Tony ended up needing three stitches over his left eye from that shoe. Abby and Kate spent almost a half an hour fussing over him. Abby was concerned for Tony, and especially concerned for Tim. She became increasingly afraid that the boy might be dangerous. But she didn't want to believe it. Little Timmy was so cute! How could he be so violent?

Abby decided to take Tony's shift, as Gibbs had ordered Tony to go home. But Abby wasn't alone. Ducky was also there, just in case the boy really was dangerous. Abby sat on the edge of the boy's bed as he woke up. He looked around, bleary eyed. His eyes focused on Abby, and hardened into a glare. He folded his arms against his chest and glared at her as if he would have enjoyed seeing her boiled in oil.

Despite his glare, Abby smiled at him. "Good morning, Timmy! Did you sleep well?" Young Tim only narrowed his eyes even more.

"Timmy, won't you talk to me?" Abby asked.

Tim said nothing. He glared at her for a long time. Then he lunged forward and tried to scratch her face. Abby jumped back before he could hurt her. She tried to talk to him twice more, but it only ended in two long scratches on her cheek, and a long scratch on her arm.

Finally, Abby gave up. "I don't understand, Ducky! Why does he hate me?" Abby cried, falling into Ducky's arms.

"I do not know, my dear. But I hope we can figure it out, soon," He sighed looking at the boy, lying in the hospital bed, glaring at them both as if he would've liked gouging their eyes out.

Ten minutes later, Abby's shift ended and Kate's began. When Kate walked in the room, a funny thing happened. Young Tim stared at her for a long time, seemingly confused. Kate sat down in a chair and stared out the window for a long, long time. It was almost ten minutes before Kate realized that Tim McGee was still staring at her. She turned and looked back at him.

Unable to think of what to say, she asked the first thing that popped into her mind. "Would you like to play a game, Tim?" She asked.

Little Timmy stared at her for a long time. Then, much to her, and Ducky's surprise, he nodded. So she got out a checker board and the two played checkers for two hours.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

The next afternoon, the nurses were setting up a small tray for Timmy to eat on, when Ducky brought everyone into the boy's hospital room.

"Whatcha got, Duck?" Gibbs asked.

"Jethro, I have a theory," Ducky said simply. He stepped back. There were two glasses of milk on the night stand closest to him. He turned to Ziva, "Ziva, my dear, will you please give young Timothy this milk?" He asked handing her the glass of milk.

Ziva nodded and gingerly placed the glass on the tray. Without even thinking, Timmy pushed the glass onto the floor, where it shattered.

"Hm. Just as I expected," He picked up the second glass. "Now Caitlin, will you please give this to Timothy,"

Kate looked at him skeptically then handed the glass to the boy. To everyone's astonishment, Timmy picked up the glass and drank up the whole thing.

"Jethro, I have a theory. Timothy is, no doubt, in a state of shock. He has just witnessed the death of his family, which would be tramatic even for anyone of any age. He's blocking the event out. When he woke up, he saw us and assumed that we were a family. He perceives you as the father, Director Shepard as the mother, myself as the grandfather, Anthony as the brother, Ziva and Abagiale as the sisters. He believes that we are trying to replace his family-"

"Which is why he hates all of us," Gibbs interrupted.

"Precisely. However, he only had three siblings, which is why he does not hate Caitlin or Jimmy,"

"The boy has a mental block,"

"Exactly. He's bottling up all of his emotions. He won't be able to get over the mental block until he remembers his family and cries," Ducky said.

"I could just spank him for you," Tony hissed under his breath, gently touching his stitches.

Gibbs whirled around and head slapped him so hard it made his head spin. "DiNozzo, if you lay a hand on that boy, you'll be confined to your desk for the rest of your life," He said strictly.

Tony nodded. "Understood, boss."