Jack insisted that Gibbs and Tony have dinner before returning to DC. After they had eaten Gibbs helped Tony load the back of his truck and set Baby Jack's car seat in the back. Reality hit Tony hard as Gibbs drove down the street. His little freak out vacation was over. Tomorrow he had to face the world as a single father, alone. He wished he could take all his promises back and send baby Jack back to Israel. To somebody who actually had an idea of how to care for him and would give him the love he deserved. He was too far in now. Once Gibbs learned about the kid. There was no turning back. If he wanted to live that is.
"You can handle it." Gibbs assured.
"You think?" Tony asked.
"It won't be easy but you won't be alone." Gibbs assured.
"I know it's just so..." Tony started.
"Scary?" Gibbs finished.
"Yeah" Tony replied.
"That's normal. Just follow your instincts and if you have any questions. Call me or Vance and we will help you." Gibbs assured.
"Vance. Guess I'll have to beg for my job back tomorrow." Tony sighed.
"I told him you were on sabbatical to deal with Ziver's death." Gibbs explained.
"Really? Why?" Tony asked.
"Maybe because you reacted the same way when I had to relive losing my girls or maybe I was just being selfish and didn't want to admit that you were gone." Gibbs explained.
"Well I guess I better call Vance and tell him I will be back in the morning." Tony replied.
"I want you to take at least another week and get used to raising the kid and deal with everything. I don't want to watch you fall apart from the pressure." Gibbs replied.
"You sure you can cope without me longer?" Tony asked.
"I'm not gonna lie the past week has been hard on all of us but your mental health is more important than the team being whole." Gibbs explained.
"Well if your sure." Tony replied.
"Positive" Gibbs assured.
"I guess I have to tell the team. That's going to be rough." Tony sighed.
"I will tell everyone to come to my house after work tomorrow. We can tell them then." Gibbs offered.
"That sounds great. I hope the drive doesn't make Jack to crabby. He's been through a lot the past few days." Tony replied.
"That apartment is barely big enough for just you. Let alone you and a baby." Gibbs replied.
"Where am I supposed to go?" Tony asked.
"You can stay with me. At least for now." Gibbs offered.
"Your really cool with that?" Tony asked.
"Would I ask you if I weren't?" Gibbs asked.
"Right, thanks" Tony replied.
Two hours later Tony and Gibbs were back in DC. Gibbs pulled into a small gas station to fill up his truck. While Tony ran inside to change baby Jack. Then they were back on the road. Gibbs turned down an unfamiliar street.
"This isn't the turn to your place." Tony commented.
"I know. There is somebody I want to you to talk to first." Gibbs replied.
"Who?" Tony asked.
"Emily" Gibbs replied.
"Emily? Will she even want to see me?" Tony asked.
"I explained everything to her. Now I want you to explain for yourself." Gibbs replied.
"Fine" Tony sighed.
Emily flipped through the channels. It had been a week since her breakup with Tony and five days since she had spoken to Gibbs. In her heart she knew that Tony would come back to her. She just hoped that it would be soon. Dylan already hated him and Carly was hurt that they never got to meet. Not to mention she missed him like crazy. They had only been together a few time but she was already in love with him. She heard a knocking on the door and went to answer expecting it to be her neighbor needing to borrow a cup of sugar or something. Instead she found a surprise on the other side of the door. It was Tony.
"Tony?" Emily asked.
"Hi" Tony greeted.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" Emily asked.
"I came over to apologize." Tony replied.
"You don't need to apologize. Gibbs explained everything to me." Emily assured.
"I know I just feel terrible. I love you but I loved Ziva too and I was barely over her moving away and then I find out that she's dead. I just lost it and I am sorry you deserve better than that," Tony apologized.
"No Tony I understand. I was the same way after I lost Caleb." Emily assured.
"So you'll give me a second chance?" Tony asked.
"Of course. As long as you are serious about us." Emily replied.
"Believe me I am." Tony assured.
"Good" Emily replied.
"Hold on there's something else you need to know. I have a son. I just found out about him a week ago. His name is Lior Jackson. He is almost three weeks old and Ziva was his mother. I don't know why she kept him from me but she did and if that is a deal breaker. I am sorry." Tony rambled.
"No Tony it is fine. Now we have something in common." Emily replied.
"Great. Do you want to meet him?" Tony asked.
"I would love to." Emily replied.
Tony led Emily to the truck where Jack and Gibbs were waiting. Gibbs handed the fussing child over to his father. Along with the diaper bag. Tony reached in and withdrew a bottle. Relieved that he had mixed up plenty of formula before leaving Stillwater. Baby Jack definitely had his father's appetite.
"Emily this is my son Jack. Jack this is Emily. My girlfriend." Tony introduced.
"Nice to meet you Jack. I hope to be your step-mother one day." Emily replied.
"I would like that too. I can't wait to meet your kids." Tony replied.
"How about this Friday?" Emily offered.
"I would love that." Tony replied.
"He has your eyes." Emily commented.
"And his appetite." Gibbs added.
"Yeah" Tony replied.
"Well it's getting late. I need to get Carly ready for bed. I'll call you later in the week." Emily replied.
"Great" Tony replied.
"Oh and Tony tell Jimmy thanks. For setting us up." Emily called.
"I will." Tony replied.
A/N: I told you they would get back together. New chapter should be up Wednesday and Tony will tell the team then. Please review and thanks for reading.