I know it's been a long long time. I'm really sorry, I wanted to finish the story before i published the rest of this fic but I had some personnel issues that prevent me to persue this. ( And my computer wouldn't let me finish... sigh...)

I hope that You would enjoy this chapter.

The next day, in the autopsy room, two men were deep into trying to figure out the cause of death of the body in front of them.

It was the third time that the younger man attempted to communicate with his mentor, but each time he was ignored.

Jimmy Palmer wasn't stupid. Sometimes he could be oblivious, but he wasn't stupid. He had noted that his mentor, Dr. Mallard, wasn't focused. He was thoughtful, more than usual. Not only wasn't Dr. Mallard focused, the entire MCRT members weren't at their top of their game. He hadn't seen Abby for two days and there was a replacement in the lab, although he couldn't identify the reasons. He couldn't know why everything seemed screwed up.

The young future doctor worked up his courage to question the medical examiner, but he didn't want to be too curious, too nosy. He opened his mouth and closed it several different times before he asked his question.

Jimmy: Dr. Mallard, what's going on? I don't want to intrude but it seems that there is trouble on Team Gibbs.

Ducky: I'm sorry, Mr. Palmer. You will probably hear soon enough, but our dear Timothy had decided to leave the MCRT. He had enough of his unfair treatment, so he decided to spread his wings outside of this nest. It reminded me some African tribe ...

Jimmy: Hold on, Dr. Mallard. What? What? McGee quit? I don't understand why now? I had thought that he was happy with his job. I mean he didn't seem to want to quit.

Ducky: We used to think that Timothy didn't know how to lie, but he knows how to deflect, so even if he seems content with his job, he was fed up by his treatment. And there was an incident with Abigail and it was the last straw for him.

Jimmy: Is there a way to change his mind? Maybe we can talk with him, help him if he needs something?

Ducky: Unfortunately, even though I will miss him terribly, I think that it's the best for him. He had suffered enough ... all right, Mr. Palmer, let's focus on our guest.

The younger man understood the hint and went back to his tasks.

/********************************/

Two hours later, the hurricane named Leroy Jethro Gibbs came to autopsy, and Palmer hurried away, not waiting to be caught.

The ex-Marine was pacing, surrounded by an air of anger and sadness, as the Scottish doctor was scolding him.

Ducky: Seriously, Jethro. Do you have to scare away my assistant every time you want to talk to me? You can obtain the same result without terrorizing everybody. I thought we had talked about this; disrespect has no place here.

The older man wasn't known to lose his temper quickly so when he released it, people listened to him.

Gibbs: Oh! Duck! I didn't mean to disrespect anybody. Hell, I didn't know he was here and left before you went ballistic on me. I needed to talk to you, to help guide me. You know I have a lot on my mind.

Ducky: I understand, but certainly Timothy's resignation should make you think about your behavior towards others people.

The younger man was ashamed. He had angered Ducky with his behavior. He sighed and continued to sigh. What had happened? He used to be the best detective, the best team leader of this agency. But since Kate died, he had let himself drift. He had taken shortcuts with the law and his own rules. He had lost his family and he was about to lose his son, his youngest. He prided himself on living to the standard of his second B for Bastard, now not so much.

Gibbs remembered his conversation with McGee – no, Tim – and he was shocked. He used to think that he had blown it because of the Mexico issue, but now he needed to revise his judgment. He had screwed up since his youngest agent's first day. He had screwed his own rules, let him drown until he couldn't cope any more just because Tim was not his type of cop material.

Yes, he knows that he is a dinosaur, one who doesn't want to progress beyond his habits. He didn't tell the real truth, that the young author looked like his late daughter so much that sometimes he couldn't cope with seeing him across the bullpen. He knows that will hurt Tim the most or perhaps cause him guilt, and neither was his intention.

Gibbs: Duck, I talked with Tim, and he said so many disturbing things. I screwed up so much. I let them walk all over him and they enjoyed it. Abby, Ziva, Tony. He was an easy target because I didn't put a stop to it. He told me that they hurt him emotionally, physically – the dog, Mahwer, Mexico – but I had no idea he was so hurt that it put him in the hospital.

Ducky: What? Hold on. When? After Somalia? No, I can see by your expression that you didn't mean Somalia. I dread what I am about to ask, but when?

Gibbs: Just after the SWAK letter and before Kate died, Tony told the ladies in accounting that Tim was gay, and ...

