"Why do you want her number Jethro?" Ducky asked.

"I need to talk to her. Something is missing and I need her for answers."

"Alright Jethro. Will you let me know what is going on?"

"When I got answers." Gibbs said. Ducky gave the number and hangs up.

Gibbs took a deep breath, he stared at the phone number on his phone. He decided to sit down on a bench. After a couple of deep breaths he dialed the number.

"Heather Willis" was said through the phone.

"Hello miss Willis. You don't know me but my name is Jethro Gibbs."

"Hello mr Gibbs. Why are you calling me if I don't know you?"

"Anthony DiNozzo. I am here with him in Stillwater."

Heather sighs. "Junior or senior?"

"Junior. Tony is an agent of mine."

"Oh now I recognize your name. You are his boss. I had spoken to Dr Donald Mallard a couple of months ago."

"Yes I know Ducky told me about the conversation."

"If you knew about the conversation what else do you want from me then. Is Tony okay?" Heather asked concerned.

"Oh yes he is fine physically."

"But not mentally?"

"He just needs some help. I try to teach him to say if he is hurt. Try to learn to trust. He needs a guardian."

"I haven't seen Tony in a while but I could guess what kind of troubles he has. But tell me mr Gibbs why did you call me?"

"I was just wondering when you worked for the DiNozzo's. How old was Tony?"

"Oh uhm let's see. I think it was 15 or 16 years ago. Tony was 8 when I left. Well fired. Tony's mom just died. So sad, I couldn't even hug the dear boy. The boy never understood why I left. He sure thought I betrayed him."

"I'm sure he never thought that Miss Willis. I never heard him say a bad word about you."

"He talked to you about that time?" She asked in disbelief. Gibbs was silent. "I thought not."

"Did you followed Tony's career?" Gibbs asked suddenly.

"Unfortunately no. Man were watching me." She said sadly.

"I understand Miss Willis. I'm sorry to hear that."

"Is that all you wanted to ask mr Gibbs?"

"For now yes. Maybe I could ask Tony if some day, he wants to contact you. Maybe talking about that time will help you both."

"I would like that. To see what a good man he become. But let's not put pressure on him. It's his decision. We can't forget I am someone from his pass." She reminds him.

"I will remember. Thank you for talking to you."

"I hope I could help." She said and they both hang up.

Gibbs stood up and walked around the park. He looked at some boys playing football. If heather worked there 15 or 16 years ago than Tony indeed lied about his age. But why? Gibbs decided to walk back home. Time for answers.

—————————-

"How was your walk?" Jackson asked.

"Fine dad. How was Tony?"

"Still in his room."

"Good I will go see him. I need to talk to him." Gibbs said.

"About what?"

"I will tell you later but first I need to talk to him."

———————————

KNOCK KNOCK. Come in was said so Gibbs opened the door.

"Hey" Gibbs said and sat down on the bed.

"Hey" Tony said from behind the desk in the bedroom.

"How are your lines going?"

Tony sighs. "Fine almost done."

"Good. You understand why you had to write them?" Gibbs asked curiously.

"Yeah you worry too much and want to know about me all the time." Tony said with a smile.

Gibbs ruffled his hair and smiled. "Yeah so what are you going to do to let me worry less?" Gibbs asked serious now.

Tony sighs. "I tell you when something happend to me or if I am hurt even if it's little."

"Good and now will you do it for real and not only say it to me because I want you to?"

"I will try. Not easy if it's a habit." Tony said sheepish.

Gibbs smiled a warmly smile. "Come here" Gibbs said and Tony sat down next to him. Gibbs put an arm around him and Tony leans in his embrace. "I will help you through every step son."

"Thanks dad."

They stayed for that a couple of minutes. Gibbs could feel how relaxed Tony was in his arms.

"Tony I need to talk to you about something else and I need you to be honest. I promise you I will not be angry."

Tony sat up again confused. "Alright. What is it?"

