A/N: Very short oneshot I wrote one day when I was feeling homesick. Brief conversation between Tim and Vance.
Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever made money off the fanfiction I write. I've written enough that if I had, I'd be a millionaire by now. :)
Sharing in Solitude
by Enthusiastic Fish
There were benches in Willard Park. At this time of year, they were rarely in use in the evenings. It was warm enough during the day, but the nighttime brought cooler temperatures and a breeze coming off the river didn't help. People were smarter than that.
Most of them...
Work was over for the day and Tim just needed some down time...but he didn't want to go home...or rather, he didn't want to go to his apartment. He loved his place, and he was glad he had it, but sometimes...it just didn't feel like home. It was where he lived, but it was lonely. Tim sighed to himself and walked to Willard Park, settling himself on a bench fencing the Anacostia. It wasn't really an improvement, but it was something.
"Agent McGee, what are you doing out here? You all seemed to fly out of NCIS as soon as Gibbs deigned to let you go."
Tim looked back over his shoulder and saw no one less than Director Vance crossing the grass.
"Mind if I join you?"
"No, sir."
Vance sat down beside Tim and looked silently out at the river.
"It's not a bad view, is it."
"No, sir. It's even pretty."
Vance chuckled softly. "Yes...it can be. So, why are you sitting out here on the coldest night we've had so far this fall?"
Tim shrugged. He could scarcely admit to the Director of NCIS that he was lonely. So they were quiet for a while.
"My wife has never forgiven me for taking this job. It's been hard on us."
The sudden confidence made Tim look at Vance instead of the river. "But it's a great honor."
"Honor? I suppose...on paper. In reality, it's more responsibility and less gratitude. More work for not enough pay. ...and long nights alone when I'd rather be with my family."
They were both quiet again. Tim, because he didn't know what to say, and Vance...because he'd said what he had to say.
A few minutes passed.
"Sometimes, it's not enough," Tim said. "The job isn't enough. Sometimes, I want more...but it's never there...or the timing is off."
"You can make that work."
"In theory...but mostly...I just feel alone."
Again, both were silent, absorbing this strange sharing going on. The sun disappeared below the horizon. A waxing crescent moon hung just above it in the sky. The Director of NCIS and a special agent sat side by side for another five minutes. Then, Vance stood and walked back into the building...alone. Tim stood and walked to his car, to drive home...alone.
Sometimes, sharing in the loneliness was all they could do.
FINIS!