To Walk In My Shoes

Glow60

Summary: Christmas was only a couple of days away and things are not going well for the NCIS's major case response team. All the weathermen were predicting a possibility of one foot of snow falling in the DC area. Something is bothering Gibbs and whatever it is could cause him to explode so his team is walking on pins and needles. This year, Abby and her brother Kyle are heading to New Orleans to spend Christmas with her adoptive family. She still has some very important test to run but her replacement has not showed up yet. She asked Tony if he could help her finish the tests. He has helped her in the past and she knew he could do it in his sleep. Something goes wrong with one of the tests and Gibbs goes ballistic. Tony tries to explain what might have happen but Gibbs won't listen instead he belittles and degrades Tony in front of the whole office. Someone special steps in and tries to help Gibbs understand something about his SFA and his relationship with his own dad. In other words as Gibbs would say, "It's going to be a weird one."

CHAPTER 1

Gibbs looked down at his watch and finally realized he had been sitting in the coffee shop for the past hour. He wondered where the time had gone. He was still very angry with DiNozzo and he wasn't sure if he wanted to see his SFA's face anymore for the rest of the day. He decided he would just call Ziva and have her pick him up. They could go and reinterview several witnesses on an active case they were working on. He went to reach for his cellphone.

Gibbs had been so lost in thought that he didn't notice someone walking toward him. It caught him by surprise when he heard a voice from behind him, "Jethro…you know you were wrong for chewing Anthony out in front of everyone?"

"He had it coming to him."

"Maybe…but did you have to do it in front of everyone?"

Gibbs looked up at the older man for a few seconds and then turned his attention back to the nearly empty coffee cup. He knew there was only one reason Ducky would be here and that was because the gossip must have spread through the whole building by now. He really didn't care because he believed he was justified for doing it.

Since Gibbs didn't answer him back, Ducky decided to invite himself to sit down.

Gibbs stared at the older man for a few seconds longer before he decided to ask, "Doctor Mallard…since when does DiNozzo work for you? He is my concern…not yours."

The Scotsman knew this conversation was not going to be an easy one, "Jethro…both Anthony and you are my dearest friends. I…"

Gibbs cut the ME off before he could say another word. "Doctor Mallard enough…I just told you that my team is not any of your concern. What happened earlier is between my subordinate and myself. I have had enough of DiNozzo's shenanigans and insecurities. If he doesn't get his act together he is off my team for good."

"Jethro…you will do not such thing!"

Gibbs took another sip of his coffee and grinned just a little. "It's none of your business."

"Jethro…what is going on with you? I do not understand why you…"

Gibbs cut the older man off, "That's the point…Doctor Mallard you don't understand. DiNozzo is on my team and not yours. So…this has nothing to do with you. I am tired of DiNozzo acting like an idiot. If he doesn't change he is off my team…for good."

"Jethro…you knew Anthony was like this from the beginning. It's part of his charm. You told me when you first hired him that he was a good cop with a lot of potentials. You believe he had the makings to be a good agent. It is the reason you hired him."

"Yes…I know and I am now regretting it. Maybe…I should have left him back in Baltimore because all he is good for is chasing down crooks and arresting them."

"Jethro, I can still remember right after you hired him you bragged to me how you stole him from the Baltimore Police Department."

"Yah I did but now I am regretting every minute of it. I think it is time I get him off my team before he messes up something else."

"Jethro…you can't. Anthony thinks the world of you. You two have worked together for over ten years. Anthony may act immature at times but there is nobody you can trust more with having your six. He would gladly give his life for you."

Gibbs rubbed his forehead, "You don't think I know that…Doctor? Why does he have to act so childish and immature?"

"Jethro…you and I both know Anthony didn't have the best upbringing. His father..."

Gibbs cut the older man off…again. "How many times is DiNozzo going to use that lame excuse for the reason he acts the way he does? He's not the only one who has had a bad childhood. For god sakes look at McGee and Ziva…if anyone should have emotional issues it should be those two. McGee's old man verbally abused him and my god…Ziva's left her to die in a desert."

Ducky sat there for a few seconds. Trying to think of the right words to say to his friend. "Jethro…you and I both know Ziva and Timothy's childhoods were much different from Anthony's. They at least had good strong mothers to help guide them while they were growing up. Did you not forget that Anthony's mother died when he was just eight years old?"

