More prayers and thoughts for everyone in Mexico affected by the horrible earthquake as well as ongoing for those in the path of Irma (formerly a hurricane, now a tropical storm), with Jose on its way. Paraphrasing what a friend said on Facebook, this month has certainly not been good for the Americas.
Chapter 9
While the medical staff saw to Tim's comfort, Ducky was in Dr. Aldersol's office with other medical personnel, hearing something that was, metaphorically speaking, blowing his socks off. When the others left, the doctor looked at him, "From the look on your face, this is quite a shock."
Ducky, still speechless, could only nod. Aldersol continued, "How would you feel about us, you and me, telling them?"
Ducky blinked a few times, thinking furiously. They'd need complete privacy and Timothy was scheduled to be moved into Anthony's room tomorrow. But DiNozzo would probably be released the day after that. Then he sighed, most of the Crane family would be here day after tomorrow. There was a contingent who lived in Virginia who would mostly likely visit tonight, so whatever they were going to do they needed to move quickly. He also realized that Abby and Madam Director were bound to eventually show up.
He looked at Aldersol who was nodding along and realized he'd said all of that aloud. Shrugging, he added, "If Timothy is coherent enough to understand, we should do this as soon as possible."
NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS
Gunny was speaking softly to Tim, telling him about life on the beach in Mexico, when Ducky and Dr. Aldersol came in. They pulled the curtain closed over the window to the corridor and stood looking at the two men, patient and Boss. Finally, Ducky moved closer to Tim, "Timothy, how are you feeling?"
Tim gave him a half smile, "Tired. Pain meds kick in…soon."
"Good! Although if you can hold on for a few minutes, Dr. Aldersol and I have something to tell the two of you."
Dr. Aldersol took over from there, much to Ducky's relief. "Agent Gibbs, when you donated blood for Tim, they tested it for all kinds of things, including testing it with Tim's blood to ensure compatibility. When the staff saw the results on the test, they came to me. The results indicate you two could be closely related. It's possible you are father and son, uncle and nephew or brothers."
Tim's jaw dropped open and his eyes now looked wide awake while Gibbs blinked repeatedly before finally saying, "You mean I might be Tim's father, his biological father?"
"It's possible, yes. We can do a DNA test that will prove it conclusively. That will take a few weeks."
Tim and Gunny looked at each other before Gibbs leaned over and kissed his son who smiled, kissing him back. Then they both looked at Ducky who frowned, "What? It's not part of a case."
Trying to think through the relentless fog of the pain meds, Tim tilted his head at Gibbs who nodded, saying, "It could be, Duck. Back in 1989, NIS, Franks' team, investigated the murders of Commander Dan McGee and his son Patrick McGee in 1986. There were two surviving children, Sarah and Timothy." He gestured to Tim, "He's Timothy McGee, adopted by the Cranes. And Sarah…" He looked at Tim again, "Does he know about the sibs?" Tim nodded and Gibbs continued, "Sarah McGee was also adopted by the Cranes. Obviously, there was information missing from that file or we missed something."
As he said that his forehead furrowed, there was something in that file, some little piece that Mike had decided didn't need to be addressed.
"Duck, can you get hold of that file for me?"
"Yes, but why not you?"
"I haven't had my chat with the director yet, need to be fully reinstated first. Don't want to delay; my kid has waited long enough."
Ducky leaned on the end of the bed, noticing Dr. Aldersol had slipped out. "Your kid? I expected more surprise from both of you!"
Tim grinned, managing to whisper "The second secret."
Gibbs snorted, "There are more than two of them, Timmo!" He looked at his old friend, continuing Tim's story. "Tim and Sarah were abandoned by their so-called stepmother after she murdered the others. They ended up in Bayopolis, staying in a homeless shelter there. Three years later Tim was stabbed, cut very badly and rushed to Bayopolis General. The manager of the shelter got Geordie in from the homeless camp where he stayed, and he took the two little ones, Sarah and Rob, to the hospital.
