Gibbs dreaded the day his kids went back to school. Especially after what happened with Tony and Ziva in daycare. He was worried about Tim and Abby going to take the math/science class at the middle school. Even if it was only one afternoon a week and most of the kids were only one year older than them. Heck there may even be some younger. He was worried about Ziva getting in a fight with the wrong person. Ziva had trained in Krav-Maga when she left Israel and said her karate class was relaxing but what if she hurt someone bad enough and the parents sued or they had been abused before and ended up committing suicide. He was worried about Tony just being Tony. That poor kid just seemed to attract trouble wherever he went. He hoped that some of his fears would be assuaged today when he took the kids to their open house. He would also need to get Tony's teacher assignment. For some reason it had not arrived along with the other kids assignment's. The fifth grade had three teachers. One taught AP and the other two taught regular. Tim and Abby were in the Advanced Placement class together and Ziva was in one of the other classes.
"Gibbs do you think Tony will be in my class?" Ziva asked.
"I hope so but remember there is another fifth grade teacher." Gibbs replied.
"Is it possible that Tony is in the Advanced Placement class like Timmy and I and the school just wants to surprise him?' Abby asked.
"No Abby the school would not do that besides Tony doesn't do as well in school as you guys do." Gibbs explained.
"I know you want to say I'm too stupid for that class." Tony said.
"Tony I didn't say you were stupid. I would never say that besides I didn't do well in school myself." Gibbs explained.
"Just leave me alone!" Tony cried running from the room.
"What's wrong with Tony? Why did he think you called him stupid? You didn't did you? Right?" Abby asked.
"No Abbs Tony was verbally abused by his father and he still hasn't gotten over it." Gibbs explained.
"What's verbally abused?" Ziva asked.
"It means that his dad called him mean names and screamed at him a lot. Whenever he did anything wrong and sometimes when he didn't do anything at all. He was a real bad guy." Gibbs explained.
"Will he ever get over it?" Tim asked.
"I really don't know. Some people are just fine other's never get over it." Gibbs replied.
"That's so unfair!" Abby cried.
"My dad sometimes verbally abused me why am I okay but Tony's not?" Tim asked.
"Like I said some people can get over it. You also were lucky that your mom cared enough to divorce your father and take you and your sister away." Gibbs explained.
"If my mom and stayed with my dad or left me with my dad. Would I be like Tony now?" Tim asked.
"I don't know Tim but don't think about it. You don't want to get caught up in thinking about what could have been." Gibbs replied.
"Okay" Tim replied.
"I wouldn't have let you stay with him." Gibbs assured stroking Tim's hair.
"Thanks" Tim replied.
"No problem. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go try to talk to Tony." Gibbs replied.
"Please make him feel better Gibbs." Ziva begged.
At his house Ducky was getting ready to take Jimmy to meet his first grade teacher. He had just gotten out of the shower and Jimmy was supposed to be waiting on the couch ready to go. However when he stepped out of the bathroom to find that he was the only person in the living room. His heart began to race. That old shower was so loud it was hard to hear anything besides the water running. What if the boy had run off again? Even worse what if somebody had come and taken him. He was about to call Leon or Jethro to send a team to his house. When much to his joy he heard a sneeze coming from Jimmy's bedroom. His relief was quickly replaced with another concern. A less severe concern but a concern none the less. What if the poor kid was sick? He had treated Jethro's kids when they got sick but never one of his own. He turned the corner and opened the door to Jimmy's bedroom.
"Jimmy are you alright?" Ducky asked.
"Yeah I'm fine." Jimmy assured.
"Then why were you not on the couch I told you to wait for me on the couch?" Ducky asked semi angry.
"Does he hate me?" Jimmy asked.
"Does who hate you?" Ducky asked.
"Tony" Jimmy replied.
"Why on Earth would Anthony hate you?" Ducky asked.
"Because of what happened in daycare." Jimmy explained.
"Oh when you and Breena were playing house." Ducky replied.
"Yeah why did he get so upset when I said the baby's real parents died in a fire?" Jimmy asked.
"I do not know but Anthony's life before coming to live with Jethro is something of a mystery. You could have accidentally brought up a painful memory for him. Why ever would you have the baby's parents die in a fire anyway? That is awful dark for a child's brain?" Ducky asked.
