Title: NCIS: Searching For Home, Prologue: Leaving Home, Returning Home.

Summary: Tony reaches out to a young woman. Will she let him help her? Could they both bring healing into one another's lives?

Disclaimers: The show is property of CBS and others. Not owned by me. Just own the DVDs. :D

A/N: My First NCIS story. Please be kind.

Prologue

Leaving Home, Returning Home

Beginning of October 2013:

A young fourteen year old girl is gathering things together to leave in a hurry. Over time she hid cash that she would need to run away and never be found. Alexandria "Lexia" K. Walsh is on the run. She is in grave danger if her father and stepmother find her packing up if they come through the door and see what she is doing.

The one person whom can save her is on deployment in the Marines overseas. Her sister would keep her safe if she knew what their father is doing now because of his new wife.

Lexia, stooped down and tied her shoes tightly and stood up and put some of her warmest clothes on. To guard against the weather. She grabbed her backpack and lifted it to her shoulder. What little she did have is in her backpack. She grabbed a Flash Drive from the computer with extremely important information on it about what her father and stepmother are involved in. Lexia, turned off the computer the way she found it. She put the Flash Drive on a string and put it around her neck as not to lose it and to keep it safe. If she got a chance, she would give it to someone in law enforcement.

Lexia, has to be careful in her movement. She still has bruises and broken bones healing from the last bad beating from her father. There is one bruise that stands out on her face along her neck to her cheek. She tries to hide it. Her emotional scars will take the longest to heal. What her father let other men do to her.

She would rather take her chances alone than stay with her father and stepmother. The way they treat her since her mother died when she was younger is not in the best intrest of her well being. If she stayed any longer she would be dead or sold to the highest bider into the dark world of slave trade, better known as human trafficking.

Lexia, took one last look around and stepped out the front door into the dead of night. She ran as fast as she could into the chilly night toward the bus station. She is heading south. Getting out of New York state. She'd go to Washington DC. Maybe someone would help her there.

She could only hope and pray that there is someone good left in the world that would reach out to save her. She has little faith left in people anymore. Always out for themselves. Not caring to reach out and help those in need. Lexia, may be young but she is learning and growing fast.

It is a busy night for the bus station. Lexia, wants to blend in and not stand out. She sees a ticket window that is open and steps up. The agent behind the window looks out at the young child, with a hard edge of life to her already. Shoulder length blond hair and the bluest eyes ever behind wire-framed glasses.

"Where you be going Honey?" the ticket agent questions. Lexia, stares up at the lady, giving her a smile. She doesn't smile back. Trust no one is what she goes by. "A ticket to Washington DC. Please." she answers.

The lady agent prints out the ticket and hands it to the young lady, whom is handing over her money. At the last moment the lady shakes her head and says; "The ticket is on me. Just be safe."

Lexia, takes the ticket and gets on the bus heading to Washington DC. She is leaving home. She hopes to never see her father or stepmother again. If only their would be someone that would care for her.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

Returning home after months away. Life changing. Anthony"Tony" D. DiNozzo Jr. takes a deep breath as the plane he is on gets closer to home. Washington DC. He thinks back to his trip in Israel to find his partner, Ziva. He finally found her.

She didn't want to be found. He doesn't know if there is anything between him and Ziva or not. If it was a lost moment to admit that they loved each other or not. He also realizes that the two of them wouldn't have been good together. With his childhood of abuse and she a former Mossad assassin trained to kill. It wouldn't have worked out.

He doesn't know what to tell the team. He himself has a lot of soul searching to do. What he learned from the situation is to reach out for love before it is to late. To be more open to it. Tony takes one last look at the gold necklace that Ziva has given him that she use to wear everyday. He doesn't know why she has given it to him. The Star of David necklace twinkled in the light before, Tony put it in his pocket.

Tony is glad to be coming home. He understands thet Ziva David needs to find herself and do some soul searching of her own. Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly. From this moment forward it is finished between him and Ziva because their was no they to begin with. No going back. He wishes her well.

He really needed to take a good look at himself and change if he needed to. He takes a deep breath; praying for some insight. He doesn't know what he wants to do. He'd miss Ziva David as his former NCIS partner and friend. He respects her decision to make a clean break from everyone in her old life.

