Daddy's Girl

Chapter One

On the first of May in 1997, a baby girl made her first appearance in the world. Born in the miniscule town of Mount Savage, Maryland in a secret home birth, The girl's young mother had run away from the large metropolitan area she had live in her whole life after discovering she was expecting a child.

-----FLASH BACK----

It all started back at a local bar well after dark. A long day at work had lead to Calliope and a few coworkers hitting a bar within walking distance of the front doors of the call center they all slaved away at day in and day out.

It just so happened that the bar was often frequented by military members both past and present, due to a buy-one-get-one deal for anyone with a military ID. Of all the hunky men in military garb, Calliope's eye were drawn to a man without any on. If it wasn't for his high-and-tight hairstyle, which had become a habit of his thanks to the simplicity, Calliope might not have even noticed that he was a former member. 

The relationship was a purely physical one at first. it took over a year for that to change. Eventually, Dates were added to that mix. And, eventually love made its way past the lust. Calliope was eager to move in at the first offer from Jethro. This was due to the thrill of the romance as well as the fact that Jethro's home was so much better, and in a nicer part of town. 

The night Jethro proposed was a romantic but very chill affair. The old western on hte small black and white TV was throwing the muted sound of made for TV gunfire through the cozy living room. The fireplace offered both a warm glow and a soft cracking sound that mixed with the TV noises in a way that only the pair found enchanting. When Jethro offered to get the two a new beer from the fridge, Callie thought nothing of it. It wasn't until she went to take a swig of the cold liquid that the shiny engagement ring around the neck became noticeable. 

The relationship fell apart only a couple of months after the engagement. The pair were in the middle of planning their simple wedding when Callie got the news she didn't want to believe. She wasnt ready to be a mother. And less ready to do it with the same man who was haunted by the life he could have had with his daughter. In response to her discovery, as a way to try and cause the least amount of pain as possible, Callie packed up and stole away in the dead of night. Leaving Jethro to wonder about her fate.

-----END OF FLASH BACK-----

Maxine Elle Jay Hendrix was born very small, prompting her mother to drive the newborn to the hospital after all, still covered in the birthing fluids and wrapped in little more than the soft blanket her mother was able to grab before rushing out the door. The baby's crystal blue eyes were screwed tightly almost the entire drive. The baby was screaming and wailing the whole way. After a doctor ushered her to the post natal wing, Max was taken from her mother, Callie, and rushed to the nursery for testing. Callie was ushered into an unused private room to be checked over for her own health. Callie received a clean bill of health before being questioned by the doctor which had rushed Maxine away. Callie lied and said she was unsure who the father was as a nurse name Wendy helped her fill out the birth certificate.

Maxine was born a month and a half early and the doctors set to work attempting to figure out what caused it.

-------TIME JUMP--------

By the time Maxine was 3, every person she knew had lovingly shortened her name to Max. Or sometimes Maxie. Max was much shorter and smaller than the other kids, but otherwise healthy. Her inability to gain weight, coupled with the fact she refused to talk had her mother worried to death though.

After almost six months of pestering the doctors three towns over, Maxine was referred to a doctor an hour and a half away from their home. This happened to be the closest hearing specialist available. It was quickly ascertained that Max was severely hard of hearing, but not fully deaf. Callie was glad to finally have a diagnosis, but was also sad that her daughter was going to have a hard life. As well as realizing that she was still very under weight. Callie held no delusions that Max would have it easy. After all, in their rural, small-minded town, different was practically evil. Callie was beginning to regret running from her past. And from the man who would have kept her strong. She didn't miss the romance so much, just the man himself. Seeing as she was still pining for Leroy, she didn't want to risk breaking her heart if he got understandable angry at this surprise.

Later that night after Max had long since been asleep in her bedroom, Callie decided to call Leroy and try to explain over the phone instead of doing the unthinkable and return to DC and maybe never having the nerve to leave again. After the fourth ring, she assumed he had changed his number. She was about to hang up the phone when she heard the soft click of the phone being answered. 

"Yeah, Gibbs" the sleepy voice on the other end answered. "Wow, asleep before two am? you truly have changed Leroy" she replied jokingly on pure instinct. "Cal?" he asked in disbelief. "Yeah, it's me....." She hesitated so long she was surprised he didn't hang up. "I have something I need to tell you" she whispered into the phone. She expected a growl. Or a glare so strong she would sense it a state away. Or even him yelling in to his phone to get on with it. But, what she didn't expect was when a calm voice replied "Its about the kid, right?" Her jaw dropped so drastically that if her life were a cartoon, her jaw would hit the floor. " How...?" she began to ask but was cut off by him speaking. "You left without so much as a goodbye. Then about six and a half months later our insurance was billed for a slew of postnatal tests." He replied coldly. "Leroy, let me explain-" "No Calliope, I don't think I will. You know how much I missed Kelly. How many nights did I cry on your chest wishing I had another chance?? And you go and do THIS!!!!?" he spat at her before promptly hanging up on her.

In her angered state, Callie did something no mother would dream of. She ran through the house, grabbing any and all evidence of Leroy or Max and packed it all into suitcases, bags, and backpacks. Lastly she shoved it all in the car, waiting for the next morning to put her plan into action.