Chapter Text
Chapter 15 Bull the Lawyer, not the TV Show Part 3
That evening when they got in the car Jethro started driving in a direction other than home.
“Where are we going?” asked Jack
“I have a surprise for you,” was all he would say.”
They pulled up in front of the brand-new Italian restaurant Le Pollo.
“Wow,” Jack said I didn’t think we could get reservations here.”
“I know I guy,” Jethro said “come on let's go.
He had one more surprise for her, they were shown to a back table and there with an attendant sat Tony.
She ran to hug him “Baby hello”
Turing to Jethro she asked, “how did you do this?”
“Just decided to ask for a family night out and it was granted as long as one of his attendants went with him so I asked Susie and she agreed.” Jehro calmly stated.
Tony held out his arms, “Momma!”
She turned and hugged “Yes Tony Momma, and Papa here’s too.”
He turned to Jethro “Papa!” Jethro leaned over and with a tear in his eye and gave Tony a squeeze of the shoulder.
Tony looked around and began to look like he was going to start crying?
“Hey Baby look we are going to eat here. It’s a special treat from Papa. It’s real Italian food. Would you like an antipasto plate? It has everything on it you like?” She looked at the waiter “could we have the antipasto plate before we order and water please” She broke off a piece of bread and handed it to Tony who began to stuff it in his mouth. Jack sat down and leaned over to whisper to Jethro “you know he eats like a 3-year-old and you have always seemed embarrassed by it yet you brought him here?”
“I decided if he was going to be my son I better start acting like it. Also if I wanted to make a success of this marriage I ought to let you in as well. You mentioned it would be good to socialize him in larger places. I wanted to take you here I wanted him to go someplace he might like and remember so here we are.”
“Thank you, my love this is the meaning of true love.”
Meanwhile, Susie leaned over to Tony and whispered “tiny bites lovie.”
As he began to stop shoving bread into his mouth and chewing carefully all of the smiled at him.
Looking at his wife Jethro said “don’t tell anyone I have a heart it will play havoc with my work environment,” Jethro said.
“My lips are sealed,” she said as she leaned over and gave him a little kiss.
Tony squeezed “dat my Papa and Mamma. Dey lub dem an dey lub me too.”
They turned and looked at Tony in awe that was the longest sentence he had ever said, The looked at Susie.
“He’s been practicing that for a long time. It was all he would say for that last three months.”
“Wow, Baby Boy, that was great and you're right we love each other and you too. Would you like more milk?”
“Soda?” he tried to grin into getting.
“Ok half a glass” Jack said and she proceeded to fill his sippy cup up halfway.
They dawdled about their dinner dragging it out for three hours, finally, the head nurse called telling Susie they needed to bring him back. He was beginning to get tired and when he did he became cranky.
“Ok, Tony it’s time to leave,” Susie said
“No” Tony grumbled.
Come on” Jack said as she started to push his modified wheelchair toward the treatment center’s van.
“NO! NO! NO! NO! GO! Tony said screaming as he was pushed out of the restaurant waving his arms around and causing havoc. They finally got him in the van. Jack Told Jethro she’d ride back to the facility with him and he could pick her up there.
He followed.
As they drove back Tony began to settle down and get sleepy.
“You’ve had a very busy day haven’t you my son? Oh, Tony” she said as she ran her hand down his cheek “I hope the Judge gives us custody of you to us. We love you so much.
When they arrived at the center, they got him to his room easily and got him into his pajamas and got him to take his medicines and he was soon in bed.”
“Thank you, Susie,” Jack said and started to offer her a tip, but she declined, “No thank you Mrs. Gibbs-Slone I was paid for tonight and I love taking care of Tony.
“Please,” Jack told Susie “You are always taking care of Tony please call me Jack. Besides Mrs. Gibbs-Slone is a name I only use for work.”
When she got back in the car, she again kissed Jethro and said that had been a very thoughtful “gift. “You know I was thinking when we take Tony from the center, we will want to hire staff. Susie would be a good one to bring on she is very good with him.”