"Geordie's birth father was a Marine who'd died a few years before. Geo was scared to death; scared Tim would die, didn't know what to do with the kids, how he'd take care of them. Then he remembered his father telling him about NIS and called us to report that a Navy dependent had been stabbed. Shannon and I were certified foster parents so when Geordie and the littles needed a safe place, they came home with us and so did Tim when he left the hospital. We were their foster parents for 8 months. If the Cranes and Hubbards hadn't been found, we would have adopted the four of them."
Gibbs was sitting close to Tim now and the younger man was half leaning on him.
Ducky sat there with his mouth open, "That's extraordinary! So, when you met in Norfolk…?"
Gibbs shook his head. "No, it wasn't until the Tanner case last year, the little boy who witnessed his father's kidnapping." Ducky frowned before nodding that he remembered the case.
Tim moved his head so he could speak, "He call'd boss Gunny. Tha' was wh' we call'd him as kids, Gunny and Mrs. Shannon."
"Then you knew."
Tim shook his head and figuring he was almost out of energy, Gibbs told Ducky the rest of the story, following with, "It changed everything for us, Duck. Tim and the sibs had been mourning us all these years and I was sunk in despair, work was all I had. Tim has his own place but we spend a lot of our free time together as Timmo and Gunny. And now I really am his old man!"
Tim smiled and Ducky realized the young man should be laying down; he was never going to heal properly the way he was positioned now. Which led him to another topic. "We couldn't decide which topic to raise first but I thought we'd have the wonderful surprise and then the dreary discussion. And you've just answered part of it, Jethro. Timothy, there are two sealed documents in your medical records. Is one of them the stabbing?"
Tim nodded and told Ducky which document it was. When both older men gave him the fish eye, he sighed and nodded. "No' now, please?"
Ducky bowed his head, "My apologies, Timothy, you're sorely injured and here I am throwing more stress on you."
Gibbs took the subtle warning to heart and nodded; he wouldn't prod until his son was ready. His son, his flesh and blood son. He turned to Tim, "I'll call Grandpa Jack today."
Tim smiled tiredly, "Be nice if he c'ld meet th' rest of th' fam…i…ly."
Ducky frowned, "Wasn't that supposed to be a surprise? Oh, you meant the rest of the team! Oh dear, I've certainly put my foot in it, haven't I? I might as well continue, who is Grandpa Jack?"
Jethro took a breath, "My father. When Tim and the others were living with us, he visited several times."
Ducky shook his head; this had truly been a day of revelations. "Good heavens, I had no idea you had living family, Jethro. Where does he live?"
"We haven't spoken since the girls died although Tim's been working on me and I was close to caving before the explosion. He lives in Stillwater, Pennsylvania, where I was born and raised."
Tim gave him a look and Gunny smiled, "Yes, son, I will, as soon as you fall asleep."
He laughed when Tim immediately closed his eyes. Ducky stayed in the room with Tim while Gibbs went to the lobby to contact his father, calling the phone at the market his father owned and operated.
Admitting he was a little nervous, he punched in the numbers he remembered. He'd wondered if he'd even recognize his father's voice but had the answer to that as soon as the call was answered. "Stillwater Market".
"Dad? It's Leroy."
There was silence although Jethro could hear background noise.
"Leroy?" The shock in his father's voice made his son feel bad and he vowed he and Tim would never have this kind of chasm between them. Then he smirked to himself as he realized there was no longer any background noise, apparently hearing his name shut everyone up!
"Yeah, Dad."
"You all right?"
"I am; how are you?"
"I'm good, son."
"Dad, I have a couple of things to tell you – good things. You remember the kids who lived with Shannon and me for a few months?"
"Of course! Tim, Geordie, Sarah and Rob. I remember how devastated we all were when they left."
"Yeah. Tim's back in my life, Dad, he's one of the agents on my team."
"That's wonderful, son! What team and what kind of agents?"
Jethro explained his position at NCIS and a little bit about Tim finally recognizing him.
"That's terrific!"
Gunny took a deep breath, "Tim was in a car wreck earlier today and he's in the hospital. He's going to be all right but he'd really like to see you and, well, I would too."
Jackson's voice was thick when he answered, "You sure, son?"
"Absolutely. I'll pay for your ticket and you can stay at the house with me."
