'Knock, knock'. Nobody opens the door. Good thing Ducky had a key of his appartement. He opens the door, but saw nobody. "Hello Timothy?" Ducky calls out. No answer. He decided to walk to the bedroom. It was after all early in the morning. When he opens the door he saw a young 6 year old boy crying in his bed.
"Oh Timothy" Ducky said as he walks to him.
Tim opens his eyes when he heard a voice. He didn't know what happened. He felt relieved when he knew it was Ducky. He held out his arms so Ducky could pull him in a hug and sat him on his lap.
"Ducky" snif snif " what is happening? Why? How did you know?" Tim said still crying.
Ducky begins to rock him like Gibbs did with Tony. "I don't know my boy. I was with Gibbs when Tony changed suddenly. Then we knew that it could possibly happen to you too. That's why I'm here."
"What happend now?"
"I will bring you to Jethro. Abby will bring Kate. We will figure it out then." Ducky said kindly.
"Okay" they stood up. Ducky took Tim's hand as they walk to his car. In the car he called Gibbs and told him how he found Tim and that they were on their way back now.
"Kate?, you here?" Abby asked when she walks into the apartment. She was frightened when she heard what happened to Tony and that it would be likely that it would happen to Tim and Kate also.
She walks into the bedroom. She saw Kate restlessly sleeping, still in adult form. She tried to wake Kate up but she didn't seem to wake up. She took her cellphone out and called Gibbs.
"Gibbs, I'm with Kate. She is still an adult but she won't wake up and she is not sleeping peacefully! Should I call an ambulance?" Abby asked hysterically.
"Abby calm down. She will probably change soon. Ducky called, Tim already did. Tony was unconscious before he changed. Just stay with her and wait. When she is awake you bring her here."
"It's really happening isn't Gibbs?" Abby said worriedly.
Gibbs sighs. "I'm afraid so Abby."
"Gibbs I... I need to tell... I don't think I can help anymore. I don't know what to do. I didn't... I didn't found anything the last time! What do we do?" Abby was frightened he could hear.
"I know Abby. I know. You did what you could. We will figuring it out. Call when you are on your way back."
"okay Gibbs see you soon" they hang up.
Well let the waiting begins, she thought.
15 minutes later Kate became more restless. And was crying. Abby was immediately by her side. And before she knew it Kate was a child again. A 9 year old child. Abby held her in her arms and wait for her to wake up. Soon Kate opens her eyes.
"What.., Abby what are you doing here? Why are you..." she was now looking at herself. "NOO!, how did this happen? Abby why?" Kate asked desperately with in her eyes. Abby hugs her tighter.
"I don't know Kate. Alle I know is that it already happened to Tony and Tim. We go to Gibbs house to find out what to do."
"They are kids too? It happened again?"
Abby nodded and stood up. "Best to go now. Gibbs would know what to do." Kate took Abby's hand and walk to her car. She called Gibbs on her way that they would be there soon.
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As soon as Tony had calmed down in Gibbs arms he wanted to be put down and Gibbs let him. Tony walks to the couch. Climb on it and sat in the corner. Knees to his chest and staring at the wall in the front of him. Gibbs looked worried. Best to let him be for a minute before he approach him.
Soon his cellphone rings and Ducky called. He hated that Tim was alone while he changed. He was pacing up and down in the living room. Keep giving worried looks at Tony. After Ducky's call, Abby called. Good thing Abby was there when it would happen. They would be here soon. After a couple of more paces he stopped in the front of the couch and kneels so he was eye high with Tony. He lay a hand on his shoulder. "Tony? Come on buddy look at me?"
Tony didn't talk and kept staring at wall. He heard a car and soon Ducky and Tim step inside. Gibbs stood up and walks to them. He saw the tears in Tim's eyes. He picked him up and held him tight. Tim snuggles closer.
Ducky smiles and gave a pat on Tim's back. He looks inside the living room where Tony was sitting staring at the wall. He looked worriedly at Gibbs.
"Jethro what happened with Tony?"
"I don't know Duck. He wanted to be alone so I let him be. But when he kept staring at the wall and didn't move I tried to approach him but didn't respond. Then you walk inside."
