"Tony stop pacing and sit down" Gibbs said from the living room. Tony was as nervous as he could be.
"No I can't. I need to walk I need to..." Gibbs suddenly stood in the front of him and puts his hands on his shoulders.
"Calm down. It's going to be okay." Gibbs said and held him in his arms. Tony immediately clinched against him.
"What if it's not? What if they think I betrayed them?" Tony asked softly.
"Then we will talk to them. No matter what, I got your back kiddo." Gibbs said and ruffled his hair.
"Thanks dad." Tony said with a smile. Gibbs put an arm around Tony's shoulder and leads him to the couch. It took less than 10 minutes before Tony stood up again.
"Where do you think your going?" Gibbs asked.
"Upstairs to take a shower. I need to get ride of..." Tony sighs. "I'm just going to take a shower." He said softly now.
Gibbs stared at him for a moment and then looked at his watch. He knew Tony wanted to clear his head. Since basketball or any other sport is out of the question now a shower it was.
"Alright. You got 15 minutes. Not a minute longer you hear? They will be here in 25 minutes." Gibbs said sternly.
"Yes sir. Back in 15 minutes." Tony said in relief and hurried to the stairs. Gibbs shook his head and starts to read his book again.
———————
Gibbs looked at his watch as he puts his book down. Tony was late. Is had already been 18 minutes.
"Tony your 15 minutes are up! Come downstairs." Gibbs shouted from the downstairs.
"Yes coming. Just a minute!" Tony shouts back.
'KOCK KNOCK' Gibbs walked to the door to open in. Ducky was here.
"Ah Hello Jethro. I see I am the first one here. Where is Anthony?" Ducky asked as he walks into the living room.
"Upstairs. He will be here in a minute he said. Tea?" Gibbs asked.
"Oh yes. Thank you." Ducky said as he followed him to the kitchen. "So tell me Jethro how is Anthony?"
"Nervous what else do you expect? He took a shower to clear his head." Gibbs said as he was busy making tea and coffee for himself.
"Ah understandable." Suddenly they heard the front door opening.
"Gibbs, you here?" Abby said as she stepped inside the house.
"In the kitchen Abbs." Gibbs shouts.
Happily Abby came to the kitchen and gave both Ducky and Gibbs a hug. She sat down and talked to them a bit. Not long after Kate and McGee stepped inside.
"So we are only waiting for Tony?" Kate asked.
Gibbs sighs. "I will get him." Gibbs said as he walks to the stairs and shouts Tony's name. Soon there were footsteps heard on the stairs.
"Yeah yeah coming coming." Tony said.
"Yeah you said that 10 minutes ago." Gibbs said and gave him a headslap.
"Why were you upstairs Tony?" McGee asked.
"Taking a shower." Tony said as he took something to drink out of the fridge.
"A shower? Don't you have a shower at home Tony?" Kate asked.
"Uhmm no a water pipe broke in my apartment." Tony said nervously.
There was a knock on the door and Gibbs went to answer it. When he closed the door again he came back with pizza's.
"Oh looks good Bossman." Abby said excited and everyone nodded.
After they ate pizza they decided to sit in the living room.
"So what was so important that you wanted to talk to us in private Gibbs?" Kate asked.
"Yeah I am curious now." Abby said and McGee agreed.
"Well it's not exactly me who has something to say but Tony." Gibbs said.
"Tony?" Kate asked confused.
"Before he will tell you this I want you to know that this conversation and information is need to know. Also I want you to give him your respect when he tells you this. Can you all do that?" Gibbs said firmly and everyone nodded.
"Okay now I am curious." Tim said.
"Tony?" Gibbs said and gave him a comfort smile.
Tony took a deep breath and told them the story he told Ducky the other day. "So uhm that's my real age and story."
Abby, Kate and Tim were silent for a moment. They looked like they were just slammed in the face, before Kate starts to speak. "You're a kid." She said shocked.
"Uhmm" Tony looked nervously at Gibbs.
Kate suddenly stood up. "You were a kid! You still are! No child should go through that, you were fourteen years old! Who let a kid work undercover!" She said angry.
"Caitlin..." Ducky tried.
"How? Why?..." Tim was lost for words.
"You're so young. When that sprinkler thing happend you suddenly were so young and then you grew up again and now we find out you're still so young." Abby said in disbelief.
"Did you got hurt while you were undercover? Were you in danger?" Kate asked Tony.
"I uhm." Tony shook his head in confusion. "Why do you ask those questions? You know what undercover work is."
"Yes I know Tony! That is why I asked. No one knew you were a kid who they put in danger. Because of you changing it, they never knew! You could get hurt! Don't you understand? Don't you know that your life is important?" Kate asked frustrated.
Tony got a little frustrated himself with Kate's questions and also stood up. "Of course I understand Kate! Of course I understand. I had to get away from my own house because it wasn't safe anymore. Or did you forgot that part. I was in more danger at home then I was there!" Tony said breathing fast.
