Chapter 3: The Note

McGee's P.O.V.

Everyone stared at Tony in shock. After learning what I had learned down in Abby's lab, this was the last thing I was expecting, especially today.

Ziva laughed nervously "Tony does not have a son. Besides, you are what, 14? I'm sure we would have heard if he had a son, right?" Ziva said, the uncertainty in her voice was laid down thick. You could hear the hurt in her voice. I looked back at Tony. He seemed shocked that Andrea announced it, but the look on his face told me it was the truth.

"What do you mean?" Andrea asked, but right away she knew the answer to her question . "you did not tell them about Alex? You did not tell your co-workers that you had a 14 and one half year old son?" Now it was Andrea's turn to look surprised.

"DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked calmly.

"Ya Boss?" Tony said quietly. Gibbs gave him a look that clearly said 'What is she talking about?' Tony sighed. "Boss I have a 14 year old son named Alexander Timothy DiNozzo (Alex for short). His mother, Diana, was my girlfriend about 15 years ago. She found out about Alex, figured I was to irresponsible, and broke it off. She named him Alexander DiNozzo, no middle name. About 4years age, for whatever reason, she decided to share custody. I was kind of upset that I wasn't told and didn't get to help name him, so I went to the court house and gave him a middle name…" He looked at me. "I named him after my best friend. And Alex has been living with me on and off ever since then.

Every one was quiet. I was shocked...Tony thought of me as a best friend. And of course now I had to tell him my news. Boy…this was gonna be fun. "So…um…let me get this straight. You have a 14 year old son that you've known for 4 years and you named him after me?"

"Yeah…I guess that's right." Tony said quietly…too quietly for Tony.

"And this son of yours, Alex, has been dating my daughter?" I asked him.

"Yeah he has been dating your daughter…" Tony froze, as if realizing what he just said. "My son is dating your daughter?"

"McGee has a daughter?" Ziva and Abby said simultaneously.

"Guys…I'm right here…seriously! Quit yelling! Headache remember?"Andrea said (while pointing to her head), speaking for first time in a while. Gibbs looked at me and he seemed to realize something.

"McGee! My office, now!" I reluctantly followed Gibbs into the elevator.

Gibbs P.O.V.

We walked in. I hit the emergency brake and we stood there in silence for a while. I turned and looked at him. Poor guy. Fatherhood is not something that could be forced on to someone. I can't imagine going through what he's going through. "You okay, McGee?"

"I'm a father, Gibbs. I really don't know if okay or not. I don't know if I'm up to this." I cut him off with a tap( more or less) to the back of the head.

"Don't ever doubt yourself McGee. I'm sure you're gonna be a great dad. But if you cut yourself down again, you will be a sad, unemployed dad." I told him seriously.

"Thanks Boss. What about Tony. His SON is DATING my daughter. He kept it from us, Gibbs. Why would he do that?"

"I don't know, McGee, I really, honestly don't know." We exited the elevator and entered the bullpen. Andrea, Tony, Ziva and Abby were laughing about something. As they got closer, Gibbs realized they were sharing memories of our little probie with Andrea. As McGee walked up to them he heard Andrea ask "so…um…dad, they were telling me you used to wear a pair of red pumps?" Gibbs chuckled to himself as McGee turned bright red from embarrassment (and so did Tony, but from laughter). Gibbs phone rang. He listened to the person on the other line. He hung up and said "Grab your gear, dead sailor in Norfolk." He stopped and looked at Andrea, "Abbs, you can watch Andrea until we get back." As they walked away, Abby was already talking a mile a minute, just like always. Gibbs grinned.

Ziva's P.O.V.

Shortly after arriving in Norfolk, Gibbs told Tony to bag-and-tag, McGee to deal with witnesses, and I was to take photographs. Ducky arrived shortly and, after explaining that they got lost…yet again, he asked us what we knew about the Jane Doe. He estimated that she had been dead for about 7 hours and Tony began to search the body. He pulled out an empty wallet, striped of everything except a picture of a baby girl. She was a mother…that always made things worse. Tony looked shocked...and well, a little sad. She suddenly realized exactly why any case involving a child was hard on him….Alex. She placed her hand on his shoulder, in a comforting way. I understand now Tony…I understand. After a minute he continued to search her. In one of her pockets, he pulled out a folded piece of paper. He turned it over, looking for a name or some sort of identification. We both gasped.

It was a letter made out to NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee.