Chapter 3

He got up and had a quick cold shower. He was overly excited and felt something he hadn't in years. He was optimistic. Tim would understand. He could see the compassion and love in those bright, green eyes. Tim wasn't going to fail him. He put on a pair of black trousers and a blue shirt and stared at the mirror. He couldn't believe it, but he was nervous, like the first time he had gone on a date twenty two years ago. He was seventeen and the girl, what was her name? Veronique? Yes, that was it! Everyone called her Vero. That girl was a man eater and Gene only knew about books and reading that period. She had been a true shock. No holding back at all. She wanted him, she had to have him. It was simple as that. Well. He hadn't complained either. Veronique was an extremely beautiful woman. He smiled bitterly at himself.

After that night he kept himself away from companies and people of his age. He couldn't explain the reason. Every time he was in a company he was sarcastic and, unfortunately enough, no one contradicted him because no one could understand the sarcasm. It was really pathetic.

The thirty nine year old man who was staring back at him had nothing in common with the seventeen year old kid who had gone on a date and was out all night. He was confident. Truth was, everyone turned to look at him, both men and women. He looked at his wrist watch; it was time. He prayed that he'd find Tim and that Gibbs hadn't kept him more than necessary. How things changes in just one moment? It was amazing. Two days ago he thought his dream would come true and Gibbs would see the truth. But that man was always wise. He knew Gene belonged with Tim, that's why he had never accepted Gene's affection. The bitterness changed into acceptance and made the already handsome face seem beautiful.

'Jethro, do you think it's wise to return home?' Gibbs looked at Ducky from over his reading glasses.

'Why not, Duck?'

'Maybe he's dangerous.' Tim, Tony and Ziva were listening to the conversation from their desks. It have been a long day and they hadn't find anything. They only had the notes so they knew they had to stay close to Gibbs.

'Oh he is dangerous but I think I'll be able to keep my virtue intact…' Despite the seriousness of the situation Tony laughed at the comment.

'I'll stay with the Boss tonight, Ducky, and we're not going to leave him alone.' Gibbs didn't know if he should be flattered or insulted. He definitely didn't need bodyguards.

'Boss, we're not coming as bodyguards.' Tim was the one who had caught his thought strangely enough.'

'No, McGee?"

'No! We just think it will be better if he decides to pay a visit not to be alone.' It was making sense.

'At least your coffee is drinkable, McGee!'

'Oh Boss. Are you saying mine is not?'

'It hurts my teeth DiNozzo!' Tony put his hand on top of his heart and pretended to be insulted. 'It was nice enough to find something to do on a day with no case, don't you think?'

So, after one of the longest days in the job, mostly because they had no success in anything, Eugene Simmons did not exist as far as they were concerned, Gibbs had enough of all of them so he dismissed them and sent them home to get some rest. Tim was sleeping on top of his keyboard; Gibbs was certain Tim was the only individual who could do so while Tony was sending SMSs on his mobile phone. Ziva was just playing with her hair and Gibbs himself thinking that he had worried them for no reason.

'McGee, go and wash your face before driving in the dark. You seem like you're going to sleep on your feet.' Tim was really stumbling on his feet.

Ten minutes later, wide awake but not less tired he was on the road heading home. The day's activities played one after the other in his mind. Gibbs hadn't told them how he had met the Simmons guy only that one fine day he started stalking him claiming to be his one true love. Tim wondered what kind of illness could make a person react like that. He inwardly felt sorry for both Gibbs and his family and Simmons. Apparently he was delusional.

He reached his house and pulled over watching the time; it was too late. He had to sleep and he had to sleep soon. There went his thoughts about writing today. He wanted to make some research about the psychological causes that "pushed" someone to become a stalker. So many famous people had one, David Caruso being the latest example. Now, why would anyone like to stalk and send threat letters to an actor was something he wasn't ready to understand. He had a vague memory reading somewhere that John Lennon's murderer was a stalker, so all things considered this could end deadly.

He left his car and decided to walk to a nearby, all night open shop to buy toothpaste. He hadn't washed his teeth since Gibbs' nightly call. As he was walking slowly he heard some noises and harsh whispers and saw a group of people standing close to the wall. He saw his watch and then them seeing that four men had pushed another man? woman? on the wall. He pulled his gun and made his presence known.

'NCIS, step away from the wall.' Two of the men started walking threatingly towards him but seeing his weapon and his stance they ran away. He would have followed them, but he saw their victim sagging down on the ground. He ran to him and crouched down next to him. He turned him around to see the damage and came face to face with the same man from the coffee shop. His eyes were closed and his lips bloody but there was no mistaking him.

'Sir?' He asked checking his body for wounds and he saw him opening his eyes. 'We need to take you to a hospital.' A hand grabbed his and he saw him shaking his head negatively. He tried to sit up and Tim tried to stop him.

'Hey, watch out. Maybe you have a serious injury.'

'No, I'm fine. They just hit my head on the wall in their attempt to steal my wallet.' He said and managed to sit straight. 'Thank you by the way.' Tim gave him a cleenex and the other man cleaned his bruised mouth of the blood.

'Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital.'