Kate looked down ashamed. "I didn't forgot Tony. How do you think I could forget something like that. It broke my heart. I just wished you didn't had to do..." She said softly.
"I know Kate." Tony said and sat down again. Gibbs squeezed his shoulder. Telling him he did well.
"So all those masked. You learned having them because it was you job." Tim asked.
"It helped yes. But I had them already before."
"Why are you telling us this now?" Abby wondered.
Tony sighs. "Because of the de-aging thing. I changed but so did you."
"We are noticing things we never did before." Tim realized.
"Yes. Just like today." Tony said quietly.
Ducky decided to take over. "You are all more alert at Anthony's non verbal signals than you all used to be. You are all more concerned or protective and that made Anthony wonder."
"And that made me... uhm well. If you noticed the little things then how long would it take to see something like this? So uhmm I thought that you deserved to know the truth." Tony finished.
"Wait, what? When did you knew Ducky?" Abby asked.
"Anthony told me this a week ago." Ducky said.
"Why was he first?" Abby asked.
"Because he is also his doctor and a doctor should know the truth Abby." Gibbs said.
"Wait. Was that the day you two had that fight? Was this why you two were fighting?" Kate asked.
Tony looked uncomfortable at Ducky. "I let my emotions take over in that conversation just like you did a couple of minutes ago Caitlin."
"And I let my emotions play and then the conversation got out of hand. But we talked it out". Tony said.
"What kind of emotions?" Tim asked Ducky. He wondered what they could be.
Ducky sighs and he looked at Tony for a moment. "The emotions I felt when Anthony was little."
"As a grandfather." Tim said.
Kate looked around the room she already noticed some things changed in the house but now she really looked. "You still live with Gibbs" she realized.
"Uhmm..." Tony looked nervously at Gibbs.
"You still not 100%? You still got problems from the de-aging thing?" Tim asked concerned.
"Uhmm... I..." Tony stuttered and looked around nervously.
"That was why you were upstairs" Abby said.
"And knew what was in the fridge." Tim said.
Tony was becoming restless. What should he answers. Tony ran his hand through his hair. He wanted this to be over with. Gibbs looked a bit concerned. He knew what Tony was thinking. So Gibbs gave him an out. "Why don't you get everyone an other drink?" Gibbs winked.
Tony looked at him confused before he smiled and nodded eagerly before he stood up and walked to the kitchen and closed the door.
When Tony was out of earshot Gibbs looked at the other three. "Yes Tony is living here. This was and is the first place he could be himself. This is also the place he could learn to be himself."
"What you mean learn?" Tim asked.
"Anthony was always pretending he was someone else, an older version." Ducky said.
"He never knew how to act when he really was this age." Kate realized.
"I took him to Stillwater so he could relax a little but when we found out about his real age I decided to stay there a little longer. He met friends who were the same age as him and it's good to see him without his mask." Gibbs told them.
"So he still wears them? The masks I mean, because he is still the same at work." Tim said sadly.
"Because at work we are professionals. There is a time to work and a time to play." Tony said as he enters the living room again with drinks.
"Doesn't mean you have to do it all the time." Tim said kindly. He would love to see Tony without his mask.
"Need to know remember." Tony said as he took a sip of his drink.
Tim looked down sadly. He forgot about that. "Tony may I ask? I understand you don't want everyone to know because of your father but why can't others in the agency know? Do you really think your father would find out? After all those years?" Abby asked curiously.
"Yes he would find out. He got a lot of contacts that I don't even know who they are. And besides it was illegal what I did. I have cheated many agencies. Also I was a kid when I first started. It could bring agencies in trouble."
"That wouldn't be that horrible." Kate mumbles. She thought no one could hear her but she was wrong.
"It was my choice Katie." Tony said. "No one else but mine. And no one else need to take the blame for that." Kate sighs but nodded.
They all were silent for a moment and Gibbs decided to break it for an important question.
"So how do you all feel about this revelation? Do any of you got a problem with it?"
"No got no problem with it. Thanks for sharing Tony. We will keep you safe." Tim said. Tony nodded.
"Of course I don't have a problem with it. He still is my sweet sweet little Tony." Abby said happily and Tony laughed.
"So if I understand correctly. We keep your secret living on at work but what about at home? When we are outside of work?" Kate asked.
"What you mean Caitlin?" Ducky asked curiously. But Abby knew where Kate was going with this and had a big smile on her face.
"She means if we could pamper him when we are not at work. You know like older siblings." She grinned.
Tony looked shocked and looked with wide eyes at Gibbs.
"That is not what I meant Abby!" Kate said.
"I sure hope so." Tony said.
Kate looked angry at Tony. "And what does that mean? Why can't we do that?"
Tony's mouth fell open. "What? You just said..."
"I know what I said!"
"And you still think he understands it?" Tim asked doubtful.
