My Brother, My Friend by ceilidh
A/N: Hmmm, those plot-bunnies have been at it again. Just when I think I've reached the end of this story, I get another idea, and - well, you can guess the rest!
I was going to say this was the second to last chapter, but somehow - nope, I don't think so! Besides, I think that, after her chat with Gibbs, Sarah might still have a few issues to resolve with her brother. So I wrote this chapter to pave the way. As always, I hope you enjoy!
My Brother, My Friend
Chapter Seven - Need To Know
As he watched Sarah react to the view before them, Tim McGee allowed himself a quietly happy grin. It was such a simple thing, such a simple plan, that Gibbs had come up with - but its result was everything that he, and its instigator, had hoped it would be.
When they'd returned to the bullpen, Gibbs had led him discreetly aside to make 'a quiet suggestion'. While she was here, and to stop his knee from seizing up, he might as well give his little sister the standard 'ten-cent-tour' of the yard – knowing, full well, that he'd raise that most basic of visitor privileges to at least a full dollar's worth.
More seriously, it would let her see, and appreciate, more of what her brother's work involved. And, with the most importance of all, she'd also see the top-level resources that would keep him safe.
MTAC was off-limits, of course, although he'd quietly explained what it stood for, and its importance. From the way she'd nodded as he led her out of the bullpen, Tim knew she'd understood.
He'd given Interrogation a tactful miss, but she'd still been fascinated by their observation suites. The morgue was definitely out, too, so a discreet call to Ducky had brought him to Abby's lab instead.
Just as he'd expected, two of the most important women in his life had hit it off immediately – finding, in him, an instant common ground that he silently dreaded as much as he'd openly welcomed.
With everything they both knew about him, all his childhood secrets, and rather more intimate quirks – yeah, Tim knew the flak he still faced from 'Tommy' and 'Lisa' would be the very least of his worries.
The sister he loved, in evil cahoots with the woman he loved. He could feel himself going grey already.
Little wonder, then, for his relief that they'd reached the evidence garage with those secrets still safe – although the wicked glint in Abby's eye, reflected in Sarah's, warned him they wouldn't stay that way for long.
Now, cosily arm-in-arm, they'd come out onto the main yard, for that full-dollar-tour's grand finale. And for Tim, this view of DC's skyline, and Sarah's reaction, was worth the gentle ache in his knee.
He was used to it, of course. He saw it every day – and, more often than not, throughout night-time too. For everything that the floodlit Capitol represented, its pure beauty, it was a view he'd always loved.
Judging by the 'yeah, not bad-' smile beside him, Sarah was, if silently, impressed by it too.
But as Tim had rapidly learned, through both their lives, his little sister was nobody's fool. Not even a view as breathtaking as this one could distract her from what was really on her mind – and Tim knew what those thoughts were, long before her arm tightened subconsciously around him.
"I'm okay, Sarah. I was more bent up when I took that header down our stairs," he said at last – knowing, from the way her left eyebrow rose sardonically into her fringe, that she wasn't convinced.
And to add insult to aching injury, she voiced that disgust too, as she hustled him onto a nearby bench.
"If you were 'okay', Tim, you wouldn't be limping like Gramps, or using me as a crutch."
There was a protest in there somewhere – but right now, Tim was too busy rubbing his knee to find it. Instead, pulling a suitable face back at her, he then smiled and drew her closer into a reassuring hug.
"Sarah, it's just a twist, and - hey, some respect here! Gramps?!? I'm not even thirty yet!"
That won him a promising smile as Sarah quietly revelled in the age-gap between them. Yet there was still a telltale strain in her eyes as she returned to a much more serious, inevitable point
"Can you tell me what really happened, Tim? Or is it… like, you know, classified, like MTAC?"
Despite the seriousness of that question, Tim couldn't help but smile as he lightly kissed her forehead. For all their many differences, his little sister was every bit as tenacious, and stubborn, as he was. She wouldn't let this rest until he answered her question – which he now did, with another gentle hug.
"No, Sarah, there's nothing secret over what Tony and I did today, and… well, really not much to tell. We were staking out some arms dealers, and as we moved in to arrest them, we were ambushed."
Simple and honest, calmly straight to the point – but, it seemed, not enough to fully settle her fears.
"Yeah, that's what Tony said, and he also said you took that first sniper out. I guess that means you had to kill him?"
Realizing there was more to this sudden interest in his work than he'd first thought, Tim smiled. She'd clearly been shaken by the day's events, seeing him hurt. And if telling her what had happened, what he'd had to do, helped her to come to terms with it, then - well, so be it.
"Yes, Sarah, I did. In situations like that, you have to remember it's either their survival or yours. If I'd waited, or hesitated, for even a second, then… well, Tony and I would be dead right now.
And these are the decisions I have to make every day, Sarah, especially in situations like that ambush. It isn't easy, but… well, it's what I've been taught to do here. It's what I do. And Gibbs is the best teacher there is. I'm on his team, Sarah. And that team is the best there is."
"Yeah, that's what he told me earlier," Sarah agreed, smiling back at him as she nodded agreement – as unaware as he was to the blue eyes that now crinkled, in proud approval, in the window behind them.
Watching them for several more moments, Gibbs then let his smile widen as he returned to his desk. Huddled together, Tim and Sarah McGee were so deep in conversation they hadn't even noticed him.
They were talking freely, on things they had to talk about, and – yes, he could leave them to it now.