Just a note so people aren't confused later on. This is before Hiatus, so no one knows about Shannon and Kelly yet. Keep reviewing, and feel free to message me with questions.
Two months later, Tony was at his desk, just hanging up from ordering some information on a murdered Petty Officer. He finished what Gibbs had wanted him to do and couldn't think of any info that McGee or Ziva hadn't covered. His eyes darted toward the backpack on the ground next to his desk, which held the baby books he had been studying. He was tempted to read them now, rather than at the coffee place he had planned on, but did not want to get caught by the team. 'Dinozzo reading baby books? Which one-night stand had he knocked up this time?' they'd think.
Just at that moment, McGee rounded the corner and tripped, stumbling into and upending the backpack. Books and papers fell out onto the floor around. "Geez Tony, I'm sorry, I tripped…" McGee began babbling apologies and he and Ziva, who had been behind him, began gathering up the papers.
"No you don't have to-"
" 'Your Baby's First Year'? 'Baby 4-1-1'? Why are you reading baby books, Tony? Something you're not telling us?" Ziva started teasing him, a little confused.
"Yeah, why our Petty Officer was killed, Agent David. Dinozzo, report."
'Saved by the Gibbs' Tony thought, as he started reciting the information he had learned about the dead sailor. When he finished he added, "And just for your information, Zee-vah, my young, cute and single neighbor" *wink* "is a nurse on night duty. She's pregnant and I offered to watch the kid when she's at work."
"Thank you for that valuable piece of information, Agent Dinozzo. I'm sure Petty Officer Stearns would be elated to hear that we're so close to solving her murder," Gibbs stated sarcastically, cutting off any reply Ziva might have had. His sarcasm, though well earned by the interruption, did not mean that the sharp edge behind Tony's voice slipped past him, though everyone else missed it.
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Though Gibbs let it slip that time, he watched Tony a little closer. One day, a month later, Gibbs was sanding the boat on a Friday night while he began a list in his head:
Spending more time at work
Less immature. Usually.
Gibbs smiled wryly at this one, thinking of his Senior Field Agent's antics.
Travels for doctor's appointments
Has books on baby care
Doesn't like questions about said books
The sander stilled under the Marine's hands. It was hard to believe it of Tony, but the famous gut was saying one thing- Tony was expecting a baby. The sander was left on a workbench as Gibbs grabbed a jacket and his keys, not bothering to change from his work clothes. If he was right in his belief in Tony's responsibility, he would be home tonight, rather than at a bar.
Sure enough, when Gibbs pulled up to Tony's apartment building, the light for his apartment was on. Three minutes later, he was banging on Tony's door. He heard the feet approaching, the stop and hesitation, and then the door opened. Tony raised his eyebrows, obviously surprised at seeing his boss at his door at ten o'clock on a Friday night.
"That bored, Gibbs?"
"Funny, Dinozzo."
"How did you know I wouldn't have a lady friend over?" Tony challenged, his eyes clouding.
"You gonna let me in or should we talk across your doorstep?"
Tony opened the door wider and Gibbs followed him inside. Off to the left was Tony's living room- a big screen TV surrounded by racks upon racks of movies. In front of him was the kitchen, which they proceeded into. "Want a beer, boss?" Gibbs shook his head and turned, looking down a hallway. One open door clearly was the bathroom; the closed one was probably Tony's bedroom. And at the end of the hall—
Gibbs strode toward the open door at the end and stood inside. A decrepit crib stood against the wall, bleak in its peeling white paint. A small blanket was thrown over the side, but other than that there were no cushions lining the inside. A sports mobile circled over the crib as a breeze caught it. A changing table was against the wall opposite. Other than that, the room was bleak and unpainted. "Gibbs…" Tony complained from in the hall. Gibbs turned and looked at him, then followed as Tony wordlessly walked back to the living room.
"You want to tell me what this is about, Tony? And why you didn't say anything?"
"Okay…now that the cat's out of the bag. About four months ago, a friend from college was in town. We were both drunk and lonely, and it- it made sense. We felt okay in the morning and we never thought about the fact that we hadn't used protection. I'm always very careful about it; I shouldn't have slipped! I don't know how it happened like this, but she came to me two months later and said she was pregnant. She can't find a job, is barely making rent, and has no one else. She wouldn't get rid of it and I couldn't let a kid of my responsibility get put up for adoption. So I told her I'd take the baby once it's born. I've been traveling to take care of her, bring her to the doctor's appointments. I'm gonna have to be a dad and I need to be--"
They sat for a bit, not saying anything, until Gibbs broke the silence and said, "Does that offer of beer still stand?"
They were back sitting on the couch, nursing their beers. Neither had said much, but Tony's face spoke volumes. Gibbs placed the beer on the table and put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Hey Dinozzo." Tony looked up at him, giving the rug a reprieve from the hole his eyes were burning through it. "What've I always told you?" The lost expression turned into one of confusion. "I've always got your six." Tony's face cleared into a smile at that and so Gibbs pressed on. "I can help you out; you don't have to be dealing with this alone."