“I agree,” said Jethro “in fact I was sort of checking her out tonight to see how she acted when we took Tony out in public. Of course, tonight was not his usual routine he was very good. I wonder if it was the Italian food?” Jethro said with a grin on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NCIS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Next Morning
Outside the courthouse
Kenneth Blake was talking to a pacing Mr. DiNozzo Sr. “Mr. DiNozzo you have to calm down, we need to go over your testimony. You know I’ve wanted to go over it for several days.”
“Look Blake” DiNozzo snarled “I have work to do I’m a businessman I don’t have time for your twattle.”
“Mr. DiNozzo this is hardly twattle if you want to get custody of your son.”
“Look I know what to tell that idiot Judge to get the idiot. And as soon as I get him then I’ll have his money and it’s off to some hospital for him where I won’t have to see him, and neither will any of my friends and associated. So, let’s go I’m prepared for court.” DiNozzo turned and marched up the rest of the front courthouse steps into the courthouse with Mr. Blake meekly following him.
As it was neither man saw one of Bulls assistants who had happened to start up the stairs. Since they were on the outside there was no expectation of client-attorney privilege, so she had listened to the entire conversation and then reported it to Bull.
The Judge entered and sat turning to Mr. Blake he said, “are you ready to begin?”
“Yes, your Honor” he turned to Mr. DiNozzo “we call Mr. DiNozzo.” After he sat in the witness chair Mr. Blake asked his Mr. DiNozzo “who are you employed by?”
“I own DiNozzo Imports International.”
“And that is an import-export firm correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you do pretty well at it don’t you?”
“Million dollars a year profit,” he said arrogantly.
“So, you have funds of your own to care for your son?” Blake asked.
“Yeah, but the money they talked about that was my wife's money and was supposed to go to me, so I would also have that to make Jr.’s life very comfortable.”
“Now we have heard testimony here that you abused your son, even threw him down the stairs, is any of it true?” Blake asked.
“No, that bitch was lying through her teeth. I never touched Jr. ever. He was a very clumsy child. Always running around and falling down.” DiNozzo said sneeringly.
“Objection you Honor the witness language is offensive and disrespectful to our witness.” Bull said.
“Sustained,” the Judge said “Mr. DiNozzo I will not stand for vulgar or inappropriate langue in my courtroom. If it continues, I will charge you with contempt of court. You are sorely trying my patience.”
“So, to continue,” Anthony was an active child?”
“Yeah, he was always running around climbing trees, sliding down the banister, in fact, I bet that is what that bi… I mean that Cain lady saw. Him sliding down the banister and falling off.”
“So why did your domestics take Anthony to the Emergency Room instead of you?”
Most of the time,” DiNozzo said “I was still at work or out of town. So, they just took him. That was the reason they went to so many different hospitals. They seem to take him to the hospitals that were in their neighborhoods.”
“Just one last question Mr. DiNozzo do you love your son?”
“Yes, we haven’t been close of late, but I blame that on outside influences. I just want the chance to reclaim my son’s affection.”
“That will be all,” said Mr. Blake.
Bull stood up to cross-examine the man. He had only one question at this time “Mr. DiNozzo have you ever left your son unchaperoned for a length of time?”
“No, of course not. He has been at school, with servants or with me or his Uncle.”
“Thank you, no other questions, your Honor.” Bull said.
“We would like to call Vicente Scarpasie,” Blake said.
A man who looked like Sal Mineo, straight out of Rebel Without A Cause, advanced and took the witness stand. “Mr. Scarpasie,” Blake asked, “you are a long-time employee and friend of Mr. DiNozzo are you not?”
“Yeah,” he said as he slouched in his seat.
“In all the time you have known him have you ever seen him hit or mistreat Anthony Jr at any time?”
“Naw, Da Boss ain't never dun nuthin to da boy ever,” Scarpasie said.
“Thank you that will be all.
Bull stood up “Mr. Scarpasie, how long have you known Mr. DiNozzo?”
”10 maybe 12 years I guess.”
