Tim and Gibbs were the only ones left in the kitchen after they had eaten their late lunch. Something was bothering Tim so he was glad he was alone now in the kitchen with Gibbs.
"Boss, can in ask you something?"
Gibbs looked at Tim. "Sure, what's up?"
Tim hesitates at first but finally decided to ask the question. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Why would you ask that Tim?" Gibbs asked suprised.
"Because I can't play a game on my laptop when I want, or you give me a time limit! Did you also grounded me like Tony and Kate? What did I do? I don't understand." Tim asked frustrated.
Gibbs sighs. Yep needed to communicate first before he decides something, he thought.
"No Tim, you didn't do anything wrong and you are not grounded."
"Then why?" Tim asks desperately.
"Because I saw something when you were a kid that I also saw when you were an adult."
"What?" Tim interrupt.
"You forget socializing when you're playing a game on your laptop. It's like the world doesn't exists anymore. You withdrawn more in the background. I don't want to see that Tim. You're a smart man but don't let the game become a big part of your life. You have a life here and a family. That is why I don't let you play all the time. When you play you won't stop."
"Oh I didn't realize that. I will pay more attention when I play. But can I play more than a hour a day. This is killing. You know how much I like technology. I promise I will pay more attention that I don't withdraw. But can I make my own times? Please?" Tim asks with kind eyes.
Gibbs thought for a minute. "Fine, you can make your own times but when I notice..."
"Yeah yeah I know. You give me times again" Tim interrupt exciting.
Gibbs gives him a headslap. "Oww"
"Don't get smart with me. And no you're also grounded when I notice" Gibbs said smiling.
"Won't happen boss. Promise. Thank you." Tim said and walks to the living room.
Gibbs grinned. He was getting good at this talking thing. Huh who had thought. Gibbs decides that he would make some coffee. When his coffe was done he decided to remove the baby dan. They were adults now. They didn't need it anymore, he thought grinning. After he was done he sat at the kitchen table to read the newspaper. By the time he would be done Abby and Ducky would be here.
———————————————————————
KNOCK KNOCK! Then the door was opening.
"Kiddies I'm here where are you?" Abby yells when she came inside. Ducky was following behind her.
"Seriously Abigail. You don't have to yell." Ducky said when he took his coat off.
"Sorry Ducky but I'm just so excited. It haven't seen them in ages!" She also took off her coat and went looking for them.
Ducky shook his head and smiles. He then walks to the kitchen to get some tea. He saw Gibbs sitting at the kitchen table.
"Hello Jethro. How were the kids today? No problems I hope." Ducky asked kindly.
"We talked, then I grounded Kate and Tony" Gibbs said.
"You grounded them because you talked?"
"No I grounded them because they were late when they were out for a run. They didn't call."
"Did something happened?" Ducky asks worriedly.
"No Ducky. They decided to sit down and talk in the park."
"Jethro I think you need to start from the beginning. The story is not making a lot of sense."
Gibbs sighs and began to tell the story from the moment they were late, the talk in the basement and when they were grounded.
After the story Ducky nodded his head in understanding.
"I understand your reasons Jethro. Believe me I do. I would worry too. But I can understand they wanted a moment to talk. A lot has happened to them. And if they didn't talk you wouldn't have that conversation in the basement with them. They were always independent adults. You can't expect the moment they grew up again that they followed an instruction like that."
Ducky saw that Gibbs wanted to interrupt but Ducky held his hand up.
"And I say again I would worry too. But I think the worry Influence your judgement in this case. I agree with the grounding but I think a week would be too much." Ducky finally said.
"Duck if I change it now, they expect me to do that next time too."
"No Jethro they wouldn't. But you have to explain so they will understand it. It's a learning process for you and for them. They will adjust."
Gibbs growls and than sighs. "Fine, I make it two days. That good enough? and will talk to them."
"Two days is good. Now shell we start dinner.?"
Gibbs looked at his watch. They were talking for more than a hour seriously. Gibbs nodded and stood up.
In the living room Abby sat with Tim, Kate and Tony.
Abby had hugged them all.
"It's so good to see you so big again. OMG! So how was it? Do you still remember?" She asks excitedly.
"Yeah Abby we remembered what happened. Although it comes with flashes" Kate said.
"Wow that is so cool. You remember Gibbs and Ducky? They were so sweet! They took care of you and were worried about you. Gibbs was all papa bear and Ducky was all grandfatherly. It was so sweet."
"Yes Abby we remembered that too." Tim said. He forgot how much Abby could be.
"How many caffpows did you had Abby?" Tony asks curiously.
"I lost counting"
"That is what I thought" Tony said quietly.
"So how was your first day grown up again?"
Tony grunt. He didn't want to talk about it.
Abby puts an arm around his shoulder.
"Come on little brother it can't be that bad." She said.
