A/N: I sincerely apologize if anything is wrong with this story. I will say in advance that I am not an expert on the Navy or the Marines.

Chapter One: The Accident

"Hon, I love him to death! That sounds bad, but you know what I mean," Mayra DiNozzo talked quickly to her husband as she held her newborn baby.

Anthony DiNozzo and his wife brought their new baby, Tony Jr., home from the hospital on July 8, 1971.

"He is a beaute," Anthony told her.

"Yea, looks just like you," Mayra commented.

Tony Jr. had his father's brown locks and deep green eyes. He was sleeping peacefully in his navy bassinet. He was happy and loved.

"Tony? Have you seen your father?" Mayra asked from the bottom of the stairs to her son, who was quietly playing in his room.

It was October 15 of 1979, eight years after Tony was brought home from the hospital.

The small boy called back, "He's with a client downtown."

"Alright. Hey, sweetheart? You wanna go to the carnival? I think they're having one down by the park," she asked.

"Yeah!" Tony hopped down the stairs enthusiastically, bored by staying indoors all day.

"Okay, well, grab your jacket and we'll go. 'Kay?" she told him.

He nodded and ran to grab his jacket. They left the house. It was raining.

"Tony! Get in my car! It's too wet to walk!" Mayra shouted over the storm.

They got in the car, and Tony asked, "How are we gonna go to the carnival if it's all wet?"

Always spontaneous, Mayra said, "Well, we'll find something else fun to do-something indoors."

Tony smiled and nodded.

They drove and drove, looking for something fun to do. "Can we see a film? That's indoors," Tony asked.

Mayra told him, "Bud, the nearest theater is across the bridge."

"So?" Tony inquired. "We cross the bridge everyday for school?"

"Yeah, but it's raining," she said. She looked at him through her mirror, his sad little face. "Okay, baby, we can go see a film."

"Yes!" he cried excitedly.

She smiled as she drove to the bridge, and they crossed. Halfway along the bridge, she told him, "You know I love you, kid? Your dad, he loves ya, too. Remember that?"

"Yeah, I know. I will. I love you, too, Mama," Tony replied.

They smiled at one another. Just then, a large truck slammed into the driver's side door. Tony screamed.