Tim seemed to be the first one up the next morning, showering and dressing before anyone else was up. He'd slipped out to get coffee for everyone by the time Gibbs had even woken up and dragged himself out of bed. There was no rush to get going, he just hated sleeping in hotels and found it more relaxing to go out and find somewhere he could sit and enjoy his first cup of morning coffee before getting going.
After hitting the shower and getting ready for the day, Gibbs' bag was packed and hitched over his shoulder as he headed out, leaving Ducky still sleeping, and stowed his back out in the car. Spying the small town coffee shop on the corner, he decided that was where he'd eat breakfast, letting the rest of the team sleep in after the hectic and stressful day they'd had yesterday. It didn't take long for him to reach the diner and it took him even less time than that to realize he wasn't the first member of the NCIS crew to be up and in need of coffee this morning. But the bigger revelation was that this team member wasn't alone and Gibbs felt a flare of anger at the sight of those military dress blues and that now all to familiar face. Damn it! He'd told him to leave Tim alone!
Even before he reached the table where they were sitting, McGee Senior's raised voice reached the Team Leader's ears and only served to raise his anger up a couple of notches.
"You had no right to disrespect the family the way you did yesterday! Your mother would be ashamed of you! Guess that boss of yours didn't give you the message I left for you the other day, after all! Just get over yourself already, will you, Boy? "
Gibbs quickly glanced at his agent, only to find him steadfastly keeping his eyes on his coffee as he stirred it with his spoon repeatedly without any sign of stopping. With a quirk of his eyebrows and a smirk on his face, Gibbs walked over to where he knew he'd catch Tim's eye before the older McGee would even realize he was there. Sadly enough, it would seem, Tim's father wasn't done raking him over the coals and he wasn't trying to tone it down either.
"That boss of yours had some nerve, telling me to stay away from you! Who the hell does he think he is?"
"Commander! Let me buy you a cup of coffee." Gibbs suggested in his tone that lets one know it's not quite a suggestion after all, as he walked up on their conversation, his eyes deliberately remaining on McGee Senior.
Commander McGee quickly became irate at the intrusion in the form of the very person who'd warned to leave his own boy alone not even 24 hours ago. Not being an idiot, he didn't miss the underlying meaning in the invitiation the head NCIS Agent had just given him. He was wise enough to cooperate in light of this new development. Still, he couldn't resist getting in one last thought for his son to worry about. "You and I are not done talking about this!"
Without another word, the two older men walked away, stopping at the counter to order and wait for their coffee. Tim watched warily as his father kept his backbone stiff as if he still had an axe to grind. He hoped this wouldn't end badly. He trusted Gibbs not to let that happen, but he also knew no one could control his father. Tim breathed a sigh of relief when the two of them got their coffees and took it outside.
**NCIS***
Without wasting any time, once they'd gotten outside, Gibbs went for the jugular. "You not hear me yesterday, Commander?"
"My ears work just fine, Agent Gibbs. But, I won't be kept from talking to my boy."
"Got no problem with that – so long as you treat him right."
"I treat him just fine!"
"Wasn't talking about your standards of right and wrong."
The older man's face became beet red as his anger shot through the roof. "Why is it you've appointed yourself judge and jury when it comes to me and my son?"
"Never known a Commander to need anything of importance repeated a second time." Gibbs responded with dry mockery.
Having nothing more to say, the older McGee turned away, intent on leaving before the situation spiraled out of control. He'd taken all of three steps when he was called back.
"Commander McGee."
Turning around to see what his son's boss wanted from him now, he was shocked to see that Tim's boss was now calm, as if nothing had just happened between them. "Agent Gibbs?"
"I'm sorry for your loss."
The soft-spoken sympathy threw the hardened man for a loop and all he could do was nod in acceptance and turn and walk away.
***NCIS***
Back inside the diner, Tim got the waitress' attention and special ordered a tall mug of the strongest coffee they had, in anticipation of his boss' return. After dealing with Tim's father, the poor guy was gonna need the calming effect that all that caffeine usually gave him. No longer hungry, he absently moved his fork around his hashbrowns as he waited for the shoe to drop. He was sure his father had said something completely out of line.
"Here ya go, Sweetie." The waitress set the coffee mug down and refilled Tim's own cup while she was there.
"Thank you." Tim offered quietly, still partially withdrawn into his worried thoughts.
"You're quite welcome. His food will be ready in just a minute." She smiled.
Tim smiled back at her. "Guess you saw that comin'."
"Oh, sure."
"Actually, could you do up five to go, too? The rest of our team's still sleeping in, but I don't want them to have to wait too long for breakfast."
"I sure can, Sweetie-pie. Don't you worry about a thing."
"Thanks. Uhm. I guess I'd better a…."
"A coffee with each meal, coming up." She smirked as she turned and headed back to the kitchen.
"That for me?" Gibbs asked in surprise as he slid into the seat across from his agent.
"Thought you'd be ready for a cup." Tim explained calmly.
Gibbs nodded his thanks and savored the hot brew which turned out to be just as strong as he liked, surprisingly enough. "You drinkin' yours this strong now?" he asked Tim in surprise.
"Nah." Tim smirked. "Special ordered yours."
Gibbs grinned. "Thanks."
Tim nodded and looked to see if the waitress was coming with Gibbs' breakfast and was happy to note that she was nearly at their table with it now.
"Here ya go, handsome. " She cooed as she set the boss' breakfast in front of him with a huge smile.
