It was two years later. Tony had finished school for the day and walked into the NCIS building. He was a knowing visitor and everyone knew him in NCIS. He also had his own room. The benefits of having his father's team and the Director as family when he was adopted by Gibbs.

"Hey kid you already done with school?" Pacci asked when he saw him entering the bullpen.

"Yeah, where is dad?" Tony asked as he walked to his father's desk.

"Upstairs. He will be done soon. We just closed the case. What happened with your clothes?" Pacci asked curiously. He knew Tony hides a lot. They found that out the hard way when the kid walked around with a broken arm all day last year.

Tony held up his shoulders. "You know how it is. Playing outside and all that."

Pacci raised an eyebrow. "And that explains the hole in your shirt?"

Tony's eyes widened. "What hole?" Tony looked behind him and finally he saw what Pacci saw. "Ah shit, dad is going to kill me."

"No swearing kid. And you better tell him the truth, here he comes." Pacci said and nodded with his head to the stairs.

"Hey buddy. When did you come in?" Gibbs asked as he ruffles Tony's hair.

"Not long ago."

"Have you been in a fight kid?" Mike asked as he sat down at his desk.

"No!" Tony said immediately and put his hands behind his back to cover the hole in his shirt.

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Well that is a confession. And you can put your hands down. We already saw that hole in your shirt."

"You know it's getting annoyed that you are noticing everything." Tony said angry.

Gibbs put two fingers under Tony chin. "Less attitude. Now why the hole in your shirt and why is there... Is that blood on your pants?" Gibbs asked suddenly when he looked closely.

Pacci rolled his eyes and sighs. Here we go again he thought and already called Ducky to let him know he was getting a visitor soon.

"Look we were just messing around and I fell. Nothing to worry about." Tony begins immediately when he saw the worry in Gibbs eyes.

"Why didn't you just say that then kid?" Mike asked while writing something on his report.

Tony looked angry at Mike. "Just because..." Gibbs suddenly took Tony's hand.

"Time to see Ducky." Gibbs said and walked to the elevator.

"What! It's just a little scratch. The pants is making it worse. Dad, listen to me..." Tony kept saying all the way to the elevator.

Pacci looked at Mike. "Will he ever learn?" Pacci asked.

"Who? Probie or the kid?" Mike asked.

Pacci thought for a moment. "Both."

Mike laughed. "That is the one million dollar question, isn't it."

"Dad seriously. I don't always need Ducky." Tony said as they walked into autopsy.

"Then stop getting hurt and you don't need the visits." Gibbs said.

Ducky turned around in his chair when he saw the two walking through the sliding doors. "Ah what have you done now Anthony?" Ducky said with a smile.

Tony just rolled his eyes. "Nothing. Dad is just overreacting as always."

"I am sure he has a good reason." Ducky said kindly and walked to them.

"No, he worries too much. Can't you tell him grandpa Ducky?" Tony pleaded. Gibbs pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I am afraid I can't Anthony. That is a father's instinct. You can't let that disappear. You need to feel it." Ducky said with a smile.

Tony rolled his eyes. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"Hop on the table my dear boy. We let him see. Come on, you know the procedure." Ducky said and leads him to the table where he put a blanket on.

"You know it can be disturbing to let a kid sit on a autopsy table every time." Tony said as he stopped.

"Not for you anymore my dear. You have sit on that table a lot of times. It will not disturb you anymore." Ducky told him and helped him to clim on it.

"Too many times if you ask me." Gibbs said with his arms crossed watching carefully.

"Not my fault. You wanted me here every week in the beginning. And then we are here every time I have a bruise or a little scratch."

Gibbs closed his eyes and thought about the first month he got Tony. Tony's health needed to be watch carefully the first month. Lucky after a month Tony was much more healthier and he didn't need to see Ducky every time. Thank god Gibbs thought. Every time it was a fight and a lot of negotiations and discussions. Then last year happend. Tony hiding bruises and his broken arm. After that time he wanted to make sure Tony was okay. Even if it was little. Better be safe than sorry.

"What happened my dear boy? This was not just a fall. By the looks of it you fell on something. I already see the bruising forming. Your bike?" Ducky asked while he was feeling carefully around the bruises to make sure everything was okay. Tony just looked away.

"Tony." Gibbs said in a tone to answer. "How?"

Finally Tony sighs. "We went to the cross track. I fell okay. Look the bike is okay."

"You went where! Tony I don't care about the bike. I care about you. There was a reason I told you not to go there. It's dangerous and especially if you go there on a normal bike. Were you wearing your helmet?" Gibbs asked trying very hard to keep calm. When Gibbs asked that question, Ducky immediately inspect Tony eyes and feeling his head.

