While his NCIS family rejoiced in the news that Tim and Pam were getting married and expecting a baby, The Team Leader noticed that despite his youngest agent's desperate need for the chance to go on to bed and recover from the accident, he was still determined to say what was on his mind before he conceded to the exhaustion that now clung to him like a vine.
With his normal air-splitting whistle, Gibbs called the group back to order and pointed to the young man.
Looking down at Pam for a minute, with a smile playing on his face, Tim pecked her on the lips with a kiss and then looked back at his team. "We really appreciate your support through everything. We've talked about it, when we tossed around 'what if's a while back and we both agree that what we decided back then still stands. Tony, Ziva, and Abby, we'd be honored if you would agree to be our baby's Godparents. Jimmy's not here so we can't ask him yet."
"And stand up with us at our wedding." Pam spoke for the first time, hope shining in her eyes.
"Uhm, yeah. Tony, care to be my Best Man?" Tim asked calmly, knowing Tony wouldn't want it any other way. Truth be told, Tim didn't either. "If Jimmy were here, I'd ask him to stand with us, too."
"Mr. Palmer will be most disappointed that his family emergency has caused him to miss all of this. I'm afraid he's already left for his Uncle's home in New York directly after work this evening and won't be back for at least a week." Ducky lamented. "However, I am pleased to say that the 'emergency' was none other than a simple case of his Aunt over-reacting to an accident in which no great harm was done."
"Hey, what about Gibbs?" Abby asked in surprise.
"That's between Gibbs and I." Tim answered quietly, deliberately not looking at the man in question just yet.
"Oh." Abby swallowed hard.
"Abby, I know this is a lot to ask, Ziva , you too, but would you mind both being my maids of honor?" Pam asked hesitantly as Abby suddenly wrapped her in an 'Abby-hug'
"Abby, don't you squeeze her like you do the rest of us." Tim warned seriously.
"Oh, Timmy! I wouldn't hurt her or the baby!" Abby promised without even realizing she'd brought back that dreaded nickname that Tim had asked her to get rid of back in June. "A baby! I'm so happy for you guys! You two are gonna be great parents! A wedding! Oh, I'm sooo excited!"
Tim let the slip up with the nickname go and smiled for a brief minute before he looked over at Gibbs, hoping to catch his eye. With a sense of relief, he did just that and was able to silently ask for the boss for a moment alone. Whispering to Pam that he needed to talk to Gibbs, he slipped from her side and silently followed the man out of the room
Together, they took their conversation outside, both seemingly in need of some fresh air. Tim got right to the point; knowing Gibbs would just get irritated with him if he didn't.
"Boss, I know you and I don't have the close relationship that you and Tony have, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to step in for my Dad."
"McGee. I'd be happy to." The Team Leader's answer was almost instant and filled with unmistakable appreciation and conviction.
"I'm not just talking about for my wedding, Boss." Tim admitted hesitantly.
"I'm listening."
"My father's unwilling to be a part of my life. He hasn't spoken to me in five years. You've been more of a father to me than he has, even though I know you weren't trying to be and that's the role model Pam and I both want for our child."
Tim took a breath and kept going, needing to get to the heart of the matter. " We wanted to know if you'd be willing to be his honorary Grandfather. But, we also want you to know, that if that's not something you feel like you can do; if it will hurt you too much, then we completely understand." Tim looked away, almost afraid he'd stuck the man with a stake through the heart just by asking.
A comforting hand clamped down on his shoulder and a light cuff to the back of his head, was all the answer Tim needed so the words that came with it, completely bowled him over.
"I'd be honored, Tim."
Tim looked at him and couldn't help but take in the genuine yet raw emotion in the man's eyes. "That makes two of us. Boss." Tim told him seriously. "Thank you."
Gibbs nodded as he blinked to clear away the moisture from his vision and turned to lead the way back inside. He wanted Tim to get to bed now. The young man had already over-taxed his still recovering body enough as it was. "C'mon. You need to go on up to bed."
"Boss, I…" Tim's hesitation and his shaky voice, heralded the arrival of another personally sensitive question on the horizon.
"Another question?" Gibbs smirked, trying to ease the younger man's tension.
