"This is ridiculous!!" Ducky states while looking through the glass of the observation room.
"Well there are a lot of theories..." Tony begins.
"Sip it Anthony and drink that milkshake." Tony held up his hands in defense. He quickly drank his milkshake Ducky ordered him to and looked questionable at Gibbs.
"Jethro you can't interrogate her. She would never hurt Anthony or would help his father. How can you even think that?"
"Who asked who out Duck?"
"Jethro what kind of question is..."
"Just answer the question." Gibbs said.
Ducky sighs. "She, but what does that matter?"
"Have you talked about the team with her when you made that appointment? About Tony?" Gibbs asked.
"Jethro are you interrogating me now? Me? I would never do anything to endanger Anthony's life."
"We know that Ducky. We are just not sure about her." Tony said.
"Then just answer the question Duck." Gibbs said again.
"Yes I told her some things. But it was just to help her for making that appointment." Ducky tried to reason.
"And then suddenly she wants a date with you. A woman you hadn't spoken to in 20 years." Gibbs said as he looked through the glass again.
"That's called love Jethro." Ducky said angry. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Gibbs opened it and Tim and Abby stepped inside.
"Uhmm we found something." Tim said as he could feel the heavy atmosphere.
"Good tell him he is wrong about her." Ducky said.
"Uhmm sorry Ducky. She called every night to the same number on exact the same time. That is suspicious. She was also seen in the same city as DiNozzo sr. was last seen." Abby said.
"That doesn't prove anything. Look I know Jannis for years." Ducky said and Gibbs gave him a look.
"Come on Duck. You've been doing this job for years. You know this is not normal." Gibbs said quietly.
"I'm sorry Ducky. But it looks like that she used you." Abby said as she gave him a hug.
"What I don't understand is why?" Ducky asked sadly.
"That is what we going to find out." Gibbs said as he walks to the door. When he opens it he saw Kate standing there.
"I found out who the number she called every night belongs to. I also got a match on a fingerprint." Kate said as she gave him a file.
Gibbs looked into it and nodded before he closed it again. "Time for the show." Gibbs said.
"Yep let's go" Tony said behind him. Indicated that he was coming too.
Gibbs turned around. "No way are you coming in with me. You stay here and observe. Kate?" Gibbs said as he looked at her.
"Come on Tony." Kate said as she held his arm.
"What? Why? She set..." Tony begins but Gibbs held up his hand.
"You are too involved. In there you have to keep your emotions in check. You are lucky you can watch." Gibbs said patiently.
"What! You are as much involved as I am. Why can you do it and I can't?" Tony said angry.
"Because he has my permission. And only because I am keeping a close eye on him. If the emotions get too high I will pull him out. This is his only chance to prove the team can stay on this case agent DiNozzo. You are all involved in this but you more than the others Tony." Director Morrow said behind them.
Tony stared at the director for a moment before he followed Kate back inside the observation room without saying a word. The director and Gibbs shared a look before they took their places. The director stood behind the glass in the observation room. Watching every move while Gibbs sat at the table in the interrogation room. They were ready.
————————————-
"Jethro honey what is going on? Why am I here?" Jannis asked nervously.
"I think you know why you are here. Why else would you be so nervous." Gibbs said.
"Well I think everyone would be nervous if you are suddenly in an interrogation room! You can't arrest me because I am a shrink and can't let Tony talk to me!" Jannis said angry.
Gibbs smiled. "And here I thought shrinks were always calm and peaceful. Why do you want Tony to talk to you so badly?"
"Because you wanted me to! I was asked for that remember?"
"And dating Ducky was part of that?" Gibbs asked tactful.
"I needed him!" She shouts.
—————————
"Oh my. I am being used." Ducky said sadly behind the glass.
"I am sorry Ducky." Kate said.
"The real face behind a shrink" Tony said with his arms crossed.
——————————
"You used him to get to Tony!" Gibbs said angry.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She said stubborn.
"You took pictures of Tony and sent them to his father." Gibbs begins.
"You can't prove that."
"You were seen in the same city as DiNozzo sr was last seen."
"Doesn't prove anything."
"We have prove that you called his father every night on the exact same time."
"How do you..."
"You were the only person who else knew what happend ten years ago. It was written in the letter his father sent Tony."
"It..."