Ducky: And because Tony worked with him, they believed him. Nobody should joke about it. What happened?

Gibbs: He was beaten so badly that he was hospitalized. They didn't beat his face so nobody could see anything.

Ducky: Did you know before that? Tell me you had no idea, because I swear to god that I'll ...

Gibbs: NOOOO! Duck, you know me I'm a bastard but I'm not cruel, not with my team's security.

Ducky: My apologies, Jethro. Why wasn't I informed about this? I'm the team's physician.

Gibbs: Morrow was offered his current position.

Ducky: Excuse me, I don't understand the connection between the two separate events.

Gibbs: They offered him the job with Homeland Security, so to make sure nothing went wrong, he handled Tim's case in private. And Tim was so sure that nobody cared, that I was so focused on Tony's recovery, that he believed we weren't interested in being part of the investigation and of course, in his recovery. When I see Morrow again, I may punch him in the face.

Ducky: Oh my god!

They were silent for several minutes, mentally cursing the former director of NCIS.

Ducky: Do you know if Anthony is aware of the result of his actions? Nobody has the right to joke about that. I don't know how he could think that it's funny.

Gibbs: No, Tim didn't want him to know. He wouldn't want the Tony from now to pay for the Tony he was then.

Ducky: Oh! He really is a good soul. So he has really been hurt by all of us. I hope that he will forgive us all.

Gibbs: What are you talking about? He never blamed you. He blamed the team, especially me. He is right. I am the team leader, I had responsibilities, and let's face it I failed. I failed our team and I failed our "family."

The older man was shocked by this sentence. Yes, he knew that the former Marine considered Ziva, Abby, Tim, and Tony as his children, him like an older brother, but the man in front of him never, ever said the words to them.

Gibbs was trying to voice his suspicions that Tim had been abused when he was younger but he heard some noises in the corridor. He waited, hoping that nobody had heard his conversation. When nothing happened, he shrugged, thinking that he maybe he was on edge by the recent events. He resumed his conversation, forgetting the dreaded topic.

/********************/

Tony DiNozzo felt mixed emotions: gladness that he had mended his relationship with his little brother, hope that his mentor could change his probie's mind, and sadness that their genius was leaving this team. He needed to talk to someone sane who knew the situation. The SFA thought for a moment about approaching the former Mossad officer but change his mind quickly. Ziva was great but too impulsive and too wild for this discussion. Then the solution came: Ducky. Of course, he mentally headslaped himself, why he didn't think of the medical examiner sooner. He made some quick excuse and went to Autopsy before the Israeli questioned him.

When he was about to enter the Autopsy room, he heard Ducky scolding someone. He was trying to stifle his laughter, imagining it to be Palmer, when he realized that Gibbs was the recipient of Ducky's ire. The Italian was about to leave when he heard his teammate's name. Nosy and curious as hell, he started to listen, hoping that Gibbs had found a way to stop his friend from leaving. He knew that he shouldn't listen to this private conversation, but he couldn't help it.

At first, he didn't understand what they were saying, then he became horrified and finally felt sick. He went to the closest head and tossed his cookies. He hadn't been sick like that since Kate's murder. He had harmed his teammate. He thought back to the conversation they had when Gibbs was in Mexico. Now, Tony understood Tim's anger, his disbelief. He had always thought that Tim was jealous of him, but Tim was hurt and angry at him, for good reason.

He, Tony DiNozzo, was worse than Abby, he had judged her. He was a brat, a … bully. At one time, he was so afraid that this younger, smarter man was trying to get his job. The SFA was trying to pick up some lady in the accounting department, but she was entranced by the baby-faced agent. He didn't think before he said that Tim wouldn't be interested in her. He was thinking that Tim was so hung up on Abby that he would never look at accounting employee, but when she misconstrued his statement, he didn't correct her, thinking that it was no big deal.

The "no big deal" was that his joke had a big consequence. His teammate had been beaten because Tony thought that it was funny to claim that Tim was gay. He was disgusted by his behavior. How could Tim forgive him, work with him?

Tony started to retch again, deciding he need to quit. He couldn't stay an agent, not like that. He was so focused, he didn't hear someone just behind him. He felt something cool on his neck. He was startled and relaxed when he saw that it was Jimmy Palmer.

