It went unnoticed for a while.

Something was wrong and everyone could see it included director Vance.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs' very special agent Tony Dinozzo was different. Everyone remembered a young smart man with sense of humor and his movies references ,his bright smile but this man had disappeared and someone esle got his place.

The man who was sitting at his desk was cold and apathy with everyone especially his team. It started when Gibbs came back from Mexica , at the same time Tony started goofing off less. Gibbs had worried about it for a bit but he realized why and let it go.

Tony stops talking about women. He becomes more focused on his work. Doesn't goof around as much. When Ziva and McGee begins to ask him about his lack of goofing around, he simply shrugs and just says he's matured.

He had refused to join them for lunch every day for the last two weeks. Even Abby Scuito, their resident lab rat, had been unable to cajole or persuade him to leave his desk. When he refused, she accused him of pouting and told him to grow up. Ironic, when you consider her own past actions.

When advised of the situation, the NCIS Medical Examiner, Ducky Mallard, who often treated their minor wounds and kept his eye on their general heath, had confronted Tony about keeping up his strength by eating healthy. He began to lecture that Tony about his eating habits.

DiNozzo hadn't said a word, just opened up his drawer and pulled out a lunch bag. Opening the bag, he pulled out a roast beef sandwich, an apple and a container of yogurt. Laying the food out on the desk in front of him, he looked up at Ducky and said, blandly, "Healthy enough for you, Dr. Mallard?" Without waiting for a reply, he took a bite of the sandwich and turned back to his computer to finish his report, chewing as he typed.

It amused him that Ziva and McGee actually were subconsciously responding to it. Of course, they'd protest, loudly, if Tony enforced the chain of command blatantly but this subtle authority was flying over their head. He didn't know whether he was proud at Tony for finally getting to it or disappointed that Ziva and McGee were both so ignorant.

Speaking of those two ,McGee and Ziva seemed to enjoy him getting chewed out by Gibbs, doing their best to get him into trouble so that it would happen more often. They also always put down his skills as an investigator and a human being. Treating him as if he was dumb, just because he had done a Phys Ed major in college. None of them knew that this was only one of his majors and that he had added a few more over the last years while working fulltime as a cop first and then an NCIS agent.

The team didn't listen to him because he wasn't Gibbs. He was a joke to them. Abby was too busy thinking of ways to get Gibbs back to even help ztomy. Ziva and McGee didn't listen to orders because to them Tony wasn't fit to be the leader of the team. McGee thinks being SFA is easy. He was not even given him half the work he's supposed to do as SFA. Ducky was too busy ranting about Gibbs to even pay attention to him.

The only person who Tony considers a friend was autopsy gremlin, Jimmy Palmer. He actually listened when the agent talked. They hung out a lot and had movie nights every Friday. Jimmy and his wife were the only people in the world who knew Tony's MOAS.

When Gibbs returned to the bullpen, he knew instantly, there was a case. All the agents were doing paperwork and Gibb glances at Tony, the young man had an apathy expression on his face and his eyes were empty.

Gibbs tried to talk with him but Tony didn't so much as spared Gibbs a glance;, but he just sighed, muttered "I am fine"

What had changed between them? Gibbs had noticed that Tony hadn't been himself for a long time, but he had never tried to understand what was happening.

When was the last time we've had one of our silent talks? After his father's first visit? Yes, idiot! And when Sr. came back we were all so nice to him! I can't even imagine what Tony felt when he saw all of us fussing over his father... You're an idiot Gunny!

But he came to me after Dana Hutton's death... yes and I offered him a drink and told him I've had problems with rule #10 too... nothing else. He was upset and I didn't help him. He needed more and I didn't understand it.

Oh my God! Tony kept coming to me as in the past but I didn't give him what he needed... I wanted to be a father to him, but I didn't understand what he was looking for and I never let him see that I really care about him... I took him for granted...

He's a strong man but he's not indestructible and his heart is more fragile than he let us see... I should have protected him from Ziva and McGee's mean teasing. Tony never says anything but I know that behind his smile he suffers because of his partners disrespect and their cruelty.