"And then we had that meeting. Tony get that package and what did you do? You sit there and do nothing! What shrink just sit there and watch while a person is flipping out?"
"Now wait a minute..."
"And then there was that shocked look on your face when Tony told Tim and Kate about the box he had upstairs. His collection of notes he received over the years from his father. Worried your fingerprints were on it?" Gibbs asked with a dangerous smile.
Jannis eyes widened. "That..."
"Know what? We found them. Your fingerprints where on the package but also on a note Tony kept in his box."
—————-
Tony looked shocked. "He says what now!!!!" Tony asked and looked around the room.
"I was still running that." Abby said curiously and looked at Kate.
"The match just came up when I was there for something I forgot. You were already upstairs." Kate said softly to Abby.
"That devious woman." Ducky said angry.
"Why did you call her? Why not someone else?Why her?" Tony asked Ducky.
"Anthony believe me if I knew this..." Ducky begins despaired.
"No no Ducky. Tony is on on something. Why was her name popping up in your head?" Kate asked as she followed Tony's mind.
"You saw something? Remembered something?" Tim helped.
Ducky thought for a moment then his eyes widened. "I have received an invitation for a congress. And her name was mentioned. She was one of the speakers. Mul..ti..ple invitations." He said slowly.
"She played you. Reverse psychology." Director Morrow said.
"She is good." Abby said.
—————————————
"Why do it? You sleep with him? You want his love? His money!" Gibbs yelled.
"I would never sleep with that animal!!" Jannis yelled.
"But you would send him after his son! The son he abused for years. You let that animal out to get him! You are as bad!" Gibbs yelled angry.
————————-
"Calm down Jethro." Director Morrow said softly. He didn't want to pull him out now.
—————————-
"He just wanted to see his son! I am not like him!"
"You send him after Tony! You helpt him! And not this one time. You did it for years. You're his whore? Is it giving you enough? Does it feel good to let a father abuse his son?! You sleep well on that?" Gibbs had trouble keeping his cool.
Jannis had tears in her eyes. "I needed the money! I needed... He wouldn't pay me till I found him. I only had food and a roof over my head because DiNozzo sr would give that to me if I kept looking. He has all my money. He has everything I own. I only could pay my debts if I found his son. I would be free. I haven't seen my family since this all started." She said crying.
"Where is he now?" Gibbs asks patiently.
"You got a pen?" Jannis asked still crying. Gibbs gave it to her as she wrote three addresses up. Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know which address he is now. He changes address once in awhile."
Gibbs stood up with his handcuffs in his hand. "It would be a long time till you see your family again. Jannis Brooks you are arrested."
The interrogation room opened and Director Morrow stood there with two other agents. "They will take her from here Jethro." Gibbs nodded and gave her to the agents.
Tony stepped out of the observation room and walked to her so he stood in the front of her. "I hope you can sleep overnight." He said sarcastically. "I know how he is but it is always your own choice you make. You made this happen" he said angry and walked away. Tim and Kate were following him. They wouldn't leave Tony alone now.
"I am very disappointed in you Jannis" Ducky said and waited till the agents took Jannis away. Abby looked between the two before Ducky told her to follow the others.
The director and Gibbs were discussing something in private. Gibbs looked a bit angry before he finally nodded. Ducky was waiting patiently till they were done. After the conversation Gibbs told Ducky they needed a team meeting.
—————————————-
In the lab
"Gibbs why the team meeting?" Kate asked.
"Yeah we need to look at those addresses." Tony said.
"Oh you are going to say something bad." Abby said.
"What is it?" Tim asked curiously.
Gibbs sighs and looked at Ducky before he looked at the team. "The director just pulled us of this case. We are too involved. If we would find him..."
"We would kill him" Tony said bluntly.
Abby elbowed him. "Tony! You can't say that."
"Why not?" He asked angry.
"Director Morrow cannot be held liable if we were in the field and... well what Tony just said happend. We only could do this interrogation because the director was watching."
"He doesn't trust us?" Tim asked.
"He does Timothy. But with the emotions that are involved anything could happen." Ducky said.
"So we wait?" Kate asked.
"We wait." Gibbs confirmed.
"Great." Tony said and start pacing the lab.