"Thanks for the offer of the ticket, but I've got plenty, Leroy. You said Tim was hurt today, can he have visitors?"
"Yeah, he's had surgery already and he's sleeping a lot but he can have visitors. Matter of fact, you'll get to see some of his relatives. His adoptive parents and Sarah and Rob will be here in two days."
"And that's not too many people?"
"Nah. Besides, I'd like you to meet the rest of my team and some of my friends."
"Fantastic! Let me see what flight I can get and I'll call you back, need your number."
Jethro gave it to him and they disconnected. His hands were so sweaty with nerves that he almost dropped his phone. Then he nearly jumped when someone patted him on the back - Ducky.
"Sorry I was eavesdropping, got a little worried. From your end, it sounded like it went well."
He nodded with a sigh, "Guess we'll still have to talk about 'things' but feels ok for now."
Ducky cleared his throat, "Yes well, Jimmy's leaving in a few minutes."
Gibbs huffed, "Need to see Tony."
"Thought you might."
Patting his friend again, Ducky returned to Tim's room while Jethro stood staring after him, his relationship with Tim in the forefront of his mind. Timothy Gibbs, wow! Not that Tim would necessarily change his name again and Gibbs was his legal middle name, but he wouldn't mention it. He realized he still hadn't figured out how, well he knew how but with whom he'd created Tim.
He knew his boy was born in November of 1977 but when he counted back 9 months there wasn't anyone he remembered being intimate with then. Shannon's mother had decreed she couldn't see him and he'd left for Advanced Training in Southern California in January of '77.
There was Tori, they'd had a good time together; he'd met her at a dance that February and got her phone number. But the dance was at the end of his leave, he couldn't have had a date with her until his next leave in March. They hadn't had sex until, hell, he didn't know, either toward the end of his March leave or during his leave in April. He did know he'd called her over that summer just as his dad taught him, checking to make sure everything was all right. She'd sent him a letter with her new phone number, saying she was married. She'd talked about her new husband, a Navy officer but never said anything about being pregnant.
He sure hoped that whatever it was he remembered in the McGee case file would help them. Shaking his head to clear it, he peeked into Tim's room; finding him sound asleep, he headed downstairs to Tony's room. Too many things going on!
He hadn't figured out just how he was going to approach this but as he sat down, he solved the problem by blurting it out, not something he did often. "DiNozzo, owe you an apology, a big one."
Tony's eyes widened in shock. "Boss, Rule 6, are you all right?"
Gibbs huffed. "Need to say this and Rule 6 needs to be redefined, Tony. Back in May, I had to leave and you were the right person to lead the team, I've never had any doubts about that. But I keep showing up, bumping you back and that's wrong. You've been patient and I appreciate that but it's wrong, Tony. It's your team now; team can't have two leads!"
"Boss, if you want the team…"
"Not gonna do that, not again!" He saw the look on DiNozzo's face. "I'm not leaving again but I'm not taking the team either. Gonna figure out some other way to work at the agency."
"Boss, I don't want you to do that and I'm sure McGee and Ziva won't either."
Gibbs patted his arm, "Thanks but I gave up the team when I walked away, it's not mine to take back and Jen shouldn't have allowed it to happen. I am sorry, Anthony."
Tony nodded, "Apology accepted. But what're you going to do?"
Gibbs gave him a little grin and Tony relaxed. "Have some ideas, just need to work 'em out before I meet with the director."
They talked for several more minutes until Ducky came in to let them know he was headed to the Navy Yard and would see them in a few hours. When Tony's stomach growled, Gibbs looked at his watch; after the tumultuous morning, the rest of the day had passed quickly.
"How about I get us some chow?"
"Um, Boss, you haven't said how Tim is."
"He's on a lot of pain meds right now but he'll be all right, Tony, it'll take time but he'll get there. Reminds me, wanted to talk with you about that. I'd like you both to stay with me while you're recovering."
"Stay with you, at your house?"
Gibbs nodded and Tony frowned, "Heard a rumor you sold it."
"Nope. Had it listed for sale for a couple of months but didn't renew the contract with the real estate agency."
