*Warning Violence*
He closed the back door carefully, making sure it didn't make sound, not even letting the latch catch. He sighed in relief when it was secure, leaning against it and looking watchfully through the kitchen.
"Tony?"
Stifling his cry of surprise, Tony stood at attention before he registered the voice. Miguel was poking his head out of pantry, holding a twenty pound bag of flour with a large rip down the front, giving his dark warm skin a strange powdery cast. Tony gulped and focused on Miguel's bright red nightshirt poking out from his apron, trying not to think about his dream and shadows with that same quality skin.
"Are you alright mi niño? What are you doing here this late? Where did you get that coat?"
Tony bit his lip and stepped forward, maneuvering around the kitchen.
"Miguel? It's th-th-three in the m-morning? What on Earth are you d-d-doing?"
Miguel leaned against the pantry wall and regarded Tony intensely.
"Your father brought home a...lady friend and wanted refreshments. I was dragged out of my bed to prepare something 'catering to their delicate tastes'. Pretencioso bufóns. Now what are you doing?"
Tony looked down and shuffled his feet.
"I w-was in the park. I fe-fe-fell asleep."
Miguel dropped the bag of flour, oblivious to the mess now scattered across the floor. He rushed across the room and picked up the boy, putting him up on the counter. He hurried over and pulled the cord by the pantry calling Mayer and turned back to Tony. With frantic movements he began to check the boy over, watching for new injuries, ignoring old bruises and sore spots, careful not to bump anything he knew Tony was careful with. After he established there was no new injuries he began shouting a mile a minute while his hands started moving in a language all their own. Tony tried not to smile at the Spanish rant, Miguel had been in America for so long that English words were scattered through the Spanish curse words. Tony was always amazed at Miguel's ability to multi-task with his words, especially when it came to reaming him out for doing something he deemed "Stupid" or "Dangerous". Apparently when he was angry, one language just didn't cut it. Miguel was kind of special like that.
Mayer arrived in the middle of this, tying his bathrobe around himself, his gray hair going in several different directions and looking completely frazzled. He looked over at the man ranting in Spanish and waving his hands before turning to Tony in confusion. Not noticing the butler's appearance, the chef continued to rave, marching over to the fridge and pulling the makings of pancakes from it.
Mayer slid to Tony's side.
"Do you know what he's saying?"
Tony shrugged.
"I sp-sp-speak Italian, not Spanish, b-b-but I think he said I s-s-scared him. Or s-s-something like th-that. I'm also pr-pretty sure he s-said if I ever d-d-d-do someth-th-thing th-that st-stupid again, he'll k-k-kill me himself. I do-don't think you w-want me to r-repeat anything else I understand."
Mayer's eyes widened as he looked between the cook and boy. Miguel still hadn't noticed the other man, and there was dark amusement shining in Tony's eyes at the man's anger. If there was anyone in this house he wasn't scared of, it would be Miguel, with Mayer as a close second. The two of them couldn't hurt anyone, especially not him. But still, death threats...that was some level of caring.
Mayer cleared his throat drawing Miguel's attention. Turning to the butler, the man continued to shout in Spanish. The butler drew himself up, his British accent making his words sound harsh and clipped.
"Quiet man, you'll disturb DiNozzo and that bimbo and then it will rain on all our heads. Now what is the matter with you?"
His words heavily accented in his fear, Miguel spoke.
"Apparently our young man here went to the park tonight and fell asleep there. He just now got back."
Mayer turned to Tony, his face blank with shock.
Tony sighed and rolled his eyes, rubbing his forehead with weariness.
Here we go.
"Anthony….is this true?"
"Ye-ye-yes but I wa-wasn't alone."
Mayer and Miguel spoke in unison.
"What?"
"Mr. Gi-Gi-Gibbs was there again."
Miguel looked over at Mayer who relaxed slightly. He shook his head slightly and Miguel let out a breath. If Mayer trusted him, then he supposed that would work. For now.
"Why was Agent Gibbs there?"
"He d-d-d-didn't say. It was n-n-nice though. We ta-ta-talked about Doctor Who and my mother and he didn't la-la-laugh at me or make f-f-fun of me. He's n-n-nice to me. He let me k-k-k-keep his coat when it was c-c-c-cold. I think he's m-m-my friend."
"Your...friend."
Tony nodded enthusiastically then turned worried eyes to the men.
