Tony opened his eyes. It was early in the morning. He was thirsty. He walks to the stairs. Then he noticed. Little arms, little hands, little legs. He was shocked. It probably was not the best idea to have a panic attack on the stairs. Tony lost his balance and fell down the stairs. What shocked him was that he was crying. Crying because he fell down the stairs.

Gibbs was awake. He was thinking about what happened yesterday. Then he heard a noise. Someone was awake. He heard a door opening then footsteps then somebody falling down the stairs. Gibbs was out of his bed immediately running down the hallway. He heard a kid crying.

Down the stairs he saw a kid. How did the kid get in his house? When Gibbs was downstairs he kneels down in front of the child. The child looked up with big green eyes into his blue eyes. Gibbs was shocked the child looked just like Dinozzo.

"Boss what is happening?" Tony asked crying.

Then they heard two kids screaming upstairs. Kate and Tim were awake. They came running down the hallway where they saw Gibbs en Tony downstairs with shock in their eyes.

Ducky heard the commotion and came out of his room. Ducky was speechless.

"Oh dear this is not good?" Ducky said.

"You think Duck! They are kids. You two come downstairs carefully ( he didn't need more children falling down the stairs) we talk in the kitchen" Gibbs said.

Tony was still crying. Gibbs lifts Tony up in his arms and tries to calm him down. Tony holds him as if his life depends on it. He was scared. And Gibbs was his safety net. Gibbs put on the coffee machine and a pot tea while they wait for the others to arrive.

Tony lay his head on Gibbs shoulder. He was not crying anymore but he felt so safe in Gibbs arms.

He still clung to Gibbs. Hands fisted in his shirt.

While waiting for the coffee Gibbs was now concentrate on the little kid in his arms. Gibbs making small circle motions on Tony's back. Tony finally calmed down and relaxed. Well relaxed as he could be. Tony still had a dead grip on his shirt.

Ducky had helped Tim and Kate down the stairs. They also were in a state of shock what Ducky diagnosed. He put a hand on both their shoulders and brings them to the kitchen and told them to take a seat.

Anthony was still in Jethro's arms. But seems to calm down. "How is he Jethro? Did he hurt himself when he fell?"

Gibbs looked down at Tony. "I don't think so Duck. Think it was more the shock" "you hurt somewhere Tony'?" Gibbs asked. Tony shook his head. But keeps quiet. Gibbs and Ducky looked at each other. When was Tony ever quiet. Ducky laid a hand on Tony's back. He felt Tony tense up immediately. Tony hides his head deeper in Gibbs shoulder than he already was.

"Let's sit down at kitchen table so we can talk" Gibbs said and Ducky brought the drinks for rest.

Tony was now sitting between Gibbs and Tim. Next to Gibbs was Ducky with Kate sitting next to him.

"How did this happened Gibbs? Look at us we are kids" Kate said in shock.

"I don't know. We will contact Abby and look if she found something."

"It has to be the explosion. We deaged like what 20 years. So there could be a serum in that explosive." Tony said quietly.

"Yeah but we never found anything by the doc when we were investigating. We missed something" Tim said thoughtful.

"Hang on, what you mean we deaged like 20 years. How come you look younger? I look like 9 years old, Tim like 6 years. But why is Tony looking like a 3 or 4 year old?" Kate asked.

"You have a point there my dear. Where you closer to the explosion Anthony?" Ducky asks.

Tony looked ashamed and panicked.

"Tony is there something we need to know?" Gibbs asks.

"Ehh well you see ehh I uh I lied to you about my age. I was a fast student. And when I graduated I was too young to go to the police academy so I... lied about my age and well ... the rest is history. So now you know."

Everybody was silent en shocked.

"So you never went to all those others police stations before you begon working for NCIS?" Tim asks.

"No I worked there. I never lied about that."

"They let a kid work at a police station. Do undercover work. They they ... " Gibbs was angry. He was a kid then, still is. Gibbs felt the urge to protect him for all the danger that was out there and he couldn't protect him when he ...

"So how old are you for real?" Kate asked changing the topic.

" I'm 24 so I guess I'm 4 now" Tony said quietly.

"Ha I'm older than you. That is... "Tim begins to say before Ducky interrupts.

"Well now we know that. (Ducky saw how uncomfortable Tony became) I think it's a good idea to eat something after that I want to exam you all, so we know that you are all healthy" Ducky said.

Gibbs agreed.

While ducky was making breakfast, Gibbs called Abby to inform her of what happened. Ducky would need to get new blood samples for Abby to see if there was any change. She would come to collect them in 2 hours. She told Gibbs.

