Chapter Fourteen

The Present

It was a nice spring morning, beautiful weather. September really wasn't his favorite month, but he did like the way Washington look in September. He dressed in a Zegna grey pinstriped suit with a white dress shirt and black tie and black oxford shoes. For a change he actually got into work before Ziva, McGee and Gibbs. Either this was a sign at how good he felt this morning or how fucked up his life had gotten. He wasn't sure which it was.

Gibbs was the first to arrive at 7:30. Instead of saying good morning, he merely looked at Tony as if there was something wrong.

"I got a good night sleep last night," he said.

"If you say so, DiNozzo," said Gibbs.

Next to come in was McGee, who was dressed chicly all in black. He looked at Tony like he had two heads.

"Morning Boss and Tony," said McGee.

"Morning McNeed-a-sandwich," said Tony.

McGee smiled and sat down.

Finally, the last to show up was Ziva. She had her hair down and her curls straightened out of it. She wore black slacks, a white dress shirt, and a black raincoat with her back pack slung over her shoulder. As she came into the bullpen she was on her smartphone: "Yes, Ray, I love you, too."

She hung and looked over at Tony. He kept his eyes down on his paperwork. Since she announced her engagement to Ray, her relationship with Tony had been strained which annoyed her.

The elevator dinged and Fornell came walking off the elevator. He wore a cheap suit and a raincoat and looked dour. Walking into the bullpen, he stopped at DiNozzo's desk and looked at him.

"We need to talk, DiNutso," said Fornell.

"Fornell, what do you want with my agent?" asked Gibbs.

"This is important, Jethro. It involves something that happen before you ever met DiNozzo," Fornell said then looked at Tony. "Vance is expecting you and me."

"Okay, let's go," said Tony.

He stood up and followed Fornell up the stairs to the director's office. Cynthia announced them and they entered. Vance got up from his desk and joined them at the conference table.

Tony looked at his Director. He had a rocky relationship with him. Vance preferred overly computer literate agents to field agents. Yet, they relationship had stabilized lately, mainly because Vance admired Gibbs and Gibbs admired DiNozzo.

"Fornell has already briefed me on this meeting," said Vance. "It involves your undercover op in Philly."

"It involves Gina Macaluso," said Fornell.

"Is she alright? Does she need me?" asked Tony.

"She's dead, DiNutso, but she left you something," said Fornell.

"How did she die?" he asked.

"That's being investigated," said Fornell. "We'll let you know the outcome of the investigation."

"What did she leave me?" asked Tony.

Vance looked down at the table top as Fornell inhaled and prepared himself to speak.

"When she accepted our deal, she did so under a few provisions. One, she wanted to know your real name and wanted it as her new name; two, she didn't want you to know where she was being located; and three; she didn't want you to know that she was pregnant with your child. You have a daughter, DiNutso," Fornell told him. "One other provision she made was that if anything was to ever happen to her that you were to become her parent. Gina never married."

Tony's head spun. He couldn't believe he had a daughter, a daughter he had never seen before.

"How old is she?"

"She's twelve, almost thirteen," Fornell said.

"What's her name?"

"Caprice DiNozzo. Ruled by whim," he smiled. "Where is she?"

"She should be downstairs waiting for. She been briefed and knows that she's about to meet her father," said Fornell.

"For fucksake Fornell, how could you do this to me? How could you never tell me about my daughter?" growled Tony.

"I was against the deal. I told them you should be told, but her testimony was too important so they never listened to me," he said.

"Still not right," he mumbled to himself.

"I've arranged for you to take three weeks leave to get to know your daughter and get her settled. I'll let Gibbs know about it once we are done her," said Vance. "I'm sorry you had to find about your daughter this way, Tony."

"Thank you, Director," he said not really feeling anything.

"We should go downstairs and meet your daughter," said Fornell.

Tony and Fornell looked down from the mezzanine as two FBI agents stood be the windows with a twelve year old girl dressed like a Goth with black combat boots, a tartan skirt, a black tee shirt with the words Fight the Power in white, a black biker's jacket, black fingernail polish and black lipstick. She had black hair and was talking happily to Abby, who was probably giving her Goth lessons.

"My daughter is a Goth," he sighed.

"She was raised in Portland, Oregon," said Fornell. "She could have been grunge."

"I don't think I can do this," said Tony.

"I know this doesn't mean much to you, Tony," Fornell said using his Christian name, "but if you need anything, let me know. My daughter isn't twelve but she is female."

"Thanks, Tobias."

