A.N.: I know, I know, this delay is ridiculous! I'm facing some trouble in my personal life, my muse (a.k.a. INSPIRATION) was gone, but now is back piece by piece.

I am truly sorry.

Do you all watching the new seasons? I like all, except the news about Pauley leaving NCIS! The great original cast is now almost over! Okay, enough chat and back to the story!

DISCLAIMER: As usual, nothing is mine except the plot and some future original characters.

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No more than three months have passed since Marty was released from the hospital. It was a quick and ruthless process for the destroyed family; the boy was welcomed and adopted by the Gibbs family, testified against Gordon and all the evidence was fundamental. Brandel got a life sentence, with no parole, and he could never maintain contact with his son.

Finally, no evidence of infidelity was found. It was nothing more than a paranoia lodged in the alcoholic head of a man full of evil.

Marty asked a special favor to the couple who welcomed him. He wanted to carry her mother's maiden name, for she was, is, and always will be his greatest hero. Of course Shannon and Leroy couldn't deny it. In fact they understood perfectly well the boy's motives.

So, the only son of Gordon and Roberta Brandel became Martin Andrew Deeks. All kinship with the monster that made his early years a real hell became just a blemish lost in the past.

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Still, Marty has nightmares. Less than in the first few weeks, but happens. He always does everything to not scream, cry or call his adoptive parents; they're already very busy with Kelly. And he has one fixed thought: thet he lives there as a favor, although the couple always demonstrate happiness to have him in the family.

The boy became a closed person and very few people were able to climb the wall he built around himself. Months passed like this, until Leroy came up with the idea of helping him in some of his extra lessons. Marty had been attending martial arts academies about two years before Roberta's death, because he hoped one day he could face his father and save her. With all the tragedy that happened he simply lost interest for almost everything. It was Jethro's turn to shine some brightly on the boy again.

When Jethro had a opening chat with Marty, he said he practices some variations of martial arts in the Navy. And he'd like to teach the boy some things. Extra lessons started on a tuesday afternoon just after the boy's school. And Gibbs couldn't be more surprised.

Marty's speed and skills are unbelievable, to say the least. A prodigy not only in theoric but also in the practical habilities. If he went through some evaluation, he would certainly get the black belt in any dojo! Perhaps the only thing that separated him from this was the many missing classes caused of Gordon's beatings, which led to the emergency room.

He also has a lot of agility and elasticity. Can climb walls, trees and grids without any effort. Leroy discovered it one early morning when the boy tried to escape, fearing he would have to live in a foster home or an orphanage. The Marine witnessed all the resourcefulness that didn't fit into the body of an 11-year-old boy, and this made him even more surprised. Gordon has no idea how talented his son is - and never will.

During his studies, Marty was almost a natural polyglot. When he arrived at the Gibbs' house he already knew three languages - Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin. He also became interested in Cyrillic, French and Italian. The one he had most difficulty was the Eastern European language. Still, He didn't take two years for relatively long conversations.

After all this time, Marty celebrates his thirteenth year of life, two of them lived without threats, beatings, shouts or curses. Shannon and Jethro don't spoil him, but they show all the love and pride any parents could have for their kid. They let him be the free child he never had the chance to be while living with Gordon.

He also became a very loving brother. He's always close to Kelly and does everything to protect her. The day she started walking, Leroy was on filmed all, and Marty supported the girl in every tiny step. The shine of pride in his very blue eyes was something that became eternal in Shannon and Jethro's memory.

During the small celebration for his 13 year birthday, he meets a new person. Someone who, although he doesn't know, has been watching him for a long time.

- Marty! Can you come here for a minute?

The boy interrupted the conversation with the other kids and ran toward the - now - his father. After all the kid suffered, it makes Leroy's heart good to see the wide, loose smile on his face.

- I want you to meet my... aunt. This is Henrietta. Hetty, this is Marty. I told about him to you.

The woman remains silent for a few seconds - more than enough time to analyze the boy. All the reports, videos and surveys received by her haven't been enough to see the talent present in Marty. Still she feels he has a spark. Something special.

- So I finally have the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Deeks.

Marty is slightly shy when called by his mother's last name. His eyes lose some of the glow and his smile diminishes in millimeters, but he doesn't leave his good manners aside. He takes one of her hands, shaking gently.

- It's my pleasure, Mrs. Henrietta. You can call me Marty!

- Oh, and you're a true gentleman! All right, Marty. And you can call me Hetty.

The boy gets red cheeks and smiles shyly. Waves a quickly goodbye and runs back to the other kids at the pool party. Being in the water is another thing that obviously stirs up joy in Marty.

As soon as he paid no more attention to the adults, Hetty turned to Gibbs, the conversation getting more serious. She savored the tea offered by Shannon, who also joins the debate.

- Are you sure he's a good candidate? The program is not usually easy for anyone, no matter the past or present of the selected.

- He's a pleasant surprise in many ways, Hetty. A normal child would be trapped in a dome of pain and isolation and wouldn't know how to defend himself against such abuse. Marty is different. He knew how to think and act in a moment of maximum stress.

- I still think he's too young for this, Jethro. He's just turned thirteen...he deserves a normal life.

- With all due respect, Mrs. Gibbs, but I'll have to disagree. If I accept him, he'll be one of the older students. Only another boy is older than him. He's a young adult and already participates in missions with several agencies around the world.

Shannon has already asked millions of times to Hetty call her by first name, that formal treatment is unnecessary, but of course the little woman never put aside politeness. That's why Jethro's wife gave up long ago. Besides, what worries her is not that. It is the possibility of such a young boy being sent into the midst of danger a very short time after facing an extreme situation.

Hetty, however, continued with her considerations, excited by the possibility of someone so special to be part of the program she heads. All her children are talented, but Marty's gifts exceeded all the mysterious woman's expectations.

- Excellent linguistic skills. Still has problems with Cyrillic?

- Not that much, and on rare occasions, when he hears a word he doesn't know.

- Okay...we can work this out with a russian tutor, a friend of mine. Excellent physique, healthy, exceptional logical reasoning...I understand that he doesn't know about the use of white weapons, but the program can solve that.

- We don't let him practice with the sharp ones. He's great at demonstrations with sticks and nunchakus.

- Leroy...I respect your opinion and your pride by your adopted son...but I think my concept of "great" differs from yours. Let's see this when the time is right.

The Marine smirked, holding one of Shannon's hands. He has known Hetty for decades, but never fails to be astounded by the boldness of someone who normally experienced the most risky situations.

Then the three adults watch again the kids around the pool, all the excitement, the laughter, the screams and the cheering clappings as Marty jumps from the board into the pool in a beautiful one and a half somersault.

- Marty Andrew Deeks, do you want to give me a heart attack?!

While Shannon runs to check the boy, Leroy holds his three-year-old daughter. The little girl sleeps peacefully, her little body tucked in her father's arms, and the soft smile of those who had a great time during the day.

Despite being excited about all of Marty's progress and the future he can have within the Program, Gibbs gives credit to his wife's words. The boy has gone through so much suffering...a happy and normal life would be perfect for him to move on.

Unfortunately the world doesn't want to know about Leroy's wishes for his son, his daughter or Shannon. He just throw the ugly, naked truth right in our faces, and all we can do is face it - for better or fot wrost.

And the Marine is going to pick it up in a particularly cruel way.