In Defense of Rule 12
(McGee-centric) Tim offers arguments on why he did or did not break Gibbs Rule 12. Each chapter is a one-shot with a different defense on why or why not they broke that rule. Will obvious contain pairings McGee/? AU
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of the characters.
Chapter 1 Married
"You're thinking we broke rule 12," McGee stated, still maintaining eye contact with his boss, breaking the silence that reigned in Abby's lab.
"Well, yeah," Gibbs responded, his tone leaving no doubt of what he thought of McGee's intelligence.
Tim shrugged, "We didn't."
"You're married."
"I know," Tim said with a fond smile, finally breaking his bosses gaze to meet his bride's.
"Then, yeah, you broke rule 12."
"Rule 12 was about dating a coworker, not marrying one."
"You trying to tell me that the two of you got married, but never dated?" came the skeptical reply.
"It's the truth," the answer came, not from McGee, or rather, not from Mr. McGee.
"Then why the hell did you marry him?" Tony jumped in, no longer able to keep silent.
"Because I love him. Because I'm in love with him."
"Without ever going on a date?" the skeptic repeated.
"Yes." The firm reply came from both McGees.
"How?" Gibbs demanded to know.
"It just happened."
"Oh, come on, marriage doesn't just happen."
"No, but sometimes, love does," Tim stated confidently. "We weren't trying to fall in love. We were friends. At first, just coworkers and casual friends, that over time got to know one another better. Most of the time, we went out, it was with all of you for drinks or dinner or a movie. During the last few years, we just go closer."
"We spent a lot of time together alone in a car, on the way to and from a crime scene or following a lead. Anyway, during that time, we learned a lot about each other. And working together, we saw each other when we were at our best, when we were at our worst, and everything in between. He became my best friend.
"I admit I started looking at Time differently. Not like that, Tony," she commented, smacking him on the back of the head. "I just really came to rely on him, his opinion meant a lot to me. I sought him out for advice, or when I just needed to vent. I didn't think it was romantic."
"Then how-"
"And then May 2nd happened," she said softly, frowning slightly.
"May 2nd?"
"McGee was shot," Abby spoke softly for the first time.
A nod confirmed that that was what had made the difference. "That's when I realized how I felt. I was so scared, so upset, couldn't imagine a tomorrow without him…and not just as my friend, my best friend."
Tim smiled fondly, "While I never want to go through that again, or put my wife through that, now I'm grateful it happened. I knew for a while how I felt, but never expected her to feel the same. In fact, I figured she wouldn't. I mean, I was me, geeky probie and she was ninja warrior. I was content to just be a part of her life.
"Anyway, it was why I never asked her on a date, never asked to anything that could be misconstrued as a date. I was sure that if she knew or even suspected how I felt that that would be the end of our friendship. So I kept the status quo: talking during car rides; grabbing coffees during a work break, movies, drinks, or dinners with the team. All good opportunities to spend time together, but no dates."
"Wow," Abby said softly, "that is so sweet."
"But married?" Tony questioned.
"One night while in the hospital, I woke up She was sitting there by my bedside, one hand in mine, the other running up and down my arm. She was saying something, but I couldn't hear what."
"Even if you heard, you probably wouldn't have understood," she said with a smile, "It wasn't in English."
Tim shook his head at his wife, "I asked her what she said, she simply shouted my name, jumped out of her chair, and gave me a hug."
"A hug? Ziva initiated a hug?"
"Yeah," Tim smiled in remembrance. "Scared me to death. I thought for sure something was majorly wrong. They couldn't save me, I lost my arm, you know. Anyway, before panic could totally set in, she kissed me."
"She kissed you?"
"On the lips?"
Tim smiled as he heard his coworkers comments and the incredulous tone they used when speaking.
"And then I told him how I felt and how glad I was that he was alive and well. Then he told me how he felt," his wife continued.
"That was a month ago," Abby commented.
"Still no date?" Tony asked.
Tim grinned, enjoying the memory of all the conversations he and Ziva had regarding that rule, "We didn't want to break rule 12,"
"So we agreed no dates and eloped as soon as he was released from the hospital," Ziva finished with a fond smile.
A/N: I have to admit I love McGee and wish there was more of him on screen, especially scenes that show him in a good light & not just being teased, bossed around, ridiculed, injured, etc.
This one was McGee/Ziva, like that pairing as I think they would be good for each other & I love the idea of Tim getting the girl that Tony didn't (at least not officially on screen until much later in series).