"I spoke to Heather Willis. She told me she left 15 or 16 years ago when you were 8. If I remembered right than you have a different age than you told us." Gibbs said carefully.

"Why did you talk to my personal physician from when I was a kid?" Tony asked confused and worried.

"Because of today. I thought something wasn't right and then my dad asked about your age. Bruce and Oscar are both 24 years old and when he said that and how you behaved I wasn't so sure anymore. I had some doubts. So I took a walk and saw some boys playing in the park. I had to know the answer."

"And Doctor Willis was the only one besides me and my father who could tell you the truth." Tony realized.

"Yes. Can you tell me?" Gibbs asked kindly.

"I...I am 24 for real. I Uhmm I changed my age because I was hiding for my father. What's the best way to hide and work?"

"That's why you are so good at undercover work." Gibbs realized.

"Yep. I was too young, so I changed my age. Got some good ICT friends. Fast student."

"You said you were hiding for your father. Are you still hiding? Does he know where you are?" Gibbs asked curiously. If his father was a threat still than he wanted to know.

"Nope. This is the first job without that much undercover work." Tony said worriedly.

"Why did you choose it if it could mean he could find you?" Gibbs wanted to know.

"I'm done running and hiding. If he wants to find me he can. I know you have my back now."

"And never forget that." Gibbs said and held him in an embrace again and Tony leans against him again with a smile.

"Do we have to tell the others?" Tony asked softly.

Gibbs took a deep breath. "I think that is your decision but I have to tell the director if we need to change it in your personal file."

"What you mean you have to ask if my personal file needs to change?"'Tony asked confused.

"You are damn young Tony. You are not 24 for a long time, you are 24 for just one week! No federal agent is that young. Maybe we will put it in a file but that is kept secret. Need to know. Me, the director and Ducky.

"You got a point there. On the other side maybe I am that good." Tony said with a smile.

Gibbs laughed and gave him a soft headslap. "I know you are that good. I wouldn't hire you otherwise. But now I know how young you are I will not accept all the attitude. I understand now your behavior but sometimes you need a little bit more discipline. I will be your guardian."

Tony's eyes widened when he said discipline but soon softened when Gibbs called himself his guardian. Tony hugged him. "Love you dad" Tony said softly.

Gibbs could feel the emotions when Tony said that and held him close. "Love you too son."

—————————————-

Outside Tony found an old basketball hoop in the garden. In the garage he found a basketball, he pumped the ball up so it was hard again and dribbled it a couple of times before he starts shooting hoops.

Gibbs stood in the doorway watching him with a proud smile on his face. He just told his father what he found out. His father wasn't that surprised but was sad why he did changed his age. Now Tony could really begin to heal. No secrets about the age anymore. First he de-aged now the lie that he was older. Tony was in his real age now. He could behave how he supposed to be in that age. He remembered how he used to play. He was so happy when he got that basketball hoop and now his son was using it.

Gibbs stepped forward and took the ball from Tony and shoots.

"Alright let the game begin." Tony said with a smile.

"Bring it on." Gibbs said and laughed.

At the end of the game they were all sweaty and walked inside with a smile on their face talking about the game.

"Both of upstairs. Clean yourself up. Tony maybe you could take a bath it helps with the bruises and you won't make your stitches wet." Jackson said when he saw them.

"Come on stinky. You heard the man." Gibbs said and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Who do you think you are to call me stinky. I guess you haven't smell yourself." Tony said and sticks his tongue out and laughed when Gibbs tried to headslap him.

"Both of you stink. Now upstairs or I find a way to get your butts upstairs." Jackson sternly.

Gibbs and Tony looked at each other and laughed but quickly walked to the stairs.

————————————

Next morning Tony asked to go outside again.

"Where do you want to go?" Jackson asked.

"The park, basketball court. Don't know. Maybe I see Bruce or Oscar. Can I go?" Tony said.

"Yeah you go. But remember our conversation Tony. No secrets. I want to know." Gibbs said sternly.