———————————
It was two hours later and the team was still waiting in the lab. Tony was still pacing. Abby and Tim were playing a game on the computer. Gibbs and Ducky were talking quietly in the corner. And Kate was observing everyone.
"They would know something by now don't you think?" Kate asked.
Tony snort. "Well I would. It's taking too long."
"The director would call when they knew something. We have to keep patients." Ducky said.
"I have been being patient for a long time. I am done with being patient!" Tony said angry and start walking faster.
"Tony" Gibbs called out and stood up.
Tony turned around angry when Gibbs put a hand on his shoulder. Abby and Tim stopped their game and watched what what was happening.
"What Gibbs! Kate is right. It's taking too long." Tony said angry.
Kate stood up. "Tony I didn't want to make you..."
"Uhmm I could look into..." Tim begins nervously.
"No you can't McGee. We are not hacking." Gibbs said sternly.
"First he says do what you want and now we can't." Abby whispers softly.
"Well maybe because it's illegal Abby. Besides it could give problems." Kate said.
"Like we don't have enough already." Ducky said.
"Can we all just calm down for a moment." Gibbs said who was getting frustrated.
Tony laughed. "Yeah not going to happen. I will be calm when we got him and he...!"
Suddenly Gibbs phone went off. "Who is it??" Tony immediately asked and almost took the phone out of Gibbs hands.
Gibbs held his hand back. "It's my phone. And I would know if you let me answer it." Gibbs said as he gave him a look. Tony backed off a little and looked nervously at Gibbs who answered the phone. The others walked closer and were listening intensely at the conversation.
"Mmm... ahah... I understand... okay sir... thank you sir... I will let you know.." Gibbs said and hang up. Gibbs stared at Tony for a moment.
"Well Jethro what did he say?" Ducky asked.
Gibbs took a deep breath and looked at Tony while telling them this. "They found him. But he did not surrender when agents came into his house. There was a big fight and he shot an agent. They fought back."
"He is dead?" Abby asked.
"So it didn't matter if we did it or other agents did. He would still die." Tim said.
"So it over?" Kate asked confused.
Gibbs stared at Tony and Tony looked at him. "He is not dead is he?" Tony asked softly.
"He is not? Jethro?" Ducky asked impatiently.
"He is in interrogation room 1. He is wounded." Gibbs said.
"How is the agent?" Tony asked Gibbs softly.
"Flesh wound. He is in the hospital to get stitches."
"So what now?" Abby asked.
Gibbs took another deep breath. "Tony, the director is giving you an option. He normally would not do this but because it is this big he is giving you this choice." Tony looked at him questionable.
"We are officially off this case. He is asking you if you would like to watch. You are..."
"The victim" Tony said softly.
"Remember it's your choice. You don't have to. But whatever you decide I will be with you." Gibbs said as he looked at him.
"Maybe this can give you closer." Kate said kindly.
Tony thought for a minute. He took a deep breath. "Let's go. Time to finish." Tony said and walked to the elevator. Gibbs quickly followed him.
———————————
"Agent Fornell and the Director are doing the interrogation? Why?" Tony asked in disbelief as he looked through the glass. He was shocked to see his father after 10 years.
"Fornell is here because of your history and the director because you're his agent. But they are here mostly because they care about you Tony." Gibbs said as he put a hand on his shoulder. Letting him know he is not alone.
"It's weird to see him after all those years. He is becoming old." Tony said softly. He wasn't really listening to the interrogation. His father was just saying what he thought about Tony. He had heard that all before. It was nothing new.
"Not too old to haunt you still." Gibbs said quietly.
Tony listened for a moment to the interrogation. "He is still not taking his responsibility. It's always my fault in his eyes. If it's my fault why is he still looking? Why can't he leave me alone?" Tony asked himself.
"Because he is a sick son of a bitch. A dangerous sick animal." Gibbs said in disgust. He hated every word senior was saying about his son.
Tony looked at Gibbs for a moment. He never had seen Gibbs like that before. Tony looked back at his father and then back at Gibbs. Tony was so looking forward to this moment. His father in handcuffs. Agent Fornell and Director Morrow were getting angrier by the minute. Gibbs was getting angrier by the minute. And his father was not telling him anything new. It were the same stories over and over again. The only confession he made, that he didn't knew or heard before, was that he indeed used Jannis to get to him. He didn't like seeing Gibbs like this.