"Big deal…my mom also died when I was a boy and I had issues with my father but I still managed to grow up. Do you see me going around acting like a kid?"

"No…but you were at least fourteen when you lost your dear mother. You may have had issues with your father back then but some of those issues were your own doing. I find your father to be a very charming and caring man."

Gibbs just stared at him and shaking his head.

Ducky moved a little closer and put his hand on his friends' arm, "Jethro please listen to me…I know the two of you may have your differences but at least he was there to help and guide you through those adolescence years when you needed him the most. Anthony never had that experience. The boy was either shuffled from family members to boarding schools or summer camps. Anthony's father was too busy to spend anytime with his son because he was always busy gallivanting off to god knows where."

Gibbs didn't say a word but just continued to stare at his friend.

"Jethro…will you please tell me what is going on in that stubborn head of yours? I can tell there is something else that is bothering you. What is it and why are you taking it out on Anthony?"

Gibbs stood up. "Doctor Mallard…we are finished with this conversation." Gibbs turned and headed out of the coffee shop.

Ducky just sat there for a few seconds. He was wondering what was going on with his friend. He could sense something else was bothering him. He also wondered what it was going to take to fix the problem between his two dear friends. Especially since one of them was so damn stubborn.

It was the night before Christmas and all through the house…

Outside the snow continued to fall softly on the ground. For the last hour Gibbs just sat in his basement staring into empty space. Everything seemed to be going wrong for him. He wanted this year to be special so he had invited his team to share a Christmas dinner with him and his dad. Abby had declined his invitation because she was going home to New Orleans for the holidays. She wanted to introduce her biological brother Kyle to her adoptive family. She was all excited about her two brothers meeting for the first time. Gibbs was happy for her but he was going to miss her at the dinner. A few days later his father calls him and give him some lame ass excuse to why he can't come. The father and son got into a heated argument over the phone and Jackson ended up hanging up him. Gibbs had not spoken to his father since and it bothered him dearly. He was afraid he was going to be losing his father again. It took them years to reconcile their differences.

These past few weeks at work had been hell. Gibbs and his team had been working long hours on a highly profiled case. Both SecNav and Vance were on his back to get it taken care of and DiNozzo had to go and mess up a test that could have proven who did it. Now they were going to have to start all over again.

Gibbs was tired and at a loss as to what to do next. He decided it might be better to take a break for a little while. Relax his mind and come up with some new ideas. Gibbs looked down at his watch and realized he needed to get off his ass and head to the grocery store before it closes. There was still a few things he had to get before tomorrow's Christmas dinner. Earlier he had thought about cancelling the dinner but he decided against it. He was not going to let his father stubbornness or DiNozzo's stupidity ruin his holiday.

As he turned to head toward the stairs he was surprised to see Ducky standing at the bottom of them. Gibbs didn't smile because he already knew why his friend was here. "Doctor Mallard…I…must be losing my hearing? How did you get down the stair without me hearing you?"

The older man didn't say anything but just continued to stare.

Gibbs was getting a little uncomfortable. He didn't like it when his old friend pulled one of his own intimidation tricks on him. The old Scotsman was small in stature but he could stare down people with the best of them. "Duck…Doctor Mallard…have you come to tell me you not going to be at tomorrow's dinner?"

The Scotsman moved a little closer before he began to speak, "I came to try and help repair things between Anthony and you."

Gibbs didn't smile, "You're wasting your time, I have already told you this conversation was over at the coffee shop."

"Anthony…"

"Doctor Mallard…I am so tired of talking about that immature idiot and if that is the only reason you come here…then you might as well turn around and walk right back up those stairs because I am through talking about that idiot. Now if you will excuse me…I have a few things I need to buy for tomorrow's Christmas dinner."

The Scotsman stood his ground and would not move. Gibbs stared at him for a few seconds before deciding to walk around him and headed up the stairs.

"Rumor has it Vance and SecNav were angry about some misinformation Anthony gave you. Is that true?"

Gibbs stopped in mid step and turned, "That idiot almost caused an innocent man to go to prison. We were lucky this time and caught the mistake before we made an ass out of ourselves."

The older man moved a little closer, "This is not the first time you or someone on your team have made a mistake."