"Yeah yeah I know and my hand knows. I will see you both later." Tony said and walked out of the door.

"Well I think he got the message." Jackson said and laughed. "I think you did good to bring him here. He is more relaxed."

"Yeah I noticed that too. Maybe because there is no pressure. He can be himself. He doesn't have to hide." Gibbs said.

——————————————

"Hey Tony you are back again." Bruce said who was sitting in the park.

"Yeah I noticed." Tony said with a smile.

"You went back for my uncle I see. Nice stitches." Oscar said.

"Well your uncle found me actually. My father was not amused." Tony grinned.

"Haha yeah that is my uncle. Never let a patient go. He finds a way. So what should we do?"

"Where are Fred, Mills and Max?" Tony asked.

"Mills had to go to his grandmother. She is sick and Fred is working." Bruce said.

"And Max?" Tony asked.

"Don't know. Probably still angry about yesterday."

"I'm sorry. It my fault that guys are arguing." Tony said.

"Don't be ridiculous Tony. He has some issues. We had problems with him before. He was out of line." Bruce said and stood up.

"Hey guys enough talking about him. It's bad enough my uncle keeps asking me what happend and if it had something to do with him." Oscar said as he also stood up.

"Your uncle not happy that you guys are friends?" Tony asked curiously.

"We had some trouble when we were younger. Our parents weren't that happy about it and it's a small town." Bruce said.

"Max has a history with the police. So you could understand how our parents react. The problem here in a small town is that you are never too old the get disciplined so you could understand why we keep it low." Oscar said.

Tony scratches his head. "Yeah I could understand that." Tony said laughing.

"I thought so. My uncle told me you are family of the Gibbs family. I heard stories from my dad how strict Jackson was with his son. I didn't knew Leroy Jethro Gibbs had a son. I heard about his wife and daughter but not that he had a son. You're his son right?" Oscar was curious.

"Uhmm I Uhmm yeah I'm his son." Tony said but was now uncomfortable with the conversation. They were right it was a small town.

"I never heard Jackson talking about you. Are you not close?" Bruce asked.

"I think they are close. My uncle told me they were very worried yesterday. Man Tony how did you get out of the house? If I did what you did..." Oscar begins.

"Hey uhm guys I have to go. I uhmm I promised that I would help in the store. I see you" Tony said and turned around to leave.

Bruce and Oscar looked at each other confused. "Hey Tony wait. Tonight we go the pub. Why don't you come it would be fun?"

"Oh uhm sure. I see you guys tonight. I have to go now." Tony said and said his goodbyes.

Tony was walking thoughtful through the park on his way home. He walked past a playground. A ball was rolling his way. He picked it up and saw a kid running his way. "I think this ball is yours." Tony said kindly and gave the kid the ball.

"Thank you mister." The kid said with a smile.

Tony studied the kid. He recognized him but from what? "Tony, you can call me Tony. Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Uhm no I don't think so. I am Peter. I had a friend who called Tony but don't know where he is anymore." Peter said sadly.

Peter. The name was familiar. Suddenly Tony had flashbacks from him and Peter playing, laughing. Tony held his head.

"Peter! Come here. I don't want you talking to strangers." They heard a voice say. Peter looked at Tony for one last time before he left.

Tony had a headache. The flashes. He knew him from when he was a kid. Tony quickly walked back home. Well to the store.

The bell went off when Tony walked inside the little store. Tony recognized the customer Jackson was helping. "Ah Tony back so soon?" Jackson asked.

"Uhmm yeah."

"Hello Tony. How's the head? No problems I hope?" The customer asked.

Tony sighs. "I am fine Doctor Simon. Thanks for asking."

"Good good." Doctor Simon said.

Tony scratched his head "Uhmm do you know where dad is?" Tony asked Jackson.

"He is in the garage. Tony you sure you okay?" Jackson asked concerned.

"Yeah yeah fine. I will go to him." Tony said and went to the garage.

