A/N: Okay…so, I know I already have two other stories that I'm working on and I'm going to try to update those today too, but this plot came at me out of nowhere and I had to post it. So I hope you like. It might be a little OOC at the beginning (especially Gibbs) but gets different later (good different). AU. Hope you like!

Prologue: Sad, Green Eyes

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs was never one to turn down someone in need. He helped everyone; he was nice and treated his co-workers respectively. He was driving home to Shannon, his wife, and Kelly, their four year old daughter, when suddenly he stopped. A little boy, no older than eight, was sleeping next to a tree in a park, protectively clutching a teddy bear. Gibbs slowly stopped the car, got out, and walked over to the boy. There was nobody else around him, no parents, nothing. Gibbs slowly approached the boy. He must have sense him coming, because he woke up and automatically started cowering, throwing his hands up about his face. And that's when Jethro noticed them.

Bruises. They covered the boy's arms, legs, and face. They were sickening. What happened to you, you poor, poor little boy? Jethro decided then and there, he was going to help that boy. He was going to help him no matter what. "Hello? I'm Special Agent Gibbs. You can call me Jethro. What's your name?" The young boy looked at Jethro, realized he wasn't who he thought he was and that he wasn't going to hit him. He slowly lowered his arms, and Jethro could see a large, black eye over his left eye, just barely covering his bright green eye. He stared at Jethro for a minute, fear in his eyes, and started to speak.

"I'm Anthony DiNozzo, Junior." He paused. "Sorry, Anthony DiNozzo, Junior, Sr." His eyes went wide as he realized something about what he said. He covered his mouth in shock. "I said sorry. My daddy says saying sorry is a sign of weakness." He looked down in shame. I felt so bad for the kid. I almost didn't know what to say. Almost.

"It's okay to say that you're sorry. I'm your friend, and apologizing to friends is okay. How old are you Tony?" Jethro used a nickname that he had heard for the name Anthony. He smiled as the boy's face lit up at being called Tony.

"My mommy used to call me Tony!" He smiled, but then he got a look of sadness on his face. "She can't now though…" HE trailed off and then suddenly, he looked at me. He changed the subject quickly. "I'm 8, Jethro." He looked at the agent, almost afraid because he didn't call him sir. Jethro smiled at him, and Tony must have understood because he smiled back with a grin that was so big and bright it resembled a one-thousand watt light bulb.

"Tony, where are your parents? It's kind of cold outside. Do you have anyone to take care of you?" Tony shook his head and out of nowhere started to cry. He trembled and shook violently because of the tears. I couldn't bear to watch it. I pulled him into a hug, and at first he tried to pull away, but eventually resisted and lay against my chest and cried. After about two minutes, he looked up at me, sad.

"M-my daddy is me-mean to m-me. He g-gave me th-these…" He pointed to all of his bruises. "M-my mommy di-disappeared and…" He gasped for air, taking as much as he could while crying. "…and I haven't seen her. I think she deaded. Don't make me go back to m-my d-daddy Jethro!" he collapsed, his little rant taking it all out of him. I scooped him up and gave him another hug.

"I won't, buddy, I promise I won't." Without really thinking, he picked him up, took him to his car, sat him down in the seat ("With the seat belt?" he had asked. Poor child. His dad had never let him use one) and started to drive home. Jethro was going to protect that little boy. He was now his responsibility. He made a promise and he intended to keep it.

When I pulled up to the house, Tony was fast asleep. It was only 1915. I quietly opened the door to the back of the car, undid his seat belt, and picked him up. Shannon met me at the door.

"Jethro suppers been…Jethro, who is this?" he silently put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. HE walked up the stairs and all the way into the guest bedroom, laying him down and covering him up. Jethro closed the door. He nodded at Shannon to go on with what he had interrupted earlier. "Jethro, why did you come home with a little boy?" Shannon asked him, looking for any emotions in his eyes. She listened as he took a deep breath and started to explain.

"His name is Anthony DiNozzo Junior. I call him Tony. I found him sleeping next to a tree in the park. When I approached him he covered his face like I was going to hit him. He's covered in bruises Shannon. His mother is most likely dead, and his dad abuses him. I couldn't just leave him there…" Shannon just nodded. She knew what Jethro was like. He took a breath, unsure how to say this. "You know how you have a foster care license? Well he certainly needs care, and he trusts me and I want to help him…so…" Shannon just laughed.

