Chapter 51
'Please take a seat.' Tom gestures to the two chairs set apart from the others. Crispin raises an eyebrow but selects a chair and seats himself elegantly in it, almost exaggerating the pompousness of his childhood. Vincent waits for him to get settled before starting moving over to the other. But, first, he pauses and moves over to Gloria.
'Pleasure to meet you again.' He signs. He holds his hand out to Tony, almost hesitating. Tony takes a firm hold and shakes it. 'It is good to finally meet you.' Tony gives him a weak, but real, smile.
'And you.' Tony replies politely. Vincent takes the empty seat next to Crispin. Tony sits directly opposite his uncle. Abby quickly takes the seat next to him forcing Gibbs to his other side and the other adults arrange themselves in the spare seats. Now that everyone is seated, Tony suddenly is nervous and the questions that had been spinning around in his brain disappear completely.
'I think the first question is; what made you start looking for Tony and his biological mother?' Tom asks gently. Vincent opens his mouth to answer but he sighs instead.
'It was hard for us, the DiNozzos. Anthony cut us off when we pushed for him to stop consorting with criminals. We didn't know about Tony when he was born. Elizabeth managed to let us know about her son. But Anthony refused to let any of the family see him.'
'He's grown a lot since then.' Abby giggles. Tony elbows her in the ribs. 'Hey!'
'Children, please.' Ducky chastises gently. He gestures for Vincent to continue. But Crispin takes up the story.
'My grandfather was worried once my Aunt left the British Isles. Especially, since Anthony kept moving them around. Grandfather couldn't pin them down long enough so he could try to talk to them. My family only found out about Tony when he was about eighteen months. Grandfather had hired a private detective to find them in Europe. He, the detective, said that they had been to America and back. Apparently, it was slightly too hot here in the States so he went back to Europe. Grandfather tried to make contact and we got a copy of Tony's Birth Certificate with a letter finished with a baby's handprint. Grandmother basically seized and framed it before Grandfather could read the actual letter.'
'How did he read it?' Tony asks curiously and despite himself.
'Through the glass. Apparently.' Crispin shrugs. 'Obviously, it was slightly before my time.'
'My father and I had manage to pick up the trail of the family while they were Stateside. And followed them across the pond. There we were, sitting in a café across from a hotel in Lourdes, France when Crispin's father and grandfather sat opposite us and acted like we were long lost friends.'
'Between Grandfather and Vincent's father they managed to work that they were after the same thing. More or less.'
'And your grandfather is still alive?'
'Our Grandfather is yes. Grandmother too.' Crispin hesitates.
'What?' Tony asks intrigued despite himself.
'They are looking forward to meeting you for the first time. On your terms and when you are ready. Of course.' Tony nods once leaning back in his chair.
'Together the DiNozzo and Paddington families worked out how Anthony was controlling and keeping steps ahead of the authorities in the US and UK. Personally, I'm not sure how he did it, but I am sure that one of the families has kept the records.' Vincent carries the story on. 'It was difficult to keep up with Anthony. Any time we got close he would move on regardless of whether our families were or without with the proper authorities.'
'Then everything turned sour for us.' Crispin interrupts.
'How?' Mike rasps, silently craving for his next smoke break.
'Anthony took us, the families, to court.' Tony leans back in his chair. 'He filed restraining orders with the US and UK courts.'
'He claimed harassment. And that we were persecuting him.'
'Did my mother testify?'
'No.' Vincent states.
'Anthony claimed that we were stressing her out and that she ran away from us because we were too strict on her and that we were trying to get her back so we could marry her off to a husband of our choice.'
'How old was Tony by then?' Abby asks quietly. Tony glances down at her only to see her eyes fixed on Gloria. 'Was he mentioned at all?'
'Yes he was.' Vincent says gently. He grimaces. 'He was one of the arguments put forward by our solicitor.' While Vincent speaks Crispin routes about in his bag and he draws out a small sheaf of papers.
'What's that?' Gibbs asks gruffly.
'Tony was…' Crispin mutters as he scans the papers. 'Three years and two months at the time of the US court date.'
'Less than eighteen months later Mother would run away from Senior.' Tony murmurs. 'I guess the hearings gave her the confidence to go.' Crispin nods gently.
'She only got freedom for two years or so before you were taken.'
'I was six when I was kidnapped. And eight when I was rescued.' Gibbs rises silently as Tony speaks to stand behind him and places a calming hand on his shoulder. Tony looks up and smiles.
A/N:- Another little snippet to tantalise your metaphorical tastebuds! *cackles evilly* The conversation has started and will go on in due course! Next update: not sure exactly when.
