Belinda's Fanfic Series

[Belinda]

THIS IS THE FIRST STORY IN MY NCIS FANFIC SERIES CALLED "RIVER'S CHRONICLE"

TITLE: Like Father, Like Son

SUMMARY: A marine¡¯s death. A mother¡¯s kidnapping. A child¡¯s call for help. And a family secret that will change Tony¡¯s life forever.

NOTE: This story is set around season 3, Tony will be 34 in this and his full name will be Anthony Dominic DiNozzo while his father¡¯s name will be Dominic DiNozzo.

DISCLAIMER: Don't own NCIS....blah..blah....you all know the drill

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CHAPTER ONE: And It Begins

A single gunshot alerted a young boy of the trouble he was about to face as he turned the corner to his house. He watched as men dressed in black with shotguns standing in front of his house, seconds later his heart leaped to his throat as he watched his mother being pulled out of the house kicking and screaming. But before he could even react, he was grabbed from behind.

¡°Hey boss, look what I found!¡± A man¡¯s cold and sneering voice could be heard.

Struggling to get free, the boy did the only thing he could do. He bit down hard on the man¡¯s arm at the same time kicking the man in the crotch. The unexpected move made the man dropped the boy as the kid ran with everything he had in him, only turning his head back to get a last glimpse of his mother.

¡°Run son, run!¡± The mother¡¯s voice could be heard as she was shoved into the car.

The boy kept on running, and after what seemed like hours later, he found a dumpster to hide in, took out his cell phone and dialed the number that his mother had always told him to call if anything were to happen.

¡°NCIS, how can we help you?¡±

¡°Please I need to speak to Agent DiNozzo, I¡¯m River Anthony DiNozzo, and I need help please hurry!¡±

[Belinda]

CHAPTER TWO: Meet the Son

Tony DiNozzo was bored, oh yes, he was very bored, which was the reason why he was currently lobbing paper balls at McGee¡¯s head. He had thought about getting Ziva, but then figured that the consequences were way too risky. He actually wanted to live through the day.

He was just about to toss his fifteenth ball when a hand snatched it out of midair.

¡°Hey Boss¡­..¡± But before Tony even started, he was cut off.

¡°A call came in this morning at 0812 hour asking for you, DiNozzo. The caller was identified as a boy calling himself River Anthony DiNozzo.¡±

Silence immediately fell over the bullpen. Tony stood gaping at his boss wondering if this was an April Fool¡¯s joke. Ziva and McGee looked just stunned.

¡°And no DiNozzo, this one is for real¡­..here¡¯s a recording of the conversation.¡±

Gibbs pressed a few buttons and looked towards the plasma screen as the sound recording played.

¡°NCIS, how can we help you?¡±

¡°Please I need to speak to Agent DiNozzo, I¡¯m River Anthony DiNozzo, and I need help please hurry.¡±

¡°Alright, don¡¯t panic, can you tell me where you are?¡±

Short panting breath can be heard before the boy spoke again, ¡°I¡¯m in a dumpster, right behind the Old Warehouse on 66¡­¡­I¡­¡­¡± The boy stopped as an unknown noise could be heard through the call before the panicky voice came back on the line, ¡°I gotta go, they found me¡­.¡±

¡°Wait¡­.don¡¯t¡­¡± But it was too late as the connection was cut off.

Gibbs turned around and looked at his team, Tony in particular. He didn¡¯t want to think his senior field agent would lie about having a child or even abandon one. And judging from the look on his face, Gibbs figured this came as a shock to Tony as much as it did with himself.

¡°Boss I swear I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Tony tried to speak, but the shock certainly wasn¡¯t helping. There was just no way he could have a kid, he had never thought about it.

¡°That can wait for later, right now we have to find the boy.¡± Gibbs made a move to deflect the awkwardness that they all must be feeling, ¡°Metro PD got a hit off the boy¡¯s name, database matched it to a River Anthony Morrisini DiNozzo. Now the police was dispatched to the boy's house about 15 minutes after that call came to NCIS when a neighbor called 911, they found the place trashed and a man that was identified as Navy Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Gordon was found dead. 3 gunshots to the chest and one to the head. The boy and a woman who must be the mother were reported missing. As of right now, this is our case.¡±

Gibbs could tell the confusion his team felt, but before he could address them, his cell phone rang.

