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"Family"

Chapter 25.

Tony, Michael and Ziva arrived at the OSP in just over an hour. After the ordeal he had been through for most of his young life, Tony's son was so exhausted that he slept for the entire ride.

The first person they met, when they entered the OSP building, was Director Vance. The man was really happy for Tony and his son and, though he'd have liked to talk with DiNozzo more, he needed to hear Ziva's report about their mission. So Agent David and Director Vance went to a conference room and left Tony and Michael alone.

''Tony,'' a soft voice made the former SFA turn. Tony's eyes widened as he saw who had called him.

''Abs,'' he said as a smile lit up his tired face.

Abby was vibrating with excitement. She kept switching her stare from Tony to Michael. Tony turned slightly so she could see his son better. ''He's beautiful, Tony,'' Abby whispered and tears filled her eyes.

''Yes,'' Tony choked as he looked down at his son.

Abby didn't know what to do. Her heart wanted to hug Tony tightly and cuddle Michael, but her head told her that she could scare the little one with her enthusiasm. ''May I?'' she asked, reaching out with her hand and seeing Tony nod.

The forensic analyst gently ruffled Michael's hair and saw the child snuggling in his father's arms, sighing contently.

''He's so sweet,'' she whispered and softly caressed Tony's cheek. ''You're happy. Your eyes are bright again,'' Abby added.

Tony nodded. He felt Michael stirring in his arms and heard Abby asking worriedly, ''Did I wake him up?''

Michael slowly opened his eyes and whispered, ''Daddy?''

''Yes, sweetheart?'' Tony asked, kissing his son's hair. Suddenly the little boy gasped and stiffened.

''What's going on, Michael?'' Tony asked in alarm and, when he didn't receive any answer, he cocked his head to see what Michael was doing.

His son was staring at Abby open-mouthed. Michael turned to his daddy, then to Abby and then to his dad again. ''This is Abby, Michael,'' Tony smiled, rubbing his hand up and down his child's back, trying to reassure him.

Michael looked at Abby one more time and then whispered, ''But... it's not Halloween.''

Both Tony and Abby couldn't hide a soft laugh. ''It's always Halloween for Abby,'' Tony said and saw his son looking at him in disbelief.

''Rweally?'' he asked. Tony just nodded.

Michael studied Abby a bit more. She was wearing a pair of black cargo pants, a black t-shirt with a smiling bat on it and a belt with some chains attached. On her neck there was a dog collar full of studs but without spikes (she had chosen that dog collar so as not scare or hurt Michael). Her hair was tied up in two pigtails.

Abby sweetly smiled though she felt a bit nervous. Maybe I should have waited to get back to the real Abby. Maybe I'm scaring Michael with all this black and studs. Maybe I...

''I like it!" Michael exclaimed, ending Abby's musings.

''Really?'' she asked hesitantly and saw Michael nodding.

''Ares you my daddy's friend?'' he asked.

''She's my best friend,'' Tony answered for her.

''Likes Gibbs?'' Michael wanted to be sure.

''She's like a sister to me,'' Tony smiled.

''And your daddy's like a brother to me,'' Abby added and Michael gave her one of the happiest smile she had ever seen. You're a heartbreaker, baby! You're a DiNozzo in every cell of your little body!

Tony's cell rang. He took the phone out of his pocket and said, ''Gibbs. I've got to take this call.''

''May I take you?'' Abby asked Michael.

''Wheres you going, daddy?'' he asked, a bit scared.

''Over there,'' Tony gestured with his head. ''You can see me all the time.''

''Okay,'' Michael smiled and put his arms out so Abby could take him in her arms and finally cuddle and hug him tightly. ''Abbys, can't breathe,'' he giggled.

''Get used to being hugged, kissed, cuddled and spoiled, my precious little one,'' Abby chuckled and heard Michael giggling in her arms.

''You're done, Aunty Abby!'' Tony whispered in Abby's ear.

''You can bet on that!'' she laughed. ''I have tons of things for you, my sweet boy,'' she announced Michael as she brought him to the table where they had piled all of her purchases. ''Gibbs sent me on a mission and...''

''I know him!" Michael exclaimed. ''Hes my daddy's friend!"

''He's my friend too. Do you like him?'' Abby asked as she sat Michael down on the table and started opening a big bag.

''Yes!" Michael nodded. Some strands of hair fell in his eyes and he brushed them away as he giggled, ''But he haves a strange name.''

