McGee pulled up on the drive but remained in the seat staring at the house for sometime. That front door, always open, was once inviting and he always knew what to expect when he went through it. Either he was going there to be read the riot act and then grounded or he was going there for advice, companionship or help assembling furniture from the man he used to look upon as his surrogate father.
Now it was rather foreboding and two men were inside that struck just a little fear into him. Director Shepherd had simply told him that Mike Franks had asked for him and he was to turn up at the house at 1300 with cold case files and a laptop. Tim didn't know whether this was some elaborate hoax set up by DiNozzo or the invitation to a good hiding from his boss and his mentor.
As the clock ticked over to 1305 Tim was still sat in the vehicle. He couldn't will his legs to carry him through that front door and the more he sat there and tried to analyse the situation the more he didn't want to go in there.
Franks had watched this painful deliberation from the front window and now marched right through the door and onto the front porch.
"McGee, are you going to sit there all day or get yourself in here?" he asked.
Stepping out of the car Tim tried to respond, "um, er …. I'll just… I'll just get the boxes, out of the trunk." He stumbled round to the rear and fumbled with the boxes and laptop therein.
"Aw hell son, give me the boxes," said Franks moving into position alongside Tim and taking the load from him.
"Th…thank yo…you Sir," stammered Tim. "I'm sorry, I…. I should b…be better."
"Get yourself inside McGee and sit yourself down before you fall down," suggested Mike, taking pity on the lad.
Tim nodded and moved into the lounge expecting to find Gibbs waiting for him. When he didn't find him there he experienced a moment of relief until his imagination stirred again and he wondered whether Gibbs was waiting in the basement for him.
As Franks came in depositing the boxes and laptop into a pile in the corner of the room, McGee sprang to his feet.
"What's the matter son?" enquired Mike, mildly curious at the young kids skittish behaviour.
"Well I was kind of expecting Gibbs to be here," Tim began to explain, "guess he wants to um, er, deal with me for filming that confession that we can't use. Unless he is too angry with me and has asked you to deal with it?"
"That bad uh," asked Mike.
"Yes Sir," answered McGee "I know he was already really mad with me, and so he should be, it was a stupid mistake to make, but I wasn't thinking and then he didn't get to deal with it how he wanted and then we all got hauled into the Directors office and well then there was the thing with the gold," Tim had to pause to take a breath, "is he really mad?"
"Don't panic Tim, Probie won't be killing you today," chuckled Mike trying to calm the lad down.
"Park yourself on that sofa again McGee and I'll go get him," commanded Mike, "and try to cut the Sir bit out."
With that Franks went upstairs to get Gibbs. Knocking the door to the bedroom as he entered he called out, "come to see if you need any motivation to get out of bed this time Probie."
Gibbs was already up and came out of the adjoining bathroom drying his face and hands as he did so. "I'm up Boss, you can keep your hands off that brush this time," he joked.
"Good, then I need you to haul your ass downstairs pronto, got someone I want you to see," replied Mike.
As Gibbs descended the stairs he saw Tim sitting on the edge of his couch still looking rather nervous. As the stairs creaked under him it alerted McGee to his presence. Tim shot upright as his boss entered the room. However in the nervousness stakes it was Gibbs who was winning by a long shot. He stopped dead on the stairs and it was only the gently guiding hand of Mike on his shoulder that got him moving again in the direction of the living room.
Intending to address Gibbs, Mike said, "Probie take a seat." The words had the same effect on both men; mildly satisfied and slightly amused by the fact that his words had the desired affect on both men simultaneously he stated, "I'll get the coffees."
When he returned with the thick, strong brown liquid, the two men were still sitting in total silence. "Well shall I do the honours?" he asked holding up the coffee pot and mugs.
"Thanks Boss," answered Gibbs.
"Yeah, thank you Sir… um Mike," McGee corrected himself.
Sighing again as he handed the drinks out Franks tried to break the strange atmosphere. "Look McGee, I asked for you to come here because you and Probie here need to talk, so I'm gonna go sit on the porch and smoke and the pair of you are going to sort this mess out right." And with that he picked up his own cup and walked out leaving the two guys inside.
Tim was the first to break the awkward silence, "look Boss if you don't want me here I'll just finish this and go."
"No Tim," Gibbs spoke at first to the floor by his feet and then raising his eyes to his junior agent, "no don't go, it's just that…" he sighed," I've never been good with words and … well even worse with emotions."
"It's ok Boss we don't have to talk if you feel uncomfortable, I mean unless we need to talk about me screwing up that case interview, and if its that which is causing you the problem, then I can say that although I know you don't like the word sorry I…" McGee was interrupted.
"Tim I'm the one that should be saying sorry and if we are talking about screwing up the case then try giving $60,000 away and then finding out there are another three victims to compensate." Gibbs let out a nervous laugh.
"Did you get into much trouble Boss?" asked McGee genuinely concerned and then panicking added, "of course that's not really any of my business."
Smiling Gibbs responded, "It's ok Tim, it's a fair question and the answer is yes lots."
"Is that what the cold case files are for or is that for me for…" Tim was interrupted once again.
"They're for me McGee, just a small part of the Directors retribution on me for having to deal with SecNav, the FBI and lawyers," explained Gibbs, "and as for all the rest that happened on this case I'd like to draw a line under it and start again, if you'd let me."
Shocked at the turn of events and at the fact that the talk with Gibbs was not going as he had expected McGee asked, "you alright Boss?"
Laughing at the kids concern for his unusual response, Gibbs nodded, "I'm fine McGee, I'm fine."
"So you aren't going to punish me?" asked McGee still not quite believing the turn in the conversation.
"See this as a one time get out of jail free card Tim while Mike finishes extracting my head from my ass where people keep telling me its been since I got back from Mexico," explained Gibbs.
"You sure Boss?" uttered McGee not really thinking through what he was saying, "I mean of course you must be or you wouldn't say it," he added quickly not really that keen to get his Boss to reconsider his veto on this particular punishment."
"Look Tim, I've screwed up far beyond giving away that money," Gibbs began to explain, "and I'm going need your help and your understanding to put it right, that's if you'll let me. Since the explosion my memory has not been as it used to be and I forgot some pretty important stuff; I forgot how our team functioned and why we did so well. I forgot we were a family and well, if you'll let me I'd like to start earning my place back in that family."
Gibbs could feel himself holding his breath, hoping beyond all hope that Tim would give him a second chance.
Tim pondered for a moment, "well Boss he began, I guess the last 4 months has been hell for all of us in some ways and this case was just the straw that broke the camels back." He looked over towards the pile of cold cases which were waiting for the punishment detail to begin, "but I guess we could all do with a fresh start and I owe you for the get out of jail free card, so perhaps I could help you with some of those files and we can work through this together," he offered.
"Tim you don't have to," responded Gibbs choked up at the kids willingness to forgive him so easily.
"Well," shrugged Tim, "someone's going to have to operate that laptop without hurling it through a window."
"Why you cheeky little…" laughed Gibbs and reached over to give Tim a gentle cuff around the ear.
As he made contact, his hand paused and then much to everyone's surprise he pulled Tim into a hug, "Thank you," he whispered into his ear.
Outside on the porch Mike had been keeping one ear on proceedings; rocking back in his chair and lighting another cigarette, he smiled to himself. There was a long way still to go but his Probie was on the way to sorting this mess out.