After getting over the shock and awe, and another full bottle of bourbon, Gibbs hadn't wasted any time trying to find his son. Using any and all favors he could and then some more, he had finally even taken time off from work. It was more than six months later when Gibbs finally found a lead, most likely cold by then, but he wasn't going to not follow it.

While the slimeball had been hard to track down, he at least now had a name; Anthony DiNozzo, a conman with many red flags under his name. The man used to be rich, before his assets had been frozen by the FBI more than twenty years ago. However, he disappeared five years ago and there was no information about a 'son'. As for DiNozzo's wife... Well, it was hard to tell since the man had a new one every few years, or less, and even more girlfriends.

Standing by the gates of a huge beach house, Gibbs glanced at the piece of paper in his hand. After the last known location of DiNozzo had been found in Hawaii, he'd let Abby dig out someone who could help him. Or rather, she had done it without asking and made Ducky give him the information. Not that he wanted it or even needed, but he didn't have the heart to tell her no, when she wanted to help. Plus, Ducky could be very persuading if he chose to be. It would be interesting to have Ducky do some of their interrogations; few threats of bodily harm in medical terms, with a sweet smile and calm voice, were far more effective than you'd think.

"May I help you?"

Gibbs turned his head toward the voice and saw a man staring at him from behind the gates. "I'm Jethro Gibbs. I called before. Are you—?"

"No. He's late. He said you can wait inside."

Blinking at the rude tone, Gibbs allowed the man to show him inside the luxurious building, although only after Gibbs showed his ID.

"Don't touch anything. He will be back soon."

Raising his brows, Gibbs wandered around the living room. He was doing well with the 'don't touch anything ', but then after almost an hour had passed, Gibbs was 'starting' to feel his level of frustration rise and the level of his patience had dropped dangerously low. He needed some coffee. Now. He never waited; he was the one who made others do it. And he at least usually had good reasons for that, like making the criminals wait in the interrogation room, or make his ex-wives and Fornell come to him when he refused to pick up his phone.

Sitting on the couch, Gibbs looked at the time again and, with a frustrated sigh, he got up and walked past the grand piano in the middle of the room. He entered another room through the door, which he thought would take him out, but instead he found himself walking around the house, lost. How had he gotten the wrong door in the first place?

When he found himself in a big kitchen, Gibbs immediately made his way to the shiny coffee machine. Much to his frustration, since it was one of those fancy gadgets that cost a fortune, he couldn't figure out how the thing worked, no matter how many buttons he pressed or how much slapping and hitting he did. He swore irritably, and walked to the fridge, thinking that he at the very least deserved to get something to eat after all the waiting. However, inside the fridge was nothing but one bottle of water, one bottle of beer, and one old cheese. You'd think in a house this big, there would be something to eat.

"I don't keep any food in there. The cheese was left by a guest," a man's voice said, sounding amused.

Gibbs turned around, and his words died on his lips when he saw a young man in his twenties, green eyes sparkling mischievously and his tanned face full of laughter as he stared at his guest. Adult or not, to Gibbs, he looked more like a kid, or a puppy, with the youthful energy that was oozing out of him.

"All the food in this house is kept in the freezer." The kid walked to the freezer and opened it. It looked like it was filled with nothing but frozen pizza. While Gibbs himself wasn't one to care that much about his diet, he couldn't help but think how unhealthy it had to be, eating nothing but pizza... "You were hungry? And no, I don't eat only pizza, but I'm rarely home and when I am, I want to relax and not do any real cooking." When Gibbs stared long and hard, the young man shrugged. "It's hard to know what you think when you don't talk, old man."

"Hey," Gibbs grumbled.

The young man grinned and put a pizza in the oven, which was one of those fancier things that didn't need to be preheated. "Don't worry about it too much. You're Jethro Gibbs, right? You called me before." He held out his hand, and Gibbs hoped the other wouldn't notice how fast his heart was beating as they shook hands. He couldn't explain it, but from the moment he had seen those eyes for the first time, he had this strange feeling in his gut, which he'd never felt before, and then there was an odd feeling of longing and sadness he couldn't explain.

"You're Tony."

"That's me." The young man, Tony, crouched to look at the pizza in the oven. He was muttering something; in Italian?

"I don't think I heard your full name."

Tony glanced over his shoulder and smirked, showing a set of white teeth that stood out against the tan. "That's because I never gave it. I don't share it for security reasons."

"Security?"

"Don't give me that look. I'm a Private Investigator, a very good one, and during my career I may or may not have made a few enemies here and there. I kind of get out the worst in some people. Plus, I also help the feds out once in a while. Don't ask me why. Seems that you don't have enough capable agents of your own to do the hard labor. At least my paycheck is bigger than yours, so the joke is on you."

He hadn't known that... Gibbs grunted at the offered bottle of beer from the fridge. He'd much rather have some coffee.

Glancing at the coffee machine, dangerously close to falling on the floor, Tony made a face. "If you wanted some coffee, you didn't have to try to break it." Shaking his head and shooting an annoyed look over his shoulder, he walked to the machine. Pressing one button, it went on. "See? Doesn't take a genius to use it."