“Are you aware of the fact that if you have only known Mr. DiNozzo for 10-12 years that it highly unlikely you have ever even met Tony as he went to college 14 years ago and never saw his father after starting college? Withdrawn, we have no further questions of this witness your Honor.”
Blake stood and said they had no further witnesses.
Bull stood and said they had one rebuttal witness. Keanu Ailani
Blake jumped up and said they did not know of this witness on the witness list.
Bull showed the Judge their witness list and there was one Keanu Ailani.
“Sorry,” the Judge said “you should have done your due diligence, you may call Mr. Ailani.
“Mr. Ailani,” Bull asked him “you are the newly retired manager of the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is that not correct?”
“Yes Sir” Mr. Ailani answered politely.
“And how long did you work there?” Bull asked?
“I was in service there for 25 years.”
“So, you started in 1990.”
“Yes, when the resort was opened.”
“How did you come to know Mr. DiNozzo?”
“He has been a guest at the resort probably 50 times over the years.”
“Was there one time that stood out, however?”
“Yes, it was in 1992. He was staying at the resort with his young son. After about the 3rd day we noticed an increase in movie rentals and room service. We attempted to contact Mr. DiNozzo but were unable to. We finally did contact his son. The young boy had no idea where his father was, he thought he was just at meetings and coming in after he went to sleep and leaving before he awoke. We watched a few more days and then decided to contact Mr. DiNozzo’s home office. We were told he was in Maui, and after telling him we must see him that night we were assured we would. Our night manager reported he did not see Mr. DiNozzo, but he did come in to see me in the early morning of the next day. He got his son and checked out immediately. In checking around, one of my airport drivers said he saw Mr. DiNozzo arriving from the overnight New York plane that morning.”
“So, it is your belief he left his 12-year-old son in Maui alone, unchaperoned for 5 days?” Bull asked incredulously?
“Yes,” Mr. Ailani answered.
“No further questions,” Bull said.
“Mr. Ailani just how are we to believe you know all this detail after all this time?” Blake asked.
“Because it was an unusual incident, and Mr. DiNozzo was a wealthy client. I kept it just in case he might decide to sue the resort and I might need it for evidence. Then it got set aside as such things to. When Agent Torres called asking about the event, I remembered the notes and found them in an old ledger.”
“No further questions,” Blake said as he sat down.
No further witnesses Bull said.
No further witnesses Blake said.
“Thank you, gentlemen, I will review my notes and have an answer for you in about an hour.” The Judge said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NCIS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One and a half hours later the Judge called all parties back into the courtroom. After sitting down, he began. “This is the type of custody case we don’t often see; however, it is one of the most important reasons adult adoption exists. Here we have a biological father who says he wants a relationship with his son and on the other hand, we have a family who also wants this young man as a son and has gone to great lengths to prove the unfitness of the biological father.” Turning to Mr. DiNozzo he said “Mr. DiNozzo I find you have never demonstrated even the basest of parenting attention. Even you admit your son was left to domestics to be cared for until you could send him off to school. I have also reviewed the home visit recommendations. They are strongly in favor of the Jethro Gibbs, and Jacqueline Gibbs-Slone family. The recommendation for both Anthony’s discharging hospital and his current treatment center also recommend Jethro Gibbs and Jacqueline Gibbs-Slone. It is for all these reasons I proudly grand custody of Anthony DiNozzo to Jethro Gibbs, and Jacqueline Gibbs Slone. Antony’s legal name will now be Tony Gibbs-Slone. Congratulations.” The Judge banged his gavel and left the court.
The courtroom erupted.
Gibbs, Jack, Abby, Ducky, Tim, Jimmie, Leon, Ellie, Torres, and Kasie were all standing around hugging and congratulating each other and Bull.
Mr. DiNozzo was screaming this was not the end of this and wait until he got thru with them, they’d wish they’d never been born. He’d see them all dead before they got ahold of Jr and his money.
Mr. Blake was trying in vain to get Mr. DiNozzo out of the courthouse hoping no one heard his threats and if they had that they never came true. He was also glad he never had to see this man again. He was done with one Anthony DiNozzo Sr.