DiNozzo was about to snap at him, but the younger man was so caring that he let the future doctor help him. He was so lost in his mind that he allowed Jimmy to lead him toward Autopsy.

/**************************/

Ducky and Gibbs were lost in their thoughts when they were interrupted by Jimmy leading Tony to one of the autopsy tables. The agent was pale, white, and sweaty. His eyes were unfocused, and he had some difficulty breathing.

Gibbs was out of his comfort zone. He didn't know what had happened, but if it had affected Tony so deeply, it was serious. Ducky was attempting to coax the younger man to snap out of it, without success.

The former Marine couldn't wrap his head around Tony's reaction, yet he needed to intervene, the only way he knew how to do it.

Gibbs: DiNozzo, DINOZZO! Gear up! GEAR UP RIGHT NOW!

His SFA was startled but started to focus. The older man risked a little smirk. He let Ducky question and comfort him.

Ducky: Anthony, lad, can you tell me what happened? What caused you such distress? It's your father?

Tony: Oh, god, no! It's because I'm a monster, a bully. I need to go to the director.

The younger man was trying to get up but he was too lightheaded and was easily pushed backward.

Ducky: Take it easy. Why do you think that you are a monster? And why do you want to see the director?

Tony: I need to quit. I'm supposed to be the good guy, how can I do my job if I am able to do something like that?

Ducky: Anthony, you are not a monster. Can you tell me what caused this nonsense?

Tony looked at the medical examiner with so much sadness that it broke his heart.

Tony: I heard you, I heard what I've done. I'm horrible, horrible ...

The Italian was shaking and sweating, Ducky pushed the younger man's head between his legs to let him breathe.

Gibbs closed his eyes. He had caused this. He knew there was a possibility that someone overheard them. Tim asked him, begged him, to never tell Tony about this, and not one day later, he had blown it. He took his phone and called the only person who could help the younger man in front of him.

/*****************************/

Tim didn't know what he was feeling a mix feelings. Fear, guilt but above that it was relief. He finally stood up for himself. Yes, the blond hair man had been so afraid of Gibbs for so long. The man remind him so much of his father, The Admiral. To the point that he craved his attention, his approbation no matter what. For the first time, the Probie didn't need it, didn't want it. He would keep contact with Tony, Ziva, Ducky and Jimmy but he didn't need Abby and Gibbs in his live.

He went to his desk, ready to finsih his paperwork. McGee didn't remember a time where he was eager to go on vacation. To see his sister and be there for her more than 2 hours here and there. He had a hard time to keep an even face, he knew a smile threathened to appared on his face. He exhaled, looked auround and digged.

He nodded to Ziva, puzzled that they were the only ones at their desks. He shrugged, it wasn't his problem anymore.

He needed to think about his future. He had different options with the private sector, 2 in France, 5 in China, and 4 locals. He could make a lot of money. He could have everything, but it wasn't his dream.

His dream was to be an investigator, he had some proposals from several agencies. The NSA proposition meant better pay. He would be in the field as much as he was now although he would handle a much large area of investigation.

Fornell's proposition was great, only one of the reasons he considered it was that it would hurt his former mentor.

Then, there was Vance's option and it was tempting ...

He was interrupted by his phone's ringing. He was startled but answered cautiously.

Tim: McGee.

Gibbs: Tim, I need you to come to Autopsy now!

The team leader didn't wait for a response before hanging up on him. The young federal agent sighed loudly his annoyance and went to the elevator.

/****************************************/

When McGee entered the room, he expected that Gibbs was making a last attempt to change his mind. What he found instead, was Gibbs with a guilty face, Palmer confused but a shy smile on his face, and Ducky who was trying to comfort Tony who was hardly breathing.

The computer genius started to feel nervous, but before he could start asking questions, Ducky asked his assistant to make some tea.

Tim: Tony, what's going on? Are you all right?

He cringes over his stupid question but keeps going.

Tim: Man, you are starting to freak me out.

When he didn't get a response, he turned toward the former Marine.

Tim: Gibbs, what is it? … Damn it, you called me, not the other way around, so can anybody tell me what's going on?

Gibbs didn't make eye contact with his youngest. He didn't want to see the disappointment in the younger man's eyes.

Tim was becoming frustrated, nobody was answering him. He tried to calm himself, using the exercises he learned from Master Lee, his personal trainer.

Gibbs was about to answer when Jimmy Palmer entered with the drinks.

Gibbs: Palmer, can you leave us for a moment?