I was so busy with all my problems, protecting Ziva from her father and looking after McGee that I forgot the most important person in my life... my friend and my son... I need to...

Then Tony's phone started ringing "DiNozzo" he answered.

"Hey, Tony" came the voice.

"Hey, Harry. How are you?" Tony asked Harry. Harry was the door man down stairs.

"I'm doing good you?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine".

"I'm just calling to say you have a visitor" Harry said.

"Really. Who?" Tony asked surprised. The last time he got a visitor was when his father was last at NCIS.

"Some woman. She won't tell me her name though. Apparently she can't say" Harry sighed.

"Um, okay. Let her up" Tony said, confused.

"Sure" Harry replied then hung up.

Tony put the phone down and stared at it, frowning. He wasn't expecting anyone.

"Who was that?" Ziva's voice said, knocking him from his thoughts.

"What? Oh, Harry" Tony answered.

Ziva frowned "What did Harry want?".

"To tell me I have a visitor" Tony said, putting some files away.

"Your father?" Ziva asked interested.

Tony shrugged "I don't know. Some woman, who can't say what her name is".

"Why can't she say her name?" McGee asked, having been listening in on the conversation.

"Again, I don't know" Tony said as he heard the elevator doors open and out walked Harry "But I'm about to find out".

They came out of the elevator into the squad room and an agent led them to the bullpen where McGee was back to typing away at his computer, Gibbs impatiently looking over his shoulder. Gibbs almost did a double take when he saw the newcomer, striding in with a duffel over his shoulder. Ziva had never seen that look on his face before and she watched as Gibbs outright stared at the man. Not a death glare, mind you, but a full on, can't take his eyes off the woman stare.

Tony looked up to see the visitors, and his mouth fell open as he saw the familiar, attractive brown-haired.

Gibbs turned and stared at Tony a frown on his face. He didn't like this, he'd never seen Tony just stare like that before.

The woman continued walks toward Tony and everyone especially Gibbs took a god look at her. She was tall and slender, with caramel skin and dark hair. She was beautiful. Short chocolate cropped hair framing her almond face. Striking jaw slanted slightly making, her blood-red painted lips cocked to the side. Long lashes brushed against her blushed cheeks. Then there were her eyes. Her blue eyes had widened when she saw them, letting him see flecks of gold in her eyes. She wore a simple leather jacket that hugged her body, followed by a dark blue v-neck that showed off her breasts; her jeans were black and she wore black leather boots to match, and of coarse, there was the simple necklace that she never took off.

The chain was silver as was the outline of the crescent moon dangling from the chain; it was made of white stone with a line of sapphires in the middle as they curved with the delicate moon.

''Μadre''Tony said quietly. The woman turned her head to him and her eyes softened immediately as she nodded.

Tim was buffled. Wh was this woman? Certainly not one of Tony's one night stands, because he was acting like no other time he saw him. Trust? Familiarity? McGee shrugged, he didn't know how to put it. Tony smiled, dropping for an instant his mask, the joker, the frat boy abbandoned.

"What are you doing here?. Is everything ok?"He made sure his concern showed in his voice.

Ziva looked at them between slited eyes. She despised his partner, but she did wondered who this woman was. Truth is she felt a pang of something she didn't wanted to feel what it was while Tony dropped his mask. Never ever in their partnership did Ziva saw his real self and this woman, just for the mere presence, made him shed the masks, all of them.. For an out-stander, the look between Tony and this woman was nothing friendly, but her Mossad train kicked in and she saw the unseen, grey eyes versus bule eyes and total and utmost trust. She never saw this feeling revealed in her partner's eyes ever. The hands of that bull of a woman and Tony's linked and a voice, deep, rich and with glitters of unknown what sealed the partnership. Yes, that was she feels like was happening, a partnership.

"It is everything ok!"The woman says smiling brightly at him, and then leaned into kiss Tony on the cheek . She patted his cheek with a familiarity Gibbs found annoying.