"I heard enough. I'm done." Tony said and opened the door of the observation room to walk away. Gibbs looked confused and quickly followed him.
"Hey wait a minute. Is this not what you wanted?" Gibbs asked.
Tony turned around. "It was. But getting you all so worked up isn't. I don't want to see that. What he is telling in there... I heard that all before. I felt that all before. I heard and have seen enough." Tony said quietly.
Gibbs stared at him for a moment. Tony had indeed enough. He could see that in his eyes. "Alright" he finally said. But before they could walk away the door of the interrogation room opened. Two agent stepped inside but were coming out quickly with DiNozzo sr between them. Agent Fornell and the director followed after.
Unfortunately DiNozzo sr saw Tony. "YOU! YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT!!" He shouts and tried to get a away. Agent Fornell, the director and Gibbs immediately blocked Senior's view of Tony.
"Enough! You have said enough! I won't let you talk like that to one of my agents." The director said.
Senior laughed. "Agent? That piece of shit can't be an agent. Are you telling lies again Anthony? Do they know..." Tony looked shocked.
"Enough. You lost the right to talk to him the moment you laid a hand on him" Gibbs said angry.
"He is my son unfortunately but I can speak to him whenever I want. I will treat him the way I want. Still nothing are you? You can't even speak."
Tony wanted to speak but Gibbs stoped him. "He is not your son. You are not even a father. You're an animal.."
"Who the hell do you think you are!! To speak to me like that! You choose those people now Anthony? They brainwashed you. You let your father get arrested for something he didn't do. Your own father. Your flesh and blood. Remember who you are Anthony. I am YOUR father. I will find you. I will always find you."
"You're mental." Tony said softly. He was also a little confused. His father just confessed what he did all those years and now he is saying he didn't do those things, but that I made that up.
"How dare you speak to me like that!!!" Senior said angry and tried to get away again.
"Okay that's enough you crazy son of a bitch. Take him away boys." Agent Fornell said and the agents dragged a shouting senior away. Tony was staring after them. The three older man looked concerned at Tony when he still didn't move or speak.
"Tony don't listen to anything he just said. Like you said he is mental." Agent Fornell said.
"He is not getting away with this. He is not getting out. If it is a prison or a psychiatric hospital, he is not getting away." The director said.
"I set this up... he says I set this up... I am brainwashed..." Tony said quietly.
Director Morrow and agent Fornell looked concerned at Gibbs. Gibbs held Tony's chin and turned his head so he was looking at Gibbs and not at the hall his father just walked through.
"Tony look at me. You are not brainwashed. You can't listen to anything he just said. Know who you are. Know who you can trust." Gibbs said.
Tony looked confused and shook his head. "I know I am not brainwashed! He said that. Not me. He said that because he was trying that for years! I always thought he was crazy and now... he is... I lived with that man for years. Was chased by him for years. He just confessed he stalked me for years. He knows things I didn't knew he knew."
"Wait a minute. What he said about being an agent. About telling lies... what do we know? Was that true what he said?" Agent Fornell said.
Tony's eyes widened before he got angry. "I am an agent. I am a fucking agent. And I am a good one. I owned that badge. Like you said don't believe what he just said." Tony said to Fornell dangerously.
Gibbs gave him a headslap and a firm look. "Take it easy." Gibbs said. If he was home he would spank his butt for speaking like that. No matter how high the emotions were you don't speak like that.
"Agent DiNozzo. I think this is enough for today. I suggest you take a couple of day off." Director Morrow said.
"You can't. Look I'm sorry okay. You can't suspend me." Tony said desperately.
"Directeur.." Gibbs begins.
"I can and I will but I will not suspend you. Tony a lot happend this past few days. You need time. You are taking a couple of day off. End of discussion. The same goes for the rest of your team agent Gibbs."
"But..." Tony begins.
"Take the time off kid." Agent Fornell said.
"You are calling me what Tobie?" Tony said playful.
"Hey that's..." Fornell begins.
Gibbs interrupt them. He took Tony by the arm and turned him around. "Time to go. I assume that everything will be handled properly and that I will be informed if something changed?" Gibbs asked both Fornell and Director Morrow.
"You will be notified agent Gibbs. But he will not coming out soon." The director said.
"Good" Gibbs said and leads Tony away to the tell the rest off the team. Time for healing and peace.
