Nancy Morgan sat next to the phone trying to read the book open in front of her, but knew she was failing when she had to re-read the same page three times. She glanced over at her son.

He appeared to be playing one of his video games, but she could tell that his mind wasn't really on what he was doing either, when he was killed yet again. He cursed softly as he reset the game and then glanced back at her guiltily.

"Sorry, Mom," he mumbled.

She smiled gently, "I'm worried about him, too, Ben. I'm sure Agent Gibbs will call when there's word about Tony."

He threw down the controller and came to sit next to her on the couch, "But shouldn't they have called by now? I mean it's been a long time. They're the government. Tony's always telling me about the cool stuff they have to find people."

"They also have a lot of work to do. I'm sure they've got more important things to do than to call us back. Don't worry, Tony will call us when he's able."

She put her arm around him, and he didn't pull away from her as had been his want lately. He was too old to be 'mothered,' at least that's what he told her. It felt good to just sit with him, his head on her shoulder.

There had been a time not so long ago, when she had despaired of ever getting through to him. He'd hit his teen age years and suddenly thought he knew everything. He didn't seem to have any use for her. When he began to hang out with a some rough kids and sneak out at night, she'd decided it was time to take back control.

One of the things she knew he needed was a strong male influence. She'd gone to the Big Brother program to see if they could help her. At first, upon meeting Tony DiNozzo she'd worried that she'd make a huge mistake. He'd seemed to be as big a kid as her son, and just as juvenile. But a few nights spent together had made a huge difference in Ben's attitude. He never talked much about their time together, but she'd noticed lately that there was a lot of 'Tony said this,' and 'Tony thinks…'

She knew she had a lot to thank Tony DiNozzo for; and, despite what she'd just told her son, she was worried about him. She kept hearing the sound of tearing metal before the line had disconnected.

The sound of the doorbell disturbed their quiet moment. Nancy felt a small clutch of fear. She knew it was silly, it could have nothing at all to do with Tony, but still she took a deep breath before opening the door.

Seeing the man waiting there, she gasped.

"Mom?" Ben asked from the couch.

"Hey, Nancy," Leo greeted her, before casually sauntering into the room.

Nancy stood rooted to the spot, unable to speak or move. This was a ghost from her past that she had never thought to see again. Leo walked past her going straight to Ben.

"So, this is Ben?" He asked.

Ben had never met his father. Leo had died before the boy was even born. So to Ben, this interloper was a stranger and Ben stood defiantly. His body language said he was ready to defend himself and his mom if necessary.

"Leo, my God, what happened?" Nancy whispered, finally finding her voice. She hurried to stand next to Ben. "They said you were dead. It's been so long." There were so many questions she didn't even know where to start.

"They were wrong," he told her and just stood giving her time to take in the fact that he was alive.

Nancy studied his face. She was horrified to find that it was a mass of scars. She could see her husband had been through something terrible. She could see it, not only in the scars, but in the awful pain she saw in his eyes. There was something else there that made her tremble, hate. There was hate in his eyes as he watched the two of them. His eyes were predatory and calculating.

Suddenly Nancy was afraid for herself and her son.

"Mom?" Ben asked again. "Who is this?"

"I'm your dad, Benjamin," Leo answered before she could speak. "I've missed a lot and I'm here now to make up for that. In fact we're going to start right now."

"Leo?"

"Dad?" Ben's voice was tremulous.

Nancy knew he'd missed a lot growing up without a father. He'd never said it to her, but she knew he envied the boys with father and the things they did together.

He looked at his mother with puzzled eyes, "You said he was dead."

"They were trying to keep us apart, son," Leo's voice was hard with hate. So much hate, Nancy suddenly realized this wasn't the man she loved anymore. She didn't know what had happened to him, but it had changed him. "But not anymore. You want to come with me now?"

Leo held out his hand to his son. Ben took a step forward, but then stopped. "We can't leave right now."

"Not 'we,' kid, just you. I've only come for you."

Nancy held her breath waiting for her son's answer.

"I can't leave my mom. I mean I want to get you know you, but…"

Leo exploded, "You'll do as I say, you'll come with me now or else."

Nancy had learned a long time ago that her son didn't respond well to the 'or else.' She saw his back stiffen and he took a step back.

She took his shoulders, frightened. "Ben?"

"Stay out of this, Nancy, you made your choice when you had me declared legally dead."

She moved so that she stood between her son and her husband, "Leo, I had to move on. Ben and I needed closure," she insisted.

She didn't see the blow coming. She just felt it throw her across the room and she landed against the wall, her breath knocked from her in a startled whoosh. Her legs gave out, and she slid down the wall.

Ben was there beside her, "Oh, God, Mom. Are you okay?" He shook her shoulder and she did her best to rouse herself for her sons sake. But it was no good, the darkness pulled her down.

When she came to, she had no idea how much time had passed. Her head throbbed and when she touched the back of it gingerly, her fingers came away wet and sticky. There was quiet all around her. She stood, still shaky, using a hand against the wall to prop herself up. The house around her was cold and she walked on wobbly legs to find the front door standing open.

"Ben?" The silence of the house frightened her. Clutching the railing, she went up the stairs, "Ben?" There was nothing, just oppressive silence. She went back down the stairs, tears were beginning to well and she wasn't sure what to do. First Tony, now Ben…

A sound at the door startled her and she took the last few stairs quicker than she should have in hopes that somehow it was Ben at the door. She nearly fell into the arms of the policemen she found there. She stared stupefied unable to understand why they were there.

"Ma'am," one of them asked quietly, "are you alright? Do we need to call an ambulance?"

She shook her head, the tears starting to fall, "No…, my son…" she took a deep breath as she tried to steady herself and tell them what had happened, "my husband, he's taken my son."

She didn't think she was any more coherent, but the policemen seemed to understand what had happened. One of them helped her to sit, while another one talked on the radio.

"Ma'am," the officer at her side said, "do you know where your husband has taken your son?"

She shook her head numbly, unable to speak. Leo had been dead to her for over ten years, it had almost destroyed her when she'd gotten the news that he was dead. But she'd survived and moved on because she had to, for Ben.

Now he was back, a different dangerous Leo and he'd taken her son.

This is my second attempt to upload this, sorry if you got the new chapter notification twice. There was some strange stuff the first time around!

Happy New Year to you all, hope you had a safe and happy holiday.

Thanks to everyone who's reading and commenting, you guys rock!