"Don't wo-wo-worry, I c-c-can have him be my f-f-f-friend with you two too. I've n-n-n-never had three friends be-be-before."
Mayer and Miguel exchanged sorrowful glances over Tony's head, seeing the boy's joy over having three friends, two of which were paid staff and one was a officer of some sort that they knew nothing about. Miguel sighed and flipped a pancake while Mayer ran a hand through Tony's messy hair, pulling a leaf from the tangled brown.
"We're not worried Tony. You can have lots of friends, we're happy for you."
Tony gave his grin up to the man, and sighed when he saw the pancake Miguel was drenching in blueberry syrup.
His favorite.
Even angry and worried out of his mind, the man was still going to feed him.
Tony grinned ruefully and took the pancake, thanking both men for their concern.
Munching quietly, the boy soaked up the company of the two older men, listening to them take advantage of the unexpected meeting to plan the menu for the following week. It was familiar and safe as his father would never normally demean himself to enter the kitchen, especially with a woman in the house.
Unfortunately this was not a normal night.
He was nearly half way through his pancake when the kitchen door swung open and his bite caught in his throat.
A blond woman with dark brown eyebrows stood in the door way, her silk night gown hanging off kilter, showing more than any eight year should ever see. DiNozzo senior stood behind her, his hands on her waist. He laughed until he looked up, spotting Tony. His smile died and his face turned dark, angry. Tony blinked and looked down at his plate, hoping his father would just keep moving.
Leave me alone. Please just this once, leave me alone.
The woman stumbled further into the kitchen, slurring her words.
"Who's the kid?"
Miguel looked at Mayer with worry in his eyes. Senior was not going to be happy about this. The man's fists were tightening, going white with strain.
Mayer sighed and moved to stand near Tony, who was hoping if he stared at his feet hard enough they would disappear taking the rest of him with them but he was having no such luck.
"This is Anthony jr. Master Anthony's only son."
The fake blond's jaw swung open in surprise. She swiveled to look at Tony's father.
"You told me you didn't have any children."
Tony winced but stayed silent.
Anthony didn't reply.
"Mercer!"
"Mayer m'am. What can I do for you?"
"I want my things, I'm leaving."
"Ashleigh wait!"
The woman stormed out of the kitchen, Senior following, tossing a glare over his shoulder at his son.
The boy flinched at the blatant hatred in his eyes.
Tony gave a quiet sigh and slid off the counter, abandoning the rest of his pancake.
"Tony… I'm sure he-"
Tony raised a hand and cut him off.
"It's okay M-M-Mayer. Sometimes I w-w-w-wish he didn't have k-k-kids either."
With that he slipped out the door and headed to his room.
Mayer and Miguel looked at each other with knowing looks before Mayer went chasing after DiNozzo and the woman. Watching his friend leave, Miguel looked down at the half eaten pancake and sighed.
Looks like he had a mess to clean up.
Tony stood in his room, knowing his father was going to show up there eventually.
He knew better than to try to hide.
If his father had to look for him…
It was better to just wait for him.
He didn't have to wait long.
His door swung open and then slammed shut with a echo that vibrated throughout the entire mansion.
"You worthless little b*st*rd! How dare you? I had her right where I wanted her and then you have to show up and ruin everything, just like you always do. Just like you ruined your mother. Well I won't let you ruin me."
He grabbed Tony's arm and gripped his shirt, when he noticed the coat still wrapped on his shoulders. He growled and jerked it off of him, shoving the boy to the ground. He held the coat in the air, staring at it like it was a living thing, a living thing he was disgusted to touch.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
Tony's eyes widened. Good news- his father was now distracted away from his latest girlfriend. Bad news- he wasn't going to be happy he was hanging around Mr. Gibbs.
If he told who's coat that was, he would get Mr. Gibbs in trouble. Being in trouble with his father was a horrible thing and he didn't want that for Gibbs. He had been so nice to him, he wasn't going to turn him over to his father.
He wasn't.
Tony clenched his jaw and looked up at his father from the floor with defiance, for perhaps the first time in his short life.
Roaring in rage Sr. kicked out and caught his son in the ribs, sending him flying back and crashing into his wardrobe. Tony slid to ground, dazed and flinched back when he saw his father come charging at him. His father grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and shook him, hitting him against the hard wood of wardrobe over and over again.