"Ah, well sure, Boss but it's really not necessary you know. There's an elevator at my place and I'll be fine on my own."
Gibbs smiled, "Offer still stands, kiddo, just let me know."
He headed out to get food for the two of them and was just re-entering the building when he spotted Ducky. "Back again so soon?"
"I have the file for you. Madam Director was still on the Hill so I didn't have to sneak."
Gibbs dropped Tony's takeout in his room, finding him asleep. He left a note saying to call his cell and he'd warm the food up for him; then he and Ducky headed downstairs to the cafeteria. While his friend went in search of soup, Gibbs got a table and started paging through the file. As he'd remembered, the mystery was in the agent's case notes and it was a word, one word. However, he couldn't read it and he didn't have his damned glasses with him. Grunting in frustration, he started eating his lunch. Ducky returned and gave him a questioning look when he saw the file pushed to the side.
"Found the thing, can't read it."
Ducky smiled, "Shall I give it a try then?"
He almost laughed at the face Gibbs made, but turned to the page he indicated and looked up at him, speaking quietly. "It says 'adopted'."
Gibbs nodded, "That's right, now I remember Franks saying it wasn't any of our business. But I think it is. Duck, Tim was born in November '77, right?"
"Yes Jethro, although he was 9 weeks premature. He wasn't due until January."
Gibbs sat there looking at him and then shook his head, "January, nope, right time frame, wrong girl. I know his mother's name was Lily and I've never dated a Lily. You sure about the blood thing?"
"Yes, very sure. I wonder…" Ducky turned to a page attached to the inside of the folder. "It's an old file, Jethro; the background information is still in it." He handed the folder to Gibbs who held it at arm's length to read it.
"Mother: Lily Victoria Hubbard McGee, deceased 1979. Sad but still doesn't help; she's still Lily and as I said I've never dated a Lily."
"Jethro, you were 18 or 19, weren't you? And a Marine! You must have dated someone – or were there too many to remember?"
"No, Duck, it wasn't like that. I was recovering from a broken heart because Shannon's parents wouldn't allow her to see me. The only girl I dated was named Tori, although Hubbard might have been her last name; I thought it was Howard but Hubbard sounds familiar too and not just from Tim's relatives."
"Jethro, Tori is a nickname for Victoria and what do you mean about Tim's relatives?"
His friend went pale as his eyes widened. He opened and closed his mouth before finally grinning. "Yep, he's my son, I'm his dad!" Then he frowned, "His maternal grandmother and his uncle, their surname is Hubbard. Of course, that makes sense. But why didn't Tori tell me about our baby and why did she use a different name with me? She wrote me after I left, sent me her phone number. I called her as soon as I got the letter - that was in August, she could have told me then. She gave him to McGee without giving me any choice! Didn't I have a right to know?"
"I would agree with that, Jethro, although I'm afraid we'll never know why."
His friend sat lost in thought and Ducky left him alone, finishing his soup and wondering idly about the Hubbards although he realized it was a common enough name. When Gibbs' cell rang, he answered, saying, "I'll be right there." He looked at Ducky, "DiNozzo's awake; gonna get his lunch and reheat it. Be back in a few."
Ducky nodded, "I believe I'll stop in to see Timothy. And if you're done with the file, I'll take it back."
Gibbs nodded his assent; after disposing of their trash, the two friends headed upstairs to see the injured agents.
Ducky found Tim awake, trying to work the remote to the TV with his non-dominant right hand. Ducky smiled at him, "Amazing how dependent we are on our dominant hands, isn't it? And never give it any thought until they're no longer available."
Tim chuckled. "Got that right. Tony still okay?"
"Yes," he leaned in closer, "your father has just gone to get DiNozzo's lunch heated as he was asleep when Jethro returned with it."
Tim beamed at him. "So glad you were here with us for the news. It's good to have someone besides the two of us know the truth!"
Ducky chuckled, "I would have been surprised enough to learn you two met during your childhood, much less that you were Jethro's foster son."
"Gunny and Mrs. Shannon."
"Of course. What was she like?"
