The cool, blue water splashed up into Tony's face. He couldn't help but laugh as the spray continued to hit his face. Tali ran past and squealed as the water spurted up at her. The opening of the mini water park. Just happened to coincide with the day that Tali was finally cleared by the neurologist. Her hair had most grown back. Except for the small patch where she had been stitched. She had a bumpy but shrinking pink scar. The hair likely would not grow back but Valarie had a similar scar from a bike accident and promised to teach Tony how to comb over it "Without turning her into a tiny Donald Trump." The time at the water park was special for two reasons. For Tali it was special because her head was healed and she could be a kid again. For Tony it was special because it was the first time he had enjoyed himself since the accident.
"Abba!" Tali squealed.
"What is it baby girl?" Tony asked.
"It's Tori!" Tali cried.
Tony wiped his eyes, the chlorine stung and blurred but after a few blinks he was back to normal. He turned his head and looked where Tali was pointing. Standing in line for the tiny water slide was a small girl with curly blonde hair. She certainly did look like Tori and Tony had to do a double take. On the second look, Tony saw the muscular, tattooed man shooting daggers at him. For a moment it occurred to him that he was a grown man in a bathing suite eyeing a toddler.
"That's not Tori sweetheart." Tony explained, tears stinging his eyes.
Ignoring Tony's explanation Tali ran over to the girl screaming Tori. She had nearly crashed into the small child. When Tony caught her and scooped her up into his arms. The looked up at her father and began moving her fingers. Tony immediately recognized it as sign language. The dad signed back to her and then the girl stomped her feet and frantically signed back. Reluctantly the girl's father took her hand and led him over to where the DiNozzo's were standing.
"This is my daughter KiKi and my name is Jeremiah." Jeremiah. explained in slow, slurred speech.
"This is Tali." Tony replied in sign. He had known sign for a while but let Abby and Gibbs have their fun.
"You know sign? In that case I apologize for what I told KiKi." Jeremiah. replied.
"I couldn't see that far and I understand." Tony assured.
"Can your daughter sign?" Jeremiah asked.
"She knows baby sign language but I can translate." Tony replied.
"Very good. What is her name?" Jeremiah asked.
"Tali" Tony replied.
"Very pretty" Jeremiah signed.
"Why are you moving your hands like that? Why aren't you talking?" Tali asked.
"Tali this is Jeremiah. He is deaf and so is his daughter KiKi." Tony explained.
"What's deaf?" Tali asked.
"It means you can't hear." Tony explained.
"Why?" Tali asked.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why are you and your daughter deaf?" Tony asked.
"We have a defect in our ears. It is genetic. KiKi's is worse than mine. I can actually hear a little but KiKi is profoundly deaf." Jeremiah explained.
"They have deformities in their ears. That means something went wrong before birth." Tony explained.
"Can KiKi still be my friend?" Tony asked.
"Sure I will teach you sign." Tony replied.
It warmed Tony's heart to see how quickly his daughter could make new friends. He liked Jeremiah pretty well but would have never talked to him if it weren't for Tali. Tony and Jeremiah talked for about an hour while the girls ran around. Even though they could not speak each others language they had an instant friendship. Tony and Jeremiah were still warming up but they would be friends soon. It turned out the Jeremiah was a single dad as well. He did not know the circumstances but figured he would find out eventually.
"Jeremiah seemed nice." Valarie commented.
"Trying to set us up?" Tony asked.
"I am glad to see your wit is coming back." Valarie laughed.
"He is really nice and he loves his little girl." Tony explained.
"That he does. Did you tell him about the accident?" Valarie asked.
"I told him that Tali had a friend who died and the girl looked just like KiKi." Tony replied.
"Why didn't you tell the full story?" Valarie asked.
"I didn't want him to think I am a monster." Tony replied.
"He won't. Those idiots only think you are a monster because they are idiots." Valarie explained.
"Still some things should wait. He didn't tell me what happened to KiKi's mom." Tony explained.
"I guess you are right but don't be afraid to tell the truth." Valarie explained.
Jethro Gibbs paced around his basement. It had been a week and a half and he was still furious. He could not believe that he had been fired. He was one of the best NCIS ever had and they had just let him go. Leon claimed it was his attitude but Jethro knew the truth. Leon had picked Tony over him. Tony had abandoned NCIS years ago but apparently he had brown nosed enough to make Leon take his side.
"DiNutso is a lot of annoying things but a brown noser is not one of them." Fornell insisted.
"Then how else do you explain Leon taking his side?" Jethro demanded.
"You said you wanted him dead. You would rather him dead than Luke. You picked a terrorist over your agent." Fornell explained.
"How did he poison you?" Jethro asked.
"Well he called every day for two weeks when Emily had her heart surgery. I did not hear a word from you." Fornell explained.
"Emily had heart surgery?" Jethro asked.
"She was born with a hole in her heart. They closed it when she was three but it opened up again a few months back." Fornell explained.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jethro asked.
"I did." Fornell replied.
"I have a lot on my plate." Jethro reminded.
"So does Tony. Don't make excuses." Fornell replied.
"Well we are friends. Tony just likes to look good." Jethro insisted.
"Tony is a damaged soul. Just like you the difference is Tony is willing to work on himself." Fornell explained.
"Then why is he such a jackass?" Jethro asked.
"Like I said he is damaged. As for us we are not friends. We just got screwed over by the same woman. I feel bad saying that about Diane but she was pretty awful when we were with her. That being said I no longer feel bad for you. Because the more I get to know you. The more I see that you are like the Diane we married." Fornell explained.
"How dare you?" Jethro gasped.
"I have to take Emily to a follow up with the cardiologist. Call me if you care." Fornell spat.
A/N: How will Jeremiah take the news about Tony? And no his wife was not the one driving the truck. New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.