"Too many buttons," Gibbs grumbled, and the annoyed look on Tony's face turned into amusement again. "So you won't tell me your full name. What about age?"

Tony narrowed his eyes slightly, looking suspicious. "What's that got to do with you?"

Gibbs shrugged. He had to know...

"I'm thirty," Tony finally answered.

Gibbs felt a wave of disappointment hit him. The age didn't match. How had he gotten it so wrong? For a moment there he'd been so sure... But then again, that would have been just too good to be true, running into his son like this, and he didn't believe in luck.

"But this isn't about me. That girl who called before you, she told me you really need my help with something?"

Abby... "I don't really need it," Gibbs grumbled again.

"Really? Well, that's good. I'm not in the mood for any extra work anyway. So in that case, I can just go and get some sleep."

"Wait!" Gibbs reacted a little too quickly and loud. He hated to see that self-satisfied look on the young man's face.

"So tell me then, Jethro Gibbs."

Taking out an old photograph, Gibbs gave it to Tony, who looked at it with an unreadable expression. "Anthony DiNozzo. I'm looking for him."

"Really? What has he done this time that the feds need me to track him down again?"

Gibbs blinked and felt hope rise in him. "You know him?"

Tony snorted. "Know him? I could take you to him right now."

"What are we waiting for then?" Gibbs asked, already on his way to the door, completely forgetting his need for coffee. Tony, however, had not forgotten his pizza.

"As soon as I've eaten. Trust me, there's no hurry. He's not going anywhere."

Gibbs huffed, but finally sat down behind the small table in the kitchen. And with some coffee and pizza, he did feel less cranky, which Tony had to point out.

...

...

Walking to Tony's flashy red car, Gibbs stopped to stare at it.

"It's the Magnum Ferrari," Tony said proudly.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Gibbs studied the young man. "Why did you become a Private Investigator?"

"Are you kidding me? I always wanted to be like Magnum. You know, the TV series? I've got the job, the car, the life..." Tony smiled widely as his eyes wandered after a couple of women swaying past them, waving their hands at them. The smile widened even more. "...and I've got the girls. What more can a guy ask for? I'm living the dream, man."

Gibbs smirked. "No Hawaii shirts?"

"That's because I'm not Magnum, but when I grow up, I wanna be him. And please don't tell me that's all you know about Magnum, Gibbs?"

"I've seen some pictures once or twice..."

Shaking his head at the ridiculous thought, Tony started the car. If he thought that the Agent would be scared by his speeding, he was very wrong. If anything, the man looked the very image of calm, and the only thing missing was him calmly sipping some tea. Or maybe coffee. Coffee seemed more like it.

Tony took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on. Glancing at his passenger, he wondered what this man wanted from his father. Not that he was going to bail out the old man anymore. If the feds got him again, the old man could rot in prison for the rest of his life. As far as he was concerned, he had done his duty as a son far more than he had to. More than he should have. It was so ironic, like the universe was pointing the finger at Senior and laughed at him. The man had disowned him years ago and now that his only son was rich, Senior just couldn't stay away and even going so far as staying in Hawaii, ruining his beautiful dreams. Suddenly, the son he could never stand to even look at had become the best thing in the whole wide world. He had become yet another possible source of money for the old bastard... Maybe it was time to leave. He'd been living his childhood dream for a few years now. Maybe that was more than enough, and he shouldn't tempt fate.

Stopping the car in front of the house, which his father couldn't even afford, Tony looked at Gibbs. "You need anything else?"

"No. What do I owe you?"

Tony laughed. "Really? I didn't even have to do anything. Just tell me what he has done this time, and we're even."

Getting out of the car, Gibbs suddenly had a dangerous look on his face. Tony was starting to worry that this had been a bad idea to bring the man, who had in his eyes the look of someone with the intent to kill, to see his father. As much as he wouldn't care if Senior was locked up for good, he was still the only family he had. "Gibbs..."

"He stole my son."

Tony froze. "He what?" Of all things Senior could come up with, this had to be the lowest. Whenever he thought the man could no longer surprise and shock him...

"Either he gives me some answers or he will pay. Actually, he's going to pay either way." Gibbs walked away without a second glance, leaving Tony sitting there.

Tony held the steering wheel with white hands. A moment later, he ran after Gibbs. If it was all true, then he couldn't let the man near his father, and Senior owed some explanations. He also felt the begging of a guilt as he wondered, could he have done something to stop his father..?

...

Gibbs kicked the front door open and entered the house. Walking through the house, he slammed open every door that came across him. "DiNozzo! Come out!"

One of the doors opened, and a young woman peeked out, holding a bathrobe over her naked body. "Who are you?"

"Where is Anthony DiNozzo?"

She looked nervous. "He... Ah... He left somewhere few hours ago, in a hurry."

"Where!?" Gibbs growled, and the poor woman broke down under the infamous glare in less than a second.

