Wow thanks so much for all of the reviews for the last chapter. Glad you all enjoyed it. My many thanks to my BETA the marvelous WmGeorge. The things she can do with the mess I give her.
The civilians were surprised at how quickly the agents moved to protect the women and children. Tim and Ziva reacted as quickly as Vance and Gibbs.
Tim stood with the children while Ziva moved in front of Mandy and April. Zoë looked back and forth before she joined Sammy, who was crying and calling for her. It was the only choice her heart would allow her to make. She knew she couldn't protect the children, but she could calm their fears and keep them quiet. Grace followed Zoë, also putting the children first.
Steve and Brad exchanged a quick glance. Brad sat next to April to keep her calm while Ziva and Ducky stood guard. Steve, however, stood next to Vance and Gibbs, giving Tony the opportunity to command Gunny to stand down.
Tony stopped a few feet away from Abby and his father. They actually had the gall to show up uninvited, and where they weren't wanted. He gave a mental snort. It was just like the two of them to do as they pleased, no matter what anyone else thought or wanted.
"Junior!" The first thing out of his father's mouth was the appellation Tony loathed.
Abby bounded forward. "Tony! Gibbs! Sorry I'm late for the party, I know I wasn't invited but I thought, well it really is time, I mean after what your dad told me and all. I brought your Dad. He told me that he completed his court ordered punishment with all the new changes. He said you had a change of heart and asked the judge to tone down the punishment. So, I thought you might like to make up and get things back on track. After all if you don't, someday you'll be without him, and you'll never forgive yourself."
"Seriously Abby, you bought his line of crap?" He looked at his father and shook his head in disgust. "She's the perfect mark for you isn't she? Gullible and willing to buy any tale you spin for her."
"Tony." Abby whined as she stamped her foot. "I'm not gullible. He showed me the revised court papers. I know how to tell real papers from fakes. I've seen enough of them." She tried to come further into the backyard, only to be stopped by Gunny, who stood at Tony's left side and growled.
"Abby, he's a conman. He had the papers made up to look real. He was playing on your emotions and conning you into doing what he wants. And you bought into it, again."
The agents smiled when they heard the sirens coming closer.
Vance moved around Senior and Abby. "I'll go let the officers in."
"Do something Junior, I'm your father. That should count for something." Senior flinched as he felt handcuffs being placed on his wrists.
"I am doing something, Senior." Tony grinned when he saw the expression on his father's face. "Don't like being called Senior, do you? Now you know how I feel about being called Junior." He commanded Gunny to go back to the children, before giving his father another feral grin. "As an officer of the court I have to abide by and follow its rulings. My hands are tied, just like Steve, Tim, Gibbs, and Director Vance's. There is nothing we can do. If fact, if we didn't follow those rulings, we could find ourselves in jail for contempt of court. And that would look very bad on NCIS."
Steve spoke, using his best court voice. "Officers, Mr. Anthony DiNozzo, Senior is in contempt of court. He's violating a restraining order to stay away from this house and family." He handed one of the LEOs a copy of the order.
The officer nodded. "Will you be filing charges?"
Steve looked at Tony and Mandy for confirmation before he answered. "Yes, they'll be down to the fill out the paperwork later."
"Knew I should have shipped you off to your mother's family and washed my hands of you after she died." Senior spit the words out as he was led away.
Vance and Gibbs turned their attention to Abby as she stood there shifting her weight from one boot-clad foot to the other. Gibbs folded his arms over his chest and stood behind Vance.
"Go home Miss Sciuto. I'll see you on Monday morning eight A.M. sharp."
"I'm sorry. I really am. I was just trying to help."
Tony stared at her, his eyes lacking any warmth. "That's the problem Abby. You're always trying to help. You want to make the world the way you think it should be. You want to wrap it in a nice little package with black ribbon and happy dancing skeletons. This time it blew up in your face, and I'm glad. Apparently, you need to be taught a harsher lesson, since you failed to learn anything from the last one. If I could, I'd fire your ass and make sure you'd never work in law enforcement again. Unfortunately, you're too valuable an asset. But, beyond work, I'll never have anything to do with you again. And once this gets out to the rest of the agents they won't either. You should go see if you can teach at Norfolk. FLETC could always use a good teacher. Or maybe the private sector would be better after all. Leave Abby, and don't ever come back."
"Gibbs, make him see I'm right. Make him understand, fix this."
"Okay I'll fix this." She smiled at Gibbs reply, a smug look showing her certainty in his favoritism. The smile faded when he took her arm in one of his large hands. He didn't say anything as he turned her around and walked her back out the way she came.
He returned after a brief moment. "I locked the gate. Now, where were we?"
Mandy looked around and smiled. "Well, that was fun."
"Fun?" Kayla whispered to her brother.
"Can we eat now, please? I'm starving." April bit into another carrot.
Brad recalled just how much he enjoyed the food last time Gibbs grilled. "You grilling, Gibbs?"
"Yep. Let's get started."
Grace looked at the group with a small frown. "Just one thing, what the heck is rule 44?"
She laughed when the agents, as well as Mandy and April, looked at her and answered in chorus. "First things first, hide the woman and the children."
Vance chuckled. "Gibbs, you have to teach her the rules if she is going to part of this motley crew."
"Didn't see the need before Leon. Might be a good idea now."
It didn't take long to get all the food prepared. Once the children were enjoying their meal, the adults settled down to their own.
Ducky cleared his throat. "I have a question."
"What is it Ducky?" Tony asked.
"Bradley, did you think that Ziva and I were not capable of protecting April and Grace? Is that why you sat near us?"
Brad snorted. "Hardly, Dr. Mallard. I needed the cover. Tony has everyone trained to call or text the local police. He knows his father all too well. So, I hid behind you folks and called the cops. Tony ranted at Abby and his father to keep their attention on him."
"Of course, please forgive me for doubting you. I should have known better. Anthony has always been able to protect those people that he loves and cares about the most."
Not long after they finished eating Steve opened the diaper bag and pulled out a large manila envelope. He stood and tapped on his glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention. "I brought Mandy a gift. Well, it's more a gift for the five of you."
"Don't just stand there grinning, say your piece." Gibbs glared at the attorney.
"I have the paperwork from the children's father. He finally signed away his parental rights."
"Oh, Tony!" The tears in Mandy's eyes were happy ones.
Leon glanced shrewdly at the lawyer. "There's more, isn't there Steve?"
Steve huffed out a breath. "Man, I don't know how you work with these people. They read me faster than my poker buddies can. Yes, there's more. As of yesterday, the court has full custody of the children. I've already started the adoption process for you."
Tony pulled him into a hug, his smile blindingly brilliant. "I'd kiss you Steve, but Mandy might object."
Mandy laughed. "Please, allow me." Mandy hugged and kissed their friend. She turned and did the same to Steve's wife.
Luke took Noah by one hand and Hannah by the other, and walked them up to Mandy and Tony. "Does this mean we're a real family now?"
Mandy and Tony knelt down so they were on the same level as the children. He gripped Noah's hand as Mandy held Hannah's, the five of them forming a circle.
Mandy smiled. "As far as Tony and I are concerned we're already a family. What the paperwork means, is that we're on our way to getting the legal stuff cleared up."
"No one will take us away from you?" Noah asked.
"Not if I can help it." Tony hugged the small boy.
Hannah looked up at the adults, her eyes pleading. "Can we have ice cream now?"
Ducky smiled and nodded. "What a marvelous idea."