After one last look around his neighborhood knowing he probably wouldn't return until after his 18th birthday when he was finally free of his father's rules Tony didn't expect to see their California home again. Heading back home, Tony froze when there were gunshots and then a car crashed almost in front of him. As the shooters car drove off Tony rushed to see if there was anything, he could do. Finding the driver and passenger in the front seat dead Tony looked into the back to find a woman slumped over and a small girl under her.
"Hey are you okay?" The woman didn't move but the little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Is my mommy okay?" Tony gently shakes the woman's arm and she doesn't move.
"I don't know but let's get you out of the car. I'm sure someone's called the police I can hear sirens." When she was out of the car crying quietly there was a screech of tires and more gunshots. Tony's instincts kick in trying to cover Kelly as they aimed the guns at them and the bullet struck him in the arm. The little girl cried harder but couldn't move as Tony lay on top of her. "Shh … you're okay just stay down." They stay like this until another car screeches to a halt nearby and someone started yelling.
"Where's the little girl? Where's Kelly?" Tony and Kelly slowly sit up as the agents look in the car and in the gathering crowd. "Kelly Gibbs, she's 8, this tall and she was in the car with them." One of the female agent spots Kelly and Tony.
"Agent Franks," The woman points to Tony and Kelly on the sidewalk and Mike rushes over to them.
"Kelly, are you okay honey?" Kelly nods slowly though she appeared to be in shock and Mike notices Tony sitting close to her with his good hand covering his bleeding arm. "I'm Agent Mike Franks with NIS. What's your name kid?"
"Anthony DiNozzo Junior, sir." Franks groans but waves over a paramedic.
"Okay Anthony and Kelly, this paramedic's going to check the two of you out while I interview some witnesses. Sit tight and I'll come back to you." When Mike returns Tony's arm had a bandage and he was hugging Kelly who was still crying and shaking.
"What's going to happen to us now?"
"Well Kelly and her mother were in protection and it looks like they found them. How did you end up here and shot?"
"I heard the gunshots and then the crash. When I went to see if I could help, Kelly got out of the car and they started to shoot again." The paramedic looks at Mike.
"It's just a graze so it didn't hit anything major but he might still need some stitches. I suggest they both go to the hospital to be checked out if the girl was in the car when it crashed." Tony was worried about something but Kelly was clearly frightened.
"Okay, we'll do that. First … where did Fluffy go?" Kelly points to the car and he yells to the other agents. "Did anyone find a stuffed rabbit?"
"Is this yours honey?" Kelly nods and the agent gives it to her. "He was looking for you." Kelly clutches it tight.
"Thank you," Mike smiles at Kelly and turns to the agent.
"I need the permission forms for a minor child and for someone to get in contact with his parents. They'll need to meet us at Mercy Care General about signing the paperwork. Tell Walton we have a new witness to today's events he'll need to be taken into protective custody." Tony didn't like the sound of that.
"Wait a minute, I haven't done anything. Why are you arresting me?" Mike sighs trying to remember Tony was just a kid.
"You're not being arrested just taken into protective custody so we can keep an eye on you for your safety. We're already working on bringing Kelly's dad home but we need to keep you safe since you're in the middle of this." Tony doesn't say anything knowing his dad will blow his top hearing what happened. "Don't worry we just need your information to contact your parents." Before he could get the contact information, they hear Anthony Senior fighting with another agent.
"What do you mean I can't get through? That's my son right there. I have to go to him and see what happened. Junior, what are you doing there? Get away from there right now." Mike sighs looking between Senior and Tony.
"That your old man?" Tony nods clearly embarrassed.
"Yes sir," Mike pats his shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, I'll talk to him." Mike goes over and Tony couldn't hear what Mike said but he could tell Anthony was upset and something about a lawyer. Mike returns shaking his head. "Your father isn't pleased that you stopped to help. He will meet us at the hospital with his lawyer but I've made it clear you have to come with us."
"I don't think ..." Mike crouches down in front of him to look Tony in the eyes.
"Anthony ..." Tony flinches and Mike tries again. "Tony? Tony, look you might not have seen anything but the men who shot at you saw you. They were trying to finish the job they started and might come back after you. It's our job to keep you safe especially after three people already died when they came after them." Tony sighs as a paramedic came over with the female agent.
"Agent Franks, are the children coming with us?" Mike nods before helping them up off the ground.
"Yeah and so is Agent Gomez. Yvonne, go with the kids to the hospital and make sure no one other than the doctor's or nurses see them. Check ID's and typical protocol." Yvonne Gomez nods and climbs into the back of the ambulance with them.
"Are you guys okay? Do you need anything?" Tony shakes his head as the paramedic checks his arm. "Don't worry; we'll take good care of you Anthony. Or do you prefer Tony?"