"Yes I was wearing it. I didn't fell hard. It was all muddy there." Tony defense as he was trying to get away from Ducky's hands.

"And how did you get most of the mud away from your clothes Anthony?" Ducky asked as he was now inspecting his knees who were bleeding a little.

Tony looked shocked that Ducky made that connection.

"Tony? What did you do?" Gibbs asked.

Tony closed his eyes. Here we go he thought. He was in deep trouble. "The lake." Tony said softly.

Ducky gasped and looked at Gibbs who was getting redder and redder and was pacing back and fort in the front of them. "You went what!!!!!! You went from something dangerous to something that could kill you. There could be a current. You could have drowned. Did you think about that before you went in there? No, I thought not. And then you sit outside in those wet clothes. Let me guess, you thought it was a good plan because it's windy outside. Guess again. You could easily get a chest infection. Tony do you have a death wise?" Gibbs finally stopped in the front of them.

Tony wasn't looking at them and was blinking a lot. Tears were forming in his eyes. He screwed up. He was trembling softly while Ducky was finishing his examination. "Jethro..." Ducky said concerned and gave a knowing look at Tony. Tony was closing up to them. Something Tony learned over the years before he came to live with Gibbs. In therapy they tried to get Tony to lose that habit. It was working but now Tony did it again.

Gibbs took a couple of calming breaths. "Kiddo look at me. I don't want to lose you. Talk to me." He said softly and stood in the front of him.

"You would have been mad that my clothes were dirty. You would knew I was on the cross track." Tony said softly still not looking at him.

"I don't care if your clothes are dirty as long as you are safe. You are a child. I don't expect them to be clean every day. Kids play. That is what they do. But I don't want you to do something that is so dangerous. I can't lose you kiddo. It will break me."

Tony finally looked at Gibbs and put his arms around him. "I am sorry." Tony whispered in his ear while he let out the tears.

"I know you are buddy. I can see that. Come let Ducky finish we go upstairs then." Gibbs could feel Tony nodding but didn't let go.

Gibbs sighs and sat down with Tony on his lap and let Ducky finish cleaning the wounds on his knees. It was painful for Tony so Gibbs carried him upstairs and sat him on his chair by his desk and told him to make his homework.

Mike and Pacci looked questionable at Gibbs. Something happend downstairs they thought. But instead of telling them something, Gibbs sat down at an other desk and begins to write his report. Pacci found the silence unnerving. He stood up and told them he would get some coffee.

20 minutes later he came back with four cups. Gibbs was gone. "He went to Gloria." Mike told him.

Pacci nodded and handled out the cups. The last one was for Tony. Pacci kneels down besides him.

"Hey kid. Got a hot choco for you." Pacci said kindly. He saw the tear tracks on Tony's face. Tony was never so silent and still.

"Thank you." Tony said softly but didn't look at him.

"You okay kiddo? You know you can talk to me?" Pacci asked. Something was bothering Tony.

"I need to do my homework."

Pacci looked at it. Tony didn't do much. "I can see that. Maybe it will go better if you tell me what's bothering you."

Tony shook his head. "I need to finish this."

Tony was trembling a little. Pacci took the pencil and turned Tony around so he was looking at him. "Kid, tell me."

"Dad is mad at me. He is disappointed in me. What if he doesn't want me anymore?" Tony said softly. Mike looked up at that. That was nothing for his probie.

"What happened?" Mike asked. Tony sighs and told him what happened.

"Tony. Your dad will never be disappointed in you. He is scared. Dad's...They seem mad then but most of the time they are just scared that something could happen to you. That is what dad's do. Your dad did everything to get you. You are his most beautiful gift he has given. He will never give that up. He will just do something to protect you more. He will teach you more. All what he is doing is out of love. Never out of disappointment." Pacci told him.

"You sure?" Tony asked carefully.

"Believe him kid. He comes out of a family of six brothers and sisters. He knows what a family is and does." Mike told him.

Tony's eyes widened. "That many?"

Pacci smiled. "Yes but it was nice. So believe what I just told you. He loves you kid."

Tony smiled softly. "Okay."

Pacci stood up and ruffles his hair. "Good, now go back to your homework. Your dad will come up soon."

What they didn't notice was that Gibbs had seen everything. He stood on the balcony with the director watching the bullpen. The director wanted to know what was going on. He heard what happend from Mike when Gibbs and Tony were downstairs with Ducky.

"See Jethro. Everything will be alright. He just needed some more confirmation from someone else." Tom Morrow said.

