This is a story I've been working on for awhile. I keep going over it to make it perfect. Something I normally don't do. Anyway, a few warnings...

THERE WILL BE SEX BETWEEN TWO MALES IN THIS STORY!

More warnings will be added as the story goes on as I do not know where this is going to end up. Tony got a little OOC in this chapter, hopefully not too far off, but still a little out there I think.

I own nothing. Please review, favorite, follow. Anything that lets me know you like this story. Enjoy!

"Morning Tony," McGee sighed climbing into the elevator.

I opened my mouth to greet him in my normal fashion when I got a good look at him. His eyes had dark bags under them, his hair was disheveled, and his clothes were rumpled and he looked extremely tense.

It was obvious that McGee hadn't slept last night and at that thought I felt a ball of worry start to form in my gut. What had happened to my little brother to make him look like this?

Before I could ask though the doors opened and he walked out. I followed him calmly trying to think of a way to ask him when he stopped walking. I watched the tension leave his body and followed his eye line.

Darren was sitting in the desk Gibbs had cleared for him working on some files. I didn't know the student all that well, but he looked just as bad as McGee did. What had happened to them yesterday?

"Darren," McGee muttered slowly making his way towards the desk.

I watched as McGee and Darren quietly started to talk, but I couldn't hear a word either of them said. The only thing I knew was that it looked like McGee was trying to apologize while Darren was just plain pissed off about something.

His different colored eyes honestly looked like they were trying to set McGee on fire. That would be something to see. Damn, what did the man do to piss off the student that badly?

"Now's not the time, Tim," Darren suddenly said standing up, "Agent DiNozzo, do you have time for the interview now?"

With a slight nod of my head I started to make my way up to the conference room when Gibbs walked in. Now, Darren wasn't a big talker to Gibbs, or myself actually, but for him to almost run into the man was unheard of.

Darren didn't wait for me as he made his way upstairs, but I knew that I should probably get there quickly. If only to not have that attitude thrown at me as well. Still, I wasn't far enough away to not hear the beginning of McGee and Gibbs's conversation.

"How's Darren taking this?" Gibbs asked calmly.

"I don't know," McGee shook his head, "I know Darren went to Sarah's. I know Sarah brought Jett home this morning. I know Sarah is just as upset with me as Darren is. And I know just how creative my sister can be. Darren's refusing to talk though."

I had walked too far up the stairs to catch the rest of their conversation, but, though Gibbs hid it better, both of them seemed troubled by whatever was eating at Darren.

What had happened between the three of them? I mean, it was obvious, at least to me, that there was something that Darren and McGee were hiding. I wasn't sure what, but I knew there was something.

But how had Gibbs gotten involved in it? The only thing I could think of was that McGee finally went to Gibbs for advise. Though, if Darren's reaction was anything to go off, it didn't seem like he went soon enough.

When I got up to the conference room Darren had a cup of tea, he apparently hated the taste of coffee, in his hands and a new notebook and pen in front of him. It was the sheer sadness that seemed to radiate off him that got me though.

"Agent DiNozzo," Darren said his normal mask in place, "Are you ready to start the interview or do you want to get something to drink first?"

"Actually I was thinking," I smirked, "You're going to ask questions to get to know me basically. Why don't you return the favor? Remember, if I have to answer honestly so do you."

Darren stared at me for a moment his teeth worrying one of his lip piercing. He was actually trying to figure out how much he wanted the interview. I just hoped he fell for it.

"Deal," Darren sighed, "Tell me, Agent DiNozzo, you've been working in law enforcement for over fifteen years, if you could do anything else what would it be?"

"I don't know," I answered calmly, "I love what I do. I love being a cop. Helping people, catching bad guys. I can't actually see myself doing anything else. My turn. Why did you pick psychology to major in?"

"You're job is to stop the criminals from harming anyone else, but what happens to the victims and their families? Who takes care of them? Honestly, I just want to stop people from doing something drastic because of something that happened to them. Whether that's harming another, harming themselves, doing drugs, or anything of the like. I just want to help them. How would you describe the team dynamic you have at NCIS as opposed to your other places of work?"

"NCIS is my family. I'm not saying that I didn't have that at my other jobs, but it shows much more with NCIS. Probably because the team is more than just myself and another person. I see myself as sort of a big brother to McGee, Ziva, Abby, and even Palmer. Ducky is the grandfather of the group and Gibbs is the father. The team is the most stable relationship I've ever had."

Something about my answer seemed to make Darren freeze. That sadness was back on his face and it was harder for him to shake it off this time. Okay, it was time to get some real answers.

"What about your family?" I continued.

"I don't know," Darren answered shaking his head, "My parents gave me up after I was born. The first foster family I had died in a car crash and everything went down hill from there. I thought I had found a family again. Thought I could find a home there, but you don't…You don't lie to family."

Confusion joined the emotions playing on Darren's face. it was like he was truly trying to figure out how a family acted. And, by what he said, maybe that's exactly what he was doing.

"Yes, you do," I spoke softly, "I know it sucks, but if you're trying to protect your family. You do lie. I have. Gibbs has, Ducky, Ziva, Abby, Palmer, McGee. We've all lied to protect each other from the truth. Not because we wanted to hurt the person, but because we were scared of what the truth would do. You should forgive McGee."

"Who said Tim did anything?" Darren asked confused.

"The way you talked to him this morning. How he talked to Gibbs when you came up here. Darren, you know Tim. You know if he did anything it you to protect you. Don't ever forget that. Give him a chance."

Darren looked up from his notebook and stared at me for a moment. His eyes were blinking quickly, but I could see the tears forming in them. With a small nod of his head he looked back down and continued with the questions.