A/N I haven't forgotten my other stories I'm just sick with a Kidney infection so as per usual have come up with something in my drug addled brain. Done two and a half chapters so far. So would love to know what you think and if it makes any sense lol.
Disclaimer: It's not mine...Blame it on the painkillers and antibiotics...coz YEAH I'm crazy!
Chapter 1
Tony was overjoyed at being reunited with his team again.
When Gibbs turned around and told him to grab his gear and that, he was accompanying the body back to the naval yard made his year. He shot Ziva a huge grin and ran down the corridor.
Gibbs turned and looked at the photo of Ziva; Tony had tacked onto the wall in the Agent Afloat's office. He carefully took it off the wall and put it in his pocket.
"Gibbs!" Ziva protested, but was quickly stopped with a look.
They sat in the COT on the way back and Gibbs handed Tony the picture.
The relief on Tony's face was palpable, "I thought I had forgotten it." He said in a low tone.
He took the picture of Ziva and turned it over to see a picture of a woman and a little girl of about 3 years old smiling with her mommy hidden on the back.
The woman's eyes were sparkling with happiness and the little girl with green eyes and dark brown hair laughed back.
It was one of Tony's happiest memories and he thought back to the day when that picture had been taken.
"Just hurry up and take the picture Tony!" Kate said exasperated at the time it was taking Tony with the camera.
"Katie….Look at daddy and smile with mommy." Tony called.
Katie had pouted "NO. Don't wanna wear dress." She said stubbornly.
"Katie bear, please smile for daddy!" Tony pleaded.
Just as he was about to put the camera down 3-year-old Katie DiNozzo let out the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen, He took the picture just as Katie Squealed. "PAPA!"
Tony turned as Gibbs walked up the path and scooped the child into his arms.
"Why Katie Elizabeth DiNozzo, you are the most beautiful child I've ever seen," Gibbs said smiling.
"We go to see Poppa D. later at a .rant!" Katie told Gibbs. For a second Gibbs eyes flashed but he hid it quickly.
He smiled at the child's delight, Kate saw the flash, "Come on Katie, lets do your hair into pretty bunches." She said and left the two men alone.
"So, Tony. You letting him back in again?" Gibbs growled.
"He raised me I owe him, he's still family. He wants to be in Katie's life. Kate and I discussed this. I won't let him hurt her." Tony said quietly.
"Like he did you." Gibbs growled.
"He's my step-father, my last link to mom. She needs this." Tony stood his ground. "How's your shoulder feeling?" He asked.
It had been a month since Ari Haswari had shot him and he was healing well. "I'm fine." Gibbs said.
"I've been thinking, McGee he's been here a while and he's going to stay maybe we should bring him in on our little secret,"
"NO!" Tony turned and put his hand on Gibbs' uninjured hand, "The only reason this works it that only the three of us know. If McGee found out and then told Abby everyone would know you would get to keep Kate so the only cost effective way to deal would be to send me away. I can't live without them….Don't please…Dad?" Tony said
"It's ok Tony, It was just an idea." Gibbs placated his son.
They both turned as the girls laughed smiling.
Tony blinked back a tear at the memory.
"You ok?" Gibbs asked quietly.
"Yeah, can't wait to get back I've missed her so much." Tony said.
Ziva sitting in front of them smiled thinking Tony was talking about her. She had seen her photo on his wall and she was surprised to hear that he treasured it so much.
They landed and before long, Tony found himself back in the office sitting on the edge of his desk.
Gibbs came down from Vance's office hiding a smile knowing that he had his team back and shook his son's hand as Abby slowly released the bone-crushing hug she had him in.
"So you're here to stay?" She asked tentatively
"Sure am Abbs." Tony replied with a grin.
"You want to come out for a drink with us to celebrate?" Tim asked.
"Can't sorry I have to unpack and get settled." Tony said.
"We could always come over and help you." Ziva offered, she did not miss the slightly panicked look Tony shot Gibbs.