———————————————————————

After breakfast Ducky would exam the kids in the living room.

"Alright Caitlin would you come with me please so I could exam you?" Ducky asked.

Kate follows Ducky and sat on the couch. While Ducky starts his exam.

"How are you feeling Caitlin? Any sickness, dizziness?"

"Just a little dizzy but other than that I'm fine"

"Alright Caitlin I'm all done for now only the blood sample then you can go"

When Kate was done he called out for Timothy to come.

In the kitchen Tim first looked hesitated at Gibbs. Gibbs walks up to Tim and put Tim down from his chair en brings him to Ducky. While Kate and Tony stayed in the kitchen, waiting for Gibbs to come back.

"Ah thank you Jethro for bringing Timothy. I think I got it from here." With that said Gibbs walked back to the kitchen.

"Well Timothy let get started. How are you feeling any shortness of breath?" Ducky asked while listening to his lungs.

"Som, I just need my inhaler."

"Well I think we need to get you another inhaler too. You need to use that one 3 times a day"

"What!, but I didn't need to use another inhaler sinds I was little."

"You are a little kid now aren't you not? And you need it for you asthma or it could get worse" Ducky said sternly.

"yes Ducky, can I go now?"

"Yes now I have your blood sample you can go"

With that Tim walked back to the kitchen.

"Okay Tony it's your time to see Ducky" Gibbs said as he puts Tony on the ground. Tony hesitates.

"That is fine boss but I'm okay. I promise"

"Ducky still needs to take a look at you"

"GIBBS, DUCKY, TIM, KATE, TONY!!"Abby said while she ran into the house.

"OMG OMG it's true. You are little kids. Omg you are so cute" Abby said.

"Cute is not the right word right now abby, have you found a cure or know what was in that explosion?" Kate asked.

"Ehh no not yet. Maybe I will find something in your bloodwork. You got the blood samples yet Ducky?"

"Almost I only need to exam young Anthony here"

"Alright then I wait here in the kitchen till you are done"

"Let's go Anthony" Ducky said and let Tony take a seat on the couch.

The moment the exam began Tony panicked. He didn't want to be examined. Tony tried to make himself as small as possible. And tried anything to get away from Ducky. It was not Ducky he was frightened of no it was a doctor thing. Anything medical frightens him.

Ducky was getting frustrated. He wanted and needed to exam Tony but the dear boy wouldn't let him. He saw the panic in his eyes. He wasn't in the here and now anymore but in some lost memory.

And there was one person who could make him feel safe.

"Jethro could you come in here for a second" Ducky called out.

The first thing Gibbs saw when he walks into the living room was the frightened look in Tony's eyes.

Curled in the corner of the couch. Feet up and hugging his knees to his chest.

He kneels in the front of Tony trying to calm him down but not to scare him.

"What happened Duck?" Gibbs asked softly

" I think the exam triggered an unpleasant memory for young Anthony. I think you are the only one that can calms him down"

"Tony hey it's me. Come on look at me kiddo. You are save here." Gibbs said softly and held Tony in his arms. Feeling his whole body trembling. Tony put his arms around Gibbs neck and clung to him dear for life.

"You okay now?" Gibbs asked after several minutes. Tony nodded but didn't let go.

"I think it's best for you to hold Tony while I finish my examination. He trust you and feels safe. I think it will be easier for the boy" Ducky said softly. Gibbs nodded.

"Tony, Ducky needs to finish his examination now. I will keep holding you okay, you're safe" Gibbs said.

Tony shook his head negative. He didn't want the examination and with the emotions of a 4 year old Tony starts to cry softly in Gibbs neck.

Ducky lifts Tony's shirt so he could listen to his lungs but what he saw shocked him.

"Jethro you need to take a look at this"

Gibbs looked confused at Ducky but take a look at Tony's back. There where scars all over his back.

"Where did they came from? They weren't there before." Gibbs replied.

"Anthony my dear boy can you tell me how you got those scars on your back?"

Tony shook is head and begins to cry. "Please don't take me back to my father" Tony's said trembling.

Tony's adult mind was gone. He was just a 4 year old boy. He was back to his horrible childhood.

Gibbs and Ducky shared a look. They had their suspicions but never found proof. Tony would never say and would never tell. And his background had too many questions than answers.

"It's okay Tony. I will keep you safe. You stay with me. I will protect you." Gibbs said trying to calm Tony down.

Ducky finished his examination. But when Ducky had the needle in his hand to take some blood. Tony went in a full blown panick attack. No Tony was not crying but was screaming and tried everything to get away. Gibbs had a hard time holding Tony still.

