Previously

"You older self likes to make fun out of his names," Abby explained.

"And I would appreciate if you didn't," exclaimed McGee.

"We'll see about that," Tony told him smugly, making his partner groan out loud.

"He's going to be worse than his older self," hissed McGee to Abby who hugged him in response, too.

Gibbs was looking over to his bickering team when he felt someone watching them.

There, towering above them on the catwalk, stood the director with a toothpick in his mouth as he observed the scene downstairs.

Gibbs gave him a subtle nod and handed Mini-Ziva to Ducky, much to the little girl's dislike.

'I'll be back. Be nice,' he signed before heading upstairs and following Vance into the director's office.

Meanwhile Mini-Ziva tried to wriggle out of Ducky's arms.

"Alright my dear," the older M.E. finally gave in and set her down.

The young girl's reaction was quicker than Ducky had anticipated and in the moment he had let go of her she dashed away in the direction of the stairs as well.

Though McGee, having watched Gibbs departure, caught on quickly and picked her up as she was about to run past him.

Shocked by the sudden loss of movement Mini-Ziva froze and tensed up.

"Shh, it's okay," McGee smiled gently at her.

The little girl frowned at him and tried to wriggle out of the agent's arms, too.

"Sorry Ziva, can't do."

"She's definitely fixated on Jethro," Ducky came up next to the pair.

Since Mini-Ziva still had very bad memories of the older M.E. she didn't waste time in burying her face in McGee's shoulder as Ducky appeared next to her.

"And she has a good memory, too," he sighed.

"I'm sure she'll get over her … dislike," assured McGee, pausing mid-sentence.

"I doubt it, Timothy."

"Aww, Ducky!" Abby hugged him.

"I might have something that will help me regain her trust," Ducky thought out loud and bid his goodbye.

Meanwhile Tony had started to gently nudge and then tickle the little girl in McGee's arm. This caused Mini-Ziva to buckle and try to get away from the offending hands, giggling all along.

Over Ziva's head McGee and Abby shared an amused glance, while they both thought about how their teammates got along even when they didn't know each other.

(Vance Office)

"As you may have noticed, Ms. Scuito is free of work. Earlier today she managed to find a series of formulas. Therefore SecNav has sent a couple of gen specialists over. They'll take over the work on the possible anti-dote. Given the amount of formulas Ms. Scuito found and the lack of notes to those, it could take a while."

"A while?"

"The leading scientist estimated a time frame from merely a few days to an unknown numbers of months. Apparently some of those formulas are hard to recreate. They only vary in trivia. Also the scientists will start with the most likely formula, it could be the first or last formula."

"Mexler?"

"He has gone on a hunger strike. He won't eat or drink anything till he's released."

"He can wait then," scoffed Gibbs.

"I was also informed that the gen analysis of the girl matched Agent David's. Seeing that Agent DiNozzo turned younger too, there's no doubt left about their identities."

"I hadn't any doubt about that."

"However," Vance continued, completely ignoring Gibbs' comment, "This leaves us with the question of their whereabouts till all this can be reversed."

"There's no question, I won't let them be sent to live with someone they don't know."

"Technically they don't know you, either."

"Except that DiNozzo informed his younger self about the current situation via video message."

"So what do you suggest? You gonna play their guardian?"

Gibbs thought about this.

(Bullpen)

"How did it go?" Gibbs asked as he saw his shrunk agents quietly play together.

"After they stopped wrestling with each other they continued with the puzzle," explained McGee while Abby busied herself with her phone.

"Here!"

"Abs?"

"Just look Gibbs," stated Abby.

As Gibbs took the phone from the over exited goth he had trouble trying to contain his laughter. On the screen he could see how Tony first ran after a giggling Mini-Ziva. When they disappeared around a corner, they reappeared seconds later. This time Tony was being chased by the little girl, faking to be scared and to run at maximum speed.

Moments later he was tackled to the ground, landing clumsily with a thud, with Mini-Ziva on top of him.

This was followed by a full blown tickle fight. Gibbs noticed with pride that his agent was being careful not to be to rough to his partner. The film ended with the pair lying on the floor, laughing and trying to catch their breaths.

Gibbs shook his head, smiling slightly as he gave Abby her phone back.

"I'll film and photograph them, so that they've a lasting memory of this in the end!"

"I hope they'll return to normal soon," thought the gray-haired agent.

"Have you guys already eaten?"

"Nope - well yes - but only a granola bar," Abby started to ramble, gesticulating widely with her arms, "I don't think that really counts as breakfast, does it?"

"Let's go grab some real breakfast," Gibbs commanded, squeezing Abby's arm gently.

"Pizza?" Tony perked up.

"It's 9 am!" McGee exclaimed shocked.

"Your point?"

"That's disgusting Tony!"

"It's not!"

"Is."

"Not."

"Is."

"Guys!" Abby interrupted them.

"Gibbs is about to leave without you." She said while she walked to the elevator, where the gray-haired agent was already waiting for the car to arrive.

As Abby stopped next to her boss and her shrunken friend, she smiled as she saw their linked hands.

"Guess we need to hurry," commented Tony.

"Yeah," agreed McGee, grabbing his discarded jacket from his desk.

Together they joined the rest of the group, just in time as the elevator was closing again.

TBC...