¡°Gibbs. Yeah, okay, I got it.¡± Gibbs grabbed his gun and badge before turning to his team, ¡°Gear up, Metro PD found the boy, we¡¯re heading down to the station.¡±

With that, the team burst into action as they grabbed what they needed and followed Gibbs out.

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As Gibbs walked into the doors of the Metro PD with his three team members on his heel, he could already see a small boy sitting with his back to the doors in a waiting room talking to a uniformed officer. It was when the officer noticed the NCIS team¡¯s arrival and said something to the boy that the boy finally turned his head around.

It was that moment that Gibbs heard gasps behind him and he felt time stopped.

That face, he could have recognized it anywhere, he knew there was no denying it now. The boy looked exactly like Tony, the handsome face, the light brown hair, and the green eyes, Tony¡¯s eyes. This boy was Tony¡¯s spitting image, a mini-DiNozzo so to speak.

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He had told himself that working at NCIS that he had to be prepared for anything that happens. But never, never did he prepare himself for fatherhood, for suddenly having a child appear out of thin air, not like that. When Gibbs had told him the news, he was so sure that it was a joke, but now, staring at it in the face, that was a whole different story.

Tony watched as the boy¡¯s head turned and their eyes met. The same eyes, the eyes Tony himself had gotten from his mother. He knew at that moment there was no going back. No tests could dispel the truth in front of him, this boy that looked exactly like him, this boy who had his eyes, his mother¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t need anything else to be sure that this little boy, River, is indeed his flesh and blood.

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The officer met Gibbs and the others at the door of the waiting room, ¡°The boy seems okay, but we are calling in a doc to look him over just to make sure. You can talk to him. He seems to know what you guys do.¡±

Gibbs nodded and shook the officer¡¯s hand, ¡°Thank you, but if you don¡¯t mind, we¡¯d like to call in our own doctor. The boy is the only witness we have to a murder investigation.¡±

¡°Alright, I don¡¯t think that will be a problem. I¡¯ll go inform the captain. You can go on in.¡±

With that, the officer walked away, leaving Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, and McGee standing by the door. A bit unnerved by the young boy¡¯s penetrating gaze through the glass window.

¡°Ziva, call Ducky and tell him that we are bringing him a guest.¡±

With a nod, Ziva quickly left to make the call.

Gibbs took in a breath before opening the door and stepping inside, followed by Tony and McGee. The three men gathered around the small boy sitting on the bench. Gibbs knelt down in front of the boy while Tony and McGee stood slightly behind their boss.

¡°You got my call?¡± The boy surprised the three by speaking first.

Gibbs recovered first and smiled, ¡°We did, that was a very brave thing you did by calling for help. I¡¯m Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, the two men behind me are Agents DiNozzo and McGee, your name is River?¡±

¡°Yea¡­¡± Gibbs noticed River¡¯s eyes flickered to Tony as he answered ¡°¡­my mommy named me, she said it was because I was conceived by the river.¡±

¡°Well that¡¯s a very good name.¡± Gibbs smiled again before turning back to his questions, ¡°Why did you call NCIS and ask for Agent DiNozzo?¡±

¡°Mommy said that¡­¡­¡± River¡¯s small voice became ever smaller, ¡°¡­that if we were in DC and there was trouble, that I should always call for NCIS and ask for Agent DiNozzo, that I¡¯d be safe with NCIS because Agent DiNozzo¡­because¡­he¡¯s¡­he¡¯s my Daddy¡­¡±

The boy¡¯s declaration seemed to cement the reality even more.

¡°Who¡­.who is your mother?¡± This time it was Tony¡¯s shaking voice that spoke. Gibbs could hear the anxiety and anticipation in his voice, just begging to know what was going on.

River looked up at Tony, green eyes meeting green eyes, ¡°Elena Rhianne Morrisini¡±

Tony¡¯s eyes widened as he breathed out a single word, ¡°No¡­¡±

[Belinda]

CHAPTER THREE: Secrets Revealed

¡°Who¡­.who is your mother?¡± This time it was Tony¡¯s shaking voice that spoke. Gibbs could hear the anxiety and anticipation in his voice, just begging to know what was going on.

River looked up at Tony, green eyes meeting green eyes, ¡°Elena Rhianne Morrisini¡±

Tony¡¯s eyes widened as he breathed out a single word, ¡°No¡­¡±

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All eyes landed on Tony at that moment.

