A/N As Timmy would say, "Tank u bery musch fir all ur lube n' suppowt!" This story has been an amazing journey made even more special by all your favs, follows and reviews! I couldn't have done it without any of you! Special shout out to my amazing beta and now co-author, Gotta, for gently guiding me through my first fanfic! I hope to see you all in the next story!
After starting the bath, Gibbs hustled back downstairs and bumped the temperature up on the thermostat. The fire was nearly out and he didn't feel comfortable starting a new one when he wasn't around to keep an eye on it. A hearty giggle was music to his ears as he walked into the kitchen. What he didn't expect to see was Tim straddled over Jethro's back as if he was riding a horse. The dog didn't appear to mind though, his chin rested on his paws while his eyes were partial closed. Tim was rubbing Jethro's ears, at one point wrapped his arms around the dog's neck, and then rested his chin on top of the furry head. He hated to break up the camaraderie, but with the bath running upstairs it was only a matter of time before the tub was filled.
"Having fun?" Gibbs asked as he walked over to the pair in the middle of the kitchen floor.
The voice caught Tim off guard and he buried his face against the Jethro's neck. When he realized it was Gibbs, he sat up and gave one of his famous grins, "Yesh, doggy muh howsey "
"I see that and it's very nice of him, but it's bath time. We need to get upstairs before the tub overflows."
Giving Jethro's ears one last rub, Tim extended his arms before mumbling, "Kay dada. Me gonna hab bubble?"
Chuckling, the older man gathered Tim in his arms; shutting off all the lights on his way upstairs. Jethro was quick to follow and in many ways had become more protective of Tim since they had been home. The entire night the dog stayed close, watching every move Tim made. Even so much that he refused to eat dinner. Hurrying into the bathroom, Gibbs made it to the faucet in the nick of time and turned it off.
He removed Tim's diaper and as he picked him up to put him in the bath, the toddler began peeing all over his shirt. Caught off guard and unsure of what to do, he set him down and grabbed a washcloth to use as a shield until Tim was finished. Knowing he would be extremely upset, Gibbs tried to laugh it off, but the mortified look on his little guy's face broke his heart. The tips of his ears to the bottom of his chin turned bright red before Tim burst into tears and covered his face with his hands.
Removing the washcloth and throwing it aside, Gibbs knelt down and soothingly ran his hand up and down Tim's back. "Hey, kiddo. Its okay, these kinds of things happen. It's no big deal."
Tremor after tremor racked Tim's small frame along with muffled words that Gibbs couldn't quite make out. He pulled the youngster into his lap, hoping he would find comfort in the closeness. Instantly Tim buried his face against Gibbs' shoulder too embarrassed to look the older man in the eyes. Gibbs realized that no matter what he said, nothing was going to calm the young boy down.
With one hand on the back of Tim's head and the other hand on his back, Gibbs embraced the little guy until he felt the tremors subsiding. Knowing he had to do something to break the tension, Gibbs reached in the bathtub, grabbed a handful of bubbles and placed them on top of Tim's head. Still sniffling, Tim slowly leaned back and wiped the streaks of tears with the back of his hand. Grabbing another handful of bubbles, Gibbs went to work on creating a beard for Tim's face.
"Dada," the toddler whispered as his breathing hitched.
Gibbs stopped what he was doing to give his full attention to the little one. "What is it, kiddo?"
Tim's gaze was focused on the floor, "Me so sowry. R u mad at me?"
Taking a deep breath, Gibbs used a finger to tilt Tim's chin, "I could never be angry with you, son. Unfortunately, it's something you have no control over right now." He paused, taking in the look of sadness in Tim's eyes. "I know its tough, sweetie. You have handled this whole situation better than anybody else on this team would have. I can't imagine Tony, Ziva or even me having to go through a second childhood. I'm sorry that you've had to go through this, but don't think for one second that I'm mad. I'm very proud of you."
The bubbles that adorned Tim's face were slowly sliding off and hitting the floor with a plop. Gibbs was relieved when a small grin appeared on Tim's face, "How about we get you into the bath, we still need to get all this paint off and I would hate to see a perfectly good bubble bath go to waste."
