A couple of hours later Gibbs told Kate to pack her bag. When she was done, he would bring her home he told her. He took his coffee and went down to the basement to work on his boat.

Tony and Kate were now the only ones in the living room. Tony still didn't talk to her and that worried Kate. Kate sighs she messed it up.

"Tony I'm sorry that I overloaded you with questions. I was just worried. When I came downstairs nobody would tell me a thing. And then I looked at you and you looked tired and McGee looked worried at you. Everybody knew what was going on it seems except me! So I got angry, because they could help you except me. Because I didn't knew what was going on. So I asked you the questions nobody wanted to answer. All I wanted to do was help but now I see I only made it worse. I'm truly sorry Tony believe me. Don't be angry with me." Kate sat next to Tony on the couch so she could look at him.

"I'm was never angry at you Kate" Tony told her softly.

"Then why didn't you talk to me this whole afternoon?"

Tony struggled. "It wasn't just you, I just didn't want to talk to anybody. The first thing when I woke up this morning everyone was looking at me and asking question. I just wanted a moment of quiet. Where no one is looking and no one asks a question. I'm sorry you felt that way Kate."

"Okay I can understand that and me asking after breakfast didn't help either. So we are okay?"

Tony grinned. "Yeah Kate we are okay".

Kate smiles and pulls him in a hug and ruffles his hair. "Hey don't mess with the hair." He said laughing.

Kate stood up. "I can because I'm the big sister and you do that to younger brothers." She said grinning.

"I never going to live this down. Can I? This younger brother thing." He asks smirking.

"Nope. So deal with it. But also you're still pretty young. Now we know, you can also turn it in your favor. It's not always a bad thing Tony to be the youngest."

"Yeah so what are the benefits?" He asks curiously.

"That is for you to find out for yourself." She said smiling. She then walks to the stairs so she could pack her bag.

When Kate was upstairs Gibbs made his appearance.

"How long have you been standing there?" Tony asks.

"Long enough. Knew something was going on between the two of you. Wanted to know that you talked it out. And I see you did." Gibbs said smiling he sat next to Tony and also ruffles his hair.

"Ahh not again. My hair is not use to this"

"Like Kate said get use to it. And I think hair can adjust pretty well." Gibbs said laughing.

"Oh man" Tony said slaps his hand to his forehead.

"Come on pretty hair. Let's see what is on the tv." Gibbs said.

Tony's head shot up. "I'm not grounded anymore?" He asks grinning.

"Yep. But remember what I said. I don't want to see this again clear."

" as water Boss." Tony said smiling.

"Good now go watch some tv. I check upstairs how far Kate is and give her phone back." Gibbs said before leaving.

Knock knock. "It's open" Kate said. "Oh Hey Gibbs. I'm almost done."

Gibbs sat down on Abby's bed. "Got something for you" he held out her cellphone.

Kate's eyes lift up. "Not grounded anymore?"

"Yep. Hope the message is clear. Don't want to repeat it."

"Will not happen again Gibbs." Kate said and took her cellphone.

"Good to hear. You need help with something?" Gibbs asks.

"No I'm almost done. Gibbs I wanted to thank you that you took care of us. When we were kids and now."

"Like I said to Tim. Don't need to thank me. You do what you need to do for family." He said and stood up.

Kate nodded. "Gibbs?" She calls out. He turned in the doorway.

"Will you look after Tony?" She asks worriedly.

Gibbs smiles and nodded before walking downstairs. Message understood.

Couple of minutes later Kate stood in the hallway.

"I'm done" she said.

"Well let's go then" Gibbs said. He took the jackets from the coat rack. He gives Kate her jacket and threw Tony's jacket at him. He was still sitting on the couch.

"Hey, why you threw my jacket. I'm not the one leaving." Tony said.

"Nope but you coming with" Gibbs said and opens the door.

"What? Why?"

"For one I'm not leaving you alone. And two we need groceries. So you need to come. So hurry up." Gibbs gives Tony a look.

