Author's note: Sorry it's taken a little while to update, I've been busy with things in the real world!! Just started new hours at work so I might be a bit eratic with my post times. Here's a chapter for you though, I hope it's ok.

Gibbs headed down to the living room looking at his watch as he entered, and realised that it wasn't as late as he thought, the numbers read 9:07. There was no way he could sleep that early so he turned around and headed to the kitchen to make himself another coffee. As the liquid was cooling to a drinkable level Gibbs took out his phone, wanting to get an update from the rest of the team.

"Officer David speaking," the reply came as the line connected.

"Ziva put me on speaker," Gibbs said, not wanting to have to repeat himself.

"You are on speaker," Ziva replied, looking around the eager faces awaiting their boss's next words.

"I need a report from each of you, and Ducky and Abby if they're there."

"We are here Jethro," Ducky said. "How is young Anthony?"

"He's been better, but he's sleeping now. What've you got Duck?"

"Well I've only got the basic report on Anthony at the moment, haven't been able to dig very deep and Timothy and Abigail have been rather busy. Ben on the other hand I've been able to find quite a lot on, enough for me to say that I suspect foul play."

"You just think it, or can you prove it?"

"There is evidence of abuse Jethro, but it's not concrete, the injuries have and can be explained, so without looking or speaking to the boy myself we haven't got any proof."

"Keep at it Duck, once we find Ben we should be able to learn more."

"Gibbs, is Tony ok, I hate to think of what he's going through," Abby said, jumping in before the others could speak.

"He's doing ok Abs, but it's going to take time, you just have to stay positive."

"That's going to be hard but I'll try."

"Have you found any evidence of foul play?" Gibbs asking, hoping that she'd found something that they could use against Lieutenant Ackland.

"Sorry Gibbs, I found prints from the mother, father and son in and around the room, but they live there so that was going to happen. That red stained t-shirt you found wasn't stained with blood, it was food colouring, guess someone had a little accident. The hair found on the pillow belonged to the Lieutenant, which could prove that he was hurting his son, or it could just mean it fell out when he was saying goodnight."

"Good work Abs."

"I spoke with the Ackland's friends and they all said that they are the perfect couple, no one knows of any problems they are having, said that they are made for each other and that the relationship will last. They say they don't see a lot of Ben, but that isn't unusual, he is either at school, with friends or in bed, but as far as they know he is a happy boy with a happy childhood. It appears that they are just like that family on TV, the Daltons,"

"I think you mean the Walton's," McGee said after a small pause.

"Yes, that is it!" Ziva replied, slightly annoyed that her English still needed work. "Their colleagues said about the same, they are hard working and they have a good relationship. They don't let it get in the way of work, as they are professionals."

"No one had a bad word to say about them?" Gibbs asked, not liking the fact they couldn't get any dirt on the guy.

"No one, although I did feel that some of them were holding something back, I do not know if it is related to the case in any way but, if it is…" Ziva trailed off, wishing that she had something more positive to say.

"Find out Ziva, go back and talk to them, bring them in if you have to but find out, if they're holding something back then we need to know," Gibbs replied, he was not happy that the case wasn't going anywhere, he just hoped his junior agent had something. "McGee?"

"Boss I looked back as far as I could and I found out that the Lieutenant's childhood wasn't exactly a happy one. He iss the youngest of three and he wasn't wanted, his parents only planned for two children and when he came along it ruined everything. There are several police reports on the Ackland's, and it appears children's services was brought in on several occasions."

"So he has an un-happy childhood and takes it out on other people?" Ziva asked, frowning slightly at the things people do.

"It would seem so, it all came to a head on his tenth birthday and he was taken away and fostered by various families before being adopted at twelve."

"So are his birth parents dead, or his adoptive parents?" Ziva asked.

"Both, his birth parents died when he was sixteen, and his adoptive parents died when he was in his twenties."

"I kind of feel sorry for him," Abby said, biting her nails.

