Not beta'd; standard disclaimer applies.

Well, all that's left after this is the epilogue...

17b

The next day when Tim arrived at work the first thing he noticed was that he was the last one in. The second thing he noticed was what was on his desk. Sitting dead smack in the middle was a carved wooden model of an old English telephone box painted blue. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped. The only comment he made was, "Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of doctor, either," before getting to work. He moved the Tardis to the corner of his desk, where it was used as decorative paperweight.

He still wondered who the 'gifts' were from. His mind immediately suspected Tony, but both Ziva and Gibbs had an unusual sense of humor. Any of them could be involved, especially since he suspected that they pulled Ducky into the joke, at least, that's where he hoped the stethoscope came from.

He also couldn't imagine Tony putting together the model kit, but then again, for a joke, there was probably no limit the SFA would go to.

The day passed quickly without a word being spoken regarding what they had just learned about their teammate. As Tim left that night, he called out to everyone, "If you mean to indicate veterinarian tomorrow, please remember that I'm allergic to cats." Grinning, he left the building.

On Wednesday he started laughing the moment he saw his desk. Sitting on it was a pair of elf-like ears and a small model spaceship. "You do know that Dr. Spock and Spock from Star Trek are two totally different, er, Spocks, right?" he asked the room, unsurprisingly not getting a response, as his teammates continued to work. Once more, nothing was said about his education.

"Can't wait to see what you think of for tomorrow," he said, before telling everyone goodnight and leaving, Tony and Ziva right behind him.

Thursday found Tim approaching his desk cautiously, as he wondered what was left for him to discover today. Apparently, he wasn't the only one. Eyes from other cubicles on the floor followed him as he made the initial trek from elevator to desk. From the back, his desk and computer looked mostly normal; however, once he sat at his chair, and looked at his computer screen, he noticed that it seemed to be covered in green contact paper and had pen marks resembling stitches were strategically placed on it. There was also two large bolts glued to the sides of the monitor.

"Dr. Frankenstein, I presume?" Tim asked, "You know, this," he said, pointing to his computer screen, "is actually Frankenstein's monster, not the doctor himself." None of his teammates gave any indication that he heard them as they set to work. "Of course, if I get upset, I could threaten to act like Dr. Frankenstein," he mused quietly, as he too got to work, not surprised that his degree was a tabooed topic within the team.

Deciding that if you can't beat them, join them, he chose to turn the tables on them on Friday. He stepped off the elevator, greeted by silence. As he walked to his desk, he could feel the stares. Most of this week, at least, since 'the diagnosis', he had been the last team member in. No doubt because they all wanted to watch his reaction to the presents left on his desk. Today, he made a determined effort to be in before most of them. He suspected that Gibbs would be in, after all, it often appeared that the older man never slept and rarely went home. He calmly sat at his desk after putting his bag on the floor and his coffee on his desk. Feeling his boss's gaze on him, he looked up and gave a wry grin, receiving a smirk and a cheers gesture in return.

A laughing Tony and Ziva made it into the bullpen fifteen minutes later, neither one noticing Tim at his desk. It was only when Tony headed there to place today's 'gift' on the desk that that fact changed. "What the…" Tony muttered as he looked at his fellow agent.

Ziva finally noticed him and blinked. "Who are you?" she asked curiously.

Tim, sitting in his chair, was wearing a white buttoned down shirt under an opened black jacket, a red bow tie around his neck, and a red and white striped hat on his head, just looked at her and grinned, "My favorite 'doctor' from my childhood," he finally replied.

"Dr. Seuss," Tony muttered, palming his own forehead. "And yesterday you reminded me of Dr. Watson," he paused, shaking his head, "How could I have forgotten those two doctors?"

Tim laughed, "Well, you did think Spock and Dr. Spock were the same."

"Hey, that was a last minute substitution," he explained. "And it's all your fault. After you made that comment about vets, there was no way I could do what I had planned."

"Oh, god, you had something with cat hair," Tim groaned.

"No, McGenius," he retorted, "I just couldn't let you think that I used your idea rather than one of my own."

"Yeah, and Spock worked out so much better for you," Tim grinned.

"Hey, you got it, at least," Tony grinned back.

"Do you even know who Dr. Spock is?"

"I…apparently not," Tony admitted sheepishly. "Just be glad I decided against using Dr. Ruth."

"More like had that option vetoed," Ziva corrected.

"Oh, thank god. Thank you, Ziva, I owe you," he sincerely informed his teammate who waved dismissively at him.

"Hey, you're not talking in rhymes," Tony complained.

"Trust me, it would get old very quickly," Tim commented dryly.

Tony grinned, "Still, you did good, McDoc."

"McDoc, huh?" Tim repeated, a slow smile developing on his face. "I can handle that."

Tony snorted and warned, "Don't get to comfortable, you know this gives me a new arsenal of nicknames."

Tim frowned, not sure what Tony meant, "What do you mean?"

Tony smiled, "I mean, I'm not limited to McNicknames any more."

"Huh?" a confused Tim replied.

"Nope," a gleeful Tony shared. "I now have a bunch of Doc and Doctor Nicknames at my disposal."

Tim groaned and leaned back in his chair, catching Gibbs' smirk and gaze. Not like he was really able to do anything about it anyway.

"Hey!" Gibbs shouted, forcing his agents to sheepishly turn towards him.

"Yeah, we're getting to work," Tony answered, sure that is what the boss was going to say.

Gibbs smirked, "Might be hard to do with that in your hand," he said, nodding to the wrapped present Tony held.

"Oh, right, almost forgot," Tony said, after looking down at his hands. "For you," he said, holding the item out to Tim.

"I…why?"

Tony shrugged, "Consider it a belated graduation gift," he returned. "Just take it."

"It's wrapped," Tim stated.

"Really Dr. Obvious?" Tony smirked.

"Nothing else has been wrapped," Tim said, slowly peeling back to the paper. "Why this one?"

Another shrug was the only reply he received.

Tim smiled after he finished unwrapping the present, and looked down at the two items. Both of them were movies, unsurprising given who they were from.

"Each features one of the greatest and most famous Doctors the Silver Screen has ever created," Tony supplied. "Both with long, successful, prosperous careers."

"You'll have to come over and join me to watch them," Tim offered, understanding why Tony picked these movies. "Ziva as well."

Tony nodded, "You know if we do that, we'll be asking lots of questions," he warned.

Tim grinned, "And if you still have more questions, we can watch the sequels," he offered, indicating that he was fine with that and in fact, expected it.

"Hey!" Gibbs called again.

"Right, work," Tony stated, as both he and Ziva moved to their desks.

So, I hoped you all enjoyed that and Tony's antics. True to his word, he didn't say anything about Tim's education and degrees, even refrained from calling him Dr anything until Friday :)

Only epilogue is next.

So, what two movies do you think Tony gave McGee?

6-23-18