Author's Note: ... Um, I actually don't have much to say...

... Awkward intro...


Chapter 6

The door to autopsy slowly slid open.

McGee didn't enter.

He stood at the entrance of the doorway breathing heavily, his hands shaking by his side.

He could either back away from this room and go home…

Or he could face his fear and visit the charred up body of his co-worker and best friend.

Decision being made, he took a step inside, followed by many others, the steps slowly echoing out into empty room.

He silently scanned the names on the freezers until his eyes finally found the one name.

Tony DiNozzo.

He reached a hand out and, hesitantly, grabbed the handle.

Tim breathed slowly.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

And with that…

He let go of the handle.

His eyes glared heavily at the cold rings in front of him.

That one box was keeping him from seeing the closest thing he's ever had to an older brother…

Damn it!

He wasn't to let his fear keep him from doing this!

Finding the will to do so from an unknown force inside him, Tim grabbed the handle and jerked it back.

He took one look at what was in front of him, having his stomach churn completely upside down, turned around and vomited into a luckily positioned trash can located next to the edge of the freezers.

He stared there for a second, breathing heavily, with tears running down his face as he once again turned back to Tony

Was he really seeing this?

This human-shaped collection of black embers and decay had really once been his best friend?

His protector, his mentor, his Senior Field agent… the person he could depend on…?

This…

This was Tony?

"Tony, what happened to you?"

Nothing but the sound of his own breath followed his words.

"You… you were always there for me, through thick and thin. Every case…"

McGee looked down at his hands as tears collected on the edge of his lashes.

"You remember when I thought that I had shot and killed that man? I swore that I would never forgive myself for what I did… I… I confessed to murdering him." He breathed slowly. "But not you. No, you were convinced from the start that I was innocent. You tried to make me feel better. What you said… it meant a lot to me."

"I…" He felt himself redden at the ears, one of his many signs of embarrassment.. "I love you, Tony. Like a brother."

He slowly pushed the bench into place, taking one last look before turning his back to Tony and leaving the past behind him.

Unbeknownst to him, Gibbs walked away then, slowly closing the door to the autopsy room as he left, shaking his head slowly at the impossible thing he was going to have to say.


Author's Note: I didn't want to make this story too emotionally overpowering... But, at the same time, not having enough emotion is a bad thing as well... I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything except my best.
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Reviews/ Watches/ Favorites are greatly appreciated and reassure me that people are actually reading this. *cough, cough, wink, wink, nudge, nudge* ;)