''But we need to talk''The woman says glacing at the others. Ever aware of his colleagues staring at the encountered unfolding right in front of their eyes, Tony knew he was going to have to make introductions before Ziva or McGee did it for him.

''Let me to ..''Tony begun but the woman cut him off.

''I dont give a shit''The woman began gritting her teeth together as she began to talk.''I am here to talk with you and not have a chat with them.''

"Qualcosa non va?"Tony asked moving things along before McGee would inevitably ask to talk a walk down the DiNozzo women lane and then get Ziva on the bandwagon."È successo qualcosa all'azienda!"

''No. Va tutto bene, penso solo che dovremmo parlare."The woman responded after a moment.

The head slap came out of nowhere. One second, Tony was talking with the woman , his ears were ringing and the back of his head felt like it was on fire.

"Less talking, more working, DiNozzo," he heard Gibbs say from directly behind him.

"Ow," he whined, for once having honestly not been prepared for the slap. "What the hell, Boss, where'd you even come from?"

What happened next, would forever be remembered by Tony as the moment Gibbs met his match.

He hadn't even seen the woman walking up, but suddenly, he was was standing right in front of him, squaring off against Gibbs. "I don't know who you think you are," she spat out, low and furious, blue eyes practically shooting sparks she was so angry. "But this better be the last time you hit anyone like that, especially Antony."

Gibbs' face was unreadable. "Who are you?" he asked in a deceptively mild tone. Gibbs was aware of a stillness in the air as everyone around them stopped what they were doing. Very few people had the guts to challenge Gibbs and the entire Navy Yard stopped when there were these sorts of confrontations.

''You worst nightmare!''She said menacingly.

"Mother hen," Gibbs heard Tony accuse her, his tone teasing.

She smirked as she stepped away from him. "I prefer Momma Bear."

Tony grinned. "That's just because you have claws."

"Fangs too."

Was Dinozzo really ignoring him... for a stranger? Gibbs had to fight to hide his shock and jealousy.

"Who are you?"Gibbs suddenly blurted out, irritated with the woman and the fact that Dinozzo seems to know her.

"You don't know me? "Her voice was dripping with sarcasm,"Thank God! Keep it that way."

"Maybe you're not someone important to know you"Gibbs gave her a small smirk, and narrowed his eyes then she burst out laughing

"What the hell are you laughing about?" The agent snapped, looking over at the woman.

"Sweetheart, thank you for making me laugh!"She said and sweetheart ,the nickname made Tony want to throw up in pure disgust because of their role play."Trust me, I am very important!"

"Oh?!. Really" Gibbs says, leaning back with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face."Who you think you are?"

"I am..."

"I don't..."

"Fuck y..."

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty! Can we go now?!" Tony yelled.

"Shut up," Both snapped at him without thinking, at that, both Ziva amd McGee stopped and stared at each other with wide almost horrified eyes.

"Shit." Ziva whispered. "There are two of each one of them now?"

"We're screwed." The male agent announced eyes widening.

They kept staring at each other for a few more seconds, before the woman laughing almost hysterically. That make Gibbs to turn back to the woman. The woman had a smirk on her face but he found himself instinctively drawn to and liking this woman. He couldn't help but feel a touch of warmth go through him seeing those big blue eyes dance in amusement.

Woman ignored the others now, asking Tony, "When did you eat last?"

Gibbs smirked at that. What kind of question was that? Did this woman even know Tony; the kid practically lived for eating. Apparently that's what Tony thought if the smirk on his face was any indication.

"Come on , really? Well I had breakfast...and before you ask it was pizza."

"When?" The woman asked again and suddenly Tony's smirk disappeared.

"Yesterday," Tony mumbled.

What? Dinozzo hadn't eaten anything in last 24 hours? Gibbs knew that normally meant something big was happening. He was just about to head slap Tony when the next question came.

"Sleep?"

"Come on what is this lets interrogate Tony day?"

Tony was answered by a glare, a really rigid glare and a stern "Anto..."

