Admiral McGee had his arm looped tight around Tori's as they walked along the sidewalks of the suburban kingdom. She knew that she wasn't that drunk, but was more than welcome to give John the extra support if he needed it. It was hard for the little DiNozzo to even believe he was sick and most likely dying, sure he had lost his hair, but nothing else would have led her to believe that he was ailing. The man was tall and staunch, and she could see how the admiral could come off as cold, especially to a son, like Tim. The walk, however, was almost silent and Tori had no idea what to say. Instead the pair just kept marching forward one step at a time.
John cleared his throat, "You know, Tim loves walks. He's the one who got me started on these. Saved our relationship."
"They do clear the mind," Tori looked up at him and smiled.
"Whenever see him, we always walk together. It's especially nice since I guess we can sort of talk about his work," the father smirked, "Not that I understand a lick of that computer mumbo jumbo that he does."
"Ya, he is on another level," the little DiNozzo nodded, "Sometimes I can't even comprehend what we're working on. I guess that's why my boss has me do undercover work."
"At least you can understand it!" he chuckled, "So undercover work mostly. That's got to be interesting."
"It can be," she shrugged, "Except when your boyfriend's family thinks you're a stripper."
The admiral rolled his eyes, "Don't mind them. Not a single one of my family members is perfect, and they should really be careful where they cast stones. They don't know the real you. Hell the only reason I know about the real you is because Agent Gibbs and my son briefed me on this case."
"I'm also sorry about that…I just…my family…" Tori stumbled through her words, "I bet you never expected your son to bring home a girl who had direct familial connections to the mob."
John began to laugh, "No Typically Tori, I did not! But, my dear I'm going to tell you what I had to tell my kids from time to time. Your family and friends do not, and cannot define you, only you define you. And I know for a fact that my wife, my baby girl, my mother, and I think you are great. And I can't even start on Tim's feelings, but I bet he thinks you're pretty great too."
"I certainly hope so," she laughed.
There was silence again as they walked a few more paces. The night was cool and crisp. Now coming out of drunken daze, the little ballerina began to notice the little sounds that the city did not have. They rounded a corner when the admiral finally asked the question she had ben dreading the entire walk.
"So, who did you hit?"
Tori grimaced, "Harold…"
A snort of muffled laughter snuck out of the serious man's mouth, "You hit my 6'5, 250 plus pound, gym rat nephew…"
"And brought him to his knees," she averted her gaze.
"What the hell did he do?" John asked.
"What didn't he do?" The little DiNozzo could feel the anger bubbling within her, "He just wouldn't stop insulting Tim. And the comments were so ignorant, but everyone else just joined along. So I had a few drinks and lost my temper, when he basically told Tim that his career wouldn't support me. Then to top it all off he smacked my ass and told me to get him a beer. And I'm sorry, but you do not just insult the people I care about, and you most certainly do not treat me like a piece of meat and assume that since I'm a woman I need to be cared for. I've been taking care of myself for years! I am more than capable and I don't need someone to take care of me!"
It was at this point Tori realized she had let go of her walking buddy's arm and was at least three houses ahead of him. She stopped and watched as he slowly sauntered towards her, chewing on his kip, thinking about the rant that his son's new girlfriend just spewed from her mouth. Something was truly bothering him. When John finally caught up to her, he once again took her arm, but she noticed how straight he stood.
"My dear, I apologize for my family's behavior," the admiral spoke in a clear tone, "It is not right how they have acted towards you, it is inappropriate and not how a lady should be treated. I guess I shouldn't condone the way they have treated my son for the past thirty years. But, I can't blame just them. I think a lot like my family in that sense. I know Tim has told about our relationship."
"He's said a few things here and there," Tori nodded, slightly frightened.
"So you know that I'm not going to win Father of the year anytime soon. But, Tori I'm not a bad guy, a lousy father, an absentee husband, a judgmental son, but not a bad guy," he looked at the sidewalk ahead, then to the little DiNozzo who was so deep in thought.
"I never thought you were…"Tori finally spoke.
"Oh really?" he sighed, sounding almost surprised.