"Where did you get the coat Anthony? What have you been doing?"
He was silent.
"I should have ended this the moment I found out your mother was pregnant. You have done nothing but cause trouble since the day you were born! Your mother didn't want you and neither did I, why would we want you? A pointless, unloved, pathetic mess who can't even get a full sentence out. Your mother couldn't handle having a waste like you as a son Anthony, that's why she killed herself. You drove your mother to suicide, it is your fault she is dead."
Tony bit his lip so hard it bled.
"Why were you in the kitchen Anthony?"
Can't tell about the park. Can't tell about Gibbs. Can't get Miguel or Mayer in trouble.
Tony whispered past his aching jaw.
"I w-w-went to ask ch-chef for a p-pancake."
"Didn't I tell you to stay in your room the rest of the weekend?"
"Y-yes."
"Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?"
"Y-yes."
"Did you disturb me?"
"Y-yes, I'm sorry fa-fa-fa-father."
Sr. snorted.
"No you're not. Not yet. Tell me- who's coat that is Anthony?"
Tony clenched his jaw, his message clear. If he got in trouble for being stupid then so be it, but he wasn't taking Mr. Gibbs down with him.
I won't.
Tony heard a familiar sound but didn't open his eyes to acknowledge it. He could feel his father standing over him and the sound of leather hitting his hand.
"Last chance Anthony."
He squeezed his eyes closed tighter, and stayed silent.
No.
"Worthless."
Xxx
Someone was in his house.
Gibbs lurched to his feet and went for his gun.
It was nearly four in the morning, who on earth would be in his house?
"Jethro?"
"Ducky?"
The doctor came down the basement stairs and settled himself on the floor next to Gibbs.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"You seemed rather distraught over the phone my friend and I couldn't settle myself. You follow your gut Jethro, mine told me to come to you."
Gibbs quirked a smile that faded when he remembered why he had called Ducky in the first place.
The two sat in companionable quiet for a short time.
"I think you need to break your constant silence and talk to me my friend. I cannot read your mind."
Gibbs leaned his head against the wall.
"I just spent the past few hours holding a child who had to sneak out to a park at midnight just to find some peace and quiet. Tony..."
Gibbs sighed and picked up one of the papers scattered on the floor next to him, handing it to the man.
Ducky took the paper and found himself reading an ER report for the mysterious boy Gibbs had mentioned.
"Oh...Jethro..."
"I don't know what I'm doing Duck. I want to get the kid out of there, but I have absolutely no plan past that."
"I don't really think you are required to Jethro. The boy will be the responsibility of either the state or other relatives."
Gibbs shook his head.
"His father is all he has. No one else."
"Then he will become a ward of the state I imagine."
Gibbs growled.
"Over my dead body. Kid's been through enough, last thing I'm going to let happen is him get shuffled from house to house for the next ten years. He needs a home, a family, he needs me."
Gibbs blinked and looked over at Ducky in shock who had a self satisfied expression.
"That's what I thought. He does need you Jethro, and I wager, you need him too."
Gibbs put his head in his hands.
"I have nothing to offer a kid Duck."
Ducky put his hands on his shoulders.
"On the contrary. You can provide a home, safety, peace of mind, and if you gave yourself a chance, I do believe, the father he needs."
Gibbs looked up, sorrow in his eyes.
"I can't be a father again, Duck."
Ducky chuckled softly, his face full of compassion.
"Oh Jethro, you never stopped being a father. I think you'll find that you may be answer to prayer where young Anthony is concerned. Give yourself and the young man a chance Jethro. You have so much to offer, will it hurt you to give to someone who has nothing?"
Gibbs sighed and opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone.
"Gibbs….yes it is. What? Is he… No I'll be right there."
Gibbs jumped to his feet and rushed to the steps.
"Jethro?"
Gibbs screeched to a halt.
"Ducky, come one!"
Ducky grabbed his coat and chased after his friend.
"What's going on?"
Gibbs fought to get words out of a tight throat.
"I may be an answer to prayer Ducky, but I'm too late. That was the hospital. Tony is in the emergency room. His father just tried to kill him."
…
"Jethro….Jethro...JETHRO!"
"What Donald?"
"I will put up with your speeding, lack of driving courtesy and general disregard for traffic rules, but you just ran a red light and almost caused a traffic accident! It will do Tony no good if you kill yourself before reaching him!"