They headed down the stairs. Gibbs, McGee and Ziva watched them come back down and walk towards the young girl. As she looked away from Abby, he saw that she had his sea green eyes, then it struck him that she looked more like his and Abby's daughter then Gina's and his.

"Tony," Abby said happily. "I have been talking to this really cool girl who is here to meet her father for the first time."

"I know, Abby," Tony smile slightly. "Caprice, I'm Anthony DiNozzo."

"So you're him," she said.

"Yeah, I'm him," he said.

Abby's moth dropped, as did Ziva's. McGee looked confused, while Gibbs maintained a calm façade.

"Let's go, Caprice, and get to know each other," Tony said and left with the two FBI agents and Caprice, leaving Tobias behind.

Vance came walking down to the bullpen next.

"Tobias, you care to explain," said Gibbs in a voice that almost bridge on angry.

"Tony's undercover assignment with the mob in Philly. Gina Macaluso was pregnant with his child when she agreed to witness protection. He didn't know he had a daughter. Gina died recently," Fornell explained.

Gibbs glared at him. The daughter of keeping a father and daughter apart for so long was a sin in his opinion.

"Poor, Tony," said Abby.

"I gave him three weeks leave," said Vance, "so he can get to know his daughter."

"We have to talk, Tobias," said Gibbs.

"I'll stop by your place later, Gibbs," said Fornell, who then left.

"Tony looked slightly overwhelmed," said Ziva.

"You think, Ziva," sighed Gibbs.

"He just found out he has a daughter and she almost a teen, which are some of the hardest years to deal with," said Vance. "I don't blame him if he's overwhelmed."

"This would make a great book," said McGee.

"I don't think so, McGee. If you write about this then Tony will kill you and if he doesn't, I will," said Ziva.

"And I'll make sure she doesn't get caught," said Abby.

Vance chuckled and left. Gibbs looked over at his senior field agent's empty desk. He was worried about him and his daughter.

NCIS

The FBI agents escorted Tony to his car, a black 2010 Trans Am. They handed him the bag she had packed.

"Is this all you have?" he asked.

"No, I left most of my stuff in Portland," she said.

"You choice: we go back to my place and get you settled in or I take you shopping for some more clothes and things?" he asked.

"I'd like to wait on the clothes," she said. "Maybe you're friend Abby can take me shopping. She understands what swagger I like"

"Swagger," he sighed. "I got new slang to pick up. I'll call her up and ask."

"Thanks."

He drove them to his town home, which he now owned. After parking his car, they entered the place. She looked around at his place.

"Upstairs there is an empty bedroom. It's yours," he said.

She grabbed her bag and disappeared up the stairs. He felt like they were dancing around each other, that she wasn't saying what she wanted to say and he didn't know what to say. His already complicated life had gotten more so. She came back down the stairs. Tony took a deep breath and finally dove in.

"I didn't know you existed otherwise I would have been part of your life," he said.

"I know, otherwise I'd be hating you right now," she said.

"What did your mother tell you about me?" he said then motioned her to sit on the sofa.

He sat down in the reclining chair to give her space.

"She told me she'd tell me when she thought I was ready. I was starting to pester her a lot about you," said Caprice.

He looked at her. She was twelve going on twenty sitting on his sofa acting all brave and such. He wondered if she could handle the truth then he decided that the only way to tell was by telling her the truth.

"Okay, I'm going to give you the whole story. You may not like what you hear, but I think you deserve to hear it," he said. "Are you ready?"

"Sure," she said.

"I was a cop in Peoria when I was offered a job to go undercover in Philly to bring down the Macaluso Family," he started.

For the next three hours, they talked. He told her first about Philly and his relationship with her mother then she asked about his life and childhood. At first he didn't want to tell her it all, but then he opened up. Once he was done. She told him about her life. Gina owned and operated a coffee shop in Portland. She said her mother never really dated. What few guys she did date, she compared to Tonio and none of them could live up to Tonio. When they were finally talked out she had one question for him.

"Did you love my mother?" she asked.

"Wow, good question," he said. "I cared for her. I didn't want her hurt, but… no, I didn't love her."

"Then how can you love me?" she asked.

"Because my mother loved me and that taught me that parents are supposed to love their children no matter how fucked up they are or how fucked up their children are," he said. "Do you believe me?"

"I don't know," she said with tears in her eyes.

"Can I give you a hug?" he asked.

"Okay," she said.

He got up from his chair went over to the sofa and sat beside then she wrapped her arms around him and started to cry. He rubbed her back as she did cried and kissed her head. When she stopped crying, he pulled her back and looked into her green eyes.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You like pizza?" he asked.