Gibbs sighs and ran a hand over his face. "What if it will happen again?" Gibbs asked worriedly.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "Have you spoken your concerns with doctor Hales?" Doctor Hales was Tony's psychiatrist. After everything that happened they all thought it was wise for Tony to see a psychiatrist two years ago. It was also recommended by mister Charles. Tony was still seeing him. Doctor Hales had also spoken to the team to help Tony talk.

"Just talked to him on the phone to give him the heads up. He wants to see Tony tomorrow." Gibbs told him quietly.

Tom nodded. "Remember what doctor Hales told us last year. We can help him understand but we can't always prevent what he does. It's a hard habit he learned from a young age and it's not easily broken."

Gibbs took a deep breath. "I know. Just sometimes I wish I knew Tony earlier. To get him away on time and give him a sort of 'normal' childhood."

Tom clapped him on the shoulder. "I know what you mean but even if you knew him earlier. He would never have a normal childhood. Look around. He lives half in an office and his family is the team."

Gibbs smiled at that. "He's unique."

Two weeks later the team decided to take a vacation. Pacci would go to his own family but Mike, Ducky, Gibbs and Tony decided to go to Ducky's vacation home. Which was in the woods and a lake was nearby so they could swim. They were now on the road. Ducky was already there so was Mike.

"You know. We don't have to go just because doctor Hales suggested it. You don't always have to listen to him." Tony rambled.

"You think not listening to him is always a good decision?" Gibbs asked Tony.

"That is not what I said. It's just..." Tony begins but Gibbs stopped him. Tony was trying to avoid the appointments recently and Doctor Hales had more trouble to keep Tony talking.

"We needed a break and Ducky's vacation home is a good place."

"But we could go anywhere. And why now? Just because someone said hey you need a break you all pack your stuff and go? Just because doctor Hales made a suggestion we don't need follow it immediately."

"I am the parent here Tony. And it is time. Besides I think that Doctor Hales made some good suggestions. That is why it is so important to go to the appointments and listen to him." Gibbs told him and gave Tony a knowing look.

Tony laughed nervously. "You know about... how long?"

"Long enough. But we were getting more worried when you didn't speak anymore during the appointments. You want to tell me why?"

"Dad.." Tony said and looked out of the window. "Do we have to talk about that now?"

"We have time." Gibbs told him.

Tony rolled his eyes. With other words. You talk some or you won't leave the car. "It's been two years..."

"Yeah it has been two years. So you don't want to go anymore suddenly? Doctor Hales is there to help you. He did a pretty good job when you first started with him. Did something happend that you don't want to go anymore or talk?" Gibbs asked. He was driving slower now. They were almost there.

Tony let out a deep breath. "No nothing happened. It's just... look it won't happen again okay." Tony said softly.

"No not okay. You still haven't answered my question."

Tony saw the house. "Too bad. We are here."

Gibbs stopped the car but took a hold on Tony's arm when he wanted to step outside. "Tony... please"

Tony sighs and leans back. "I just... I just don't always want to talk you know. Always looking for a reason. Looking for a solution. I am just getting tired of it sometimes."

"Did you talk about that with Doctor Hales?" Gibbs asked concerned.

"Dad, please. Just not now." Tony took a deep breath again. "Not now" he said softly now.

Gibbs let go of his arm. He could see that Tony needed some time. "Alright, later then. Now come on. Let's get out of the car before Ducky is coming over here." Tony smiled and followed his dad.

"You think they are alright Duck?" Mike asked who was drinking his beer. He looked at Gibbs car but no one was coming out.

"I think they just need to have a private conversation." Ducky told him who was also observing.

"Well by the looks of it is the kid hiding something again and probie wants to know what it is."

"Well I think they talked it out, here they come." Ducky said as he walked to them.

"Ah there is my favorite grandson." Ducky said with a smile as he put an arm around him.

"Hey Ducky. This is a beautiful place." Tony said.

"It is, isn't. Come on inside. I will show you the house and let you see where you can sleep. It is already an old home. My family..." Ducky begins to tell him a story while walking with him inside the house.

"Everything okay probie?" Mike asked as he handled him a beer.

"Yeah fine. Thanks."

"Something going on we should know? The kid hiding something?" Mike asked a little concerned. Over the years the kid had grown on him. He was an uncle now and Tony was his nephew. He would do anything to protect him.

Gibbs hesitates. "He doesn't always go to his appointments anymore or is not talking. He just told me that he got tired of it sometimes. Tired of the talking. He didn't say anything anymore. He said not now."

"And this has you concerned? You are not a big fan of talking either."

"What if he is hurting himself... what if..." Gibbs mind was now going anywhere.

