Tony had no idea what he was going to do. He had only had a week and a half to prepare for his new life and he was not any where near ready. He wasn't anywhere near done packing and he had just gotten the keys to the new place that morning. The house wasn't even his biggest concern. How the hell was he going to raise three kids? A toddler, an angsty teenager, and most terrifyingly of all a severely premature baby. He had enough trouble keeping his goldfish alive. Poor Kate was Kate number three. Kate one had died of fin rot but he shuddered at the memory of what had happened to poor Kate number two. Her demise was nearly as gruesome as her namesake's. He could not believe how selfish he was being. Yes, his life had suddenly been changed but not near as much as the Dallas children's lives had. Losing their parents so young, in such a tragic way. The poor baby was fighting for her life before it even had a chance to really begin. He hadn't even named her yet but maybe that was for the best. Naming meant getting attached and getting attached would make it even worse if she died.

"So when do I get out of here?" Jake asked after several minutes.

"You guys can actually come home today." Tony replied.

"Home? What home?" Jake asked.

"You will be staying with me." Tony replied.

"That isn't home! Your crappy apartment is not home!" Jake snapped.

Jake was right, Tony's tiny apartment was not home to those kids. It was fine for him but it was way too small for an adult and three kids to sleep in, even for one night. Having only a twin bed and his uncomfortable and broken couch. He had used most of his available cash buying the house and he wanted to save his credit card for emergencies. So checking into a hotel was out of the question. He had the keys to the new house but he wouldn't be able to get electricity and water hooked up right away and bringing the kids to their old house may be too traumatic for them. Since they had a week to vacate. A fact that infuriated him. Jimmy lived close to where they would be living. Maybe they could stay there. It didn't hurt to try. He thought as he dialed Jimmy's number from the waiting room

"Hello?"

"Jesus, Palmer you sound terrible."

"I feel terrible. It's a nasty virus that's going around. We all have it. Thank God, Tori is doing better but we had to take her to the ER."

"But she's OK now?"

"Yes, Ed has her. Because Breena and I can barely get out of bed. Sorry I am complaining. What's going on? Is everything OK?"

"No it's not. Jason and Mary both died today."

"Oh Tony, I am so sorry."

"Thanks but I am more worried for the kids than for myself."

"How are they?"

"The baby is doing better but it's still going to be touch and go for a while. As for Jake and Lily. Well Jake is really devastated and Lily doesn't really understand."

"That's to be expected."

"I should let you go."

"Again I am so sorry. Do you at least have the new place squared away?"

"Not yet. I was going to ask to stay with you guys but if you are that sick. It would be way over the line."

"Not to mention if you get sick you can't go into the NICU."

"That's right, feel better Jimmy."

"I'll try and hug those kids for me."

"Will do."

With Jimmy unable to take them in for the night. The only other option Tony had was to stay with Gibbs. Ducky, McGee, and Bishop all had limited space and in he didn't see Abby's emotional, hugging, and crying in the face of a tragedy mixing well with Jake's anger over the loss of his parents.

"So where are you taking us?" Jake asked as they drove down the road.

"My boss's house. He will let us stay the night." Tony explained.

"You don't have the new house ready?" Jake asked.

"Well it's bought but I wasn't counting on you guys getting out today. So I don't have anything hooked up yet and I can't get that done until morning." Tony explained.

"Can't we go home? Like to my home?" Jake asked.

"No your landlord won't let us." Tony replied.

"Bitch" Jake whispered.

"Language, Jacob." Tony warned.

"Whatever" Jake sighed.

Lily remained quiet the rest of the drive to Gibbs's house but Tony heard a couple of light sobs that had to be coming from Jake. He felt for that kid. It was bad enough losing his mom to cancer at eight but to lose both parents in a car accident. When you were in the car with them. Especially at the awkward age of thirteen. When you needed them most of all. His heart broke for that kid. Upon arrival to Gibbs's house; Tony got Lily out of the car, took her hand, and walked up to the door with Jake following close behind. Once they were on the porch Tony knocked on the door and waited for Gibbs to answer.

"Hello?" Gibbs greeted.

"Hey Boss" Tony replied.

"Oh hi Tony, who are your friends?" Gibbs asked.

"That's Jake and this is Lily. Jake, Lily this is my boss, Gibbs." Tony introduced.

