Sorry this took me so long to get up. I've been working 2 full time jobs so that leaves me no time to work on this. But hopefully things will be back to normal and I can get back to my usual updating schedule.

...

Family:[part 2]

...

3rd Person POV:

The agents made a trip to the Nelson's house. McGee and Gibbs sat with the couple in their living room, handing them a photo of Heidi to get some answers. Adrian Nelson denied involvement of course but when Gibbs got him alone, he fessed up to seeing Heidi for a while; breaking up with her when he found out she was forging his cheques. When leaving, McGee managed to snag some DNA samples from the home to compare to the baby's DNA to check his claim that the baby wasn't his.

...

Back at NCIS things didn't add up.

"He lied to us. This is a cheque to Heidi Campisano from Adrian Nelson's account. This is a known sample of his handwriting." Ziva explained pulling up the signatures side by side on the big screen. Running a quick analysis the handwriting came back as a 100% match to Mr. Nelson.

"The signature is real. Four cheques. Then thousand dollars total." Claire summarized thoughtfully, glancing back at Tony who was hunched over his desk taking yet another phone call to the exes.

"Heidi didn't steal anything. Adrian sent her the money himself." McGee sighed.

"Did more than that, McGee. Tried to hide if from us." Gibbs shot back.

"DNA?"

"Abby's still working on it." Claire answered.

"Come on, that's not what I'm saying…." Tony muttered in frustration catching their attention. Claire winced slightly at the pain on his face, clearly from having to nearly relive his past few months.

"Boss, since we got a pretty strong lead here, can Tony stop calling Heidi's other marks, looking for suspects?" she suggested quietly. Gibbs glanced at her thoughtfully before turning to watch the one sided conversation.

"Listen, I am simply saying just because she was lying to you, doesn't mean that she didn't really love you. That….Hello?" the receive was slammed down, Tony snarling in annoyance. He quickly began to dial another number, pausing as he realized eyes were on him.

"What?" he asked cautiously. The group turned back around.

"Let him call a few more." Gibbs smirked deviously. Claire's lip quirked up in amusement and nodded, no longer feeling as guilty. Clearly, she wasn't the only one that secretly thought this was poetic justice. She wasn't the only one he was lying to all this time.

"We have two theories to explain the dishonestly. Theory number one: Heidi Compisano seduced Adrian Nelson, then blackmailed him, threatening to tell his wife. She'd done it before. It would explain the payments and the fact she is now dead." Claire restarted, looking to McGee to take the second theory.

"Theory two: Adrian found out that Heidi was pregnant with his baby. Also explains the payments and the fact she is now dead."

"With those options, I would have lied too." Ziva pointed out.

"But no doubt more effectively." Ducky chimed in, dropping off a baby's duffel bag onto Ziva's desk.

"But thinking more optimistically, I took the liberty of going out and getting this when you find our missing newborn." He explained, opening it up and showing the fully stocked bag.

"Any word?" Gibbs inquired.

"Yeah, I checked all the hospitals in the area and beyond. No babies on any doorsteps. But you weren't expecting any were you?" the ME sighed knowingly.

"The killer's got the baby, Ducky. Only way we're gonna find that kid is to find the killer." Gibbs pointed out.

"Yes. Okay, I'm on my way." Tony hung up the phone, standing up. The team shot into action.

"You got something DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, rushing to grab his gun. Tony paused with a frown.

"Yeah, a dentist appointment." Everyone in the room froze, staring at the man skeptically. Tony's eyes widened in alarm at the blank stares.

"No, this is for real guys." He chuckled nervously, desperately searching to any sign of belief.

"Remember I chipped my tooth, and I got the…..I send you an e-mail for a leave request, like, two days ago about this." the man practically begged, looking to Gibbs for help. Tony bit his lip.

"You don't check your e-mail. Never mind." He muttered dejectedly, wandering over to his now ringing desk phone.

"Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, boy who cried wolf, and who must now suffer periodontal disease for it. How may I help you?" Tony sourly answered, narrowing his eyes at Claire small satisfied grin.

"It's Abby. She's got something." He announced, this time standing and leading the team off for some real leads.

