As Shannon walked back out to the car she watched Tony playing with Kelly pretending not to see where she was hiding and looking in the most ridiculous places giving a running commentary of his poor progress and pretending not to hear the little giggles from the two year old who would suddenly jump out on him and shout boo at the top of her lungs.
On the last occasion as Tony then swept Kelly up into a fast spin Tony caught sight of his mom approaching and stopped dead.
"Is everything ok mom?" he asked, "am I in trouble, am I still able to take Maisie to the cinema?"
"Tony everything is great and I want you to know how much I love you and how proud I am of you," said Shannon taking him and Kelly into a huge hug.
"Er what did the Principal say to you?" asked Tony still suspicious that this might all be leading up to something he'd done wrong and would need to answer for. "He's not making me move class is he?"
"No why would you think that?" asked Shannon.
"Well the work sheets they gave me to do in there this morning were all stuff I'd done at my old school and were really easy and I guess he thought I wasn't pushing myself hard enough," answered Tony honestly.
"That's not what he had to say at all Tony, he just wanted to tell me how well you are handling things and that I should be proud of you," explained Shannon.
"So I'm not in any trouble with you and Dad then?" Tony checked.
"No," she smiled, "but you will be with Maisie if we are late picking her up, so lets get in the car and get going."
"Sure thing mom," he said taking Kelly and buckling her into her seat, "now Kells I need you to do the sweet and charming thing and let Maisie know just how nice a big brother I am, score me a few points little sis."
Shannon laughed at him, "careful she'll end up wanting to take Kelly and not you."
"Hadn't thought about that," he answered, "er mom, can I ask a favour?"
"Depends what it is," she replied.
"Well I wondered if you would loan me a couple of dollars so that I can get Maisie some candy and a drink, I have enough to buy her a ticket and I promise I will pay you back as soon as possible," he explained.
Shannon pulled out her purse and handed him over enough money to buy the tickets and the candy and sodas, "let this be on me and your dad," she said.
"But I already owe you a lot for his ski-suit," said Tony.
"That doesn't mean that once in a while I can't treat you until its paid back," smiled Shannon, "now take it and lets go get Maisie."
"Thanks mom," said Tony, "do you think I look ok?"
"Tony you look smart and I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you turned up in the most ragged clothes going," said Shannon.
"Yeah but I want her mom to think that I will act like a gentleman and that I'm taking this seriously and won't hurt her daughter," stated Tony.
"Tony, just have fun with your friend, drink sodas, eat candy and enjoy the movie," advised Shannon, "Maisie will be happy, her mom will respect you and you'll have a good time too."
As they pulled up at the front of Maisies' house, Tony suddenly became extremely nervous.
"Are you sure I really look alright mom?" he asked trying to straighten out his shirt and check his hair in the rear view mirror.
"You look lovely Tony," assured Shannon, "just perfect for a first date at the cinema."
"And are you sure my breathe doesn't smell?" he asked leaning in close to her.
"No Tony it doesn't," she said.
"And I don't need more deodorant?" he asked.
"Tony stop panicking, you look great, smell fine and it's all going to be ok," said Shannon, "she's going out with you not the clothes you are wearing."
"Ok, wish me luck," he said as he opened the door to the car.
He walked up the path to the front door and rang the bell. A tall, dark haired, older man opened the door.
"Hello Sir, I am Tony DiNozzo and I wondered if Maisie was ready to go to the cinema Sir," he rushed out almost tripping over his tongue.
"So you are the young man my daughter has been telling me about?" said the man, "come in and take a seat whilst she finishes up getting ready."
Tony entered the sitting room and perched on the edge of the sofa.
"So Tony DiNozzo, tell me a bit about yourself and why my daughter should be going out with you," asked the man.
"Well er Sir, I promise that my Mom and Dad brought me up to be a gentleman, and I like your daughter a lot Sir and I won't ever do anything to hurt her," Tony stuttered out the answer just as Maisies mom came into the room.
"Michael leave the poor boy alone," she said to her husband.
Tony stood up as Maisies mom entered the room.
"Hello Ma'am, I'm Tony," he introduced himself holding out his hand and trying to prevent it from shaking.
"Well I'm very pleased to meet you Tony," she said, "now don't you mind my husband he is just being over protective of Maisie." She shot her husband a warning look.