"Fun, warm, nurturing and strict. Although to go from 1 child to 5 overnight and 3 of them the same age, strict was probably an absolute necessity. She and Gunny gave us as much love and TLC as we could handle."
Ducky opened his mouth to comment but noticed Tim was blinking back tears. "I'm sorry to bring up sad memories, Timothy."
"They're not all sad, Ducky, but they are final. Can't be any more memories with her and Kelly. So glad Gunny, my father, survived."
"I hadn't thought of his injuries last spring, how that must have affected you."
"I was so scared I was going to lose him again. I called in the troops; the sibs were just as scared as I was. Our parents, the Grands and Uncle Jim supported us, me by phone mostly." Tim looked at his blanket, telling Ducky of his desperate drive to the hospital to see his Gunny. "He remembered me, although he thought I was still 12 years old. And Agent Mike, I mean Mike Franks, was there and I knew him so I felt a little better after, until Gunny showed up at the Navy Yard to quit."
NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS
Tony's Philly Cheese steak was reheated and returned to him. When Gibbs saw that he was engrossed in a movie, he left the food and hurried to the Intensive Care Unit to see his son. He smiled to himself; he'd referred to Tim as his son since the Tanner case; now it was more than being his former foster father.
He smiled again as he walked in, seeing Ducky sitting with his Tim. "Hey sleepyhead, how ya feeling?" Leaning over, he kissed Tim's forehead and then chuckled when his son blushed. "Tired and sore, Gunny. Kind of like I got hit by a car."
"It'll take time to heal, Timmo, I can tell you that. Just make sure you do what they tell you and don't be stubborn about it like your old man."
Tim rolled his eyes at him and Ducky chuckled, "It is good to see the easy-going relationship you two have outside of work. I never would have guessed!"
Both men huffed, Tim wincing at the pain he'd just caused himself while Jethro said, "It hasn't been easy. We've had our share of battles."
Ducky had another comment but stopped when Jethro's phone rang, the return call from Jack. He chuckled to himself when Tim's face lit up at the man's name; he was looking forward to meeting the senior Gibbs and all the McGee, Crane and Hubbard relatives. Gunny held the phone to his ear so he could say hello to Grandpa Jack.
Father and son smiled as the call ended, the Gunny saying, "He'll be here tomorrow, his flight gets in at noon, I'll pick him up."
Tim grinned at him and Ducky soon took his leave, realizing the two needed some time alone. He was waiting for the elevator when it dinged and the doors opened. He glanced up reflexively and then his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
One of the women exiting the elevator glanced at him, nodded and continued on her way. When she realized that her companion wasn't with her she turned back to see her standing and staring at the gentleman still standing there.
"Maisie?"
"Donnie?"
Ducky nodded and put out a hand that trembled a bit as he was nearly overcome with emotion at the sight of his old friend.
The woman, who was indeed Maisie, took his hand. "Donnie, this is astounding, it's been so long and a whole ocean away! I'm here to see my grandson."
"I shouldn't keep you then, I've just come from seeing a dear friend."
"No, don't go. Would you mind waiting while I see my boy? He was in a car crash this morning and had to have surgery. As he's in the ICU I know we won't be allowed to see him for long."
"Maisie, my dear, what's his name?"
"Tim, Timothy McGee, well he's really Timothy Crane but he uses McGee at work."
Ducky smiled, "And that is also my friend."
Tim had just introduced Aunt Claire to Gunny when his Gram walked into the room, arm in arm with Ducky. He frowned at his friend, what the heck?
Jethro smiled at Maisie Hubbard, wondering what she was doing with Ducky. He hadn't seen her since the kids left but she looked much the same.
"Hello Maisie, it's great to see you again!"
"And you, Jethro, I've been so thankful you and Tim found each other again – and that you survived everything."
She kissed him on the cheek and bent down to kiss her precious grandson. "Hello darling, how are you feeling?"
"I'm all right, Grammie. How do you know Ducky?"
"I haven't heard that nickname in decades! He and I were close many years ago, Timothy, in London."
Tim nodded and relaxed a little. She'd married his grandfather in London so he guessed she and Ducky hadn't been that close.
