Chapter 8
Tony, Jamie and Chioke leave NCIS Headquarters in order to bring the puppy back to the pet shop. Due to being scared of dogs, Jamie and Chioke are in a separate car; following Tony to the pet shop. The pet shop is large and carries all sorts of animals; mainstream animals and exotic.
The cars enter into the parking lot of the shopping area where the pet shop is. The cars are parked; not next to each other. Tony, along with the puppy walk toward the pet shop as Jamie waits with Chioke by the car. Chioke's eyes are fixated on the puppy Tony is carrying. Once Tony opens the door to the pet shop and walks inside, Jamie takes Chioke's hand so the two of them can walk to the pet shop too. Jamie and Chioke walk slowly toward the pet shop to give Tony enough time to get them to take the puppy back.
Jamie and Chioke enter into the pet shop. Chioke is immediately becomes curious as he's never been in a pet shop before. Tony is at the counter getting a refund for the puppy. The puppy has already been taken in the back. The clerk is having trouble with the register and calls a manager to help her. As the register problem is getting resolved, Tony watches Chioke as he's looking around at everything. A smile stretches across Tony's face with seeing the curiosity of little Chioke who is picking through everything he sees. Jamie and Chioke make their way toward an area with tanks of all sorts of animals; reptiles, rodents, amphibians, arthropods, arachnids and other small mammals.
After two minutes, Tony finally steps away from the counter as he got the refund. He approaches Jamie and Chioke who are still in the area with tons of tanks. Tony sees the excitement on Chioke's face as he looks at the animals.
"Chioke…" Tony tries to get his attention. Chioke looks at him. "You can choose any animal you want." Chioke's face lights-up with happiness.
"You don't have to buy his love, you know." Jamie said softly in Tony's ear.
Chioke walks to a large tank of something which caught his eye.
'I want.' Chioke signed with his hands. He points to what's inside the tank. Tony and Jamie walk over to see. 'Can have both?' Chioke wondered as he looks up at his father.
"Sure, you can have both of them." Tony said as he just can't resist the innocence in Chioke's eyes. Chioke jumps up and down in excitement. Tony cringes at his choice of pets. After a couple seconds Chioke stops and tries to pull the tank from the table. "Hold on…" Tony stops Chioke from pulling the tank. "We don't take this tank. This tank is to display the pets. All of these tanks are to display the pets so we can see them." Tony points to all the other tanks.
'But you say I can have.' Chioke signed with a sad face.
"I'm going to buy them for you. We just can't take this tank." Tony said. "We need to buy our own tank and stuff to put inside of it."
"I'll go to front and let the clerk know what we want." Jamie stated. She walks away.
'Can make tank look like theirs?' Chioke signed as he looks at Tony. He points to the tank.
"We'll make our tank look even better." Tony takes Chioke's hand. "Come on… Let's go find a tank and some good stuff to make your new friends happy." The two of them walk away. As they walk away, Chioke keeps looking back at the tank which contains his new pets.
After forty-five minutes and almost five hundred dollars later, they leave the pet shop with everything they need for Chioke's new pets. As they walk to the cars, Chioke proudly holds the box which contains his new pets. The tank and accessories are put into Jamie's car. She leaves to go to her father's house. Tony and Chioke get into his car. For the entire car ride back to Gibbs' house, Chioke has the box top open and is looking inside at his new pets. Tony is happy because Chioke has a huge smile on his face.
They arrive at Gibbs' house. Jamie is already inside setting up the tank. Tony and Chioke get out of the car; they walk into the house.
"Come here, Chioke. Help me finish setting this up for your new pets." Jamie said as Chioke enters into the living room with the box. The tank for the new pets is being setup in the living room; near the tank which contains Simba, Chioke's pet lobster. He gently places the closed box onto the coffee table. Tony watches proudly as Chioke helps Jamie setup the tank for his new pets. He wonders how Gibbs will react when he finds out. Tony chuckles at the thought of what Gibbs might say.
Tony's cell-phone rings. His first thought is how Gibbs can possibly know about the new pets in his house. Tony answers the phone. After hearing what Gibbs says, he closes the phone.
"I have to go. We finally have a break in the case." Tony stated. "I'll see you later." He walks away.
"See you." Jamie said.
