A/N Again, I have a problem. This story comes out of nowhere, but it won't leave my head until I write about it. Hope you enjoy!

^^^Accidents Happen^^^

"I was just giving him feedback, I don't know why he got so snippy" Tim told his father, who was currently adding milk to the mashed potatoes.

"How did you tell him?" Gibbs probed.

"What do you mean?" Tim asked, turning to face his father, with plates in his hands.

"Tim, you are very smart, and sometimes people get jealous. They might take it out on you."

"So what am I supposed to do? Not say anything?" Tim asked, clearly upset. This was probably because this was not the first time they had this conversation. Tim had already skipped a grade, and he was only eight. While Gibbs did not want to stifle his son's intelligence, he also wanted him to make friends, and tried to help Tim find a balance between the two.

"That's not what I said, Tim. I just meant that next time, maybe don't start with "This is so easy, how don't you know this"

Tim shrugged. He could understand where his father was coming from. He had been trying to help Tony with his homework, but he knew that Tony hated it. Tony hated that his brother was four years younger than him, and far exceeded his math skills. Tim couldn't stand by and watch his brother struggle though. The result had been Tim getting upset with Tony not listening, and Tony had not gotten any further with his homework.

"Alright, Tony is outside setting up the rest of the table, bring him the plates please."

"I don't see why we have to eat outside, anyways." The younger son grumbled, but brought them out anyways.

When he got outside he saw Tony approaching the deck with his hands behind his back. Tim immediately got suspicious.

"Hey Timmy" Tony greeted as he continued walking over.

"Tony." Tim acknowledged warily and placed the plates on the table.

"I have something for you." The older boy said with a suspicious grin.

"No thanks" Tim said, clearly not fooled by the friendly pretense.

"It's no trouble, really. Here you go" And Tony showed Tim the garter snake he held behind his back and walked towards his brother.

Tim, like some people, had a healthy fear of snakes. Tim quickly backed up.

"T-tony, s-stop" He yelled at his brother.

"Come on, Timmy. It's just a little snake" He teased.

Tim, finding no amusement in this, continued to back up. He went too quickly and tripped over his own feet and ended up hitting his head on the brick wall. Tony stood frozen in fear as Tim's eyes welled with tears.

"Timmy!" His older brother called out and ran to his brother. "It's okay" He said, reassuring Tim as much as himself.

Tim's lip began to quiver. He did not want to cry in front of his older brother, but his head really hurt.

"I want Dad" Tim whimpered. He had put his hand to the back of his head and pulled it away to see blood.

"It's okay" Tony panicked. "I-I'll get you a towel" The older brother said. It wasn't that he was willing to put Tim at risk, but he knew if Dad figured out what happened, he would be in a world of trouble.

But by now, Tim's chin was trembling and he was struggling to remain calm.

"Timmy, what's taking so long?" Gibbs said coming out of the kitchen, his timing impeccable as always.

Seeing both of his sons sitting on the floor and the fear in their eyes raised his alarm bells. He immediately ran over and crouched in front of Tim. He saw the blood on his youngest son's hand and panicked on the inside.

"What happened?" Gibbs asked earnestly.

"Hurts, Daddy" Was the only thing Tim managed to get out before he started to bawl.

"Aw, baby, I know" He said and scooped his son up to offer some comfort. It also gave him a chance to scope out the injury.

"Tony," Gibbs said softly, so as not to upset his sons, but firm enough to get Tony going "Call Ducky and tell him to come over."

Tony nodded eagerly, glad to have something to do. Gibbs noted the guilt ridden look on his oldest face, and marked that for later.

"Alright, Kiddo. Let's go to the kitchen and wait." He said, and didn't wait for Tim to respond before going inside. He quickly grabbed a clean towel and pressed it to Tim's head. Tim moaned and burrowed himself into his father's chest further.

"Uncle Ducky is on the way" Tony told them as he returned from the living room.

"Mmmk," The father acknowledged "Go upstairs please" He added.

"What?" Tony asked, clearly confused.

"I don't want you down here for this." Gibbs explained. And he didn't. While he knew head wounds bled a lot, he also knew Tim was going to need stiches. And he didn't want his oldest to see the painful process.

"But….I want to help. I want to wait for Ducky."

"Tony. Upstairs." Gibbs ordered while continuing to hold the towel to Tim's head.

"Dad-"

"Now, Anthony."

Tony really did not want to upstairs while his brother was down here in pain due to his own actions, but he knew better than to argue with that tone. He reluctantly made his way upstairs.

Gibbs went to unlock the front door and then sat in the living room, with Tim safely in his lap. He was pleased to see that the bleeding had slowed.

He shifted Tim so he could look at him.

"What happened, Tiger?" Gibbs asked his son softly.

Tim shook his head. Sure, Tony had been a jerk, but he was not about to tattle on him.