"Yeah, they don't call me Anthony unless I'm in trouble or at my boarding schools."
"Well I'm Agent Gomez and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be staying with you guys, I'm just not sure of where yet. We have to move locations." Kelly sniffs clutching fluffy.
"Do you know where my daddy is? Mommy promised he'd come home soon."
"Sorry honey I don't know but I'll try to find out for you." Tony hoped Kelly's dad would come home because it was bad enough to lose your mom without losing both parents though Anthony wasn't much of a parent to Tony. "Don't worry about your dad Tony, there's nothing much he can do about this unless he wants to put your life in danger."
"Yeah well if he's involving his lawyer who knows. He cares about what it'll do to him first." Tony just stares out the window and Gomez doesn't bring it up again. At the hospital, Tony took some antibiotics and they wrapped up his arm that didn't need stitches while Mike and Anthony sorted out the details and then Anthony asked to see Tony.
"Junior, I don't know what kind of mess you got yourself into but these people say you have to go with them. They told me you didn't see anything."
"No, I just ran to see if I could help after I heard the crash." Anthony sighs looking him up and down.
"Agent Franks says they'll take you by the house to pack a bag or two. Don't take anything that doesn't belong to you." Tony nods unsure what the agents must think of him. "Take care Junior and in my den there's your photo album on the bottom shelf."
"Thanks," On the way to Tony's house it was just him and Mike.
"Your old man isn't happy you're coming with us but we couldn't just leave you unprotected. When we offered to let him come along he declined saying we'd be better off with you." Tony sighs but doesn't say anything since it wasn't a huge surprise to him. "He said you were a good kid just different since your mom died."
"She died when I was 8 and he never was the same either. I guess we both changed over time but I think he's just glad to get rid of me."
"That's fine and we're looking for the … for the person who is behind this so it probably won't be long. You might even be home before the summers over." Tony didn't say anything and after packing up his clothes and some personal things he didn't want to leave behind they head out to the store. "We need to pick up some stuff to keep you and Kelly busy. Some books, maybe a coloring book or two for her. She already has her stuffed bunny."
"Yeah, she was holding onto it like … I used to with my bear." Mike doesn't know what to say to that.
"Well hopefully we'll be able to get her father home soon. With her mom gone, it's only right that we don't put her father at risk." Tony takes a deep breath.
"My father … he seems pissed about this."
"He is because he doesn't want you involved in anything but he said he can't really guarantee you'll be safe with him or some boarding school. He wants to help but he agrees you'll be safer with us. I hope you don't mind but we're putting both you and Kelly up together. It'll be a motel in case the safe houses are being watched."
"I don't mind, she seems like a nice kid."
"She is just scared since this started and now … I don't think it's hit her yet. There will be at least three agents during the day and two at night. Agent Gomez will stay with Kelly in one room and probably Agent Inez with you in yours. They'll do the ordering of food, shopping for anything you guys might need and if you need anything all you have to do is ask."
"Okay," At the hotel Kelly was lying down with fluffy not even looking up when there was a knock on the door but jumps up when Mike and Tony walk. "Hey Kel,"
"Tony, you came back."
"Of course I did. I have to stay in hiding just like you." Kelly thinks about this and Mike hands him the bag. "We got you some stuff to keep busy." Kelly looks in the bag that had two coloring books, a few books she was reading, a sticker book and some kind of arts and crafts thing for girls her age.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome honey. Now let's see about getting you something for dinner. How does pizza sound?"
"Okay," Mike looks at Tony who nods.
"Okay so Kelly you like cheese and what about you Tony?"
"Can I get half with pepperoni, sausage and extra cheese?"
"Sure, if that's what you want or we can get you a small one like that." Later after they ate, Kelly falls asleep watching cartoons. Tony was wide-awake because his arm was starting to hurt so they gave him some aspirin. "Why don't you try to go to sleep? At least lie down and watch TV. I have to make a phone call but you can lie in the other bed for now and watch TV while we use the other room. Just don't answer the door or phone for anyone." Tony agrees and Inez and Gomez follow Mike into the other room.
"What's going to happen to the boy … Tony? When Gunny Gibbs comes and takes Kelly …?"
"He's just going to have to be placed somewhere. Maybe moved to another location until things settle down. The DC office has some good field agents and they won't think to look for him there."
"Washington DC? Do you think that's safe? We're based out of here."
"Yeah and we already lost two men because they were being followed. Keeping them here isn't safe either and keeping them locked up until we catch the killers isn't good for kids either. Tony was just trying to help and got dragged into this mess." They figure out what they were going to do for a few days with the kids while waiting for Kelly's dad to return and then what he wanted to do with her.