Section 87

"So what's up today?" Tony asked as they finished the breakfast cleanup. He had been permitted to sit and scramble eggs. Now he was sitting, drying dishes. "Fornell hasn't interviewed us for his report. We could…"

"Not going to the office." Jethro said. "If he needs anything he can come to us."

"Well, it's a nice morning…"

"Not going to the park. You're supposed to be resting." Jackson spoke up.

Tony frowned. "I could…"

"Not going through the boxes in the basement. If you need to go through them before the move, we've plenty of time." Jethro took the plates and put them in the cabinet.

"Zuma…"

"If you groom him again, I will not save you from his puppy glare of doom." Jackson spoke up on the pup's behalf.

As Tony pouted, Jethro knelt down in front of his husband. "Tony, please. This injury could have… It could have cost you your career with NCIS. We have to take this seriously. Give your kidney and back time to heal."

"I feel so useless." Tony was a bit ashamed. He knew Jackson and Jethro loved him and were trying to protect him.

"We'll find you something to do." Jethro held up a finger before Tony could interrupt. "Not physical lifting and stretching. No carrying things."

"There's nothing to do."

"Want some cheese with that wine, son?" Jackson quipped. Jethro laughed as Tony flushed. "You told me about that boy in the hospital. The one who lost his parents."

"Ethan."

"You said that you and Jethro used a fake group to deliver that care package."

Jethro rose his knees cracking. He gave Tony a light smack when his husband smirked, knowingly. "What about it, dad?" He moved to sit next to him.

"You could use your down time and work on making that group real. I know that you and Tony want to help people. There's a lot of people who are in need and even more who are users. Might set some rules and guidelines. Make sure that the money helps those who really need it."

Tony worried his lower lip as he considered Jackson's words. "You mean, like an application or something? That seems so cold."

"Doesn't have to be an application but some sort of referral process or vetting procedure after contact is made." Jethro said thinking aloud.

"What about that social person?" Jackson said.

"Mrs. Enognirac?"

"Yes. Could she help refer people?"

Tony looked at Jackson and then Jethro. "She would know who really needs help. Would she be allowed?"

"She'd have to talk to the family first, I'm sure." Jethro replied.

"Are you going to stay with one hospital or reach out to others? If you reach out, you would need a contact at each."

"You've evidently thought about this a bit, Jackson. What do you think we should do?" Tony asked.

"Nope. Not my call. I may have a few questions to help guide you."

"We need a pen and paper." Jethro obligingly got up and fetched one for his husband. "First thing, I guess, is the name. Do we stick with the one we gave the Richards?"

"What did you give the Richards?" Jackson asked curiously.

"The AZ3G Foundation." Tony said sheepishly.

Jethro held his hands up. "He came up with it."

"I was under pressure. It was all I could come up with that quick."

"Not exactly catchy." Jackson said. "AZ3G?"

"Agent Zuma Three Gibbs Foundation." Tony explained.

Jackson looked at this son. "Three Gibbs?" He mouthed.

Tony clarified. "It's us. We started this because a little boy wanted to meet Agent Zuma. Then the three of us, Three Gibbs."

"Son, this is your money."

"NO." Tony denied flatly. "It is our family and our money. We decide as a team." He was vehement about it.

"Dad, Tony and I had this talk in Palermo. I felt like you about the money, but Tony convinced me that we can do so much good. If Tony had refused the inheritance, it would have been in limbo forever. His mother had already terminated her rights. I wanted him to put it in his name, but Tony was adamant. This may seem sudden but Tony and I have realized we've been together for years. I trust no one as much as I do him." Tony reach out and took his husband's hand as Jethro continued. "We are married and it is going to work. We're going to stay that way. We are family. We are in it together. That includes you and fuzzball."

"I need you. All of you. I don't know how to be family." Tony dropped his gaze to the table top. "The DiNozzos supposedly have money. Senior never really shared it. It kept me in military school and out of his hair until I was eighteen. Once that school year ended, I was disowned. My one aunt left me a small trust. With that, an athletic scholarship and working through the year, I managed college. I want this money to do good. I want to help people who don't have anywhere to turn, but I need you and Jethro to guide me. Please, Jackson."

