Nine Years Ago

Tony Dinozzo was walking down the streets of Baltimore. He was off work for the night and was just walking around with nothing to do. Yes Tony didn't have a date tonight why was it such a shocker he had yet to find out. He turned a corner and a child ran into his leg. She was maybe four had hair and eyes that matched his own but he thought it was just a coincidence. He watched her walk off and that's when he saw she was alone and there were tears streaming down her face. He went over and grabbed the sleeve of her jacket.

She wriggled out and began running. He jogged after her hoping it would seem as though he wasn't chasing her. He caught up to her and only did so because she turned into a park that was completely empty. "Let me go!" she shouted as he lifted her feet off the ground. She screamed, kicked, hit, and cried begging to be let go. When she had finally stopped everything but crying he asked, "Where are your parents?" "I need to find the police." she told him not answering the question. "Your talking to one now where are your parents?" he repeated. "My mom I don't know what happened she made me leave and then I heard her scream and I saw her bleeding on the floor and-" she stopped beginning to cry harder. He calmed her down and he went to the police station with the girl in hand. He had put her jacket on over her skirt sneakers and long-sleeved blue shirt.

He walked into the station with her on his hip asleep from all her crying. "Dinozzo how'd you find her?" his chief asked. "You mean this little one. I found her while walking the street. Why what's going on?" "We've been looking for Marsha everywhere. Her mom was murdered she's going to put into protective custody till we know what to do with her." his chief said as someone began to take her from his arms. She woke up and began screaming again when she found herself in the arms of a complete stranger.

He put her down and she ran back and hid behind Tony gripping his leg tight. "Well Tony seems she's taken a liking to you." his chief said. "I think that's an understatement." he responded picking the little girl up into his arms. She buried her head into his shoulder instantly falling back asleep. "Well looks like your going to need to keep her safe till this mystery is solved." he was ordered. "Sure thing sir." He said going to his own home.

At Tony's Bachelor Pad

He opened the door Marsha still fast asleep in his arms. He entered the house and shut the door silently so he wouldn't wake the girl. He went to his room and laid her on the bed covering her up so she wouldn't get cold and went to clean up his pad. When he sat down in the living room when he heard the soft pad of tiny feet coming down the hall. Marsha came out of the hall rubbing her eyes and to him just looking so adorable. "Hey what are you doing up?" he asked as the girl came over and climbed onto the couch next to him. "I'm not tired." she told him.

"You like movies?" he asked. She nodded her head vigorously. "Well then," he said scooping her up and heading over to his movie collection, "lets watch one." She immediately picked up Cinderella which he somewhat expected he smiled and popped the movie in. They sat and watched it the rest of the night falling asleep on the couch.

The next day

Tony woke up feeling something heavy on his chest. He opened his eyes to see Marsha curled up asleep on his chest. The events of last night came rushing back and he smiled before it turned into a frown. Whomever had done this was going to pay. They had shattered Marsha's world and he would make them pay. She stirred and woke up first being confused at her surroundings before remembering where she was. "Good Morning Tony." she said to him sliding to the ground. He stared at her for a minute before getting up himself. She stared at him and he stared back. "This looks like the start to a wonderful friendship he said. She smiled hit him in the leg and ran saying "Your it." and of course being the dummy he is he ran after her.

It had been a few weeks and they weren't any closer to finding the killer as they were to finding Marsha's father. They had found out the same day after meeting that no one knew her biological father. According to her she never had one. Tony sighed and looked at the girl asleep in his lap. A was band-aid placed on her arm from where they had drawn blood for to help find her dad. He didn't know why but it had killed him to watch her scream when the needle in her arm and he still had yet to figure that out. At that moment a man ran in looking quite satisfied with himself for whatever reason. Since Tony was the only one in the station at the moment.

"May I help you?" he asked. "Give me the girl." he ordered pulling out a gun. Tony became afraid not for himself but for Marsha who was in direct fire of the gun. Thinking of something quickly he asked "She's right in front of ya why don't you just shoot her and get it over with." he asked. The man's hand began shaking on the gun. "I mean I'm just a cop hell bent on throwing scum like you in jail." he continued standing up holding Marsha close to him. "So why don't you?" he asked.

The man looked ready to pull the trigger when a shot was fired and he was down and dead not to mention waking Marsha. "Thanks chief." "No problem, Dinozzo your gonna want to read this." he said handing him a letter. His name was on it and he decided to take a guess and say "This from the victim?" "Yes how'd she know you?" He gave his chief a look that told him everything. He brought Marsha back home and put her in front of the TV and popped in a James Bond film. Yes the four year old loved James Bond as well as Cinderella. He went into the next room and opened up the letter to read:

Dear Tony,

You probably don't remember me but I remember you. I was one of your probably many one-night stands by now. If you ever receive this letter it means I'm dead. I know should have told you this a long time ago but I was too scared. That one nightstand got me pregnant and when my parents found out they disowned me.