"I'm just worried about….what if… what if it's a girl, Boss?" Tim asked almost in a whisper. "Won't that be…."
Gibbs blinked in surprise. Would this kid ever stop trying to walk on eggshells around him about this?
"Tim. Need you to listen to me, alright?" Gibbs asked quietly as he leaned back against the porch railing and looked his agent straight on.
Tim nodded and looked back at the man, knowing Gibbs would expect nothing less.
"I expect a few things from you, now that I'm gonna be this kid's Grandfather."
"Okay."
"First? Stop obsessing about this. Did you hear me say I would only be honored if you have a son?"
"No."
"We're not having this conversation again. Ever. Are we clear on that?"
"Yes, Boss. "
"Second? You need to make an effort to fix things with your father – before you get married. I'll be there for you and Pam either way, but I will not replace him."
Tim swallowed hard and looked away, as the long-time residual feelings of rejection and indifference came back to the surface. "I understand. But, you have no idea what you're asking of me, Boss." He tried to explain.
"You didn't see that stop my dad, did you?" Gibbs gave him the answer that would hopefully set the young man straight on his misconception of just how much he really did understand.
The younger man looked back at his boss. "No."
Looking at his agent with more than a hint of compassion, Gibbs encouraged him with a reminder that he knew would serve its' purpose. "McGee. He's your dad."
Tim kept his eyes on Gibbs as he sighed deeply and answered him. "Okay."
Gibbs nodded and clamped his hand down on Tim's shoulder again before leading the way back inside.
***NCIS***
Watching Tim leave the room with Gibbs, Abby couldn't help but send a worried glance Pam's way. "Is everything okay?" She asked as she walked over to stand beside her at the fireplace.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, Abby. Everything's fine. Tim just needed to talk to Gibbs about a thing or two." She smiled. "Do you think you and Ziva could help me find something nice to wear for the ceremony? I mean, we're not going all out like a normal wedding, but I really would like to at least look my best for Tim." She smiled wistfully.
"You bet! You just leave everything to Ziva and I! Oh, wait! What about Sarah?" Abby answered.
"She's studying abroad for the year. The best we can do is let her in on what's going on. I'm afraid, we haven't had time to do that yet." Pam told her quietly. "Excuse me, Abby, I really have to talk to Ducky."
"Sure. Don't worry about me, I'll just get with Ziva and we'll get started finding you something fabulous to wear."
"Nothing dark or obnoxiously bright, okay Abby? Please?" Pam begged.
"I promise. Hey, with the baby coming, I'm sure you're gonna need clothes that fit better as you get bigger, right?" So we can go clothes shopping tomorrow, right? We can pick colors then." Abby enthusiastically cajoled the obviously worried mother-to-be.
"That would be great. Thank you." Pam offered earnestly.
"Believe me, it'll be our pleasure." Abby vowed as she took herself back over to where Ziva and Tony were quietly talking as they sat on the couch. Leaving Pam free to seek the M.E. out.
Finding the kindly man puttering around in his kitchen, Pam felt a moment of guilt. Neither she nor Tim had no intention of leaving him out of a place within their wedding party, but rather, she'd wanted to ask him privately, as Tim was doing with Gibbs at this moment. She hoped Ducky would be forgiving on the matter. She still had to worry about Director Vance's reaction to the short notice when she called him to fill him in, too.
"Ducky, are you okay?" Pam asked as she walked up to him where he stood looking out at his backyard through the kitchen window.
"Hmm? Oh, Pamela. I'm fine, my dear." The M.E. answered quietly as he patted her arm.
"You don't look fine. You look upset. I'm sorry if we didn't ask you to be in the wedding party out there when we told the rest of the crew."
"That's quite alright my dear."
"No, Ducky, It's not. We thought we'd ask you privately, but when we decided on that, we forgot to take into consideration how you'd feel thinking you'd been left out until we had the chance to talk to you about it." She mused apologetically.
"Nonsense, my dear. Don't you fret about it."
"Ducky, I wanted to ask you this privately. Since I don't have my parents anymore and you're like a treasured grandfather to me. Would you be willing to walk me down the aisle? I mean I know we're not getting married in a church or anything, but…."