"I read about it in a book once and it kind of scared me. My foster parents back then smoked a lot and I don't know I thought they'd fall asleep with their cigarette's in their mouths and burn up." Jimmy explained.
"Oh well that is not the type of stuff you should be reading." Ducky replied.
"I'm sorry" Jimmy apologized.
"It's alright but from now on if something bother's you come to me. You can now." Ducky replied.
"Alright" Jimmy replied.
"Now what about you saying that he had something wrong with his brain and that you heard me talking about it?" Ducky asked.
"I heard you talking to Mr. Vance about how sometimes Tony just isn't right after Mr. Gibbs had his accident." Jimmy explained.
"Oh well I'm afraid he isn't right. I have not spent enough time with him to be able to evaluate exactly what is wrong with him. I just know something is. Now I do not want you repeating that to Jethro or anyone. I will need to talk with Jethro about it however." Ducky explained.
"Yes sir" Jimmy replied.
"That's my boy. Now come on we have to get to your open house and meet Mr. Emerson." Ducky replied.
"Okay I hope he's nice." Jimmy replied.
"He will be." Ducky assured.
"What if he's not?" Jimmy asked nervously.
"I will have you transferred to another class." Ducky replied.
"Okay" Jimmy replied.
"Are you nervous about school in general?" Ducky asked.
"No I love school. Just I heard some teachers are mean." Jimmy explained.
"Well you don't worry about that." Ducky replied.
"Will meeting him make me feel better?" Jimmy asked.
"Yes it will and trust me you will not be the only one who is nervous." Ducky assured.
"You sure?" Jimmy asked.
"Believe I know." Ducky replied.
Gibbs entered the auditorium of Cameron Elementary School. They attended Jefferson Elementary but Gibbs had transferred him after all the drama with Margret. He had reported the vandalism and thefts to the police but Sheriff Thaddeus had helped her get off and keep her teaching job. Tim, Abby, Ziva, and Tony were close behind him. Curious about their new school. The open house was starting with a quick overview of what the parents and children could expect to happen over the school year. Followed by meeting the teachers. Gibbs surveyed the room and saw Ducky sitting at the end of the fifth row with Jimmy beside him. Gibbs instructed the children to sit behind him and save the fifth seat for him. Meanwhile he approached the principal. To ask her about Tony's class assignment.
"Mrs. Claire?" Gibbs asked.
"What can I do for you Mr. Gibbs?" Mr. Claire asked.
"Tony did not receive his class schedule last week."Gibbs replied.
"Oh well that's strange I could have sworn I sent it out." replied.
"Then why the hell didn't I get it?!" Gibbs demanded.
"Oh I remember now. The new fifth grade teacher just had to teach him." Mrs. Claire explained.
"Who is she? Cause Tony is really nervous about starting school and who his new teacher will be." Gibbs explained.
"Oh she's over there. I would help you more but I need to get started we are already behind." Mrs. Claire replied pointing to the back of the auditorium.
Mrs. Claire went on stage to begin the presentation. While Gibbs surveyed the room for Tony's teacher. It should have been fairly easy to find her. Since all the teachers were lined up by what grade they taught and he had already met Mrs. Roswell and Mr. O'Brien when he went to register the kids. Mrs. Roswell taught the Advanced Placement class so they had been formally introduced by the principal. Since it had been known for weeks that Tim and Abby were going to be in the Advanced Placement class. Mr. O'Brien was going to be Ziva's teacher. He and Gibbs had met informally. When he overheard Mrs. Rosewell talking to Gibbs about having two other kids going into the fifth grade. His eyes landed on the far left corner of the room. Their was one woman he didn't recognize quickly turned and left the room when she saw him looking in her direction. If Gibbs had known who the woman was and the damage she would do in the coming days and weeks. He would have pulled Tony out of this school as well. He would have not even risked putting him in another new school. He would have home schooled him and never let him out of his sight for a second. Unfortunately he didn't and as a result his already traumatized son would have to endure pain no child should have to feel.
A/N: Any guesses on who Tony's teacher is? New chapter ASAP. Please review and thanks for reading.