Here's the 26th story in my series. If you haven't read the other stories, then I advise you to not proceed until you do. This is a series. It runs in sequence. To understand certain things (especially where Jamie came from), it's best to just start at the beginning. This series is kind of like my very own NCIS season 4. As of this point, the series consists of: story 1 = A Link to the Past (comes in 3 parts)… story 2 = Wrong Place, Wrong Time… story 3 = Second Job… story 4 = Daughters… story 5 = A Personal Vendetta… story 6 = Bless the Children… story 7 = Eyes of the Condemned… story 8 = Disturbing Affection… story 9 = No Man Left Behind (story that introduces Chioke; aka Kid)… story 10 = Finger Swap… story 11 = Imperfect Heist… story 12 = The Color of Skin… story 13 = Death to the Jedi… story 14 = Brotherly Love… story 15 = For the Love of a Child… story 16 = Devil's Playground… story 17 = Forced Alliance… story 18 = Firing up the Screws… story 19 = Close to Home (story that introduces Julianna)… story 20 = Last Place on Earth… story 21 = The Two of Me… story 22 = Saw… story 23 = Rise of Apocalypse… story 24 = Injected… story 25 = Every Hero has a Story… story 26 = Ice Kingdom (current story). Hope you enjoy it.

*Wednesday*

*Chapter 1*

Tony awakes to the poking of a finger to his cheek. He keeps his eyes closed as it doesn't feel like it's time to wake up just yet. Besides the fact he's tired and doesn't feel like getting up right now.

The poking continues.

"I'm awake, I'm awake." Tony mumbled while remaining in bed with his eyes shut and snug under the blankets.

Seconds later, Tony feels the patter of four little feet walking over him. It doesn't bother him. He remains where he lies.

The four little feet lift from Tony's body and plant themselves back down on his upper chest. A gentle fuzz brushes up against his nose, back and forth, over and over again.

"I'm up, I'm up." Tony finally opens his eyes. Chioke quickly pulls his hand away from his pet's tail, as if it wasn't him. He looks at the skunk on his chest. "I'm so glad Mufasa doesn't have scent glands."

'Time wake up.' Chioke signed with his hands.

Tony's mouth opens as a gigantic yawn escapes.

"Five more minutes." He said tiredly with hardly being able to keep his eyes open.

The young boy watches as his father's eyes close. Chioke is perplexed. It has never been this difficult to get Tony out of bed before.

The time on the nearby clock increases by one minute; giving reason for the boy to rethink the approach he's currently angling.

Chioke climbs unto the bed, gently moves Mufasa to the side and sits on Tony's chest.

A chuckle escapes from Tony.

"Oh no…" He said as he opens his eyes in surprise. "Someone is wandering over here." Tony holds his hand up like a little puppet off to the side. A cheerful smile cracks across Chioke's face. "Could it truly be… I think it is…" The young boy folds his arms inward in order to protect himself as Tony's puppet hand gets closer and closer. "It's the Tickle Monster." His hand jets forward and starts tickling the boy.

Jamie awakes to a wiggling child being tickled by her husband right next to her. She moans angrily.

"Uh-oh…" Tony said. "We woke up mommy."

"You're both in trouble." Jamie said groggily as she sits up. There's a brief pause. The boys try to look innocent. "Good morning." She kisses Chioke on the head. Then she looks at Tony and smacks him on the back of the head. "You should know better."

"Chioke…" Tony tries to grab his son's attention. The boy looks at him. "Go take care of your pets while I get ready. Then we'll have some oatmeal for breakfast."

Chioke climbs off the bed and leaves the room in order to go take care of his pets. Tony and Jamie are proud at how responsible the boy is. The skunk jumps off the bed and follows the boy.

"You know, we're all alon…"

"Don't even think about it." Jamie said. "You're not getting any this morning."

Tony leans down toward Jamie's baby bump.

"Did you hear that?" Tony asked of his babies. "Mommy thinks daddy is a typical guy who only wants one thing. I just wanted to cuddle…"

"Pfft!" Jamie laughed.

"See, she doesn't believe me. But I know you two believe me. You two know daddy is a good guy."

"Oh please…" She rolls her eyes.

"Hey… do me a favor and kick her."

Jamie smacks Tony on the back of the head.

"Don't be a bad influence." She said.

"You're the one being violent, not me."

"They didn't see it."

"I should get ready since I have to make breakfast." Tony said. "Love you…" He kisses the left side of his wife's baby bump. "Love you…" He kisses the right side of her baby bump. Then he looks at his wife. "Eh…" He gets off the bed.

"You brat." Jamie throws her pillow at him. "You're definitely not getting any tonight."

"Like you can resist this." He rubs his butt in a sexy manner.

"Resist what? The two large melons you call an ass?"

"Oh, that's cold." Tony chuckled.

"Score one for me."

"I'll get you back."

Tony enters into the bathroom and turns the water on to the shower.

While lying in bed, Jamie wonders about the gender of the babies. She and Tony had discussed wanting to be surprised about it. But Jamie finds it difficult to resist knowing.

The drawer of Jamie's nightstand opens. She pulls out an envelope and looks at it.

Inside the envelope is the answer to the burning question of the gender of the babies. All it would take is opening the envelope. She wants so badly to know.

Even though it's hard to do, Jamie places the envelope back inside the nightstand and closes the draw.

An hour passes. Everyone is at work.

Gibbs enters into MTAC where the Director is currently waiting for him.

"He's here." Director Shepard stated. "Reestablish the connection."

A video feed quickly appears on the big screen.

"Special Agent Gibbs, I've been waiting for you." The man said. "My name is Colonel Gary Briggs."

"What can I do for you, Colonel?" Gibbs asked.

"One of my personnel was murdered yesterday. I need to know who in my facility is the one who did it and why." The Colonel replied. "I deal with very sensitive material and need to know if what I'm dealing with is a spy."

The conversation between Gibbs and the Colonel continues for a couple minutes. The Colonel tells Gibbs all the information he's allowed to know, which isn't very much.

Gibbs approaches the phone and calls down to the bullpen. A minute later, the team enters into MTAC for a private conversation about their assignment. They sit down.

"Listen up. We have a new assignment." Gibbs announced. "There's been a murder. You all need to pack your bags. We leave in the morning."

"Even me?" McGee wondered.

"You're ready, McGee." Gibbs said in reference to feeling McGee is ready to go back into the field after his long shoulder recovery.

"I hope the assignment is in Puerto Rico, Jamaica or some nice warm Caribbean…"

"Pack for the cold weather."

"Cold weather?! Where are we being sent… Antarctica?" Tony laughed.

"Yes, we are." Gibbs responded.

"You're kidding, right."

"Antarctica?" Ziva asked in surprise.

"What's the assignment… assassinate a penguin? For that job all we need to do is send Ziva." Tony said. "Hell, even McGee can assassinate a penguin with hardly any problem."

"Hey!" McGee protested the bare vote of confidence from Tony.

"I do not have the proper clothing for…" Ziva begins to say.

"We don't all have to go, do we?" Tony wondered. "I could stay here to…"

"The assignment is not up for debate. You're all going." Gibbs stated firmly. "We'll be gone for two weeks tops, including travel time. If you don't have the proper clothing for temperatures in the negative degrees, then go to the store and…"

Ziva, Tony and McGee all stand up and run to the door. They leave MTAC in haste. Gibbs calmly exits from MTAC, walks down to the bullpen and sits down at his desk. He sips his coffee in peace and quiet while his team is running off to the store.