By the time Jackson went home at the end of the weekend things weren't so strained in the house though Tony still felt out of place but Gibbs and Kelly seemed to like having him there. Tony agreed to start dinner or cook dinner on some nights. Kelly had a sitter who didn't feel comfortable with Tony or so she said when they met so Tony would watch Kelly during the day and they found Tony a used bike at the thrift shop he could use to get around.
"A bit of paint, some new tires and it'll be good in no time. I know it should be new but..." Tony shakes his head.
"Used is better than not having one. Plus if I go home soon it's not a lot of wasted money. I like it and other than the flat tires it's good." Gibbs wonders if Tony's telling the truth but Jackson takes Tony to get what he needs for the bike including a basket to carry things in.
"He really does like the bike Jethro. He's not spoiled like the name suggests." Gibbs looks at Jackson.
"I never thought he was. The name doesn't mean much to me." Jackson doesn't say anything as they watch Tony spray paint the bike in the backyard. "Does it mean something to you?"
"I've heard of Anthony DiNozzo over the years and his son. Tony doesn't fit the picture I had of him though." Gibbs thinks about this. "The town isn't that small Jethro."
"I know, just curious though." Jackson sighs,
"His father made the news when he was 8 for suing a hospital where his wife and Tony's Mom died. Something went wrong with the treatment she got there and Tony was with her if I understood it correctly.. They paid him for the negligence and suffering for Tony who saw her die." Gibbs was speechless.
"Wow… I can't imagine being that young and seeing that. Kelly didn't see what happened with Shannon or she doesn't remember it."
"The DiNozzo's are wealthy so I guess I expected more of a spoiled kid. Someone who anted things handed to him but he doesn't seem that say."
"According to Franks he's spent time in boarding schools and summer camps since his mom died when they ran a background check on him before I could let him stay here. He's not been in trouble, gets good grades, smart as a whistle so..."
"He seems like a good kid." When Tony was done painting the bike and putting on the new tires they go to the library.
"You can ride your bike here when you want to trade in your books. Annie won't be around much once Kelly's awake but she won't be in charge of you. You can come and go during the day but just leave a note so I know where you are in case I come home early
"When Tony was 8 his mom died due to a hospital mistake and he was at the hospital when she died. His father sued the hospital but it brought light to what happened and people were upset that Tony saw her die. I know they reached some kind of settlement but it never made the news." Gibbs thinks about this as Kelly and Tony come inside.
"The paint needs to dry and then I want to give it another coat." Gibbs nods,
"How about e go to the library and get you a library card Tony? Since you like to read and there's a good size one not too far away you probably will find more than you do at the thrift stores." The phone rings so Jackson goes to get it.
"I would like that." The phone rings while Tony and Kelly are changing.
"Annie's on her way over to talk to me. She knows Tony's going to stay here but that she didn't have to watch him. She didn't like the idea of two kids.
"I can find something to do when she's here very easy Gibbs."
"I leave at 530 there's nothing legal for you to do at that time. I think she's wanting a raise but I'll see depending on what she's going to do more of. Leaving my house every day and barely doing anything I ask her to do is enough payment already." When Annie got there she was upset to see Tony.
"This isn't going to work. I can't watch him. He's old enough to stay home alone."
"Which I told you he was going to do. Your only job it to take care of Kelly and he'll do his own thing. You don't even have to fix him sandwiches or cereal, he can do that on his own." Annie shrugs,
"Then he can bring Kelly to me when she wakes up. I already lose enough hours while she sleeps so.."
"I pay you for staying here while she sleeps. You don't lose hours."
"My real job."
"Excuse me? What real job? I hired you to watch Kelly not some other job." Annie rolls her eyes.
"Yeah because what little you pay me will cover college expenses. I have a real job that Kelly come with me all day. I'm going to college in the fall and I won't be able to pay for anything just sitting around doing one job. I told you that we were going to my Uncle's office to help out."
"One day not daily and if you didn't want to babysit then you should've told me."
"Well he needs to leave before I get here. I'm not going to have some perv watch me do nothing while waiting for Kelly to get up. I didn't agree to it."
"And I didn't agree to you taking Kelly to another job." Gibbs turns to Tony. "Want a job watching Kelly during the week when I'm at work." Tony's surprised but nods,
"Sure,"
"You can't do that. I need the money and..."
"And you have another job. He's not going to leave just because you don't want him here and I'm pretty sure he won't take Kelly to another job. Now you'll be able to get more hours too so there won't be a problem." Annie storms out of the house and Kelly was happy she wouldn't babysit anymore. Things went smoothly with Tony helping to cook and Kelly was easy to watch so things went smoothly.
"Daddy, Grandpa wants to know if we're going to Stillwater for Father's day?" Gibbs sighs,
"It depends. I talked to Agent Franks about you going Tony and he said it was fine if it was for the weekend but if you don't want to go I don't want to drag you there."