"Tim," Gibbs sighed, knowing exactly what his youngest son was thinking. "I know you don't want to tell on your brother, but I need to know what happened."

"I fell."

"I got that much, Kiddo. But what did Tony do to make you fall?" Gibbs asked for clarification, no doubt in his mind that Tony did something.

"Nothin'" The boy mumbled.

"Timothy." The father scolded.

"He tried to give me a snake. I was backing up and tripped and hit my head." Tim whispered before burying his head in his father's shoulder. Gibbs sighed before rubbing his son's back. Ten minutes later, Ducky walked in the door.

"Hey Duck" Gibbs greeted. Tim turned his head to face his surrogate grandfather. The young boy shivered when he saw Ducky carrying his travel bag.

"Hello, dear Timothy, Gibbs." The older man greeted warmly. "I suppose I better check out the patient, hmm?" He said, approaching the pair on the couch.

"Uh-uh" Tim said, shaking his head in the negative. He quickly turned so his injury was as far away from Ducky as possible."

"Timmy, let Ducky check you out, please." The father ordered softly.

"I'm okay. It doesn't hurt anymore." The boy argued. The pain etched in his face said otherwise.

"Timothy, I really need to check it out. I will decide if it is okay or not." Ducky said, more firmly than his usual self.

"Daddy!" Tim whined. Gibbs knew how much he hated going to the doctor or getting any sort of procedure of any kind done, but Tim need the cut examined. The father stood up and easily manhandled his son, so Ducky would have easy access to the wound.

Ducky came over and only took a few moments to determine that the boy would in fact need stiches.

"Alright boys, let's go into the kitchen." The doctor instructed and Gibbs quickly followed with Tim still in his arms.

Ducky positioned Gibbs so he stood by the sink. He pulled the local anesthetic from his bag. He gave the father a look and Gibbs quickly tightened his hold on his son. Tim, who recognized something was up from the change in position, tried to turn and see what the doctor was doing.

"Calm down, Tim" Gibbs cooed and placed a hand on the top of his son's head, holding it firm.

"You're going to feel a small pinch" Ducky said before injecting the young boy with the pain killers. Tim tensed and let out a small noise of distress.

"Good boy" Gibbs whispered.

"Okay, Timothy, how does your head feel? Any other pain besides the cut?" Ducky asked.

"A little" The boy confessed.

"Well, let me take a quick peek in your eyes and see if we can't get you something for the pain, huh?"

After he was happy that the boy did not have a concussion, he fished in his bag for some children's drowsy Tylenol. He presented some to Tim, who took it rather unwillingly. It might say it tasted like cherry, but it was still rather disgusting.

"Now that we've got you nice and drugged up, we can move to cleaning the wound of yours" Ducky explained as he wet a washcloth with warm water and soap.

By now, Tim was resigned to his fate. And the pain killers were starting to kick in, and he could not feel any pain when Ducky began to wash the injury.

"You're doing great, Kiddo" Gibbs reassured.

It didn't take long for Ducky to clean the cut. He grabbed the needle and began to thread it. Gibbs and Ducky turned when they heard a long gasp. Tony was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a look of horror on his face.

"Tony, I told you to stay upstairs." Gibbs admonished lightly. The boy was looking pretty pale, so Gibbs ushered him over, since clearly the damage was already done. Tony hesitantly walked over. By now, Tim was looking sleepily at his brother.

"Sorry, Timmy." Tony whispered softly, regret pouring off him. "It was just a joke. It was supposed to be funny." The older brother explained, pleading for the others to believe him.

"S'okay, Tony" Tim forgave easily. While Tony would drive him up the wall, he knew his brother would never intentionally hurt him.

"Alright, Anthony, I'm going to have to ask you to leave for this part" Ducky declared after the pain killers had enough time to kick in.

"Daddy?" Tony asked. "Can I stay, please?"

Gibbs sighed. He really didn't want Tony here, but he knew he wouldn't go upstairs easily, and he wanted Tim to get his stiches so he could the boy to bed.

"It's okay, Duck. Continue." Gibbs said. "Tony, go sit at the island."

Both guys listened and did as they were told. Tim didn't make a noise as Ducky did his ministrations, and Ducky was done within a minute. The cut really wasn't that long.

"Well, I'm all done here." Ducky declared. "You'll want to keep that dry for 24 hours, and then wash it lightly for a couple of days. No shampoo. Take it easy on your activities. I'll be back in a week to remove them." The elder doctor instructed.

"Thank you, Ducky. I don't know what I would do without you." Gibbs said kindly. He carried the now sleeping Tim to the door with Tony following behind them.

"No trouble at all." The man said. "Call me if anything changes." He said before leaving.

Gibbs closed and locked the door. He then order Tony to get ready for bed, and started locking the house up for the night.