Gibbs took one step back down the stairs and held onto the rail, "When I asked DiNozzo about it he tried to deny it."

"Jethro…I have known Anthony to stretch the truth a little ever now and then but I have never known him not to take responsible for his own actions."

"DiNozzo was the only one who ran those tests and one of them was wrong. He tried to deny it in front of me. I will not have someone on my team lie to me like he did."

"If he did lie did you have to reprimand him in front of everyone?"

"It's his own fault. It time he needs to grow up and accepts responsibility for his action. I…I am now wondering why I even bothered to hire him in the first place. Morrow thought I was crazy when he met him for the first time. Maybe Vance was right all along? He once told me that agents should be more like McGee and not like DiNozzo?"

"My friend, please tell me you don't really believe that? You and I both know Anthony DiNozzo Jr. is a very competent agent."

"Ducky…I am telling you this…if DiNozzo doesn't get his act together and quick…I am going to give his SFA position to McGee and transfer that idiot off my team."

"Jethro…you can't do that. Do you realize what that would do to him and even you?"

"I don't care. I am tired and I have a lot to do before tomorrow's dinner. If you plan to stay down in my basement for a while, please make sure you turn out the light when you leave."

Mallard watched as Gibbs walked up the stairs and leave. The Scotsman knew it was time to call an old friend of his to help him straighten out this mess.

DiNozzo's apartment…

Tony had been sitting in his living room ever since he got home; he was trying to figure how something he did could go so wrong. He didn't believe he made a mistake. He had helped Abby so many times with that one test that he knew he could do it blindfolded. He tried to talk with Gibbs about it but the older man wouldn't listen to him, instead Gibbs chewed his ass out in front of anyone. What made it even worst was Gibbs had ordered him to work on cold cases the rest of the day while Ziva and McGee when to interview several witnesses. Tony knew he was now being punished.

Earlier, Tony tried to call Abby. The Goth must have her Iphone turned off because she was not answering it. Tony knew if Abby were here she would be able to figure out what had gone wrong with the test and she also might be able to get Gibbs in a better mood. He so wished she was here.

Tony smiled as he remembered the last time he saw her. He had gone down to Abby's lab so he could wish her a Merry Christmas before she left. He knew she was all excited about going home to New Orleans to see her family. She had been talking about it for weeks. She couldn't wait to introduce her newly found brother Kyle to her adopted family. She knew her two brothers were going to get along because she just knew it.

"TONY! Thank God you are here. I need this really BIG…BIG…BIG...favor from you."

Tony grinned as he suspiciously looked around the room before he asked, "Okay what's the favor?"

"You…see…I am supposed to pick up my brother Kyle in about an hour so we can catch an early flight out of Ronald Reagan. All the weather stations are reporting the airports maybe…closing down in a couple of hours because of the snow. I…I need to leave right now or I won't be able to go home for Christmas. Tony…it's been such a long time since I've seen my family…well I mean my adopted family. I would really like to see them and I promised my biological brother Kyle he could meet my adopted brother Luca. It sounds funny doesn't it? My brothers meeting for…

Tony grinned because he knew the Goth was getting off the subject, "Abby?"

She grinned back at him and started talking even faster, "Oh…right…sorry…Tony…my replacement hasn't come yet and he won't be here for another couple of hours. The snow is coming down hard and the airports are talking about closing. Wait airports don't talk."

"Abs!"

"Right…I need to get back on the subject. Tony…if Kyle and I don't catch our flight we might not get to go home for Christmas and I was really…really…really looking forward to it. I still have these tests to run and Director Vance and Gibbs are expecting them within the next hour. I know you know how to run these tests because you have helped me so many times in the past with them. To make a long story short…Tony...can you pretty please run these tests for me? I would be so…so indebted to you."

Tony looked at what needed to be done. He knew he could handle it. He smiled, "Okay Abs…I'll do it…please tell your brother…I mean brothers that I said hi and wish them a Merry Christmas for me. Now go, I will see you when you get back."

Abby handed Tony a piece of paper with all the information on it. She kissed Tony on the cheek, thanked him and wished him a happy holiday. Grabbed her things and ran out the door. At the time Tony didn't know that Abby had accidently transposed two numbers. Within an hour Tony had the test completed and heading toward the elevator. The next day, Tony was getting his ass chewed out by Gibbs in front of everyone in the office.