"Where's Stillwater?"
"In Pennsylvania … where Dad and I both grew up. Small town and we go when we have a chance." Tony shrugs,
"If Jackson doesn't mind if I go then I don't mine. It might be fun." Kelly nods,
"It's a lot of fun. I'm going to spend all of July there with just Grandpa." Gibbs nods,
"If you're still here on the fourth we can go down for a day or two." Tony didn't know about that but thought if they wanted to go he should go too. Thursday morning Gibbs wakes Tony up. "We're leaving tonight when I get home so make sure you and Kelly are packed and try to use up any food that can't be frozen. Wash clothes and let's do it."
"Okay, I'll wash mine while Kelly's sleeping in case she wants to wash any." Tony used the last of the bread to make french toast since Kelly hated sandwiches by the time she woke up.
"Ooh what's the occasion?"
"Nothing, we're going to Stillwater tonight when your dad gets home and we need to use up the bread. Gibbs said to make sure we're packed and ready to go when he gets home."
"Can I wash Fluffy? She's dirty."
"Sure, let's see what else you need washed." When Gibbs got home Tony was sewing on Fluffy who came apart in the wash.
"What on earth happened?"
"Kelly thought she needed a bath before Stillwater and well his ears and tail came off." Gibbs looks around. "She's upstairs so she doesn't have to see the surgery on Fluffy. I know how to sew and she was freaking out so..." Gibbs sighs,
"That's why he's never had a bath. Shannon thought he would fall completely apart but it's fixable. Heck it even looks like a new cat." Tony laughs,
"That's what Kelly said." They were on the road soon after Fluffy was fixed and Kelly was happy.
"I thought we'd stop at Mel's for dinner. I have tomorrow off for the weekend so lets make the most of it." Tony thought the town was nice though some people acted weird around him especially Jackson's neighbor though Tony couldn't figure out why. That week after they got back Mike told them Anthony was going to pick up Tony so he could go home.
"Would it be okay if I kept in touch with Kelly? I'm sure I'm going back to boarding school and summer camps but.." Gibbs nods,
"Of course and I want to know how you're doing too. Do you think you'll do anything special for your birthday?" Tony shakes his head.
"We haven't celebrated any birthday's since Mama died. She was the one who made a big deal out of them. Her and my Aunt Camille. Aunt Camille has a son my age but I haven't seen them since Mama died either."
"They didn't want to keep in touch?"
"Mama's family wanted me to live with them and got into it with Dad. I just didn't want to live with them and she took Nonie and Poppy's side. I just didn't want to live with them but they stopped talking to me."
"I'm sorry to hear that Tony." Tony shrugs but they spent all week sorting through his things including what he would take with him and what could still be donated. Tony wasn't expecting anything special for his birthday so he was surprised when he woke up the day Anthony was going to pick him up when Kelly had a cake for him.
"I know it's not your birthday but you should still have cake." Tony hugs Kelly.
"Thank you, I love it."
"Really?"
"Yes, no one's made me a cake in a long time." Later when Anthony got there Gibbs watched Tony greet his dad.
"Come in, I'm Jethro Gibbs and this is my daughter Kelly." Anthony looks around.
"It's nice to meet you. Junior are you packed to go. Mother and Father are looking forward to you staying with them again."
"I am?" Tony didn't like that idea though he loved his grandparents.
"Oh you don't know what's going on. I was sentenced to five years for that issue and well you need someone to stay with once I turn myself in." Gibbs was stunned how casually this was all said.
"You're going to prison?" Anthony nods,
"For false accusations of course but my lawyer things with one served I can get time off for good behavior. Of course Junior can't live on his own so Mother and Father..."
"He can live with us." Tony and Anthony stare at Gibbs. "He's got his own room and he fits in here. I will do what he needs and j.."
"You know the trust will only allow you rent but the rest is Junior's to control? If he were to live here he wouldn't have to give you any of it." Gibbs looks at him and Tony sighs.
"I never mentioned the trust to him."
"Well Junior and his cousins will come into a trust fund when they turn 15. It will pay rent to whoever his guardian is and when they turn 16 if they can prove they're responsible they can be emancipated. That's why they pay rent to show that the money is used wisely." Gibbs thinks about this.
"We still want him to stay with us. I wouldn't take his money or even expect him to pay rent to me." Tony was shocked to hear this but pleased Gibbs still wanted him. Anthony looks at Tony.
"Would you rather live here Junior? Mother and Father or even Ruth and David would love you to stay with them."
"I like it here and I love them but I couldn't..." Anthony nods turning to Gibbs.
"Ruth and David are my former in laws Junior's maternal grandparents. Wherever he stays they would like to keep in touch."
"I have no problem with that as long as any family doesn't try to interfere with our family." Anthony takes some papers out.