Jackson looked concerned after him. "Here is the money for the stuff." Doctor Simon said and gave him the money.

"Oh uhm thank you Simon." Jackson said distracted.

"Jackson remember he can have painkillers for the headache. If you don't trust it won't hesitate to call me." Simon said as he stood in the doorway.

"I will remember Simon. Have a nice day." Jackson said kindly. Simon nodded and left.

———————————————

"Hey dad" Tony said softly when he enters the garage.

"Hey. Back already?" Gibbs asked curiously.

"Uhmm yeah they got questions and didn't knew what to say." Tony said distracted with a far away look while scratching his head.

"Something else wrong? You got a headache?" Gibbs asked concerned.

"Yeah Uhmm no. Uhmm."

"Okay Tony start at the beginning." Gibbs said and sat down on a stool.

"Oscar and Bruce asked questions who I was to the Gibbs family and apparently Doctor Simon told some things to Oscar. He didn't understand why Jackson never spoke about me if he had a grandson."

"Small town. News travels fast. I went to school with their parents. So what did you say?"

"I didn't knew what to say otherwise than I was your son and told them I had to go help in the store."

Gibbs nodded in understanding. "You could say you were adopted. The town knows about my wife and daughter. There is no secret about that."

Tony nodded. He already thought about a story like that.

"But that is not all is it? Did you take something for the headache?" Gibbs asked.

Tony shook his head no. "It's not just a headache it's... on my way home I walked past a playground were I met a boy named Peter. I though I recognized him and he told me he had a friend named Tony and than I had all kind of flashbacks when I played with him on the playground when I was a kid."

"Peter? Did he recognized you too?" Gibbs asked worriedly.

"No no I don't think so. Just the flashbacks made me confused some what."

"I could understand that." Gibbs said and stood up. He gave him a painkiller and a bottle of water. "Take it." He said and Tony did.

Tony's eyes widened suddenly. "Dad!"

"What?" Gibbs asked concerned.

"If I was your son when I was a kid and now I am also your son..."

Gibbs eyes widened. Shit why hadn't he thought about that. "You're both called Tony. Shit. We need a plan. Peter wouldn't say much but his grandmother..."

—————————-

The bell in the store went off and Jackson looked up who was entering the store.

"Hello Jackson." Mary said.

"Hello Mary. What can I do for you?" Jackson asked.

"I heard something interesting. My grandson met a young man named Tony. I never had seen that young man before so I asked around and what did I found out? They said that the young man was Leroy Jethro Gibbs son."

"Is that why you came here Mary or did you come here to buy something?" Jackson asked wanted to turn the conversation he didn't had answers to.

"First he had a little child who played with my grandson and now he is a young man? I want answers." Mary demand.

"I see you still make your own stories. If you want answers you have to ask my son. It's not my story to tell." Jackson said angry.

"Alright can you get him? I will wait and will not leave." Mary said stubborn.

Jackson sighs. He would have put her outside the store otherwise but if he let her go now he didn't knew what kind of stories she would tell in town. "I will get him."

—————————-

"Leroy, Tony?" Jackson asked.

"Dad something wrong?" Gibbs asked concerned.

"Mary is in the store. She knows about Tony here. Said her grandson saw him today and she asked around in town. She wants to know how a little child can now be an adult."

"See! We need a plan... a plan now. A good story yes a good story. That's it." Tony said nervously.

"Take it easy Tony. We are thinking of a plan." Gibbs said.

"You have to think fast because she is still in the store and wants to speak to you. I said I would get you." Jackson said.

"Why did you say that?" Gibbs asked shocked.

"Oh shit." Tony said and starts pacing.

"If she left now she could tell everyone in town and we got bigger problems. You know how that woman is Leroy."

Gibbs took a deep breath. He thought for a moment. "Alright let's go."

"You got a plan? Already?" Tony asked shocked.

"Yep. Come on." Gibbs said and walked to the store. Followed by Tony and Jackson.