A big thanks to my beta 26hannah26...
NCIS
Tony found Tim lying across his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Slowly, Tony crossed the floor, settling down next to McGee. For a while they just laid in silence, DiNozzo finding the off-white color of McGee's ceiling somewhat soothing. He wondered what Vance would say if he proposed they repainted NCIS' walls that color instead of the orange.
"I've always wanted a brother," McGee said quietly, breaking the heavy silence. Tony turned his head, looking at the side of McGee's. "I remember one time," Tim laughed once, humorlessly, "I asked my Mom and Dad… Jack…" he trailed off, another awkward silence filling the room. "But they had Sarah instead.
"God," Tim exclaimed suddenly, sitting up, running his hands down his face. "Everything is just so screwed up."
"It could be worse. You could have had my childhood," Tony replied, lifting himself up on his elbows. "Be grateful you had Jack instead of Senior." His childhood with Senior was full of enough bad memories to last Tony several lifetimes.
"I don't blame them for keeping me from Senior. It's just, they lied to me, Tony," McGee said quietly, glancing over at DiNozzo. "It's not like my mother sat me down when I was younger and explained that my real father was a world class asshole..." Tim cut himself off, breaking eye contact with Tony. "Sorry," he muttered, "I shouldn't have said... I mean he's your dad."
"It's nothing I've never called him before," Tony responded, shrugging. "In fact, add a couple more swear words and you'd be quoting me word for word during my high school graduation." Tony pushed himself up, turning to look at Tim. "Look, I get where you're coming from. Thirty-plus years believing one thing only to have the rug pulled up from underneath you."
"It was more like a punch to the gut," Tim mumbled leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I wouldn't doubt that, but look on the bright side," Tony said suddenly, a grin spreading across his face.
"What?" McGee gave him a cautious look, his eyebrows furrowing.
"You get me as a big brother."
"That's a bright side?" McGee muttered, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Oh come on. A) I'd be an awesome big brother and B) we don't have to worry about that 'getting to know each other' phase. We already know each other."
Of course, if Tony thought about it, how much did either guy really know about each other? He'd already silently established he didn't know much about McGee, and he never shared enough for anyone to get to know him. He was trying to work on that, but it was a slow process. After over forty years of burying his emotions and pushing away others' help, it was going to take some time before Tony really started trusting people. He started opening up to Gibbs more, his go to guy, but there was only so much more he could tell his boss. Maybe it was time he opened up to others. Say, his little brother.
The two guys fell silent, Tim staring at his hands while Tony looked up at the ceiling again. McGee broke the silence once more. "You do know I've always kind of seen you as an older brother." He spoke the words quietly, still looking down at his hands.
"I saw you as a little brother," Tony admitted and gave McGee a crooked smile when he looked up. Tim opened his mouth to say something else, but a knock sounded and he closed it. "That's probably Gibbs," DiNozzo responded looking towards the closed bedroom door.
The two brothers pushed themselves to their feet, and Tony lead Tim out of the room. Ziva was already heading toward the door, her hair in a messy ponytail. She opened the door, and Tony stopped short, feeling Tim slam into his back.
"Dad, I told you to leave him alone," Tony snapped stalking across the floor. "Who even told you where he lived?"
"It doesn't matter, Junior. I just need to talk to Tim…"
"I don't want you anywhere near my son," a voice said from behind Senior. He turned, moving a little to reveal Cecelia McGee. Her arms were crossed, her lips were pursed, and she looked like she wanted to hit Senior.
"If I heard correctly, he's my son, too," Senior retorted and Cecelia eyes narrowed. "I have every right to talk to Tim."
"Anthony, you lost that right when you told me to take my bastard and get out. Tim has a father, he doesn't need you."
"I think I can speak for myself," McGee spat pushing past Tony. "If my real father wants to talk to me then my real father can talk to me." Tony knew it was a testament to how angry Tim was at his mother, how readily he took Senior's side. Had Tony heard that his father had called him a bastard, before he was even born, he wasn't sure if he would have sided with Senior.
"Thank you," Senior replied turning to nod Tim's way. He turned back to Cecelia. "Of course, it hasn't been proven I am his real father," he muttered and Cecelia hauled off and slapped him across the face.
"You son of a bitch!" she screamed. "You haven't changed at all!"
"What did you expect me to do? Believe some nineteen-year-old? How did I know you just weren't upset because I told you it was a onetime deal?"