"Who doesn't?" she said.

"You are my kid," he smiled. "Extra cheese, sausage and pepperoni?"

"I don't really eat meat," she said. "Only occasionally, like turkey for thanksgiving and such."

"Okay," he said stunned by your admission, "let's not tell Gibbs that."

"Gibbs? Who is he?" asked Caprice.

"He's my boss, but he's more than to me. He's almost a like father to me," Tony explained.

"Was that the white hair guy with the weird haircut?" she asked.

"The haircut us a marine haircut, which is what he was and, maybe, I'll let Abby explain Gibbs to you," he said. "Let me call for pizza. One with extra cheese and one the way I like it."

"Can I have some coffee, too? I didn't get enough Joe this morning," she said.

"Maybe you will get along with Gibbs after all," he smiled. "I'll make us a pot. I have some Italian roast in the freezer."

NCIS

Tony called Abby at work and gave him his address. After ten years she was going to see his place. At six o'clock on the dot his doorbell rang and he answered it and let Abby in.

"Jeez, Tony, you got a great place. I mean a really great place. Look at that piano," she exclaimed, as she excitedly looked around his place.

Caprice came down the stairs and Abby ran and gave her a hug.

"Now that I now you are Tony's daughter, I can tell you this: you are adorable, Cap, and I am glad you're a mini Goth," she said. "I expect you to call me Auntie Abby."

"Abby, I have a gold card for you to use and a request that you take her to dinner since I have mainly meat in my house to eat," said he.

"You don't eat meat?" asked Abby.

"Not often," she said.

"That's so cute," Abby hugged her then looked at Tony. "What are you going to be doing?"

"I have to visit Gibbs," he said.

"Okay, we'll be three hours at least. Come on, Cap," Abby said.

NCIS

Tony saw Fornell's car in the driveway to Gibbs house, which meant they were probably talking about Gina and Caprice. He parked his car and walked into the house be as quiet as possible. The door to the basement was open, so he stood and listened for a moment.

"The Macaluso Family is making a comeback and part of that comeback is retribution. We believe they killed Gina and that they know about Caprice," he said.

"Damn it, Tobias, do they know about Tony?" Gibbs growled.

"Maybe. We're not sure," said Fornell.

"Who's running the family?" asked Gibbs.

"Alphonso Marino is the consigliere in Philly and the new don is living in Italy and running things. It's Giovanni Macaluso," said Fornell.

Tony walked down the steps: "Johnny had Gina killed?"

Both Fornell and Gibbs watched him as he came walking down the steps. Gibbs could tell from the expression on his face that DiNozzo was furious.

"When were you going to tell me about this, Fornell?" roared Tony, his temper coming to the surface. "My daughter's life is at stake."

"She should be safe here in DC with you for now," Fornell said.

"What the fuck does the FBI plan on doing about this?" snarled Tony.

"First the US Marshalls have to plug whatever leak they have then we can put you and Caprice into witness protection," said Fornell.

"You mean I leave my job and she and I go hiding and wait for them to find us and kill us," said Tony.

"If the leak is plugged they won't find you," said Fornell.

"I don't like it," Gibbs said.

"Neither do I boss, but if it's the only way I can protect Caprice then I have to do it, right?" Tony looked at his Boss, the man who was his friend, mentor, even father surrogate.

"Let think about it, DiNozzo, just think about it," said Gibbs.

"Where is your daughter?" Fornell asked.

"With Abby buying clothes and having dinner," he said.

"How's it feel to be a father?" asked Fornell.

"Like it's another thing I can fuck up," said Tony.

Chapter Thirteen

Gibbs came in the next morning with a large coffee in his hand and a snarl on his face. The thought of DiNozzo having to go into witness protection with his daughter almost sickened him to his stomach. He sat down at his desk and attempted to exhale his frustration away. It didn't work. Ziva and McGee looked at their boss and made note of his sour mood.

"Is everything alright, Gibbs?" asked Ziva.

"Just worried about DiNozzo," he said.

"Afraid he's not going to make a good father," joked McGee.

Gibbs looked at him as if he was an idiot.

"Tony will be a wonderful father, I think," said Ziva defending him.

"The girl's mother was murdered more than likely killed by the Macaluso Family, by her own family," said Gibbs. "If they come after her and Tony, they are going to have to go into the witness protection program. We'll never see Dinozzo again."