"Of course, Jethro. I will call the foster care center first thing in the morning." She walked away leaving the special agent smiling.

-Four Years Later-

Tony was twelve, Kelly was eight. It had been four years to the day that Tony had walked (well, more like limped because of the bruises on his legs) into their lives. Jethro was so happy. He had a son, a daughter, and a wife he loved very much. Life was, in a sense, absolutely perfect.

Jethro and Tony were sitting on the couch watching another James Bond movie when Jethro's phone rang. "Hello?" he answered the phone with a smile on his face. He listened to the people on the other line. His face fell, and Tony must have noticed.

"Dad?" (He had started calling Jethro dad after he was taken into Shannon's foster care. Jethro couldn't have a foster care license, as he was an agent. They tried to adopt him, but they were denied, as his father was still alive. Stupid Laws.) No answer. "Daddy Jethro?" he asked again, using the old name he had given the man. When his Dad finally listened and turned to him, he had tears in his eyes. Tony knew something was up.

"Tony… Mom and Kelly…They were killed in a car crash coming home from shopping. It was a drunk driver." Seeing the spirits fall in young Tony's eyes just about killed him. He pulled his son into a hug, mirroring what he had done four years ago. Jethro realized that he would not be able to keep Tony, as Shannon had the license. This just made him cry even more. He held his son close, afraid to let him go. He was losing his so-called perfect life. It was more than Jethro could bear.

The funeral was held about a week later, a quiet, but full service. Tony and Jethro had both dressed up, although neither was happy about it. After the funeral, both of them were to sad to go see anyone, so they ended up going home and headed down to the basement to try and enjoy their favorite activity to do together. Work on the boat.

About three days later, Jethro heard a knock on the door. "It's open!" he yelled and a second later, the door opened up. A woman stepped into the house and Jethro recognized her immediately. "It's time, isn't it?" The woman nodded. He sighed, and then called for Tony to come downstairs.

"Yeah Dad?" He stopped when he saw the foster care lady. "No, Dad, please…No…" He said weakly. He knew exactly what was happening: he was switching foster homes. "Dad?" Jethro looked at him and Tony must've known he was defeated. His face fell. HE retreated to his room, grabbed his stuff and walked downstairs. He tripped over his feet and fell down, successfully breaking a vase. "I'm so sorry, dad." Jethro looked at him, remembering the first time Tony had said the word sorry.

"Don't apologize; it's a sign of weakness…" He said with a smile. Tony looked up at him, smiling back weakly. It sounded nicer when his Dad said it. His new dad…well, not for long…but it was still nicer than when Senior said it (Senior was his Biological father). He couldn't believe he was losing the first person who had truly loved him. Tony nearly broke down into tears…again.

"Hey…I taught you that." Tony said, still smiling weakly, but with sadness in his eyes. Jethro must have noticed it. It was probably the last bit of happiness he was going to see form family for a while, if not forever.

"I'm really sorry Tony. You have to come with me and meet your new family. We found you a new home, with Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The foster care provider told them, feeling truly sorry for breaking them apart and moving Tony away to Baltimore. Tony got a funny look on his face. "Tony?"

"I'm gonna be living with Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Do you realize how ironic that is? I just watched that movie two days ago!" Tony was always quoting movies and making movie references. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were going to have a lot to deal with.

Jethro and Tony said goodbye and Tony's eyes were pierced with tears as he gave his "dad" one last hug. After they left, Jethro felt empty…even more empty as he had been feeling since Kelly and Shannon were in the accident. Jethro remembered when he had first heard Tony speak.

"I'm Anthony DiNozzo, Junior" He had looked so adorable, his friendliness hiding behind the bruises. And now he's gone. Every time he closed his eyes, all that Jethro could see was Tony and his sad, green eyes.

A/N: So…What do you think? I know that Gibbs was different and I only called him Jethro, but don't worry. The Gibbs we all know and love is coming back next chapter, as well as the Tony we love. By the way, I love reviews!