"Okay probie stop thinking right now. He would never do that. Well not on purpose. This was just part of the conversation. Like you said it was not finished. Just take a break. You need it, Tony needs it we need it." Mike told him.

Gibbs sighs and ran a hand through his hair. "You are right."

Suddenly Tony ran out of the house with a big smile on his face. "Dad did you see the lake? Can we go for a swim? Please?"

"Uhmm sure. Just let me put the bags in the room and change then we can go. You found your swimming trunks already?"

Tony shook his head no. "I don't know in which bag you packed them."

Gibbs smiled. "Alright let's go. Help me with the other bags."

"Uncle Mike, Ducky? Are you coming too?" Tony asked in the sweetest tone they couldn't resist.

It was two days later and everyone was enjoying there time here. They were all relaxed. Today Gibbs and Mike decided to go into woods while Tony and Ducky went to the lake.

Well Tony was swimming while Ducky was reading a book. Tony enjoyed the water. It was calm and nothing to worry about. He could be in the water all day if he could. Today Tony had a snorkel with him so he could look underwater. It was fascinating. Suddenly Tony thought he saw something that looked interesting. Tony swum deeper to see what is was but unfortunately he hit his arm against a pointed stone. Tony wanted to yell because it hurt but he couldn't because that would mean he couldn't breath anymore. Tony tried to move a bit so he could look at his arm. It was bleeding. He needed to come up but when he turned around, all he saw was seaweed. Now he panicked a little because he didn't see where he should go to. His arm was hurting and he was now breathing in water. Tony put the snorkel out and coughed. What wasn't helping was the water. With his arms he tried hysterically to put the seaweed away. And finally he saw where he needed to go.

In the meantime Ducky put his book down. Is has been awhile since he had seen Anthony. Ducky looked around the lake to see if he saw him. When he saw nothing he was getting concerned. Suddenly he saw bubbles but no Anthony. Ducky walked to the spot. He would wait a minute before he decided to jump into the lake. More bubbles were coming and then a second later Tony appears from the water. Coughing violently and looking distressed. Ducky didn't wait a minute longer and helped Tony out of the water. Tony was coughing some more while Ducky slapped him on the back. A few moments later Tony finally stopped coughing and lay down exhausted in the grass.

"Thanks Ducky." Tony said still breathing heavily.

"Anthony my dear boy. What happened? Come on sit up lean against me." Ducky told him and held Tony close against him.

"Hit a rock ...then...I only saw seaweed... inhaled water... couldn't find my way..." Tony told him while concentrating on his breathing.

"Oh my..." Ducky now saw the bleeding arm and examined it. He would need stitches. "Anthony I think we may need to go the hospital. You inhaled water and your arm needs stitches."

Tony shook his head and lay his head heavily on Ducky's shoulder. "No, no hospital. Don't want dad to know."

Ducky looked confused. "Anthony. Your dad will know. You need some medical help."

Tony turns his head to Ducky. "You can help me grandpa. No hospital. Just give me a minute." Tony said as he closed his eyes.

"Anthony I need you to stay awake." Ducky said concerned.

"I am awake. Just concentrating...on breathing."

Ducky didn't wanted to lay Tony down. But he also knew that Tony didn't had the energy to sit upright. So he let Tony concentrate on his breathing while Ducky watched him carefully. Suddenly he saw Gibbs and Mike running to them. Thank god Ducky thought.

"Ducky, Tony what happened?" Gibbs asked concerned as he kneels next to them. Tony slowly opened his eyes while Ducky told them what happened.

"Told you not to tell." Tony whispered softly.

"What is he talking about? Do we need to bring him to the hospital?" Mike asked concerned as he took his shirt off and put it around Tony's bleeding arm who winced and sat up.

"No, no hospital." Tony told them strongly now.

"Duck?" Gibbs asked he knew how Tony hated hospitals. It would not bring him any goods. Most of the time he just pass out when they walked through those doors.

"I have my bag in the house. Let's see what I can do."

Gibbs nodded and took Tony in his arms. Together they walked back to house. Ducky stitched his arm while Tony was watching carefully what he was doing. Desperate how tired he was he would watch what they were doing. Next Ducky would listen to his lungs. He needed the help of Gibbs to help Tony up.

"I hear something. I will keep a close eye on it so that it would not get worse. If it will, we need to go to... well you know." Ducky told Gibbs. Tony had his eyes already closed again. Together they helped Tony out of his wet clothes and put dry clothes on while he slept on the couch.

"Should he be asleep Duck?" Mike asked concerned.

"He needs the rest. It was exhausting for him. He will probably wake up in a couple of hours."

