In the episode UnSEALed we found out that when Gibbs was a kid, kids made homemade skateboards. In the JAG episode Ice Queen we found out Gibbs saw something bad happen when he was a kid just like the cub scout. In Heartland, we see that LJ is an African American man Jack started the store with, and Gibbs is named after. We also found out Gibbs was a happy child and his father did not teach him much of anything. This led me to wonder, where did Gibbs learn to woodwork and why is Gibbs so good with kids?

---------------------------------------------------------

"That was cool boss. Can you show me how?" Gibbs considered for only a second before handing the skateboard over to Tony. Tony grinned at the trust his boss was showing him. Quickly, Tony placed the board on the ground and began to climb on.

"Keep one foot on the ground and one on the board for now Tony."

"Got it boss." Tony started slowly, but soon was speeding down the block. He decided if that Gibbs was not too old to skateboard neither was he. He yelled back to Gibbs "boy, this is cool boss." As he yelled, he forgot his boss's instructions and put both feet on the board. Suddenly, he realized he had no idea how to stop the board. His foot reached off the board and a look of fear came on his face as flew off the board and onto the street. His hand hit the pavement as he went down.

Only seconds latter, Gibbs was at his side. He could see that Tony was injured. "Let me see your hand. Are you hurt anywhere else?" Working with Tony for multiple years had led him to be quite specific with questions about injuries.

"I'm fine boss" Tony responded as he got up off the ground.

Gibbs took Tony's scraped-up hand in to his own hands anyway and examined it. The hand was tattered and had gravel all over it. "Let's get this cleaned up" he said sternly.

"Sorry boss" Tony said, suddenly realizing that Jack was going to be mad. Tony grabbed the board and they headed back to the house.

In the bathroom, Gibbs continued to nurse Tony's wound, much to Tony's dismay. He had told his boss he could handle cleaning up the injury but Gibbs wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. Tony sat on the toilet set while Gibbs knelt in front of him and gently washed and cleaned the wound. Just as Gibbs was finishing wrapping Tony's hand Jack walked in.

"I told you I should have gotten rid of that thing years ago." He said indicating the board. "I knew someone would get hurt."

Gibbs looked up at his father briefly with a mutinous look in his eyes before grabbing the skateboard and heading out of the bathroom. Moments latter, Jack and Tony could hear the back door slam as Gibbs walked out of the house.

"LJ, made it with him." Jack explained.

"I know, he told me." Tony replied while attempting to peek under the bandage Gibbs had put on him.

"Did he also tell you LJ was murdered in fount of him?" Jack asked. Shocked, Tony looked at Jack.

"I guess not." Jack said continuing the conversation. Jack led Tony to the living room and both men sat down. "Well, you did say you wanted to know more about Leroy's childhood. LJ was just as quiet as a mouse, that man, but he was still my best friend. We quit the mines together to start that general store. LJ was always at my place. He never married and he love my wife's cooking. When we had Leroy, it only seemed natural to name him after LJ. Leroy, he loved LJ. Thought of him like a favorite uncle. LJ taught him woodworking and helped him with his homework every night. I was always amazed at how well they worked together. Leroy was a little chatterbox back then, but it didn't seem to bother LJ at all." Jack paused for a minute before he continued.

"When Leroy was about ten he was over at LJ's when some KKK guys came. LJ knew the men were trouble so he hid Leroy and told him to be quiet until he came back to get him. He never came back. Leroy saw the whole thing from the hole in the closet door. We couldn't get him to talk for weeks. That's when Leroy stopped saying so much. I think he wanted to become like LJ. LJ never really said a lot, but you could always tell what he was thinking."

"Wow" Tony responded. "I didn't know."

"Not many do. Leroy's life went downhill from that point on. I started working more hours now that I had to run the store on my own. My wife got mad I was never at home. LJ was my best friend and after he was gone, I felt like the general store was my only connection to him. I think I also wanted to avoid what was going on with Leroy. I just didn't know how to help him. I couldn't even help myself. His mother was angry at me until the day she died for not handling it properly. She divorced me and moved to the city so she could get him some proper help. I stayed right here and when she died Leroy came back to live with me. He was a very angry teenager."

Suddenly, Tony understood his boss a lot more. He could not believe all that had happened to Gibbs when he was a kid, and felt very sad to realize all the trouble Gibbs had been through as a kid.

"I regret not helping him more. I should have been there for him" Jack lamented.

"Have you ever told him that?"

"No. The counselors my wife took him to said not to bring it up unless he did. They said it was bad for him. I promised her I would do what they suggested. You probably shouldn't tell him you know either."

"I think you should talk to him."

"I think I shouldn't."

"No time like the present." Tony responded.

"Stirring up the sand only makes the chickens itch."

"If you won't talk to him than I will." Tony threatened.

"No you won't." Jack stated confidently.

"Want to bet?" Tony said grinning.

Jack decided this was the best time end this. He was sure Tony would not talk to his son. Tony was obviously intimidated by him "Tony, I am not talking to him." He said as he turned and walked away.

Tony shrugged his shoulders and then headed to the workshop. He knew that was where Gibbs likely was. He had not heard the car start so he knew Gibbs had not left. The question was what kind of a mood would Gibbs be in when he found him.