...

...

Claire's POV:

After a very uncomfortable elevator ride down to the lab the team and I walked in to the sight of Abby doing very vigorous jumping jacks. The woman merely turned to greet us without stopping her exercise.

"Hi, Gibbs." She greeted the man standing next to her with a grin.

"I think you might need to lay off the caffeine again." McGee pointed out. Next to me Tony groaned under his breath, poking at a tooth behind his cheek.

"Don't be so dramatic, you can make it up later…..that is if it's a real thing." I commented, nudging him in the abdomen. Tony pursed his lips.

"It is real." He gritted out sternly. I shrugged before turning back to the conversation.

"Maybe I need a little more. You ever think of that? Baby missing." Abby shot back at McGee. Gibbs reached out and grabbed her shoulders to stop her from jumping.

"You said you had something." He reminded.

"I do. That's what I'm so excited about. Actually everything's really exciting to me today." Abby rambled. All of us shared a glance, knowing that it was the caffeine taking it's toll on her. Whirling around to her computers, she pulled up the information she had found.

"Um, I was about to get the Nelson's DNA off the toothbrushes that McGee swabbed. I compared the husband's DNA to the fetal DNA from the missing child. Adrian Nelson, definitely the father."

"Well, there's no shocker there." Tony countered.

"Well, I'm not done. Heidi Campisano, definitely not the mother."

"She gave birth to a child that wasn't hers?" Ziva sputtered in confusion.

"It's called gestational surrogacy. Where the sperm and the egg come from third parties, and then the surrogate acts as a host." I explained.

"Abs, did you check.."

"Sara Nelson's DNA? Sara Nelson is definitely the mother." Abby finished for Gibbs.

"That's what the payments were for. The Nelsons hired Heidi Compisano as their surrogate." McGee commented as we realized what was going on.

"Then why the secrecy?" Claire inquired.

"Perhaps she changed her mind about giving up the baby." Ziva suggested.

"That's not the question." Gibbs countered.

"Did the Nelsons kill her for it?" Tony supplied.

...

...

3rd Person POV:

Heading back to the Nelson's residence, the NCIS team piled out of their car in the now empty driveway. Stepping onto the porch Gibbs knocked on the door, only for it to slide open. The agents pulled their guns and slid into formation, efficiently checking the house for anyone inside. After multiple shouts of 'clear' they put their weapons away and reconvened in the living room.

"Looks like they left in a hurry." Ziva mused, scanning the disheveled house.

"Place is a mess."

"Not all of it." Gibbs countered, alerting them to the room he was standing by. Inside was an immaculate and clearly well thought out and loved nursery; confirming their baby theory.

...

Heading back to the car to grab gloves and gear the agents scoped out their new crime scene. Ziva and Gibbs were in the nursery while Tony walked the property. McGee and Claire scouted the living areas. Claire spotted a small tablet on the coffee table while McGee was searching the computer.

"What's this?" she inquired. McGee glanced over his shoulder.

"Adrian Nelson is a computer programmer; he makes automated home devices. So that tablet controls everything about this house." Claire hummed in interest.

"Even sprinklers?" she mused spotting the button as she perused the options. McGee perked up at that.

"Right, he said that was part of their security system. They could turn them on if unwanted guests were snooping around." He pointed out. They both made eye contact, a plan forming in their minds.

"Where do you think Tony is right about now?" Claire grinned. McGee returned the gesture and peeked around the corner.

"By the banging outside I would say by the trash cans."

"Perfect." At the sound of muffled shouting the two of them stifled their giggles, Claire quickly turning them off and setting the tablet down. They ignored the squishing of shoes as Tony tried to sneak past them towards the nursery where his boss was.

"I found something." McGee muttered, standing up and following with an impish grin. Claire chased after him, wanting to watch.

...

"If the Nelsons were really willing to do anything for their child, they would be getting it medical attention." Ziva pointed out sternly. At this Tony entered the room dripping wet.

"Yea well maybe they are. Safe was cleaned out. Plus, I found the box to an infant car seat in the garage. They're going somewhere with the kid." He explained, shaking his head to clear off some of the moisture.