Tony looked at his watch; McGee and Ziva were supposed to be coming by in an hour. He needed to buy a few things at the store. He grabbed his coat and gloves. He took one last look at the window and the snow was still falling pretty heavy. He hopes the stores were still going to be open by the time he gets there.

Tony knew tomorrow his two friends would be going over to Gibbs' house for a nice Christmas dinner. He had been invited but decided not to go. It would be very awkward if he did and he didn't want to ruin it for the rest. Tony smiled to himself; at least tomorrow he won't be alone. He will be sharing his Christmas with a bottle of scotch, a TV dinner and two great old Christmas movies…

Gibbs' house…

It was just a few hours before Christmas; Gibbs decided it was time for him to get some much-needed sleep. His guests were coming tomorrow and he was going to have to get up early to put the turkey in the oven. He headed upstairs and decided to take a shower before he went to bed. Hoping it would relax him enough to get some sleep. When he was finished he put on his old marine t-shirt and shorts and headed to bed. It wasn't long before he was in a deep sleep.

The clock on the nightstand stopped at midnight. At that same moment everything else seemed to stop and that included the snow. It was like it was stuck in midair. Gibbs was in such a deep sleep he was not aware someone was now standing in his room watching him as he slept.

The intruder moved closer to the bed. He bent down and whispered into the sleeping man's ear. "Leroy Jethro Gibbs…I know you are a very good and caring man…I also know right now you have a lot on your mind. You are angry and worried about your father but what you did to Anthony was wrong. He did not deserve your wrath or the cruel things you said to him. Since you refused admit you were wrong and fix the damage you have caused to your friendship, I am going to have to step in and help you see the error of your ways. You are going to walk in Anthony's shoes for a little while. This way you can understand what makes him the person he is and just maybe learn something about yourself and your father."

It was at that moment Gibbs made a noise and turned onto his side but he didn't wake up.

The man smiled, "Sleep tight my friend because you are going to need it. When you wake up in the morning you will be in the body of a very young Anthony. You will remember whom you are but you will not be allowed to tell anyone. You will eventually remember this conversation. Leroy Jethro Gibbs until you learn your lesson you will be walking in Anthony DiNozzo Jr.'s shoes. Maybe it will help you to learn more about yourself and your father?"

Within seconds that intruder vanished and everything started to move again…

Christmas Morning or is it…

Gibbs didn't wake up until the light from the morning sun started to bother his eyes. He looked at the old alarm clock. The small hand was already on the eight. He swore to himself when he realized that he had overslept. He needed to get that damn turkey stuffed and into the oven now or it wouldn't be ready for the Christmas dinner this afternoon. As he headed down the stairs he was not aware of the changes that had taken place while he was asleep.

When Gibbs entered the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks. There bent over the stove was a tall strange blond haired woman. She was humming "Jingle Bells" to herself, while placing a big roasting pan into the oven. She closed the oven door and adjusted the temperature. She turned and smiled when she saw him, "Merry Christmas Anthony…I was just getting ready to go upstairs and wake you up. You need to hurry and get dressed so we can catch the ten o'clock Mass. I promise you when we get back home you can open all your presents."

What Gibbs really wanted to say was, 'Listen lady…my name is Gibbs and who the hell are you?' but what came out of his mouth instead was, "Mommy…can I please open my presents now? I promise I will hurry up and we won't be late for mass."

The woman studied the boy for a few seconds before she started laughing out loud, "Anthony…DiNozzo…Jr.…you are definitely your father's son. You have his charm and good looks but remember I have been immune to both of you."

The woman stopped laughing and bent down so she could be more eye level with the boy, "Anthony…I have some bad news…your daddy called last night after you went to bed. He told me to tell you how sorry he is but he won't be able to make it home today. His flight was cancelled because of the bad weather in Germany. He did tell me to tell you when he gets back he will have a special present for you. Now…you better go get dressed or you will have to explain to Father Martin why you are still in your pajamas."

Gibbs looked down at himself and was shocked to see he was dressed in blue pajamas with little trains all over them. He also noticed his feet were very small. He looked at the woman and she was smiling at him. "Anthony I don't want to have to say it again. Now go up stairs and get dressed…shoo."

