Chapter 04 – Aunt Penny
Palmer gave Tim puppy eyes as he begged him not to tell the story. Then he got a wicked thought and he said innocently. "You never told him about Aunt Penny?"
Tim sighed and glared at his brother. Seeing Gibbs interested look he knew he would not get away without telling him who Aunt Penny was. However, this may work in his favor if he spun it right. He said calmly hoping he did not get Gibbs too angry. "What's going to be done about Abby, Boss?"
Gibbs snapped his head up and glared at Tim as he said. "I'll handle it McGee."
Both Tim and Palmer shook their heads.
Tim continued as if Gibbs had not spoken. "Abby is out of control. She does whatever it takes to get what she wants and is only sorry if she lands in trouble. Abby honestly thinks anything she does no matter what it is, you or one of the team will fix it. I love her to Gibbs; she is like a little sister to me. However, one of these times she is going to go too far and no one will be able to help her. I don't want to see her in prison, hurt or god forbid dead just because she never learns to take responsibility for her actions."
Gibbs rubbed his eyes and sat back. Much as he hated to admit it. Tim was right, Abby always pushed the limit and there had been a few times he had had to call in hefty favors to keep her out of trouble. He felt a warm body cuddle up to him and was surprised to see Palmer offer a calm smile. He smiled in return and wrapped an arm around his youngest hugging him as he looked at Tim and said. "What do you suggest?"
Tim smiled a sad smile and said. "Let me call Aunt Penny after I tell you the story you asked about."
Gibbs shook his head as he said. "Tell me who she is, then the story and we can talk about it."
Tim nodded figuring this was the best he was going to get. He smiled as he began. "My Mom and Aunt Penny met in collage, they shared a dorm room and then an apartment together before they each met and married their respective husbands. After collage, my Mom became a freelance lawyer and Aunt Penny became a social worker. Over the years many times they worked together but even when they didn't they remained best friends."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at how nervous and fidgety Tim was getting. He said calmly. "So Aunt Penny was your social worker growing up and a friend of the family and was I assume called Aunt Penny and her husband Uncle. What are you leaving out Tim? Why are you so nervous all of a sudden?"
Tim hung his head and whispered something.
However, not low enough Gibbs heard it and started laughing. Once he caught his breath, he looked at Tim and said. "Your Aunt and Uncle that you grew up calling Uncle Leon and Aunt Penny are Leon and Penelope Vance. How did you and Vance keep it a secret all this time?"
Tim blushed as he said. "At work were McGee and Vance. However, when he visits me or my parents or I visit him he is Uncle Leon. We have worked together before and were able to keep our personal relationship out of it. Though he does take a personal interest when I get in trouble or hurt he is my Uncle after all."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow and said. "That's why you turned down me punishing you. You knew your Uncle was already waiting for you."
Tim blushed harder and nodded then said quickly and with a slight quiver in his voice. "Um, I'm not sure how that will work. But I don't think I could handle two punishments each time."
Gibbs moved so he was sitting between both boys and pulled Tim in for a hug as he felt Palmer snuggle into his other side and said gently. "Vance and I will work it out Tim. Don't worry, now on with the story."
Tim laughed as he rested his head on Gibbs shoulder as Palmer pouted.
Tim got comfortable then said. "One Friday night after a long work week. Jay and I decided to pick up some food and hit up blockbuster on our way home. We were both in good spirits since we had the weekend off. I noticed I was low on gas, so we stopped at a gas station along the way to get, what else gas. Anyways we pull up and we notice the place is empty. It was nine o'clock at night and pitch black outside but the place was just eerie quiet. As Tony would say, my spidy sense was tingling. I parked the car in back and told Jay to stay put. I took my sig out and keeping out of sight looked around, the place was empty but all the lights were on and the door left open. I went back to the car intending to call it in. However, the car was empty. I called it in and went looking for my now in very deep trouble little brother. I heard a gunshot and after making sure the coast was clear. I found Jay out cold on the floor and the manager and his girlfriend both naked and looking at Jay in shock. Lucky for Jay the guy missed and was too shocked to fire again when he saw Jay had knocked himself out. I called an ambulance and the police and the owner showed up about the same time they did. Turns out the Manager was the owners' son and he had gotten in trouble before for having his girlfriend visit him on the job and shall we say distract him from doing his job."
Gibbs glared at Palmer and said. "Explain why you left the car."
Palmer gulped and tried to remind himself this had happened over a year ago. He said nervously. "I had to go to the bathroom and thought the place was empty and Tim was overreacting. I went inside and found the bathroom but as I was leaving, I heard a struggle coming from the office. I went to see what was going on and before I knew it, the office door slammed open and a gun when off. I tried to jump out of the way and knocked myself out on the doorframe. Next thing I knew I was in an ambulance with Tim holding my hand telling me everything would be ok. Once the doctor checked me out and said I was fine, I was ready to go. A nurse came in a few minutes later and said my brother went to get his car from the gas station and I was to stay put until he got back. Yeah right, I had seen the anger and worry in Tim's eyes. I knew I was in for it once we got home. I was sore, tired, and just wanted to sleep. I got my release papers, wrote Tim a note so he would not worry. I just did not tell him were I was going. I called a taxi and had it pick me up down the block and left. Then I went to Aunt Penny's."
Now both Tim and Gibbs were glaring at him.
Gibbs said firmly as he hugged Palmer and Tim. "I hope when Tim caught up with you he tanned your hide. I sure would have."
Tim said with a smile. "Tell him how running to Aunt Penny worked out."
Palmer blushed and then pouted as he cuddled into Gibbs as he said. "I wasn't running away. I was sore, tired, and just wanted to sleep. Plus I figured you needed time to cool down."
Tim raised an eyebrow and glared.
Palmer sighed and continued the story. "By the time I got to Aunt Penny's Tim had called warning her I might show up. Aunt Penny was not happy with me, but was worried as well. She made me soup had me take a shower and then made me tell her what happen. After I told her, she gave me three swats and then had me sit in a chair and think about what I'd done till Tim arrived to pick me up."
Gibbs looked at Tim and said. "What happen once you got home?"
Tim looked at Palmer and then said. "We talked then he got paddled. Afterwards he stayed in bed all weekend and we watched movies."
Palmer smirked as he said. "I wasn't the only one that got in trouble though."
Gibbs smirked he wondered about that and he looked at Tim.
Tim blushed and said. "After Jay went to bed Uncle Leon came over and spoke to me about leaving a civilian unprotected. He also made it very clear I should have called the police and left instead of putting myself in unnecessary danger. The paddle got a lot of use that night."
Gibbs nodded and hugged both his boys and then told them both to get in the kitchen. He was hungry and felt like showing them how to make cowboy steaks for lunch.
