Friends , Lovers, Family & Secrets.
Chapter 1.
For the last couple of years or so Tony had been keeping a very big secret from the rest of the team at NCIS; the secret he was keeping, was that he'd got a nine nearly ten year old son. He'd known about him since he was seven & they had a really great relationship.
The reason why he'd found out about his son was because sadly Stephen's mother & her husband had been killed in a car crash & the woman who was Stephen's godmother & guardian had decided that because of the remaining family members not wanting to have anything to do with him; his father should have the chance of getting to know his son. Stephen's mother had been Jeanne Benoit, & she had conceived him on the final time she & Tony had slept together; before all hell had broken loose over Tony being undercover & it being down to her father. She'd gone to Africa to try & forget things; which is how she & Josie had met & became friends. They were so close that Josie had stood by her & helped her when she found out that she was pregnant.
When he & Josie met for the first time, so she could tell him the news; they met in a local coffee shop. Because of not knowing what this unknown woman who'd written to him asking for the meeting wanted; he was feeling quite nervous, but as he walked into the shop & saw she looked about as nervous as he was, he somehow knew he could trust her. Despite this even though he knew Stephen was his son; because she'd asked him if he wanted a DNA test, he went ahead & still got it done.
Following the test; because of Josie & Stephen living in LA, he got to see Stephen as much as he could; & they soon formed a really great relationship. He & Josie also ended up having a great relationship as well; even if they did end up being just friends. In many ways it also surprised him with the way he did just want to be friends, & not just jump into bed with her. Even though on a couple of occasions when she was in a relationship, & he found feelings of jealousy creeping in.
In the end though he was glad that they just had the friendship; because he ended up being her real rock, because as a relationship she was in broke down, & one in which some feelings of jealousy had crept in. As he put those feelings aside; he helped her to not only end things, but when the ex had turned into a bit of a stalker, he helped her with it all. On her own following everything with the stalker she started to feel uncomfortable, so decided that she & Stephen should move to DC & be closer to Tony so that he & Stephen could have a better father/son relationship, but also they'd get the chance of seeing each other more often. So in the next lot of school holidays instead of it being just father & son on their own she also joined them, so that she could start on an apartment/house search. In the end she found one just down the road from Tony's one. She did manage to get it & following the move it managed to cement a great relationship between them all.
As the relationships between them all got stronger they started spending more & more time together at each other's apartment; & sometimes even though he knew Stephen would be in bed, he still went to see Josie; & they'd end up cuddled up together on the sofa watching movies.
One day when Tony & Stephen were having a father & son night. As Stephen was being quite quiet; & thinking it was possibly something wrong at school, so he says to him
"Is everything ok?" Stephen replies in not a very convincing way
"It's fine dad." Tony replies
"Are you sure? As you have been fairly quiet, & you know you can tell me anything." He says
"I know I can, but I don't think you can help with this." Tony replies
"I'm worried about mum, I think she might not be very well, & I don't think she's been to see a doctor." Tony says
"How do you mean not very well?" He replies worryingly
"She's tried to pretend that she's eating properly, but I can tell that she's not; & I think she's been feeling sick, as I've heard her be sick a few times. I've also come home to find her lying on the sofa looking like she might be in pain. I'm scared that she might have something really bad wrong, & I don't want to lose another mum." Tony tries to reassure him by saying
"I promise you I'll have a talk with her & see if I can find something out, I know it's hard not to worry; but try not too. If you want to talk at anytime you can; & I don't care if it's on the phone or if you come over. As long as you tell you're mum you're coming & that it's not in the early hours or something." He replies
"I promise I won't come without telling mum first." Tony then says
"Ok, go & get your stuff & I'll take you home; & see if I can talk too her."
When they get back to the apartment they find her lying on the sofa cuddling a hot water bottle; because she's in pain once again, he sends Stephen off, takes his jacket off, before sitting on the floor with her, he then says
"Tell me the truth, how long has this been going on for? I know you've not been feeling very well at times; as I've seen it in you're face. Someone else has also seen it, & he's told me tonight that he's scared he's going to lose you like he did his mother." She replies
"It's been a few weeks, but I'm scared what it could be as well; even if I know that I should get things checked." He asks
"You're thinking the worst because you're a doctor aren't you, or is it something else?" She answers
"Some of it is because I'm a doctor & my mind goes towards the worst; but my mum had the same sort of symptoms when she had cancer." He pleads with her
"Please promise me you'll go to the doctor's, you need to get checked out; whatever happens I will be here for you. & I'm not just asking you because of Stephen, because I also care for you very much as well."
"I promise you I will try & go." He then gets up off the floor, gives her a hug, as well as kissing the top of her head & then he leaves.
