Sorry this took forever. I kept changing the chapter around. I hope you like it and many of you will probably be mad at one of the scenes but do not worry, it will be fixed in time. Also I am working on a sequel to Protect Our Own. It'll only be a one-off but I also have an idea for a longer sequel as well but I'd like to get further - if not finished - with this story and/or with The Love of a Child. :)

Two Days Later

Timmy stood in the driveway next to the car looking up at the strange house. He looked back at Tony as the older man walked back around the car with a backpack in hand. He held out his open hand and Timmy grabbed it as they headed up the drive towards the front porch. As they climbed the stairs Timmy watched as Tony opened the door without knocking and they stepped inside. Tony let go of Tim's hand so he could shut the door behind them, and the scream made him jump and spin back around. He was just in time to see Jethro the dog come bounding around the corner from the kitchen - straight for Timmy. Timmy was the one that screamed as he backed up into Tony, grabbing at the older man, hiding his face from the dog. Tony dropped the bag and quickly scooped Tim into his arms. Timmy wrapped his arms around Tony's neck and held on much like he had their first encounter with each other. Tony wrapped his arms around the child as he turned his body to keep Timmy between him and the door - just in time for Jethro to reach them and bark, causing Timmy to scream again - this time in Tony's ear.

A sharp whistle had Tony turning his head to find Gibbs standing in the doorway of the kitchen, sawdust was evident on his hands as he snapped his fingers and pointed towards the living room. "Go lay down."

Jethro, who had been living with Gibbs going on almost a month now instantly listened and headed for his bed that was set up in the corner of the living room by the large bay windows. Timmy was trembling in Tony's arms and the older man just tightened his grip on the small boy.

"He okay?" Gibbs stepped closer and scooped up the hastily discarded backpack he knew had toys for the toddler.

Tony nodded as he rubbed his hand up and down Tim's back as he tried to calm the now crying child down. Gibbs looked back toward Jethro who was inching his way across the floor on his belly towards them. One glare and the dog was hightailing it back to his bed again. Tony walked Tim towards the kitchen to sit down with him, whispering in his ear that he was okay, that everything was fine. Gibbs followed, dropping the backpack on the table as he watching his senior field agent struggling to keep himself calm enough to calm the kid. With a sigh Gibbs stepped up to them.

"Let me try." Gibbs reached out for Timmy but the moment he touched his arm, the kid screamed and burrowed closer to Tony.

Gibbs stepped back with a frown. He had really thought they had made some progress with the kid in the last two days. When they had gone out to breakfast that first real day together Tim had climbed into the booth next to Gibbs while Tony sat across from them. He had even allowed Gibbs to cut up his pancakes for him - after he had unsuccessfully tried to shove a full one into his mouth the moment the plate was in front of him. After a quiet word from Tony about nobody taking his food from him the kid had allowed Gibbs to cut the pancake up before shoveling pieces into his mouth to chew - albeit slower. Tony had then told Gibbs what had happened with the pizza the night before and what he had realized when Tim had been with the Carrigan 'family' for almost a month that was part of the abuse Tim and the rest of the children had endured.

"When is everyone else getting here?" Tony asked as he once again tried to calm the child.

Gibbs ran a hand over his mouth as he stepped away from the pair. "Next ten minutes or so."

Tony nodded. "I'll try to get him calm by then."

He stood with Tim and headed out into the backyard to walk around with Timmy while he quietly talked to him. Gibbs watched for a minute before heading for the living room. He snapped his fingers at Jethro and the dog jumped up and bounded over to him. Gibbs headed upstairs and to the guest bedroom where he swiftly locked the dog up for the time being. He hated doing so but until they could introduce the kid and dog to each other in a more controlled situation Gibbs was not going to have the dog underfoot causing more stress to the three year old. As he was coming back downstairs the door opened to reveal Abby and Ziva, both laden with grocery bags. Ziva had planned to make dinner for all of them as it had been a long while since they had all gotten together for a meal, and this would be the first time anyone but Tony, Gibbs, and Ducky had seen the young Timmy since his rescue.

"Where's Timmy?" Abby asked instantly. "I bought him more toys!"

"Outside with Tony." Gibbs replied but before he could say anymore the Goth was heading towards the kitchen and the backyard.

Gibbs followed Ziva as she too headed for the kitchen. Abby had placed her bags of groceries on the counter before heading outside, leaving the sliding door open. Gibbs started pulling things out of the bags, placing anything that needed to stay cold into the fridge.

"How are they doing?"

Gibbs looked up as Ziva started searching the cupboards for what else she needed. "Okay for the most part. Tim is afraid of the dog."

Ziva nodded. "He told me a year ago he had been jumped by a dog when he was little. Not hurt but it had scared him. Where is Jethro now?"

"Locked upstairs."

