Ducky, was in fact, waiting for Gibbs. He had seen this coming for a long time. Knowing Jethro Gibbs as well as he did, he'd known that once Timothy had finally gotten his boss' attention; Jethro would not let, the young man leave without getting to the bottom of whatever was bothering him, first. This revelation had been a very long time in coming; and Ducky, for one, was relieved to see it finally arrive. Truth be told, Ducky had made sure he had been a silent witness; wanting to be available to help; should the need arise; he had stopped and listened as he caught the conversation between Jethro and Timothy regarding them talking things out over dinner. Knowing Timothy, as his personal Dr. at NCIS; Ducky had known that in all probability; those two would wind up back at the waterfront. Everyone on the team knew how much the water relaxed the young man in times of stress. Ducky had merely located a well-chosen spot where he could listen unobtrusively; yet be available to help; should things go south.
When Timothy had requested Anthony's presence for the discussion; Ducky had not been surprised. When Jethro had immediately cooperated, again; Ducky had not been surprised. When Timothy had broken down, crying and sobbing on his knees; Ducky had been absolutely shocked to his toes. It had taken every ounce of Doctor Donald "Ducky" Mallard's self-restraint to remain hidden and silent; not to march right up to Jethro and Anthony and shake some sense into their heads. Truth be told; Ducky had been so shocked; he'd been frozen with it for a long minute before his emotions had flared and he'd had to reign them in.
Ducky had stayed; the silent witness; just out of sight; listening to the man's speech; startled when he'd turned in raging anger to his boss; remained frozen in his place; until Timothy had run out of steam. While the young man was catching his breath and calmly away from Jethro and Anthony; Ducky was retreating to the parking garaged and went back up to Autopsy. He full expected to see Jethro soon.
When Jethro did arrive; as expected, in Autopsy, the lights were dimmed, two chairs were pulled out, and two drinks poured. It was obvious he had been expected. Gibbs smiled as he mused, "Sly old fox!" Yeah, the M.E. knew him too damn well. Well, in this case; it was actually a good thing.
"Jethro! How to nice see you, especially given the eventful evening you've just had; however, I'm certain that it's because of the eventful evening that you are here." Ducky's enthusiastic and friendly greeting brought another smile to Gibbs face. The M.E. bid him to sit in one of the chairs, as he took the other one present.
"Thanks, Duck." Gibbs quietly responded.
"What can I do for you, Jethro?"
'Talk to me, Duck; tell me what you think." Gibbs requested.
"What is it exactly that you would like me to offer you my opinion about? Timothy's words, Yours? Anthony's? What exactly are you looking for? Ducky inquired; obviously having much to say; and knowing Jethro would only be interested in what worried him the most.
"I dunno, Ducky, where do I go from here? After all these years of drilling it into their heads; not to; do I suddenly apologise, myself? When everything Tim said is right on target; unfair as it was; how the hell do I go about fixing this mess now? Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he was gone already! Or resigned or begging for a transfer! I haven't had a chance to check with Jen yet!" Gibbs finally ran out of steam.
"Jethro, what do you think Timothy was thinking and feeling at the last moment he spoke to you; before he walked away so silently?" Ducky asked. "I do believe that is where you need to begin the healing process."
Gibbs let out a huge sigh; "Yeah, Duck; you're probably right. But, it could have been anything; rage, pain, resignation; hell, he could have just not wanted to hear me yell at him, or Tony. Or, he could have just felt like he couldn't get away from us fast enough!" Gibbs answered.
"But, that's exactly my point, my dear fellow! That much was obvious! But, the question remains; why? Why is it our young Timothy was so anxious to remove himself from your and Anthony's presence?" Ducky exclaimed.
"He probably figured I'd go back on my word of letting him have his day in court with no reprisals; probably thought I was gonna give him hell for everything he'd just thrown at us! Hell, Ducky, I don't even know where he is at this very moment!" Gibbs offered; the anger he felt at his own admission of ignorance; propelling his voice around the room.
Ducky calmly held up his 1st finger in a silent request for Gibbs' silence; as he hit the speaker button on his desk phone and dialed Tim's desk phone.
"Ducky, what can I do for you?" Tim's strained voice spoke of his long day and his exhaustion.
"Go home. Timothy! Go home, sleep well, eat well and enjoy your 3 days off; making certain that you take good care of yourself!" Ducky ordered, concern evident in his tone.
'Thank you, Ducky! Thank you very much for caring. I promise, I'm leaving soon." Tim responded quietly.
Ducky chuckled, "Timothy, we all know how devoted you are to your job; but, my dear boy; you have 3 days off, why on earth are you still here?"
"Just wrapping up some loose ends, Ducky." Tim's quiet explanation sent shivers of apprehension up Gibbs' spine as he silently looked at the M.E. in alarm.