"Nope I've got it all in hand thanks." Tony said
"Come on, Home now back early tomorrow." Gibbs ordered.
Tony shot Gibbs as grateful look as the others left.
He gave his son a small smile as he left with a bounce in his step.
Tony pulled up outside the house that was four doors down from Gibbs' home. He grabbed his bag and got out of the car.
Tiredly he walked up the porch and opened the door. There was the sound of laughter and piano playing coming from inside and he quietly placed his bag on the floor and listened to the voices.
"Again, please Auntie Rachel?" Katie asked.
"In a minute Katie, keep practicing." Rachel said and got up; she had felt a breeze on her legs as Tony had opened the door. She left the room and walked up to the front door.
Tony smiling put his finger to her lips as her eyes went wide and she hugged him.
He walked up behind the six-year-old girl and wrapped his arms around her.
"Daddy! My Daddy! You're home!" Katie screamed tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned in her seat and hugged him.
"God Katie, I missed you so much," Tony, said crying as well. He wiped her eyes.
"Come on baby, Papa will be round for dinner later; you want to help me cook." He asked.
Katie jumped down from the piano stool and ran to get changed.
Rachel walked up to him, "Welcome back Tony, is this permanent?" She asked afraid that he was only back temporary.
"Yep, Dad pulled some strings and Vance said I could stay." Tony grinned widely.
Rachel smiled and helped Tony get everything ready for making dinner.
"Ok I'm done and I'm off now, it'll be nice to get back to my apartment for a while." She smiled.
"Thanks Rachel and thank you for having Katie while I was away." He said honestly and thank you for all the letters.
"She missed you lots, once she knew you were actually coming back and weren't in heaven like Caitlin she settled. Although when she was writing you letters she insisted on writing some to Caitlin too, I put them in your nightstand draw." She told him.
He hugged her again and she went to say goodbye to Katie and let the family settle back into their routine.
For the fourth week in a row, Tony had been late to work. Hoping he would avoid Gibbs' wrath he dropped his bag down on the floor behind his desk.
Ziva looked up, "Gibbs is in MTAC, and he's been looking for you." She said with a slight smirk, "Partying again?" She asked.
Tony groaned and dropped his head on the desk.
"DiNozzo, my office." Gibbs said.
Tony followed him to the elevator and waited as he flipped the switch.
"Well." He asked.
"She's got a stomach bug." DiNozzo replied. "I don't get it boss, Four weeks in a row; I think she's out to get me,"
Gibbs smiled, "She's not out to get you, kids are like that. You should tell the rest of the team, I'm sure they'd want to help, Abby'd spoil her rotten."
Tony's face clouded over, "You were in Mexico, I was left alone with her and they were treating me like shit. You have no idea the amount of times I wanted to tell them about you, I couldn't trust them with that there's no way I would trust them with her and if I had to hear you're not Gibbs one more time I'd have gone crazy."
Gibbs sighed; he knew keeping this secret from the rest of the team would blow up in their faces someday.
"She wants to see you, she's getting antsy at Rachel's," Tony said with a slight grin.
"It's only a few days, besides I remember how bad you were with stomach bugs when you were a kid." Gibbs grinned.
"Yeah and you tell the team that and there'll be a lot more explaining to do." Tony grinned.
"Ok I see your point, but remember the only reason the team don't know is that you insisted,"
"I have my mom's name, you wanna explain that one, especially seeing as the team all now know about Shannon and Kelly." Tony countered.
Gibbs looked at his son, "Suppose not." He conceded and Tony grinned. "This was so much easier when it was just us and Kate."
Tony's smile dropped off, "Yeah."
"I'm sorry son. Listen, the others will think I've killed you by now, I'll pop over and see Katie after work ok?"
"Yeah." Tony said and yelped as he got a head-slap. "What the hell was that for?"
"Realism!" Gibbs smirked as the elevator started up again.
Tony slouched back to his desk.
Ziva smirked at his demeanor "You are in trouble Tony, no?" She asked.
He rolled his eyes at her, glanced at Gibbs, and got back on with his reports.