Chapter 2

By the time Gibbs and Tommy emerged from Williams backyard Gibbs had information that Tommy's grandparents, on his mother's side, had been fighting for custody of him for the last two years ever since Tommy let it slip about his unhappiness at home but the judge hadn't wanted to separate son from father just because the boy was unhappy at home. The father's defense was strong enough to get the case dropped.

"Tommy!" yelled Capt. Miller as he saw his son for the first time in four days. "I've been so worried!" He ran towards his boy stopping with surprised when Gibbs stepped in between the two.

"Not so fast Captain, the boy's going into protective service until we investigate an child abuse charge."

"An child abuse charge...against who, Agent Gibbs?" demanded the captain.

"Against you Captain Miller," Gibbs informed him dryly.

"Me? And who's made such a charge?"

"I did father," replied Tommy Miller defiantly.

That stopped Miller cold as he looked at his son with surprise. "Tommy, I only meant to make you tough. This is a tough world and you need to be tougher to survive," explained Miller, as he reached to touch him.

Tommy backed away moving to stand next to his friend Davy.

"That was not the way Captain Miller; you do not beat your son for years and expect him to understand your reasoning and I'm going to do everything in my power to give him to someone that loves him and will treat him right, namely his grandparents," growled Gibbs.

The case came to an abrupt end after that. Tommy's grandparents won custody over Tommy and he went to live with them. Captain Miller was brought up on child abuse charges and relieved of duty. He would serve five years with the condition that he would seek professional help during and after his sentence ended.

The only one that truly had a problem with the case was DiNozzo who saw similarities in everything the case offered…the victim was a DiNozzo look-alike, the abuse was similar to what Tony experience throughout his childhood, the threat with a military school was only a threat for Tommy not DiNozzo and the outcome was different…with Tommy he had been given a new life with his mother's parents…one where he would be loved and cared for. With Tony he had been cut off without a dime from his father, who had nothing more to do with his son…no love or care from a loving family only to be raised by a numerous of relatives who on the whole really couldn't care less about an extra mouth to feed.

Tony was feeling down and Gibbs and Abby knew that they had to keep a watch over him for the next few days so he wouldn't do anything stupid.

Gibbs decided that Tony would be staying with him for the next few days.

Tony hadn't been thrilled, "Boss, I'll be okay…really. I just want to be by myself for a few days," he had protested.

"DiNozzo, did that sound like a request to you? You will be staying with me for the next few days…we can talk…I'm not going to let you beat yourself up over this," ordered Gibbs gently.

Tony nodded his understanding. He knew that of the team only Gibbs and Abby really knew about his childhood and they only wanted what was best for him and he was exhausted and few days of relaxation sounded pretty good to Tony.