Nodding his head vigorously, Tim sniffled as the older man lifted him into the tub. Relieved to see that crisis concluded, Gibbs stood up and examined his sweatshirt. Peeling it off, he was satisfied to find it hadn't soaked through to his undershirt. Jethro was lying in the corner of the bathroom watching as Tim giggled and played with his toys. Realizing he needed to clean up the floor after the accident, Gibbs looked over at him, "I need to run to the linen closet. Keep an eye on Tim for me, okay?"
A loud bark confirmed his request, while Gibbs addressed the toddler. "Timmy I need to leave and grab a few things so I can clean up. I'll just be a minute but if you need anything, scream as loud as you can, okay?"
"Kay dada," the youngster responded then turned his attention back to the toy boat.
Feeling comfortable that Jethro wouldn't allow anything to happen to Tim, Gibbs quickly made his way to the hall closet, collected an assortment of towels and headed back to the bathroom. Snagging the bottle of cleaner from underneath the sink, he sprayed the floor, dropped to his hands and knees and used an old hand towel to wipe the remaining mess from the floor. As he sat back on his knees a variety of body parts creaked causing Tim to giggle.
"Oh, you think that's funny, kiddo?" Gibbs joked as he pushed himself off the ground and walked over to the sink.
Tim nodded, "U bery old dada."
He couldn't argue with the little guy, every morning when he woke up there appeared to be a new pain. "You're right I am getting old, but why don't we keep that between us. Our little secret, okay?"
"Me lube u old o' young." Tim smiled as he picked up a pile of bubbles, blew them and watched as they sailed onto the freshly cleaned floor.
"Timmy, let's try and keep the bubbles inside the tub," Gibbs admonished him as he grabbed a fresh washcloth and knelt by the tub.
"Sowry," the youngster responded, ducking his head in shame.
Rubbing the back of Tim's head to get his attention, Gibbs waited until he raised his chin and looked at him.
"Don't worry about it. You're starting to look like a prune, daddy's going to get you cleaned up and ready for bed. It's late and this old man could use some rest."
Tim sulked and stuck his bottom lip out in a pout as Gibbs squeezed some soap on the washrag and efficiently began scrubbing paint off the toddler's arms and legs. Noticing Tim's change in mood he spoke, "Hey, once we're done how about a nice bottle and some cuddle time?"
As much as Tim loved the bath, he also enjoyed the quiet alone time with his dada. Gibbs had a special way of making him feel loved, comforted and protected.
Shrugging his shoulders, Tim responded, "Dat be good."
Pinching the little guy's cheek, Gibbs washed his hair and gave him one final rinse before enveloping him in a fluffy warm towel. Once he was completely dry, Gibbs carried him out to the bedroom and laid him on the dresser. "First order of business is to get you in a diaper, don't want a repeat of earlier." Realizing he said that aloud, Gibbs gave himself a mental head slap and held his breath while he waited for Tim's reaction.
Relieved to hear a small giggle escape Tim's mouth he continued their routine until the youngster was fully dressed. After moving him from the dresser to the bed, Gibbs rubbed Tim's belly, "I'm going to get cleaned up in the bathroom, and I'll be right back."
Jethro waited for Gibbs to enter the bathroom before jumping up on the bed and making himself comfortable next to Tim. The dog closed his eyes as Tim softly ran his tiny fingers through his fur. When Gibbs returned he wasn't surprised to see the pair snuggled up on the bed and was happy Jethro was taking his protection orders seriously. After flipping on the bedside lamp, Gibbs turned off the bedroom light and walked over to the bed.
"You two look mighty cozy, but now it's my turn for a cuddle. You ready for a bottle, Timmy?"
"Mmm kay," Tim yawned as the older man snatched the bottle off the nightstand, picked the youngster up and made himself comfortable in the recliner. Jethro followed and plopped down on the floor near them.