"Bad enough for a first day" Tony said.
"Let me be the judge of that. So explain. I want to hear."
Tony didn't talk so Kate starts to explain what all happened today and what they talked about.
Abby hit Tony on the arm. "Hey what was that for?" He asks.
"For not telling the truth. How can you say bad? It sounds like a very good day. Come on bro we are a real family now." She said grinning.
"Did you miss the part where Kate and I got grounded?" Tony asks.
"No that is bad, and long. But he is the father in the family so you have to take the grounding"
"Huh, you say that now but I want to hear you when you are in that position." Tony said grinning.
"Hey!" Abby said.
"I don't think you have to wait that long to be in that position" Tim said laughing.
"Well you and Abby, Timmy. You will be hacking in something that is illegal soon if I know you." Tony said.
"Hahaha" Kate laughed. "I think you're right."
Abby took a pillow and hit Tony with it, then Kate.
"Oh you don't want to start girl" Tony said smiling and also took a pillow and begins to hit her.
Soon the four of them were in a pillow fight, laughing.
Ducky and Gibbs were in the doorway watching with a smile on their face. "Yeah Ducky they really grew up." Gibbs said.
Gibbs whistled on his fingers to get their attention. When they stopped and looked at him he starts to speak.
"Put the pillows down where they belong and then sit your butts at the kitchen table. Dinner is ready." Gibbs said.
They quickly put the pillows down and hurried to the kitchen table. Soon they were eating their dinner.
"Abby do you already have something on the blood tests?" Gibbs asks after dinner.
"Almost. But what I can see so far that everything is fine". Abby said.
"So we can go to our own home?" Tim asks.
Abby was silent and looked at Gibbs. Gibbs wanted them to stay but he knew they wanted to go back to their own lives, their own home. Gibbs looked at Ducky so he could decide when they could leave. His judgement would be the best.
"I think one more night here so we know for sure everything is fine. Then tomorrow you can go home." Ducky said.
"What about the..." Tony starts to say but didn't finished and looked at Gibbs.
Gibbs knew what he meant.
"You both can thank Ducky for that." Gibbs said and looked at Kate and Tony.
"The worry was clouding my judgement. Maybe I was too stern with you two. You are still grounded but now for two days instead of a week.
But remember next time Ducky can't talk me out of it." He said and points a finger at them.
Kate and Tony looked at each other happily. Thank you grandpa Ducky they thought.
"So when can Tony and I leave?" Kate asks.
"Your grounding ends tomorrow evening at 8 p.m." Gibbs said and stood up to clear the table. Ducky helped him.
Tim looked at Tony and Kate. "I will think about you when I have my freedom." He said. Abby laughed.
Tony elbows him in the stomach. "Remember Probie payback is a bitch." Tony whispers is in ear. But Kate heard him and nodded her head in agreement.
Tim swallows. Oh boy why just why did he have to say something like that. One of them okay but the two of them together? No way. He was dead.
Gibbs walks back to the kitchen table when the table was clear. "Tim Abby you two do the washing-up." Gibbs said. He then walks to Tony and Kate.
"I didn't hear what you said in his ear Tony. I can think about a thing or two, but let me be clear. The washing-up is their payback for now. Is that understood?"
Kate and Tony nodded and stood up to sit in the living room with Ducky. Also to thank him for talking with Gibbs about the grounding.
Ducky was sitting in a chair. He had some music playing on. Kate and Tony thanked him and he nodded.
"As a grandfather I can't let you suffer like that." He said and winked.
They laughed at that.
"No Ducky you can't, why aren't you watching tv?" Kate asks.
"Because Tony can't watch any remember"
Tony growls. Soon Tim, Abby and Gibbs were joining them with a plate with coffee and tea on.
"I have an idea" Abby suddenly said. "Why don't we stay together tonight." She said happily.
"Those three already staying Abby, but you and Ducky are always welcome. You have your room and bed." Gibbs said smiling.
"Then we are staying" Abby said. Ducky was already thinking about staying. He wanted to make sure that they were okay.
Tony couldn't watch tv so a movie was out of the question. They decided to play a board game. After the game they decided to get some sleep. They were all tired.
———————————————————
"No.. go away!., noo.. leave me alone" Tony was tossing and turning in his bed. Caught in a nightmare. "No.. stop.. please NOO!" Tony woke up with a silent scream and sat up in bed breathing heavily. Tony looked around the room to orientate where he was. He saw that Tim was still asleep.
He couldn't go back to sleep so he decided to go downstairs to get some water and sit in the living room.
In the kitchen Tony heard movement coming from downstairs. Gibbs was in his basement probably working on his boat. He decided to go downstairs. The nightmare was still fresh in his mind. He needed a distraction.
Gibbs heard the door opening from his basement and soon he saw Tony coming downstairs.