"Two hours," Tony mumbled. Everyone in the room as shocked. What the hell was going on - was Tony working on another undercover operation? Two hours of sleep only and twenty four hours between meals, what the hell was going on?

"Do I have to ask Tony? When?" The glare had softened, but the sternness had not abated on the woman's face.

"Yesterday... night..."

What was this? Tony hadn't slept, hadn't eaten anything...how the hell had I missed that? Was he really on another undercover mission? 'Well, I really need to have that talk with him. No way is he going on another undercover OP,' Gibbs thought angrily, his temper boiling over along with the fear of losing Tony.

''I think we can talk now,''Tony commented, as he walked past her. She threw him an irritated look, but followed anyway. She stepped onto the elevator, standing in front of Tony. She could feel Tony's boss eyes boring into the back of her head.

At a cafe where was near to NCIS ,Tony was watching the woman who sat to the other side of the table. When he was 6 years old he the most incredible, effervescent, brilliant woman in the world. He remebered the day that his father had introduced him to his new baby sitter ,she was a girl at the age of 13 from a small secluded coastal town in northern Maine, the same town which Tony grew. Bastiana Wolf was the same woman who have been babysitting him for almost his whole life , the woman raised him while his father was travelled around the world tricking people and meeting younger women than him.

Bastinana was there when Tony's mother ,Amelia Dinozzo suicided, she was there when his father disowned accused him for his mother's death. The woman was there for him to see him graduate from school and college , she was the only person that Tony completely trust to watch his back after all Bastiana Wolf was Tony Dinozzo's mother.

Tony looks up the woman like a mother a the firts time he met her. He could't never understand what it was that made Tony loves her so much, maybe it was her advices or her warm smile and her hugs or because she was protective toward her family. A few people who know their relationship always comment that they are the same: sarcasm , protectiness , humor and the love for expensive things.

They hear all the time people comment being son and mother. The way that Bastiana talks about him and his job or how Tony treat her every time they have dinner together at an expensive restaurant , people smiles when he pull a chair for her or when Bastiana says "My son got promotion we are here to celebrate " with a pride. Every year at mother's day , Tony sent her a big basket of chocolate , cookies and the best whiskey while Bastiana order a meal for him when he spend the night at the office.

Unknowingly to them, the whole employees of NCIS stared in shock at Tony and the woman from the building's windows. They were curious about the woman and who the hell in seconds ,Tony'd become a practically new person.

Everyone watch as Tony threw his head back laughing , he was constantly chatting and laughing with the made everyone a little uneasy. Tony was really friendly with woman it seemed. He was their team mate right? Then why was he so warm with this woman, Tony Dinozzo found finally a woman for him ,"the one"?

And why the hell no one know about it?.Gibbs still hadn't heard about her. But the way things were going it wouldn't surprise him to know that Tony had just decided to not tell him.

A big smile was on Tony's face and this naturally bothered the hell out of everyone on Team Gibbs.

He didn't laugh and smile this much when he was around the he? Oh no.

Bastiana snapped her fingers and a waiter appeared instantly next to their table ready to take their orders. The apathetic coldness was gone, but she still acted like a queen. And everyone happily obliged. It was a strange kind of power, Tony realized. Here was this woman, who appeared to command respect by her mere existence.

"Eat"The woman order afer a few minutes when the waiter brought their food. Tomy knew better than everyone that you don't go against Bastiana Wolf's demands.

"How are the yhings with yout team?!"

Silence crept into the room. The woman could see the pain in agent's eyes and wondered if anyone should be shot.

"What. Happened." Bastiana ground out. Tony knew his mother wasn't angry with him, he knew what Bastiana really meant was "what a bitch am I going to kick to within an inch of their life". Even though they both knew that the woman would have to recuse herself from this one.

"They make comments about my personality and the way I work. Their cruel remarks about my intelligence and that they enjoy when Gibbs yells at me!"

The woman nodded, taking in what Tony had said and processing everything. Normally she would make a remark, something joking but cutting, diffuse the unspoken tension. Now though he was quiet, and though he secretly loved her sarcastic side, the young agent needed a listening ear right now.