"You go for a swim, DiNozzo?" Gibbs quipped.

"Sprinkler went off when I was digging in the trash outside….. Nice timing." Tony muttered with a frown. McGee slid past him, keeping his face neutral.

"Actually, that's part of their security system. I forgot to warn you about that." He muttered unapologetically before speaking to Gibbs.

"Boss, I found something on their computer." He announced, leaving the room.

"Thanks for the heads up, probie! I owe you one." Tony quipped, he glanced over at Claire as she disappeared down the hall after the others. Ziva remained behind, watching him with a concerned frown. As she stepped closer he blinked out of his thoughts.

"Tony, I…" he quickly held up a finger, shaking his head. That conversation was going no further.

...

"Adrian Nelson is covering his tracks. He erased his entire hard drive." McGee explained as he woke the screen on the computer back up.

"So we can't see what he's been doing." Gibbs pointed out.

"I thought you said you found something." Tony muttered, leaning over Claire's shoulder to see. She pursed her lips, looking down at the droplets that were starting to cover her shirt.

"Yeah, the root directory is still intact. I mean there's no personal data, but I did find an API he had written to interface his home automation system to his car's onboard navigation computer." McGee explained, earning blank looks.

"Hm, yeah. Pretend you're talking to someone who actually has sex with other humans." Tony quipped pointedly.

"All I have to do is hack the API and use it to get GPS coordinates on his car."

"Yeah. Do it, do it." Gibbs insisted.

"This is great. It means I can stop calling Heidi's marks…." Tony pointed out. However his excitement diminished when Gibbs shot him a look.

"I mean of course I will look for those other guys, but…" his sentence was caught off with a sneeze. Claire flinched.

"Ugh." She grumbled, glaring at him.

"Sorry." The man shrugged halfheartedly. Rolling her eyes, Claire grabbed his dryer sleeve.

"Come on drama queen. Let's get you dry so you don't catch a cold on top of that periodontal disease." Tony's lips quirked up as he followed behind her.

...

Back at NCIS once Tony was dried and changed, he stood frowning at the GPS location of the car.

"They haven't moved in the last 20 minutes." McGee commented.

"They might have dumped the car." Tony checked his watch.

"Gibbs and the state police will know soon enough." He pointed out. At the sound of keys clacking Tony turned to face McGee questioningly.

"What are you still typing?"

"I'm refreshing the tracker." McGee told him as if it were obvious.

"Forget it, I don't wanna know. It's good to have a geek on the team, but I prefer good old-fashioned police work." Tony remarked, now pulling up photos of the Nelson. He tilted his head thoughtfully at all the couple poses, and how happy they looked.

"Well, it's not an old-fashioned world, Tony." Claire chimed in from where she was looking at her own paperwork.

"Tell that to Gibbs." Tony shot back. McGee glanced up and watched as Tony's eyes locked on the photos, deep in thought.

"What was is like?" Tim inquired quietly. Claire glanced up momentarily in the stretch of silence before Tony answered.

"Sex? Losing your virginity? It's good." He quipped easily.

"Pretending to be someone else."

"I don't know, elf lord." Tony snapped, pointedly looking away from the man.

"You were really in love with her, weren't you?" McGee realized. Tony's jaw clenched.

"I don't know." Tony muttered sourly, wanting to be done with the conversation. Especially in present company. Claire firmly kept her eyes on her work, unwilling to sneak a peak at Tony's expression. She didn't know if she wanted the answer.

"Don't you have some more typing to do or something?" DiNozzo insisted tightly.

"Yeah, he does." Gibbs agreed, walking into the room just in the nick of time.

"The car wasn't there." he tossed some satellite photos as McGee who sputtered in confusion.

"What? I double-checked the….All right. I think I know what happened here." He sighed.

"Twenty bucks says McGee's about to say something nobody understands again." Tony announced holding up a $20 bill and gesturing for the man to continue. McGee rolled his eyes.

"The GPS coordinates came bundled in a proprietary packet. Since it was a beta, I thought…"

"I'm starting to think you can't help yourself, McGee." Claire pointed out with a small grin. Tim blushed before correcting his explanation.