"Loose ends, Timothy? I know your team completely wrapped up the case from this afternoon. Does that not mean the "loose ends" have all been wrapped?" Ducky asked; silently sending Gibbs a reassuring smile.
"Ducky, can I ask you a question?" Tim's hesitation tugged at Gibbs' heart. He had a feeling he knew what the question was gonna be.
"Certainly, my dear young man; what is it you need to know?"
Tim took the bull by the horns and jumped on; prepared to hold on for the ride; "Has Gibbs said anything to you about me? Maybe, he's mentioned that he's tired of having to send me out in the field or he's tired of having me on the team? Has he said anything about not needing me on his team anymore?"
Ducky took a second to look pointedly at a distressed Gibbs'; prepared to give him what for; but, seeing the pain in the Senior Field Agent's eyes; he silently gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder.
"Timothy McGee where on earth did you get such an idea? Of course, Jethro does not believe that. He regards everyone of you on his team as important and equal!" Ducky exclaimed.
"No, Ducky, he doesn't. Come' on, we've all seen how he favors Tony and Abby! Tony's his favorite agent; heck the guy can do no wrong in Gibbs' eyes! Abby, too! The only reason I'm here is to be the catch-all for the team; catch the dog attacks; catch the tazer attack; catch the poison ivy; catch the paper and electronic trails; the hidden bad guys!"
"Yes, well you have certainly had more than your fair share of bad situations; but that does not equal you not being needed or wanted on Gibbs' team, young man!"
Gibbs damn near had to staple his mouth closed to stay quiet. Oh, he wanted to jump in so bad! He'd been "unable to sit still any longer; Now pacing, while listening to Tim's perception of the problem.
"Maybe not, but me disrespecting Gibbs does! Thanks, Ducky; I gotta go!" *click*
**************
Tim hung up; got his paper off the printer; shut down his computer and quickly headed for the stairs. He didn't want to run into anyone. He didn't look back!
***************
Gibbs, frozen in mid-stride from the second he heard Tim's last mention of his name; now looked at Ducky with eyebrows raised; his signature silent "what now" question.
"Jethro, it appears you need to talk to the young man again. Maybe now that he's gotten the raging anger out and he's had his say; you will be able to get to the bottom of why he's convinced of this and what it will take for you to be able to get thru to him, before it's too late!"
Gibbs silently walked over to Ducky's desk phone; dialed Tim's cell phone and; handing the phone to Ducky; quietly requested:
"Duck, make sure he's not too upset to be thinking rationally."
"Ducky, I'm fine, honest!" Tim answered his phone; knowing exactly why the M.E. was calling him again. He appreciated the M.E. that much more for his dogged determination to make sure he was okay.
"Timothy, I'm prepared to issue a Dr's Order that you spend the night under my watchful eye; just to be certain that you do eat and sleep!" Ducky exclaimed.
"Ducky, I promise you; I will eat well and get plenty of sleep I am going home to do just that!"
"Timothy, you have not been doing much of either lately; that much has been easy to see."
"I know, Ducky; but I should be okay tonight " Tim sounded like he believed what he was saying.
"All right, young man; but I want you to promise me that if and when you need help; you will ask for it; call someone on your team! Ducky ordered.
"I promise, Ducky, I will. Have a good night, Ducky and thank you very much." *click*
"Thanks, Duck!" Gibbs patted the M.E.'s shoulder in gratitude and left autopsy. He needed to go talk to Jenny. After that, he had to talk to Tony. It was shaping up to be a very long night.
************************************
"Okay, so Probie needs to believe he's still important around here and still needed on Team Gibbs!"
Tony kept spinning that thought around in his head as he struggled with ideas of how to accomplish this huge task. Maybe he didn't have to figure it out by himself, after all! He was part of a team, wasn't he? Maybe two heads were definitely better than one in this situation. He could talk to Ziva or Abby; or both! Yeah! That would be better! Three heads were absolutely better than one!
Quickly, 3-way calling both ladies' Tony held his breath; hoping against hope that they were both home and better yet; both available to help. Since it was a week night; his chances were good.
"Ziva David!"
"Hey, Tony!"
"Hey, ladies! I really need your help with something very important; any chance you're free right now so we can meet somewhere and talk?"
"Absolutely, Tony!"
"Sure, Tony!"
"Great! Can you meet me at Gibbs' house?
"I will be there in 30 minutes!"
"See you in 30, Tony; bring Dinner!"
"Thank you ladies!"
Hanging up from the call; Tony was ecstatic. He had help! Yes! They could fix this! Hey! Wait a minute! Why did neither of the ladies react to meeting at Gibbs' house? "Oh, God! Do they know, too? Has Tim been suffering in silence for nothing? Is it possible that everyone on team Gibbs has known and been absolutely quiet about it? Wouldn't they have said something in Tim's defense before now?
