It took ten days but Jack was finally released from the hospital. Tony was relieved but terrified at the same time. He was relieved to finally have his boy home, but Jack was still sick and that was terrifying to him. At least he was still living with Gibbs and that meant back up. Annalyse had volunteered to help too but Tony was not expecting much out of a seven year old. Jack was still on the feeding tube but they were hoping to introduce a liquid diet after another week or so. The process was going to be long and tedious but he didn't mind. It certianly beat the alternative. The alternative being Jack being dead or still too sick to come home. The main challenge besides feeding was keeping the active toddler quiet and calm. He was feeling much better now and just wanted to play with his sister and his friends.

"Are you comfortable?" Tony asked.

"Yeah" Jack sighed.

"What's wrong?" Tony asked.

"Wanna play!" Jack cried.

"I know Jack but you have to take it easy until your tummy is better." Tony explained.

"Thought it was better." Jack sighed.

"It is a little better. A lot better actually but your stomach is still sore and the doctors just want you to take it easy a little longer." Tony explained.

"Wanna play!" Jack cried, shoving past Tony.


Jack made it all of two steps before doubling over in pain. Tony picked the child up and carried him over to his bed. He covered Jack with the Spiderman blanket and kissed him gently on the forehead. It was a school day. So Annalyse was gone for the day and Jethro was minding Tali. Tony thought that he was in for some down time. There is no such thing for a single parent. There is barely down time for two parents. Tony was just putting his feet up on the couch. When his phone rang. It was the kid's pediatrician. Tony was expecting the doctor to be checking in on Jack or asking a question about Annalyse being added to the insurance plan. Something Tony could handle easily and maybe not even have to get off the couch. No such luck.

"Hello?"

"Yes you are speaking to Tony DiNozzo."

"No Jack is feeling much better. I brought him home today actually."

"It is?"

"Is it possible to reschedule?"

"Twice already? Right."

"Wait Tali was in for the stomach flu a few days ago."

"Right the vaccinations."

"She was premature though."

"No her height and weight aren't that far off of a child born on time."

"She's the healthiest kid I've seen."

"Today at two o'clock?"

"Yeah I'll be there."


Tony made his way down to the basement. Jethro was standing over the work bench sanding away at a shelf he was building for Analyse. When he saw Tony he set down the sander and removed his protective equipment. He approached the stairs and stopped a few feet away from Tony's face.

"Need something?" Jethro asked.

"Can you watch Jack for a couple hours this afternoon?"

"What time and why?" Jethro asked.

"I have to take Tali to the doctor at two." Tony replied.

"She alright?" Jethro asked.

"She has her two month check-up. I tried to reschedule but I did that twice with the trial and then when Jack was still in the hospital. Tali got looked over pretty good when she had the flu but she needs her two month vaccinations." Tony explained.

"Shots?" Jethro asked.

"Yep" Tony confirmed.

"Your in for a fun night." Jethro laughed.

"Don't remind me." Tony sighed.

"Well of course I will watch Jack. Do I need to watch Annalyse too?" Jethro asked.

"She has girl scouts after school and Rhonda is going to drive her home." Tony explained.

"Does Rhonda have my number?" Jethro asked.

"She will after I text it to her." Tony replied.

"She's not a text only person, right? I hate texters." Jethro commented.

"She will call you." Tony assured.

"See that she does. Good luck at the doctors." Jethro replied.

Jethro saw Tony and Tali out the door. Before heading into Jack's room. He found the toddler lying on his bed. A bored expression etched onto his face. It killed Jethro to see the child so sick. Jack was just like his parents. He always had to be doing something or he became purely miserable. Jethro thought back to when Tony was recovering from the plague. In those first days when he couldn't really get out of bed yet, but was wanting entrainment. Jethro would tell him stories and Tony always loved that. Maybe it would work with Jack as well.

"Hey Jack" Jethro called.

"Grandpa!" Jack cried.

"Feeling better?" Jethro asked.

"Kinda" Jack replied.

"Do you want me to tell you a story?" Jethro asked.

"Sure" Jack replied.

"Excellent. Since you know about when Tali and Analyse were born. What if I tell you the story of the day you were born." Jethro suggested.

"OK" Jack replied.

"It was a surprisingly cool day in August. Not cold but cooler than usual and it was always a hard day for me. Until that afternoon..." Jethro started.


Flashback


Jethro stood alone in the dark basement. He had called out of work and nobody even had to ask why. Today was one of those days that never got any easier. It should have been Kelly's birthday. Her thirtieth to be exact. He should talking her through that crisis everybody went through at their thirtieth birthday. Instead he was alone with no family. With a broken heart he walked over to the shelf and scooped up a bottle of bourbon. He had just opened the bottle, when he heard footsteps rushing down the steps. He groaned and wondered who had the nerve to come down here and see him today? It was Tony and a heavily pregnant Ziva.

"What do you want?!" Jethro demanded.

"We know that today is hard for you and we normally wouldn't come by but this is kind of an emergency." Tony explained.

"What kind of emergency?" Jethro demanded.

"Ziva and I were picking up a few things for the baby from an online sale. We were just driving down your street when our car broke down. My phone is on the fritz and Ziva left hers on the counter." Tony explained.

"Can't you walk to the gas station? It's only a few more blocks away. Shannon made that walk pregnant all the time." Jethro explained.

"We could but then another complication arose." Tony replied.

"What now?" Jethro asked.

"It's time." Ziva gasped.

"How close are you?" Jethro asked instantly calming.

"Ziva's water broke in your living room." Tony admitted.

The next few minutes were a blur. Jethro remembered calling for an ambulance and watching Tony climb in the back behind Ziva. He had vague memories of driving to the hospital but nothing clear until the door to Ziva's room opened and Tony stepped out. He walked with Tony into the room and saw a perfect bundle in Ziva's arms.

"It's a boy." Ziva announced.


End Flashback


"And your parents named you Jackson Jethro DiNozzo. While I still mourn for Kelly on that day. I could not pick a better person to share her birthday." Jethro explained.


A/N: Sorry if I got it wrong about Tali's vaccinations. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.