A few days later she does finally go to the doctor's, & she has some tests done. The next day she gets a call to go & collect them. It is bad news though & she does have cancer. After finding out the news she gets through the rest of the afternoon in a bit of a dreamworld, in between bouts of crying. When she picks Stephen up from school, she gives him some food & makes sure he gets his homework done; she then has another bout of crying, so she disappears until she gets settled. She then decides that she should tell Tony the truth, so both she & Stephen head for his apartment, but when they get there she realizes that she forgot to pick up her keys. So on the quiet while they're there Stephen calls Tony; who's still at the Navy Yard catching up with paperwork, as Tony answers the phone, he says
"Hey, what is it?" Stephen replies
"Mum forgot to pick up the apartment keys, so we're outside waiting for you. Dad I'm worried; she's been crying & is trying to hide it." Tony replies urgently
"Ok, I'll be right there." He then closes the file he's been working on & puts it away. After that he picks up his stuff & goes running out.
When he got back to the apartment he finds Josie sitting on the floor with her head on her knees & Stephen standing by the front door. He then gets the keys out & opens the door, as he puts his kit bag down & chucks the keys into a bowl on the side, he tells Stephen to go to his room; while he talks too her. He then goes back out to her, picks her up, carries her into the apartment & puts her gently down on the sofa; as the tears come again he hugs her until she settles once again. Once she's done so he says
"So what is all this about?" She quietly replies
"I finally went to the doctor's, I got the results from the tests back today. I've got ovarian cancer." He swallows hard & tries to his own emotions as he replies
"I'm sorry, what's going to happen?" She says
"I've got to have an operation to remove the cancer, then it will be chemotherapy & radiotherapy. I've got to go back tomorrow to get things sorted out." He says
"Look at me." & he taps her lightly under the chin to make her look at him & he then carries on saying
"I promise that I will be here for you, & I will go to the hospital with you. In a while I will take Stephen to yours to get some stuff for you both for a few days; then after that we will either stay here or go back to yours; as I don't want you too go through all this on your own; & I want too be here for the both of you. You can also be here or at yours for as long as you want me too be." She quietly replies
"Thank you."
"Ok, I'm going to go & freshen up as well as change; I'll then take Stephen to your stuff. When I get back I'll sort us out something too eat, so you can have a rest while we're gone." She then asks
"What about Stephen? I've not told him anything yet." He answers
"I promise I will tell him something tomorrow, once we know a bit more." After a couple of minutes silence she says
"Just promise me another couple of things." He asks
"What is it?" She answers
"The first is can we please pretend you're my partner at the hospital? Because otherwise they won't let you come in with me if you come in with me & things. Not only that I'm scared that if they think I'm also a single mother; they'll try & get the authorities involved, & with Stephen having to go through all of this anyway I don't want them to get involved with us & add to his pressure." He replies
"I promise you I will do it, so that I can be here for the both of you, & I will make sure that everything's ok for him as well; so what's the other thing?" She answers slightly sadly
"I don't want to think like this, but if anything does happen too me; please promise me you will look after him well for both me & his mother." As he replies while struggling with his emotions
"I promise you I will do, but I also promise you that nothing bad is going to happen too you; we will fight this together. Now I'm going to go & get freshend up, can I get you anything before I go?" She replies
"I'm ok, thanks Tony." He gets up to go, as he does so he squeezes her hand; then he heads to the bathroom. When he gets in there he locks the door; then turns round & slides his back down it until he's sitting on the floor, & he finally breaks down in tears.
That night everyone is a bit subdued & quiet, even Josie ends up going to bed early, Tony also goes to be there with her; so she knows he's there. Although once he knows she's fast asleep he goes & checks on Stephen & finds he's fast asleep as well. As he's starting to find that he needs some air to get his head straight, as well as needing someone to talk too. So he goes & picks his keys up & heads out.
In the end he ends up at Gibbs; he goes in & finds him in the basement. While trying to work out what he wants to say to Gibbs; he at first stays quiet. So Gibbs gives him a bourbon; then after having a sip Gibbs says
"Spit it out DiNozzo, what's up?" Tony replies
"I may need to take some personal time off, starting from tomorrow. I've been keeping a secret for a few years now from everyone. I have a son." Gibbs replies
"Who with?"
