When One Door Closes

"You're our new mom!?"

At first Tim stared blankly at the others, then his eyes widened.

My husband already has children?!

"Erm...?"

"Really Tony," Kate sighed as she smacked the Senior Agent upside the head startling Tim. "He's just joking," she said as she turned to Tim.

"Uh...Okay," Tim replied weakly.

"He's always joking, I feel badly for whomever he marries. Anyway I'm Catlin Todd, but everyone calls me Kate, you know Ziva and of course this is Anthony DiNozzo, but everyone calls him Tony."

"It's nice to meet you all," Tim said smiling shyly.

"Tim?"

All four heads turned and watched Gibbs coming down the stairs followed closely by the Director who did not look happy.

"What are you doing here?" Gibbs asked when he got to his desk. "How did you get here?"

"You forgot your lunch," Tim said as he stood, picking up the bag on the desk and holding it out, "and Ron drove me here."

Gibbs took the lunch bag held out to him ignoring the small "aww" from Tony.

"Thanks," he said softly.

Tim smiled before his attention was taken by the Director (who had been informed by Ziva and Kate of the situation). Tim introduced himself.

After putting his bag down, Gibbs looked at his husband, but saw nothing that indicated to him that the younger man was traumatized by last night's events, but then again how would he know what to be traumatized about? Aside from what Tim had told him, Gibbs knew nothing about the Ark and/or what they did or taught. The only way he'd know if something were wrong would be by asking. And talking has never been my strong point.

Looking back at Tim, his stomach twisting with guilt, he decided he owed it to the younger man to try.

Hours later, Gibbs arrived home to find his husband in the living room on the sofa reading a book. On the coffee table was a bottle of bourbon and a glass that was no doubt waiting for him.

"Hello," Tim greeted, looking up from his book.

"Hey," Gibbs said softly.

He paused and considered sitting down next to the other man. Finally he took off his jacket, tossing it over the sofa arm, then sat and bent down to take off his shoes. "That a new book?" Gibbs asked as he poured himself a glass of bourbon.

Tim nodded. "After we left NCIS, Ron took me to get a new one at the bookstore."

Gibbs found, despite knowing that Ron had come from the Ark (and he still needed to look into that), and the older man was just trying to help Tim get used to the world outside of the Ark, that he didn't like how much time the two were spending with each other.

"How was work?" Tim asked.

"Work was work," Gibb answered before sipping his drink.

There was silence and Gibbs found himself squirming in his seat.

"Is something wrong?" Tim asked, putting down his book and looking at his husband.

Gibbs sighed and downed the rest of his drink and poured another but didn't drink it. He looked at his husband who was waiting patiently for a response.

"About last night..."

"Oh, don't worry about it," Tim said smiling.

Gibbs paused. "Don't…worry about it?"

"Yes. Ron explained it to me."

What. The. Hell?

"Explained what?" Gibbs asked.

"That we didn't have sex," Tim said calmly.

"But last night I—"

"You were acting weird that night," Tim explained, "and you smelled a little funny, then you—" and here Tim trailed off and blushed. "Anyway, R-Ron called it a make-out session. I-I mean, you touched me and everything but that was all that happened."

Somehow that didn't make Gibbs feel any better.

"Does...does that bother you?" Tim asked after studying the other man's face.

Gibbs sighed rubbing his face with both hands before answering. "Yes."

"Oh." Tim said softly, and he found himself frowning as something in him twisted at the thought that his husband didn't like touching him in such a way.

"I lost control," Gibbs continued on. "That night; I lost control and could have hurt you."

"But you didn't."

"But I could have! And what's worse you wouldn't have—"

Tim jumped when the man hit the coffee table with his hand rattling the things on it. He looked at his husband whose face…it was an expression he'd never seen before. If he had to describe it, the word would be...broken. Tim found he didn't like that expression on Gibb's face.

"Last night," Tim said softly, "when you came into my room and…did...that to me, I was confused, actually very confused. Everything was just so new, different...so many new sensations. I wasn't sure what to do, but…but I didn't dislike like it."

Gibbs jumped when his hand was gently taken. "Gibbs," Tim smiled shyly when his husband looked at him, "it's all right. Everything's alright."

Gibbs looked at the smiling young man then down at their entwined hands. Tim tilted his head at the huff of laughter. His eyes widened when his husband leaned towards him and kissed his forehead.

Gibbs gave a small smile at the blush.


Morning found Gibbs following the smell of brewing coffee.

"Morning Boss!"

Gibbs stood in the kitchen doorway, blinking sleepily at the sight of his team sitting around the table at six in the morning.

"Tony, you know Gibbs isn't Gibbs before his coffee," Kate laughed as she watched Tim hand his husband his first cup of coffee of the day.

"Why are you all here?" Gibbs asked once he'd had his first sip.

"Breakfast," Kate answered as she looked up from setting the table.

Gibbs looked at his husband who gave a sheepish smile. "They said it was alright," the younger man said, a bit of worry in his voice.

"It's fine...for today," Gibbs said, knowing his team would understand his meaning (and no doubt ignoring it), before sitting down.

Tim nodded and smiled before turning his attention back to the stove.

"Allow me," Ziva said getting up to help plate the food.

"Thank you," Tim said smiling.

Once everyone else had been served, Tim made his own plate and sat himself next to his husband.

"This omelet is awesome!" Tony said around a mouthful of his bacon, cheese, and sausage omelet.

"Tony, chew your food," Kate sighed, making a face when Tony opened his mouth showing his chewed up food. Kate sighed again.

"That is disgusting," Ziva said, frowning while Kate threw her napkin at the Senior Agent.

Gibbs sighed. "What have I done in a past life to deserve this?"

He glanced at Tim when his husband giggled.

"So, Tim, what did you think of NCIS?" Kate asked.

"It's very big," Tim answered, "and the Director seems nice."

Tony snorted while Gibbs's lips twitched.

"Nice isn't a word we would use," Kate said at Tim's curious look.

After a breakfast that consisted of bickering between the three agents, Gibbs ignoring them and Tim watching in a mixture of awe and amusement, Tim handed Gibbs his lunch along with a thermos of coffee.

"Um, here," the younger man said to the other Agents.

All three stared at the brown bags sitting on the counter.

"I'm sorry I couldn't give you proper bags for these," Tim said nervously when they continued to stare.

"You made us lunch?" Tony asked.

Tim nodded, nervously wondering if he had somehow overstepped.

"You didn't have to do that," Kate said.

"I wanted to," said Tim with a smile.

Gibbs intervened again. "And that is fine for today," he said to Tim, knowing how Tony would abuse the privilege.

After taking their lunches, Kate, Ziva, and Gibbs headed for their cars. Tony stayed back in the kitchen after Tim had shyly asked if he could have a word.

"What's up?" Tony asked leaning against the counter.

"Well, um...I was wondering if you'd—you'd..." Tim blushed.

Tony tilted his head as he waited patiently for the stuttering younger man to ask his question, wondering if perhaps the younger man was going to ask for information about Gibbs.

"I was wondering if you'd—if you'dteachmeaboutsex!" Tim said quickly.

"….Huh?"


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