————————————-
Gibbs took Tony back to Stillwater. This was the place Tony could always be himself. It was also good to see his friends again after all what happened.
"That devious woman. All that play just to bring Tony back to his father. How could she do that? She has no heart at all. And I thought she was so nice. What must Ducky have thought?" Jackson said at the kitchen table. Gibbs was telling his father the story what happened while Tony was unpacking his bags upstairs.
"He first didn't want to believe it till he saw the evidence. He was pretty pissed and felt guilty but Tony talked him out of that. It's hard to believe if you knew someone for a long time, suddenly turned out to be a sadistic woman." Gibbs told him while drinking his coffee.
"No it can't be easy. How come no one knew that senior was so mentally unstable? And to let a kid live with him. Someone must have know?" Jackson asked.
"I was homeschooled for a couple of years. So no teachers. And then the house staff... well they got a big bonus if they wouldn't tell anyone. And well you know what happend with doctor Willis..." Tony said as he enters the kitchen and took an apple.
Jackson shook his head. "Some people I don't understand in this world."
"Yeah me no either dad." Gibbs said.
"And sportcoaches?" Jackson said suddenly. "Why didn't they say anything?"
Tony looked confused. "What sportcoaches?"
"The teachers. You know the once who taught you how to play basketball..." Jackson said.
Tony took one last bite of his apple before he puts it in the garbage. "On that kind. Oh no never had one. Learned that on the street." Tony said with a smile walked out of the kitchen to the garden.
Jackson looked shocked at his son. "Learned that on the street? Does he even know what that means?"
Gibbs stood up. "I am pretty sure he knows what it means. Run away when he was fourteen remember?" Gibbs said and walked out of the house to sit on a bench staring at the park on the opposite side of the road.
Jackson shook his head. That boy had lived a life, he thought. Good he was with his new family now.
Half a hour later Tony walked back inside. He was looking for his dad. "Grandpa have you seen dad?"
Jackson looked up from his newspaper he was reading. "I think he is still sitting on that bench outside. You know in the front of the store."
Tony nodded. He decided to bring a cup of coffee with him. Gibbs looked up when he saw a door open and Tony stepped outside.
Tony gave him the coffee and sat down besides him. "Thanks" Gibbs said and Tony nodded.
"We need to talk." Tony said seriously after a few minutes.
Gibbs looked confused. "Alright, what about?"
"You need to promise me something. But really promise me."
Gibbs stared at him. "Ookay." He said slowly.
Tony took a deep breath. "Promise me you will never look for him. Promise me you will never visit him and promise me you will never talk to him." Tony said fast and looked him in the eye.
Gibbs shook his head and looked really confused right now. "Why do you want me to promise you that? That man hurt you and I want to let him..."
"Yeah I know. But I don't want you! Now promise me." Tony was getting irritated with Gibbs not just accepting it.
"Kid I need a little more information why I should promise to that. Why don't you want me to see him? Why can't I speak to him?"
Tony looked down at the floor. "You were angry in the observation room."
"Damn right I was. He kept saying all those horrible things about you. Damn right is was angry."
Tony sighs. "Not just angry. You were also mad. I didn't like that sight of you. I don't want to see you like that again.." he said softly.
"You got scared of me?" Gibbs asked concerned.
"No... yes... no it's just...you were both there. My father and you. And then I saw the two of you. You were both mad. You both had other reasons but still. You were both mad. I have seen my father mad a lot of times enough for a lifetime. I don't want anymore furiosity and I don't want to see you mad or rattled because of him. I don't want him in my life. And I don't care what he says. I heard it all before. Don't let him get to you."
"Is that why you said you heard enough?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes. Now can you promise me?" Tony asked again and looked at him again.
Gibbs put an arm around his shoulder. "I promise you Tony. You know I will do anything for you. Just to make you feel safe and at home." Gibbs said and Tony gave him a hug.
"Thank dad. It means a lot" Tony said as he let go again.
They sat in silence for awhile. Both in thoughts. Gibbs was keeping his hand in his pocket. Holding something. He didn't knew if now was the right time.
Tony looked at his side. He was getting distracted by hearing Gibbs playing with something in his pocket. Tony stared at Gibbs. He was still looking at the distance.
