The Long Road

Author: Lawral

Pairing: McGee

Rating: FR13

Summary: McGee is about to embark on the longest, toughest road he could possibly think of in hopes to find a happy ending.

Note: This story showcases the many hurdles a person must go through on the road of adopting a child. I have the highest respect for people who choose this route by either desire or design. There are many children, even here in America, that are still waiting for permanent families. I am still doing research on this story and have read many stories of parents wishes to take a child into their homes to raise and love. This story in no way carries no disrespect to persons who have adopted, thinking of adopting, are adopted or in the process of adopting. I can only wish the best of luck to those people and pray they get their happy ending.

Timothy McGee stared at his computer screen, his chin resting against the knuckles of his hands. This had to be the hardest part. How could he write about himself and his life in the hopes that someone would feel some connection to him and pick his file out of the numerous others that he was sure existed. He watched as the curser blinked at him as if it was tormenting him for not being able to write anything that sounded remotely interesting. This was the first step in his plan and it seemed the most crucial. If he messed these few paragraphs up, his hopes would dwindle to nothing. It had been a hard decision in the first place. Not in the way of actually attempting it but in the fact that he was attempting it on his own.

All of his research had shown him that while singles were now widely accepted as adoptive parents, single men were highly scrutinized on such a decision. He'd found that there would be many questions as to why a single man would want to adopt. His sexual orientation would be questioned, as if he didn't have to argue that fact enough.

Tim sat back in his chair and rolled his head around in a circle feeling it crack in several places. He'd already been staring at the blank document for half-an-hour, that curser blinking up at him the entire time. He reached his hands up into the air and stretched with a loud groan. He ran his hands down his face, moistened his lip and pulled his shirt back down before resting his hands on the keyboard again. Yet still no words would flow from his hands as they did so effortlessly while writing Deep Six and Rock Hollow. This piece of writing would contribute to his future. He sighed and started free writing, hoping that whatever came out would sound good.

My name is Timothy McGee. Hello. I'm an educated, hardworking, single man. I've

I've come to realize that I've made my life work and there is so much more to life than doing a job and collecting a check. There are so many more marvels the world has to show and I hope to enjoy as many of them as I can.

I have two jobs that give me great pleasure. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent by day and mystery novelist by night. I know that it might sound intimidating and that I have no free time. I actually have more free time than a civilian might think. My job, like any other, does have its pros and cons but it is what I pledged my life and my entire education to.

My immediate family consists of my parents and a younger sister, Sarah. We are all looking forward to having a new member of the family joining us around the holiday tables.

Tim stopped and read over his last paragraph. Why had he lied to someone he'd never met before? Why had he stated that his family was anticipating another family member when they didn't even know of the journey he was taking to adopt a child. He couldn't imagine that they'd doubt his decision might make fun of him for about five minutes. When all was said and done, he loved her and she really did love him too. She would make fun of him until she realized that he was serious and after that, he was sure, she'd be right at his side offering support and an open ear when he needed to talk out his doubts. That was Sarah in a nutshell: the crazy younger sister who drove him mad with her taunting, confided in him with almost anything that was bugging her and loved him, looked up to him as a brother and as a honest person.

He nodded his head. He'd leave the sentences. He would tell his family, eventually, about his quest. His friends could possibly be another story.

My "family" also includes many of my colleagues. They are the greatest group of people anyone could ask for. They, honestly, could be a bit unusual and intimidating to a strangers eye but they've always had my back and I've had theirs. In our job, you bond quickly and it lasts through any professional quarrels or private ones.

I can assure you, being a single man, there would be plenty of women in my support circle. My sister is young, vibrant and full of life. What more could a child ask for in an Aunt? My female coworkers are strong, independent and brilliant. Abby is a scientist who specializes in forensics.

He stopped typing again. How could he describe Ziva and not scare the woman who might choose him as the father of her child? He loved Ziva, she was one of his closest friends and until now, he'd never thought that she could effect something that meant so much to him. He decided to leave it blank for a moment. He could figure out how to describe her later. Yet he couldn't help but notice that the paragraph felt interrupted. He'd said coworkers plural. He couldn't just describe one and leave the other in the wind. No, he needed to figure out how to describe her.