"The code must have alerted Adrian Nelson that I was tracking him. He reprogrammed his car to send us back false coordinates."

"Can you deprogram it, McGee?" Ziva inquired pointedly.

"I can try."

"Well, while he tries, I'm gonna resort to some good old-fashioned police work…..Oh, look. What's that?" Tony gasped in mock surprise as he zoomed in on the Nelson's car sticker. Smugly Tony picked up his phone, dialing a number.

"Who are you calling?" Ziva questioned. Tony merely help up a finger as the person on the other line picked up.

"Donnie, hey…..what's going on?...Yeah, man. Listen I got an update on the BOLO of the missing kid. Deadhead sticker, left rear window…yeah! I know man that was good times…Alright listen I really gotta go I got another call. Hang tough Donnie." Hanging up with a flourish Tony opened up his desk drawer.

"Old-fashioned police work deserves an old-fashioned reward." He hummed in joy as he pulled up the jelly donut. With a grin he bit into the desert….only to panic as a large chunk of jelly headed for his shirt.

"Well that's two suits today." Claire muttered with a small grin. Tony laughed humorlessly before he glared, standing up and heading to the bathroom to wash off.

...

In the bathroom Tony frowned as he wiped away the red stain from his shirt. The man next to him eyed him curiously.

"Interrogation got a little out of hand. I had to…." Tony supplied, turning as the door opened and Ziva walked in.

"I can't explain that." He muttered in confusion.

"Hello." She chirped easily as the other man left the bathroom. Once they were alone Ziva turned to lock the door.

"You know I saw this on Cinemax once." Tony quipped.

"So, what happens now?" Ziva asked seriously.

"They play some funky music and you say…'I have been watching you from afar.."

"Well, I've been watching you from afar, Tony. Which is why I know how much you cared for Jeanne…..and how much you care for Claire." Ziva cut in, stepping up next to the man. Tony chuckled in disbelief, shaking his head.

"Oh, your timing is impeccable, Ziva." He mused.

"And how much it hurt when Jeanne left…..I can only imagine when you started lying to Claire and distancing yourself it felt much the same." Ziva pressed on. Tony stared at her unenthused.

"So, what happens now?" she restated. Tony tossed the napkin in the trash, turning away from her.

"I said I'm fine." he muttered. He stepped around to the urinal, unzipping his fly. Against what he would assume Ziva followed after him, tugging on his shoulder to turn him around. Tony clenched his jaw, zipping back up.

"You are not fine. You're still deeply troubled." She insisted.

"Even if I was, this bothers you because….."

"Because you are my partner…..Claire is my friend…..and you made a grave error in judgement falling in love with that doctor." She explained, taking a step back.

"If this is a pep talk, I give you a D minus."

"And right now, it is very clear you are still hanging onto her." Ziva hissed sternly.

"Why does that matter?"

"Because if you hold her, you cannot have Claire. I see she feels for you deeply as well."

"It's not that simple."

"Isn't it?"

"I see the confusion. These are called feelings, Ziva." Tony huffed.

"Feelings you need to let go…..move on from." She insisted with a frown.

"That easy, huh?"

"Tony, even if by some miracle Jeanne did forgive you, would you be willing to be Tony DiNardo full time? To leave your entire life behind her? To leave Claire behind? You could not have both."

"Didn't you tell me the heart wants what it wants?" he countered, a bit less fire behind his words.

"No. Actually, I didn't." she pointed out.

"Well, it does."

"Well, it shouldn't." Tony straightened up.

"Really? This coming from the woman who fell in love with the dead man walking." He commented lowly. Ziva's eyes wavered with clear hurt and anger.

"You crossed the line, Tony." She hissed, turning to storm out.

"Oh, I crossed the line?" As Tony stepped out of the bathroom he bumped into Claire who had just dodged Ziva. She gestured with her thumb questioningly to the retreating woman.

"Don't ask."

"Wasn't going to." She assured quickly. After a moment of silence Claire leaned back against the wall, letting Tony lean next to her.

"BOLO just came in. They found the car." Tony grinned triumphantly.

"Ah. Jelly donut one; Inspector Gadget zero."