Tony sighs. "Fine". He stood up and put his jacket and shoes on.

——————————————————————

After they dropped Kate off and got the groceries, they were on their way back home again.

Gibbs looked at Tony and saw that he still looked tired. Hmm.. think an early bedtime may help he thought.

Once home they put the groceries away. Gibbs made dinner and were now eating it at the kitchen table. Tony was quiet.

"Something on your mind?" Gibbs ask kindly.

"No. Just tired I guess. Think I go to bed early." Tony said and put his plate in the sink.

"Tony you know you can talk right. It's now the only two of us."

"Yeah I know. But now all I wanted to do is sleep."

"Okay. You know where to find me. Goodnight." Gibbs said kindly and ruffles Tony's hair when he pass by.

———————————————

It has been 4 days sinds Kate, Ducky and Tim went to their own homes. Tony and Gibbs had some father and son moments. And now he stood in doorway of his son's bedroom. Tony had another nightmare. In the 4 days Tony only once talked about the nightmares, his childhood. But that was it. This was the fifth nightmare he had in those days. He would only sleep peacefully when he had some contact with Gibbs. It has to stop. He went to the bed and put Tony in his arms. Tony would first struggle but finally calmed down. Gibbs steady heartbeat and smell of sawdust and coffee brought him back to reality. Slowly he became awake again. The nightmare was gone. Tony wrapped his arms tight around Gibbs and snuggles closer. Gibbs smiles a sadly smile and keeps running a hand through his hair.

"Tony, buddy we need to talk. You can't go on like this. The nightmares are breaking you up." Gibbs said kindly.

"I know. I don't know how." Tony said softly. He sounded so small. It almost broke Gibbs heart.

"Well why don't you start talking about it. It may help. You only talked about in once. About one nightmare. Talk about the others."

"Because it is always the same one. It doesn't change. What more can I talk about it?" Tony looked desperately at Gibbs.

Gibbs sighs. What could he say. "Maybe more talking about that one."

Tony sat up. "There is nothing more! It's always my father who is giving me a beating and doc Henson (the personal doctor of the DiNozzo's) comes in fix me up and drugged me up!" Tony yells breathing heavily. Tears were forming in his eyes.

Gibbs looked sadly and put Tony again in his arms.

"Why is this happening Gibbs? I didn't have those in years. Why is it still fresh? We are back again for a week now. Why Gibbs?" Tony was crying now.

Gibbs begins to rock him. "I don't now buddy. I don't know."

"Can you stay here I don't want to sleep alone. Please Gibbs. I know how I sound but please." Tony said in a childlike voice. He was breathing heavily now almost hyperventilating.

"Tony calm down you need to breath. I'm here, match my breathing. Come on now. I'm not going anywhere."

Gibbs coach him. From the inside he was worried as hell.

"Gibbs I .. I ..." Tony's eyes rolled back in his head and passed out in Gibbs arms.

Gibbs was frightened now. He lay Tony down. "Tony come wake up! Come on Tony" Gibbs tried to wake up Tony. His pulse was fast. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and calls Ducky.

"Hello" a sleepy voice said.

"Duck it's me. You need to come quick. Tony passed out in my arms and he doesn't wake up."

Ducky was alert now. "How is his breathing?"

"Fast but not as fast as it was."

Ducky heard the worry in his friend voice. "I will be there as quickly as I can." They hang up.

Gibbs sighs with worry. What was happening. He sat down next to Tony. Trying to wake him up again, whispering comfort words. Running his hand through his hair. He knew that Tony secretly liked it. It felt safe. All he now could do was waiting for Ducky.

Couple of minutes later, Ducky stepped inside and went upstairs where he knew they would be.

He saw Gibbs sitting next to Tony who was still unconscious. It broke his heart to seen this sight. Gibbs was trying so hard, desperately to wake the boy up. Telling him it was okay and safe. Gibbs heard Ducky entering the room.