"Hey I can't help it, she's my little girl and I want to know about the young man who wants to take her out," he protested.
"It's ok Ma'am, Sir," said Tony, "I know my Dad would be very protective of my little sister when she is old enough to go out with a boy and so would I be."
"There you go," said Michael, "he's a man after my own heart. Now Tony it seems like you and I might get along just fine," he added, "can I give you some money to pay for my daughters ticket?"
"Thank you Sir, but I have some money saved up and I'd like to use that if you'd let me Sir," stated Tony.
"That's very kind of you Tony, but are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes Sir, it would mean a lot to me if you would allow me to pay for your daughter to go to the movie with me," answered Tony.
"Well, I'm liking you more and more Tony DiNozzo," smiled Michael, "now lets see if we can hurry her up a bit, the women in this family always take so long to get ready."
His wife shot him another withering look. He was saved by the entry into the room of Maisie.
"Wow you look really pretty," commented Tony, "I love how you've done your hair."
"Really?" asked Maisie, "Mom took me to the hair salon this morning."
"Yes it looks lovely," said Tony and then blushed heavily as he realized that her mom and dad were still in the room with them.
"Now the two of you stick together at the cinema," advised Michael, "any problems you can ring me ok, do you have the number?"
"Yes Daddy, we'll be fine," said Maisie giving him a peck on the cheek, "we had better go as Tony's mom is waiting outside in the car."
With that the two left the house and made there way in the car to the cinema.
Once inside the theatre with pop-corn and sodas they made their way to the back row.
Propping the popcorn between the two of them they settled in to watch the trailers, each delving into the popcorn in turn. As the movie started and the two became engrossed in the film they both dove into the box at the same time. Tony felt a charge like electricity pass through his hand as his skin touched the smooth hand in the box with his. He traced his fingers down the back of her hand, forgetting about the popcorn. He felt her quiver under his touch.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, thinking he had perhaps done something wrong.
"Don't be sorry," she said turning to him, "it's just that you tickled my hand and I really liked it," she whispered back.
"Would you mind if I held your hand?" he asked.
"Not at all," she smiled, "I was hoping you would."
Tony took her hand into his, squeezing it softly, "are you sure you are alright with this?" he asked, "it's just that I have never been out with anyone before and I'd like this to be special for both of us."
"It's just fine Tony," she answered, "you could put our arm around my shoulders if you liked."
Tony slid his arm around her and felt her snuggle into his shoulder, resting her head against him. He liked the feeling and even when his arm felt like it was going dead half an hour later he still kept it there without moving, not wanting to disturb her comfy position.
As the film came to the end he stood up and held out her jacket for her to put on and once outside the theatre asked her to join him for an ice cream sundae whilst they waited for Shannon to pick them up.
Meanwhile on the other side of town, Gibbs had a date of his own to keep. He pulled up in his truck outside of Deans home. Metal and scrap still adorned the front yard but Gibbs noticed that it appeared to have been sorted into piles and the bags of general refuse had been cleared away. The boys had clearly done some work.
He jumped out of the truck and went up to the house; he noticed the screen door was no longer hanging loose. He knocked gently on the door.
The door was pulled open by Dean who peered out from around the chain that prevented it opening fully. He noticed that Dean was sporting a black eye and looked like he had been crying.
"You alright son?" he asked gently.
"Yeah fine," answered Dean pushing the door back so that he could take the chain off. "Didn't think you'd come back," he muttered.
"Hey I made a promise and I always try to keep them," answered Gibbs, "Is your Grandma home?"
"Yeah she's in the front room," answered Dean, "you'd better come in."
"Thank you," smiled Gibbs already sensing some kind of change in the boy. "Your big brother home?"
"Yeas Sir, he's out the back yard," answered Dean. "We've sorted a lot of stuff out back too."
"Seems you've been working mighty hard," commented Gibbs.
"Every night and all this morning," said Dean, "Jack did some through the day whilst I was at school too."
"Glad to hear it, bet your Grandma is too," said Gibbs.
"I am," spoke up the elderly woman from the front room.
"Afternoon Ma'am," said Gibbs. "Looks like your boys have been doing a fine job out there."
"They certainly seem to have been working hard Mr Gibbs, I've had no problems with either of them," she reported.
