Section 41

"You okay, McGee?" Tony slipped out on to the front porch where McGee was watching the empty road.

"You shouldn't be out here."

"They're not going to try again tonight." Tony looked at the side of the house. The splintered siding the only remaining sign of the attack; as the glass had been replaced. "Abby didn't take your car?"

"No. Palmer talked her into going with him and Ducky. He planned on trying to talk her into staying with Ducky tonight."

"You ready to take off?"

McGee stared into the distance for a minute. "In a while. I have to grab something out of the car. Jackson and Gibbs still inside?"

"In the kitchen."

"Why don't you head back in? I'll be right in."

"You going to tell us what's bothering you?" McGee looked at Tony sharply. "You've had something on your mind all day. Even before this…" Tony waved his hand at the front of the house.

McGee took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yeah."

"McGee, okay?" Gibbs asked as Tony returned to the kitchen.

"No."

"He tell you what's going on?"

"Not yet. Said he'd be back in a minute and we'd talk."

"Why don't I take Zuma out back and let you two talk?"

Tony placed his hand on the older man's shoulder before he could rise. "You're family. Stay. Besides," Tony grinned and gestured to where the pup was curled up with his nose resting on the bear. "I think Zuma is a bit tired from all the sailing."

Zuma didn't even stir when the front door rattled. McGee struggled through with a large box and his computer bag. "Some watch dog…" Gibbs smirked.

"What is that?" Tony asked as McGee placed a large cardboard box in front of him and nudged it towards him.

"It's just something I picked up while you and Abby were picking out Zuma's other gifts. It's for Zuma. Well, you and Zuma."

Gibbs pulled out his knife and handed it to Tony to slit the packing tape as McGee watched nervously. Tony reach in and pulled out a wheeled contraption of lightweight fabric. "Uh…"

McGee stepped over and with quick moves he snapped it into position. "It's a pet stroller. I checked with the vet and Zuma shouldn't start jogging with you until he is at least eight months old." Tony stared at McGee in shock. "I thought this way you could still take him and get him used to being out around people and the route."

"McGee, this is…" Tony shook his head and he moved the stroller back and forth experimentally. "This is amazing. You shouldn't have…"

"Hey, he's my nephew, too." Embarrassed at Tony's emotional response, McGee moved to sit across from him.

Taking pity on the young agent, Gibbs spoke up. "So, you ready to tell us what's stuck in your craw?"

"Nice, Jethro." Tony said wryly and Gibbs just shrugged. "What don't you want to tell us?"

McGee fumbled with his computer then resolutely opened the lid and his fingers flew as he opened a file. "Gibbs mentioned the questions around your birth in Italy. You know, why your mother flew when pregnant and whether you were premature. So I decided to do a little more digging. This picture was published mid-June; shortly after your parents returned home."

Tony stared at the picture. Senior stood behind his wife his arm resting possessively on her arm. Tony was in her arms. Dressed in a small suit complete with tie, baby Tony was held protectively against her chest facing outward to the cameras. It was the picture of the perfect family and a perfect lie.

"So not premature."

"Doesn't appear to be."

"Why would Senior let mom travel so close her due date?" Tony wondered. "Did he know then? Was he hoping she would lose me?"

"I checked into the crash you remembered hearing about." McGee turned the computer back to face himself. "I found references in the New York Times about the DiNozzo family. Alitalia Flight 112 crashed May 5, 1972 on its way from Rome to Palermo."

"Rome's where Senior's family is from."

"And Palermo is where the law firm is located."

"So there is a connection."

Jackson watched his son and son-in-law bounce back and forth. It wasn't often, he got a chance to see the well-oiled team that solved so many NCIS cases. He could tell there was more conversation going on than what they were saying out loud. The two were completely in sync.

"Your… Senior's first cousin and his wife were killed in the crash along with their two sons and his wife's family. This article says that they left for Palermo on May 6." McGee turned the computer and showed the other men the clipping.

"This gives us some more details, but nothing we didn't already know." Gibbs looked at the agent intently.

Biting his lips, McGee once again turned the machine. "While I was looking through the paper for information about the crash, I found this."

When the computer was turned back to the others, Tony saw his mother as he hadn't know her. She was standing tall and smiling happily. Dressed in an elegant, form fitting gown with a plunging neckline. Unlike the other picture, Senior had his arm around her and was also smiling. "That's nice, McGee, but I really don't need to see it." Seeing the perfect picture of a young, glamorous couple in love made Tony slightly queasy knowing what had come after.

"There was a reception for Alexander Calder, the sculptor who created the Bent Propeller at the Trade Center. It was held at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, the night before his Circus exhibition opened. It was at the Museum for several weeks."

Gibbs looked at McGee and his gut ached. This picture was important, too important and Gibbs didn't like where he was afraid it was headed. "When?"

"I checked the dates, Gibbs."

"McGee…"

"April 19, 1972." McGee stumbled on as if to be sure they understood. "This picture was taken two and a half weeks before the DiNozzos left for Palermo."

"That's only six or seven weeks before the picture with me. It can't be." Tony looked up into McGee's eyes back to the picture.

"I checked, Tony. I even contacted Director Weinberg at the Whitney Museum to have him check the archives. They have a copy of the photo."

Tony looked at Gibbs with anguished eyes. "She's not pregnant."

Section 42

Tony helped Jethro ease down on their bed and move onto his side and then moved to undress himself. Jethro watched him intently. Ever since McGee had dropped his bomb, Tony had been quiet, too quiet. Zuma fresh from his nap and had definitely noticed and followed in Tony's footsteps whining now and then. Each time, Tony would try to smile and would pet the pup but his heart really wasn't in it.

