helping him relax.

Now if he could just get Abby to relax.

She opened the fridge and stared inside long enough for McGee to get a little antsy. "You need any help?" he asked hesitantly, shuffling his feet.

Making a split second decision, Abby pulled carrots and a cucumber out of the crisper and handed them to him. "Wash and cut," she instructed. "We'll have a fruit dinner."

"Fruit dinner?" McGee was confused.

Abby nodded. "That's what my mom used to call it. Basically it's just finger foods, veggies, fruit slices, cheese and crackers. She'd arrange it all in a smiley face or something. I loved having it as a kid."

"Okay." McGee headed for the sink. "Are you gonna arrange my food in a smiley face?" he couldn't resist asking.

"If you're a good boy," Abby responded.

When Tony knocked on Abby's door, the last thing he was expecting was to hear a huge dog hurtling towards the door, barking and growling.

"Sorry," McGee apologized as he let Tony in. "Abby thought we needed a watchdog tonight." He had Jethro by his collar and held him back until Tony was inside.

"You should be sorry," Tony told him. "And you owe me a new pair of underwear." Jethro sniffed Tony's offered hand and let out a snort.

"Leopard thong, right Tony?" Abby asked with a cheeky grin.

"That's enough out of you, McPeanutGallery." Tony pointed at her. "I thought dogs weren't allowed in your building?"

"They aren't." Abby picked up a plate and headed into the other room, Jethro's nails tapping on the floor as he followed her.

"I think she's more freaked out than she's saying," McGee told him in a low voice. He looked pretty freaked out himself, but Tony refrained from saying so.

He heard a rattling noise and squinted at one of the corners of the room, right next to the kitchen table. "Who put the baby on the floor," he said, kneeling beside Gavin and tickling his toes. "Did the mean McGee put you in the corner," he cooed in a deep voice.

Gavin let out a loud "abababa" and kicked his feet.

Tony pretended to be listening. "He did?" He turned around and glared at McGee. "You and Abby were playing doctor? In front of the children?" He waggled his eyebrows.

McGee reached over Tony and scooped Gavin up. "And that's quite enough Dinozzo association for the evening. I'm giving him to Abby before you completely corrupt him."

Tony waited for McGee to come back into the kitchen before he explained his reason for being there. "Gibbs wanted me to let you guys know that the protective detail is officially on duty."

"He stick you with the whole night shift?"

"Until six in the morning." Tony rolled his eyes. "This probie from one of the other teams they have me working with, Agent Paulsen? He's a piece of work. Kid's so green I'm pretty sure he's never even been on a stakeout before."

McGee smiled. "Aw, he can't be that bad."

Tony raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah?" He went over to the window and pulled the curtains back an inch. "He's wearing sunglasses. And it's dark outside."

McGee let out a snicker. "Oh boy."

"Yeah." Tony let the curtain fall closed again. "So now you'll know who the creepy guys sitting in a car staring at the building are."

"I'm sure Mrs. Johnson will let us know all about it tomorrow," Abby said, walking back into the kitchen holding Gavin, whose eyes were drooping shut.

"Who's Mrs. Johnson?" Tony asked.

"Nosy downstairs neighbor," Abby responded.

"Has a bunch of cats," McGee added.

"Ah." Tony nodded. "I have one of those too. Only it's Mr. Smith, not Mrs. Johnson."

"Maybe we should fix them up; Give them something to do," Abby suggested, looking like she was about sixty percent kidding, but without the usual mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Not unless you really hate Mrs. Johnson," Tony deadpanned.

Abby shrugged. "She's actually kind of sweet."

"Sweet?" McGee furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"Well, she makes good oatmeal raisin cookies." Abby beamed at them.

McGee shook his head in amazement. Abby really could see the good in everyone. Or maybe she just brought out the good in everyone. Both options were equally probable.

"I should get going." Tony looked over at Gavin, who was now snoring softly in Abby's arms. "I'll be outside until six, trying not to kill the probie. You guys gonna be okay?"

Abby nodded. "Yeah, we're okay."

Not yet, McGee thought as Tony left. But they would be.

Eventually.

4/17/13- Just so you know, I haven't forgotten this story. More details on my profile, but basically I will be finishing this story, and I will try and get updating again before the summer. Thank you so much to everyone who reviews/follows this story, I promise I feel guilty every time I get an alert.