Gibbs picks Marty up off the floor and takes him into his room. Marty stiffens at being picked up. He watches Gibbs carefully. He does not know Gibbs. He does not know the two who are supposed to be his brothers. He wants to go home; home is bad and painful but at least he knows what to expect. Here, he does not know anything. Gibbs places Marty on his lap.
"Marty, look at me." Gibbs commands.
Marty continues to stare down at the dog in his hands.
Gibbs moves Marty so that he can put his fingers under Marty's chin and force him to look up.
With his fingers still under Marty's chin, he begins to speak. "Marty, I know that have been hurt before and you are afraid of me. But, I am NOT going to hurt you. You are completely safe with me and with Tony and Callen. You do not need to be afraid."
Marty's eyes glistens with unshed tears. He hears what Gibbs is saying. Maybe Gibbs is telling him the truth and maybe he is not. He will just have to wait and see. Gibbs carries Marty downstairs and into the back yard. When they get outside Gibbs sets Marty down to see what it is he will do. Monty comes running over to Marty and lays at his feet. Marty looks from the dog to Gibbs and then back to the dog.
"He is your dog." Gibbs points out.
"Monty." Marty whispers.
That was the second word he had spoken since the whole de-aging process has started. The first word being his age.
"Lunch time." Gibbs announces. "Keep an eye on Marty and stay in the backyard while I make lunch." He tells the twins
The twins nod.
Marty sits down on the porch steps with Monty lying next to him, his head in Marty's lap. Gibbs stares outside into the backyard wondering how he can help an abused toddler learn to love and to accept love.
"He responds well to Monty, doesn't he?" Nate observed.
"Yes, he does. I don't know how to reach him. How to get him to accept that he is safe with me." Gibbs answers honestly.
Nate stares at the boys in the backyard. Marty is playing with Monty and he is actually smiling. It is a small smile and does not reach his eyes, but it is a start. Monty, just might be the key to getting through to Marty.
"Monty is a retired police dog. Bomb sniffer, if I remember correctly. It should not be that difficult to turn Monty into a service animal. Monty may be the key to getting Marty to understand love." Nate informs.
Gibbs nods. "How long should it take to get Monty registered as a service animal."
"I will get Hetty on that. I will stop by when it is done." Nate announces and leaves to get working on it.
Gibbs watches him go and watches the boys in the backyard. He hopes Nate is right and it gets done soon, seeing a toddler act like this is breaking his heart.
"Alright boys, lunch is on the table. Come in and wash up." Gibbs orders through the kitchen window.
Callen and Tony head in to do as they are told. While Marty does not appear as he is going to respond. Callen and Tony each grab his hand and bring him inside to the downstairs bathroom so they can wash up. Marty can't reach the fountain, so Callen lifts him a little while Tony helps to wash his hands.
"Gibbs, Marty needs a step stool. He can't reach the sink." Callen announces as they come into the kitchen.
"Alright will do. We need to go shopping again since we will have more time today to look around." Gibbs responds.
As Gibbs looks at Marty sitting at the table, maybe a booster seat as well. Callen and Tony begin eating their macaroni and cheese. Marty is just staring at his, making no attempt to eat. Gibbs is not going to let this child miss another meal. He lifts Marty off the chair and sits him in his lap and force feed him the food. It was a struggle at first as Marty was refusing to cooperate, but eventually gave in and opened his mouth for Gibbs.
Gibbs sure hopes Nate comes back today or they might have to put off shopping until Monty is a certified service animal. For Marty sake and for theirs as well, he hopes it will happen soon.
Some might think that is strange for Marty to remember the dog's name. But I would think that it is there in his subconscious