"Are you happy that we do a couple of runs to the scrap yard Ma'am?" asked Gibbs.
"Sure, it's very kind of you to help, are you sure you can spare the time?" she asked.
"Well Ma'am, I made a promise and they upheld their end of the bargain so here I am," replied Gibbs.
Jack entered the room, "Hi Mr Gibbs, I've found an old trailer out the back, do you think we might be able to hook it up to the truck, I've checked it out and it seems to be working fine?"
"Hello Jack, lets go and have a look, you coming Dean?" replied Gibbs.
"Sure," replied Dean still unsure about why this relative stranger wanted to help his family and wondering if he had put his son up to leaving all of the extra treats for him.
An hour later the three had the trailer hooked up and the first load of scrap ready to take to the yard.
"Come on jump in," said Gibbs, "if we're quick with this we can probably make a second run too."
Both boys accompanied him to the scrap yard and helped him empty out and weigh in the scrap. They actually managed a second and third run before the yard shut for the day.
As they returned home Gibbs pulled and envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Jack. "This is what you earned from your scrap," he said.
Jack flicked through the contents, "what all that junk was worth this, there must be a few hundred dollars in here."
"Yeah, surprising ain't it?" smiled Gibbs, "and all it took was a few days hard work and the two of you pulling together to earn it."
"Grandma is going to be pleased," said Dean, "she's got the water bill to pay."
Gibbs smiled at him, "I'm sure she will be proud of the pair of you."
"Thinking of getting that old truck out front fixed up," said Jack, "figured Dean and I could collect scrap from around the neighborhood, do up peoples yards and make a bit of money."
"Well if you need a hand fixing the truck I might be able to help," offered Gibbs, "just have to give me a call."
They rode on for a few more minutes in silence until Gibbs looked over at Dean and noted again his swollen and black eye, "so what happened to you, anything I can help you with?"
"It's nothing, just walked into a door that's all," he mumbled.
"Well if you need any help sorting that door out you'll let me know won't you?" said Gibbs letting Dean know that he knew he was covering for someone.
"What's with you wanting to help us?" asked Dean, "I thought you hated me."
"Guess I saw in you a little of what I once saw in my own son," said Gibbs, "just a kid who needed some guidance and a bit of help."
"You mean DiNozzo was as screwed up as me?" asked Dean.
"I don't see it as screwed up, more like lacking a father figure, so yes in that way you were similar," answered Gibbs.
"And did you um, er spank him like you did me?" asked Dean.
"Well in the past I have but I have a rule, and that's I won't discuss his punishments with anyone else just as I will never tell him about my spanking you the other day," answered Gibbs, "that's personal and not for public consumption."
"Thank you I guess," said Dean, "I mean for not saying, not for the spanking, that would be weird to thank you for that."
Gibbs chuckled, "well I guess it would."
Dropping the brothers back at their home, Gibbs said goodbye to their Grandmother and told them to let him know if they needed more help. He then made his way back to his own home.
As he entered the front door he could hear Tony in the kitchen regaling his mom about the film and his date.
"It was sooooo good," he said for the umpteenth time. "I think she really likes me."
"And were you a gentleman?" asked Gibbs joining the conversation.
"Yes Sir," answered Tony jumping up to look at his Dad, "I bought her popcorn and carried her drink into the cinema and even let her finish off my ice cream."
Gibbs smiled, "well it seems like you know how to make a girl feel special son."
"And I checked she was ok to you know hold my hand and let me put my arm around her shoulders," added Tony.
Gibbs pulled him in for a hug and whispered into his ear, "and did she let you give her a kiss?"
"Dad!" said tony pulling back and frowning, "a gentleman never kisses and tells."
"Ah," smiled Gibbs, "so that isn't her lipstick on your cheek?"
Tony automatically rubbed at his cheek.
"So she did give you a kiss," laughed Gibbs.
"Leave him alone Jethro don't be so mean," smiled Shannon, "can't you remember what it was like to be his age and in love?"
"Aww mom, stop," pleaded Tony, "a guy needs some privacy you know."
Later that night as Tony went to bed Gibbs went into his room and sat on the bed with him.
"Glad you had a great time son," he said ruffling his hair. "Do you think the two of you will go out again?"
"I hope so Dad," Tony smiled and rested his head back onto his arms, "I hope so."
