"Heard you played hero in Mexico Probie?" Tony sat on the edge of his partner's desk, not long after their arrival. "How'd it feel?"
"I wasn't playing a role in a movie Tony…"
"Right, right." He disregarded his response. "But really, how'd it feel?"
"Why? Not like you haven't been a hero before."
Tony examined him. "What's up the Gibbs like redirect? Just answer the question…"
Tim shrugged it off. "It was no big deal…little scary. But I did what any of us would have done."
"Oh precious McGee, always so modest. Just admit it; you felt pretty proud of yourself didn't ya?"
"They were lives at stake Tony…I didn't have time to feel anything."
"So you're saying you felt nothing?"
"You want to hear me say I was scared? Then yes, I was scared. Happy?"
He shook his head. "Fear is normal McGee, it's what you do with it that matters…" he patted him on the shoulder. "And you used it by sacrificing yourself…takes a lot of guts. Guess my Probie is growing up." He sniffled sarcastically. "And to think, just yesterday you were pulling alien masks out of a corn field."
"Very funny, and to think….I thought you were actually being serious."
Tony felt a twinge of guilt. "Hey man, I was being serious. You should be proud of yourself."
"Abby didn't seem to think so."
"Our Abby?"
"It's not as if Gibbs did it."
"Ah, I see…" Tony nodded slowly. "You didn't get the reaction you were hoping for huh? Well you have to realize she worships the ground he walks on…we will always play second fiddle to him…" He stood up. "Surprised you're not used to that by now."
"Are you?"
"You're asking the guy who worships next to her on the ground," he moved towards his desk. "Don't let it bother ya Probie…you're a hero remember?"
McGee didn't respond, and only stared at the desk across from him. Realizing in that moment, why he may never be good enough for her.
There was only one Gibbs.
And he wasn't it.