He doubts if he really was in love with her or her him. So many moments lost. Yet other times the way she treated him. Times that hurt him to the core with her words and actions. He has forgiven but he won't forget. Other times she treated him so nicely. Almost lovingly.

The time for change has come, so it seems for many people in many areas. It would take time to see how far reaching that change would go and where it would stop. Just maybe that change would be good for all involved.

Tony looks out the window of the plane. The stars are shining in the night. He makes a wish on one star. To help make a difference in someone's life. Even if it chances his life. To give love to someone who needs it. To matter to someone who would care in return.

Tony knows that his team has his back. Now it is a new normal with one less returning. An ending to what he knew and a new beginning starting into something new. Not that he didn't try. One foot in front of the other to move forward one step at a time.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

Lexia, steps off of the bus into her new life in Washington DC. Even if she has no where to go. She wonders if her father and stepmother have discovered her gone yet? She prayed they didn't find her. She isn't going back to her old life anymore. Lexia would rather die than be subjected to the abuse by her father and stepmother and the treatment they allowed by other men.

She looks around as she leaves the bus station behind. Now where would the homeless people stay? She needs to blend into the area and not be noticed. She wants to be left alone.

Lexia, keeps walking for a good hour and a half. She sees the unnoticed homeless people that the others just keep walking by and not look at them. She finds a spot and sits down with her back against the wall so no one would sneak up on her. Not kidding on having no trust in anyone.

Unknown to her a pair of eyes sees her enterance into the small group of people whom are down on their luck and have nowhere to go. To live out in the elements in all kinds of weather and have the guts to survive day in and day out. A testament to how life treated them all. Kindness is nonexistent in the world they live in. Not much of it around. The small band of people look out for one another. They have each other's backs.

Garth, a former military man whom got lost in life now makes a living on the streets of Washington DC. He looks out for others. He sits down not far from the small young girl. A place where she doesn't notice him, even though he is six feet eleven intches tall. He has the kindest hazel eyes that see deep into a person. He is a protector of those he cares for. He suffers from PTSD, and panic attacks when he is around others for to long. He left his family behind. They didn't seem to understand. What he doesn't know is that his family misses him and wants him to come home.

A German Shephard lays down next to Garth and puts his head in his lap and goes to sleep. The two worked in the military together and counted on one another for along time. The two are family. The two keep the other calm and watch out for one another and others that needed them. Garth pets Ranger, as he keeps watch over the young girl to make sure she stays safe in the new world she has entered. Unknown to her even street life has a dark underbelly of misery and danger if one doesn't know what to look for.

Garth spots the older lady pushing her cart among the group, heading for her spot. Everyone knows her as Grams. She gives a helping hand to those whom need it. She shows them how to survive on the streets and stay low and hide when trouble comes. She also noticed the newcomer in the group. A very young looking girl. It looks like she already has a rough life.

Grams settles down for the night among her boxes. It is going be a cold night. The need for warmth is very important. She pulls out a blanket from her cart and covers up and closes her eyes.

Lexia, has her arms wrapped around her knees. It is colder than she thought it would be. The cold seeps into her bones and makes her aches and pains more noticeable. She already feels sore enough.

The night slowly moves forward and Lexia falls asleep. Ranger makes his way over to the new comer and settles down in her lap. The young girl falls more deeply asleep as the warmth spreads and feels nice. The people are settled for the night and so far no trouble shows up. All is well for the time being, for life on the streets. Lexia's guardian angel is watching out for the young lady by sending the right people her way.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

Officer Jeffrey Marshall parks his patrol car and makes sure it is locked and walks his beat. He keeps his eyes open for anthing new. He sees the young girl in the group of homeless people. He has never seen her before. He'll have to check if she is a runaway when he gets back to the police department.

He'll have to let Agent DiNozzo know about the newcomer to the area. See if he came up with anything so he could give a helping hand. He just doesn't know when he would be back. It has been months since he has seen the young agent.

Officer Marshall got back into his patrol car and turned on the heat as he blew into his cold hands. A cold night and it was only October. He slowly drove away keeping watch on his part of the Washington DC area.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

Anthony DiNozzo Jr. Wakes up and it's really early in the morning. The time difference is messing up his rhythm. He needs to get back on schedule. He got back to his place yesterday. He did sleep but it wasn't restful.

Tony decides to go running. He grabs his workout clothes and throws them on and gets his running shoes. He grabs his keys and he heads out the door. Just maybe he'd find some peace as he ran and looked up at the night sky. Maybe he could out run his demons that were chasing him.

