Chapter Text
Gibbs told Ducky and Shannon to stay in the kitchen, saying this was something just between men. Shannon had rolled her eyes with amusement as Ducky gave a small glare, but made no move to get up. Sitting on the floor had really taken it out of him.
Gibbs walked into the living room and smiled when Tony looked up. The boy gave a small smile back as Gibbs held out his hand.
"Let's go sit on the back porch for a minute," Gibbs said, pulling Tony to his feet easily.
Tony nodded and followed along, unsure of what was going on, but willing to go all the same. They walked out the back door and onto the wood deck, warm hair hitting them instantly. The summer was waning in and it was getting warmer every day.
Gibbs sat down on a swinging bench and patted the space beside him for Tony to follow. When he did, Gibbs wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulder and leaned back.
They sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the gentle breeze and birds chirping. Then Gibbs took in a deep breath and started talking.
"You know, when I was a kid, my friends and I used to get in some crazy trouble. Times were a little different then, so we'd walk around with BB guns and shot at cans. You know, getting into trouble as kids do when they have something that fires little pellets.
"Well, one time, we were shooting glass bottles across a field and I was up. So I took aim and pulled the trigger and heard glass shatter. I thought it was the bottle, so I cheered with my friends and we all high-fived and danced around. But I had apparently shot and broken a window to a house I didn't even know was there. The man from that house came out chasing us in overalls with an ax waving in the air.
"We all screamed and ran as fast as we could. We never went back to that field, but I'd have nightmares about this man for months. And every time I woke up in the middle of the night, my father would be right beside me telling me to just go back to bed. That it wasn't real. But I don't think he was right."
Gibbs looked at Tony, completely wrapped up in the story. "The dreams, although they were just dreams, felt real. They wouldn't be scary otherwise. And it's not wrong to ask for help when things are scaring you, you know? If you're scared and maybe just want a napping buddy to keep away all the bad things, that's okay. That's showing you're even more of a man, too. Because you know when to ask for help."
Tony looked at Gibbs like the man had just grown a second head.
"It's true." Gibbs smiled. "Like how I have to ask you for help with the piping, or how Shannon sometimes needs help setting the table at dinner. You're always a big help and happy to do it, right?"
Tony nodded his head. He liked doing all that stuff because it made him feel like he belonged. Is that why adults do stuff, too? Because they want to belong? That seemed silly, but, at the same time, it kind of made sense to his young mind. Maybe Shannon and Gibbs wanted to feel like they belonged with Tony as much as he wanted to feel like he belong with them? And helping was just one way to show that.
Gibbs wrapped his arms around the boy, surrounding him in a hug before they walked back inside. Shannon was in the living room, cleaning up a bit of the art mess as Ducky was shrugging on his jacket.
"Out of here already?" Gibbs asked.
"Ah, yes. Sadly, I must get back to let out mother's dogs." Ducky smiled. "I will see you tomorrow, Jethro. Shannon, thank you for the tea."
"Anytime, Ducky." Shannon smiled, giving the man a small hug and a kiss on the right cheek. "Don't be a stranger."
Ducky smiled and nodded, then let out an, "Oof," as something attacked his legs. "You too, Tony. I hope to see you again soon."
Tony leaned back and nodded, letting the man go. Ducky rustled his hair and waved, then was out the door.
That night, Tony didn't resist sleep so much. He was a little worn for the day's event and it took him less time to fall into sleep's hold. It didn't last long, though, and when he woke up it was with his clock showing the small hours of the morning and his heart beating too fast to even think about sleep.
He was about to just roll over and wait out the night when Gibbs's words washed over him. He didn't think he was going to act on them, but, for the first time in his life, he was doing the unthinkable. He kicked his feet over the side of the bed and stood up, taking the throw blanket with him as he walked down the hall. He was scared, but he knew the way to their room. It was just down the hall, and their door was always opened.
Tony looked in and saw they were both asleep. Just lumps on the bed. He was so scared to wake them up, but going back to his room seemed impossible. Maybe he could just sleep in here? The floor wasn't much different from a bed and he wouldn't have to wake anyone up.
He crept in, careful to not make too much noise. Just when he thought he'd found a good spot to lay down, a sleepy voice called out gently.
"Tony, sweetie?"
Tony looked over his shoulder to see Shannon propped up on an elbow looking at him. Her features were hard to see in the dark, but Tony could tell she wasn't mad. When Shannon was mad, she'd get this deep tone in her voice and didn't mover her jaw. Tony had only seen it once when she yelled at a man that got a little too close to Tony one day at the store.
"Come here, sweetheart. Did you have a bad dream?" Shannon asked, reaching out her hand. When Tony didn't move, she spoke again. "Come on, it's okay. Enough room for everyone."