"I used to work only for five years in teams because they become annoying by me and kicked me out"He continued. "But mothet, I love my job and I used to enjoy it when Kate was alive , before McAsshole and the Mossad bitch think that I am lower than them in the team"

He felt pressure on his knee, the warm sensation of a hand resting lightly, comforting. Looking up, Bastiana was looking at him, softly, patiently. He didn't see any malice, in fact he saw softness, empathy clear as day in silver-blue eyes. He smiled slightly back, still tinged with melancholia. The telenovela started up again in the background, disturbing the quiet bliss that follows in the wake of a confession as heavy as Dinozzo's.

"I will going to rip their face off."

"Mother No!" he shouted at her, "I don't need a hero, I need a friend."

"I'm sorry you continue to see me at my worst, I should take my own advice and get my shit together hey?"

"Your worst, you mean going soft on a sue for a second time, right?"

Bastiana smirked at that, her eyes glistening at Her son giving her credit for her badassery.

"So...

"Resign" Bastiana prodded, almost gentle as though she were dealing with a child."You have an amazing reputation in law enforcement and FBI, CIA, Hawaii 5-0 l, Interpol and almost all agencies fight for you to be in their teams. Fr the love of god Antony, you can have your own team"

Tony turns his attention at the couple who were playing with their child at the park. He watch as the husby walk off with his family the trio stopped for a moment as the woman lean forward and the man cradle the woman's head to deepen their kiss.

"Eww! Daddy and mommy are sharing germs!" the two separated as they laugh.

A soft smile appears to his face thinking about his own family. His beautiful wife of five years and they three years old son, he was so lucky to have both of them in his life and could kill himself if something happens to them. One reason that the team don't know about his family it's about trust and his many years on the NCIS. During his years as a agent, he win a lot of enemies which they can use his wife and son again him -his biggest fear was to be like Gibbs- , the other one is that he doesn't trust his team , especially after the radio fiasco.

"You're a Wolf!"She said in a cold voice and Tony immediately felt the steel blue eyes of his mother upon him."Act like one"

Tony unlocked the condo door, the sound of piano music welcomed him and he paused in appreciation.

He loved listening to his wife play. At the piano, just like at work, she made it look easy, as if she wasn't taking it seriously, but she practiced and practiced.

Sh had to be the best she possibly could.

Like an actor in a fifties sitcom Tony entered the room. "Honey I'm home." He smiled.

Crash went the piano and she half stood up. Katrina Bennett stood near to the paino staring at her husband with a smile. They had met a few months after Bastiana become a name and managing partner at the law firm and Katrina had started working with her as a associate. She saw him a lot of times walking around Wolf-Pearson-Specter firm visiting Mike Ross, Dana Caffrey , Amy and Travis Tanner and her bosses - turned out that Jessica Pearson knew the man- wearing an expensive suit and a grin was continuously on his face. One day he approached her and he had immediately started to flirt with her.

At first Katrina had been annoyed. She was going to be name partner of a law firm one day; she didn't have the time for some trivial romance. She had ambitions! But Tony Dinozzo wouldn't stop and continued to pursue her. Katrina didn't have any friends and after a few glasses of red wine on one especially lonely evening she had to admit to herself that she craved for contact. She couldn't be the Ice Queen the whole time, even if she wished that she could. Friends were weaknesses, but sometimes being strong and impenetrable made it even easier to be shattered.

Katrina agreed to one date. One grew to two to three until she and Tony were in a steady relationship. It was new, exciting and everything Katrina had desired as little girl, before she had come to the realisation that romantics never made it far in life. The Ice Queen melted bit by bit and she didn't mind.

They stayed together for six months before Tony drops the bomd of been the adopting son of Bastiana Wolf and the twin brother of Any Tanner, to say the truth the young woman was scared of her boss find out but approved of her courtship with Tony, she was glad about that as was Tony cause it meant that he could protect the one he loved with every fibre of his being and the same for his sonwith Katrina, who was the perfect combination of their parents, neither were ready to spill the beans on their three year marriage just yet, only when the time was right for them to drop the bombshell in their own time and when it was deemed possible to do so.