An hour and a half later, Tony is winded as he stops his running to a slow jog than a walk. He hears screaming and yelling as he comes to and open part of and alleyway. There are a group of young boys almost men surrounding a very young girl it seems to Tony.

"HEY! LET HER GO!" Tony shouts as he draws his weapon and points it at the group. They all turn to face him and take off, because they don't want to deal with any kind of badge. The law was the law.

Tony holsters his weapon as he slowly walks over to the young girl sitting on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chest as she hides her face and covers her head with her arms. He sees that she is shaking with fright as he kneels down on the ground to check on her.

"It's okay. I won't hurt you. I'm Tony. You don't have to tell me your name. I just want to see if you're okay." Tony gently touches the young woman's shoulder. Lexia slowly looks up into kind looking green eyes. Somehow she knows she can trust this man to help her out.

Tony takes in the blue eyes behind wireframed glasses that have a hard edge to them. Trust no one her exprssion seems to say. He gets a grim look on his face as he sees her bruises on her face that she tries to hide in the shadows.

He knows about hiding bruises when he was younger as memories start to surface. He pushes them back down. He wants to help the young girl. Tony turns his head as he sees something move in the shadows.

Tony, sees that it is Garth. Garth knows Tony. He helps everyone out at one time or another that is or was in the group. He sees that the young girl is safe for the moment with, Tony. He was worried when he woke up and didn't see the young one in the group anymore.

Garth goes back as Ranger follows him. "I'll be back." Tony tells the young girl as he slowly stands up. She takes his hand in hers as she slowly starts to stand. Tony squeezes her hand and she squeezes back. Tony heads for a diner that is open twenty four/seven and steps into the bright lights, with Lexia. It isn't busy since it is very late to some and early for others.

Lexia sees a badge flash at the man's waist as the lights dance off of it and make it shine. She doesn't say anything as the two of them sit down in a booth on opposite sides. She takes the Flash Drive from around her neck and slides it across the table toward Tony.

Tony, catches the Flash Drive and puts it around his neck. He didn't miss the fact that the young girl is walking slowly like she is injured. "Order anything you want. I'm buying Pretty lady." Tony says smiling at the young girl across the table that is slowly beginning to trust him.

The waitress comes up to their table. "Hey, Bonnie the usual for me and whatever the Pretty lady is having." Tony looks up and smiles at, Bonnie. "I'll have a cheeseburger and fries. I don't want any tomatoes on that." Lexia whispers looking down at the table. Bonnie leaves the two alone to put in their order and than grabs two glasses and straws and a pitcher of water.

"Thanks you're a sweet heart." Tony tells Boonnie. Lexia slowly looks up and across at Tony. She doesn't say anything. " I'm Anthony DiNozzo. You can call me Tony if you want. I'll help you if you let me. I'm and NCIS agent." Tony sees her questioning look. "It stands for Navel Criminal Investigative Service. We help anyone in the Marines and/or Navy."

The food is delivered soon after. Lexia digs into her cheeseburger and fries. Tony eats his stake sandwich with fries. The two finish eating their food. Lexia steps into the ladies room for a moment. Tony waits for her.

Lexia steps out of the ladies room and spots Tony and goes over to him. He pays the bill and leaves money on the table for a tip. Tony takes a small card out of his pocket that has NCIS on it and hands it to Lexia. "If you ever need me, call these numbers. I'll drop everything and come running." Lexia sticks the card in her pocket for the moment.

The two step outside into the chill wind. Lexia is shivering as the wind hits her. The heaviest coat she has is a windbreaker. Tony pulls off his hoodie and hands it to Lexia. She just looks at him.

"Put it on, Pretty lady." Tony smiles at her. Lexia does as she is told. The two walk back together to where Garth is keeping watch. The young girl slowly makes her way toward her spot from earlier and sits down.

The two men share a slight nod. Trusting one another to watch the young girl's back. "I'll see you around, Pretty lady." Tony smiles at the young girl. She slowly smiles back. Each look into one another's eyes and each feel at peace with one another.

Tony slowly walks away and leaves behind the young girl that he makes a promise to help with all of his heart. No matter what. Tony, is going to make a call to his buddy, Officer Jeffery Marshall to see what is up when he makes it back to his apartment.