Gibbs slowly walked out of the kitchen. He was trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Who was the woman and why did she keep calling him Anthony? As he stood in the hallway and looked around he finally noticed this was not his house. Gibbs was now even more confused. He wasn't exactly sure what to do next so he headed up the stairs. About halfway up, he noticed a mirror on the wall. He stopped and looked into it. He was surprise to see a very blond haired young boy staring back at him. The boy looked very familiar. Gibbs turned to see if the boy was standing next to him but he didn't see anyone. He turned back and looked into the mirror and slowly waved his hand. The boy mirrored what he did. He stuck out his tongue and the boy mirrored him again. It was at that moment he realized he and the boy were one and the same. He then remembered someone saying, "Sleep tight my friend because you are going to need it. When you wake up in the morning you will be in the body of a very young Anthony. You will remember whom you are but you will not be allowed to tell anyone. You will eventually remember this conversation. Leroy Jethro Gibbs until you learn your lesson you will be walking in Anthony DiNozzo Jr.'s shoes. Maybe it will help you to learn more about yourself and your father?"

Gibbs muttered to himself, "This has got to be some kind of stupid freaking nightmare." He stood there for a few seconds trying to figure out what to do next. He decided to continue up the stairs. It wasn't long before he found a room he knew could only belong to a young Tony DiNozzo boy. The room was filled with all kinds of toys; GI Joe dolls, an erector set, boxing robots, racing tracks, train set and all kinds of model planes and cars. It also had a TV with a video player. There was a record player not too far from it. There was also a bookcase full of books and a couple of movie tapes. Gibbs spotted something lying on the floor. He walked over and picked it up. It was a red Ferrari just like Magnum. For once Gibbs really envied DiNozzo because he would have had to work a year in his dad's store just to buy a few of these toys. As Gibbs continued to look around the room something caught his eye. It was a boy's jacket lying on the back of a chair. He walked over and looked at it. The jacket had the name Anthony DiNozzo Jr. embroidered inside of it.

Gibbs walked over to the closet and decided to get dressed. He found several nice suits that looked like they could fit him. He decided to put the dark blue one on. When he was finished he heard a soft knock on the door. "Sweetie are you ready?"

"Yes."

The woman opened the door and walked into the room. She used her hand to push his hair back out of his eyes, "My goodness child it looks like I am going to have to take you and get your hair cut again. It is growing too fast."

Gibbs was shocked when the words flowed out of his mouth without him trying to say anything, "Mommy…I like the way my hair is now. You…you promised I could keep it long."

She smiled at him, "Yes…I know and I did promise you but I am going to miss seeing those big beautiful green eyes of yours."

Gibbs felt himself blushing just a little. Tony's mother reminded him so much of his own mother. As he continued to look at her he could sense something was not right with her. "Mommy…are you…okay?"

She smiled, "It's nothing baby…let's get going so we don't miss mass. I promise you as soon as we get back you can open up all your presents. Especially the one your Nana DiNozzo sent you last week."

As the day passed, Gibbs continued to remain in the body a seven-year-old Tony DiNozzo. He had a fun day with Tony's mother but he wanted to get back in his own body. It was getting late and it was time for him to go to bed. He had hoped by now he would have woken up and found himself back in his own body but it looked like it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. As he lay there in bed his thought went back to Tony's mother. She seemed to be a very good woman and he wondered why DiNozzo hardly ever talked about her. It wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep.

It was in the middle of the night when he woke up. He was thirsty and decided to get up and get him something to drink. As he headed down the stairs and toward the kitchen he could hear what sounded like someone in pain. He stopped and headed toward the sound. Gibbs found Tony's mother in the living room. She was sitting on the couch holding her head. He walked over to her, "Mommy are you okay?"

She looked up and smiled at him, "Yes baby, I'm okay. I just have one of those very bad headache that's all."

"Mommy do you want me to get you some aspirin or something?"

"No Sweetie…I have already taken some but it hasn't helped. Anthony dear…would you please go get Mommy some ice and put it in the ice bag for me? Maybe it will help. Maybe I just need to lie down for a little while the pain will go away."

Gibbs did as he was told. As he headed toward the kitchen he remembered DiNozzo once telling him that his mother had died from a brain tumor when he was only eight years old…