So Tony took a step forward. And then another. And then another. And, soon enough, Shannon's hand was wrapped around his and pulling him into the bed and under the covers. Her arms wrapped around him so naturally, and Tony couldn't help but push into her a little more, taking in her sent and presence.
"There we go. It's still really late, hum? Best to get back to sleep." Shannon ran her hands through the boy's hair, watching as his eyes fluttered closed and stayed that way, breathing evening out.
Tony didn't wake up again the rest of the night, a first in a long time. He felt better the next morning, too, like he could do anything. Shannon was laughing as he raced up to her at breakfast with a drawing of what could only be Gibbs in some kind of red car.
Shannon and Gibbs had happily amused him all day, amazed by how just a simple night's rest helped the boy's mood so drastically.
Honestly, it was one of the best days they'd had with Tony in a long time. So, that night, when he walked in again during the small hours of the morning, Shannon had welcomed him in once more. They made sure he went to sleep in his own bed, but didn't bring it up if, at some point, Tony would worm his way into their bed and sleep there.
It had become such a constant, that Shannon was naturally awake at that point to welcome in her snuggle bug. She enjoyed holding him close at that point, making sure not to point out tears that were sometimes on his face or the way he'd hold onto her like he was afraid the woman would leave. But, one night, he wasn't there when she opened her eyes. She waited a few minutes, but there was still nothing. Concerned, she got up and walked to the hallway, keeping her movements slows and quiet and she walked towards Tony's room and pushed the door open a little more.
And there Tony slept, one hand thrown over his head and the other down by his side as he lay on his back. Totally and utterly out for the count.
The next day was the first day they heard Tony say a whole sentence when he sat down at the table. Gibbs was reading the newspaper before he had to go in, discreetly having thrown out the page that had an update in the DiNozzo case before Tony could see it.
Tony still stole glances at the back of the paper as he ate cereal, squinting as if he couldn't really see. Finally, he asked, "What's a bike?"
"What do you mean?" Gibbs asked as he set down the paper.
Tony pointed to a headline with "Bike race a huge hit!" in large letters across the paper.
Gibbs smiled curiously. "Have you ever seen one?"
Tony shook his head no, curls flying in the movement. They'd have to get it cut soon.
"Here, I've got an idea." Shannon said from the other side of the table, pulling out her phone and typing into it. She held it up when she was finished, showing a picture of a two wheeled device up to Tony.
Tony reached out to touch the phone, surprised when Shannon let go of it for him to hold. On the screen was a picture of a two wheeled thing with bars connecting them and letting the boy sit down. It was kind of weird. But it looked like the boy on it was having a lot of fun, a wide smile on his face as he put effort into going down a street, hair poking out of a thing on his head.
"Can I try?" He asked, holding the phone out for Shannon to take back. He was afraid he'd break it.
Gibbs thought for a second, then, with a look at Shannon, said, "Maybe. It might be a bit, though."
Tony nodded, eyes falling back to his cereal. Something about that look told Gibbs the boy didn't believe him. He wanted to say something, but Shannon beat him to it.
"We don't have a bike that would be a good fit for you, yet." She smiled, reaching out to Tony and placing her hand on his smaller one. "Maybe we can go yard-sale-ing and find you one?"
Tony's mood visibly shifted as he nodded his head.
The rest of the day passed easily, McGee asking to come and see Tony so he could keep his promise. It would have been nice to use the chance to go on a date, but they weren't sure how Tony would react if they left. So, they settled for seats on the back porch and a quiet conversation.
Tony sat inside with McGee, happily learning how to work some game system neither adult on the porch could actually name. But he'd grown comfortable enough with McGee to let the man mess with him and rustle his hair.
"We better watch that," Gibbs sighed playfully. "We'll end up with McGee as a son, too."
Shannon laughed, leaning into her husband's embrace. "I don't know if I would mind that very much."
Gibbs just rolled his eyes and let his arm fall naturally around Shannon's shoulders.
They sat in the silence for a while, enjoying the sounds that would sneak under the door from Tony or McGee laughing. Gibbs was starting to drift when his wife moved, sitting up.
Gibbs looked at her with a questioning look, unsure of why she was shifting to face him with one leg bent in front of her on the bench and the other on hanging so her foot touched the ground.
"He's coming so far, Jethro." She smiled, a tear rolling down her face.
"We've still got a long path ahead of us." Gibbs reasoned.
Shannon nodded, smile softening as she looked over his shoulder. "What's up, sweetie?"
Gibbs turned to face Tony as he stood in the door way, smile from ear to ear. He held out the controller to Gibbs. "McGee said I couldn't get you to come play."
Oh, Gibbs was going to kill McGee later. But, right now, he didn't care. That was the most words he'd heard Tony say in almost two months. He pushed down the overwhelming need to hug the boy tight and reached for the controller.
"Does he, now?"