Chapter 2
Gibbs and Burke walked with Tony and Neal as they left the courthouse making sure that they weren't going to try anything before they left New York. "Boys, we only have to grab our belongings before he board the train for our return journey," explained Gibbs. "Is there any where you need to go before we leave; maybe to pick up whatever you want to take along?"
Tony and Neal looked at each other before Neal said, "It's not so much that I really have anything I want to take along as it is to say goodbye to Mozzie."
"Who is Mozzie?"
"My friend; he took me in when I first ran away and took care of me until I could start helping out," explained Neal.
Gibbs exchanged a look with Burke who nodded his agreement, "I think that can be arranged. What about you Tony?"
"I have a few things I would like to take as well as say good bye to Mozzie," he replied.
"Okay then…why don't you lead the way to your friend and then we can get ready to go back home," Gibbs said kindly.
Tony and Neal turned to go and led them towards the neighborhood that Mozzie lived before breaking way at the last minute leaving Gibbs and Burke behind…or so they thought. They hadn't accounted for the tracking skills and the catching of criminals the two marshals had accomplished over the years that when the boys thought they had given them the slip when in reality they only led them straight to Mozzie's dwelling.
"Mozzie," the boys had cried upon entering, "we got away but we have to be really careful Fowler is looking for us," Neal added. "He's looking for that music box that was stolen last week."
Mozzie looked up as the boys ran in and was about to congratulate them on the escape when his face fell as Gibbs and Burke followed them in moments later.
"So you are the friend the boys wanted to say goodbye to," drawled Gibbs as he looked sternly at Tony and Neal.
Mozzie looked him up and showing no fear said, "Yep…who are you?"
"I'm the man who is going to adopt young Tony as soon as we get back to Washington, DC."
"And I'm going to adopt Neal," added Burke.
Mozzie turned to Tony and Neal and asked, "Is this true?"
"Yes," Tony and Neal replied as they looked at their feet, "it was either agree to go with them or be sent to Fowler's House of Refuge."
"Then you have to go…you will have a better life with these two then you can ever hope for here with me," Mozzie said soulfully. "I will miss you though."
"You can come with us," Neal exclaimed, as he looked towards Burke with pleading eyes.
But it was Mozzie who answered, "No I can't…I'm too old to be adopted and I like living here in New York; but if it gets too lonely here maybe I can come up for a visit?" he asked Burke and Gibbs who nodded.
"Boys get your belonging, we have along trip to get started," ordered Gibbs.
"Well, boys are you ready to leave?" asked Gibbs after seeing them say their goodbyes and gathered the stuff they wanted to take with them. It hadn't been much.
Tony and Neal nodded and they quietly left.
Mozzie watched them go before turning back to what he had been doing before they arrived, thinking about how much he would miss those scamps but also realizing that they would be better off with the marshals and their families I instead of constantly being on the wrong side of the law and the consequences that held. He just hoped that they would be able to give up their old life without too much difficulty.
"Their new pas are probably not going to be too happy with them if they continue to shoplift or con anyone," he muttered to himself, "and they definitely will not be happy with those consequences either."
As the boys walked ahead of Gibbs and Burke it suddenly became apparent that they needed two things…first new clothes and second a bath. Being downwind of the boys had made that option upmost in Gibbs and Burke's mind to have taken care of immediately.
"I'll take care of the baths and you handle the clothes," whispered Gibbs to his cousin.
"I don't know their sizes," replied Peter quietly.
"Do the best that you can, if they are a bit too big it won't matter; we can get them the correct sizes once we return home. As it is they won't be allowed on the train the way they smell or dare say in any clothing shops...so do the best you can, but get only one set of clothing…just enough to get them home and into the hands of their new mothers," replied Gibbs as he watched Peter head in another direction leaving him the boys.
Neal happened to turn around to see Peter leave and asked, "Where is he going?"
"To get you and Tony something for the trip home," he replied mysteriously.
"Where are we going now?" asked Tony when Gibbs steered them away from the hotel they had been heading towards.
Gibbs squared his shoulders and said firmly, "To the bath house next door. You two are in a desperate need of a bath!"
"A bath! We aren't that bad," cried Neal as he stopped to argue.
A well placed smack to his bottom changed his mind and he reluctantly entered the room. Tony followed behind without protesting. He had seen the smack and Neal's reaction and didn't want to experience it for himself.
As the manager came forth Gibbs paid for the baths and they were led further inside. "There you are young sirs," the manager said to the boys, "a tub for each of you," and proceeded in having them filled with warm water.
Tony and Neal stopped and stared; they had never seen anything like that before. When Tony's parents had been alive there had been only one tub and he always had to wait for his turn as the water got dirtier and dirtier…this was so different he was going to be first and eagerly approached the tub and almost stepped in fully clothed when he heard,
"Remove your clothes first, Tony."
"But this way I can washed them, too," he had argued.
"By the time you and Neal are clean new clothing will be here for you to wear," explained Gibbs as Neal looked up,
"That's will Mr. Burke went, wasn't it?"
"Yep, now strip and start bathing," he ordered and stayed to make sure that his orders were obeyed.
It took three tub full of water but by the time Peter arrived with the clothing the boys were clean; so clean that the tan that Gibbs thought they had was now discovered to be dirt; and as soon as they put on the new clothing they were totally different boys; boys that Mozzie wouldn't have recognized.
And to be honest Peter hadn't done too badly with the shopping; he had been only one size off with Neal but everything fit Tony perfectly even down to his shoes.
"Now we are ready to go home," pronounced Gibbs as he looked over the boys. "We just need to grab our gear and check out," he added and soon they were on the train heading for a new life for Neal and Tony.
The trip to Washington, DC. was uneventful; which both marshals thought was nice after all they had to go through to get their new sons ready for travel.
*************
They arrived before night and hurried home. Peter wasn't sure how he was going to tell Elizabeth about Neal but knew that if he had to do it over again the result would have been the same and with that in mind he opened the door and announced,' Honey, we're home," as he ushered Neal inside.
"Peter, I'm so glad that you're home," greeted Elizabeth as she came out from the back wiping her hands on her apron. She was going to say more when she caught sight of Neal, "and who do we have here?" she asked instead as she kneeled down to Neal's level.
"Honey, this is Neal Caffrey," introduced Peter as he took a deep breath to add, "our son."
"How do you….did you say son?" Elizabeth asked as she turned back to her husband.
"Yes," confirmed Peter. "Jethro and I were awarded custody of Neal and his friend Tony today…it's a long story. Can we have supper first and then I can explain everything later."
Elizabeth took a long look at her husband as if considering his words before turning her gaze at Neal and then coming to an understanding smiled and said, "Welcomed home, son. Let me show you to your room," and led him into the spare bedroom at the back of the house.
"This will be your room Neal, we can decorate it however you like later," she said lovingly.
"You know you don't have to keep me, if you don't want to," said Neal as he looked his new mother in the eye.
"But I do Neal; we have been trying to have children for the last few years without success and now you are here. I see the good Lord's hand in this and I won't turn any gift He gives away…now put your stuff on the dresser and join us for supper," she added as she gave him a hug before leaving him to himself.
The first thing Neal did was to jump on the bed…it was so soft; nothing like the bed he shared with Tony at Mozzie's and the one he had when his mother was still alive was only a mattress filled with hay. He lay down cautiously and decided that he would give this new family of his a test to see if they really wanted him.
"Neal…supper," called Elizabeth and he hurriedly put his plan on hold and went to supper.