"His name is Stephen; & he was conceived the last night that me & Jeanne slept together before everything hit the fan. She didn't want me to know about him, but a few years ago she & her husband were killed in a car crash. Stephen was still here in America as he was staying with his godmother; because the accident happened in Africa. She was the one that decided I should know about him, but she did later find a letter from Jeanne saying that I should know the truth. Even though I did believe Josie with the news; I still had a DNA test to check it; & he is mine. Until a couple of years or so ago they lived in LA. I helped her with some problems she was having with an ex, & they decided to move here. For a little while I'd noticed she's not been feeling well; & finally persuaded her to go too the doctor's. She got the test results back today & she's got ovarian cancer." Gibbs says
"What's going to happen; & how do you feel?" Tony answers
"She goes back to the hospital tomorrow to find out. We know she has to have an operation to remove the cancer, then it will be chemotherapy & radiotherapy. We've not told Stephen yet; as I want to get a clearer picture of things before we do. I'm scared boss not only for myself, as in the last year or so I've come to realize that I think I'm in love with her; & could lose her without her knowing. I'm also scared for Stephen because he's already lost one mother; & Josie has been such a great mother too him. So I know how hard it will be for him to lose another one. I also know in many ways how he's going too be feeling, because he's the same age as I was when I lost my mother too it. I also know that I've got too be strong for the both of them, but I honestly don't know if I can do it."
"I can see that you're still in shock, & that you need to find out what's going too be happening. I know you Tony & you can be strong enough to get through all this. The main thing you need to remember is that things nowadays are so much different from what they were when our mothers had this dreadful disease; & she's got more of a chance than they ever did. Have whatever personal time you need, & even if you end up having to come & see me at the Navy Yard, remember that I will be here for you. I will also be here for Stephen if you'd like me too be, & take him off your hands; so you both can take a break. Because whether something happens relationship wise or not, you will probably find you need it; especially in the breaks between treatments. Over being in love with her, for now just keep quiet; but if you feel that the time is right, be open & honest with her. Just prove to her that you can be there & strong enough for her. Either call me or come over later on when you're done at the hospital; as I would like to know how things go, & I do promise too be here for you whenever you need it."
"Thanks boss, I'd better get going in case either Josie or Stephen have woken up; & wonder where I've disappeared too." Gibbs asks him
"What about Bishop & McGee; what do you want me to say too them?" Tony answers
"I hate to ask this, but can you keep this quiet for now? If I come over when we've finished at the hospital, I may tell McGee as I feel I ought too. With Bishop I'm not really sure yet; as I don't know how much Josie wants to reveal. Although in a way I'm hoping that she will let us all in, because she's not got any family around her, as she's never known who her father is. Then her mother had the same cancer, then she went into remission; but in the end it came back as breast cancer a few years ago & she sadly passed away. I know it does make things slightly worse with her being a doctor anyway, but I do have a feeling that things with her mum are probably playing in her mind as well."
"I would take things slowly & just introduce everyone when she's ready, but I will meet her at anytime she wants. You know this is only a suggestion, but if you think it will help why not give Rachel a call; as even if you don't end up using her, it might be worth knowing you've got someone to talk too if you need it; & you never know if by any chance Stephen does react badly to things, he might need someone to talk too."
"I'll have a think about it, but I'd better get going."
"Remember I am here for you." Tony puts the glass down & then leaves.
During the drive back to the apartment he finds that he does still feel slightly worried about things, but now that he has told someone; he does now feel a bit easier about it all. When he gets back again he gets himself a drink, then goes to check on Stephen; who is still fast asleep. When he goes into his bedroom, in the darkness he can see two wide eyes looking at him from under the covers. He goes over & puts his drink down on the bedside table & then snaps on the bedside light. As he then gets into bed with her she gets cuddled up too him & lies on his chest, he says
"You ok?" She replies
"I'm fine, where did you go?" He says
"I hope you don't mind, but I went to see Gibbs & told him about what's going on; as I wanted to make sure that I could take some personal time off, so that I can be here with you so you're not going through all this by yourself. He's told me that I can have as much time as I need, but he does also want to meet you & Stephen, but only if you want too of course. He also wants to make sure we update him after the hospital tomorrow, & also asked what we wanted too do about telling the others & if we wanted to tell them everything or not."
"I don't mind. Look if I'm up too it when we've been to the hospital, we can go into the Navy Yard & see them, as I would like to meet them all; after having heard a lot about them all over the years. I know that they'll have to know everything, & I'll leave it up too you to do it when you're ready to tell them. I don't mind Gibbs knowing & if we can tell him somewhere private about what happened at the hospital, I'm happy to tell him."
"I'm sure we'd be able to do that, as long as you're sure you'll be up too it."
"I'm sure I will be, but I promise you I'll soon tell you if I'm not." They then go quiet for a minute or two, then all of a sudden she says
"Thank you." He asks her
"For what?" She answers
"For being here with me, & making me so very determined that I'm going to beat this." He kisses the top of her head & says
"& I know that you can do it, & I will always be here for you no matter what happens." They then end up with the both of them closing their eyes & the days events finally catch up with them. & they end up falling asleep.
A/N: I hope that you all enjoy this new story from me, as I am still loving writing these, even if I am still very much learning about what the writing I am doing! So please enjoy this new story! Xxx. :-)