3.
Their back up story was that Jethro Clarkson and Tim's Mom, Christine, had been divorced when Tim was 15. Before that time their relationship had its ups and downs but their kid always believed he came second or sometimes even third when it came to their caring. Every time Tim needed his Dad said man wasn't there and that had brought their relationship to a stalemate. Gibbs discovered that his junior agent was really good at his role. At their first meeting with one of their psychologists, a redhead names Julianne Hobbs Tim and Gibbs orchestrated their second big fight.
'Jethro, when did you realize your relationship with Timothy was starting to fail?'
'During adolescence.' Tim snorted from beside him and interrupted.
'Do you think it wise Doctor for both of us to be examined at the same time?' He asked his green eyes huge and the epitome of innocence. Gibbs was really proud of him.
'You see Timothy there is a reason I want to see you together. My colleagues Drs Stone and Mallard may have different approaches but as they said in my town I like to grab the bull by the horns.
'Lucky bull.'
'Timothy. Stop this right now.'
'Or else what?'
'Or else you're going to re…'
'Gentlemen, please.' The Doctor interrupted them. 'So I take it you have a different opinion about when the rift was made, isn't that so, Timothy.'
'My name's Tim and everything started when he decided other people were more important than me and his family. Have you seen his wife? She's at least my age!'
'She's not.' Gibbs tried to object.
'What Dad? Ok, no, she's not my age but still Gayle is young enough to be your daughter. And since she's going to give you another child I don't get why suddenly you want to get touchy feely with me…' Tim stood and was out of the room in three quick strides. So far so good. Gibbs got up as well as if to go after him but the psychiatrist stopped him. As she should, and as he wanted her to.
'Jethro, let him go. He needs to be alone and think of everything that makes him angry with you. Don't worry. He will come back.' She offered her professional opinion. Gibbs looked down and sighed.
'Every time he goes away I think it's the last time I'll see him. I know I am at fault here more than he is. He is my child and I have obviously failed him, but… I don't know what else to do.' He said pitifully.
'I think you have a slight idea of what to do…' she said to him with a smile he considered cheesy. 'And you have made the first step. You've already come here…'
'But he is not going to forgive me for leaving him. He thinks I left him when in reality I've left his Mother. Or rather she left me. The life with a man of the Navy is hard Dr Hobbs…'
'I am quite aware of that, Jethro. My husband is in the Navy as well….'
By the end of their time together Gibbs was certain Dr Hobbs was not their killer. Gut instinct, he guessed.
Tim walked alone aimlessly for a while keeping the same facial expression of utter disappointment. He had no idea about who he was going to see during his walk. He wondered what Gibbs might have said about him to the psychiatrist and if he had been extremely bad tempered. Problem was that his memories were resurfacing and there was nothing he could about them. His earlier visits at a psychologist had apparently been fruitless. His anger for his own dad was still alive and kicking no matter how hard he had tried to overcome it.
One of the other pairs, father and son, were walking by the swimming pool dressed in shorts and T-shirts and Tim shivered from the cold. They were trying to solve their problems –or so it seemed- in ways he and his own Dad never did. He wasn't going to put the whole blame on his Father's shoulders but… he sighed. He didn't know whose fault it was any longer. Their relationship had been this way for half his life and he had thought he had come to terms with it. The anger resurfacing now showed him clearly that wasn't the case.
A hand on his shoulder interrupted his musing. Show time. He whirled around, the shown anger only half made up. The nosier their fights the bigger attraction for their murderer.
'What now?'
'You must learn to control your anger, Timothy…' Gibbs said with his best patronizing tone.
'Really! Or else?' Tim sneered at him. Thankfully he had watched a Harry Potter film the night before coming here and he could pull it off really nicely.
'Or else you might get re-acquainted with my knee.'
'You know, Dad' and in Tim's mouth the word dad sounded almost like an insult, Gibbs noticed. 'Really, every modern educator is against spanking. It affects the child's personality and not in a good way.' Tim left Gibbs standing there on his own while their audience had increased in the few seconds they had been talking.
Peter Wedworth, the other man who was walking with his son gave him a comprehending smile before going after his own son.
Tony was sulking while sitting on his desk seeing the empty chairs next and at the other side of the room.
'Stop it.' Ziva admonished from her own desk.
'What?'
'You've been sitting there doing nothing for over three hours. We need to find something if we don't want them hurt. So stop making faces and start working, yes?'
'I'm not making faces.' He objected and she laughed.
'Sure you do. You have this crying like face since Gibbs and McGee left the building. Or even before that. Since the Director announced the op.' Tony's face fell even more if that was possible. He didn't correct her this time…he was definitely pouting.
'Why McGee?' He asked.
'Tony, didn't you listen to Vance's explanation. They needed someone younger than you.'
'McGee's not so much younger.' Ziva's raised eyebrow did the trick. 'Alright. Go back to work. I'm going to Abby to see if she's got anything new.'
Abby didn't have anything new about the case but she did have something for Tony. A huge warm bear hug and then a playful slap.
'Snap out of it DiNozzo. It was Timmy's time and don't you dare object to that." Her two fingers were raised up and Tony caught them and with a cheeky smile he kissed those two fingers.
'Come on then. Let's get them home before Christmas.'