Tony leaves Chioke's sight as he's now being hidden from view behind a wall. As Tony approaches the front door, he feels little arms wrap around his waist. He looks down to see Chioke giving him a hug. At this moment, Tony is extremely happy and doesn't want to leave. After a minute, Chioke backs away. Tony kneels in order to be face to face with him.
"Enjoy your new pets." Tony said with a smile.
'Love you.' Chioke signed.
"I love you too."
Tony leans forward and kisses Chioke on the forehead. After receiving the kiss, Chioke wraps his arms around Tony's neck to give him another hug. Though Tony's still unsure as to whether or not he'll lose Chioke to Arthur, he tries to cherish this exact moment.
A minute passes. Chioke's arms finally unwrap from around Tony's neck. Tony stands up and walks out the door. Chioke stands in the threshold of the doorway and watches his father as he leaves the premises.
For Chioke, he's sad to see Tony leave; he always is. But he always looks forward to his father returning home. He recalls the conversation he had with Arthur earlier in the day; him writing on his notepad and Arthur speaking. Chioke communicated to Arthur everything about his life with Tony as best to his ability; the good and the bad. He recalls what Arthur said. What Arthur told him about family is true. Tony is his family; now and forever. It's Tony's love which makes him strong; strong enough to overcome any obstacle, no matter how bad it is. Tony is there for him. Tony makes him happy. Tony loves him. Tony is his father. An overwhelming feeling of happiness strikes Chioke.
As the car is leaving the driveway, Chioke runs outside. He runs down the front lawn. The car is now driving down the street and Chioke is standing near the mailbox. Jamie is at the front door keeping on eye on him; she knows Chioke would never run out into the street.
'Bye daddy.' Chioke signed. He waves his hand in the hopes Tony sees him in the mirror.
As the car moves further and further down the street, Tony begins to feel slightly depressed. He feels Chioke was showing him so much love out of guilt; the guilt of leaving him to go with Arthur but has yet to let him know. Tony tries to shake the thought from his head but it becomes too overwhelming for him to bear. The tires sheik as he stomps on the brakes. The car turns around and speeds back to Gibbs' house.
Tony barges into the house; startling Jamie and Chioke as they continue to setup the tank for the new pets. With tears in his eyes, Tony rushes toward Chioke and wraps his arms around him.
"Tony, are you alright?" Jamie asked.
"Jamie, can you give us a minute." Tony whimpered.
"Sure."
Jamie leaves the room. Tony backs away from Chioke. Tears are rolling down Tony's cheeks.
'Why cry?' Chioke signed with his hand out of concern.
"I don't want you to leave me." Tony said. "Please don't leave me, Chioke."
'Not want leave.'
"After all the bad stuff that happened, I thought you wanted to go live with Arthur."
Chioke shakes his head in disagreement.
'Want stay with you.' Chioke signed. Tony sighs in relief.
"Why? Why do you want to stay with me?" Tony wondered.
Chioke looks down and remains silent for a couple seconds.
"Chioke..." Tony tries to get his attention. Chioke looks up at him. "When we were on the ship off the coast of Nigeria, you were given the choice of staying with Arthur or going home with me. Why did you choose me?"
'When in village you play ball with me.' Chioke signed.
"You chose me because of a ball?"
Chioke nods his head.
"All I did was roll a ball back and forth with you for about two minutes." Tony said.
'Real daddy play ball with me. We roll ball to each other. He take time to play with me. You take time to play with me. When play ball... You remind me of daddy.' Chioke signed as a tear rolls down his cheek. 'Arthur good. He friend. He take care of me two years. He take care of all others. He busy work and help. I alone most of time.' Chioke continued. He wipes a tear from his eye. 'I not alone with you… You what I want… You what I need… You my family… You my daddy now… I not want leave… Love you.'
Tony's insecurity of thinking Chioke will leave him is finally settled. He has his answer. After a couple seconds, Tony backs away. He kisses Chioke on the forehead.
"I love you too." Tony said with joy. He walks away. Jamie, who was standing on the other side of the wall, out of the living room, receives a kiss on the lips from her overjoyed husband. Tony finally leaves.
Jamie re-enters into the living room and continues to help Chioke setup the tank for his new pets.