Gibbs cradled the young boy in his arms, cherishing the contact between the two of them. He guided the nipple of the bottle to Tim's mouth and waited for him to start sucking. Rocking back and forth in the chair, snuggling with his little boy was a perfect way to end a stressful day. Between Tim being sick and Lucy's interrogation, he was hanging on by a thread. However, the memories he created with Tim would be something he would never forget. He regretted not having those special memories with Kelly and would be damned if he let that happen with Tim. As long as Tim remained a child, his child, the number one goal each day was to make sure he was happy, healthy and loved. A small snuffle brought him out of his musing and he looked down to see Tim fast asleep. Removing the bottle and setting it aside, Gibbs gathered the toddler closer to his chest, leaned back to recline the chair and pulled up the footrest. He knew his back would be killing him in the morning, but he didn't want to risk waking Tim by transferring him to the bed. Flipping off the bedside lamp, he closed his eyes while listening to the sounds of Tim's breathing. "I love you, kiddo" he whispered as he ran his hand down Tim's cheek and kissed his forehead.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Gibbs was awakened to a quiet whimpering. 'Shh Jethro, it's the middle of the night," he grumbled as he snuggled further into the chair. When the dog started barking, Gibbs opened his eyes and flipped on the bedside lamp ready to admonish him. What he didn't expect to see was Tim, fully grown, asleep and sucking his thumb. He looked like the Incredible Hulk, the sleeper was in shreds underneath him and the diaper barely concealed his nether region. He quickly scanned Tim's body, as all new mothers and fathers do, checking for ten fingers, toes and any abnormalities. Tim looked so peaceful, Gibbs debated about waking him but knew the young man would be excited, at least he expected him to be, that he was a fully- grown adult again. Taking the opportunity, he kissed Tim's forehead one last time before gently shaking the young man awake.
Lil bweezy n' cool. N' who shakin me? As the layer of cobwebs slowly dissipated from his mind, Tim opened his eyes, blinking several times to clear the sleep from them. "Dada?" He questioned as he removed his thumb from his mouth and the older man's face came into focus.
Tim was perplexed, why didn't Gibbs appear as big as he normally did? What was going on, why was he being awakened in the middle of the night?"
Watching the growing anxiety on Tim's face, Gibbs couldn't wait any longer to tell him what was going on. He was surprised his young agent hadn't figured it out for himself. He squeezed Tim's thigh, causing the man to look down at the rest of his body. "You're back, Tim!"
The younger man's jaw dropped open as he tried to sit up to examine himself. Gibbs helped pull him up into a sitting position and watched as Tim's eyes scanned from the tips of his toes up to where the diaper sat between his legs. Immediately the young man used one hand to cover his lower region and blushed. "Sowry Gib," he mumbled then shook his head in embarrassment at the words that came out of his mouth.
"No need to be embarrassed, Tim. It might take awhile for your brain to sync up to the changes of your body. In fact, I'm sure your body was weakened by the transformation so a lot of things may be difficult at first." Gibbs reassured him as he soothingly rubbed his back.
Tim sat quietly no doubt digesting the fact he was no longer a baby. However, he was exhausted and as excited, as he was to be back to normal he felt himself dozing off, his head leaning on Gibbs' shoulder.
Gently patting Tim's cheek to awaken him, Gibbs spoke, "Let's get you into bed and I'll get a pair of boxers for you to wear tonight."
Adult Tim was a lot heavier than baby Tim and Gibbs knew he couldn't lift the man on his own. He would need Tim to help carry some of his own weight. He swung the younger man's legs over the armrest and Tim was able to push himself up so he was now sitting straight up in Gibbs' lap.
"Alright on the count of three we're going to stand up and try to walk to the bed."
As embarrassed as Tim was at Gibbs seeing him naked he knew it was already something the older man had seen only in a smaller size. He nodded in confirmation and waited with bated breath to see how much strength he had lost due to his enforced second childhood.
"Okay here we go...1...2...3" On three, Gibbs used the momentum from the rocking chair to propel them both upright. However, he didn't realize his own strength and before he knew it, Tim was toppling to the ground after being unable to maintain his balance.
Gibbs rushed over and cupped Tim's chin in his hand, "You okay, kiddo?"
"Yesh," Tim confirmed as Jethro wandered over and started licking his face. Wrapping his arms around the dog's neck, Tim pulled him close, "Me mished u too Jet."
While Jethro was keeping Tim occupied, Gibbs went to his dresser and pulled out a clean pair of boxers. Kneeling on the floor he guided the young man's legs through the holes and pulled them up as far as he could. "Timmy do you think you can hold yourself up for a second while I pull these on the rest of the way?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Tim replied, "We can twy."
"I think it would be easiest if you lie back and lift your hips. That way I can slide them on the rest of the way."
Tim nodded as he laid back and waited for Gibbs to get into position. "I'm weady," he announced as the older man clutched both sides of the boxers and waited for Tim to lift his hips. Tim was weak, but managed to lift up just enough so Gibbs could slide the boxers on the rest of the way.