"Not the BOLO on the Nelson's car. The BOLO on the dead petty officer's." Tony's grin fell into a pout.

"Better luck next time Jelly donut." Claire quipped patting him on the shoulder before heading to the elevators.

...

...

Claire's POV:

After confirming that Munoz was shot in his truck before it was dumped elsewhere by the killer, Abby analyzed the footprints on the floorboard. It traced back to panda poop which was being recycled to make high quality paper. The only mill replicating the process within a 100 miles had been shut down months ago. Thus why we were currently pulling into the abandoned paper mill's parking lot.

"You're telling me I'm the only one who has a problem with the panda-poop paper?" Tony asked as we all slipped out of the car.

"Animal dung is used for a variety of things. Paper, fuel, mudbricks. It's very useful." McGee pointed out.

"Not for them, it wasn't." Ziva pointed out.

"This place is abandoned." I commented looking over the unkept framework of the factory. The sound of car doors around the corner caught our attention. Instantly we reached for our guns and took off to surround the vehicle as stealthily as we could. Around the shipping containers we spotted the Nelsons fussing with the baby car seat in the back of their vehicle.

"DiNozzo." Gibbs relayed.

"In position, boss." At that signal we stepped out of hiding, guns raised.

"Federal agents."

"NCIS, hands in the air."

"Oh, no. Agent Gibbs please, you have to leave." Adrian Nelson insisted, eyes wide in alarm.

"My God, you'll ruin everything." His wife added fearfully. My gun lowered slightly, wondering what was going on. This wasn't right. From behind us we spotted a car speeding away from the lot.

"Oh, no, no. Please wait, wait."

"You gotta stop him."

"My baby! They've got my baby!" Mrs. Nelson collapsed in her husband's arms sobbing as we watched the car drive away in confusion. Clearly the Nelson's didn't have their child with them. Therefore they couldn't have killed Heidi for it.

...

...

Back at NCIS we piled out of the elevator, now on a mission to fit the pieces together in the right place. It was much easier now that we had the correct information from the Nelsons.

"At least probie has an idea for his next book. Baby Kidnapped: Cops Screw up Ransom Drop." Tony mused sourly.

"The Nelsons hid the kidnapping from us, Agent DiNozzo. The mistake was theirs." Ziva insisted.

"Well, you should point that out to Gibbs, Officer David. I'll be in the next ZIP code." Tony snipped back. I glanced between the two of them, confused as to why they were so testy with one another again. Yet I didn't want to be the one to ask.

"McGee?"

"Agents are still out canvassing. No one saw the Honda, much less who was driving." Tim answered when Gibbs barked his name.

"Keep looking. Conners?"

"Taps on the phones. I'm on it, boss, right now." I assured.

"DiNozzo."

"And I still have a few more of Heidi's marks that I have to track down. That's next. That's right after….I'm on it."

"Ziva?"

"Coordinate with the state police. See if we can widen the search."

"You think the kidnappers will call to arrange another ransom?" McGee inquired.

"What's the option, McGee?"

"I'll see about getting more agents on the canvas."

"We already have the entire department, McGee." Ziva pointed out. I sighed, nervous for the infant that we inadvertently put in danger once more. Now there was nothing else to do put hope someone found something…..and soon. I watched Gibbs storm up to one of the conference rooms where the Nelsons were being held. Surely he would get some answers.

...

...

3rd Person POV:

Tony looked up as a new jelly donut was set on his desk. He looked up to see Claire standing in front of him.

"You never did get to enjoy your reward. I was hoping this would suffice." She shrugged. Tony grinned and picked up the treat reverently, inhaling the scent as if it was air.

"Feeling better now?" she hummed in amusement. Tony opened his mouth to answer but something on his computer became interesting.

"Um….I'll get back to you after I shame McGee."

"Did you find something?" Claire inquired in surprise, following as Tony took control of the plasma screen.

"I've been compiling a list of Heidi's former marks."

"We've noticed."

"Any one of them could have a score to settle. The problem is, they all have solid alibis for the day that Heidi was killed. Except this guy." Tony pushed on, ignoring the comments.