The assistant was startled, it was the first time the former Marine had spoken to him ever. He didn't want to be involved in the drama.

Jimmy: Of course, Agent Gibbs. I'll take the sample to the lab, then I'm gonna take a break if that's okay with you, Dr. Mallard?

Ducky: Thank you, lad. Don't worry.

Palmer nodded to all of them and went on his way.

Gibbs sighed and began to answer Tim's questions.

Gibbs: Yeah! Right! … McGee, I was speaking with Ducky, and Tony was eavesdropping.

The young author was confused.

Tim: So?

Gibbs: I was telling Ducky about your attack.

Tony whimpered at the same time that Tim cursed. Tim was angry at Gibbs for not keeping his word, at Tony for being so nosy, and at himself for trusting his former boss. He went to sit next to his friend, telling Ducky that he would handle it.

Tim: Tony! Tony! Look at me, DiNozzo, Damn it! Look at me! We talked about it. You are too nosy for your own good.

Tony: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, you need to forgive me. I'm sorry. I'm gonna quit.

Tim: Stop! Stop. Come on, man. That's why I never told you about this. You aren't the man now that you were then. So snap out of this. I forgave you a long time ago.

Tony: You must hate me ...

Tim: At the time, of course I hated you ...

Tony: Oh my god, I'm sorry. Why didn't you have my ass fired? I deserved it. Why didn't you tell us?

The young field agent sighed in frustration. He was exhausted emotionally.

Ducky: It's one question I would like answered myself.

Tim: Okay! No offense Ducky, but I didn't trust any doctor at the time. I'm sorry. However you need to remember why.

The look between Tim and Ducky didn't go unnoticed by the other men. Gibbs was about to ask about this mysterious statement but a head shake from Ducky shut him up.

Ducky: Of course, lad. I understand; apologies accepted.

Tim: I didn't know my place on the team and when you see the mess we are in, I was right to not trust that someone would be there for me.

Gibbs hung his head in shame. Tony did the same thing.

Tim: I didn't know at first why I was beaten. Why me, I'm just a geek? Then a few weeks later, we were, Kate and I, waiting for you to return for your first day back. She was trying to hide her feelings about your episode with the plague. I was joking that you were bragging that she had made a move on you in Panama. And she was like 'I'm gonna kill him.' Then, she turned to me and told me what you said to the accounting ladies. At first, I didn't understand, then I connected the dots. You were the reason why someone targeted me.

So yes, I hated you. After that, we lost Kate, and you helped me after you got done blaming me for her death. So yes, at first I hated you, but you grow on me like a disease.

Tony choked on his laughter.

Tim: So yes, you need to think before you talk or joke. You are a great teammate when you want to be. Yet, you could be the nosiest, loudest, worst teammate when you want as well. That's why I was so harsh with you when Gibbs quit.

Ducky: We are all sorry that you didn't feel comfortable coming to us after your attack, Timothy. I hope that it was the only time that you hid an injury from me.

Tim cringed at this statement. Ducky started to narrow his eyes and raised his voice.

Ducky: TIMOTHY McGEE, did you hide another injury from your teammates and me?

The younger man blushed furiously.

Tim: Kind of.

Ducky: What? You must be kidding me. Start talking right now.

The younger man shrugged and hung his head in embarrassment.

Tim: When I was mauled by the dog, later that day, I developed an infection in the wounds on my arm.

Ducky looked almost shocked. If the situation wasn't so serious, the young computer guru would have laughed.

Tony: Why didn't you come to me?

The younger man stared at him, making his friend squirm on his seat.

Tim: Are you kidding? After your stunt with the CDs, are you gonna play this game?

Gibbs, who had been silent until now, was intrigued.

Gibbs: Which CD?

He looked from Tony to Tim and went back. When he glared at Tony, the man in question started talking.

Tony: After we came back to the squad room, McGee was too silent, too serious, too shocked. I wanted to help him lighten up a little ... so I put a CD full of barking dogs in his computer.

Ducky: Anthony, are you really out of your mind? One time, I could think that it was an accident, two times it's a pattern.

Gibbs smacked Tim on the head so hard that he saw stars.

Gibbs: Why didn't you come to me? When you guys are hurt, my house becomes your sanctuary.

Tim used the same technique that he used on the Italian. If the former Marine had been a weaker man, he would have squirmed as well. How could his formerly awkward team member have grown up so much in a few days?