Jackson hadn't seen his son this committed since Shannon nor as approachable. Leroy had seemed to shut down after losing his girls. Now, Leroy had opened his heart again and so had Jackson. Tony was good for Leroy and Jackson's relationship. Tony reminded him of a lost puppy; hopeful that the stranger will rescue him but used to being kicked instead. Now that Jethro and he had married, Tony seemed more settled, more comfortable. Jackson looked intently at the two men and threw up his hands. "Fine. Name to be settled later. First question, who do you want to help?"

Section 88

By lunchtime, the Gibbs men had done a good outline of the focus of the charity. They had defined who they would focus on, mainly children. There was an outline of the types of help they would provide: medical, education, transportation and/or in some cases housing. Mrs. Enognirac and her peers would be contacted and given a list of general guidelines. Patients and families meeting those criteria would be referred to the AZ3G foundation. The two older Gibbs men were still not committed to the name, but Tony liked what it symbolized.

During the long discussion, Zuma had finished his morning nap and had wandered in carrying Rocky. He permitted Mommy to hold the raccoon while the pup had a drink and a snack. He laid down on the seat of his high chair and barked for Rocky. Zuma had watched the three men as they discussed their ideas. Now and then he would remind Mommy that his ears needed attention. Luckily the men were nearly done when Zuma decided that he needed to go outside. Leaving Rocky to his mid-morning nap, Zuma had gone to Daddy and had pawed his slacks until Jethro had scooped him for a trip outside.

"Want me to help you into the living room for a rest?" Jackson eyed his son-in-law. "You look tired."

"I think I'll go lay down in the bedroom. Maybe take a quick nap." Tony replied. He used the table to help pull himself up.

"Need a hand?"

"I'm okay. Maybe I'll watch a little TV."

"I'll let Leroy know." Jackson watched his son-in-law walk slowly to the new master suite. He looked at the backyard where Leroy was tossing the pup a ball. It was good to spend time with his family. Jackson had thought his and Leroy's relationship was destroyed forever. He thought about the store and his house, there really wasn't anything there for him now. Maybe it was time to let make Maxwell an offer on the house and the store.

"Give it here." Jethro wrestled the ball away from the pup who huffed at him. "You have to give it to me if you want me to throw it, you silly thing." He tossed the ball to the other end of the yard and with a disgruntled look Zuma took off after it. His phone started ringing and he answered it as he watched the pup stalk the ball.

"Hey, Abbs. Slow down. What… Abbs.. I need you to calm… Who… How did…Alright." Shutting off the call, Jethro raced across the yard to pick up the puppy who dropped the ball in surprise. "We got to get to Tony."

Jackson was sitting in the kitchen enjoying a quiet cup of coffee when Leroy rushed in carrying Zuma. "Where's Tony? Dad, where's Tony?"

"Bedroom. Leroy, what's wrong?" Jackson got up and started across the kitchen as Leroy said nothing. "Leroy?"

"Tony. Shit, Tony." Jethro pushed the door open to find Tony sitting on the edge of the bed, the TV remoted gripped in his hand and his face white.

"They… How…" Tony asked.

Jethro grabbed the remote muting the TV. "Abby just called. She's on her way."

"Leroy, what's going on?" Jackson stared at the reporter on the screen flanked by pictures of Sacks and Mabus.

"Some reporter dug up the connection." Jethro had pulled his husband against his chest after dumping Zuma into Tony's arms. The pup was picking up on the stress and was whining and trying to give Tony kisses. "They broke the story that Ron Sacks was Jarvis Mabus' son. They also put together the Agent Zuma angle. Director Hagel and Vance are on the situation."

"Do they know about me? Oh, God, Jethro, they don't know, do they?" Tony pleaded.

"No, Tony."

"Gibbs… Gibbs..." McGee was hollering as he entered the front door.

"I'll get it." Jackson patted Tony's shoulder.

McGee was panting from running from his car. "Jackson, it's out."

"Just relax, son. We know. Abby called Leroy, but Tony had already turned on the TV."

"How's Tony?" McGee was still catching his breath.

