Turning Point

He couldn't wait for Jethro to get home from NCIS, and when his father came through the door, he pounced excitedly.

"Hey, Dad, I'm so glad you're home. I have something for you."

Jethro studied Tony as he hung up his coat, and answered, "All right, Son, but let's go in the kitchen and you can tell me while I start supper."

Tony grinned and followed his dad, practically skipping behind him, and his great mood was infectious.

"Rest and relax, my dear padre, I have already gotten the meal almost finished," he announced in a voice which imitated a drill sergeant.

Jethro laughed loudly, "What in the world has gotten you so excited?"

"Well, Dad, since you insist..." With a flourish, Tony pulled a sheaf of papers from his back pocket, then looked up worriedly. "Dad, put on your glasses, please, I want you to be able to read all this."

Jethro shook his head but pulled out his glasses, then reached out his hand for the papers. Tony leaned over to read over his father's shoulder. The kitchen was quiet for a few minutes as the papers were shuffled. When Gibbs finished scanning the last of the letters he put his arm around Tony and pulled him to him, then kissed him gently on the forehead. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am a very proud dad tonight, Anthony. This is just wonderful, and you have made my day. I'm not sure how you got all of your professors to agree to send me letters saying you were doing well, but I am impressed with your initiative, and I am thrilled that you have excelled in your courses."

Tony beamed in response and added, "I got letters from my PE classes, too, just in case, but I didn't think you were too concerned with them. Do you want to see them?"

"No, these are fine, Son. I am just so relieved. If you keep this hard work and effort up, you will be back at Ohio State for the fall."

"So let's get right down to business, Daddy, am I off restriction now? Remember that you said..."

"Not entirely, Son," Jethro interrupted, "but why don't you pick a couple of things you want me to give back, and I'll grant you those? I think you deserve a reward for knocking yourself out these past nine weeks. You can have the rest given back when I see that you've kept up the momentum and you show me a good report card at the end of the semester."

Tony thought about his choices for just a moment.

"Ok, can I have the car back? The phone, too, Dad, I want it. Wait, though, I'd still be on house restriction. Let me choose that one, instead."

Jethro waited patiently.

Tony scrunched up his face and thought some more. "All right, I want to not be grounded and having to sit home, and I also want the car back. I'll leave the phone for later."

"That suits me, then. However, let me refresh your memory that you still have curfews for school nights and also for weekends."

"Yes sir, I've got it. Can it start tonight?"

Jethro laughed, and said, "Let me get the car keys from upstairs."

He put them in Tony's hand when he returned, and Tony kissed the keys several times and sighed dramatically.

"Hey," Jethro cautioned, reaching a hand to cup Tony under the chin. "This does not mean that you are free of obligations, Anthony. If your grades drop before the end of the semester and your final grade report isn't good, you are going to be in as much trouble as you were in December. Am I clear?"

"You are, Dad, and listen, I don't want to do badly now either. It's kind of nice having people in class come ask me questions about the material because they think I'm smart."

Jethro smiled. "You are smart, Tony, that's what I've been trying to make you understand for eighteen years now."

Tony grinned up at him. "Anyway, Dad, I wouldn't do anything to mess up getting to go back to Ohio State. I really want to get back there in August."

Tony raced upstairs to get himself ready to go out, and was back down within fifteen minutes. Gibbs watched as he ran out of the house and shook his head. It had been a hard several weeks for him, too. Parenting was so difficult sometimes, and he loved his son enough to discipline him when it was warranted. Nevertheless, it was rough being the cause of his child's unhappiness. He knew what Ohio State meant to him, and how crushed he was when Jethro took it away from him. In addition, he realized how devastating it was for Tony to have had such a damper on his social life.

He allowed himself a breath of relief that he had made the right call in December, and experienced a feeling of gratitude that Tony was turning around his academics.

Sitting down at the table, Gibbs picked up the letters from Community College and started reading through them more thoroughly. Not only had Tony's instructors supplied his current average (all were A's), but they had included comments, as well. Gibbs read with a growing sense of pride. His son was described as punctual, considerate, intelligent, a born leader, a team player, personable, analytical, and conscientious.

Jethro looked away and absorbed the words. Tony's punishment had managed to bring many of his son's attributes to the forefront, and his father hoped Tony realized how much he had to offer to the world.

An hour later he was surprised to hear the back door close and then the sound of Tony coming to find him in the basement.

"Home, Dad," he greeted, leaning down on one of the top steps and peering under the railing.

"I see that, Tony," his father responded, "but I am surprised. It's not even nine yet, and you are home way before your curfew."

Tony laughed and then bounded down the steps and settled on the bottom one. "I just had two quick places I wanted to go tonight. I have these friends I've made- a family on the subway, and an elderly man on the bus, and I wanted to tell them to not worry about me when they don't see me, because I'll be driving now."

"That was thoughtful. It sounds like they are going to miss you."

"Actually, I am taking Mr. Marzden out to supper tomorrow night, then Saturday I am spending the day at the park with the Hall family." Seeing his dad get ready to object he added quickly, "Don't worry, Dad. I have absolutely no intention of letting my classwork go. I can work on class readings Sunday afternoon. I'm actually ahead with papers and projects. I can promise you that I do not want a repeat of December handed me."

"Ok, then, I don't see a problem. Anthony, I think you are one extraordinary young man."

"Of course I am, but Dad?"

Jethro looked up, "What, Son?"

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." With that, Tony jogged back up the stairs, leaving his father shaking his head and smiling.