Tim: No offense, but you made me ride with a dog who tasted my blood, who went for my throat and I think that he liked it. So no, I didn't want to come to you, you already thought that I was weak. Yeah, you asked me how I was feeling, but I was so shocked by what happened that when you took few minutes to check on me, I didn't know what to say. And Ducky, I came to you about the rabies and you sent me to Palmer. He is a great guy, shy and awkward, but when he got launched on the subject, he got carried away. He became graphic, a little too much for my liking. The same night, I went to the emergency room because I had some pain. I had an infection for two weeks.

There was a shocked silence.

Tim: Anyway, it's another situation when you didn't think before you acted, Tony. We need you, Tony. You are the best at relieving the tension, you're great to handle Gibbs when he is a bear. However, sometimes you take it too far. Imagine if I'd have done the same thing to you and sent you a SWAK letter or a letter full of baby powder?

The older man shuddered and turned white again.

Tony: I never thought about it like that. I'm sorry. I'm horrible.

Tim: So no, you aren't gonna quit, although I expect you to become the great guy I know you could be. I can joke and you could be funny as hell, but you could be cruel when you want.

Tony: Do you forgive me?

Tim: I told you yes, I already forgave you.

Tony: Did I do anything else that hurt you? Anything at all.

Tim: Uh! Uh! We aren't here to dissect our history.

Tony: So there were. Tell me, Tell us.

The young author was reluctant to further distress the man who had his six on the field for more than seven years.

Tim: Okay, on one condition: It goes both way. The floor is yours.

Tony DiNozzo didn't like the condition, but he knew that the younger man was stubborn and he needed to know what shitty thing he had done to his former probie in the past.

Tony: Okay! When you said that I didn't deserve my own team, that I was just Gibbs' replacement.

Timothy sighed, rubbed his eyes, and stared a moment at the ground.

Tim: Okay, but I thought we had already settled this. I don't want to justify myself however you need to put yourself in my shoes. We had a hate/love relationship. At the time, I hated you so much, you were enjoying to make my life a living hell. Then Gibbs left and he put you in charge. We talked, we started to respect each other, and even if Director Shepard was on our arse, we still solved crimes better than any other team. And I'm sorry we didn't defend you when Gibbs come back, that we didn't protect you, that we let you down. You need to understand that he was my only father figure, it was great that he did come back. Suddenly, you started to snap at me without any reason, call me Probie with venom in your voice, so yeah like everybody I had a breaking point. I snapped at you and said some ugly things. I tried to apologize and you refused to listen to me, so after a time I gave up.

The former sniper was hurt that they feel the need to protect his oldest from him, and sad that he never knew that he, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was Tim's father figure.

The Team leader knew that he was callous when he came back. He had never talked with Tony or the others about his stay in Mexico or the demotion that his two boys had suffered. The white-haired man wanted to take his two boys in his arms but he knew that Timothy wouldn't welcome such a gesture. Furthermore, he need to let the situation develop without intervention on his part.

The two younger field agents made eye contact and smiled at each other.

Tony: I know and I never blamed you for that. I think I was antsy and I needed an outlet, and you were there, so yeah, I forgave you too. He breathed and looked at his friend.

Tony: Your turn.

Tim: Afghanistan. You lied to me and manipulated me. It wasn't that that hurt the most. It was that you didn't trust me and my abilities.

Tony: No! No! I wanted to protect you. You're my little brother. I didn't want you to be in a dangerous country with only Jardine as backup.

Tim: So you screwed me over, almost me lose my confidence, my job, so you could protect me. Don't made me laugh.

Tony: I never tried to make you lose your job. What are you talking about?

Tim: How do you think the director reacted? He didn't know me, had no idea how I worked. He saw only that I was the only one on the team who didn't volunteer. He wanted to sent me to Cybercrimes.

Tony: No! Why?

Tim: Tony, I'm a geek with a gun. Yes, I'm in the MCRT, but I'm a geek. It's as simple as that. There are tons of people who stated that I didn't deserve my place on the team. And because I didn't volunteer, I made him think that I wasn't motivated, that I was too cocky, too lazy.

All were silent with the last sentence.

Gibbs: Did Vance cause trouble?

Tim: At first, then he apologized because someone told him what had happened ... And no, it wasn't me, I'm not a snitch.

Tony: I never said you were.