"No, as much as I hate the way everyone picks on Tim, I know that if it didn't happen, he would be the man he is today. And that goes for you too, and the way you raised him. I never want to change who he is," she smiled.
"What do you mean" John asked.
"Think about it, for most of his life he's tried to be the exact opposite of what you and all of his cousins wanted him to be. If you weren't as strict or as hard on him as you were, he could be a completely different person, and I don't if I would like that person," Tori shrugged.
More silence followed, as the march continued, "Do you really like him?" The admiral finally asked.
"The little DiNozzo stopped, and looked into his father's eyes and smiled, "I love Tim."
"Do you? Do you really?" a slight anxiety came over his voice, as he kept strong eye contact, "I have to make sure my boy is going to be ok after I'm…I can't let him get hurt again. He needs somebody. So do you love Tim they way he loves you?"
It suddenly became clear to Tori that this walk was not intended to sober her up, it was to discuss the future. Her future with his son. So, in that moment she decided it was best to mull over the question at hand. She had to give his father her most honest answer, "No."
"What…" the admiral almost back peddled.
"I don't love Tim the way he loves me. I love him they I love Tim," she said, taking his arm and leading him back to the house.
"That makes no sense," he jerked his arm away.
Tori sighed, "Don't you see, your son falls in love the way everyone should, hard, fast, and with a healthy amount of reservation and nervousness…"
"That's not love, that's infatuation, John shook his head, trying to dismiss her comment.
"May I finish," she cooed softly, "That's one thing Tim's taught me, always listen and let people get their point across, or you might miss out on something important," Admiral McGee hesitantly nodded and took her arm as they began to walk again, "Thank you. You see, it may seem, like infatuation, but infatuation fades quickly, his feelings don't. Although Tim's hesitant with every new relationship, he knows what he wants and he's willing to make everything work. He trust like he's been broken, and loves like he's never been hurt before," Tori paused, taking in a deep breath, "So when I say, I do not love Tim the way he loves me, it's because I can't. I'm guarded. It's hard for me to trust. I'm overly cautious. I've been hurt. And sadly at my age, I'm still learning what love is. So it's pretty damn near impossible for me to love him the same way, but I love him my way. I love him despite my heart break, my hang ups, and every wall I try and put up. One day I hope I can love like him, because it's beautiful, and deserves that type of love. So please don't worry, I don't want to hurt him. I want to love him for as long as he'll love me."
Tori looked to hardened man, as he stopped and embraced her, letting all of the anxiety leave his mind.
"Thank you," he sighed as they walked through the front door and up the stairs.
"No, thank you. It was a lovely walk," She gripped the door handle to Sarah's room.
"Nope," the admiral pointed down the hallway to his son's room, "The bed in Tim's room is much more comfortable than the day bed, plus some of the cousin's might stay with Sarah tonight. They're loud and I don't want them waking you up."
"You sure?" Tori arched her eyebrow.
"Positive," he made his way back down into the living room.
Later that evening Tim McGee came home exhausted after bringing half of his cousins to their hotel, and the other half to his family home. After all this time, he thought, they would have calmed down. Finally he had made it up the stairs and into his room, to find a sleeping Tori curled up on the other side of the bed.
"Tori, what are you doing in here," he whispered lightly shaking her, "My mother will…"
"I told her it was fine," his father's voice echoed behind him, "I'll take the heat from your other in the morning."
"You're serious?" Tim gave him a dumbfounded look.
"We had a nice talk tonight," the admiral smiled, "She's been through a lot with the family. So I figure, it was ok, just this once. And you better be good and mind the rules of this house. You understand me, son?"
"Dad…" he gave him a blank stare.
John McGee patted his son's shoulder, "You picked a good one, Tim."
"Thanks, Dad," McGee smirked, "I think so too."
"Now, get some sleep. You look like hell! You really need to start listening to me when I say you need to keep better care of yourself," he chided.
"Alright, whatever you say," Tim chuckled rolling his eyes, "Night, Dad."
"Goodnight, Son," the Admiral smiled closing the door behind him.
