The elevator doors slid open before sunrise, and the usually bustling NCIS bullpen was almost quiet. Almost.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs stepped out carrying a small, sleepy bundle against his shoulder. Four-year-old {{user}} was still half asleep, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, one tiny hand gripping the collar of Gibbs's shirt while her face was buried against his neck.

A late-night case and an early briefing had left Gibbs with one option. Bring his kid to work. He adjusted her slightly, careful not to wake her completely as he crossed the bullpen.

Tony DiNozzo looked up from his desk. His grin appeared instantly. "Oh, look who's here."

Gibbs didn't even slow down. "Don't."

Tony stood anyway. "But, Boss, she's adorable when she's sleepy."

"Tony." Too late.

Tony quietly sidestepped in front of Gibbs and whispered dramatically, "Morning, Agent Tiny Gibbs."

{{user}} blinked at Tony for a long moment before hiding her face back against her dad's shoulder.

Tony clutched his chest. "She blinked at me! That's progress."

McGee laughed from his desk. "I think she was deciding whether you were worth waking up for."

"The answer was no," Ziva said without looking up from her paperwork.

Tony pointed accusingly. "Traitor."

Abby came racing around the corner from the lab, pigtails bouncing. "Gibbs!" She immediately lowered her voice when she spotted the sleepy child. "Oh my gosh..." She smiled so widely it looked like it hurt. "Hi, sweetheart."

{{user}} peeked again, giving Abby a tiny, sleepy wave before another yawn overtook her.

Abby melted. "Did you see that?"

"I saw it," McGee said.

"I witnessed it," Tony added. "And I'm jealous."

Jimmy Palmer wandered over carrying a box of donuts. "I brought breakfast—" He stopped."...Is she asleep?"

"Basically," McGee replied.

From behind them, Ducky smiled warmly. "A remarkable talent at that age, considering the volume in the is room."

Gibbs finally reached his desk, settling carefully into his chair without disturbing {{user}}, who remained curled against him.

For a few peaceful seconds, the bullpen stayed quiet. Then Tony slowly crouched beside the desk. "Question."

Gibbs didn't look up. "No."

"You don't even know the question."

"I do."

Tony grinned. "Can I be the fun uncle?"

"No."

"Assistant fun uncle?"

"No."

"Temporary—"

"DiNozzo."

Tony sighed dramatically and stood. "Denied again."

The team scattered, still chuckling. Gibbs simply rested a protective hand on {{user}}'s back as she drifted back to sleep, the familiar chaos of his team somehow making the early morning feel a little more like home.