Tony shrugged off the questions running thru his brain for now; He knew he'd get his answers when the ladies got there. Thirty minutes later found Tony, Ziva and Abby completely ensconced in Gibbs' kitchen; quietly scarfing down Chinese Takeout; with 2 cartons to spare for Gibbs. There was no telling when the man would walk thru the door; and it would not have been fair or wise to have not brought any for him.
Once they'd finished eating, they got comfortably set up in the Living Room; opening up the French Doors for fresh air and the cool breeze of the moonlit night. Settling down in their seats; all of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Abby and Ziva were silently waiting for Tony to speak while Tony was silently waiting for the ladies to ask him a question. The ladies were worried about Tony. It was so unlike him to ask for something like this. Tony was worried about the ladies. It was so unlike them to be quiet like this.
"Ladies!"
"Tony!"
"Tony!"
Three simultaneous voices rang out; causing laughter to erupt in the group. Once they had managed to stop laughing; they settled back down and the ladies gave the floor over to Tony; since he had requested the meeting.
"Okay, Ladies; I need to ask for total honesty here tonight. No holes barred; no punches pulled; everything off the record; you follow me?
"Yes, Tony."
"Sure, Tony, we're clear!"
"Ok. Good, I knew I could count on you two. Now the 1st thing I need to do is ask you question. Why weren't either of you surprised when I asked you to meet me here?"
The silent observer in the shadows of the dinning room; listening without being seen; anxiously awaited that answer.
"Tony, you and the boss man have been acting different toward each other in good ways; and different toward Tim in not so good ways; for a long time now! It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what was going on!" Abby exclaimed; surprised he even had to ask.
"Yes, Tony; even I noticed this. I, too, figured out what it meant." Ziva admitted.
The shock on Tony's face was almost comical.
The pain and sadness on the face of the silent observer, hidden in the shadows of the dinning room; was not!
"Then why the hell haven't either of you said something?" Tony demanded. Damn it, if Tim's been suffering in silence he was gonna be…."
"HEY! WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE, ANTHONY DINOZZO!!!! Don't you dare jump down our throats because we did what we were supposed to do; and stayed out of it; kept our mouths shut! Abby was pissed.
"Tony, what would you have had us do? Shout it from the office tops, yes?" Ziva asked in confusion. She wasn't angry, yet.
Tony took a deep breath and let it out before he answered. "Roof top, Ziva. Roof top; and no, you and Abby are right. I'm sorry."
"Tony, what does this have to do with why you need our help tonight?" Abby asked. "And, yes, you are forgiven." She said with a smile that backed it up.
"Thanks, Abby. It has everything to do with my need for your help tonight. I don't know if either of you heard about what happened tonight, after work; but Gibbs let Probie unleash his temper and by the way; did either of you know Probie even had a temper? Man! That guy's got a whopper of a temper! Tony exclaimed.
"Tony, perhaps you had better tell us the whole story, yes? Ziva asked; smiling at his realization about McGee.
The ladies and the silent observer alike listened as Tony explained. He recounted everything he'd seen and heard; from Gibbs; from Tim; even from his own brain thinking and acting. It was the longest one-sided conversation Anthony DiNozzo had ever conducted in his life. Since the ladies already knew about him and Gibbs; Tony didn't hold anything back; giving the same measure of honesty he had asked them for
The ladies were shocked at what they heard. All three listeners were shocked that Anthony was actually long-winded. Who knew he'd ever had that much to say at one time? Needing a break; and wanting to give the ladies time to think about what he'd told them; Tony took his cup into the kitchen for a refill.
Going back to the living room, he carried fresh drinks for the ladies as well as his own. Once he'd gotten comfortable, he waited; knowing he wouldn't have to say anything; the ladies knew exactly why they were here- now.
Abby threw it out there- the elephant in the room with them that no one wanted to talk about. "Tony! You know he's probably turned in his request for a transfer or worse; his resignation by now; or maybe he's doing it as we speak!" Her anger vibrated throughout the room.
"Yeah, Abby; Gibbs and I already talked about that possibility. He's checking up on that. Let's just hope McGee hasn't'done anything that drastic..
"So, the reason Abby and I are here is to help you figure out how to stop McGee from leaving the team or leaving NCIS?" Ziva asked.
"Yeah, Ziva; that's what I need help with." Tony answered her.
"Tony! We've probably already lost him!" Abby was pissed now; it was too damn late to be trying to fix this now. Where was this pow-wow before things had gotten so far gone?
"Abby! We don't know that yet!" Tony yelled right back at her; just as pissed at her. Why was she so quick to be acting like it was all his fault?
"Yes, we do." The somber, quiet voice revealed the silent observer materializing from the shadows of the dinning room.