Ziva heart started to race. Never see Tony again. Why does the thought of never seeing Tony bother me so much? I have Ray now. He should be enough.

Abby came skipping into the bullpen.

"What a cool daughter Tony has? We had such fun last night shopping for clothes. Her favorite color is black just like me then we brought Thai food home to Tony's place and ate. She invited me to a sleepover this weekend," Abby chirped.

"You were at Tony's place," said McGee. "No one gets an invite to his place except Gibbs."

"I know. It is so cool. You'd be surprised, Timmy," said Abby.

Now Abby having been to Tony's place bothers me. What is wrong with me this morning?

NCIS

Caprice woke up in her brand new black pajamas with a skeleton on the front to the smell of coffee brewing. She walked into the bathroom and brushed her teeth then with her hair in pigtails much like Abby, she zombie-like came down stairs. Tony had Sinatra's 1960 Paris concert on as she walked into the living room and sat down. This was one of his favorite Sinatra DVDs.

"I'm making you French toast with this great sour dough bread I have in," he called to her.

"Kay," she answered.

After a short time in the kitchen finishing up while he brought out a plate with French smothered in syrup and a cup of coffee with cream and five sugars, just like him, and put the down her plate on the table.

"Breakfast is served, baby cakes," he said.

"What did you call me?" she said sleepily.

"Baby cakes," he said.

"I don't think so," she said.

"Get used to it. I have a habit of giving nicknames and they are usually corny," he said.

"Okay, what do you call Abby?" she asked as she sat down at the dining table.

"Abby cakes," he smiled then went into the kitchen and got his French toast and coffee.

"Okay then, I'll accept baby cakes," she said.

"You like Abby?" he called form the kitchen.

"She's great. Are you dating her?" she asked.

Caprice started to eat her French toast.

"Like it?" Tony asked.

"Hmmm," was her answer.

He had to smile. If he had done that with his father, he would have been told to leave the table because of being rude. No, the best way to handle a hmm was to smile.

"No, I am not dating Abby. We're just close friends," he said.

"Oh. You like this music?" she asked.

"Don't tell me this is going to be like meat," he sighed. "I love this music."

"Oh," she said.

"I'll buy the best headphones they make so you can listen to your music without a problem," he said.

"Kay," she said. "Why do you have so much money? I thought your father disinherited you."

"Senior did disinherited, though he regrets it now," said Tony. "My mother Emily Paddington-DiNozzo left an inheritance."

"Okay, so I'm Italian with some English blood," she smiled.

"I'm half and half, although I tend to identify with my Italian blood. My looks kind of split it down the middle."

"Sorry, dad, you look more English than Italian," Caprice said as she ate.

Dad. She called me dad. Don't get emotional Tony. Act cool. Get up and go into the kitchen for a moment. He got up with his coffee cup in hand.

"I didn't put enough sugar in my coffee," Tony said then he walked into the kitchen and wiped away a tear.

He took a sip of his coffee. She didn't think about it, but just called me dad. I'm a dad. I've got to protect her at all costs.

He returned to the table and sat down.

"So what are we going to do about school?" he asked.

"I'm home-schooled. You see I'm part of a internet home school network where I take classes and tests and all that," she said.

"Why did you're mother choose home-schooling?" he asked.

"I had trouble with bullies early on in school. She decided to home-school. I also take piano lessons. I saw you have a piano," she said.

"Do you have text books?" Tony asked.

"In Portland."

"Order new ones,"

NCIS

Friday arrived and Tony promised Caprice they could pick up Abby at work and drive her to their home for her weekend sleepover. Anyway, it was time to introduce his daughter to his team.

"Caprice, it's time to go to NCIS," he called to her.

Toy was dressed in faded jeans, chambray shirt, and a leather jacket. Caprice came down dressed in black jeans, a black tee, a black full length coat, black boots, and a studded dog collar like Abby's along with pigtails.

"A dog collar," he sighed.

"Abby wears one," she replied.

"Let's go," he said giving in.

"Kay, dad," she said, once again bringing a smile out of him.

They arrived at four to find Ziva on the phone arguing with someone; Gibbs on the phone yelling a someone from metro police, and McGee engrossed in computer research. Gibbs hung up.

"DiNozzo, what are you doing here?" he barked.

"Bad day, boss," he smiled.

"Without you around I have to deal with the local leos," he said.

"We are picking up Abby for the weekend. Caprice and her have sort of bonded," he said.

"Dad," she warned him.

The difficulty of the day suddenly disappeared for Gibbs as he heard Caprice call Tony dad. Gibbs smiled.