"Ducky thank god you need to help him."

Ducky went to Tony's side and begins his exam.

"What happened Jethro?" He asks while doing the exam. Gibbs was now pacing up and down.

"I don't know. He had a nightmare again. So I went in to comfort him. He told me that it was the same nightmare as always and didn't understand it. He then ask for me to stay desperately and then he begins to breath heavily. He wanted to say something but suddenly he passed out in my arms!"

Gibbs stops his pacing and sat next to Tony again.

" Damm it Ducky I couldn't help him because I didn't know how. And now he is unconscious"

"Calm down Jethro you did everything you could for the boy. He feels safe here."

"Then why did he pass out?"

"I can't find anything physically wrong with him. Was he acting differently than usual?" Ducky asks.

"No he ..." Gibbs stopped for a minute to analyze.

"Wait he was acting more childlike. His voice was sounding really small."

Ducky looked at Gibbs in shock. "Maybe..." Ducky couldn't finish his sentence before a cry came from Tony.

Tony was tossing and turning in his bed. He was crying openly and screaming.

Ducky and Gibbs looked at each other. Both trying to comfort Tony. They didn't knew what was happening. They suddenly noticed Tony was shrinking. And before they noticed they were looking at a little boy who looks close to a 3 year old.

"How the hell did this happened?" Gibbs asked. He was stunned. They were supposed to stay adults. He took Tony in his arms carefully. He was now sleeping peacefully.

Ducky was also lost for words. "I don't know Jethro. I don't know. But maybe this was what we were afraid of when they became adults again. They complaint that it was still too fresh." He said as he put a hand on Tony's head.

"Maybe you're right. So we are back by step one." Gibbs said softly.

"I'm afraid so. Although I don't think it's so easy to fix. And I'm not sure there is a cure. Remember Abby couldn't find anything the last time."

Gibbs sighs. He knew. He knew al along that something was wrong but didn't want to believe it. And he didn't want to scare the kids. He looks back at Tony he was smaller.

"Ducky does Tony seems smaller to you? The first time he de-aged he was 4 years old. But now he barely looks like a 3 year old." Gibbs asks concerned.

"Hmm. Maybe he de-aged more. Has he been eating right for the last few days?" Ducky asked.

Gibbs thought about it. Then his thoughts became angry. "No. He barely ate anything. I tried everything. He told me he would eat it later but I found it in the trash. I confronted him about it. He told me couldn't eat it, couldn't swallow it. I would call you about it tomorrow."

"Well I think that explains why he is so small. He is underweight." Gibbs looked worried and tried to say something but Ducky stopped him. "If he eats right he would be back on his right weight. Kids are very flexible Jethro. Do you know if Timothy or Caitlin had any problems.

Gibbs looked at Ducky in shock. "Kate and Tim! We need to go and get them. Now that Tony is changed it wouldn't be long before they have. If not already. We need to go now.!" He stood up with Tony still in his arms walking down the stairs. Ducky was following him closely.

"Hold on Jethro. Wait.!"

Gibbs turns around quickly "What Duck!" Unfortunately the movement woke Tony up. He looks around. Then noticed he was a kid again. How? He could feel the worry in Gibbs and he couldn't help but begins to cry. Gibbs begins rocking him.

"That is what Jethro. You have already Tony. How do you plan driving with a small child?" Ducky asks.

Gibbs was pacing up and down while rocking Tony. Trying to calm him down.

"What had you in mind than Ducky. They could be kids now in their homes alone."

"I will call Abigail. She is the closest to Kate. I will get Timothy. You stay here and calm down. He feels how upset you are. He will only calm down when you are calm." Ducky said as he lay a hand on Tony's back.

Gibbs sighs. He knew Ducky was right. "Fine, you call the minute you get there, tell the same to Abby. I want to know what's going. Then bring them here."

Ducky smiles. "I will Jethro". He walks outside and called Abby. Soon he was in his way to Tim.