Gibbs growled but eased his foot off the accelerator the slightest bit.
"Duck don't you get it? It's already too late. I hesitated instead of following my gut and getting him out of there and now…"
He slammed his foot down again.
Ducky sighed and shook his head, holding tight to the panic bar above his head.
"Jethro...this isn't your fault."
"The hell it isn't."
"Jethro..."
"Ducky… I let him walk back there, and I knew I knew what his father was, what he did. How am I any better than those cops who sent him back? How can I ever ask him to trust me? This is all my fault."
"Oh Jethro, you can not blame yourself. There was nothing you could do. If you took the boy then, he would have been sent back and you would have been able to do nothing. The hospital called you for a reason, the boy must have requested you. There is still a chance to fix this."
Gibbs swung into the hospital parking and was half-way to the door before Ducky even had his seatbelt off. Entering the ER with a burst of energy, he rushed to the front desk.
"Anthony DiNozzo Jr."
The woman gave him a measured look and began to type, but before she could answer him, a tall dark man stepped forward and spoke with heavily accented words.
"Mister Gibbs?"
Gibbs spun and looked at the man for a brief before stepping forward.
"Special Agent Gibbs. Who are you?"
"My name is Miguel, I am a friend of Tony's. You are the Gibbs he was telling me about? The policeman?"
Gibbs moved towards the man, and then noticed the butler from the other day standing behind him.
"I'm a special agent, NCIS. Are you the one that called me? Where's Tony?"
Miguel waved towards the double doors and Mayer stepped forward.
"We called you, Tony had your card with him and he spoke so highly of you, we hoped that you would be able to...the last time we spoke to police they didn't...he trusts you, that was good enough."
This wasn't clearing things up.
Ducky rushed in and caught sight of Gibbs and the men.
"Jethro?"
He turned to his friend and in a frustrated tone asked-
"Duck, until I know what happened I'm declaring Tony in the protective custody of NCIS and as our medical examiner, find out what where he is and what is going on. You two come with me and tell me what the hell happened."
Gibbs stepped to a quiet corner of the room with Mayer and Miguel close behind him while Ducky began to speak to a nurse.
"The story-now."
Miguel looked to Mayer who sighed and looked at the window.
After a brief beat of silence where Gibbs was tempted to tear the men apart, Mayer began to speak.
"His father and his current mistress caught him in the kitchen. It caused a falling out between the two adults and the elder DiNozzo took his anger out on his son. We've seen a lot of things in that house, but we've never heard anything like that before. They were in his room for over a half an hour and then his father came back downstairs like he was lit on fire, dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase. He demanded a car be ready and then he left. I rushed up to the room to check on Anthony and…"
Mayer choked and closed his eyes unable to continue so Miguel picked up, his voice catching.
"I was right behind him and we found Tony on the floor. He did not wake up and...We brought him straight here and called you hoping you would help. We didn't know what else to do."
Mayer looked at Gibbs with pleading eyes as Miguel faded off.
"Agent Gibbs, you must understand. The police have looked at Mr. DiNozzo before regarding the treatment of young Tony and they did nothing but send him back. We tried to tell them what he does, what the child goes through but was to no regard. Anthony did what he does best, he charmed and bought his way out of everything, and Tony was returned. We barely kept our jobs, Tony was hysterical at the thought that we might be forced to leave him. Even when his father...he never acts like...he is a sensitive child, but he is not prone to tantrums. When he believed we were being let go, I thought… we were worried he might...we were very concerned for him. Tony had no one in that house except us. We were frightened that if we went back to the police and they did not believe us again, our card would be up. We couldn't leave Tony alone and we couldn't run away with him, that's kidnapping. There was no way to win. No way to stop him from getting hurt. Please agent Gibbs. Please believe us, please do not send him back to his father."
Gibbs studied both men and saw nothing but worry for Tony and fear that once again those that should protect him would send him right back to the lions den.
"He's not going back to his father. I promise."
The men both sighed in relief and collapsed into chairs. Gibbs looked around the room and saw that Ducky had disappeared into the double doors, which meant that he was making some progress.
Looking around the dismal waiting room, Gibbs clenched his fists and spoke to the men quietly.
"I'm grabbing some coffee, it's going to be a long night."
As he turned away he muttered to himself.
"And when I find DiNozzo, it'll be his last d*mn night."
Papa Gibbs is coming in full force now...