AN: Sorry it took so long. Had some computer problems and then a giant case of writer block.


Tony, McGee, Ziva, and Alexei walked into the exam and stood by the mirror as Gibbs walked in on the other side. Brian was looking at the table and only titled his head to the side when Gibbs walked in. "Why'd you take him?" Gibbs asked cutting to the chase. Brian just looked at him and then at the mirror behind him. "Is Alex behind there?" He asked in a soft voice."No. Should he be?" Gibbs easily lied.

"It'd be much easier to gloat…" He trailed off looking back at Gibbs with a slight smile.

"So you're not denying that you kidnapped Liam?" Gibbs asked as he leaned back in his chair thinking Why can't they all be this easy?

"Nope. It was fairly easy. I don't like the kid." Brian leaned his chair back against the wall and smiled at Gibbs.

"Why'd you do it?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm in love with Alex…But he never cared about me. When do I get loved? Huh? He never thought about me…Never appreciated me…"

"Never? He seemed pretty convinced you where framed."

"He's naïve. All he ever cares about is his precious little boy and his mother. Hell he couldn't even tell Lia he was gay till a few hours ago, as if it was going to scare her off or something! I have been asking him to tell her for months and he only tells her when he's forced to."

"Then why not take her? Why take Liam?"

"Day in, day out it's William this, or William that. Or 'I can't see you this week, I've got William.' I fucking hate that little boy. He spends more time talking about that little brat then anything else."

"Why get Alexei's father involved?"

"Why not? His father was shocked when I told him about William." He said William with venom. "And he was angry when I told him that the boy was only half Russian. Said 'My fortune will not go to a half breed.' I agreed. But do you know what really put icing on the cake?"

Gibbs shook his head and said "No, what?"

"When I told him Alex was gay." Now Brian was smiling full force. "Abraham was so disgusted he agreed with me that the boy had to go."

"Go?"

"Yeah, as in die…And he would have if you people hadn't gotten involved. You ruined everything."

"Why'd you go to Milkovich? Didn't you think that if Liam died, then Alexei might leave you?"

"No, he would have just needed a shoulder to lean on. Someone to care for him. That would have been me. He would have turned to me and no one else."


On the other side of the glass Alexei had tears spilling down his face. He wasn't sad or hurt, he was pissed. Mad at himself that he fell in love with a psycho that tried to kill his son. "That's not true." He said just looked at him as if he was crazy, "He just confessed-"

"That's not what I'm talking about." Alexei watched Gibbs stand up and walk to the door while another Agent came in and took Brian out of the room, so he followed.

"Brian." Alexei said once he was out the room and his now ex-lover turned toward him with a soft smile.

"Alex. Once I'm out we can try again. I forgive you for putting William before me."

"What would you have done if Liam died?" Alex asked, but really thought He's lost it completely…

"I would have gave you my shoulder to lean on. I mean I'm the only one that would have taken you in after everything." Brian answered as Ziva, Tony, McGee, and Gibbs just stared at him in disbelief.

"That's not true." He repeated his earlier statement. "I would have gone to Lia. She is Liam's mother and the first person I've ever fallen in love with. You wouldn't have been the person I turned to." With that Alexei started walking back towards the bullpen with the gang behind him.

"You don't mean that! Alexei! Alex!" Brian hollered after them, but they just kept on walking.

"He had lost his one to many screws, yes?" Ziva asked

"Lost his mind." Tony corrected.

"One to many screws lose." McGee also corrected.


Ducky, Abby. Lia, and Liam where already at the bullpen when they got back.

"Did he confess?" Ducky asked not really sure if he wanted to know.

"Yeah. He did." Gibbs answered looking at both Lia and Ducky.

"I'm sorry." Alexei said to a now bandaged and clean looking Liam. "I had no idea that Brian would have…Did what he tried to do. I would understand if you hate and you never want to talk to me again." He then turned to Lia and look her hand, "And I would understand if you wanted to have full custody and wanted me dead."

"…I'm not sure I should decide if I wanted to kill you in a federal building." Lia answered after a few moments.

"You really shouldn't, it'd get you into a bunch of-" Tony was cut off by a head slap…again. "Shutting up."

"I don't hate you." Liam spoke up. "And I think it's kinda obvious that I don't wanna stop talking to you. I was angry before, but I think I understand everything you did now…Mom's not going to take full custody…Right?" He asked turning to his mother.

Lia seemed to be thinking about it and then said, "Right." With that Alexei picked Liam up and hugged him and kissed the side of Lia's head repeating the words 'Thank you.'

Gibbs looked at Ducky and the older man seemed to be smiling softly. "Thank you Jethro." Ducky said once he faced him. "For bringing my family together."

Gibbs smiled at him and nodded his head. "Any time, Duck. We're all family."

Ducky was about to comment when he caught sight of Tony smiling softly at Lia as they talked. "We'll be one member short if Tony hurts my daughter." He said instead.

Gibbs chuckled and rolled his eyes once he glanced over at Tony. "If he disappears…Your secrets safe with me."

THE END