Tony was glad that his mom liked his choice of girlfriend in Katrina Bennett, as Bastiana had already had the talk or threat with Katrina regarding Tony, and Katrina had made a promise to her boss that she would look after Tony for the rest of hier life, and this change in Tony's status was not in his file nor anywhere else for that matter.

Knowing how much fun it was keeping his marriage to Katrina a secret, Tony enjoyed the secrecy of it all, as did Katrina who knew how much she loved Tony and vice versa, as their love for each other was strong and solid, they knew maybe in time they would have another baby together, but not until the Jason was around ten years old.

She greeted him with a kiss, which Tony returned with much fervor. As they pulled back, Katrina smiled. "Welcome home."

Tony had a grin on his face as he heard her greeting." Shouldn't you be terrorising the lawyers of New York with my mother?"

Katrina gave him a disappointed look. "Babe, it is eight in the evening. Been there, done that and had time for a nice evening meal."

Tony chuckled as he settled on the couch. "Sorry. I shouldn't have doubted your prowess. my lady, I am so glad you've had a better day than me."

Katrina tutted. "Why was your day so bad?"

Tony huffed and explained the trials and tribulations of the team. He didn't let all the blame lie with them - it was partially his fault as well. He let himself acknowledge that. "I played the clown so long that I let people forget the agent beneath."

She huffed. "Okay stop. My husband is not a clown and if you don't like how things are going then change them. You say you've played the clown - so stop. You are your own person and if their egos are that fragile, that says more about them than you."

Tony thought about it and Katrina was right - it could be that simple. A smile returned to his face and it was a real one. "You're right, and my wife is perfect at helping me see the wood from the trees."

"I spoke with my mother!"

Katrina did smile at that.

"At first she treated to kill them"

With a smile of amusement, she nodded. '"That's my mother-in-law ,bitchies!"

"Also she said to drop my mask and act like a fucking agent. Act like a Wolf!"Katrina frowned, looking at him searchingly, but Tony was already changing the subject."Where is Jason?"

Katrina rubbed her temples in the hopes of staving off a migraine. It wasn't working." Your son is a monster. He drove me crazy!"

"Why is it that when he acts like a pain in the ass, he's my son?"

"Just that dear."Katrina shrugged but failed to completely erase the lingering smirk on her lips."I took him at the park with Amy and Breena with the children."

Tony felt his body shiver from the words. The agent love his wife, sister and the wife of his dear Autopsy Gremlin but he refuses to be in the same room with those three when they are together, because they be scary when they want and some times they plot against them. Poor Travis and Jimmy.

"Tony." She says softly. "Did I do something wrong?"

He looks at her and can see the concern in her eyes. He knows that the right time has come he wasn't sure, but speaking with his mother made him realized that it's time.

No my love. I have something that we need to talk about. I was hoping we could do it this tonight after dinner, but now is better. Why don't you go shower I'll meet you in the kitchen when I no longer smell like a gym. And Kat nothing is wrong, so don't worry."

He walks into the kitchen twenty minutes later only to see that she had made a simple late lunch for them. After drinking some water he takes her hand in his he wants her to know that nothing is wrong at all, he always wants her to understand just how much he loves her.

"I promise nothing is wrong lets eat first then we can go and sit on the patio, while we talk."

She trust him with everything and she sees no reason to stop trusting him now.

"Come on leave the dishes." He tells her as he takes her hand in his.

Sitting in the new swing that he bought for her he sits half sideways as does she.

"You remembered when I tell you that I will act myself and drop the mask?"

"Yes!"She says softly."What are you going to do?"

Tony takes a deep breath to steady his wobbly voice before he can answer. "I will change my last name to Wolf"

''Madre''=''Mother''

"Qualcosa non va?"="Is something wrong?"

"È successo qualcosa all'azienda!"="Something happened to the company!"

''No. Va tutto bene, penso solo che dovremmo parlare."=''No. "Everything is fine, I just think we should talk."