I need you to promise to take care of our daughter that is the only thing I need from you. Make sure she is safe and protected and if you can't take care of her yourself please find someone who will. In my will I leave everything to her so if you do decide to keep her you should be well off even for a short while. Tell her that I'll be watching over her everyday and that no matter what I will always be proud of her.

Natalie Maria Rhodes

He read the letter over three times before finally getting the message. Marsha was his daughter and that was the reason why he felt so over protective than a protection duty cop should be. He decided to fake a call to tell her so he picked up the phone as if it had rung. "Yes thank you. I'll tell her. Kay bye." he "hung up" and went into the living room to see the girl.

He paused the video to get her attention and when she looked at him he told her. "Well Marsha looks like we found your dad." he said. "Can I meet him?" she asked jumping off the couch. "You already have." he told her kneeling down to her height. She ran into his arms joy evident on her face and hugged him around the neck. He smiled this might be a good thing for him.

Six Years Ago

"Daddy!" screamed a now seven-year-old Marsha. She looked every inch her father what with his smile, build, hair and eye color. "Hey there kiddo." he said as she ran over to him her backpack swinging off her back. She jumped into the backseat and they were on there way home. He grabbed the mail on his doorstep and entered there home. Marsha went to drop her things in her room and change into more comfortable clothes for later.

Tony had enrolled her in different sports and she had grown adapted to becoming like her father. Tony ordered pizza before looking through the mail he had brought in. Most of it was bills but he came across a letter that read NCIS. He had applied for the probation officer just last week. He quickly tore it open and read the letter. He had gotten the postion. "Dad that pizza guys here!" Marsha yelled answering the door. He paid for the pizza and told Marsha about the new job. She jumped with joy and hugged him before they went to practice.

The next day he went into get his tour and fill out paperwork. He brought Marsha with him to meet his new boss. A man with gray hair and ice blue eyes walked up to them. Tony was intimidated by him but Marsha just looked at him with absolutely nothing but curiosity in her eyes. "Hi I'm Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. You must be Anthony Dinozzo." Gibbs said shaking Tony's hand. "Tony please." he told the man. "And who may this be?" "Marsha Talia Dinozzo." she introduced herself to the man.

"Your kid I assume. Where's her mother?" Marsha grew sad and became quiet and Gibbs saw a knowing look from Tony. "Well Marsha it's very nice to meet you." Gibbs told the girl ruffling her hair making her giggle. The rest of the day went off without a hitch so to speak and it looked as though Gibbs had been adopted into the very small family of two.

Seven Years Ago

Dinozzo woke up to find the iguana very close to him and he yelped waking up everyone else. Gibbs and Kate came in guns raised ready to fire. Seeing the reptile they looked over at Dinozzo to see he was naked. He lifted a table to cover himself just as Marsha entered the room. "What's all the screaming about?" she asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Neat iguana." she said going over to it and lifting into her arms. That's was the one thing the two didn't have in common she was good with animals while he was not. Kate laughed at Dinozzo and Gibbs left to get coffee.

Two Years Ago

Marsha was now twelve and was standing on Gibbs doorstep. Tony knocked on the door and Gibbs opened seeing the pair standing there he quickly ushered them inside. "Marsha you can go set your stuff in the guest room." he said and Marsha did as she was told. "You promise not to let anyone see her." Tony said since McGee, Ziva, and Director Vance had been left out of the loop (techinaclly Vance can't be left out but tough luck). "She will stay safe until you get back I promise." Gibbs promised him. Marsha came back out and after tearful good byes he left.

A few months ago

"You better bring back his head Dinozzo." Abby ordered as Marsha at age thirteen now stood in the background. "There is no way I'm leaving Africa without finding that man Abby I promise." Tony said his voice laced with anger and sorrow. Marsha hugged him good bye and he left with McGee and Gibbs for the horn of Africa.

Present Day

"Dad get up or I'll be late for school and you for work." Marsha told her dad waking him up. "Yeah you go get ready and I'll meet you at the door. Marsha nodded and left while he changed into one of his many suits. He met Marsha at the door to the apartment. She was in cargo pants and a blue t-shirt with her favorite combat boots and messenger bag chowing down on poptarts. "You got your knife?" he asked. She brought out her pocket knife to show him the proof. "Cell phone?" she showed him. "Pager?" showed him. "Homework?" "Your stalling and I have that too." "Just making sure." he said and they left. Just like three years ago McGee, Ziva, and Vance still didn't know about the girl but that was all about to change within just 24 hours.