"Now all we have to do is get you in bed." Gibbs paused while he thought of the easiest way to accomplish it. Finally he suggested, "You're not that far, do you want to crawl over and then we can hoist you up? I don't think your legs are strong enough for walking yet, perhaps in the morning."
Realizing he had no other choice, Tim shakily got up on all fours and slowly crawled toward the bed. Gibbs kept his hand on Tim's back to steady him along with giving him comfort. Even though it was a short distance, Tim was exhausted by the time he made it. "Gib…tiwed…now…" he squeaked out between breaths.
Patting his back, Gibbs replied, "I know, buddy. Take it easy, we're not in any rush. Let me know when you feel like making a move. Sitting down next to Tim, Gibbs was surprised when the younger man rested his head against his shoulder. These next few days were going to be an adjustment period for both of them. There was no doubt in his mind that Tim would still seek comfort from him even though he was a fully-grown adult again. Once Tim caught his breath he lifted his head and spoke, "Tink I'm weady now da…da…" he blushed as he caught himself and dropped his head.
Giving his agent a soft head smack, Gibbs waited for Tim to reestablish eye contact with him. "Listen Timmy, this is going to be different for both of us. No need to be embarrassed if you slip up, I'll probably do it a lot too. Give yourself time to get readjusted, okay?"
Tim knew Gibbs was right. After a week of referring to the older man as dada and Gib it was going to take some retraining of his brain before everything was back to normal. If his boss didn't mind then he would allow himself an adjustment period and not worry about his actions or the words that came out of his mouth.
"Kay," Tim smiled as Gibbs ruffled his hair. "Tink I'm weady to twy fir da bed now."
"All right, how about you get on your knees and rest your arms on top of the bed." Gibbs patted the bed as Tim got into position. "On the count of three, I want you to use your arms to help pull you up while I lift your legs."
Gibbs stood up and wrapped both arms around Tim's waist. "Here we go…1…2…3!" On three Gibbs boosted Tim's hips and with the younger man's help they were able to get him transferred to the bed. Tim crawled to the top of the bed and collapsed in a heap as exhaustion kicked in. "You alright, Tim?" Gibbs inquired as his agent worked to catch his breath.
Receiving a nod in confirmation, Gibbs pulled the sheets up over him. "I'm going to take the couch tonight, but yell if you need me." Taking one last look at his boy, Gibbs turned off the bedside lamp and walked to the door, knowing he had lost something special from his life. "I'll leave the door open in case you need me, okay?"
"Gib?" Tim murmured and rolled over to face the older man.
"What is it, kiddo?"
"Stay." The young man whispered as he absentmindedly stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Although Gibbs wasn't expecting Tim to ask him to stay he wasn't overly surprised by it either. Even though he was now fully-grown it was obvious it would take some time before his mind caught up with his body. If his youngest needed comfort then he would provide it as long as Tim needed. Gibbs walked to the other side of the bed, lay down and dragged the covers up. Tim rolled over, obviously seeking comfort from the older man. Stretching his arm out, Gibbs waited for Tim to scoot closer ultimately using his shoulder for a pillow. As they settled in, Gibbs wrapped his arms around him and squeezed before kissing the top of his head. Gibbs could feel the tension in Tim's body relax as he used his thumb to rub small circles on his forehead. He hoped the motion along with the close contact between them would lull him to sleep. He was relieved when Tim's breathing evened out before he started softly snoring. Once he knew Tim was taken care of, only then did Gibbs feel comfortable enough to follow him into sleep.
***NCIS***
The following morning Gibbs awakened with a start. Why are my boxers wet? He thought as he opened his eyes, relieved to see Tim still asleep. He was curled up in a ball on the other side of the bed, the sheets tangled in a pile near his feet. Running a hand through his hair, Gibbs sighed when he noticed a wet spot on the middle of the bed. Stupid, stupid, stupid Jethro he scolded himself when he realized Tim's body had betrayed him. With all the developments last night, he was angry with himself that Tim's possible lack of control had fallen off his radar. It was no big deal to him, but he worried how Tim would deal with it now that he was an adult again. Slipping out of bed, Gibbs pulled the comforter up over Tim, collected his clothes and headed for the shower. As he turned it on and waited for it to heat up he chuckled at the toys that littered the bathtub floor. Soon his laughter turned to sadness when he realized baby Tim was no longer. As difficult as this was going to be on him it would be nice to have his whole team back together. Tim was a friend, brother and teammate to the rest of his crew and he knew as much as they loved baby Tim they also missed adult Tim. Although he was sad about losing his little boy he felt grateful for the time they were able to spend together and the unique bond they formed.