¡°No¡­.it can¡¯t be¡­.it just can¡¯t be¡­¡± The anguish and pain could be clearly heard in Tony¡¯s shaky voice. ¡°She¡­.she¡¯s dead¡­she¡¯s been dead for nearly 12 years¡­I saw her¡­.I saw her body¡­I saw the explosion¡­it just can¡¯t be.¡±

The sadness and grief that filled Tony¡¯s usually bright eyes tugged at Gibbs¡¯s paternal instincts. He was torn between doing the job and wrapping his arms around his senior field agent to let him know that everything would be okay. But before he could even decide, Tony was already heading out the door, nearly trampling Ziva who had just joined in.

It took Gibbs a second to recover before he chased out after Tony, leaving Ziva and McGee alone with one River DiNozzo.

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His vision blurred by tears, his heart pounding so loudly in his ears. Tony sped down the hallway aimlessly. All he wanted was to get away from his past. He had kept the memories buried for almost 12 years. He had sworn he would never think about them again, ever. But once again, his past had come knocking on the doors and turning his world upside down.

He had been totally unaware of where he was going until he collided with something hard. But before he could fall, two steady hands gripped his arms, holding him up. Slowly lifting his head, green eyes met blue ones.

Losing all control, Tony sagged limply against Gibbs¡¯s chest as tears flooded out of his eyes.

All Gibbs could do was holding onto the man he always thought of as a son, his strong arms wrapped tightly around Tony¡¯s shaking body.

¡°Just let it out Tony, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m right here.¡± Gibbs whispered softly, trying so hard to soothe the heartbroken young man.

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River just sat there staring out at the direction to which his father, Anthony DiNozzo, had just run out. He wished things could be easier, he understood his father¡¯s shocked and hurt feelings at the revelation of having a son or the fact that River¡¯s mother had been alive all this time. They never meant to let the secret hurt his father. It was never meant to be this way. River wanted to run out and hug his father, he wanted things to be okay again, he wanted to stop living life always looking over his shoulder.

Silence drifted over the room, he looked around at the two people in the room with him. Agent McGee and a dark-haired woman that he didn¡¯t know.

¡°What¡¯s your name miss?¡±

The two NCIS agents¡¯ heads shot up, their eyes landed on the boy who had just spoken.

Noticing that the boy¡¯s gaze was on her, Ziva smiled, ¡°I¡¯m Ziva, Officer Ziva David.¡±

¡°I¡¯m River. You¡¯re Israeli Mossad right?¡±

Ziva and McGee glanced at each other in surprise.

¡°It¡¯s okay, I can tell by your accent and you look really dangerous.¡± River flashed a bright smile, a smile that reminded Ziva and McGee so much of Tony.

The room became quiet again for a few seconds before River¡¯s voice could be heard again, ¡°Uh¡­I¡¯m kinda hungry¡­can I get some pizza? Sausage, Pepperoni, and extra cheese?¡±

For the second time that day Ziva and McGee¡¯s eyes met again, this time in amusement. Oh yes, definitely Tony¡¯s boy.

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It seemed like they¡¯ve been sitting on the ground for hours, Gibbs sitting against the wall with his left arm around Tony whose head leaned against Gibbs¡¯s chest. Gibbs didn¡¯t care who saw them, he didn¡¯t care what people thought. The only thing that mattered to him right now is Tony¡¯s well-being. His senior field agent never breaks down easily, it doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that whatever happened between Tony and Elena Morrisini was more than just a simple relationship.

¡°I loved her Boss¡­¡± Tony¡¯s unusually small voice broke the silence, ¡°We were childhood sweethearts I guess, I¡¯ve known her since I was a kid. She was one of the few people who actually believed in me, she encouraged me to pursue my dreams. We were best friends, even when I was sent away to the Rhode Island Military Academy, she still found a way to always be in touch with me. We started dating when we were in high school. She was so beautiful Boss, she had the best smile. She knew me better than I knew myself. We had everything planned out, our future, marriage, even starting a family. We went out to a river side cabin for my 22nd birthday, decided that from that moment on, we were going to stand by each other and love each other no matter what. We slept together for the first time there in that cabin. Then two days later when I was going to pick her up from her house, it blew up. I saw the paramedics pull out her body¡­.¡±

Gibbs tightened his hold on Tony when he felt the younger man shudder.

