Chapter 3

A couple of minutes later they drove through the gates to an estate that only could be described as a mansion, complete with a huge, beautiful park with vast, green fields, big gardens and beautiful oak trees that lined the road up to the house. They saw children everywhere, running around chasing each other, playing soccer, climbing trees, laughing and shouting like there were no troubles at all in the world.

"What kind of orphanage is this?" Tony asked as he looked around with a skeptic frown. "Is it for rich kids only?"

Gibbs laughed and shook his head.

"No, not at all", he said. "I've been told that the house and all the land surrounding it once belonged to this extremely rich old lady who loved children, and when she died, she wanted her house to be turned into an orphanage and donated all her money to help children in need. Some of the kids here have already had their fair share of bad experiences."

"You mean, like abuse?"

"Yes. Some have even been in the system for a while before they ended up here."

"So this is their last stop?"

"Only if no one is willing to adopt them."

"Well, it's a good thing then that we will do exactly that, then."

"It is, Tony. It is."

Some of the children stopped whatever they were doing and stared after the car. Others were trying to run alongside it, waving excitedly at the two men. Gibbs laughed heartily and waved back before glancing at Tony. The younger man was looking out the window on his side with his brow lightly furrowed, his eyes seemingly scanning the children he saw as if he was looking for someone. Gibbs sighed and put a hand on Tony's thigh, rubbing it lightly.

"Soon one of them will be ours", he said quietly.

Tony flinched and gave him a surprised look, and then a wide smile appeared on his lips. "Yeah..."

They parked the car on a small parking lot right outside the big house. It didn't take long before a horde of children ran over to the two men, followed more reservedly by one of their care takers, a young woman in her older twenties. The children stopped a few steps away and let the woman approach the two men alone while they whispered to each other and eyed the strangers curiously.

"Hi", the care taker said as she got closer and smiled brightly, holding out her hand. "You must be Mr. Gibbs and Mr. DiNozzo?"

"Yes, we are", Gibbs said and took the offered hand in his. "I'm Jethro Gibbs and this is my partner, Tony DiNozzo."

"Rose Thatcher", the woman introduced herself and shook hands with Tony as well. "I believe that you've been contacted by Mark Hansen. Is that correct?"

"It is", Gibbs said with a smile. "Why?"

"Well, he's asked me to show you to his office as soon as you got here, so if you please follow me, I'll take you to him."

Rose took the two agents inside the huge building and a couple of minutes later they were shown inside a small office. A middle-aged man with black, gray streaked hair and thick glasses was sitting behind the desk, going through some files. He was so focused on what he was reading that he didn't notice that he had company until Rose cleared her throat to get his attention.

"Mark, Mr. Gibbs and DiNozzo are here now", she said when he looked up and confusingly blinked at her.

"Ah, I see", he said when he noticed the two men. "Thank you, Rose."

Rose gave him a quick smile before she turned around and left the room. The social worker stood up from his chair and walked around the desk to greet Tony and Gibbs. The three men introduced themselves and then Mark returned to his chair and Gibbs and Tony sat down in front of it. They watched as Mark re-stacked his files before he leaned forward and looked intently at the two before him.

"So, are you excited?" he asked and smiled.

"Oh, yeah", Tony said with a grin. "I can hardly believe that we're even here."

"You better start to believe it, Mr. DiNozzo. Before you know it, you'll be holding your son or daughter in your arms. It's just a matter of time now."

"Please, just call us Gibbs and Tony", Tony said with a pained grimace. "None of us is really comfortable with being called 'mister'."

"As you wish", Mark said with a smile. "Then I insist that you call me Mark. Well, as you probably know, this orphanage is the last chance for many of our children, since it's also a group foster home. Some children have been shipped between foster homes a long time before they ended up here. Most of them have experienced things that no one should go through, and all of us who work here want all the children to come to a home where they will be loved and cared for, without being afraid to be abandoned again. Do you think you can provide all that?"

"We don't think so, Mark", Gibbs said with great determination in his voice. "We know so."

"Jet's right", Tony added. "Our child, whoever it will be, will always be safe and protected."

"I believe you, Tony", Mark said and leaned back in his chair. "I've read your files, and my guts tell me that you two are perfect parents for any of the children, and I always trust my guts.

Now, you're probably eager meet the children, so I'll just explain a few things before I take you to them. I'll let you interact with the children for a few hours and then we'll meet again to see if you've met someone you'd consider to adopt. Take your time. You can even spend the night here, if you want. One couple stayed here for an entire week before they connected with the boy that would be their son."

"Don't get me wrong", Gibbs said with a confused wrinkle on his brow, "but this isn't exactly how things are normally done when it comes to adoption. Is it?"

"No, Gibbs", Mark said and looked the old agent straight in the eyes. "It isn't. But it's how we do things here at Rainbow Orphanage, and we have discovered that it works pretty good. Do you want to meet the children now, or do you have any more questions?"

"We want to meet the kids", Tony said before Gibbs had a chance to open his mouth again.

"Good. Follow me, I'll take you to the park."

TBC