Stepping into the shower he closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the water massaged his aching body. Gibbs did a lot of thinking in the shower; it was peaceful, relaxing but more importantly, private. He was worried about how Tim would handle relearning control of his body. Of course he would be embarrassed, but hoped that with some convincing from him and Ducky, Tim would allow them to make suggestions on how he could handle it. He made a mental note to call Ducky to make a house call and pick up any supplies that Tim would need. Wanting to be out of the shower before Tim awakened, he quickly finished up and stepped out. Drying off and slipping into a pair of boxers and undershirt he peeked out the bathroom door. Tim appeared to be sleeping still, but Gibbs knew he could wake up at any minute. Deciding to skip shaving, he brushed his hair and teeth and got dressed. As he was finishing up he heard movement coming from the bedroom. Glancing out the door, he watched as Tim angrily threw back the covers and kicked them into a pile at the end of the bed. The young man then dropped his head in shame and covered his hands with his face. Deciding he had witnessed enough, Gibbs quietly made his way to Tim's side of the bed.
"Tim?"
When there was no response, Gibbs automatically kicked into father mode. Soothingly rubbing his hand up and down Tim's back he took a seat on the bed next to him.
"Tim it's okay. I already know what happened. No reason to be ashamed, son."
Once again there was no response from his junior agent, so Gibbs relied on his instincts. Wrapping one arm around his shoulder to pull him close he used his other arm to wrap around his chest. With Tim's resting against him, Gibbs whispered, "This is all my fault; with all the excitement of last night I forgot you may have a problem with this. I give you permission to head slap me, but if I may make a request, not in front of the team."
Gibbs sat there with bated breath, waiting for Tim to say something or at least take his hands down from his face. Finally after what seemed like eternity, Tim removed his hands and turned to face him.
"I'm sorry, Gib. You have been so good to me and…I…I… go and do this." Tim blushed as he pointed at the stain on the sheets.
"Timmy, your speech is better! That's a very good sign you'll be as good as new in no time. As far as the accident, don't worry about it, but we'll need to get you some sort of protection."
Tim's shoulders slumped, "But I don't want to, it's not fair, why can't everything just be back to normal?"
Patting him on the back, Gibbs replied, "Give it time, son. Your body has been through a lot this past week. You have to focus on the positives otherwise it will drive you crazy. How about walking, you want to give it a try this morning? If you don't feel like you can stand long enough, you can take a nice bath while I go down and make breakfast."
Nodding, Tim waited until Gibbs stood up before he scooted over to the edge of the bed. As his long legs dangled over the edge, Tim looked up and made eye contact with the older man, "Gib?"
The look of desperation was so evident in Tim's eyes it broke his heart. "What's up, kiddo?"
"Do you promise everything will return to normal soon?"
Recognizing Tim was still comforted by touch, Gibbs reached out, cupped his cheek and ran his thumb down it, "I promise I'll do everything in my power to help things get back to normal for you. However, once Ducky has examined you we will know more. You ready to do this?"
Taking a deep breath, Tim planted his feet on the ground while Gibbs clenched his arm and helped pull him up. Once he was standing, his legs shook under the weight and he swayed from side to side. Understanding Tim needed some encouragement, Gibbs steadied him then spoke, "I know you can do it, buddy. Take it slow; I'll be with you every step of the way."
Following another deep breath, Tim looked down, put one foot in front of the other and took a step. Thankful Gibbs was there to lend support he continued on until they made it to the bathroom door. Realizing Tim was already tired, Gibbs leaned him up against the doorframe, still holding tightly to his arm. "Let's take a break. You're doing it though, Timmy! I'm proud of you and you should be proud of yourself!"
Tim smiled and wiped the sweat off his brow, "I am doing it, aren't I?
"Sure are, kiddo. I don't think you'll be able to stand long enough for a shower. How about we sit you down on the toilet to rest while I start the bath?"
