Chapter 3

Tim stared at the ceiling for a long time. He hadn't got much sleep. The letter he'd written to Jake...well, he mostly assumed that Jake would throw it away without looking at it. It was a gamble.

It was sad to him that Jake was ruining his own life. Sooner or later, he'd get caught by the police and go back to jail. Or else he'd get in the way of someone bigger than he was and end up dead. That was Tim's biggest fear. Prison might help knock some sense into Jake. Death was irreversible.

Finally, around six a.m., he got up and called his mother, knowing that she'd be worrying.

"Tim?"

"Hi, Mom."

"Same as always?"

"Yeah. Same."

"How much this time?"

"I had about a hundred in my wallet. I haven't checked my withdrawals yet. I'm guessing the 200 dollars that's my limit."

"Tim, you have got to stop this."

"I know. I say that to myself every time...but he's my brother."

"And a grown man who has made his choices. Don't let him drag you down with him."

"I won't. I just wish things were different."

"Wishing isn't going to change things."

"I know."

There was a knock at his door. Considering how early it was, Tim had no idea who it would be.

"Sorry, Mom, I've got to go. I just wanted to let you know that I was all right."

"Thanks for calling, Tim...and think about what I said."

"I already have a lot of times."

"I know. Love you."

"I love you, too."

Tim hung up and walked to the door. He looked through the peephole and then opened the door quickly.

"Tony...it's six in the morning!"

"I figured you wouldn't be asleep," Tony said with a grin. "Am I right?"

"Yeah...but... what are you doing here?"

"You want to get breakfast?"

Tim smiled.

"Tony, I'm fine. This has happened before and it'll happen again. You don't have to be nice to me. I'm just fine."

"Good. Then, you can get ready and come with me to get something for breakfast."

Tim could see that Tony was in one of his serious moods in spite of the grin on his face.

"Okay. Give me a few minutes. I did just get out of bed."

"I notice you didn't say wake up."

"No, I didn't."

Tony's expression was almost a gotcha look. Tim rolled his eyes and went back into his room. He showered quickly and then got dressed. He didn't want to have Tony loose in his apartment with no supervision. That was a risky proposition, even when Tony was feeling like being nice. He came out.

"Okay. Where are we going?"

"Your pick...as long as it's not too expensive."

"Tony, you don't have to pay for me. I told you that I have plenty of money. Jake didn't clean me out by any means."

"I know. Doesn't mean I can't pay anyway. Let's go."

Tim nodded and let Tony urge him out. They went to a place near the Yard and got some breakfast. Tim expected Tony to ask him more about Jake, what he was like, where he'd be now, anything like that, but there was nothing. Tony seemed determined not to say anything about Jake. But they weren't sitting in silence. In fact, it was strangely normal. They were just talking about normal things, and Tim was both happy about it and weirded out by it. Still, he didn't say anything about it. He just let it be...normal.

They finished eating, Tony paid and they left.

"Why did you do this, Tony?" Tim asked. "I mean...I told you that it's okay. I meant it. It really is okay."

"No, it's not, Tim."

"What do you mean it's not?" Tim said. "I promise. I'm not trying to be noble. It's okay."

"That's not why it's not okay, Tim."

"Then, why?"

"Because your brother is taking advantage of your memories to throw you under the bus. That's not the kind of family you should have...or expect to have."

Tim raised an eyebrow and smiled a little.

"Are you saying that you're offering yourself up as a better option?"

Tony smiled back.

"I know I'm not much, but I've got to be better than that."

Tim felt unaccountably touched by Tony's efforts to make up for Tim's lackluster experience the night before, and he found that he couldn't actually answer. He just mustered up a smile. Tony grinned back and slung his arm around Tim's shoulders. They headed to work. When they got to the entrance, they were suddenly stopped.

"Agent McGee, I've got something of yours here."

"What?" Tim asked, his brow furrowing.

The security guard at the gate held out his wallet. Tim was more shocked than he could say.

"That's...my wallet."

"Yeah. Some guy showed up early in the morning, said he'd found it. There was something with your name in the wallet. Anything missing from it? I got a picture of the guy on the security camera if he was just pretending to be a good guy."

Tim looked through it. The money was gone, but his cards were all there. ...and the letter was gone. He hadn't had a chance to check his bank account...but the ATM card was there. He was surprised again. This had never happened before.

"Anything missing?"

"Uh...no. I don't think so," Tim said. "Thanks."

Tony didn't say anything, and they continued onto the Yard. As Tony parked, Tim kept looking at his wallet. Jake had never returned his wallet before. Never. He wasn't surprised that the money was gone, but the wallet was back? Had his letter actually made an impact?

"Tim?"

Tim looked at the wallet and then at Tony.

"He gave me back my wallet."

"That's new?"

"Yeah."

"So...all's forgiven?"

Tim smiled and shook his head. "No, but it's a step, Tony. It's a step, and I don't care how small it is, it's...something."

They walked into the bullpen, and Tim got onto his computer and logged in to his bank account.

The balance hadn't changed.

Jake hadn't taken any money from his account.

"Tim?"

"He didn't use the ATM card, Tony."

"Congratulations."

Tim heard the lack of enthusiasm and he looked up. Tony had a skeptical look on his face.

"You aren't impressed," Tim said.

"Not really. He still took your wallet and took money out of it, didn't he?"

"Yeah, he did, but he didn't go as far."

"He could just be making you let your guard down next time."

"I know, Tony. I'm not trying to make him out to be an angel or anything. This is something different, something better...and maybe it'll mean something."

"So...no giving up?"

"I can't. If I do...he doesn't have anyone fighting for him anymore."

Tony walked over and leaned on Tim's desk.

"Tim?"

"Yeah?"

"If Jake doesn't appreciate this, I do."

"You do? Why?" Tim asked.

"Because if I ever screw up, I'd hope that you'd be on my side, too."

Tim looked at his bank account again and then at Tony.

"Tony...the great thing is...that I don't have worry about you screwing up like this. I don't have to search for a reason to be glad about knowing you. It's a lot easier. Thank you."

Tony smiled and gave Tim a thump on the shoulder and then went back to his desk.

Tim looked at the unchanged bank balance one more time.

All he could do was hope that this was a real change and not an ephemeral moment when Jake had done the right thing.

He pulled out his wallet and opened it. He suddenly noticed a small piece of paper tucked behind his ATM card. He pulled it out.

Three words. That's all that was written.

I'm sorry, brother.

The same words Jake had written to him before. Tim just hoped they actually meant something.

He wouldn't know until the next time Jake showed up.

FINIS!