Gibbs had to smirk. "Ordered breakfast for me, too?"
"Oh, no, handsome! I took the liberty of having it made for you. I just knew you'd be hungry when you came back from setting that ogre in his place." She remarked before turning away. "Enjoy your breakfast."
Tim shook his head in partial amusement mixed with partial shame. He knew he wasn't responsible for his father's actions or words, but he still felt immensely ashamed that the man had so little decorum. All he could think of right now was the intense need to apologise that he hadn't handled his father better; gotten him to tone it down or better, shut the conversation down to begin with. It had escalated into a public display and Tim was mortified.
After several silent moments in which Gibbs was able to enjoy his food, his eyes glanced at Tim, taking in the look of embarrassment written across his face. Setting his fork down, he picked up his coffee mug and took a refreshing sip, keeping the mug betwen them as he finally spoke.
"What's on your mind, McGee?"
"Besides beginning to really hate my last name, you mean?" Tim unexpectedly muttered. "Sorry. Boss. I didn't mean to say that outloud. Guess I just need to apologise for…"
"If you even think of apologizing for your father's actions, I'm gonna head slap you so hard, you'll be back in D.C. before the rest of us get there." Gibbs practically growled at him.
Tim shook his head. "No, Boss. I can't hold myself responsible for what he does or says, unless I provoke it. I'm pretty sure I didn't do that. No, I should have shut his ranting down before it got as out of hand as it did."
"Hmm. Still not your fault." Gibbs answered back. "You gonna eat or do I have to get that waitress over here to feed ya?"
Tim smiled. "Thanks." Slowly he began to eat, still not really hungry, but smart enough to know when the boss would pursue the point until he was satisfied that the matter had been taken care of.
The rest of the meal was enjoyed in companionable silence and almost in silent agreement, the got up and headed out when it was finished. Gibbs was surprised, though, when Tim made a beeline for the counter and took a large take out bag from the waitress after putting his credit card away. When she set down two trays of hot coffees, Gibbs made himself useful and picked them up, one in each hand, and led the way out. As they walked back to the hotel, Gibbs waited silently for Tim to explain.
"Breakfast for the rest of them. That way we can get back on the road quicker."
"Good thinkin', Tim." Gibbs praised.
Tim smiled. Wow, he hadn't heard that from the boss in a long time.
The boss watched his agent's face light up at such a simple compliment. It hit him like a sledgehammer, that maybe, just maybe, Sarah McGee had been right. Definitely time to change things up a bit.
Tim watched out of the corner of his eye, as the boss seemed to become more and more withdrawn. Man, he looked exhausted. He probably didn't sleep too well in a strange place. Suddenly, it hit him. He knew what he could do that might help. "Boss, I was wondering if maybe you'd let me drive in your place on the trip home when we head out? You need the chance to relax."
Gibbs was floored. Here this kid was fresh from his mother's funeral and he was already thinking of everyone else's wellbeing except his own. Even his attempt to apologise earlier was due to how he perceived he'd made others uncomfortable by not stopping his father's behavior. Then again, Tim rarely got the chance to drive the team anywhere. It would be good for him and for them.
"Thanks, McGee. I'll take you up on that."
Tim nodded in relieved acceptance of Gibbs' answer and he couldn't help the grin that split his face almost a full two minutes later.
"Something funny?" Gibbs asked dryly.
"Just picturing Tony's face when the time comes that we let Jimmy drive one of the cars home. I think I'd pay good money to see that."
Gibbs laughed. "Yeah, that would be something. Not a bad idea, now that you mention it."
Tim chuckled as they reached his, Tony's and Jimmy's hotel room and went inside.
***NCIS***
An hour later and everyone had risen, showered, packed up and eaten breakfast. Now they headed out to the cars for the ride home. Almost lethargic from the lazy morning of sleeping in and room service, none of them seemed to notice the silent changing of drivers as Gibbs slipped the keys to the agency sedan to Jimmy and pointed him in to the driver's seat, leaving no room for any misunderstanding, while handing Tim the keys to the sedan he'd driven.
It seemed downright comical to watch Tony, Ziva and Abby all continue to follow in Tony's footsteps as their brains all seemed to come back online at nearly the same time, humorous looks of surprise written on all their faces when they realized they would be passengers with the most unlikely of candidates actually doing the driving.
The ride back to D.C. was accomplished at a much more sedate pace than the ride up to New York had been. But, somehow, even Tony couldn't bring himself to complain or voice any irritation about it. At the same time, there wasn't much said to break through the quiet in either vehicle. Everyone seemed to remain caught up in the somber spirit of the event they'd just witnessed.
Back in D.C. several hours later, the team unloaded from the agency vehicles and stood, wondering what the next step would be. None of them were ready to let Tim go home alone. The general silent consensus seemed to be that he needed his friends just as much to get through the still of the night, as he'd needed them to get through the painful hours of today.
"So, sleep over at your house tonight, Boss?" Tony quipped with his trademark smirk.
Gibbs looked at his team, saw their exhaustion and their determination to not let this go. He didn't blame them. He wasn't in any hurry to send Tim home alone tonight either. Smirking, he surprised them. "Sure. You're bringing the food, right DiNozzo?"
"Uh, yeah, I can do that!" Tony grinned. "Coming, Probie?" Tony invited .
Tim had to smile. "Sure. See you guys in a little while. And thank you. For everything."