Straightening himself up, Tim replied, "Sounds like a plan." After the short walk through the bathroom, Gibbs guided Tim to take a seat on the toilet. "All right, hold on a minute while I get all the toys out of the tub." That phrase earned Gibbs a giggle from his youngest; "I suppose it would be weird if I asked you to keep them in there?"
Astounded at Tim's response, Gibbs looked over his shoulder to read the look on his face. He wasn't sure if Tim was dead serious or if he was being funny. Deciding to put the ball in Tim's court, Gibbs shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'll do whatever you want me to. I could add some bubbles as well." The grin that appeared on Tim's face said it all, convincing Gibbs to pour some bubble bath in the tub as well.
Once the tub was filled, Gibbs looked over at Tim and cleared his throat, "Do you want some help?"
Chewing on his bottom lip, Tim nodded bashfully as the older man helped him walk to the tub, slip out of the wet boxers and step in. After Tim was settled, Gibbs excused himself and came back in with the baby monitor. He wanted to give Tim his privacy, but he also wanted to make sure he could hear if he needed anything. "I'm going to call Ducky and start breakfast. I don't want you getting out of the tub alone, not yet anyway." He pointed to the monitor on the sink, "Call me when you're finished and I'll come help you."
Knowing Gibbs wouldn't take "no" for an answer, Tim resigned himself to the fact he would need help until he regained his strength. "Okay Gib," he answered softly and watched as his boss exited the bathroom.
Sinking down in the tub, Tim sighed, closed his eyes and let the warm water sooth him. As the bubbles surrounded him, he made a mental note to start taking more baths. With his busy schedule it was hard to make time, but if there was anything he learned from the week it was how life can change when you're least expecting it and to enjoy the little things.
He was excited to be back to normal, well almost normal, but he couldn't ignore the pang in his heart when he thought about the moments he'd shared with Gibbs. The man had been amazing and now that he had time to think about it he was going to miss not having his dada around. Sure, Gibbs would still be his boss and they would still be a team but it would be different. No cuddling, feeding or opportunities for Gibbs to take care of him. The older man was right; it was not only going to be an adjustment on his body but also his mind.
After stripping the bed, Gibbs grabbed the baby monitor off the dresser and headed downstairs. Once he threw the sheets in the wash, he made his way to the kitchen to start a fresh pot of coffee. Jethro whined while pawing at the back door in desperate need of relief. As he shut the door, Tim's painting from the previous night caught his attention when a gust of wind ruffled it. Picking it up off the table he smiled as he carried it over to the refrigerator and hung it up. Figuring Tim would need a balanced breakfast to help him regain the strength he'd lost; Gibbs rummaged through the fridge and pulled out bacon, eggs, fruit and toast. Turning on the baby monitor, he checked to see that Tim was okay before setting it aside. As he began cracking eggs into a bowl, he pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial for Ducky.
Finally on the third ring, Ducky picked up, "Hello there Jethro, how's it going?"
"Hey Duck, it's going good. I was wondering if you could make a house call."
"Of course, Jethro. Is Timothy still not feeling well?"
"Actually, Tim was transformed back into an adult last night."
There was a gasp on the other line and Gibbs waited for Ducky to compose himself, "Well that's wonderful news. How's he doing? How are you doing, my friend?"
"Tim's doing okay. Although I've had to help him walk and he still doesn't have control over his bodily functions."
"To be expected, Jethro. Once he regains his strength it will be like this never happened."
"I'm not concerned about Tim walking; he'll pick that up in no time. What I am concerned about is his incontinence for the time being."
"Oh, I see." Ducky paused while he thought of what they could do to help Tim. He then continued, "I'm out grocery shopping, big snowstorm on the way tonight. Do you think Timothy would mind if I bought him some type of protection?"
Gibbs sighed, "Honestly, Duck I don't think he has a choice right now. It's either protection or…"
Ducky interrupted him, "I'll scan the shelves and see what I can find. I'm almost through here so I'll head your way once I'm done."
"Gib? I'm finished, could you come help me?"
Hearing Tim's voice over the monitor, Gibbs replied, "Thanks, Duck. Gotta go, Tim's in the tub and he needs help." Not awaiting a response from the older man, Gibbs let Jethro in from outside then hustled upstairs.
"I'm coming, Timmy." He called from the bedroom as he rummaged through drawers looking for something for Tim to wear. Finally deciding on a pair of sweats, a t-shirt and boxers he grabbed a clean towel and headed into the bathroom.