"I would be most honored, my dear." Ducky kissed her on the forehead and embraced her. "Now, I do believe you have a phone call to make, do you not?" He smiled.
"I do need to talk to Director Vance. It wouldn't seem right to exclude him. I hope he's okay with giving me away." She voiced worriedly as she dug out her phone and called him.
"Leon Vance."
"Director, this is Pam."
"Ms. Cook. Is there a problem?"
"No, Sir. Everything's fine. I called to let you know that Tim and I are getting married as soon as possible. But, please don't tell anyone else. We want to keep it quiet. Actually, the only reason I'm even telling you is because I'd like to know if you'd be willing to give me away. I mean, since my father's …." She couldn't finish the sentence that spoke of her loss. She didn't want to go there right now.
Silence greeted her explanation and she felt deflated, frowning into the phone until she felt a comforting arm around her shoulder, helping her to stand firm.
"Director?" She dug through the silence for an answer of some sort.
"I would be honored, young lady. Thank you." Vance finally answered
"Thank you, Sir." Pam replied as her voice broke. "You're more than welcome to bring your family, if you'd like."
"Thank you for the privalage. Just let me know when and where. We will be there."
"I will, Sir."
"Goodnite, Pam."
"Good night, Director." Pam ended the call and slipped her phone back in her pocket. Looking up at Ducky, almost in shock, she told him. "He said he'd be honored."
"As well he will be, my dear. Come now, it is getting late and you and Timothy have had a very long and trying day. You both need a good night's rest."
"I am really tired." Pam admitted with a grimace.
"Go on up to the guest bedroom. The others will be camping down here so they won't be disturbing either of you. Timothy will be up shortly, I'm sure."
"You don't mind us…?" Pam asked hesitantly.
"Good heavens, no, my dear! Don't you waste a moment worrying about such ."
"Thanks, Ducky. I'm just going to go tell the others good night and then I'll go on up."
"Good."
Heading back out to the living room, Pam said her good nites to everyone and then took herself up to the guest bedroom as Ducky had instructed her to do. She was overly exhausted and emotionally stretched thin after the events of the day. It wasn't long before sleep claimed her and sweet dreams of the upcoming future beckoned to her in dreamland.
A short fifteen minutes later and after having expressed his appreciation to his team and telling them good night, Tim was quietly changed into comfortable sweatpants and joining Pam in bed. He was soon wrapping himself around her protectively, needing the closeness of cuddling her after the strain of the past three weeks and the chaos of today, Tim couldn't help but smile as she shifted in her sleep and had soon draped herself across his chest, her head nestled on his shoulder. God, he'd missed this!
***NCIS***
Watching Tim go upstairs to bed, lit a fire under Abby's enthusiasm to the point she was practically dancing around the room as she kept her eyes on the clock that Ducky kept on his television stand.
"Abigail, what on earth is going on?" Ducky asked as he came back into the room with a tray of fresh drinks for them.
"I'm waiting until I know Timmy's gone to sleep. I'm so excited, I'm afraid if I start talking about it now, he'll hear me." She explained in her typical hyper mode.
"Start talking about what, Abby? Ziva asked.
"How we can make sure their wedding is a lot more memorable for them than what they think they're settling for." Abby answered with a touch of sadness. "Both of them deserve the best wedding we can give them."
"While I agree with you, Abbs. I don't think there's a lot we can do about it." Tony tried to let her down easy.
"That's where you're wrong, Tony." Abby gloated. "We women have our sources." She gloated. "Right, Ziva?"
"Be that as it may, Abigail. It will be most beneficial if you were to get a good night's sleep and get started at first light, don't you think?" Ducky advised while a bemused Gibbs watched silently, inwardly applauding Abby's attitude as well as agreeing with it.
Before anyone could argue, the Team Leader spoke up, wholeheartedly agreeing with Ducky's advice. "Great Job on supporting McGee on this, guys. Lights out in ten."
The order given in the tone not to be argued with, curtailed any further discussion and saw three younger people quickly settling in for some sleep, with almost no noise. Gibbs had to look twice to be certain they were the same people he'd just seen trying to raise the roof in celebration when they'd heardTim and Pam's announcements.
