"So kid how is school going?" Uncle Steve asked Tim and Tony couldn't help but roll his eyes at the question. His Uncle's response was a head slap that left Tony grimacing.

"It's fine Uncle Steve, you should know that." Tim laughed.

"I see you've picked up a few habits form me." His Dad had managed to sneak in unnoticed and was now leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen.

"They were mine, you on the other hand stole them from me." Uncle Steve said totally unfazed.

"Whatever you say." His Dad replied with an eye roll.

"See, now I have proof of where your son gets those annoying habits from."

"Oh so none of them comes from his uncle?!"

"What can I say, I am an angel." Uncle Steve smiled brightly only to change his face into a annoyed one when Gibbs started laughing.

"More like a devil." Gibbs snorted.

"You keep quiet."

"Oh, so you are no angel?"

"I give up." Uncle Steve stated dramatically and Tony couldn't help but smile at the interaction before tuning nervous eyes to his dad who locked Tony's gaze with his and beckoned him over. Tony got up and walked the few steps over where he to his surprise was brought into a strong hug.

"You need to stop scaring us son" Gibbs murmured into his ear and Tony nodded his understanding against his Dad's shoulder. Releasing Tony Gibbs stalked over to his youngest and brought him into a hug as well before turning to Uncle Steve: "Should I be worried about dinner or do you think you've actually managed to cook something?" Both boys started laughing while Uncle Steve tried to look offended.

"I thought you trusted me?!"

"Not with food, but I take that as a yes. Boys are your homework done?"

"Yes Dad." they answered simultaneously.

"Good, do you mind watching the food for a few minutes and set the table while I borrow your Uncle?"

"No Dad." As soon as both the adults had left the room Tim towards him. Tony sighed and readied himself for the questions he knew undoubtedly would start raining over him in a few seconds.

"So much for being okay." Tony stared dumbfounded at his brother of all the things he had counted on for him to say this wasn't one of them. "When you came home…you lied to me"

"I'm sorry Tim, I didn't want to worry you."

"That's what you always say, but I'm not five anymore Tony, if something is wrong tell me. You don't have to protect me from your life."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Tim sighed. "I shouldn't have said that, it's just that I never know if you truly are okay when you keep lying to everyone about you being fine."

"I can't promise anything Tim, but I'll try to be more honest with you." The room fell into silence for a minute while Tony tried to gather his thoughts and determine how much he should tell his brother.

"I was unfocused in a couple of classes so I was already in for a couple of questions by Uncle Steve before detention and that had me in a mood. Then in detention Tony Rizzo kept poking me in the back first and then he started throwing paper balls at Mrs. Lewis. She found my name on one of the papers and wouldn't give me a chance to explain. End of storytime Timmy-the Worrier.

"So Uncle Steve brought you home?"

"Not exactly."

"Do you want to talk about it?" God, those puppy dog eyes really were hard to say no to.

"I ran, okay? I panicked and ran home"

"You did what?!Are you crazy?!Dad and Uncle Steve will kill you!"

"Yeah well, we'll see. They'll probably lecture me and ground me but don't worry kid, I'll be fine."

"Are you sure Tony?"

"Yeah. I'm sure so stop worrying."

"Thanks for telling me Tony" Tony just gave him a small smile and turned back towards the oven suddenly seeing both his Uncle and Dad standing in the doorway accompanied by Grandpa Franks. Tim seeing them at the same time, ran towards his Grandpa and hugged him tightly. Grandpa Franks was always a welcome sight in the house. Tony was startled when his Dad passing him to take out the food from the oven, dropped a kiss on the top of his head.

"Good boy." The praise was barely audible but Tony heard it and smiled before turning towards his grandpa.

"How much do you know?"

"Come here boy."

"That means all of it." Tony sighed defeated and walked over to his Grandpa.

"It means that what I didn't get out of your dad and his brother I overheard from you and Tim." Tony grimaced at that.

"Don't suppose the three of you could start knocking or something?"

"No." All three answered at once and Tony gave up, hugging his Grandpa tightly before sitting down at the table.

"Tony." Tony looked up at his Dad confused before remembering that he and Tim were ordered to set the table. Sighing he made his way over to Tim to help him while the rest sat down.

-The Other Tony-

"So kid, could you share the whole story with us please?" It might have sounded like a question but there was no doubt to Tony that his Uncle meant it as an order. He suddenly replayed the other Tony's words from the morning in his head and started questioning how much he should tell them. He had no doubt Anthony Rizzo had meant exactly what he had said. Tony was no pushover but with Tim it was different. On the other hand, he couldn't go around being scared of him hurting Tim for the rest of the school years. Tony sighed. It was nothing but an easy decision.

"Something on your mind Tony?"

"Yeah." he said quietly.

"What?" Tony looked up at that, his Uncle seldom had the patience to play 20 questions. Biting his lips he glanced over at his Dad which was a huge mistake.

"Tony." It was his 'you better start telling the truth and not try to hide anything'-voice.