"Dad, get out," Tony shouted pulling Tim behind him. "Just go, you're not helping anything."
"I want a DNA test done," Senior argued pointing Cecelia's way. "If Tim's mine, I want proof. I talked to Abby, she says…"
"Dad, you shouldn't have done that!" Tony hadn't been this angry with his father in years.
"What were you planning to do, Anthony?" Cecelia spoke over DiNozzo. "Break in, steal some of Tim's DNA?"
"No, I'm here to ask him if he'd be willing to take a test."
"More like force," Cecelia muttered and Senior's jaw clenched.
"I'll do it," Tony heard Tim say behind him, but neither Cecelia nor Senior heard him, both continuing to bicker back and forth. "I'll do it," he tried again, with a slightly louder voice.
"You don't have to," Tony said out of the corner of his mouth.
Tim ignored him and shouted, "I'll do it!" Both Senior and Cecelia cut their argument off, turning to look McGee's way.
"Are you sure, Tim?" Cecelia questioned cautiously, furrowing her eyebrows. "You don't have…"
"I want to know, Mom," McGee said cutting her off. "No, I need to know. And if you can't respect that then I'm sorry. And if you can't trust me and my decisions then you can get the hell out."
"Tim." By the surprised look on Cecelia's face, Tony could tell Tim had never spoken to her in that tone before. In fact, there were only a handful of times Tony had heard McGee speak to anyone like that; with so much anger and contempt.
"Okay," Senior responded nodding. He turned to leave, waiting for Cecelia to move. She glared at him, but stepped aside and allowed Senior to walk past her. Once he was gone, Cecelia turned to Tim and opened her mouth to say something.
"Please, Mom, just go," McGee said turning his back on her.
"But Tim…"
"Please."
"Fine," Cecelia said softly. "I still love you, Tim. Even if you hate me right now, I'll never stop loving you." And she left, closing the door behind her.
The room lapsed into a heavy silence. Tony shared a look with Ziva, who looked just as uncertain as he felt. Neither knew what to say to make McGee feel better. And really, what was there to say? Senior wanted a DNA test, Tim was too upset with his mother to talk to her, and there was a possibility Abby knew. Of course, if she knew she'd most likely be there by now.
"Guys, you can go," Tim said quietly before walking back into his room.
"What do we do?" Ziva questioned the moment McGee's door closed. Tony shrugged. "Well, I am not leaving," she announced wandering back into the kitchen. Neither was Tony, he couldn't leave now. "You know, if Abby knows," Ziva continued over her shoulder, "we will need to head her off when she shows up here."
"If she knew I have a feeling she would have beaten my dad here," Tony replied moving across the room. He leaned against the island separating McGee's kitchen from the rest of his apartment, resting his elbows on the surface. "How did he know where McGee lived?"
"I do not know," Ziva replied slowly stirring whatever she was cooking. Tony had to admit, it smelled pretty good.
"He should never have gotten involved. I told him to leave McGee alone, but Senior does what Senior wants, regardless of who he hurts in the process." He ran his hands through his hair. He pushed away from the counter, taking his phone from his pocket. "I should call Abby."
"Perhaps Gibbs," Ziva suggested putting her spoon down.
"Good idea," Tony said as he scrolled through his contacts. If anyone could head Abby off, it would be Gibbs.
NCIS
Abby was pacing back and forth, drinking her Caf-Pow as if her life depended on it. She was waiting for Gibbs to get down to her lab; she needed to talk to him. If Tony's father was talking about DNA testing and kids and blood then Gibbs really ought to know. He'd be able to fix this if something big happened.
"Gibbs," Abby exclaimed when the older man appeared in her doorway. She could tell he was a little worried even if it wasn't evident on his face. Maybe telling him something hinky was going on without telling him what that was exactly wasn't the best idea.
"Abbs," Gibbs countered lifting an eyebrow.
"Um," Abby put her Caf-Pow down, "Tony's dad was here." Something crossed Gibbs face that Abby couldn't pinpoint. It was gone just as quickly. "He kept asking me about DNA testing and giving me blood and…" Abby trailed off, continuing to pace back and forth. "I think Senior either found out he has another kid or he doesn't think Tony is his. And I doubt it's the second one because he and Tony look so much alike.
"Gibbs," she stopped, looking Gibbs' way, "I think Tony has a brother or a sister. Do you think it's possible?" She didn't give Gibbs time to respond but did start to pace again. "I think it's possible. And wouldn't that be awesome? I mean, the whole meeting each other thing would be awkward. And he might not want to meet him or her. But I know Tony's always wanted a brother, but I figure a sister would be okay, too. And then we can allow this person into our family, as long as they aren't crazy. God knows I've met enough crazies.
