"For someone who is working with children, she needs to know when to listen to a child and doing what is best for him. She practically ignored him!" Tom Morrow yelled angry through the speaker.
"I am very sorry this happend. I make sure she is not working soon unless she will do something to learn how to work with children again. How is the child?" The boss of child services asked.
"Nervous, scared. He already came from an unstable home. He didn't need this too." Gibbs said angry.
"I read his file agent Gibbs."
"Then you also know he will run away in every home you will place him." Mike said.
The boss sighs. "This is an unusual request you are asking. An agent who took his protection duty before, wants to adopt the child now."
"It's what's best for Tony." Gibbs said frustrated.
"Look I will come to the office in 20 minutes. I then want to talk to the child alone. Agent Gibbs needs to do a psych evaluation."
"Excuse me!!!!" Gibbs yelled.
"I need to know you are making this decision with your right mind. Still you can't adopt him till the investigation of his father is done."
"I..." Gibbs begins but Mike interrupts him.
"He will do that immediately." Mike said.
"Good see you all in 20 minutes." The boss said and hang up.
"I will make the appointment immediately so you can go today." The director said and dialed the number.
Gibbs sighs and ran a hand over his face. "I am in my right mind."
"Probie just do it. You, we and he knows that you don't have a strong case. An agent who wants to foster a child he met in a former case. An agent who lives alone and have a dangerous job with long hours. It's logical he has some doubts." Mike told him.
The director hang up his phone. "Mike is right. You have an appointment in 30 minutes. Remember we need to know what is best for Tony."
Gibbs sighs and took a deep breath. "Fine"
It was 7 o'clock in the evening and they were still in the office. Gibbs had done his psych evaluation and he passed. Tony had talked to the man from child services alone. Tony first didn't wanted to go but with some talking he finally did. But with the promise that someone would stay outside and close by so they could help him. After the talk with Tony, the man wanted to speak with Ducky about his findings. And now they were all in the conference room again waiting for an answer.
"So I talked to you all and I have enough information for now. Agent Gibbs, Tony can stay with you for now. He feels safe with you and that is the most important thing at this moment. I come in and check up on you a few times to see how everything goes. Tony needs to start school soon again. He already lost enough time on that subject. I want to be informed if he has a learning delay. Doctor Mallard, I want you to keep a close eye on Tony's health. Most important is his weight at this moment. I also want to be informed repeatedly."
"I can promise you that". Ducky told him.
"Good. Agent Gibbs, Tony? Do we have an agreement?" The boss asked.
Gibbs and Tony looked at each other and smiled. "Yes" they said at the same time.
"Good" the boss said and smiled. "I will see you all in a couple of days for an update. I wish you all well." The boss said and left the room.
Tony immediately climbed on Gibbs lap and gave him a hug. "I am safe now." Tony whispered softly in his ear.
Gibbs put is arms around him. "I will protect you."
The other man in the room smiled. "Well gentlemen, it has been a long day. I think we all can be happy about the outcome. Let's go home. Jethro you have two weeks off to get everything settled." Director Morrow said.
"So I think we need to go shopping tomorrow." Gibbs said as he tucked Tony in.
"What for?" Tony asked.
"Well this is your room for now on so we need to make the room more you."
"Really?" Tony asked excited.
Gibbs laughed. "Yes really. Now come, you need some sleep."
"Will you stay?" Tony asked softly.
Gibbs sat on the side of the bed. "I will stay till you fall asleep.
Today was Tony's first day at school. Tony was nervous as hell. He didn't wanted to go.
"Why can't I stay home?" Tony asked as Gibbs gave him his bag.
"Because you need school. You already missed enough. Besides maybe you will make friends."
"I can make friends somewhere else." Tony said as he saw all the other kids running around.
Gibbs smiled. "Yeah try here first. Remember I come to pick you up again when you are done. Also I want you to eat all of your lunch and that milkshake I put in your bag."
Tony sighs and rolled his eyes. "Okay."
"Good. Now have a nice day. I will see you in a couple of hours." Gibbs said as Tony walked away.
Gibbs had been called by the teacher when the school day was almost over. She asked him to meet her in the classroom. They needed to discuss something.
"Hey buddy. Everything alright?" Gibbs asked as he stepped inside the room. Tony sat on a chair with his arms crossed. Gibbs hoped Tony didn't get in trouble already on his first day of school.
"Fine, why do I have to stay?" Tony asked frustrated.
"Ah mr Gibbs. Good that you could be here. Let's sit down so we can discuss what we, Tony and I, did today." The teacher said with a smile.
"What did you do today?" Gibbs asked confused.
"Yes. So you told me last week that Tony had been out of school for two years. So I did some tests today to see in what class he should be in."
"He got a learning delay?" Gibbs asked impatiently.
"What oh no on the contrary. He scores pretty high. If he moves like this he can skip a class." The teacher said excited.
Gibbs looked confused at Tony. How was that even possible. Tony turned his head away and looked at the window. Apparently he didn't wanted to talk about it in here.
"Well thank you for notifying me. I Uhmm will discuss this later again." Gibbs said.
"What the hell Tony? You can skip a class. How? How did you educate yourself? Why didn't you tell me?" Gibbs asked. He was pacing the living room while Tony sat on the couch.
"I was homeschooled and Jacob taught me some." Tony said quietly.
"Enough to skip a class. Enough to miss two years?" Gibbs asked.
"Look my father... I needed to grew up fast so I could help in the business. I had school everyday. All my tests needed to be an A." Tony said quickly.