Tim sighed and turned to look at all three other men.

Tim: Go ahead!

Tony: No backup ...

Tim: I'm sorry. I could say that I just followed along, but I need to take responsibility for my actions. I tried to go to Gibbs and you stopped me.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow, and this time, it was Tim who relented and spilled the beans.

Tim: One day in the field, Tony was alone, he went to interview some homeowners, and I didn't back him up. I let him without audio surveillance.

Ducky: Timothy.

Tim: I know, I know. I'm not proud of myself.

Tony: In his defense, Ziva was fed up because I was talking too much for her. She turned down the audio, and Tim didn't stop her. At first, I was angry and hurt but I know how Ziva can be when she is determined

Gibbs didn't think before he whacked Tim's head. Everybody froze, nobody moved, afraid.

Tim: Okay! I'll grant it you this one. I deserved it.

The others three breathed in relief.

Tony: Okay. Paula's funeral.

Tim: No, I'm not gonna apologize to you about this. Do you remember Jim Nelson?

Tony: Who?

The other men looked at him, confused. Tim rolled his eyes in frustration and a bit of anger.

Tim: He was Paula's teammate and my best friend who died that day. I was the best man at his wedding, and I am his daughter's godfather. So yeah, you lost one of the many women you felt a connection with, but that day I lost my best friend. It was thanks to him that I could become a federal agent. He was the one who helped me when I was attacked.

Tony: Your best friend?

Tim: Yes, Tony, my best friend.

Tony: I'm your best friend.

Tim: Tony, you're my friend, one of the close ones. Yet, be real: If we didn't work together, we wouldn't be friends. We have nothing in common. Anyway, when I told you that I was going to his funeral, you went ballistic, you snapped at me that everybody lost somebody, so I needed to deal with it and to let you alone. So I went alone without anyone else paying respect to a fellow agent. The next day, I was supposed to go to Paula's funeral, I met her through Jim, and she was my friend. We used to hang out all together. And you reacted like you were the only one who lost her.

Tony: Why ... Why didn't you go?

Tim: I was about to leave when I received a call from Bethesda, Sherry, Jim's wife had fainted. She wasn't eating, and she almost lost her baby. I couldn't let her alone, she was my friend. She needed more help and support than you at this time. If you think that I was selfish, that's your problem. You didn't need me, you had Daddy Gibbs, sister Abby, and Ziva when I had no one except my sister. So no, I would not excuse myself.

Tony again was ashamed by his behavior. He had again been selfish.

Tony: Sorry. Again. I'm the worst friend ever. You're mine, you know.

Tim: What are you talking about?

Tony: You are my best friend. The one who always supports me. I'm sorry that I was a shitty friend but you'll always be my little brother.

Tim: I'm touched, but I don't know everything about you and you don't know everything about me.

Tony: It's not my fault if you are so damned private. We didn't know that you had a sister before her case. We didn't know that you were a published author before she told us.

Tim: Tony, I never told you anything because you used to be so nosy, to make fun about my life in general. So now, it is ingrained that I don't tell you anything.

The older man was hurt.

Tim: I couldn't trust you, I'm alone and independent since I turned 15. I had to work to put my sister and myself through college. I didn't have a father to support me; yes I had scholarships, but I needed money for food, books, and so on.

The Italian looked at him in confusion. He had always thought that McGee had an easy childhood. Now, he discovered that Tim hated his father, an emotion that he thought Tim didn't have, and that he had been independent since he was a teen. The former sniper saved him the question.

Gibbs: Why didn't your parents help you?

Tim: The Admiral disowned me after I refused to go to Annapolis.

Gibbs: He disowned you? At 15?

Tim: Yeah, he offered me a car thinking that I would agree to go, and when I received the acceptance letter, he was over the moon; thinking that I would be the next generation of McGees in the Navy. And I didn't and couldn't go. Be on a boat? Be compared to my father? Be like him a bitter man? It wasn't my ideal life. Since my teens, I wanted to be a cop, a Navy cop to help the families of the troops who defend our country. Maybe I didn't need to make a scene, but I was young, I had just received my acceptance letter from MIT. So, when I received the letter, I create a little surprise. I sent him the letter in confetti that would literally explode on his face when he open the package. Let me tell you that he wasn't happy.

They laughed at these. Tony was shocked and disappointed that he didn't know his friend. They would have been the best at jokes and pranks together. Gibbs was numb, he really does not know his youngest. He assumed again and again. Ducky and Gibbs both feared his father's reaction.

