Gibbs stared at Ducky blankly.

"Kitchen" Ducky said, and Gibbs closed the door and locked it, before following Ducky out into the kitchen, but not before casting a worried glance at Tony's sleeping form. Gibbs leant against the doorframe into the kicthen, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and crossed his right leg over the left one, and sared at Ducky who leant against the kitchen counter.

"Semi catathonic?" Gibbs asked.

"Abigail told me Anthony was making sounds and watching television" Ducky said.

"Movie, and yeah, he was, he makes this low kind of.. i dunno, whimpering sound, more like an impatient sound, when e wants something" Gibbs said and frowned slightly, "what's this got to do with semi catathonic?" Gibbs asked. Ducky looked down into the linoleum flooring, very appropriatly it was white and black, checkered, and sighed.

"Jethro, have you ever just.. zoned out?" Ducky asked without looking up. Gibbs frowned even harder.

"Zoned out? Like in thinking too hard and getting one of those.. ah.. damnit, what're the called?" Gibbs asked, snapping his fingers and looking at the table.

"Stares... don'tworry jethro, you have glares, not stares, but yes, I believe Anthony is thinking too hard. I believe he cannot cope with so many thoughts at once and he blanks out. I ALSO believe he knows that you are here. He's hiding Jethro" Ducky sighed, "He's hiding in himself" he added and looked up, only to lock eyes with Gibbs, "And I also believe you are the only one that he trusts enough to not hide from" Ducky said. Gibbs blinked.

"Me?" Gibbs asked, pointing a straight hand at his own chest. Ducky nodded.

"He's always tried his best for you, even though it doesn't seem like it at times, Anthony has always tried to impress you, to be at his very best for you because he hopes that one day you will tell him that you are proud of him, and do not look at me like that, you know it is true!" Ducky said. Gibbs sighed and stood up straight, before sitting down on a kitchen chair. Ducky followed suit, and watched Gibbs put his elbows on the table before folding his hands together and resting his forehead on them.

"You really think he trusts me?" Gibbs asked. Ducky snorted and Gibbs's eyes darted quickly up at him.

"Trust you? I believe he loves you" Ducky said. Gibbs blinked and looked into the table.

"Loves?" he asked.

"For heaven's sake Jethro, are you really that blind?" Ducky asked and Gibbs's head snapped up, "He has been working and working for you, trying to get your attention. He has been depressed and I gave him anti depressants, we talked and I discovered his secret. He loves you Jethro! Honestly, I thought better of you, you are a top investigator, and sti-"

"Duck" Gibbs sighed, "He can't. I won't allow him"

"Love knows no boundries dear friend, and I happen to know you, and I happen to have noticed the looks you give him when you think noone is seeing you" Ducky said. Gibbs glared at him, "you know, you are not quite as frightening as you think, do you think you don't deserve to be happy? You do, don't you? What if I tell you that this love you have for Anthony might save him? Would you let yourself be happy then? Is it really so bad to be happy for once in your life?" Ducky asked. Gibbs looked down.

"Duck.. please.. I'll think about it" Gibbs sighed.

"Good, now, I have some more information now that you know about Anthony, I've asked a friend in Peoria, and he told me that he and Anthony know eachother. He found Anthony bleeding on the sidewalk two months before he quit, and noiced scrapes and bruises on him all that while, all fresh, when he came to work, he saw Tony withdraw himself and create the man we know today, Jethro, I believe something terrible must have happened to him while there. And I believe Frederick and Joshua have been a part of it" Ducky finished.

"That's good thinking Duck, maybe you should take my job" Gibbs sighed.

"Ah, no, but thank you for the kind words, I'm afraid I do not have it in me to frighten other people" Ducky smiled, and Gibbs smirked at that, "Now, I'll have a look at Anthony while I'm here, and if you need any groceries, just let me know" Ducky smiled.

"Thanks Duck" Gibbs said as Ducky walked into the livingroom. Gibbs sat on the chair and stared at his fingers. Had he really been this blind? Was he not allowed to be happy? Was Ducky right?

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AN: See, there I go again, Tibbs shipping, I can't help myself. I wanna see it on screen!!! This story is a little OOC I think, for everyone but Ducky. I think I'm pretty good at writing him. And Abby. And Tony.. crap.. I HOPE I'm good at writing them and that they're not to OOC for you. I promise there'll be a lot more angst, and drama as the story progresses, there won't be too much schmoop and hugsies, but you have to go through SOME schmoop..

Disclaimer: All hail DPB