Gibbs closed his eyes. He didn't wanted to think about what his father did if he got B. "Alright. Tony you have to let me know some of those things."
"How could I have know? I just had a teacher and homework. How could I have know in what class I was in?" Tony asked frustrated.
"Nobody told you?" Gibbs asked in disbelief and Tony shook his head.
Gibbs sighs and took a deep breath. "Alright. You couldn't have know. Okay so how was the class?"
Tony held up his shoulders. "Alright I guess."
"Tell you what. We take a look how this class is going. After a week we know more about how and what."
"Fine, can I take a shower?"
"Sure, where is your lunchbox? I can take it with the dishes."
"Uhmm in my bag." Tony said distracted halfway on the stairs.
Gibbs took the bag and looked inside. He found the empty lunchbox but still the bottle with the milkshake in it. "Tony I told you to drink the shake also. You can't skip those till you are on your right weight."
Tony just ignored him and walk further. "Tony" Gibbs said sternly.
"Yeah yeah I know. I just wasn't that hungry okay. If I would drink that also I would have throw up."
"You feel sick?" Gibbs asked concerned now.
"No, no. I just... Gibbs I will drink it after my shower okay. I promise." Tony said and walked further up the stairs till he was in the bathroom.
It was two weeks later and Ducky came to visit. He had his bag already in his hands.
"Good afternoon Jethro." Ducky said as he stepped inside.
"Hey Duck. Tea?" Gibbs asked as Ducky followed him to the kitchen.
"Yes, please. Where is Anthony?"
"Outside, practicing." Gibbs said as he gave Ducky his tea and sat down at the table with his own cup of coffee.
"Practicing for what?"
"I think it is basketball and football now. I don't know anymore. He saw that he could join in school so he start practicing."
"So I am guessing he likes school now. Has he gone to another class? You mentioned that he scored pretty high on his tests."
"No we decided he would stay in this class. He is already the youngest there if he skipped a class... anyway I thought it would be best for him to be with children of his own age. Tony promised me that if he got bored too much that we went see what could be possible."
"Well it is nice knowing he is playing with some new friends and likes school. Mister Charles from child services said he would come tomorrow. He mentioned that you updated him recently. He asked me about Anthony's health. He wants a report tomorrow." Ducky told him while drinking his tea.
"Ah that is why you got your bag with you."
"Yes, it was one of the conditions remember. So tell me Jethro, is het eating enough? Taking his shakes?"
Gibbs ran a hand through his hair. "On and off. He is eating but skipped his shakes most of the time."
Ducky raised an eyebrow. "You know why? Did you tell him he needs it?"
"Yes I told him. Tell him every morning but when he comes home I find the shake still in his bag. He says he will vomit if he drinks it then."
Ducky was writing while Gibbs was telling him this. "And he is exercising now too. He needs those shakes. Alright let's move on. How is he sleeping?"
"On and off. He still has nightmares sometimes but I can calm him down and he goes back to sleep. Sometimes he sleeps when he comes home. He seems tired then also. Other times he sleeps but not really sleep you know."
"You think he is still looking tired?" Ducky asked curiously.
Gibbs sighs. "I don't know Duck. He looks tired but it also can have to do with the new school, sports. A lot happend."
"Mmh, I think it's a good idea we do a blood test."
Gibbs looked confused. "Why? You think he is sick?"
"Just to be sure. He also could be too short on vitamins. Well I think it's time to see the boy." Ducky said as he puts his pen down.
Gibbs nodded and took a deep breath before he stood up. A moment later he walked back in with Tony by his side.
"Hello Anthony." Ducky said kindly.
"Hey Ducky. How is work?" Tony asked.
"It's fine my dear boy. Thank you for asking." Ducky said with a smile before he gave Gibbs a look.
"Hey buddy. Ducky also came here so he could check up on you. It was one of the conditions mister Charles said. He will be here tomorrow."
"Why does he come? Is he taking me away?" Tony asked confused and scared.
"No no kiddo. He comes to check up on you. How you are doing. He also wants to know what Ducky's findings of you are."
"What finding?"
Gibbs sighs. "Ducky needs to check you out. To see if you are healthy."
"I am." Tony said to Ducky.
"Then I will see that soon. Come on my dear boy. Hop on the table so I can take a better look at you." Ducky said and Gibbs helped Tony.
Tony didn't made the examination easy. Everything was a fight. Telling them he was fine. Gibbs had to held Tony when Ducky needed to take some blood. The good thing was that Tony didn't lose more weight but he also didn't put some weight on. Ducky told them he would find something else that could help with the diet. They were now sitting in the living room on the couch. Tony was leaning against Gibbs side while Ducky sat in the chair asking Tony questions.
Tony was holding Gibbs shirt with one hand so he was sure that Gibbs would stay. When Ducky began to tell them a story, Tony's eyes grew heavier and soon they were closed.
When Ducky was sure Tony was asleep he stopped his story. "Jethro, the case about his father was almost done the only problem now is that he is gone." Ducky whispered softly.
"What you mean gone?" Gibbs asked impatiently.
"He disappeared. The house he lives in was empty. Looks like he packed his stuff and left. Nobody knows where he is now."
"That is curious. Did he knew we found his son?" Gibbs wanted to know.
"I don't think so Jethro. There will be a meeting tomorrow morning. Director Morrow asked me to tell you to be present tomorrow. It was important he said."
Gibbs nodded. "Wait a minute it's weekend tomorrow. Tony doesn't have school then and mister Charles would come by."
"I will watch Tony tomorrow Jethro.