''You're right,'' Abby laughed and ruffled Michael's hair. ''You need a haircut, honey,'' she said and Michael nodded solemnly.

''Whats in the bags?'' he asked, peering into the bag in Abby's hands.

''Oh! I have two bags full of clothes and two others full of toys for you,'' she smiled as she showed him a Batman t-shirt.

''WOW!'' Michael whispered. ''And the others bags there?'' he pointed to five bags on the other side of the table.

''Those are for your friends. I mean the children that they found with you. Speaking of which,'' Abby looked around. ''Where are they?''

''They saids goodbye and went to their mommies and daddies,'' Michael answered distractedly. He was too busy admiring a set of PJs with puppies on the shirt.

''Oh, my God!'' Abby sighed. ''I need to send them all these stuff. Do you know where they went?'' she asked the little boy, but Michael shook his head without even looking at her.

He had just found a red long-sleeved t-shirt with a smiling bat. It was so cute and it looked like the one on Abby's t-shirt. The blond child could not stop giggling.

Meanwhile Tony had answered his cell. After a few minutes he startled all the people in the room. ''Da*n! How is he?... Sure... don't worry, we'll be fine... Okay... call me, as soon... Okay, Gibbs.''

A few minutes earlier at the Hospital.

Gibbs was still in the hall, talking with Fornell when his cell rang.

''Gibbs... Hi, Sam... why are you... WHAT?!'' he raised his voice and startled all the people around him. ''Yes... how is he?''

Fornell looked at him and mouthed, "Who?", but Gibbs raised his hand to silence him. ''Tell him, I'm coming... no! I'm coming. No discussion... okay, thanks.''

''What happened?'' Fornell asked in concern after Gibbs had closed his cell.

''My dad,'' Jethro sighed, rubbing his face with his hand.

''What about him?''

''He was hanging some Christmas lights in his store and fell off the ladder,'' Gibbs answered shaking his head. ''I've told him to ask for help when doing that stuff! He's so stubborn!" he growled.

''He's your father,'' Tobias grinned before asking, ''How is he?''

''His friend said that he didn't break any bones, but that his hip took the worst of the fall. He had surgery a few years ago and, though there are no breaks, he'll need assistance, help walking and taking care of himself. Doctor said that he'll also nee physical therapy for at least a month.''

''Are you going home?''

''Yes, but...'' Gibbs looked at Mark in the bed. ''I don't want to leave him alone. He's so...'' he turned to his friend, deep sadness present in his blue eyes.

''I'll take care of him. Go home and take care of your father,'' Fornell reassured him and squeezed Jethro's shoulder.

''Keep me updated, Tobias,'' Gibbs ordered.

''Sure. Go now!"

Gibbs entered the room one last time. He stopped next to Mark's bed and leaned forward. ''I'll be back. I won't leave you alone. Promise,'' he whispered into the boy's ear.

The former Marine kissed Mark's forehead and the boy sighed contently but didn't wake.

Gibbs reluctantly left the room and, as he headed to the elevator, he called Tony.

While Gibbs was driving like a maniac towards LAX Airport to catch the first available flight to Philadelphia...

McGee, along with some other agents, was going back to OSP after leaving the children at the FBI building.

Tony, Abby and Ziva were playing with Michael and all the toys his new Aunty Abby had bought for him. The sweet child was having so much fun that he couldn't stop laughing and chatting. Michael already had all the people in the room wrapped around his little finger and his dad kept staring at him in adoration.

Vance had ordered two agents to load all the stuff Abby had bought for Luke, Peter, Jen and Lucy into a van and deliver them to the FBI building in LA.

Jackson Gibbs was arguing with Sam because his friend had called his son. ''Leroy has much more important things to do than run here because his old man was stupid enough to fall from a ladder. I'm fine and I'd be home if these young doctors would stop being so annoying. Why did you call the ambulance? I told I was fine! Just some boo-boos on my butt! Why did you call Jethro?! He's looking for Tony's son! He can't waste his time with me just because you're worse than an anxious mother!" the older Gibbs was growling and glaring at his friend.

At the hospital, Fornell was losing one of the most important battles of his career.

Social Services had taken custody of Mark, though he still was part of a FBI and NCIS investigation. The social worker, Mrs. Adele Fotter, had told the FBI Agent that she had found a foster house for Mark and that the federal agent could interrogate him there.