"A little shaken. Leroy's in the bedroom with him now."

"I'm here." Tony walked shakily into the kitchen cradling Zuma and Rocky. "How, McGee?"

"A reporter was doing background on Sacks. He recognized the name of Clarissa Sacks and tracked it back. Her grandfather was one of the first African American Congressman in the wake of the Civil War. Her family has always been prominent in politics. He stumbled upon her divorce and put the pieces together."

"What if they track down my mother? My adoption?"

"Tony, it won't happen." Jethro again reassured him.

"Tony, your files are buried so deep no one will be able to access them." McGee added.

Tony looked at him and his expression changed. "McHacker, what did you do?"

"McGee." Gibbs looked at his junior agent.

"I may have changed them to classified, encrypted them and buried them under a couple of layers of misdirection. Trust me, they are safe. If they even start to get close, I'll know." McGee assured him.

"Thank you." Tony said sincerely.

McGee just gave him a nod. They were family. "There is something we should talk about." His serious tone sent shivers down Tony's spine.

"Let's talk in the living room." Jackson encouraged. "Tony, you need to rest." Jackson and McGee lead the way from the kitchen and helped Jethro get Tony settled into his nest of pillows on the recliner. Zuma curled up on Tony's lap contentedly, gnawing on Rocky.

"Alright, McGee." Gibbs looked at him. "What's up?"

"I was helping Agent Mincef with dossiers on the agents involved. I stumbled over something and I…" McGee looked down. "I contacted the vice-president about it."

"You went to the vice-president," Gibbs' tone was low, "before me, Vance or Hagel?"

"Gibbs, it…" McGee took a deep breath and lifted his head to look into his boss' eyes. "Yes, I did. The information involves a member of the FBI team. I felt it was important to be sure that this was handled outside of the MCRT or FBI office."

"What did you find doing Agent Patterson's dossier?"

"How did…" McGee shook his head. This was Gibbs, of course he knew. "I was compiling information about his action reports and was searching his files for any reference to the day of the action. I found an email that made me suspicious of Agent Patterson's behavior on the day of the shooting. I decided to try to identify the person with whom he was corresponding."

"What did he say?" Tony looked at his partner. "What did he say?"

"The email Patterson received said "Well?" and he replied "One hit, one miss. Perfect shot."."

"What else, McGee?" Gibbs asked. "Just spit it out."

McGee shook his head slightly. "Patterson said, "He was wearing a vest. That wasn't in the plan. If he hadn't been wearing the vest, there'd be one less." Tony…"

Jackson sat in stunned silence. It was bad enough his son got shot. It was horrible that it was friendly fire. For it to be deliberate? He couldn't even process that.

"It wasn't an accident." Gibbs said. That fear had been gnawing at him since Monday. Sure, there were accidental incidents of freely fire. A highly decorated agent who hit one person twice in the same area had been improbable. Jethro had trusted Fornell to get to the truth. He hadn't thought about McGee finding the evidence. He had focused on caring for Tony and praying he was wrong.

Jethro looked at Tony in concern. His husband appeared to be frozen in place; his face white with shock. "Tony," Jethro knelt beside the chair and pulled his husband's hand from Zuma's fur.

"He shot me. He meant to… to…"

"But he didn't. He didn't succeed."

"Thanks to you. You forced me to wear the vest."

"Told you. I've always got your six." Tony lifted his other shaking hand and pressed it against Jethro's cheek as his husband whispered. "I will always have your six." To the world it was probably a totally unromantic act, but to Tony it was a declaration of Jethro's feelings and he felt his heart warm to his husband's declaration.

"Why, McGee? Why did this man shoot my son?" Jackson swallowed his disbelief.

"I was able to track him using the username Stonewall69 to a website for an online neo-Nazi group. It was encrypted and was secured. I was able to use his name and get in. The group promotes the use of violence and terrorist tactics. The group is openly hostile towards the LBGT community. The news of Gibbs' and Tony's marriage was widely discussed online. Patterson had discussed the opportunity that being selected for the mission provided. He said if the opportunity came, he would take Tony out and eliminate one blight on the law enforcement community."