"Did David give you anything useful?" Gibbs asked as he and Tony were driving back to NCIS.
"Actually, he did. I need to do some research, but I feel that I now know how his father was linked to drugs," answered Tony.
"Are you feeling okay?"
Tony almost said yes, but then changed his mind. "No, I'm not. I have a headache, I'm tired, and I think that this case is starting to be too much," admitted Tony as his stomach growled. "And, I guess I might be hungry, too," he laughed.
Gibbs smiled. They had missed lunch, something that Tony was always quick to point out. Lately, Tony had been less vocal about appropriate meal times, sadly. It was good to see that Tony was beginning to return to normal. "David made you smile about something," said Gibbs as he pulled into a car park for a small diner. "What did he say?"
Tony frowned as he tried to figure out what his boss was talking about. "Uh... oh! David asked if I would take him home for the weekend. He must really like me, Gibbs."
"Of course he does. Maybe he doesn't know what you went through in the past, Tony, but he certainly feels a connection with you, just the same as you have a connection with him. He's gravitated towards you from the moment you introduced yourself at the crime scene."
"I want to take him home," Tony continued, barely hearing what Gibbs was saying. "I really like him, and I wouldn't mind having someone to share my apartment with."
"You need to speak to Vance and social services about that."
"Do you think Vance will let me have David for the weekend?"
"I'll pull some strings for you. If we say that it's for his own protection..."
"Wait!" exclaimed Tony suddenly, just as they were about to step into the diner. "David will need protection. If what he told me turns out to be correct, then he's a witness to two police officers buying drugs from his father. We'll need to keep him safe from them."
Gibbs grinned to himself. His old Tony was certainly coming back. This case was tough, no doubt about it, but it was exactly what Tony needed to focus himself again. "Well, Tony, you may have just made your case. We'll give that exact speech to Vance when we get back to work. If he agrees to you taking in David, at least until the case is over, then social services probably won't have a problem with it. Jessie likes you enough and knows that you'll keep her charge safe."
"I need to go shopping, though. I need some more groceries, and David will need some clothes and toys. Maybe a couple of books and a movie or two."
"Hold it, Tony." Gibbs stopped his senior agent before they got to the counter to order food. "Take things one step at a time. Vance needs to approve this first, then social services need to be okay with it. If we pass those two hurdles, then we can think about what to buy. Although," thought Gibbs, "you certainly could use more groceries in your apartment. We'll go to the supermarket after work before I drop you at home."
"What can I do for you, Agent DiNozzo?" asked Vance when Tony sat across from him in his office.
"I need to ask you for permission for something, sir," answered Tony.
"What are you asking permission for?"
"I want to take in David. He's the child in our case, the one that killed his father in self-defence."
"I know who he is. Why do you want to take him in?"
"To keep him safe. He can identify two people that were buying drugs off his father. If they find out he knows about them, he'll be in danger."
"How will they find out about David?"
"They are both in the Metro Police Department. One is an officer, the other is a detective."
Vance was shocked. He thought that the police department had finally weeded out their corrupt officers. "Well, Agent DiNozzo... taking care of a child is a huge task. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Very sure. We get along really well. I babysit some of the children in my apartment building on weekends, so it's not like I don't know how to take care of a child. One of them is a six month old baby."
Vance couldn't argue with that. He thought about a reason why he should deny Tony's request, but he truly couldn't think of one. with a sigh, he said, "Fine. You can take David this weekend. However, you are not to pick him up until Friday afternoon. You may keep him until the case is over, then he is to be returned to social services until they find a permament home for him. Is that clear?"
"Crystal. Although, once the case is closed, I can do what I want to." Tony smiled smugly when Vance glared at him. He left with a bright, happy smile on his face.
"What happened up there, Tony?" Gibbs asked once Tony reached his desk.
"I'm taking David home with me until we close this case," answered Tony. "Vance said to not get used to it, because I will have to give him back afterwards, but once the case is closed, I can do what I want. I made that very clear to Vance, and I don't think he liked it."
Gibbs grinned. "Good job, Tony."
"Can you come with me to get what I need before Friday?"
"Of course. Maybe tonight, we'll stop for groceries, okay?"
Tony nodded. "Thanks, boss."