"Scott Berks. Filed a complaint over a pyramid scheme Heidi was running."

"Where does he say he was?" McGee inquired. Tony paused.

"Well, he doesn't…..I haven't found him yet."

"This guy doesn't look like much. Let alone a murder." Claire pointed out.

"No. How about now?" Tony hummed pulling up a much rougher photo of the same man. It was like night and day.

"Buddy at Baltimore P.D. just sent this over. Turns out this guy also filed a complaint against Heidi."

"It is the same person." Ziva commented.

"It's called a shell. They're part of the con, but they pose as a customer to try and convince the other marks to jump in. If the con goes bad, they'll often file a complaint so it builds credibility with the other marks. Then they can move in for a secondary con." Abby imputed as the suddenly joined them in the bullpen. Everyone stared at her curiously.

"I used to date this guy once." She shrugged as an answer.

"So he was Heidi's partner." Claire surmised.

"Yeah, might still be. High-five for the traditional police work." Tony cheered, holding a hand up towards McGee. However the man was frowning at his own screen.

"Tony, he's dead. Killed a year ago by one of his marks." McGee pointed out, causing Tony to deflate.

"You might want to brush up on the traditional police work." Claire snorted.

"Hey! Do you know where my killer is?" Gibbs barked, startling the group.

"I don't know where the killer is but I do know what he did with Heidi's body." Abby answered for all of them.

...

The NCIS agents arrived right back at the auto shop where Heidi's most recent boyfriend and his father were. The breaks on the car had been tampered with when they got 'replaced'. It had been no accident and Heidi was dead well before the crash. There was only one person who would have been able to do that during that time. As the door swung open the older man looked up from the car he was working on.

"Uh-oh. What'd my loser son do now?" he inquired.

"He killed Heidi Campisano. Then tried to ransom her baby back to the biological parents." Claire answered. The man laughed.

"My boy ain't that clever." He countered in amusement.

"Guess that's why he needed your help." Tony mused. The man frowned.

"Look, I told you, he was here with me all day." He insisted.

"Yeah, and your customers confirmed that." McGee nodded watching as Tony and Ziva wandered the shop looking for any signs of Nick or the baby.

"But nobody we spoke to saw you." Gibbs added.

"But a witness did see you in this Honda near the Stern Paper Mill this afternoon." Claire hummed, gesturing to the familiar car.

"It seems you two are more than just father-and-son mechanics." Ziva added as Tony pulled out a shotgun from one of the barrels.

"Nice shotgun. Shoot any Naval petty officers lately?" the man remained silent.

"Where's the baby?" Gibbs asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about. So I was at the paper mill. What's that, some kind of a crime?" he shrugged off. Gibbs tossed his badge to Ziva in full few of the man, making sure he knew how serious he was.

"Baby." Gibbs barked threateningly. The man flinched with a grimace.

"The baby's with Nicky."

"And Nicky?" Claire added.

"Well, I told him to wait here for me to call, but my moron son never does what he's told." The man snapped angrily.

"DiNozzo."

"BOLO, on it, boss."

"Girl of his was never gonna give up that baby. I was doing those parents a favor."

"Some favor." Claire gripped as she turned the man around to put the cuffs on.

"You're under arrest for the murder of Heidi Campisano." She recited.

"Oh, come on. That was an accident."

"Petty Officer Munoz, that an accident too?" Gibbs rose a brow.

"Because this murder is also in our warrant." Ziva pointed out.

"Look, when my brakes gave out….."

"You mean, when you triggered them to go out." Claire corrected, earning a confused look from the older man.

"We know that you replaced Heidi's brakes with a set that were about to fail and make it look like she died in the crash." McGee explained. Realization dawned on the father.

"Well, that little son of a bitch! I'm gonna kill him. After all I've done for that little bastard." He snarled, being dragged away by Ziva.

"He didn't know the brakes were rigged to fail?" Tony asked in confusion.

"No. Cancel that BOLO, DiNozzo."

...