Ducky shook his head and sat down next to him. "Anthony look at me for a moment" Ducky said kindly and took his pulse. Tony still didn't react. It worried Ducky. Possible shock he needed to handle fast. He pulls Tony out of his position and sat him on his lap. Hugging him tightly. Hoping to get a response. And it did. Tony looked around frightened and begins to struggle and to cry. Ducky stood up and begins to walk around rocking him and hugging him. Whispering calm words. "Calm down Anthony. You're safe. We are here."
Gibbs looked desperately from the side. Two frightened children with abandoned issues now. How would he handle this. Tim looked frightened at Tony's breakdown. Soon the front door opens again and Abby and Kate step inside.
"Gibbs! We are here...what... what happend?" Abby asked as she and Kate stood in the living room. Kate was still holding Abby's hand.
"Nothing Abby just frightened of the situation." Gibbs said. Abby nodded. He gave a kiss on her cheek and lay a hand on Kate's head and smiles.
"Why don't you and Kate make some tea and coffee. We will be there soon. We can sit down in the kitchen." Gibbs said kindly. The girls nodded and walk to the kitchen.
After a couple of minutes the boys relaxed in the arms that were holding them.
Tony was snuggle against Ducky's chest. Sniffing. He looked around and saw Gibbs holding Tim standing next to them. "What happened? Why?" Tony asked quietly.
"We going to find out Anthony. Why don't we go the kitchen. Abby and Kate are waiting for us there. What you say boys?" Ducky asked. The boys nodded and wanted to put down. Together they walked to the kitchen.
Kate and Abby were already sitting at the kitchen table, talking softly at each other. They stopped when they saw the the others coming in and sat down.
Tony was smaller now and had some difficulty to climb on the stool. It frustrated him. Gibbs saw this and picked him up and sat him down on his seat. Still too little for the stool Gibbs thought. He would think of something later. He now needed to talk to Tony. "Easy now, nothing wrong with needing some help" he said kindly before sitting down himself.
"Why is Tony smaller than before? Is he younger? Tim and Kate are still the same age?" Abby asks curiously.
Tony was shrinking and blushing when Abby said that.
"He is not younger. When he was an adult he didn't eat well as I came to understand. And I think that's the result now that he is smaller. He is little underweight. I will know for sure when I got a good look at him" Ducky said.
"I'm fine" Tony said sullenly.
"And we make sure you are" Gibbs said and gave Tony a look.
"So what happens now?" Kate asks.
The adults looked at each other.
"I think not something good by the look of you." Tim said quietly.
Gibbs sighs. Best he could explain. "We don't know what to do or how to cure it. Abby did all kind of test the last time and couldn't find anything. When you turned in adults we thought that it was because it was supposed to do that. But when you kept saying it 'was still too fresh' we knew that something wasn't right. We just didn't want to believe that this could happen and didn't want to worry you."
"So there is nothing you can do" Tim said.
"We will be staying children for now. Our adult lives are over?" Kate asks.
"What is going to happen to us?" Tony asks worriedly.
"Believe me if I knew how to help you I would do anything. But I don't know. We can't find it." Abby said desperately. She had tears in her eyes.
"Not your fault Abby. You did what you could." Tony said quietly. Abby smiles at him with a watery smile.
"If you're okay with it. You stay here and live here. We will be a family. And family look after each other. We can't cure but we can give you a new life. What you say." Gibbs said kindly and looked the three in the eye. They nodded enthusiastically.
The adults smiled.
"Okey then. Now that it settles. What you say we eat some breakfast?" Gibbs stood up to get things. Abby helped him.
When everyone had a plate in the front of them they began to eat. Soon Kate, Tim and Tony were in there kids minds and behaved liked it. Gibbs sat next to Tony and noticed he didn't put anything on his plate. For one thing he was barely high enough to reach anything. He needed to buy something soon so he would be sitting higher. For now he took Tony out of his seat and put him on his lap. Tony looked confused at him.
"You can barely reach your plate. We buy something soon for now what do you want to eat?" Gibbs asked softly.