Ziva has already bypassed milestones Americans take for granted. She's survived to reach the age of twenty-eight. Where she's from that is probably considered a huge accomplishment. She's both sides of a coin; protective and sensitive but tough and no-nonsense.

Gibbs and Tony are two of the greatest guys I could have by my side. Tony has been part of a handful of the best police forces out there before finding his place at NCIS. Gibbs is an ex-Marine sniper. We all look up to him as more than just the boss of our team.

My home life is conventional. I currently live in a small apartment with my dog, Jethro.

Again he stopped his typing and reread the last line. Two words seemed to haunt it: small apartment.

"I need a bigger apartment." McGee said to his computer screen.

Jethro got to his feet and joined Tim's side. The dog looked up to the computer screen and then laid his head in Tim's lap. He whined again trying to get his master's attention and when he was unsuccessful, he lifted his head slightly and barked once. Tim looked down to the dog's warm brown eyes looking up at him and he pet his head.

"Ok, ok. I know. Go get your leash." McGee told the dog.

McGee got to his feet and went into his bedroom to grab his shoes and a jacket. He turned off the bedroom light and grabbed his cell phone and keys off his writing desk. Jethro was waiting as patiently as a dog who knew he was on his way for a walk could. McGee could hear Jethro whimpering as he turned the remaining lights off except for the lamp on his desk. He took the leash off the hook by the door and clipped it on a waiting, anxious dog. The pair locked the apartment door and walked down the hall to the elevator.

The nights air was slightly cool and spring was definitely on its way to DC. Tim took Jethro down the usual route that took them down the block and around a corner to the dog's "favorite tree" and then back home. It had seemed that he and Jethro weren't the only ones who had decided to go for an early evening walk.

Tim saw several couples out for a walk or returning from shopping. A young girl was huddled close to the young man walking with her, their hands holding on to each other. Tim smiled softly as he passed them and Jethro sniffed in their direction for a moment. Everything had just seemed lighter and more carefree after he'd made his decision. Tim saw the world in a new light.

He'd made contact with the local adoption agency and had spoken to a woman. Their first meeting had been nerve wracking at first but as she assured him that lots of single men and women chose to adopt every year. She'd given him a checklist and several documents to research the different types of adoption. The heap of papers had seemed intimidating at first. He had taken them home and read through several "success stories" before deciding he wanted an independent open adoption. The idea that the birth mother or parents and families could still be part of the child's life appealed to Tim.

Jethro had tugged on the leash catching McGee's attention when he'd tried to pass the tree up. He voice his apology to the dog and waited for him to do his business and investigate the new smells on his tree.

His mind returned to the next thing on his checklist. He had spoken to his attorney and was excited to hear that she could also help him with the adoption legalities. He was now working on his profile for a binder at the agency and one that would go up on a special webpage. He thought about taking a few photos of the team from his computer at work to tag along with those of himself and his family.

"Ok, come on. Jethro." The dog was still sniffing at the tree making sure he'd covered the other scents. "Jethro, come on, let's go home."

The walk back to the apartment had been just as quiet as the walk to the tree. Jethro waited patiently along side Tim for the elevator to take them up to the second floor where his apartment was located. Once inside the elevator, Tim unhooked Jethro's leash and hung it around his neck. Jethro always ran out of the elevator and to the door dragging McGee behind him. Tim found it much more enjoyable to just let the dog off the leash so he could keep his shoulder inside its socket.

The doors opened and Jethro ran from the small room and to the door at the end of the small hall. He jumped up and pawed at the front door and whined again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." McGee said, pulling the keys from his pocket and unlocking the door.

Jethro ran inside and to his food and water bowls. He sniffed at them expectantly and barked again when he found them empty. McGee chuckled to himself as he bent down to pick them up. He took them to the kitchen and filled each bowl.

"When are you going to learn that the bowls don't magically fill themselves while we're out on a walk?"

Tim put the bowls down and pat Jethro's head before returning to the computer. He read over the last sentence he'd written and sighed once more. He looked around his tiny apartment. It was enough for him and Jethro but he wouldn't have room for any of the paraphernalia that went along with having a child.

Jethro had finished his nightly meal and again joined Tim's side. He pat the dog's head again and scratched at his ears lazily. He looked down to the dog and spoke directly to him once more.

"We need a bigger apartment."