Gibbs couldn't believe this was happening now. He knew that if Tony lost Jasmine, it would destroy him. Tony and Jasmine were both still asleep. Now would be the time to nip it in the bud. Ducky was sitting at his desk in the actual autopsy since his office was currently occupied.
"Duck, I have to go to the bullpen. Keep an eye on them." Gibbs said as he left.
Gibbs arrived at the bullpen. A Social Worker was standing there in the middle of the room tapping her foot impatiently. McGee and Ziva were hard at work ignoring her.
The Social Worker turned when the elevator opened up. She was shocked to see that Jasmine wasn't with him. "Where is the child?"
"Who are you?" Gibbs asked.
"I am Ms. Scott; I am Jasmine's social worker. I have to take her to a state home now that her father is dead."
"Jasmine has a brother Anthony. She loves him and he has been taking care of her for the last 3 weeks. I know she wants to stay with him." Gibbs argued.
"I'm afraid she can't. He isn't her parent."
"He wants her!" Gibbs growled.
"She can't. Now go get her so we can leave."
"The man you put her with broke her arm and would have abused her if her brother hadn't protected her. His death is the best thing that could have happened to her."
"Anthony had no other children when we gave him Jasmine."
"Wrong! He has an adult son that he abused for years before disowning him at the age of 12. He would have done the same to Jasmine."
"He was her father and only living relative." Ms. Scott argued.
"Give Tony custody." Gibbs demanded.
"I can't. We would have to do a background check and that would take time. We would have to take her in the mean time anyway."
"Fine, give me custody of her."
"Your job is too dangerous to care for a child. Who will look after her if you are away on assignment?"
"I have people who will love her and will look after her if I have to be away. I had already offered that her brother and she can stay with me before you showed up. I want her." Gibbs argued.
Tim and Ziva watched interested. They knew Gibbs would win. They didn't want to lose Jasmine either. She means the world to Tony and he is their family. They were so afraid when Tony kept showing up injured and then when he didn't show at all and they couldn't reach him. Fornell had come back and witness the conversation.
Ms. Scott didn't seem to be even considering it.
"You know Ms. Scott, I would advise you to give custody of Jasmine to him. It would make things so much easier for you after I advise your boss that you gave custody of a 7 year old to a man who is capable of child abuse." Fornell warned.
"And who are you?" Ms. Scott asked not the least bit concerned.
"Tobias Fornell, FBI." He answered showing her his badge.
Ms. Scott gulped hard. Someone from NCIS calling her boss doesn't carry much weight, since Anthony Senior isn't in their jurisdiction. But everyone, everywhere in the United States falls under the FBI jurisdiction. If he reports her, she could lose her job. Gibbs smirked sometimes it certainly pays to have friends in the FBI.
"Fine, I will give custody to you." Ms. Scott said giving in.
"To Tony." Gibbs responded.
"I can't do Tony; It has to be you or not at all."
Gibbs knows that Jasmine needs a parent and so does Tony. Tony is the son he never had and Tony has always needed him even though neither would ever admit to it. Maybe in adopting Jasmine he could adopt Tony as well.
"Agreed, but you stay out of our lives." Gibbs finally said.
"I can't do that. I have to look out for what is in the child's best interest."
"You weren't looking out for her best interest when you gave him to DiNozzo Senior. You gave her to him and walked away. Her brother witnessed Senior strike her in public because she had stopped to tie her shoes. For her to move on with her life; she needs to be with people she trusts and she doesn't trust you. The only good thing that came out of your mess is that she got to meet her brother. Fornell can keep an eye on things and report any problems to your boss." Gibbs responded.
Ms. Scott turned and walked away.
"Nice timing." Gibbs told Fornell.
"You are welcome." Fornell answered. "How is DiNozzo doing?"
"He is sleeping in autopsy. He will be in a wheelchair until his broken rib heals. Dr. Pitt is worried that the broken rib will puncture his lungs and he already has early stages pneumonia. He will be coming home with me. I am hoping that I can convince him to move in with me permanently. Senior has done a lot of damage to his children, especially Tony."
"How has he functioned so well with a past filled with nothing but pain?" Fornell questioned.
"He is strong; he wouldn't have survived if he wasn't. But while he heals I am going to let him know that he doesn't have to be so strong anymore. That I will take care of him and Jasmine."
"I am going to go, but we should get Emily and Jasmine together." Fornell informed.
"We will. Right now I am going back to autopsy to be with my kids. As soon as Brad comes with the wheelchair for Tony, we are going home."