Gibbs was tired, terribly bone achingly tired. He had had no idea how hard having a newborn baby was when he brought Tony home from the hospital as although he had been a dad- he still couldn't get over that, him a dad- for over 3 months it was only in the past week he and shannon had actually had there son at home with them. Therefore it was only now he was realising newborns were much harder work than he had anticipated, although they were also much more rewarding . And although the exhaustion he was feeling was massive he wouldn't change the fact that it was him and Shannon waking with their baby and not some name less faceless Dr for the world. This however didn't change the fact that Tony had woken up every other hour on the dot throughout each and every night he had been home, wanting to be fed, changed or sometimes just held. This meant he and Shannon had taken turns in getting up with him and soothing him until he fell into slumber again causing them to both feel like zombies.

Getting up with the baby was exactly what he was doing at the moment as he sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the tiny but beautifully decorated room, holding his wide awake baby. The ship covered onesie the boy was wearing making him look if possible, even cuter. Jethro continued to rock hoping the baby would fall to sleep but his efforts proved futile. It seemed, that no matter how long he rocked the baby he just wouldn't go to sleep. In his desperation he had even resorted to singing his boy to sleep, although from the way Tony's face had screwed up at his old mans rendition of 'twinkle twinkle little star' it was clear the elder gibbs talents didn't lie in singing. And so Gibbs was at a loss of what to do.

"Okay then tony" he whispered to his son softly, being carful not to disturb his sleeping wife in the bedroom next door, " it appears you got my stubborn streak" he continued laughing as the baby appeared to hang on his every word. " Now I know why my dad always complained about me" he joked to his son stroking his soft brown hair gently. His mind flashing back to the day that the two most important men in his life had met. His father and his son.

1 month earlier

Shannon sat next to her sons cot in the NICU step down unit ( a quieter more private area of the NICU floor, were the babies well enough not to need intensive care but still not ready to go home were kept) playing with his tiny hands and even smaller feet, smiling at every gurgle the boy made and just soaking up the rare alone time she had with her beautiful baby. She knew she was biased on that but who could not love that tuft of dark hair and big green eyes? And the nurses had complimented her on his beauty hundreds of times so she knew it wasn't all in her head! The woman thought to herself. The reason she was visiting her still tiny but perfect miracle alone this morning was because Jethro had gone to the Washington Dc airport that morning. He had gone to pick up his father, Tonys grandfather from the plane he had caught from Stillwater early in the morning to see his knew and only grandchild. Shannon was beyond excited to see the elderly man as she loved Jackson as a second father and knew he would make an amazing Grandpa. Unfortunatley the older man had not yet been able to visit the new baby even though he had desperately wanted to. Hospital rules stipulated that until the babies in the NICU were moved into the stepdown unit the only visitors allowed were their parents and thus this was the first opportunity Jackson and Anthony Gibbs had to meet. Despite this the proud parents had sent him numoures pictures of the boy so he had managed to see the baby and his first 2 months of life even if not in person, although all this was about to change.

Dc airport

Jethro Gibbs stood outside the arrival terminal for his fathers flight impatiently, shifting repeatedly from one leg to the other. He was impatient for two reasons, for one he was excited to see his father and show him his pride and joy as even though he and his father didn't always get on he knew without a doubt that he loved him and he had missed his presence in his life. The other reason was that he was away from Tony, or 'Spud' as he had affectionately named him during the time that he was allowed to visit him and so he was desperate to get back to his bed ( or cot) side. Although he knew the time for Shannon to be alone with Tony was very important for both mother and baby. Gibbs was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost missed the tannoy annoncment making him aware of his fathers flights arrival and he raised his head just in time to see his old but full of life father walking to words him.

" Dad" he cried before embracing the man in a quick hug " how are you?"

" Good to see you son " the elder Gibbs man replied " I'm very excited to meet my Grandson, and if the pictures are anything to go by you've got quite a looker there Jethro!" The man continued as the pair walked as quickly as his age would allow to the baggage claim.

"That he is dad, that he is" Gibbs agreed with fatherly pride in his voice thinking of the dark hair his son had inherited from him and his sparkling green eyes and button nose from his mother. Before reaching out and grabbing the plaid patterned suitcase his father pointed out on the baggage carousel and steering both himself and his father to his car. He had recently replaced his nice but not at all family friendly car with a practical and sturdy pickup truck when Shannon had informed him of her pregnancy.

The pair talked on the way back to the hospital the underlying awkwardness between the men forgotten in their excitement to see the youngest member of their family. Jethro couldn't help but be amazed once again about how such a small baby could change so much as he realised things had never been so comfortable between he and his father since his mothers death more than a decade before. He brought his father up to date with Tony's recent medical progress as he drove, almost brimming with both pride and excitement that Tony had finnially begun bottle feeding and yesterday he had even given him a bottle himself! His father listened eargly and before he realised it he was pulling into his now normal space in the hospital carpark and leading his father inside.

"Do you wanna go grab a coffee, before we go see the baby Dad?" Gibbs questioned although secretly hoping his father would decline.

"Nonsense Leroy" his father exclaimed "I didn't come all this way for coffee, I came to see my grandson! So lead the way."

Jethro smiled as he and Jackson entered the elevator and he led his father over to the NICU room were his baby boy was situated. " Are you coming in Dad?" he questioned before entering the room and making his way through the numerous cots and over to his wifes side. Gibbs smiled at the love he saw shining in her eyes as she cradled their child in her arms, singing to him softly, completely unaware of his presence. "Hey baby" he called softly pressing a kiss to her lips and then one to Tonys forehead smiling as he giggled and grabbed his finger in a surprisingly strong grip. The father then glanced up and saw his father still standing in the hospital doorway a look of joy on his face. The elderly man then began to make his way over to the trio before glancing at the baby in his daughter in laws arms and exclaiming " oh he is so beautiful" before placing a work calloused but still gentle hand on the boys tiny one. The young couple smiled at the look of wonder on his face as Shannon asked him " Would you like to hold him?"

"Damn right I would" Jackson replied, carefully scooping up the blanket wrapped baby who although he was still tiny and covered in bandages and an iv was to him the most amazing thing he had ever seen, or held. And as the boys eyes fluttered open and his tiny fist grabbed his rapidly thinning hair he knew that a very special bond had just formed. One between a Grandfather and Grandson that could never be broken.

Present

" Is that all it was gonna take Tony" Gibbs laughed as he realised that his storytelling had finially lulled the baby into slumber and he was snuggled into his arms the occasional baby snore the only sound he was making. The man knew he should put the baby back in the crib and catch a few hours of much need sleep while he had the chance but he was loathe to do so, and instead he got more comfortable in his chair and continued to stare at Tony, imagining all the other moments his baby boy and old man would have together.

AN: Sorry for the wait, but the next chapter is pretty planned out and should be up in the next couple of weeks. Thank you all so much for your reviews and alerts they really mean the word to this first time author, so please R and R