"Caprice Gia DiNozzo, this is my boss. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs," he introduced them.

"Caprice, has your father been good to you?" he asked.

"So far," she answered.

Ziva hung up and smiled to herself as she saw Tony with his daughter, who looked like an Abby mini-me. He looks happy with his daughter.

"Boss, I think I found an address for Lancaster," McGee said.

"Gear up," said Gibbs.

"I'm taking Abby away, so if you guys need emergency forensics you better check you is available in the other labs," he said.

"I'm a jealous, Tony, you have never invited me to your place," Ziva said with a slight smile.

"Believe me, Ziva, I had intended to but something, or someone, always got in the way," he said.

They stared into each others for a moment and the spark of passion, maybe even love, between them showed for everyone to see then both quickly masked it.

"Hey, Boss, if you guys aren't on tomorrow, then all of you at my place tomorrow at five for a welcoming party for Caprice," he said.

"We'll be there, Tony," said Gibbs. "Let's go."

The team grabbed their weapons and took off leaving Tony and Caprice alone.

"Dad, is your job dangerous?" she asked.

"It can be," he said as he watched them load on to the elevator catching Ziva's eye one more time.

"You got the hots for the woman with the accent," she said.

"Her name is Ziva and it's a long story," he sighed. "Anyway, she's engaged."

"She has the hots for you, too," said Caprice.

"Let's go get Abby."

NCIS

Abby spent Saturday with Caprice getting a cake and Japanese food, especially sushi and sashimi. Tony made sure they got Kobe beef for Gibbs, as well as noodles. He went out and purchased Caprice favorite Sobi Green tea along with a couple of bottles of Pinot Grigio and cabernet, as well as plenty of Killian's Beer. He had a bottle of bourbon, Marker's Mark, for Gibbs.

Abby and Caprice came barging in with Caprice carrying a cheese cake, her favorite, and Abby struggling with a box of Japanese food. Tony grabbed the box from her and brought it into the kitchen. He turned to see Abby and Caprice had disappeared and returned with each other them carrying a platter of sushi and sashimi.

"Okay, I know you two like sushi, but I didn't realize you like it this much," he said.

"You knew I like to eat raw fish, Tony," purred Abby in his ear causing him to laugh.

"What did she say?" asked Caprice.

"Nothing."

Gibbs was the first to show up carrying a gift for Caprice, an I-Pad. Next was Gibbs, who told her he'd build her whatever she wanted for a present. Finally, Ziva showed with a of a first edition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven. Caprice loved it.

"How did you know I like Poe?" she asked.

"I heard he is a favorite of Goths," said Ziva.

The evening past better than expected. By ten Gibbs was gone and McGee was upstairs with Abby and Caprice watching movies. This left Ziva and Tony alone downstairs.

"I should have told you to invite Ray. It was rude of me," he said.

She was looking at his books. For years she didn't think Tony read and now she knew better. She was more than slightly embarrassed.

"I should come here instead of the library to burrow books," she smiled.

"Anytime you want," he said.

She then looked at the piano and smiled. She had a baby grand but this was a beautiful old piano grand piano.

"Now that I like," she said. "Did my lessons help your playing?"

"Let me show you," he smiled.

He walked over to the piano and lifted the lid and exposed the keyboard.

"Do you mind if I play you something?" he asked her.

"Of course, it is you," she said, "though we know I play better."

He started playing the introduction to Blame It On My Youth. She started to blush out of embarrassment. He could play the piano the whole time and play it beautifully.

"My lessons started when I was four," he said.

"I didn't know because you didn't tell me," she said. "What is this song? It is lovely."

"It's called Blame It On My Youth. It's a standard I always liked," he said.

"I like it," she remarked

Tony in a soft voice started singing: "If I expected love when first we kissed, blame it on my youth. If only just for you, I did exist, blame it on my youth. I believed in everything like a child of three. You meant more than anything, you meant the world to me."

He played the bridge with a smiled playing on his lips as Ziva listen and felt her heart racing. I still love him but does he love me?

"If you were on my mind, all night and day, blame it on my youth. If I forgot to eat, and sleep, and pray, blame it on my youth. If I cried a little bit when first I leant the truth, don't blame it on my heart, blame it on my youth," he sang then finished the song.

"That's was very nice. What did you think when you sang that song?" she asked.

"You."

"Oh," she said then looked down at the keys. "I should go. Thank you for a nice evening and I like your apartment and your daughter."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"I know. You have to go," he said then started to lay the piano as she got her coat and bag and left.