"Have your lawyer fill these out and file them. As much as Junior's grandparents love him I know he wouldn't be happy with them so I hoped he found a home here even if it was only for the rent money."
"I won't use it."
"It will still be sent to you to be used how you see fit. The papers have my lawyers information and Junior you can contact him about getting your things packed and sent over."
"We can go pick it up." They look at Gibbs. "I don't trust others to do the packing." Tony believed that and Anthony smiles.
"Then you can contact him about when you can go." Anthony hands Tony two checks.. "This is from your bank account in New York so you can open one here and this one is for your birthday." There's a knock on the door and Gibbs' lawyer was standing there.
"Arthur, what are you doing here?" Tony looks up when he hears his uncle.
"I was passing by when I thought I saw..." Arthur stares at Tony and Anthony who both get up. "It is your car."
"What are you doing here Arthur? Coming to spy on us? This is Junior's new home so..."
"How do you two...?"
"They're brother and that's my Uncle Arthur." Anthony glares at Arthur.
"What are you doing here? How do you know Mr. Gibbs?"
"I'm his lawyer so when I spotted your car I stopped by to see what was going on. Tony, are you okay? Camille and Charlie miss you."
"I'm okay, I've been living here since the end of may and I'm going to stay here now." Arthur looks at Anthony.
"I start my sentence Monday and I wanted Junior to be settled into a home by then."
"What do you need Jethro?"
"Just to fill out the paperwork and file it."Arthur looks it over
"Did you tell him about the trust?" Anthony nods and Gibbs sighs.
"I don't care about that he would have a home here either way."
"I know that Jethro but I didn't want him to hide it." Arthur looks at Tony.
"Your Aunt and Charlie would like to see you and know you're okay. We know Anthony's going to prison so they've been worried about you." Tony looks at Gibbs.
"I said I don't mind if your family stays in touch and I don't. Camille helps out with Kelly when Annie can't so they're more than just my lawyer." Tony smiles and Arthur nods.
"We heard about Anthony's arrest and have been in New York trying to find out where you've been. We came back because Charlie wanted to spend his birthday here."
"When's his birthday?"
"Sunday but we planned to do something tomorrow and go back to New York on Sunday." Kelly speaks up,
"Tony's birthday is tomorrow."
"I know that I've known Tony since he was a little boy." Kelly thinks about this.
"Maybe the boys can do something together then. Well with Kelly and Jimmy too since I'm sure they want to do something with them." Anthony nods,
"Perhaps when you go to New York Junior can go to pack up his things as well. They're going to sell the house and anything left will be thrown out." Arthur nods,
After more talking and discussion about custody and how Arthur wanted to be in the know about Anthony's case Anthony leaves and Arthur takes Kelly and Tony back to his house.
"Will Aunt Camille mind? It's been 7 years and..."
"We know why you were angry and no. She wants us to find you and then see how to make sure you're not off to some boarding school or with the DiNozzo's while the trust kicks in."
"I didn't want to go with them. I've been living with Gibbs and Kelly and..."
"They're good people." At the house Jimmy comes running to meet them at the door. "Hey kiddo, where's Mommy and Charlie?"
"Mommy's making Charlie's cake and Charlie's helping her. Who is he?"
"That's a surprise for Charlie." Jimmy looks at Tony so close he wonders if he doesn't have food on his face.
"Can I show Kelly my new skates?"
"Sure, we'll go find you when we go." Jimmy drags Kelly off by the hand and Arthur led the way back into the house. "The one thing Charlie wanted for his birthday was to see you again. He doesn't want to do anything for his birthday but we insisted saying you could both celebrate more when we knew where you were." They find a kitchen where Charlie's sitting with his back to the door and Camille was peeking into the oven.
"Hey, did you get it?"
"Uh no, I didn't make it that far." Camille glares at Arthur before seeing Tony standing there. "I drove by Jethro's house and got side tracked."
"But … how?" Charlie spoke up
"If that woman is just going to cause trouble then why even bother. You can't be at their beck and call dad. That's not why I wanted to come back here for my birthday."
"Well thanks a lot Charlie." Charlie spins around wide eyed. "I've been living with Gibbs and Kelly since the end of May and Dad was there today. Uncle Arthur saw his car and stopped.
"But … why?"
"I met them in March and when the investigator was moving here he brought me with him. Dad's going to prison so he wanted to see if I could stay with them or go with Grandmother and Grandfather."
"I say he picked the right choice." They look at Arthur. "He's staying with Jethro and Kelly and I'm filing the paperwork to make it official this week." Camille hugs Tony and he feels his nerves about them not wanting him around leaving. Charlie also hugs him before dragging him upstairs to catch up while Camille gets on the phone to discuss the joint birthday party and Arthur finishes his errands.
.
.
.