"All done?" Gibbs questioned as Tim rinsed his body of any remaining bubbles.
Nodding his head, Tim's teeth chattered as he waited for Gibbs to bring a warm towel over. "All right, let's get you up and out. I have some clothes for you to wear." After getting him out of the tub, Gibbs leaned him against the wall while he dried him. He kept his touch as clinical as possible to avoid any awkwardness and once he was finished; guided Tim to the toilet seat to sit down. Quickly dressing him to keep him from catching cold, Gibbs ran a comb through his hair and said, "Ducky's on his way over to check you out but in the meantime I started breakfast downstairs. I know you'll probably want some coffee."
Tim's eyes lit up, "Why do you think I wanted to get out of the bath? I could smell the coffee up here. It's been far too long since I've had a cup."
That got a laugh out of the older man and soon they were on their way downstairs. Tim's balance was getting better; however, Gibbs didn't trust him on his own, not yet anyway.
Finally getting Tim seated at the kitchen table, Gibbs poured two cups of coffee and handed one over to him. "Be careful…" he trailed off, reminding himself that Tim was an adult again and knew the coffee would be hot. Taking a swig he watched as Tim sniffed then carefully put the cup up to his lips to take a sip.
"Yuck!" Tim exclaimed, sputtering, as coffee ran down his chin. "I guess my taste buds haven't caught up with the rest of my body. That coffee tastes awful!"
Stifling a laugh, Gibbs went to the cupboard and got a cup, "Well we have juice or milk, which one would you prefer?"
"Definitely milk," Tim replied, pushing the coffee cup to the center of the table. "I can't believe I used to drink that."
"I'm making bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast. Are you hungry?"
"Starving!" Tim responded before taking a sip of milk. "Yeah, that's much better."
While Gibbs finished breakfast, Tim gave Jethro some much-needed attention. Occasionally Gibbs would glance over to observe the pair who couldn't seem to get enough of each other.
As he was pulling the last piece of bread out of the toaster there was a knock on the door. Depositing a plate of toast on the table, Gibbs stated. "That must be Ducky, good thing I made extra."
Opening the door, Gibbs was treated to a wind gust that sprinkled snow across his face, "Hey, Duck." He motioned with his arm and stepped aside, "Come on in, jeez its cold out there, thanks for making a stop."
"No problem, Jethro. As you know, I was out and about anyway. They are predicting anywhere from a foot to two feet of snow tonight into tomorrow."
Draping Ducky's coat and hat over the couch, Gibbs motioned for him to follow him into the kitchen. "You're just in time for breakfast."
When there was no response from the older man, Gibbs turned to see him standing in the doorway staring at Tim.
"Hey Ducky," Tim grinned at him sheepishly. "I'm back!"
Ducky much like Gibbs scanned Tim from head to toe. Satisfied the he appeared to be back to normal, Ducky walked over and enveloped Tim in a hug, "Good to have you back, lad. It must be nice to feel like your old self again."
"Thanks, Ducky. For everything."
Ducky clasped Tim's shoulder, "The pleasure was all mine."
"All right, let's eat before the food gets cold," Gibbs suggested. Out of habit, he fixed Tim a plate and scooted it in front of him. When Ducky cleared his throat he looked up to see both of them staring at him, "Sorry force of habit, won't happen again."
Each of them was eating, focused on their own plates when Ducky nudged Gibbs' foot underneath the table. The older man motioned with his fork over to Tim who had his head down, shoveling food in his mouth with his hands. It wasn't until Tim stopped for a drink that he realized the pair was staring at him.
Suddenly comprehending what they were staring at, Tim swallowed the food in his mouth and grabbed a napkin. Blushing he stuttered, "Sor sor sorry, guess you're right Gib, old habits do die hard."
Winking at his youngest, Gibbs responded, "Try and use your fork, if you don't have the dexterity yet then use your hands. What happens here will stay between us. That goes for everything."
Tim's shoulder sagged in relief, "Thank you."
Immediately after they finished breakfast, Ducky started his examination on Tim while Gibbs cleaned up. "Just want to check a couple of things my dear boy then I recommend you rest for a few days."
As Ducky inflated the blood pressure cuff, Tim lowered his head and spoke softly, "I know Gib has told you about my loss of control, how long do you think that's going to last?"
Patting Tim's knee, