Hoping

Jethro regarded him over the rim of his glasses. "Ok, well, the answer is you are still on restriction, the punishment will not change, and I will not keep discussing it. It's late and I'm very tired. I want you to go get settled- you need to be in the bed right now instead of up talking."

Tony rolled back over and looked at his dad with concern. "I got it, Dad. I'm not arguing."

Jethro smiled in reply and the look was one filled with pride. Tony was a fantastic kid, and a great son, and the teen was right- he did have good looks and a great personality, and as a parent, Jethro knew that he had hit the jackpot with his child. Softening a bit, he asked, "Did you have a good time tonight, Anthony?"

Tony propped himself on an elbow and winked, "She had me at hello, Daddy." Seeing Jethro's puzzled look, he clarified, "It's from Jerry Maguire, Dad, a great movie with Renee Zellweger and Tom Cruise. The line, I mean, is from that movie."

"I see," his father responded, leaning down to brush back Tony's bangs. Tony responded by scooting so that his head was in his father's lap.

He looked up suddenly and regarded Jethro with a serious expression. "Dad, I want to ask you something I have been considering, though. You know I'm seventeen now, and just about to go to college..."

"No," Jethro interrupted, shaking his head firmly and resting his hand against Tony's chest. "I'm not extending your curfew because you are about to go to college. In fact, I am not going to extend it when you actually go to college, either. There is absolutely nothing you need to be doing, or should be doing, after one o'clock in the morning. I will not change my mind. So save your breath on this one."

"That's not what I was going to say, but you know what, Dad? When I have a kid I'm going to let him stay out as long as he wants when he is seventeen 'cause he won't have a curfew..."

"That sounds negligent, and a surefired way to guarantee an irresponsible child. Get to your point, though. I don't think the purpose for your speaking is your future offspring."

Tony gave his dad one of his megawatt smiles. "No, that's just an aside." He stayed silent several seconds and gathered his thoughts, then reached up and rubbed his father's cheek. "Dad, what I actually wanted to say was, would you support my decision and give me your blessing if I decided to go into law enforcement when I'm all grown?"

Jethro's immediate reaction was one of shock. He was definitely not expecting that law enforcement was an option his son would find interesting enough to pursue. He swallowed and silently counted to ten before he answered the question carefully. "Law enforcement- where did that come from? You've always wanted a career that revolved around sports, Tony. I don't think you've ever really mentioned law enforcement."

"Well, now I'm obviously getting older and wiser, Dad."

"That is debateable. However, would you honestly want to be in a field like your dad? I'm an NCIS agent, as you are well aware, and that's law enforcement for the Military- for the United States Navy."

"I know that, Dad, I know exactly what you do and how you do it. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about this for the past several months. Here's the deal though, my precious parent. I want to be like the man I admire the absolute most in the world." Sitting up abruptly, Tony leaned over and hugged his father, then slid off the bed. "You are that man. I respect you, and I love you. Night, Daddy," he called out, leaving his father's room to go to his own, not waiting for his father's response.

Jethro shook his head in disbelief and pride, watching his child disappear across the hall to his room. Tony's suggestion had blindsided him, and he needed some time to process the information. This had turned into the late night to top all late nights!