¡°I can still feel the heat of the blast Boss¡­I never stopped wondering if I had just gotten there faster that I would have saved her¡­.and now to find out that she¡¯s been alive all this time with a child. I don¡¯t know what to believe Boss.¡±

Gibbs gently lifted Tony¡¯s chin, looking into the green eyes, ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out Tony, we¡¯ll do it together. I promise.¡± And Gibbs meant it too, he never wanted to see the lost look in his agent¡¯s eyes again. Tony deserved better than this, and Gibbs was willing tear the world apart to give his ¡®son¡¯ the peace he needs.

¡°Thanks Boss.¡±

Two simple words, but spoken with so much trust, brought a rare smile to Gibbs¡¯s face, ¡°Good, now if you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m going to get off this floor. I¡¯m not getting any younger DiNozzo.¡± With a firm grip on his younger agent¡¯s arm, Gibbs pulled Tony and himself to their feet and gave Tony¡¯s hair a ruffle. ¡°Now I think we should go talk to Mini-You. I left him with McGee and Ziva, and the last thing I need is for him to glue McGee to the wall and murdered by Ziva.¡±

Giving Tony a gentle pat on the back, Gibbs led his senior agent back to down the hallway.

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The sight that greeted Gibbs and Tony as they returned to the waiting room was one of strange familiarity. Little River was happily stuffing his mouth full of pizza while talking and gesturing animatedly and Ziva and McGee listening to the boy with rapt attention.

¡°Like father, like son.¡± Gibbs said with a chuckle before opening the door to the waiting room and walk inside. Tony hesitated for a bit before finally walking in after Gibbs.

Ziva and McGee immediately stood at attention when they saw their boss in the room, causing River to giggle with amusement.

¡°Well, what do we have here?¡± Gibbs looked between the boy and his two agents.

¡°You see Agent Gibbs¡­I was hungry¡­¡± River smiled sheepishly, the same way Tony always got when he was caught doing something he shouldn¡¯t be doing. ¡°I wanted some pizza, so Miss Ziva was nice enough to get one of the officers to pick it up for me. It¡¯s sausage, pepperoni, and extra cheese, you want some?¡± River finished speaking as he held out a slice of pizza to Gibbs.

Gibbs took the slice from River as he raised an eyebrow at Tony, obviously looks were not the only things that River Anthony DiNozzo had inherited from Tony. Sitting down on the bench next to the boy, Gibbs knew he had to talk to River about what was going on.

¡°Alright River, we¡¯re going to have to take you back to our headquarters with us, that okay with you?¡±

A worried look passed over the boy¡¯s face, ¡°I should call Uncle Jack, he¡¯ll get really worried when he comes home and I¡¯m not there.¡±

¡°Uncle Jack?¡± Gibbs¡¯s eyes darkened, his gut telling him that what he was going to hear next would not be good news.

¡°Yeah, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Gordon. Mommy and I live with him at his house. He¡¯s working on base at Quantico but he usually makes it home for lunch and stuff.¡± River rambled on, unaware of the concern and stunned glances passed between the four adults.

Gibbs felt anger erupt inside him, how could the Metro PD not tell the boy about the truth, were they just going let River found it out on his own? Knowing he had to tell the boy the news, Gibbs took in a small breath before he spoke gently, ¡°River¡­Jackson Gordon was found dead this morning at the house, the police was there and they found his body and reported you and your mother missing.¡±

The NCIS agents watched as River¡¯s eyes widened in horror and shock, ¡°Oh no¡­I have to go, it¡¯s not safe!¡± Quickly sliding off the bench, River headed for the door only to be stopped by his father.

¡°Wow easy there buddy, nothing is going to happen to you!¡± Tony was stunned and concerned at his son¡¯s actions.

¡°You don¡¯t understand! If Uncle Jack¡¯s dead then he¡¯s found us, that¡¯s why Mommy¡¯s gone, that¡¯s why they tried to take me. You guys aren¡¯t safe around me, he¡¯ll come after you too and I can¡¯t let that happen. He¡¯ll come and kill you all.¡± River shouted out in panic and despair as he struggled against his father¡¯s hold.