"Gibbs what... is Tony okay? What are you doing with him?" Kate asks when she heard the screams of Tony.

"He is okay Kate just scared of needles go back to the kitchen we will be there soon"

"But..." Kate said frustrated.

"Kate please it will be okay" Gibbs tried again.

"Okay just be careful" with that said Kate went back to the kitchen. She didn't understand why Tony was behaving like that. She had never seen him like this.

"Jethro I think it's best to stop for now. And try to take his blood later maybe with a sedative. He is in no state to cooperate. And we can't calm him down if we pursue."

"Yeah your right Ducky". Gibbs stands up with Tony still in his arms and begins to walk around the living room till Tony calmed down. Finally Tony fell asleep.

Ducky looked sympathetic at the small boy. So young when the abuse started. Ducky went to the kitchen to get some drinks and to get everybody to go sit in the living room so he could talk about his findings.

When they entered the living room they found Gibbs sitting in a big chair with Tony asleep in his arms.

"Is he okay Bossman?" Abby asks.

"He is fine Abby just exhausted"

"Why was Tony crying boss" Tim asks as he went to stand next to Gibbs chair.

"Why don't you all sit down and we explain"

When everyone had found a seat Ducky starts to speak.

"When I examined you all, I notice something"

"Omg it's something bad isn't it?" Kate said.

" no Caitlin not something bad but it also means not something good. I noticed that your body's went back till the time you were this age. I know your medical background and got them here so I could come up with a thing or two. You Caitlin told me that you felt dizzy. When you were 9 you had a mild concussion when you fell from your bike."

" oh yeah I remember'"Kate replied.

"And you Timothy had several Asthma attacks when you were this age. When you had a second inhaler the attacks stopped. That is why I gave you that one."

"Oh I didn't know that. I only knew I was in the hospital a lot."

"And Tony?" Abby asks.

Ducky looked questionable at Gibbs. What should he say? Gibbs looked back at him telling him he would tell the the story.

"There is something you need to know about Tony. Ducky and I had our suspicions but never found proof. Tony was abused as a child. And from what we witness today we know that it started at a early age. There are scars on his back and is frightened for anything that is medical. We suspect that his father had his own personal doctor who treated Tony and probably drugged him."

"That is horrible." Kate said shocked.

"Is his daddy in jail now?" Tim asked.

Everybody looked at Tim. He didn't notice but he was slipping more in his kids role. Tony was already there but Kate was still pretty normal.

"No Tim his daddy is not in jail but he can't hurt him anymore". Gibbs said kindly.

"Excuse me Jethro but I think now is the right time to take his blood. I got a cream so he doesn't feel the needle." Ducky said.

Gibbs looked at the sleeping child. He didn't want to hurt the child anymore than he already was. But they needed his blood sample to know what was going on.

"You sure he won't feel anything?" Gibbs asked to be sure.

"I'm sure Jethro. He won't feel a thing." Ducky replied.

"Okay we will do it upstairs. After you take his blood he can sleep in his bed. And then Abby I want you back to your lab."

———————————————————————

"Here you go Abby. The blood samples. Gibbs will be upstairs for another minute or two but he wants you to go back to your lab." Ducky said when he came back downstairs.

"Ahh duckman I was just teaching Kate something" Abby replied.

"Well my dear you can teach her again when you stop by."

"Okay duckman. Bye guys be good for daddy Gibbs and Ducky. I will see you guys soon." With that said, Abby was on her way to the lab to get some answers.

"Ducky will you help me with this puzzle?" Kate asked.

"Of course my dear". Ducky said with a smile.

Gibbs came downstairs when Kate and Ducky were beginning on their puzzle. He saw a tiredly Tim sitting in corner of the couch. Trying hard not to fall asleep. "Come on buddy also time for your nap"

He carries Tim upstairs and put him in his bed. He strokes his hair. Tim was fast asleep. "Sleep well buddy see you soon"

Downstairs Gibbs now also saw the change in Kate. She was behaving like her child age.

Gibbs saw Ducky walking to the kitchen to get himself some tea.

"When did Kate change Duck?"

'Ah I see you also noticed. Not long after you went upstairs I'm afraid. It was to be expected. Timothy and Anthony were already in their child minds. Caitlin would soon follow".

"Yeah I know. At least they don't notice any difference. I hope Abby will find something soon."

"I'm sure she will. All we can do now is wait and take care of them."

"You stay here Duck?" Gibbs asked nervously.

"Of course I will stay Jethro. You need the help".