Gibbs finished before heading for the backdoor to check on the others, just as he heard the front door open once again to admit Ducky and Jimmy. Gibbs looked out the open door to find Abby following Tony around the backyard, holding toy after toy up to Timmy as the boy continued to cling to DiNozzo. Gibbs could tell the child was no longer crying but he was still sniffling and refused to reach for any of the toys, let alone even look at Abby. He knew the Goth was getting upset but there was nothing they could do until Timmy felt safe enough around them. He watched them only another minute before taking pity.

"Abby, why don't you come in and help Ziva with dinner?"

Abby stopped in her tracks as Tony continued to circle around the backyard, following the fence line. Her shoulders slumped as she headed back inside. Gibbs pulled her into a one armed hug and kissed her forehead. "Give him time."

It was a silent five minutes as Ziva, Abby, and Jimmy started on dinner - spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. Ziva was making the sauce from scratch so she had rallied Abby and Jimmt to chop the peppers and onions while she browned the meat. Ducky had fixed himself a cup of tea and sat at the table with Gibbs - who had a fresh cup of coffee - as they waited.

Tony entered back into the house with Tim now back on his own feet. The kid shuffled his shoes at the doorway before looking up at Tony and then at Gibbs. The kid took a deep breath before heading for the silver haired man - stopping right in front of him. Gibbs looked down into the wide bright green eyes and smiled. Timmy smiled back before leaning into Gibbs leg - much like he did that first morning.

Gibbs laid his hand on Timmy's head and ruffled his sandy blond hair. "Everything okay now?"

Tony nodded as he fixed his own cup of coffee - doctoring it heavily with the hazelnut creamer Gibbs kept in the cupboard just for him - before settling at the table with the two older gentlemen. They talked about safe topics while the girls - and Jimmy - fixed dinner. Timmy moved back and forth between leanig against Gibbs and Tony until finally he settled in a chair of his own with a coloring book and crayons.

They still had a little time before dinner would be ready. Abby had finished and was silently sitting next to Timmy - not touching him - but watching as he colored a page of fish from his book. Ducky and Gibbs had got to the basement to talk in private and Jimmy was still helping Ziva with the garlic bread as that too was made from scratch. Tony snagged a cookie from a pack of Oreos he had brought with them and popped it into his mouth before taking a second and handing it to Tim.

The little boy squealed as he took the cookie but before he could take a bite Abby was right there to grab it. "Tony you're going to ruin his dinner."

"Abby don't!" Tony yelled and reached for the Goth but was too late as she took the cookie from the youngster.

Tony growled in frustration as he quickly scooped the child into his arms and backed away from a confused Abby just as Gibbs came running up the basement stairs - Ducky right behind him. Tony turned away from Abby and grabbd another cookie from the package and handed it to the child.

"It's okay. You can have it."

Timmy was hesitant as he looked over his shoulder at Abby - unshed tears in his eyes as his lip trembled. Tony quickly turned them again to keep Abby out of Tim's line of sight. "Hey. It's yours. She's not going to take it again."

Tim looked back at him and with a small nod he took the cookie and Tony opened his mouth to tell the kid to not try and swallow it hole but snapped his mouth shut without a word when Timmy took a small hesitant nibble of the cookie. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath as they waited until Timmy seemed more confident nobody was going to take his second cookie and watched as he took another bite and squealed again at the taste. Tony smiled and laughed before sobering and turned dark eyes on the Goth.

"Don't you ever take food away from him again."

"Tony I..."

"Abby."

The goth turned to look at Gibbs and frowned at the look of disappointment in his eyes. Gibbs understood both sides. Tony was angry at Abby for what she apparently did - the cookie still in her hand - but he couldn't be too mad - it wasn't like Abby knew not to do it. With a nod of his head Gibbs stepped outside and Abby followed. As did Ducky. Ziva and Jimmy watched them head into the backyard before turning their attention back to Tony.

"What was that about?"

Tony sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. "When he was with the Carrigan's part of the abuse was refusing food to the kids."

"How did you figure that out?"

"When I was a cop in Boston. There was a case of child neglect my partner and I were called on. Two boys were starved by their stepmother when they did something wrong. Sometimes she would give them food but then take it away to punish them. I wasn't sure at first but seeing Tim act the same way as those boys when we had given them food at the station - it just sort of clicked. It's a way of control."

Timmy was balanced on Tony's hip still munching on his cookie - content exactly were he was. Ziva smiled as she watched Tony unconsciously ran his free hand up and down Tim's back to comfort the child as he talked.

By the time the others returned from the backyard - and Abby had apologized but knew not to crowd Timmy who seemed to shrink as she got closer - dinner was ready. Tim had wiggled free of Tony as they all sat down at the table. Tony expected Tim to head for Gibbs as the kid rounded the table but was surprised when Tim leaned again Jimmy and asked a one word question.

"Up?"

Jimmy was surprised and looked around the table at equally surprised faces before he turned back to the kid with a tentive smile and nodded. "Sure." Jimmy help Tim climb into his lap and settled the little boy with his back against Jimmy's chest. Once they were settled Tony handed Tim's plate acorss to Jimmy and they all started eating.