Tony made a coughing sound to get Gibbs attention. Gibbs looked at Tony concerned. "Something wrong?" Gibbs asked immediately.
Tony shook his head. "I should be asking you that. What's in your pocket?" Tony asked curiously.
Gibbs smiled. "Something I want to give to you."
Tony looked up. "For me? Why don't you give it then?"
Gibbs laughed. "Not curious at all, are you?" Tony smiled and Gibbs gave Tony the envelope.
Tony looked at it and turned it upside down. "You have to open it if you want to know what is in it." Gibbs told him.
"Yeah I know. What is it?" Tony asked and looked at Gibbs.
"Open it and you will know. But remember you don't have to answer now."
Tony was now looking confused. "Alright now you are not making sense at all. You're right. I will just open it." Carefully Tony opened the envelope and start reading the letter that was in it. Tony's eyes were getting wider and wider while reading it. When he was finished he looked at Gibbs.
"You want to adopt me? Me? Now? Why?" Tony asked in disbelief.
"Well I kinda did already. You are my son Tony. We are a family. And now that I saw your father... I want to make it official. I want to be your father on paper. No one can take you away from me then. Your mine..." Gibbs suddenly had Tony in his arms.
"Yes yes. I want you to be my father." Tony said with tears in his eyes.
"And I want you to be my son. So we are going to do it?" Gibbs asked just to be sure.
Tony sat up again. "Can we? I mean I am an adult... my father..." Tony was becoming a little bit unsure now.
"I will take care of it. It shouldn't be a problem. I have a friend who is a lawyer."
Tony smiled. "Of course you have."
Gibbs ruffled Tony's hair when his father came outside. "Hey you two dinner is ready. Why are you both smiling?"
Gibbs and Tony looked at each other and stood up. "Come dad we have something we need to tell you." Gibbs said as they walked inside.
—————————————
"Leroy don't you need his father's permission to do the adoption. His father is still alive and well..." Jackson asked late in the evening. Tony was already in bed.
"No we don't need his permission. Tony is an adult now. So I only need his permission. His father has nothing to with it."
"Well that is good. So when will the adoption be complete?" Jackson asked.
"I send the forms in today and the lawyer is doing me a favor. So I hope soon." Gibbs told his father.
Jackson smiled. "That is a good friend you have. Is it weird to be a little excited to becoming a grandpa if you know you are already?"
Gibbs laughed. "Nope not at all. Soon it will be official."
——————————-
One week later Gibbs, Jackson and Tony were in the courtroom to complete the adoption.
"So Anthony. I understand you want to be adopted by Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I have read about your situation. Why do you want mister Gibbs to adopt you?" The judge asked.
"I never had real parents before who loved me. My father hurt me daily when I was young. Gibbs showed me what a real parent is and letting me know he cares about me. I want to be his family. I want him to be my father." Tony told the judge.
The judge nodded in understanding. "Mister Gibbs. Do you still want Anthony to becoming your son?"
"Yes. Tony is my son. I want it to be official." Gibbs said.
"Alright." The judge said and smiled. "Anthony DiNozzo jr you are now officially adopted by Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Congratulations father and son."
Gibbs held Tony in his arms while Jackson had tears in his eyes. The were family.
—————————————-
Two days later Simon, Josh and Gibbs decided to take bring the boys back to the woods again. But this time it was just to make some fun and to eat a little. They would not stay camping like the last time.
"So you and Tony seem happy." Josh said while they were walking. The boys in the front of them were joking with each other. That made the dad's smile.
"Yeah we are. We are in a good place right now." Gibbs said happy.
"And you weren't before? What happend?" Simon asked curiously.
Gibbs looked at them. They were his friends. Gibbs slowed down a little so the space between the boys and them was getting bigger.
"Okay." Josh said slowly. "What happened?" He asked a little concerned now.
"Tony's father found him. There was a mole to bring Tony to his father. Fortunately we were on time to find out who the mole was so we could stop Tony's father from finding him and arrest his father. So we were under a lot of stress." Gibbs told them softly.
"No shit." Josh said.
"So it was indeed not a good place before." Simon said.
"No we were not. His father was indeed a piece of shit. If I could get my hands on him..." Gibbs said and was becoming angry again by the thoughts.
"You didn't spoke to him?" Josh asked.
"A little bit but not much. Tony didn't want me to speak to him or find contact with him."