Heading back to the Nelson's they found the lights on in one room of the house. Gibbs sent Claire on ahead, thinking she would have the gentler touch to deal with the distraught boy. That and she didn't mind children in the least. Stepping in the doorway Claire watched as Nicky softly sung London Bridge to the small sleeping baby in his arms. She smiled lightly seeing that the infant was perfectly fine. Sensing her presence, Nicky paused and set the tiny think into the crib gently.

"You got my pa?" Claire blinked at his first question before answering in a whisper so as not to wake up the sleeping infant.

"Yeah."

"He killed Heidi. Made me lie to you about her." Nicky explained in a watery voice.

"I know."

"She didn't cheat on me. She wasn't bad no more. We were even gonna start a family together."

"Except Heidi couldn't have her own kids." Claire pointed out knowingly. Nicky sniffled, turning to face her yet keeping the baby in sight.

"She was smart though. Figured out a way to get one. I guess that part was bad."

"I wish I could tell you it wasn't." she soothed sadly.

"I would have raised my own boy right."

"I believe that."

"When the baby was born, we were planning to run away. But my pa wanted the rest of the money we were gonna get. Heidi and him fought. Then she had the baby…My pa took it. She was screaming." Nicky's voice went in and out as sobs threatened to take over.

"And you didn't do a thing." Claire pointed out.

"I did. It was just too late to matter."

"The brakes."

"Am I in trouble?" Nick asked in resignation. Claire sighed thoughtfully, wanting to give an honest answer.

"The prosecution's gonna call it attempted murder. Your lawyer is gonna call it self-defense."

"What do you call it?" Claire's lip quirked up fondly.

"Family." Nicky nodded in acceptance, looking back down at the little baby still sleeping. Tony panted as he made his way into the house, dripping wet once more. Claire scanned him up and down in muted amusement.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"I could ask you that as well." She pointed out.

"Just the sprinkler again. The parents are waiting outside." Claire stared at him in pity. Tony merely shrugged, accepting it. With a nod she stepped forward, leaning down and gently lifting up the infant. She smiled down at him as the baby gurgled from being disturbed. Nicky just watched, not protesting. Tony looked down at it when she paused in the doorway. When she stepped out Tony walked forward to cuff the young man.

"You think I'm crazy?" Tony shook his head.

"No."

...

Meanwhile, Claire made her way into the living room where the parents had been waiting.

"Here's your baby." She quietly announced. Mrs. Nelson whipped around, her face splitting into a wide grin. She jogged over and reached for her child.

"It's a boy." Claire quipped weakly, eagerly handing the baby over to his mother. Both parents laughed out a small sob, staring down in awe at their child that they finally got to see.

"Thank you." Adrian whispered. Claire nodded.

"My pleasure." She assured before stepping away to let them have a moment. Tony led Nick outside to the officers before returning and sitting down by the fire to warm up. He shook his head like a dog, trying to be rid of some of the water. A pair of heeled boots stopped in front of him and he looked up to see a fluffy towel hanging in front of his face. Claire smiled down at him gently.

"Here." She murmured, letting Tony take the offering from her hand. Nodding she stepped away to rejoin the rest of the team, letting him have time for himself. Tony looked down at the piece of cloth thoughtfully. Setting it around his shoulders he stared into the fire thoughtfully. Looking over at the Nelson's he recognized them as family…..yet when he looked over at the group of agents talking nearby…..family was still there. Claire made eye contact with him and smiled, no way of knowing what he was thinking. Tony reflexively returned the gesture and ran the towel over his face to distract himself. Why had he been making this so hard? Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out the small note that had been haunting him for days.

...

I'm not coming back. You have to choose. – Jeanne

...

Little did she know how much those exact words effected him. Yet now, there was no choice. Jeanne had represented something he couldn't have. But looking back at his teammates and the raven-haired woman standing among them he realized that he had everything he needed. Decision made he placed the note in the fire, watching as the paper and the neat script disappeared before his eyes. He didn't need more time. Pushing himself up he walked over to join his team, the towel wrapped tightly around his shoulders. He was greeted by smiles and small words of sympathy over his dripping state. Claire reached over and rubbed vigorously over his shoulder's trying to help soak up more moisture and retain heat. As she did so, her attention returned to the conversation that had been going on, unaware that Tony's gaze was fixed solely on her.