"Why are you awake Tony?" Gibbs asks kindly when Tony didn't speak. He kept standing there at the bottom of the stairs.
Tony shrugged. "Couldn't sleep" he said softly.
Gibbs stopped for a moment what he was doing and looked at Tony. There were dark circles under his eyes.
"Nightmare?" Gibbs asks.
Tony didn't say anything and looked at his shoes.
That was enough answer for Gibbs.
"Sometimes it helps to talk about it." Gibbs suggest.
"Don't want to talk about it. Can I help you with the boat?" Tony asks. Trying to distract Gibbs.
"Tony the nightmares are keeping you awake. When you were a kid you had them almost every time you slept and you didn't talk then. And now you still have them."
"I just have them now because we were kids. It's just still too fresh in my mind. I just need to keep my mind of it." Tony took a tool and helped Gibbs with the boat. Gibbs saw that he was trembling. He took the tool from Tony and put it behind him. He then took Tony in his arms. Tony first tensed up but soon relax in the embrace. He needed something that felt safe and held on tighter.
They hold on for a couple of minutes. Gibbs then brought Tony to the couch that stood in the corner. He told him to lay down.
When Tony was laying down he runs a hand through his hair. Tony was looking at him. "You need to get some sleep Tony. You can't stay awake all night. I will be here. You're safe here." Gibbs said softly then sighs worriedly.
"Why don't you stay here for a couple of days? I don't like it when you don't sleep or wake up in a nightmare on your own. What you think?"
Tony nodded tiredly. "I don't want the rest to know. They think I'm still a kid.." he said softly.
"Hey don't worry about that." Gibbs looks him in the eye. "We tell them that you don't have electricity so you will be staying here for awhile longer. No one suspects anything. But I still think you need to talk maybe they can help but it's up to you. I'm not pushing you. Now get some sleep I will be here."
Gibbs keeps running a hand through Tony's hair till he was asleep. He then decided to work on his boat again and watch over him.
Ducky would check on the kids a couple of times in the middle of night. He was worried that something still could happen. He woke up again and decided to check on them upstairs.
He first walked to the girls bedroom. He saw that Abby and Kate were still sleeping peacefully. He then decided to check on the boys. He saw that Tim was also sleeping peacefully but Tony's bed was empty. That worried him. Maybe he felt ill. The first thing was to check the bathroom. But he wasn't there. He walks to Jethro bedroom but saw that is was also empty. He probably was in his basement Ducky thought.
He decided to walk downstairs to check the living room and kitchen. His jacket was still on the coat rack. So he didn't leave.
He heard Gibbs still working in his basement. So he walks downstairs to tell him Tony wasn't in his bed anymore.
"Jethro I need to tell you something" Ducky said when he walks downstairs. Gibbs looked at him with a raised an eyebrow. "Anthony isn't in his bed anymore and I can't find him."
"I know duck" Gibbs whispers.
"Why are you.." Ducky begins but was stopped by Gibbs who was pointing at corner where Tony was sleeping on the couch.
Ducky walks to Tony and runs a hand through his hair.
"Why is he sleeping here Jethro?" Ducky asks when he sat on a stool by the workbench.
"Nightmare, he couldn't sleep" Gibbs said softly.
Ducky looked sadly at Tony. "I thought they would stop now that he was an adult again. Did he talk about it?"
"Nope, he just said it was still too fresh"
"He needs to talk Jethro. The nightmares are keeping him awake. Just to prove that he has dark circles under his eyes. It isn't healthy."
"Don't you think I told him that?"
"Of course you did. So how do you plan to help him?"
"He will be staying with me for a couple of more days. Telling the team that he hasn't have any electricity so he needs to stay here. He feels safe here Duck. Maybe he will open up when we are alone."
"Why are you telling the team that?"
"Tony don't want anyone to know that he is staying here because of the nightmares. Thinks they will still see him as a kid."
"Oh Jethro you did say they care about him and will help him."
"Of course Duck. Just let him feel safe enough first he then can make the decision if he wants to tell the team."
They sat in silence for a moment.
"You think all three of them have some psychological problems because of the de-aging? They all said is was still too fresh. Maybe they don't have nightmares like Tony but maybe there is something else but don't talk about it." Gibbs ask.
"I don't know Jethro, I don't know but I think there is a possibility. But they can't say anything to anyone outside of us."
"So you can talk to them. You have studied some."
"I think I can try. But Jethro I don't like that they are using the word still too fresh. What if something..."
"I don't know Duck. I don't want to think about it. We can't help with that even if we want. So better not thinking about it just hear them out."
"I think you're right Jethro. Well I will go upstairs to get some more sleep. Try to get some sleep yourself Jethro. I see you in the morning." With a pat on the shoulder Ducky walked upstairs to get some sleep.