"Don't forget what he's capable of Abs!" Gibbs exclaimed over the phone.

"I'm not saying what he did was right or that he shouldn't be punished, I'm just saying I feel sorry for him."

"What else McGee?"

"Well between being adopted and joining the navy there really isn't anything to find, he had a few jobs, a few girlfriends, he was cautioned once for drink driving but apart from that his record is clean. He was arrested two years after joining the navy for aggravated assault, he and a few buddies got drunk and started a bar fight. After that he married the Petty Officer and I have to say his life's been pretty average."

"So we've found nothing then!" Gibbs said, slamming his fist down on the table.

"It's only been twenty four hours Jethro, we'll find something," Ducky said, trying to calm the situation.

There was silence as Gibbs tried to curve his anger, and then after a few minutes he spoke again.

"Everyone go home, but I want you in bright and early tomorrow, we need to find something."

"On it boss," McGee said.

"Yes Gibbs," Ziva replied.

"We will see you tomorrow Jethro," Ducky answered.

"Bye bossman, look after Tony!" Abby exclaimed.

Gibbs shut his phone and placed it on the table, taking a few deep breaths. He couldn't believe that they were no closer to closing the case and arresting Ackland. He brought the cup of coffee to his lips and took a sip, only to spit it straight back out when he realised that it was stone cold. He walked over to the sink and tipped out the contents, before taking the cup back over to the coffee machine and pouring himself some more. He wandered out of the kitchen and into the living room, turning on the TV before sitting down. He flicked through the channels with the remote, stopping on a show about DIY, seeing as he didn't think he'd find anything else good to watch he settled down and tried to absorb himself in the show. He watched as the people on the show fitted in a kitchen with all the fixtures and fittings and then move on to fixing shelves in the living room. He wished he had the time to do that, but between work and the boat in his basement he had time for little else. He was just about to turn off the TV and try to sleep a little when he heard a noise. Being the trained federal agent that he was has hand immediately went to his sidearm; he then stood up and tried to find the source of the noise. He realised that the noise was coming from upstairs, and as Tony was the only one up there it was clear that the noises were coming from him. Gibbs immediately headed for Tony's room, opening the door carefully and stepping in. he looked to his agent and saw that he was in the midst of a nightmare. He knew that it was sometimes better to let someone awake from a nightmare themselves, and that you shouldn't interfere. This was not one of those times though, as Gibbs was pretty sure what Tony was dreaming about, and staying asleep would be worse than being awoken.

"Dinozzo, wake up," Gibbs said, approaching the bed. "Dinozzo, time to wake up."

Tony stayed asleep and was thrashing more and had started moaning, and whimpering.

"Tony, I need you to wake up," Gibbs said, this time a little louder. When that didn't work, he touched his agents shoulder and shook him a little. "Tony!"

Tony's eyes shot open and he turned to look for what had awoken him, as he saw a figure move to his right he immediately shrunk back, trying to get away.

"Tony, it's ok, it's me."

"Boss?" Tony questioned, he seemed a little confused, not knowing what was dream and what was reality.

"Yeah Tony, I'm here," Gibbs replied, leaning over to switch on the bedside lamp. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?"

"Your nightmare."

"I'm fine," Tony said, turning away from his boss.

"I thought we talked about this, you're not fine so quit saying it."

"Just leave it!" Tony exclaimed, turning to look back at his boss. "Please."

Gibbs nodded and got up from where he'd sat on the edge of the bed. "Ok Tony, I'll leave it, but you will talk to me about your nightmares, if you don't they'll only get worse."

"I will, just, not tonight."

Gibbs nodded again and walked to the door. "Go back to sleep, I'll be on the couch if you need me."

"You don't have to stay," Tony said, repeating what he'd said earlier.

"I know I don't have to, I want to."

"Ok."

"See you in the morning Dinozzo," Gibbs said, opening the bedroom door. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow, so try and go back to sleep."

"I'll try, night boss."

"Night Tony."