"He... Someone called him... He told the feds had found him and... and that he had to go before they would come."

Gibbs swore. He probably was 'the feds'. Someone must have warned the slimeball. What else could it be?

"You'd be surprised how often one of your people come after him. It doesn't have to mean this is about you," Tony said dryly behind him.

Gibbs turned around, furious. "You told me he'd be here! Did you warn him off?!"

Tony held his hands up, with the sunglasses dangling from his fingers. "Wasn't my doing. Calm down, or I won't help you find him. Trust me, if you want to find him so badly, you are going to need me."

With much difficulty, Gibbs swallowed his fury. "Let's get going then!"

Shaking his head, Tony glanced at the wide-eyed woman. "Do you always make women cry?"

Gibbs stormed out of the house. Tony followed him, muttering something in Italian again.

Sitting in the car, he was shocked by the head-slap the old man delivered before joining him. "Why did you do that?"

"Don't speak in Italian in front of me. You talk about me, talk in English."

Rubbing the back of his head, Tony grinned. "Why? So you can slap my head when I speak about you?"

Gibbs looked at him like he'd just said the most obvious thing.

"Think I'll stick to Italian..." Tony muttered and then turned serious as they left the house. Putting the sunglasses back on, he drove on the highway.

"You know where to go?"

Tony smiled tightly. "When he can't use the public transportation, and he's in a hurry, there's only one place he'd go to... I hope you're ready for a little road trip."

Gibbs grunted. He didn't care if it took the rest of his lifetime, as long as he got his hands on DiNozzo.

...

...

"You sure you know where he is?" Gibbs asked as they sat down in a small coffee shop for a break, which he didn't need. But apparently the younger man 'needed his sugar' or he'd go 'nuts'. In his own words.

Looking annoyed, Tony glared at him. "I told you to just trust me. He doesn't have too many other options, not without money. I have a cousin who lives where we are going. It's the only place he can go to. Those two used to be such big buddies when I was a kid, and I'm pretty sure even after that."

Gibbs looked at him with narrowed eyes and suspicion. "You're related to DiNozzo?"

Tony made a face. "Not exactly... It's not important. All you need to know is that we're not close. He destroyed my life and now that I'm finally doing well, he's been trying to do it again. We're not friends, so don't worry about it."

Staring at the young man, who was calmly sipping his 'coffee' with a fancy name, Gibbs frowned. To tell him not to worry made him worry. Sure, the boy was not his problem and all that mattered to him right now was finding DiNozzo and finding out what he did to his son, but still... Looking at Tony brought all kinds of mixed feelings, which he didn't have time to dwell on. And he felt guilty, since any fatherly feelings should be for his own son.

"Whatever you are thinking, stop it. You're not going to get the answers by staring a hole into my head."

Gibbs shook his head, picking up his cup of coffee. "Just wondering where my son is and what DiNozzo did to him."

...

Staring at the man, who suddenly looked much older than he was, Tony felt sorry for him. He sometimes forgot that not all parents were like Senior. "I'm sorry. Of all the things he's done, I would have never thought the old man would take someone's child. Had I known, maybe I could've done something about it, I don't know."

Gibbs frowned and looked at him oddly. "Just help me find him, and then maybe I'll get my answers."

"That's what I'm here for." It was all he was good for anyway. Either someone wanted to use him for his skills or then use him for his money. Sure, he had his looks, which got the ladies with or without the money, but that kind of 'love' was hollow and no matter how much he tried filling his life with things, nothing was enough. It was like a huge part of him was lost, and he couldn't find it no matter how hard he tried. He didn't even know what he needed, so that he'd at least know what to look for.

"What's your story?"

"Huh?" Tony blinked, having for a moment forgotten where he was.

"What's your life story."

Tony smiled. "Nice try. Not sharing."

"I told you about my son."

Rolling his eyes, Tony thought about it for a moment. "I was an only child. Mother left when I was a few years old. Turned out she was only after my father's money; the irony... When he lost his money, she left. I wish she'd have taken me with her... I left home as soon as I could, made a life of my own, fulfilled my big dreams and now have more than most people could even dream about. Even have some money now."

Gibbs stared, his coffee forgotten for a moment. "Your father. He ever... hurt you?"

"No!" Tony was startled, and he laughed nervously. "No. No, he didn't. He just—ah—well, he kind of never was there. I mean, he never beat me up or anything. He didn't even want to touch me with his own hands."

Gibbs looked up sharply at that.

"Oh, hey. Look at the time. We should get going if we don't want to risk giving the old man time to escape again." Tony stood up. He felt nervous and didn't know why. It had to have something to do with the way the man kept staring at him; there was something so unnerving about those eyes.

...

Only the need to get to DiNozzo was what made Gibbs agree. In a normal situation, he would've made Tony to sit back down and make him spill out the truth. His imagination was already running wild and, for some reason, felt the need to know he was wrong about the abuse Tony clearly was in denial about.

The rest of the drive was spent in silence. With Tony hiding behind his sunglasses again, Gibbs couldn't help but feel the need to take those things and break them.