Tony set his phone down on Jimmy's desk and sank down the floor. It didn't hit him until after he had called Sherry with the test results that he was a father. More specifically a father with no idea what he was doing. He had just committed to raising a two-year old he had never met and only found out about a week ago. With almost no experience with kids other than the odd NCIS babysitting job and finding their dead bodies. It didn't help that Senior was his example of a father. The man who had abandoned him in a hotel room for three days and disowned him just because he wanted to actually make a difference in the world instead of being a suit. The man who literally only showed up when he needed something. He was always father of the year when he needed money, permission to marry again, or he had gotten himself into some form of trouble but he was never there when Tony needed him. His excuse for not calling his only son to make sure he was OK after his office was blown up. Was that he was on vacation and just didn't get around to it.
"Hey guys I have to get home to Breena. Tony here is Lea's phone number. She is Breena's cousin remember." Jimmy commented handing Tony a slip of paper.
"Thanks Autopsy Gremlin." Tony mumbled.
"No problem." Jimmy replied turning to leave.
"Go" Tony replied.
"Are you OK kid?" Gibbs asked.
"I can't do this." Tony replied.
"Yes you can." Gibbs assured.
"Boss I have almost no experience with kids that age. I have barely even met any that were still alive. I have no idea what I am doing." Tony argued.
"And you think I knew when Kelly was born? I got home when she was six months old. I had no idea what I was doing. I had even less experience with kids than you and mine was completely dependent on me to survive at least by two most kids can do somethings for themselves." Gibbs explained.
"Yeah but you had Shannon. I am all alone." Tony sighed.
"Actually I was pretty much alone. Shannon had pretty bad post postpartum depression after having Kelly. Joan came down for a while but we never got along and she took off as soon as I was in the door. Kelly was almost a year old before Shannon finally started to come around." Gibbs explained.
"Yeah but you had Jack as an example of a father. Look who I have." Tony replied.
"You have Senior as an example of a father but you have me as an example of a dad." Gibbs replied.
"I wish that you could have been part of my life all along." Tony sighed.
"Yeah me too." Gibbs replied.
"I should probably go and pick up Sadie now." Tony replied.
"I will come with you. We just have to make one stop first." Gibbs replied.
"Where?" Tony asked.
"We have to tell Leon. You know how strict he is about stuff like this." Gibbs replied.
"What if he is mad at me?" Tony asked.
"Who the hell cares what he thinks?" Gibbs demanded,
"Well uh..." Tony stammered.
"If he gets on to you about this. I will give him a piece of my mind." Gibbs grunted.
"Thanks" Tony replied.
Tony wanted to be anywhere else but standing outside of Director Vance's office. Waiting to tell him that he had a kid. That he had just found out about. What if Vance accused him of not really caring about Sadie? What if he went and told everybody. He felt his heart stop when the door to the director's office opened and he was ushered inside. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Gibbs following him inside.
"Good evening Agents Gibbs and DiNozzo. What is the reason for this meeting?" Vance questioned.
"Go ahead Tony." Gibbs whispered.
"I need uh some changes made to my records." Tony blurted out.
"Medical or personal?" Vance asked.
"Personal" Tony replied.
"OK what sort of information?" Vance questioned.
"First of all family." Tony replied.
"Family? I added your step-mom back in January. Her daughter too." Vance questioned.
"It's not like that director. You see I uh I have a daughter." Tony replied.
"I didn't know that Ziva was expecting when she left." Vance replied.
"It's not Ziva's. The mother is this girl I dated three years ago. She cheated on me and when she got pregnant she thought the baby was his. We used protection but it's only so effective." Tony explained.
"Are you stepping to be a part of the child's life?" Vance asked.
"No sir I am going to raise her. Her mother has never been a part of her life." Tony explained.
"Good for you. You said there were several changes that needed to be made. What else is there?" Vance asked.
"Change of address." Tony replied.
"What is your new address?" Vance asked.
"I am moving in with Gibbs." Tony replied.
"Excellent there is nothing wrong with raising a kid in an apartment but Gibbs's house needs a family living in it again." Vance explained.
"I agree." Tony replied.
"That's why I asked him to move in with me." Gibbs added.
"One more thing director I don't want anybody besides the three of us and Jimmy Palmer to know and Jimmy already knows." Tony explained.
"My lips are sealed." Vance assured.
After the meeting with Vance. Tony called Breena's cousin and asked about the toddler stuff. She told him that Jimmy had already her but she and her husband were at their daughter's soccer game but she had left the stuff on her front porch. It was just a bag of clothes, bedding, toys, books, and a car seat. They had a bed but had already given it away but Gibbs had Kelly's old bed. While the mattress wasn't great it would do for now. After they picked up the supplies and got the car seat set up in the back of Gibbs's car. They drove to the address Sherry had given Tony. When they got the apartment they were surprised to find there were no cars in the driveway but Tony could see a note hanging on the door. The two men climbed out of the car and walked up to the door. Tony took the note off and read it. When he saw what it said he could not help but choke out a sob.
"Tony I had to meet my girlfriends for drinks. Sadie is inside along with all her things. If she isn't gone by the time I get back I'm dumping her at the fire station. Sherry"
"What does it say son?" Gibbs asked.
"She just left her. She doesn't care at all." Tony replied handing Gibbs the note.
"You get the kid I am calling the police. I don't care if you are taking her in any way. This is not OK." Gibbs replied.
A/N I don't know why I always write about dysfunctional families I guess cause it adds drama. At least Tony and Gibbs care about Sadie. New chapter soon. Please review and thanks for reading.