"Why not? After all he has done?" Simon asked and watch as the kids who jumped into the water.
"Tony saw me getting angry when his father confessed and said horrible things about Tony. Tony didn't want that. He don't want to see me rattled by him. He wants him out of his life. He made me promise that I would never look or talk to him again."
"His father was always angry. So he don't want that to happen with you." Simon said and sat down on the grass. The other followed.
"So why are you both in a happy place right now? I would have thought this would need some time to process." Josh asked.
Gibbs smiled. "I adopted Tony officially."
Both Josh and Simon looked at him confused. "Uhm I already thought you adopted him?" Simon said.
"By heart yes. But not on paper. We first needed to find his father." Gibbs said.
Josh clapped Gibbs in the back. "Well congrats daddy. You got your boy."
Gibbs laughed. "That I have."
"You know you are not good for my ego. You never officially adopted him and you still knew more about adopted children than I did." Simon said.
"No child is the same." Gibbs said as he watched the boy's getting out of the water and walking to them.
"No they aren't. So congrats and may happiness follow you both." Simon said as he raised his beer and smiled at him.
"Thanks Simon." Gibbs said and also raised his beer.
"Hey what do we toast to?" Bruce asked as the boys sat down and took a beer.
"Happiness." Josh said and also raised his beer.
Tony raised his eyebrow at Gibbs who winked. Tony smiled and followed the others. "To happiness" he said.
"To happiness" the others followed.
———————————————-
After they had eaten the boys decided to look into the forest.
"Glad you are back Tony?" Oscar asked.
"Yes. Missed you guys."
"Yeah it has been here too quiet for awhile." Bruce said laughing.
"As if I am the only reason for that." Tony said.
"Well... we hadn't that much excitement since the last time you were here." Oscar said.
"You two were also there the last time I was here." Tony said.
Bruce laughed. "You took us with you with your magnet of trouble."
"Oh ha ha." Tony said sarcastically.
"Oh I remembered something. There is a basketball contest at the end of the week. We need a player. Can you play? We really need you Tony." Oscar said.
"Oh yeah that is right. Say you will Tony. I will call your work if we need to so you could stay longer." Bruce said.
Tony laughed. "I will be there. I needed to take some leave.. so leave I am taking. We need to win after all."
"Great!" Bruce said.
"Yes we are going to win." Oscar said.
"Ah this is the place." Tony said suddenly as he looked at a tree.
"Place for what?" Josh and Bruce asked confused.
Tony smiled. "Our climbing contest. Or did you forget?"
"You are serious?" Oscar asked in disbelief.
"I didn't forget." Bruce said with a smile.
"Let's go then. Or are you afraid you will lose?" Tony asked with a smile. "Remember I got high expectations from you."
"Let's bring it on." Bruce said excited and stood in the front of the tree to get ready.
"Guys..." Oscar said as he looked up at the tree. "I don't think this is a good idea. We could also go to a climbing wall. You know where it is safe."
"What is the fun in that. This is nature." Tony said with a smile.
"Yeah you right. Come on Oscar are you climbing or do you keep talking?" Bruce said.
Oscar looked at the tree and sighs. Carefully he walked to it. "I really need to find new friends." He said quietly.
"Nah you like us too much." Bruce said with a smile.
"And your life would be too boring." Tony said. Oscar rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Alright. 3..2..1 climb!" Bruce said and they start climbing the tree.
They were getting as fast as they could so they would getting scratched here and there. Suddenly there was a cracking sound heard and Bruce lost his footing and yelled. He was now only holding on a branch. Tony and Oscar looked at him when they heard the yell.
"Uhmm Guys I need some help.." Bruce said carefully.
"See I said this was a bad idea." Oscar said as he start climbing to where Bruce was.
"Well see it on the bright side." Tony said as he was also climbing to Bruce.
"What... bright side?" Bruce asked.
"You learned how to hold a branch when you need to." Tony said with a smile.
"He got a point there" Oscar said as he reached Bruce.
"BOYS!!!!!" They suddenly heard angry voices from below. Their fathers found them.
Bruce looked down. "Yeah? You also got a point in there?" He asked Tony who now also reached him.
"Start climbing higher?" Tony asked and they laughed. Yeah it was good to be back in Stillwater.
~The End~