Gibbs ran a hand over his face and sat besides Tony. Running his hand through his hair. A hour later Tony woke up and sat up. Gibbs was immediately by his side.

"Hey hey kiddo. Take it easy." Gibbs said.

"Dad I am fine. I just want to sit up." Tony told him.

"Ah I see my nephew decided to join the living again." Mike said as he walked to the living room with Ducky.

"I was never dead uncle Mike."

"No but you almost could be." Gibbs told him.

Tony closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew where his dad was going with this. "I am fine everything is fine. I just inhaled some water."

"Don't forget the stitches in your arm young man." Ducky said.

"It is not fine Tony! You could drown or get an infection from that wound. It is not fine. I should have gone with you. I should not have given you the snorkel."

Tony stood up immediately. "Wait what! Dad come on... it could happen to anyone! Be reasonable!"

"Oh I am being reasonable young man."

Mike and Ducky looked at each other. Before Mike decided to step in. "Probie come on take a walk."

Gibbs turned around. "Mike don't..."

"PROBIE!" Mike yelled now. But he got Gibbs attention. "Take a walk. Come on".

Gibbs sighs and looked at Ducky. "It's alright Jethro I will stay here. Just go." Gibbs took one last look at Tony before he followed his boss. He needed to cool down.

When they were gone, Tony let out a deep breath. "See that is why I told you not to tell him."

"He is a father Anthony. He is just concerned." Ducky told him while looking in his bag.

"Yeah that is the problem."

Ducky stopped looking in his bag immediately and looked at Tony. "What you mean my dear boy? You know he loves you right?"

"Yeah I know. But he changed." Tony told him softly.

"What you mean changed? When?"

"Last year."

Ducky was silent for a moment and thought about last year. Last year Tony broke his arm but didn't tell anyone. Gibbs felt guilty for not noticing. But they talked it out didn't they? "Anthony why are you avoiding appointments with Doctor Hales? Has that something to do with this?"

Tony looked at Ducky. Of course Ducky saw a connection. "He talks and it's not good."

Ducky pinched the bridge of his nose. Talking with Anthony was sometimes taking out a tooth. "Who talk and what is not good? Anthony I can't help or understand you if I don't know what is wrong."

Tony sighs and looked out of the window. He took a moment before he decided that is was for the best to let Ducky know. Maybe he could help indeed.

"Last year you know when I broke my arm, dad changed. Then I talked to doctor Hales and dad talked to him. And then he changed..."

"Your dad was feeling guilty that he didn't noticed that you broke your arm. You were hiding it pretty well." Ducky told him.

"Yeah well... ever since then I can't do anything. Everything is too dangerous. He doesn't trust me anymore and almost every week I sit in autopsy looked over by you because he thinks I am injured or sick! Ducky please tell me you see that."

What they didn't noticed was that Mike and Gibbs were listening to the conversation behind a wall. Mike told him to calm down and to just listen. They hoped Tony would open up to Ducky what was bothering him.

Ducky sighs. The child was right. Jethro was becoming an overprotective bear since last year. He saw that too when child services told him that Tony was not improving. They gave him a month. After that month he was a normal father until last year. Gibbs was afraid of losing Tony.

"My dear boy. You are absolutely right. But you can't always change the mind of a father."

Tony gave him a look. "You don't have to tell me that. I lived with one before." He said angry.

"Anthony you know I didn't mean that and you know it." Ducky told him sternly.

Tony looked down at the floor. "I am sorry grandpa." Tony said and gave Ducky a hug. Tony would only call Ducky grandpa when he was vulnerable or he would try to get something.

"It alright my boy. Now I think we need to talk to your father."

At that moment Gibbs decided to enter the room again. "No need. And you are right I may have overreact a little."

"A little?" Tony said and Mike laughed.

"You were a damn mother hen probie." Mike said.

"A bear who was trying to protect his cub." Ducky said with a smile.

Gibbs held up his hands. "Alright alright. I get it. I am sorry alright. I will try not to always overreact okay?"

"Promise?" Tony asked.

"Maybe a you should talk with Doctor Hales. Together. This is something you both need." Ducky told them.

Tony rolled his eyes while Gibbs nodded. He would do anything for Tony. "Alright we go. Alright buddy? We can do this and I will try to change." Gibbs told Tony.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "You will talk?"

Everyone laughed when Tony asked that question and Gibbs ruffled his hair. "Yes kid I will talk. I will do anything for you. You are my kid."

Tony smiled and gave Gibbs a hug. " I love you dad. Meeting you was the best thing in my life."

Gibbs held Tony closer. "And so were you. You were the answer I needed I my life."

~finished~