Confusion 2 (Sequel to Confusion )

Tony felt so tired. Gibbs had prepared dinner and made sure that Tony ate what he considered to be a decent meal. Then he'd made him take his tablets. Gibbs hadn't been joking in the hospital when he said he was going to take care of him. Afterwards he was taken up to his room for a rest. "I don't need naps you know," Tony said.

"Well let's disagree on that point. You look tired and I think you need a rest. I can make it an order you know."

Tony looked at him. Gibbs was not joking. "Now I've had all the things you'll need put into the room. Consider it yours for as long as you want it."

"Mine?" Tony said.

"I meant what I said in the hospital Tony. This will be your room even when you go back to your own apartment." A warm feeling flowed through Tony. Even as a child he'd never felt his bedroom was his own. He yawned. "Right lie down and have a sleep before lunch." Tony took off his shoes and lay down on the bed. It was very comfortable. "You okay?" Gibbs asked.

"I'm fine. I don't really need a nap." He yawned again. He saw a small smile cross Gibbs face. He wondered why he was smiling. Gibbs couldn't help smiling as Tony fought sleep. He looked much younger when he was asleep. He reminded him of Kelly when she used to try and stay awake after her bedtime. He took a cover out of the closet and covered Tony.

Gibbs went down to prepare lunch.

"Come on Tony!" He heard feet outside of his room. He shot up in bed. This wasn't the room Gibbs had put him in. He looked down, he was young again. He couldn't believe it. He hadn't expected his dreams to continue. He'd thought the fever brought them on. "Dr. Mallard will not wait for you."

"Coming," Tony shouted.

Gibbs let Tony drive into town. They tied the wagon up at the livery stable and gave the horse some oats. They walked to the doctor's house.

Tony sat up on the table. "Well how do you feel young man?" Ducky asked.

"I'm fine. I've not been sick and I don't feel dizzy. I can answer any question you ask"

Ducky asked him some questions. The only one he nearly got wrong was who was the President. Tony thanked Mrs. Cormack, his third grade teacher, who had made the class memorise the Presidents.

The doctor took the bandage off his head and looked at the wound. "This is healing up nicely. Keep the bandage on for a couple of days."

"What about school?" Gibbs asked.

"I think another day at home, then he should be alright to go back."

"You sure?" Tony asked. "I can feel a headache coming on."

"Yes I'm sure." Tony pouted. Ducky turned to Gibbs. "He's a trier."

"Keeps me on my toes," Gibbs said. Tony went over to look out the window. "He's alright though?" Gibbs asked a note of worry in his voice."

"Yes, he'll be fine. But do try to keep him out of any more trees for awhile."

Tony turned to look at Ducky. "I was thinking of trying the barn next. What do you think?"

"You what?" Gibbs shouted.

"Got you," Tony answered cheekily.

Dr. Mallard laughed. Oh yes this boy was going to keep Gibbs on his toes all right.

"Come on, we need to go over to see Miss Todd and see if she has any work for you to do."

"Work? I'm sick." Tony protested.

"Come on," he said.

"Fine," huffed Tony, "But if I collapse from over work you'll blame yourself." Gibbs smiled.

They walked over to the school and Gibbs knocked on the door. Cait answered it. Tony still found looking at her difficult. The last time he'd seen her she was lying dead in Ducky's morgue, a bullet hole in the middle of her head. "I came to find out if Tony has any work he can do at home," Gibbs explained.

"No, Jethro, I want to give him some tests to see where he fits in in the class. I'll need to do them in school."

"Very well, Tony will be here tomorrow morning. Dr. Mallard thinks he should be well enough."

"I'll look forward to seeing you Tony."

They rode back to the farm. "I'm going to work in the barn, could you dig up some potatoes and collect the beans for dinner."

"Sure. I don't have to eat the beans though do I?" Tony asked.

"Yes you do." He saw the look of disgust cross Tony's face. "You do know which ones are potatoes."

Of course I do, the orange ones are the potatoes."

"Very funny. We can spend the weekend harvesting the vegetables."

"Where will you store them?" Tony asked. He knew there were no freezers to store things in.

"In the cellar. Miss Todd's mother usually bottles stuff for me. The cellar's cold and it helps keep them cool."

"You seem friendly with C... Miss Todd," Tony commented.

"I've known them a long time, now hurry up I want to have them today," Gibbs said changing the subject. Tony was determined to find out about Gibbs and his family. He knew some of the answers were in the chest where he kept the clothes. He would have to be careful when he searched that, no way did he want to get caught doing that.

He dug up the potatoes and picked the beans. He shouted to Gibbs that he was finished. "Take them into the house and peel some of the potatoes, I'll be in in a minute."

"Slave driver," Tony muttered under his breath.

Gibbs cooked ham to go with the potatoes and beans. When they were finished Gibbs told Tony to wash the dishes and he was going to finish the drawer he was making for the chest of drawers. "You can read your book when you're finished," Gibbs said.

Tony picked up the book and sat in the chair, he was soon engrossed in the story. He could imagine Probies face if he could see him enjoying reading a book. Showed how little he really knew Tony, Tony had always loved books and could never get enough of them to read when he was younger.

Gibbs came in and put some milk on to boil. "Go get ready for bed," he told Tony.

"But Dad, it's not late."

"Now son." He chased Tony off the chair. "You'll need to be up early to do your chores before school."

Gibbs came and tucked him in. He bent down and kissed his forehead.

The next thing Tony knew a hand was shaking his shoulder. "Time to get up."

Get up Tony thought he didn't even remember going to bed. These pills were messing with his head. Tony shot up in bed, Gibbs was standing over him with a mug of coffee. "I'll get my chores done," he said.

"Chores? What chores would those be?" Gibbs asked amused.

"Sorry. Was dreaming."

"Here's your pills," Gibbs handed them to him.

"They make me feel sleepy. I don't want them," Tony whined.

One glare was all it took. He stuck them in his mouth, took a drink and swallowed. He stuck his tongue out to prove he'd swallowed them, "Happy?" he asked sarcastically.

"With the fact you swallowed your pills yes, with the attitude no."

"Sorry," Tony apologised. Treated like a kid in his dreams and real life, great, Tony thought.

"Breakfast in 30," Gibbs said.

Gibbs went down to start breakfast. He couldn't believe he'd said that to Tony. Ducky had told him to let Tony know how he felt about him as often as he could but he didn't tell him to treat him like a kid.

Tony ate his breakfast in silence. He looked tired. "Go rest on the sofa," Gibbs said.

"It's those damn pills. I can wash my dishes first," Tony snapped.

"I want you to rest, go on." Tony went through and sat down. He hadn't meant to snap but with the dreams he really wasn't getting a good sleep. He hated having to rely on other people, he'd always looked after himself. He hated feeling useless. He didn't mean to fall asleep again.

TBC