The fight between Fornell and Mrs. Fotter woke Mark up.

''Where's Gibbs?'' he asked in confusion, looking around the room.

''His dad had an accident and he had to leave for Stillwater,'' Fornell explained as he entered the room. Mrs. Fotter stayed in the doorway.

''He won't come back, will he?'' Mark whispered and tears filled his blue eyes.

''No, no. He'll be back soon,'' Tobias reassured him. ''Gibbs will be back and together we'll figure out what to do next.''

''Did you find my family?'' the boy asked hopefully.

''Mark... I...''

''What? What happened?'' Mark asked anxiously. He turned towards the door and noticed a woman staring at him. ''Who are you, ma'am?" he asked. Her face reminded Mark of a hyena. It seemed she was smiling, but her eyes were cold and mean.

''My name is Mrs. Adele Fotter. I'm a social worker and I'm going to take care of you. As soon as doctors will release you, you'll come with me,'' she explained coldly as she approached the bed.

Mark instinctively shrunk away from her and looked at Fornell for an explanation. ''Why am I going with her?'' he asked as his breath quickened.

''Mark, I've a bad news for you, but...'' Fornell swallowed hard. ''I want you to know that you're not alone. We'll take care of you and...''

''What happened?!" the boy asked raising his voice.

''Mark... it's so hard to say...''

''I'm sorry, son. Your parents died a few years ago and, since you do not have any other relatives, you're in my custody now,'' Mrs. Fotter intervened.

''Wh-what... I... my m... m-mom...'' Mark panted as his vision greyed.

"Out now!" Fornell shouted as he literally threw Adele Fotter out of the room. He quickly returned to Mark's side and kept him upright as he pushed the call button.

Mark had begun to hyperventilate. He couldn't breathe, his eyes were watering, and big tears were rolling on his pale cheeks. My mom... my dad... they... th-they died... alone... I-I'm alone and... what... what will happen... to me?! What... a-am I g-going to... do? Mom! Dad! W-WHY?! Am I s-so... bad? Why does no one... no one wants... m-me?!

A nurse and a doctor rushed into the room, slamming Mrs. Fotter against the door frame. The nurse placed an oxygen mask over Mark's mouth while the doctor injected a sedative in his IV port and the boy's breaths slowed almost immediately.

"What happened?!" the doctor demanded.

''She told him about his parents,'' Fornell answered, glaring at the woman in the doorway.

''And I guess you didn't prepare him. You just delivered this grim news like you usually do,'' the doctor growled as he headed toward Mrs. Fotter.

They were face to face now and the doctor's eyes were burning with anger. "I warned you more than once,'' he hissed as he turned to the nurse. "Mandy, call the security, please. They need to escort, Mrs. Fotter to the parking lot.''

"My pleasure, Doctor Taylor," Mandy smiled as she headed to the nurse desk.

''I was doing my job,'' Adele said angrily.

''Shut the hell up!'' the doctor ordered as he saw the security guard arriving. ''Your superior will receive a call from me shortly,'' he added before getting back to his young patient and leaving Mrs. Fotter with the guard.

''How is he doing?'' Doctor Taylor asked Fornell as he approached the bed.

''I think he just fell asleep,'' the FBI Agent said sadly and he looked at Mark. ''I was trying to find a way to tell him about his parents when that...'' he sighed angrily.

''I know,'' the doctor nodded gravely. "She won't come back. Promise," he looked at his patient and said, "I've heard his story. It's awful what happened to this boy. I'd like to help him, but how?"

"I'm going to talk with my superiors and with NCIS Director. I hope that together we'll be able to figure out how to help this brave boy,'' Fornell answered and caressed Mark's hair. Then he turned his attention to the doctor. "Could you keep him here for a few days?"

"Is a week enough for you?" Dr. Taylor grinned.

"It'd be perfect!" Fornell smiled back. Then he leaned towards Mark and whispered, "Do not lose hope. I know an annoying and stubborn Gunny that will never leave you alone."

I'm alone... w-why did they l-leave me alone? I do n-not have... anyone in the world... what will.. h-happen to me?

TBC

I know that most social workers are amazing people and that, without them, many children would have never found a lovely family and would have never a future. I'll never stop thanking all good people that help people in trouble all around the world. Unfortunately, Mrs. Fotter is not a good person *sigh*

Review, please :)

Ciao!