Six months had passed since the deaths of the Palmer's. Besides Ducky and Jethro, Tony had not spoken to members of the team. He was busy with his girls. He was in the middle of adopting sweet little Victoria. A girl who looked more and more like her mother every day. The adoption process was easier than he expected but longer too. He could not wait for the process to be over and his girls to officially be sisters.
It happened after an already long morning. Tony had spent two hours in the lawyers office filling out forms and discussing the adoption. After leaving the lawyers he picked Tori up from the sitter's and headed to the park. He was not a mommy but he did have permission to bring Tori to play with the members of her mommy and me group. Tali joined on the days when she was not in school. He soon found where the group was meeting. He noticed that the moms were gathered over in the corner of the pavilion. Their children huddled on the benches. A woman stood on the sidewalk screaming at the group. She waved her arms and her screams were incoherent.
"What's going on?" Tony asked.
"The bitch is back." A heavily pregnant woman whispered.
"I am calling the cops." Another woman added.
"How bad is she?" Tony asked.
"Bitch almost ruined my life, she got Breena hooked too and you of all people know how that turned out. She got Sydney Cooper hooked too. Syd lived but it isn't much of a life. Severe and irreversible brain damage. Thirty two years old and spending the rest of her days drooling in a nursing home. Of course the bitch doesn't suffer." The pregnant woman explained.
"She's the woman who got Breena addicted?" Tony gasped.
"Yes, me and Sydney too. I got clean after Sydney overdosed. I tried to help Breena but by that point Breena was already gone." The woman explained, crying heavily at the memory.
The woman left shortly after and Tony left Tori go go follow her. He followed the woman with the intent of killing her. He was furious at her for killing Breena. He was even angrier knowing that the woman had gotten other woman addicted. He followed her up the stairs to her apartment and forced his way inside.
"You a rapist?" The woman asked.
"No my name is Tony DiNozzo. I adopted a little girl named Victoria. I adopted her after her mother died. You are the woman who killed her. You killed Breena Palmer, you left Sydney Cooper with severe brain damage, and you nearly shattered Mindy Hawkins' life. You are an evil woman and you are going to pay." Tony explained angrily.
"OK go ahead kill me but then what happens to Victoria?" The woman demanded.
"You're right and so I am not going to kill you but I want you to listen to me. You are not only a drug addict but a drug dealer. You left one girl orphaned. Because her father was killed for her mother's addiction. You left two kids under five with a mom who will never be a mom. You are truly an evil woman. I am calling the police and not going to leave until they arrive. If they kill you the kill you. Me I am not going to kill you. Not only because Victoria does not deserve to lose another father. Hell I could probably get off on temporary insanity and rebuild. I am not going to kill you because I want you to have to live every day with what you did. You are a hopeless bitch and I want you to suffer." Tony explained.
It turns out that the bitch was named Farrah Lucas. She had been addicted to drugs for years and she was a sociopath. She did not care who she hurt. The cops had to investigate but there was strong evidence. Until she was locked away, Tony was under temporary protection detail. Tony returned to the park with a cop and collected Victoria. Soon after he got Tali from school. Today was one of the first times he would see the team since the funeral.
"Where you go?" Tori asked.
"I had to talk to somebody." Tony replied.
"Is Tori my sister yet?" Tali asked looking up from her spinner toy.
"Not yet" Tony replied.
"Where we going?" Tori asked.
"I am going to see some old friends." Tony explained.
The team was gathered around Abby's living room. Nobody knew why they had been called their just that it had something to do with McGee. Tony studied his former partner. McGee looked better than he had thought. He looked great for a man who was dumped by his fiancee two days before their wedding.
"Tony!" The group cried in unison.
"Sorry I am late. There was an incident at the park." Tony apologized.
"It's OK" Gibbs assured.
"What's going on? How you holding up Probie?" Tony asked.
"I am OK." McGee replied.
Tony sent the girls to the one room of Abby's house that was not filled with creepy goth stuff. He gave them their fruit "cookies" and then returned to the living room. He sat down beside McGee and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. He knew the pain of being left at the alter. He did not know the circumstances but knew that the others did. So he did not feel bad asking the next question. Though he kind of wished that he had felt that way. Who knew that one simple question would shatter a years long friendship.
"I am sorry Probie. What happened?" Tony asked.
"Delilah found out about something I did and could not handle it." McGee replied.
"Dang Probie! Did you have an affair?" Tony gasped.
"No well Tony I knew about Breena but I never told anyone." McGee explained.
"You did what?!" Tony gasped.
What happened next was a nasty fight. Tony was furious at McGee for not telling anybody about Breena. Gibbs and Ducky were on Tony's side. Bishop and Abby took the side of McGee. Everybody was yelling. Every once in a while a small item would sail through the air.
"HOW COULD YOU!" Tony snapped.
"Do you know how I felt?!" Jethro demanded.
"You cost two people their lives!" Ducky screamed.
"How is this Tim's fault?!" Bishop demanded.
"Exactly! Breena was an addict! McGee should not have to risk his life to try and save her! Look at poor Jimmy! I never liked Delilah! And for good reason! The bitch!" Abby bellowed.
The fight was still going on when Tony left. He was furious but this was not a good environment for the girls. He drove home without a word and went about the evening with as much as possible. He had blown up twice today. He had kept so much in since losing Breena and Jimmy. They were his family and their deaths broke him. He had been strong for the girls but even the strongest broke down sometimes. That night after the girls were fed and tucked into their twin beds. He slipped into their room and took a seat in the chair between the beds. He put his hands on their arms and studied each individually.
"I love both of you and I will always protect you." Tony vowed.
A/N: Next chapter will be the last. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
