It starts just after Broken Trust

Chapter 1

Jethro stormed back into the office refusing to look at anyone, and at the same time daring them to speak to him; was that the best way to put the blame on someone else for his own mistakes? Well, when it comes to Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, there has to be someone else to take the blame. Even in things he is responsible about. Of course, his co-workers knew better that so they kept he mouths shut. Well, all, except for one.

'We need to talk, Jethro'

'About what?' That was when the doctor saw his friend's hand.

'What happened to your hand?' Ducky asked worried.

Bloody spots were forming around the knuckles. Jethro stared his hand as well, like seeing it for the first time and wondering why there was blood on it.

'Come with me.' He doctor would have never believed he 'd ever be capable of dragging the mighty L.J. Gibbs with him like that, but apparently one of his agent's resignation was the way to reduce Jethro's legendry strength. Ducky shook his head. By all heavens, he was right; there was something more between Jethro and Timothy? But what was it? He had noticed it about half a year ago with that case of the dead homosexual Petty Officer, or was it a captain? Anyway in that case the both of them had to go undercover for evidence. After the case was solved, Tim and kept his distance and by that, he didn't let his boss invading his personal space as he did before, he was always a step behind or to the next, little things that no one- except Ducky- had noticed. And that continued for more than a month; after that Tim little by little accepted Jethro's invasions with less hesitation. The blushing or his shy glances towards his Boss had gone unnoticed by their co-workers, but not by the see-it-all doctor. And really, Jethro's behaviour had changed as well, closer to the man before the revelation about his first wife and daughter; his eyes were piercing when he stared at his youngest agent. Was it possible?

But Ducky, had also noticed Tim's earlier cold look directed at Jethro and… was it Abby?

'What did you do, Jethro?' Lost in his thoughts, the taller man looked at him surprised and while Ducky wanted to explore that feeling as well, he pointed to the agent's right hand.

'To your hand.' At the same moment he took it in his own hands to bandage it.

'I hit the wall' was the startling answer.

'And what did you do to Timothy?' His patient sighed deeply.

'Nothing, he could know about.' He couldn't now, could he? Guilt and anger warred inside him; guilt because of what he had done and anger towards Tim, because even though he didn't know, he had left them, he had left him for more money; it was as if Jethro didn't matter to him at all. Their relationship was nothing special. 'I need to leave, Duck.' He had to talk with Leon.

'Jethro we need to talk,'

'What about?'

'Timothy,' Jethro stared at Ducky and the older man's suspicions were affirmed. He now knew whatever had happened to Timothy, his friend had played an important role. Jethro sighed in defeat.

'My place , 21.00 hours. And bring dinner.' Suddenly Gibbs stood up and marched to the Director's Office. The secretary tried to stop him, but hey this is Gibbs we're talking about. For some reason, everything's forgiven; unless it's Tim he has done something to. Vance looked up from the papers he was reading. After all he was expecting him.

'Jethro, what can I do for you?'

'You said McGee was going to stay here until we could find someone to replace him.' Which Gibbs knew for fact they wouldn't.

'Yes, well, actually he offered to stay, but he was in sick leave either way, so there was no need to keep him here. After all he couldn't work on the field and the doctor said he had to rest. So…' OK something wasn't binding well.

'Sick leave, Leon?'

'Yes because of the accident with his car. Actually it was a miracle he survived after seeing the car's predicament.' Jethro's blood turned cold. Why hadn't Tim called him?

'How? When did it happen?' He said sitting down in the chair in front of Leon's desk.

"On Friday….'

'In LA?'

'No, here! Not so far from your part of town, about an hour or so. Didn't McGee call you?' Well, wasn't it obvious that he hadn't?

'Tim… McGee wasn't here of Friday, Leon, he was in LA, wasn't he?'

Vance looked at his distraught agent and couldn't understand the reason behind his worrying. OK, yes, Gibbs team was like a family, one trusting the other with his life so it was only expectable stronger bonds to be created, but what he was seeing at the moment, was guilt written all over Gibbs' face and there was no reason at all for that. In all truth, the man before him wasn't the well known stoic L.J Gibbs. All of the sudden all emotions had been wiped from his face and the Director wondered if it was in his mind in the first place or if Jethro was faking the calmness. Either way, there was nothing he could do. Taking a better look at Jethro, he noticed the bandages.

'What happened to your hand?'

'Nothing. Thanks, Leon.' And he left the Director's office more or less in the same way he had barged in.

Jethro had to locate Tim and find out what had caused his sudden decision, even thought he did have a sneaking suspicion, he chose not to dwell upon it. A new case held him back and he lost the chance to find Tim on time.