Tony looked ashamed and wriggled so he would be put down. But Gibbs didn't let him and hold him tight. "Not gonna happen. You sit here till you eat something. Now what do you want?" Gibbs said.
Tony now had his arm's crossed "nothing" he mutters. Gibbs sighs and made something for him and put it in the front of him. "You eat that. You are not going to leave before that plate is empty".
The others were secretly watching but keep eating, soon they were done. Tony was still sitting on Gibbs lap. Leaning against him now. But still not eating.
Gibbs was looking at Ducky desperately.
"Uhmm... Abby why don't you go out shopping with Caitlin and Timothy. They need clothes and something to sit on." Ducky said discreetly.
Abby looked at the situation. "Uhmm. Yeah Ducky good idea. Come Kate, Tim. Time to shop!" She stood up and took Kate and Tim with her.
"Abby! Take my wallet it's on the table!" Gibbs yells after her.
"Okay Bossman. See you soon text me if you think of something else. Let's go". Soon Abby, Kate and Tim were in the car and on the road.
That gave Ducky and Gibbs time to see what was wrong with Tony. Ducky sat besides them with his medical bag in case he needed it.
"Anthony why don't you want to eat? Is something hurting you?" Ducky asks kindly.
Tony shook his head and leans further against Gibbs chest.
"Tony we can't help you if you don't talk. Is something bothering you? You can talk you know. We don't think any less of you. But please Tony talk to us. Why don't you eat?" Gibbs asks.
Tony looked in Gibbs eyes. He said please. He saw the worry in Gibbs eyes. He didn't want to worry him. "I... I just... can't swallow it. I don't know". Tony finally said.
"Is your throat hurting you? Can I have a look?" Ducky asks.
Tony shook his head no. "Tony just let Ducky take a look to make sure. You only have to open your mouth. Nothing else." Gibbs said kindly and runs a hand through his hair. "Fine"
"Okay young man. Say aaa." Ducky said as he signs a light to see. "It all looks good. When did this start Anthony?"
"Day after we turned". Tony said and hides his head now in Gibbs shoulder. Gibbs looked at Ducky.
"I think I know what's wrong." Ducky said thoughtful.
"You do? What is it? Does he needs to go to a hospital" Gibbs asked worriedly. He felt Tony tense up at the word hospital.
Dukcy lay hand on Tony's shoulder to comfort him. "No he does not need a hospital. I think it's just grieving. Anthony lost his need for safety when he was a child. Then he found it again. He became an adult and lost it again and his mind was playing tricks on him. Am I right Anthony?" Tony struggled.
"Why didn't you say Tony. Thought we talked about that you needed to talk! You felt this the whole week!" Gibbs didn't know what he was feeling right know.
"Calm down Jethro. I'm sure it's a learning proces. For now Anthony got the feeling of grieving. That means it's like there is something in your throat like you can't swallow. So to let you eat something we need to start light. We get some smoothies and yogurt. It will help to get the appetite back."
"Really that's it. You could have told me that a few days ago. Then we wouldn't have this ..." Gibbs begins to say.
"Well I could if you had talk to me sooner. Now you can learn something from your own advice Jethro."
Gibbs looked ashamed. Was this his fault?
"Jethro this isn't your fault. I'm almost sure Tony wouldn't tell me a thing when he was an adult." Ducky said kindly when he saw the hurt in Gibbs eyes. He then looked at Tony. Tony was trying hard to stay awake but his eyes would shut even now and than.
"I need do some groceries shopping. I need some food in house and I don't have smoothies or yoghurt." Gibbs said.
"I will do that Jethro. You stay here. Looks like somebody needs some sleep." Ducky said smiling and stood up.
Gibbs grinned and looked down at the now sleeping child "I think you're right. We were up most of the night. Doesn't surprise me that he is tired. Thank you Ducky." He stood up and walks to the living room to sit on the couch with Tony in his arms. He would watch some tv while Tony' was sleeping.
"No problem Jethro. I will see you soon." Ducky said before he walks out of the door. Not long after Ducky was gone Gibbs himself felt tired. He soon followed Tony's example and fell asleep with Tony still secure in his arms.