Afternoon

Tony skipped along beside Victoria Mallard, hand clasped in hers and talking excitedly as they entered NCIS headquarters. He tugged her towards the elevator but let go abruptly to hold up his arms, "Pick me up, please, Senora."

Mrs. Mallard smiled, did as instructed, and allowed Tony to push the elevator button. Still holding him when the elevator arrived, she carried him inside the stainless steel walls and asked, "All right, Anthony, now which button do you need to push for Autopsy?"

Tony nodded eagerly and answered "This one," then pushed his choice with a flourish. He leaned over and kissed Mrs. Mallard sloppily on the cheek. "I'm three now and I can count all the floors at NCIS."

"Indeed you can," she responded, and a second later the doors opened to the domain of Ducky, also known as Doctor Mallard, or as Victoria's son, and Ducky's medical kingdom.

Tony scrambled down from Victoria's arms and ran to Ducky, who had been in front of two illuminated x rays studying them intently. The Medical Examiner's face broke into a smile when he saw his visitors and he bent down to catch Tony in a hug. "There you are, my lad! Did you have fun?"

Tony nodded and began talking excitedly but Mrs. Mallard interrupted him.

"Stay quiet a minute, Anthony, and let me talk to Donald." Tony nodded affirmatively and Ducky picked him up and held him. Mrs. Mallard continued, "Tell Jethro and Maria he was precious. He ate all of his lunch, took a nap, and was very well behaved at the movie. I enjoyed having him for the day."

Tony spoke up then to add, "I said please and thank you, too, remember? I didn't fuss, either, when it was naptime."

Ducky smiled, "I know that Jethro really appreciated your taking the lad. He said Maria spent all day downtown finishing up her visa paperwork, so she was able to get all of that done without an active little boy in tow."

Tony grinned and repeated, "I'm an active little boy in tow!"

"That you are," Victoria smiled, then crossed to where they were. "Give me a kiss."

Ducky immediately puckered his lips dramatically and his mother responded in a mock angry voice, "Not you, Donald, don't make me spank you!" She swatted his backside, and clarified, "The cute little three year old-"

Tony leaned down and kissed her and laughed with delight, "Ducky almost got a spanking!"

"Bye, bye big boy, and Donald, I will see you at supper."

"Bye bye, Mrs. Mallard," Tony called, then leaned over to grab both of Ducky's cheeks in his little fists. "That was funny, Ducky."

Ducky reached up and tickled him, then pointed to the x rays. "Now what do you see, my lad?"

Tony leaned over and inspected the film carefully. "That's a femur bone."

"Right, and what do we know about that bone?"

"Uhmm, it's the biggest bone- I mean the longest bone of all in our bodies." Tony punctuated his answer by pointing to his own thigh.

"Correct again, my little anatomy student, and is that bone ok?"

Tony took another look. "It's broken, right there." He pointed to the fracture and Ducky chuckled in satisfaction.

"Excellent, lad, now look at the other x ray and tell me what you see."

Ducky moved them closer to the next film and Tony studied it a few seconds. "That's a manbidle, I think, because those are teeth."

"Mandible," Ducky corrected, "and that is very good. You are an apt little pupil, Anthony. Now, your father is out of the building on a case but should be back in not too long. So, you will be staying with me until he returns."

Ducky put Tony down and Tony looked up with some concern. "Is my daddy coming to get me or is my abuela going to get me?"

Ducky reassured him. "All is well, Lad. Your father will come straight here when he returns and gather you to take home. Remember, though, that your abuela had to go downtown to work on her visa, so you won't see her until tomorrow. She had to spend all day trying to get everything in order with her paperwork. That's why you spent the morning and afternoon with Mother, with Mrs. Mallard."

That satisfied the toddler, and he grinned in response.

Ducky ruffled his hair. "Why don't you go look over on my desk? Some of your toys are there, and I found some instruments for you, too."

Tony sped away and Ducky shook his head affectionately. That boy was everyone's baby. He was a beautiful child with stunning green eyes and an unbelievable smile. His hair was brown but streaked with blond, and he was all boy, despite his small size. Ducky constantly had to reassure Jethro that both he and the paediatrician maintained Tony would grow to at least six feet, despite his petite stature now. Tony was also bright and loving, and had personality plus.