Jethro stopped at a pay phone and called home and asked Shannon to send Kelly to Maddie's house to play they have something to discuss together before Kelly hears. Shannon was getting worried at this point but she did as Jethro asked and sent Kelly to play with Maddie. Jethro pulled into the driveway 20 minutes later.

Shannon was sitting on the couch fearing the worst and wondering how she was going to break the news to Kelly. She kept thinking Kelly is too young to feel the grief of loosing a friend. When Jethro came into the house Shannon was in tears and she practically flung herself into his arms.

Jethro was taken a back by his wife's reactions he gently said, "Hey sweetie what is the matter?"

Shannon looked up at him with her big green eyes. Jethro had to smile at how beautiful her blood shot eyes made the green stand out even more. Shannon said, "Oh Jethro how are we going to tell Kelly that Tony is dead?"

Jethro held his wife at arms length, "Who told you Tony was dead?"

Shannon's brow furrowed, "Well I assumed since you wanted to talk to me before Kelly that the boy was dead."

Jethro giggled a little, "Shannon, honey, what is that rule about assuming? Tony is seriously injured but he is not dead. When I found the sweet kid he was beaten to a pulp and had a broken leg. That useless Father of his told him that he wasn't worthy enough to even live in the house. I found him curled up next to the pool pump."

Shannon gasped, "Oh my goodness Jethro, please tell me someone shot his Father."

Jethro couldn't help but snicker at his sweet beautiful wife asking if someone shot Tony Sr., "No sweetie no one shot him but I will tell you after the cops saw me carrying Tony out they were tempted. Tony Sr. is going to be in prison for the rest of his life and he is going to loose his parental rights. That is what I wanted to talk about. I know it sounds insane, but I think we are supposed to take this boy in and give him a real family."

Shannon leaned over and hugged her husband, "Jethro if you think that is what we should do then I stand behind you a 100%."

Jethro looked into her eyes, "Are you certain. This will be a lot of work for you and you know with the Marine Corp I am away a lot more than I would like to be. I don't think I would have a problem loving him as my son but I don't want you or Kelly to do anything that you wouldn't want to do. Right now you and Kelly are my family and family is always first. If we pursue this Tony will be our son and Shannon. I can't explain why I feel this way but I want that little boy to be Tony Gibbs so bad. But if you two have any reservations the conversation will end now."

Shannon placed a long and passionate kiss on Jethro's lips. She smiled into his eyes and said, "Lets get Kelly and bring her home and ask her but I am pretty sure that she will feel the same way I do. We would be honored to welcome Tony into the family if he wants us too."

Jethro smiled, "I will go call over to Maddie's house and have her come home."

Shannon gave Jethro a wicked smile and grabbed his hand pulling him toward the bedroom and said, "Let her play for a few minutes. I think you and I need to discuss some other issues."

Jethro smiled and waggeled his eyes at her, "We need to discuss some other issues? Okay Madame, lead the way."

That evening Kelly came home to her Mommy and Daddy sitting on the couch waiting for her. When she saw them there and no supper cooking she was beginning to get really worried.

Kelly put her bag down and said, "So Daddy, how is Tony? Have you heard yet?"

Jethro pulled the young girl up onto his lap, "Yeah Sweetie I have heard. Today when Daddy went to work I was going to help search for Tony. He had gotten lost. You were right about his Daddy being really mean to him. Turns out he was out of school because his Daddy was so mean to him he didn't even let him live in the house. Well the police arrested him and they are going to put him in jail for a very long time and they are going to take Tony away from him and give him to a family that will love him and treat him right."

Kelly's face lit up and asked, "Oh Daddy, Daddy could we be that family that the police give Tony too. Our family has a loving mommy and daddy and an amazingly wonderful sister."

Both Shannon and Jethro giggled at her statement especially the last part. Jethro said, "Well honey, that is what we wanted to talk to you about. Mommy and I think that Tony would be a great giblet, you would have a brother and our family would be even more perfect with another person to love on."

Kelly hugged both her parents, "Lets do it. Lets adopt my brother Tony."

Shannon sat Kelly in between then and said, "Well sweetie how about first things first, lets say we go and grab some balloons and flowers and go up and check up on Tony at the hospital."

An hour later they made their way to Mercy hospital and found Tony's room. When they entered the room Tony looked up with a huge smile on his face, "You all came to see me? You said you would come tomorrow but I didn't think you were going to actually come and you did and early and with Kelly and Kelly's Mom. Hi Kelly's Mom."

Shannon smiled at the adorable little boy who was hooked up to all kinds of machines with his leg in a cast and he is smiling without a care in the world. At that moment Tony secured his place in her heart forever.

Jethro sat beside Tony's bed and held his hand, "Listen Tony, we have something to ask you. First, did anyone explain to you about your Dad?"

Tony lost the smile on his face, "Yes Mr. Kelly's Daddy they did. They said that my Daddy did a lot of really bad things and that he is going to go to jail for the rest of his life and he isn't going to be my Daddy anymore."

Jethro squeezed his hand, "Tony, how do you feel about that and would you be okay with having another Daddy?"

Tony smiled a half smile; "I am okay with my Dad not being my Dad anymore. You aren't supposed to hurt and be mean to people. He used to be nice but since my Mommy died he has been really mean to me. If I could choose I would choose you to be my Dad."

Jethro exchanged looks with Shannon and Kelly but Kelly couldn't wait anymore she jumped on the bed with the good leg and said, "That is why we came early to see if you would want to be by brother and have those guys be your new mommy and daddy."

Tony started to cry. Kelly laid down in the bed and wrapped her tiny arms around the even smaller boy. He looked up at Jethro and asked, "You area big strong Marine cop. Why would you want a pathetic son like me?"

Gibbs heart broke, "Anthony, it will be one of the best days in my life when your name goes from Tony DiNozzo to Tony Gibbs. If you are sure about it we will call around and see how we go about becoming your foster parents and then the next step will be you and us in a forever family."

Tony hugged Kelly and smiled as he tried out how it sounded, "Tony Gibbs, Anthony Michael Gibbs."