'Yes, I'm fine.' To prove his point he stood up with Tim's arms still around him as he tried to get up. The stranger seemed to take the first good look around him and on Tim. His eyes suddenly lighten up in recognition.

'Hey, I know you! You were at the same café as me a couple of days ago…. With a lovely lady.' He added as an afterthought. Tim relaxed a bit.

'Yes.'

'You have a gun.' The stranger said with a slight accusative in his voice. Tim knew not all people were fond of weapons and surely he wouldn't have been either if they weren't part of his job.

'Yes, I'm an Agent.' The man's blue eyes widen in surprise despite the bruise forming on his cheek.

'You don't seem the type. FBI?'

'NCIS.'

'Well, you did save me so should do not fear for any complaints at this ungodly hour.' He reached his hand to Tim, a feat really since they were standing really close to one another. "I'm Scott McBride by the way.' Tim returned the handshake.

'Timothy McGee. Do you live around here?' He was tired and he wanted to sleep. The sooner this Scott guy was in his home the sooner he could go to sleep.

'Yes. I'm moved recently. I'm only a block away really.'

'You sure you don't need a doctor?'

'Yes, I had worse in shaving.' He said with a smile and Tim needed to believe him. Spending his night escorting him in a hospital was physically above him. Not that he wouldn't do it if he saw an emergency.

Five minutes later he had him outside his apartment, checking for the last time if he was really alright and biding him goodnight. If Scott's hand remained longer wrapped around his own he didn't notice it.

'See you around, Tim.' The sleep hungry brain didn't notice how his name had been shortened by the stranger.

'Yes, good night, Mr. McBride' Then of course the injured man said to call him Scott, Tim didn't really care and twenty minutes later he was in his bed, freshly showered, toothpaste forgotten.

Gene entered his newly rented apartment and dropped the keys on the table. Everything had gone great. He had seen Tim, he had touched him and Tim had rushed to his rescue. He took off his clothes inspecting his bruises. He sighed at a rather large one on his abdomen but it could have been worse. He had told them to make it look real and he couldn't complain about that. He took off his clothes and went to the bathroom.

Under the hot water he let his mind go to back to everything that had taken place the last hour or so. If he was to have any doubts about him and Tim belonging together they were now gone. There he was coming to his side, scaring his assailants away and then kneeling down next to him, touching his body in that gentle way. He wanted to grab the younger man in his arms and never let him go. But it wasn't the right time. He didn't want to scare him away.

He got out of the bathroom and he lay on the bed, towel wrapped around his waist. He was in a bit of pain but it was worth it to feel Tim's hand with his own. Nothing a couple of aspirins couldn't help him with. He was certain Tim also knew they belonged together. That's why he insisted on taking him to a hospital. His other half wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. A smile came to his face as he remembered how nicely their bodies fit together when he helped him stand, how great was the sensation of those long arms around him, keeping him steady. With that in thought he drifted off to sleep.

Gibbs couldn't sleep. Tony was in the guest room supposedly keeping an eye open for his Boss' protection. But he couldn't sleep at all. That wasn't new exactly but that night he was not dwelling over the past happiness but the new danger in his life. He sat on the steps on his front door wondering about the man who was in danger because of him. Well because of Simmons, but still if the man hadn't met Gibbs they wouldn't be in this predicament now. In the dark of night, in the loneliness of his house everything seemed gloomier and the hazard more real than ever.

He tried to remember every little detail from the past that was hidden in his memories. How had Gene behaved? Whom had he threatened? Who had he been jealous of? The last one was easy. He was jealous of Shannon but neither Shannon nor Kelly was there any longer. A pang, a sharp pain was always there in his heart every time he remembered his family. But at the moment he had to save the person who was in danger so he pushed himself to think harder.

June 1990

It was late in the evening and Gibbs was walking home when he spotted a man watching him not twenty metres away from him. He instantly recognized the lanky figure and the shy stance. He went to him.

'What do you want here?' He asked him rudely. Blue eyes looked up at his face and a tentative smile made his stalker look even younger. Jethro took a deep breath. It wouldn't help anyone to hit this boy. How old was he? Twenty? Maybe Shannon was right and he was only looking for a male figure in his life.

'You.' Came the reply with a soft, calm voice.

'Why?' He sat on a bench nearby in an attempt to solve this one and for all. The kid looked at him surprised.

'What do you mean why? We belong together.' So much for looking a male life exemplar.

'In case you haven't noticed I have a great family that I love. And you're not a part of it.' He got up and started to walk away.

'Jethro. I know you love your family but it's not the same as us. You know we were meant to meet that night. And if that kid hadn't stolen your attention you'd have stayed with me.'

Gibbs had left him there walking to his home and locking the door behind him. Shannon had looked at him with a knowing smile and had wrapped her arms around his waist.

'He will go away. You'll see.'

Present day

Gibbs' eyes opened widely. The kid. That was it! Simmons was jealous of the boy he had saved that night. But if he couldn't find that boy back then how could he even start looking for him now? He closed his eyes trying to remember how he looked like but the only thing that came into his mind was a light, long, thin body and a pair of teary, big green eyes. A pair of green eyes so similar to… oh no! It couldn't be! Could it?