Jackson had taken the pup for a tour of the backyard before bedtime to give the two men time to talk but Tony had busied himself with Jethro's meds and plans for the next day's dinner. Jethro hadn't pushed, yet. He knew it had been a big shock for his husband, although Tony had put up a good front while thanking McGee and seeing him off. He watched Tony emerge from the ensuibathroom and try to coax Zuma into his special bed. "Just bring him with you. I think all three of us could use a little extra cuddling tonight."

Tony looked at Jethro in shock. After the protests the night before, this was a total about face. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth though, quickly scooping the pup up and came toward the bed. Jethro lifted the blanket so Tony could scoot in and then he put his arm around Tony's waist and pulled him back snugly against him.

"How's your hip?"

"I know it's there." Jethro had taken several Aspirin™ eschewing Ducky's prescription pain pills. He'd had stitches many times and didn't feel the wound justified them, but Ducky had insisted on prescribing them.

"Want an icebag?"

"Just want to lay here." Jethro heard Zuma whining and peeked over Tony's shoulder to see him crawling slowly up the bed.

"What do you want, silly?" Tony gave up trying to hold the pup. Free, Zuma moved up to snuggle under Tony's chin and licked it before whimpering again.

"He's worried about you. We both are."

"I'm fine."

Jethro rested his chin on Tony's shoulder. "I know that 'fine', Tony, and I know you're not."

"My whole life is a lie. My family…. I don't' have a family. I feel… I feel like I don't exist. Like I'm not real, I don't belong to anyone."

"You're real, Tony. You belong here with me and fuzzball." Tony snorted when Zuma yipped as if in agreement and gave him another sloppy kiss. "You've got family. You've got me, fuzzball, Dad, Ducky, Abby, McGee, Palmer…"

"I know. I just… I don't know who I am."

"I do. You're Anthony DiNozzo, my husband. The past doesn't matter but I swear I will find your past for you."

Tony blinked back tears. Jethro was an amazing man and there was no doubt he would keep his vow. He felt safe and … Tony hesitated and realized … he felt loved. More than he ever had in his life. Just from lying here in Jethro's arms with Zuma tucked in under his chin. "You should get some rest, Ducky will have my head."

"While you lay here and think all night? Nope."

"I can't sleep. My mind won't shut off."

"Lot happened today. The shooting. McGee's bomb. Abby and Zuma's new relationship."

Tony snickered. Abby had been thrilled when Zuma had willingly given her a good night kiss and let her cuddle him before leaving. "Yeah."

"Bet I can help you sleep." Jethro thought twice about his plan before deciding to go ahead. He rubbed his hand up and down Tony's chest. "Been doing some thinking."

"About what?"

"The house."

"Fixing the holes?"

"Not this house. Our house."

Tony held his breath. "Our house?"

"Been thinking about it since I saw the plans yesterday. Why don't we call the architect tomorrow?" As Gibbs talked his hand slipped lower and lower on Tony's stomach. "Have them incorporate the changes you, Dad and I talked about."

"Even the expanded workship?"

"Yes." Gibbs hand slipped even lower.

"But, Jethro, this is your home. This is where your memories of Shannon and Kelly are."

"That would be our home. I'll always remember the past but you are my husband. That house would he our home. Our family's home."

Tony squirmed. Little Tony was taking more interest in where Jethro was absent mindedly rubbing his lower stomach and less on the house. "Our family?"

"We'll talk Dad into selling the store and moving in. We'll invite the team over on weekends for barbeques and movie nights." As Gibbs talked his hand moved lover to the front of Tony's boxers and continued the massage.

Tony was breathless. He struggled to focus on Gibbs voice as more and more blood rushed south. His fingers twisted in the sheets.

"Maybe we should add a pool. What do you think?" Gibbs crooned. "We could get off work and take a quick deep in the evening while we grill some steaks. Maybe even a hot tub? Send Dad over to Ducky's for the evening and we could skip the bathing suits. It would just be you and me, hot frothy water, bare skin just gliding back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth." As he spoke Gibbs had taken a firm hold of Tony's erection and using the silk boxers moved his hand in time with the words. He ignored his own blossoming interest. Although release would be good and probably painful with stitches, this was about Tony. This was about connecting with Tony. "Would you like that Tony? Just you and me? Making love under the stars."

Gibbs continued crooning as Tony began to pant and then to moan. "Jethro… I…"

"Just let go, Tony." Gibbs moved his hand faster and faster. Stopping his verbal seduction he nuzzled the skin under Tony's ear. Then he kissed it and finally began sucking as he sped up his movements. He felt Tony begin to stiffen and he continued as, with a moan, Tony came.

Disturbed by Tony's behavior, Zuma also stiffened and gave an anxious bark. "It's alright, Zuma. Mommy's fine." Gibbs snickered into Tony's shoulder.

"Not Mommy." Tony summoned energy to give Zuma a reassuring pat. "You… right in front of Zuma."

"He didn't see a thing." Gibbs felt Tony shiver and then begin to wiggle out of his silk boxers; sliding away as he did. Gibbs simply put his hand back around his waist, giving it a tug.

Tony managed to slip out of his dirty clothing without dislodging the pup or Gibbs. Using the boxers he cleaned himself awkwardly and tossed them in the general direction of the bathroom. He yelped as Gibbs pulled him back against him. There was something erotic about being naked while Gibbs was wearing his boxers. He could feel the hardness pressed against him. "Jethro…Let me…"

"No. Don't think that's on Ducky's approved activity list tonight."

"You shouldn't have…" Tony began guiltily.

"Shh… Sleep now."

"I need to get dressed." Tony protested fighting the post coital drowsiness.

"Like holding you like this. Sleep. Dream about our new home. Sleep." Gibbs coaxed and finally, warm and relaxed, Tony gave in.