¡°Who River? Who¡¯s coming?¡± Gibbs¡¯s steady voice seemed to have calmed down the scared child.

River slowly ceased to struggle and turned to look at Gibbs, ¡°Grandfather Morrisini. He¡¯s the reason why Mommy and I couldn¡¯t be with Daddy. He faked Mommy¡¯s death all those years ago because he didn¡¯t want Mommy to run off with a misfit. He made sure that Mommy didn¡¯t go anywhere without him knowing. Mommy didn¡¯t have any other choice, I was too young and she didn¡¯t want to risk me getting hurt. She only told me the truth 2 years ago, and a week later she made up a plan with Uncle Jack that helped us escape from Grandfather. We¡¯ve been on the run ever since, never staying too long in one place. We even had to get out of the country, twice. We managed to make it to DC 3 days ago, just 3 weeks after Uncle Jack was transferred to Quantico. And now he¡¯s found us in DC and he knows why we¡¯re here. I can¡¯t let him kill all of you.¡±

Seeing the fear in his only child¡¯s eyes caused a huge surge of paternal protectiveness inside Tony as he instinctively embraced the shivering boy. He may have never been good with little kids or have any experience as a parent, but he¡¯ll be damned if he was going to let his little boy, his only son, get hurt because of old man Morrisini¡¯s vendetta.

¡°No one is going to hurt you River, I won¡¯t let them, you got that? I¡¯m not going to let that happen. I promise.¡± Tony whispered into his son¡¯s ears.

He had lost so much time with his son and with Elena. Now that he knows the truth, now that he knows that the first woman he ever loved and still love had not die or abandon him. Tony was not going to let them go so easily, he was not going to let old man Jacobi Morrisini keep him away from his family any longer. Strangely enough, Tony had never thought Jacobi Morrisini would go this far to keep Tony away from his only daughter. But that mattered little now, he had made Tony his enemy when he took away Tony's family.

Though it may have been only hours since he met his son, Tony had already fallen in love with the little boy who held onto him tightly, his son¡¯s head burrowed against his chest.

And for the first time in River¡¯s short life, he had never felt so safe and assured than now with his head pressed against his father¡¯s chest and hearing the strong steady heartbeat thumping beneath that somehow seems to calm him down. ¡°I love you Daddy.¡±

A small smile appeared on Tony¡¯s face as he replied softly, ¡°I love you too pal.¡±

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Gibbs had never been more proud of Tony than right now as he watched the young man who had never really been prepared for fatherhood face his fears and embrace his son. The scene before him brought back so many memories of himself with Shannon and Kelly. He knew Tony would be a great father, his agent was loving, caring, compassionate, courageous, and protective. A damn good friend and someone Gibbs always trusted to watch his six, Tony would be a natural at parenting given the chance.

Gibbs wasn¡¯t the only one who smiled at the scene in front of them. Ziva and McGee found themselves seeing a whole different side of Tony, a side that he didn¡¯t often show unless when hell broke loose. They knew he had that caring and loving side in him, but it wasn¡¯t something that he showed on a daily basis. Ziva and McGee couldn¡¯t stop the smiles appearing on their faces, they were truly happy for Tony, and for his son.

Though his voice appeared to be gruff, Gibbs couldn¡¯t be more happy than now and he knew his agents understood too, ¡°Alright you two, enough of the hugging session. We should head back now before Ducky sends an ambulance after us.¡±

With that said, Gibbs watched as Tony and River finally let go from their embrace, both flashing identical DiNozzo smiles at him while Ziva and McGee nodded and picked up their gear.

Together, the four NCIS agents walked out of the Metro PD, with Tony holding onto River¡¯s small hand.

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More than 20 feet away, a black car parked near the opposite curb as two men inside watched the five figures walk out of the police station.

Taking out a cell phone, one of the men dialed and seconds later a connection was made, ¡°We found the kid sir, but it looks like we got some problems.¡±

¡°What it is?¡± A barking voice could be heard.

¡°The father.¡±

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COMING UP ON THE NEXT CHAPTER.....

- River returns with the team to NCIS headquarters and meets Abby, Ducky, and Director Shepard.

- The Morrisini family meets together to find a solution to their problem.

- Elena, River¡¯s mother, manages to contact Tony, but what will they say after nearly 12 years?

- A gunshot is fired into NCIS headquarters, who will be left standing and who will fall?