"I have the right." Kate said and crossed her arms.
"Excuse me you have the right?" Tony asked in disbelief.
"Hey so do I but I am not blaring it out." McGee said.
"I am not blaring it out." Kate said.
"You kinda was Kate." Abby said to her.
"Uhmm do I have a say in this?" Tony asked.
"No!" The three of them said.
"Well I am glad you all taking it so well. I think it's time I go now. My mother is at home and is expecting me." Ducky said and said his goodbyes.
"Well I am also glad you are taking it so well" Gibbs said. He ruffles Tony's hair and stood up to get some coffee. "Excuse me."
Kate had a thoughtful look on her face when she saw that and Tony looked confused at Gibbs. Tony then looked at the other three in the room who were looking questionable at him. Tony stood up uncomfortable. "Uhm excuse me also." He said and followed Gibbs to the kitchen.
———————————-
"What was that?" Tony said as he closed the door of the kitchen to get some privacy.
"What was what?" Gibbs asked calmly as he turns around and looked at Tony.
"That in there." He said as he points at the living room. "They were acting crazy and you just sat there. They have weird ideas." Tony was pacing now. "I mean pampering. What do they mean? How... and you and Ducky just say ' I am glad you are taking it so well'? They are not taking it well! Have you not heard them?" Tony stopped in the front of Gibbs.
"Why were you just sitting there?" Tony asked breathing heavily and confused.
Gibbs crossed his arms. Thinking how he should approach Tony. Tony didn't understand what was happening. He never had any experience with it.
"What did you think I should have done?" Gibbs asked.
Tony looked up. "You... I... that was not what I asked." He said frustrated and sat down at the kitchen table.
"No it was not. But you think I did something wrong so I want to know what you think I should have done."
"I never said you did something wrong."
"Alright, but still..."
"I don't know. You know. You know what you should have done." Tony crossed his arms stubborn.
Gibbs shook his head. He almost laughed at the sight. Tony acting childish.
Gibbs walked to Tony and sat down at the table. "You know kid, acting stubborn will not help the situation or making you understand it better."
Tony sighs. "Then why don't you just say it?"
"Because it is something you need to learn." Gibbs said kindly.
"Learn what?" He asked confused.
Gibbs smiled kindly. "Being around family."
Tony looked confused again. "You are my family now are you not? So you should be there for me."
"Of course I am your family. And now your family is growing. Kate, Tim and Abby want to be a part of your family. And I will always be there for you. What did Abby say when she explained what Kate meant?"
Tony looked uncomfortable. "She said they could pamper me when we were not at work like older siblings."
"And there is the magic work. Like older siblings."
"But they are..." Tony begins.
"Thinking of you now as their younger brother. Like Ducky is seeing you as a grandson and I am seeing you as my son. They still got their respect for you at work but outside of work they want to be a family." Gibbs said making Tony understand.
Tony thought for a moment. Thinking about what Gibbs said and thinking about movies he saw. "So that was some kind of siblings rivalry?" He asked slowly.
Gibbs smiled. "Some kind." He ruffles Tony's hair and stood up to get his coffee. When he had his coffee he walked to the door and looked at Tony.
"You coming?"
"Uhmm can I stay here awhile longer? Need to get my head... need to think for a moment longer." Tony asked as he stared out of the window.
"Something I can help with?" Gibbs asked concerned.
"No, need a moment alone. Thank you." Tony said softly.
Gibbs nodded. He looked at Tony for awhile longer before he opened the door and enters the living room again. What surprised him was that Kate was the only one left.
"Uhmm it took awhile. The conversation you two had I mean. So I told them to go home and I would stay." Kate said nervously. Gibbs nodded and sat down on the couch.
"He okay?" Kate asked.
Gibbs sighs. "Yeah he is fine. Needed to understand something."
"He didn't understand what happend huh. I saw his face before he left to find you."
Gibbs gave her a look and took a sip of his coffee.
"He is your son, isn't he? He followed you, he depends on you. Is that also a reason he is living here?"
"Kate." Gibbs warned.
"How was he in Stillwater? How was it? Do we see some of it here?" Kate asked curiously.
"Kate stop asking those questions." Gibbs warned again. He would not betray Tony's trust.
Kate nodded and stood up to leave. "It's good he has you and trust you. He needs it. I hope someday we will see him how you can see him."
"Kate." Gibbs said before she closed the front door. "He also trust you."
Kate smiled. "I know. Goodnight Gibbs." She said before she left.
———————————
Gibbs sat on the couch for a couple of minutes thinking about today while he drank his coffee.
He then looked at his watch. Tony had been in the kitchen for a long time. Deciding that Tony had enough time to think, he stood up to get him.
When he opened the door he saw an empty kitchen. No Tony. He looked out of the window if he saw him there but he saw no one. Gibbs was feeling a little panicked right now. Where would he go?
Just as he took his phone out of his pocket he saw a note on the kitchen counter.