"Good to meet you Jake and Lily." Gibbs replied.

"Hi Gibbs!" Lily cried.

"Hi" Jake muttered.

"So what's going on?" Gibbs asked.

"Can we stay with you, tonight?" Tony asked.

"Yeah of course. Uh kids go on up to the guest room. It's the third door on your right." Gibbs instructed.

"Thanks Boss." Tony replied gratefully.

Tony helped Jake and Lily upstairs and made sure they got to the right room. Once they were settled he walked back downstairs. It sounded to him like Gibbs wanted the kids upstairs. So that the adults could talk in private. So Tony was not surprised to be quickly ushered into the kitchen and have the door shut quickly behind him. Two cups of coffee sat across from each other at the table. Tony sat in front of one and Gibbs took the other seat at the head of the table.

"So what's going on?" Gibbs asked once they were situated.

"What do you mean?" Tony questioned.

"Well lets see. First you show up over an hour late, then you get a call that you need to get to the hospital right away, and then you show up at my house six hours later. With two kids in tow and all of you look like hell. What is going on?" Gibbs asked again.

"It's a long story." Tony replied.

"I figured as much. To start out. Who the hell are those kids and why do they look so depressed and scared?" Gibbs asked.

"Jake and Lily are two of the children of my best friend from boarding school, Jason Dallas." Tony explained.

"OK, where is Jason?" Gibbs asked.

"Jason and his wife Mary Ellen Higgins-Dallas died today." Tony explained.

"That's horrible, Tony. What happened?" Gibbs asked.

"A week and a half ago the kids and them were involved in a horrific car accident. Jason and Mary both had severe head and internal injuries. Jason was declared brain dead pretty much right away but Mary was still conscious and talking when she was brought in." Tony explained.

"She have a stroke or something?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes" Tony replied.

"OK so what happened to the kids?" Gibbs asked.

"They were just released. Jake has a broken arm obviously but he also injured his spleen. They didn't have to remove it. They didn't want to stress his body any further but they did have to observe him for several days." Tony explained.

"What about the little girl? Lily?" Gibbs asked.

"Concussion and a bruised lung" Tony replied.

"Scary but it could have been so much worse." Gibbs replied.

"Oh believe me it could have." Tony replied.

"I feel like there's something that you are not telling me." Gibbs said.

"When the accident happened, Mary was pregnant." Tony admitted.

"Did the baby survive?" Gibbs asked, bracing for the worst.

"Yes but they had to deliver the baby early. Mary had placental tearing. They had to do an emergency Cesarean and that's when she had her complications. She had a brain bleed but if they had checked for that she would have bled out from the placenta." Tony explained.

"How is the baby?" Gibbs asked.

"She is doing pretty well but it's going to be touch and go for a while. Mary was only about twenty-nine or thirty weeks." Tony explained.

"Well keep a good thought." Gibbs replied.

"I am trying to but it's hard." Tony replied.

"So what's going to happen to the kids?" Gibbs asked.

"They are my God children." Tony replied.

"Where is there God mother?" Gibbs asked.

"Jake's God mother is dead and Lily's didn't want the responsibility." Tony explained.

"Those poor kids. They are lucky to have you though." Gibbs replied.

"I hope so." Tony replied.

"So if the kids are in your custody then why can't you stay at their house?" Gibbs asked.

"Their fucking landlord. I call her and tell her that Jason and Mary were gravely wounded in a car accident and the kids were all hospitalized too. I told her I would have custody of the kids and asked to get the lease put in my name and she said no. Because they have a waiting list! She threw orphaned children out of the only home they have ever known because of a fucking waiting list!" Tony snapped.

"Have you considered suing?" Gibbs asked.

"It was stated in the lease that Jason and Mary signed that they could not transfer the lease. She offered to let me buy the unit but I could not afford what she is asking. If it were just me fine but I have kids to take care of and the baby's bills may not be covered by insurance. Besides I don't know what problems she will have and the condo isn't very accessible. So I bought a place down the street from Jimmy. It was a foreclosure. So I got a great deal." Tony explained.

"Good so you and the kids are safe?" Gibbs questioned.

"Yes" Tony replied.

"Tony are you OK?" Gibbs asked.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" Tony asked, before totally breaking down.

A/N: Tony has a lot of challenges coming his way but at least he has Gibbs and the others by his side. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.