Ducky: What was your father's reaction?

Tim's hesitation was imperceptible but Ducky and Gibbs saw it.

Tim: He went ballistic, said that if I was so willing to waste my life, that I could f*ck myself and that he wouldn't be part of this disaster.

There was a silence for several minutes.

Gibbs: How could you survive? You were, what ... 16 years when you were accepted at MIT?

Tim: In fact, I was 15. But I needed a delay because of the car accident. How I survived? My grandmother helped when she could, I worked as tutor, I built computers. Hell, I hit some creepy gambling house ...

He sighed, he really didn't want to tell them that, especially Tony.

The three men: WHAAAATTTT!

The blond cringed, he saw on the others' face that he needed to explain, right now.

Tim: Did you forget that I went to MIT? Blackjack holds no secrets for me.

Tony: You're too young to have been part of it.

Tim: Do you really think that we really stop after the scandal? We were just more discreet.

Tony: Why you didn't tell me anything? We could have hit Vegas or Atlantic City.

Tim: When would I tell you this? When you mocked my geekiness? Or when you went behind my back? Sorry, I told you, you used to ridicule me so much that I don't know how to tell you anything, even the serious thing.

Tim: SO, we are going to stop reminiscing about the crap we put each other through? You are a great guy if you want. You don't need to quit because I am. And the team needs you to be united. You'll have a new probie, it's up to you to treat him better that you treated me. Okay? Do you promise?

Tony: You are playin' unfair ...

Tim: I know but you owe me.

Tony: Okay! I promise. Now, that we are honest with each other, I hope that you will be more comfortable sharing things with me.

Tim: The issue is that it can be two-way street. I need you to be honest too and patient. And maybe, we built a real friendship.

The two men stared at each others and hugged, a little embarrassed.

/***************************************/

When they came back to the Bullpen, Gibbs signaled Ziva to follow him. She noticed that her two teammates were relieved but subdued. Tony had red eyes, he was drifting. Tim was lost in his thoughts but he was working on his computer.
She went after the man she considered a father, following him to the elevator. The door barely closed when he used the emergency button. He turned toward her and headslapped her hard.

She battled with her emotions. On one hand, she was trying to calm herself to not kill the man; on the other she was at a loss to think what she had done to deserve this.

Gibbs cornered her and spoke to her with a calm voice, tinged with anger.

Gibbs: Do you know what backup means? To have your teammate's six?

Ziva: Of course. I know. What is the matter? The three of you were absent more than 2 hours, you came back all silent. Tony is never silent, and now you are pissed at me like that and sacked me. Why?

The older man smirked a little before turning serious.

Gibbs: Smacked you, not sacked you. Anyway, Tony told us what Tim and you were doing one time when he was interrogating suspects. You let him without audio surveillance because he was talking too much.

Ziva: ממזר, he told you about that? He needed Tim to protect him but when he made some cruel joke, I didn't see you go after him. Did you do the same to McGee or it's because it's me?

Gibbs: Don't worry, Tim already had his punishment. The only difference between the two of you is that he already feels bad about this, and you didn't feel that you made a mistake.

The Israeli was ashamed but she was too proud to admit anything. She was about to protest more but Gibbs was already talking.

Gibbs sighed. He knew that he tended to favor Tony but they needed to work as a team.

Gibbs: I need to trust you to work as a team. We already lost one of us. We need to be at our top of the game.

The two stared at each others, almost glaring. Ziva was the first to avert her eyes.

Ziva: I understand, Gibbs.

She pushed back the emergency button and left the lift; leaving the team leader lost in his thoughts.

Then he went in the middle of their work space and talked, almost murmuring.

Gibbs: We need to talk about everything all together. I know, Tim, you don't want dissect everything. We need to, all of us. So, we are going to eat together.

Tim was about to pull out his hair. He'd spent 8 years on the team, and they never considered him, the former Marine never tried to reach him. He was about to tell them no; unfortunately, he saw Ziva and Tony looking at him with puppy-dog eyes. He sighed loudly and shook his head.

Tim: Ok!

I wanted at first that Tim decided to leave and never came back. I know that I wanted that NCIS characters pop up on the futur journey of Tim McGee so I need him to mend some fences. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and didn't forget this story. Thank you all of you who reviews. Love U all.