"What do you think?" She turned to Gibbs, waiting for him to say something. "I mean, you have to have an opinion about this. I'm sure Tony…" Abby gasped, "Gibbs, do you think Tony knows he could have a brother or sister? Is that why Senior is in town? Did he want Tony to know about this sibling?"
She suddenly flashed back to the night before, during dinner with McGee's family. Something had gone on between Cecelia and Tony. Abby remembered something had felt hinky about the whole thing. It had bothered her, and it still did. Then realization hit her, something she should have seen when Senior came into her lab.
"No," she whispered halting mid-pace, turning to look at Gibbs. "McGee? No."
"Abbs."
"I mean, yeah they have the same color eyes, but…" She shook her head. "No. That can't be true. They can't be…" she rounded on Gibbs. "Did you know about this?"
This was Gibbs, he knew almost everything, and he had left the table a few minutes after Tony and Cecelia. Abby figured he had either gone to check on the situation or had to use the bathroom. And since this was Gibbs, Abby doubted he left to use the bathroom.
"I mean it makes sense if I see the bigger picture," Abby continued starting to pace again, not giving Gibbs a chance to speak. "Tony and Cecelia leave the table, she comes back in a huff, Tony comes back pissed off, and you come back as if nothing had happened. Then Senior comes to DC the next day, probably after Tony called him to ask him if what Cecelia told him was true.
"And Senior, probably not one-hundred percent convinced, flies to DC to approach McGee about a DNA test. Thinking about it, it's not a very good plan. Kind of mean, in a way, telling him he's his long, lost father by asking him to take a DNA test.
"And Cecelia could easily be one of Senior's old flings. Though, she'd have to be like eighteen or nineteen when she got pregnant with Timmy." Abby stopped pacing again, biting her lip. "This is totally mind blowing."
Gibbs waited, probably making sure Abby had said her share of words, before he slowly said, "Don't make a big deal out of this." Abby expected him to lie to her, maybe not say anything at all, so it surprised her when he confirmed her theory.
"But McGee is Tony's brother," Abby whispered, suddenly realizing no one had thought to tell her. The way things looked, almost everyone knew. Gibbs, Tony, Senior, Cecelia, Jack, most likely McGee himself. Hell, even Ziva might know, too. Why didn't anyone tell her?
"I mean it, Abbs," Gibbs said slowly, obviously sensing what she had just figured out. "Do not make a big deal out of this." His phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and flipped it open, "Yeah, Gibbs." He gave Abby one, final look before walking out of her lab. "She's here, DiNozzo."
NCIS
Gibbs pressed the call button, waiting for the elevator to arrive. While he waited, he listened to Tony. "Because my dad was here and so was Cecelia and they made a huge scene, and the way my dad was talking…"
"She knows, DiNozzo," Gibbs cut Tony off, deciding it was better to get it out now instead of hiding it.
"He told her didn't he?"
"Nope."
"Then how did she…?" Tony trailed off, his investigator brain catching on. "She put the pieces together didn't she? I should have known this wasn't something we could keep from Abby. So, I'm guessing she's on her way over here?"
"She hasn't left her lab," Gibbs replied as the doors slid open. He stepped onto the elevator, pressing the third floor button. "How's McGee?"
"Sitting in his room," Tony said with a sigh. It wasn't lost on Gibbs how DiNozzo had deliberately avoided answering his question. "Boss, I'm worried about him."
"Just keep an eye on him."
Tony took a breath, most likely going to say something else. Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Ziva. Gibbs could hear her voice, his sharp ears picking up the words. "Tony, McGee's not in his room."
"Boss, I just…"
"I'll be right there," Gibbs cut in, pressing the first floor button. The doors, having opened a few seconds earlier, closed again and the car took him down.
NCIS
I know this chapter had some drama in it. My mind is just stuck on drama right now, I mean everything I am writing lately is just full of drama. I miss the funny! Where is the funny?
Anyway, thanks for the reviews, alerts, and to everyone who read last chapter. As always, you guys are amazing.
I do not own NCIS, thanks for taking the time to read this, and leave me a comment if you can.
I am off to write more drama :D
PEACE OUT...
P.S. I should probably note this takes place before Abby finds out about Kyle.
BYE