"We talked this morning with the other Tony. It kind of settled into my memory so I was a little unfocused in class and a couple of teachers called me on it. Then in detention he started poking me in the back with his pencil and throwing paper balls at Mrs. Lewis. One of them had my name on it and she didn't give me a chance to explain. I tried to tell her I had my math papers in my locker but she wouldn't listen stating that I once again tried to frame Tony Rizzo for framing me. Then she went to you, Uncle Steve and I panicked and ran home. I know I should have stayed but I had a lousy day and it all caught up with me. I felt overwhelmed and started to run. Before I knew it, I was halfway home. I texted you guys so you hopefully wouldn't worry too much and then Uncle Steve got here."

"I heard you and your uncle talked. Mind sharing with me?"

"My French teacher Mrs. Lewis is convinced I'm a bad kid that somehow gets away with it so she has it out for me, calling me on the smallest things. Then calling you and complaining or lowering my test scores as much as she can without anybody getting suspicious.

"Why didn't you tell either of us?"

"I didn't want either of you to worry."

"Luckily your uncle already lectured you but don't let there be a next time kid. I trust you to come to me Tony if something is bothering you."

"Yes sir."

"You shouldn't have run Tony, you know that." His uncle sighed. "You never run from me, I would have listened and you damn well know it."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Sorry is good kid, but you running doesn't exactly make you seem like an angel. I had to convince Mrs. Lewis that you were in the bathroom so she wouldn't get more convinced it was you."

"I didn't think about that."

"You didn't think much at all."

"Why didn't you retrieve your math papers from your locker earlier by the way?"

"I wasn't in the mood for you questioning me right then so I hoped you would have gone home already when detention was over." Tony admitted a little embarrassed.

"If that starts developing into a habit I'm going to move your locker into my office so don't make it into one."

"No sir"

"What did you and Tony Rizzo talk about?" His Dad suddenly asked and Tony groaned inwardly. He had hoped his Dad would have forgotten about that piece of information.

"He wasn't happy about getting in trouble and asked me why Uncle Steve believed me instead of him. I explained to him that he had checked the security cameras."

"Was he convinced?" Uncle Steve asked.

"No, but there wasn't much I could have done about it. He eventually walked away."

Both his Dad and Uncle nodded and shared a look before turning back towards Tony.

"We decided on three days extra grounding for running. And two days for disobeying your Uncle and in this case, Principal." Tony grimaced slightly but was too relieved that they had believed his shortened version of events to complain.

"We'll have a meeting at the school tomorrow morning with you and your Dad to put this officially behind us, but as far as I am concerned, if you can prove to me it wasn't you it shouldn't be any problems."

"Are you sure?" Tony asked suddenly remembering his French teacher's hard words.

"Tony. What aren't you telling us?"

"She said she'd make sure I didn't get to turn in any of my math tomorrow so I wouldn't get away with stealing somebody else's paper."

"What?!" echoed both voices as one.

"That's the reason Mrs. Lewis wouldn't let me go to my locker to show her the paper. She said that I'd only take it from somebody who was completely innocent. And then she told me she'd make sure my math homework wouldn't get accepted tomorrow."

"She can't do that Tony. She has to go through me kiddo to do something like that."

"She said so though."

"Kiddo, I'm sorry but other than being even more doubtful of what she tells me I can't do anything."

"Steve."

"I'm sorry Leroy but all I have on her is Tony's word and it's his against a teacher and even if I as his Uncle believe him, I can't do anything as a Principal."

"You told me you'd keep a closer eye on it!"

"And I will, I'm just not sure how yet. You need to let me sleep on it Leroy. I love that boy, and won't let anything happen to him. For now though all I can promise is that I'll take away the chance for teachers to do anything without my input."

"Meaning?"

"You won't get any more phone calls unless your son here tells me it's the truth."

"That's your best deal?!"

"For now, that's all I can do. As I said you need to let me sleep on it. He doesn't have her tomorrow anyway so she can't really do anything."

"Hate to crush your plans Uncle Steve but who handles detention tomorrow?" His uncle cursed out loud before looking apologetically at Tony and Gibbs.

"I will get back to you on that."

"See that you do."

"Quit the attitude Probie. Your brother is doing all he can at the moment." Mike Franks voice rang from the doorway.

"Sorry Steve."

"Nothing to worry about Leroy."

"Where is my second son?"

"Upstairs, I sent him there."

"How long have you even been here? I thought you'd be at your place with Tim."

"You told me you needed one hour, I gave you two so don't you start giving me attitude Probie."

"Sorry Mike. Tony why don't you say your good night's and head upstairs? We could all do with an early bedtime."

"Including you?" Tonya asked teasingly, trying to lighten the mood a little.

"Yes kid, even your Dad" Grandpa Franks answered in his place and Tony saw his Dad share an annoyed look with his Grandpa before turning down his gaze. His defeated look making Tony chuckle slightly until he saw his Dad advance on him.

"Oh, so you think it's funny huh? I'll show you funny…" With that his Dad started tickling him mercilessly, soon being accompanied by both Uncle Steve and Grandpa Franks.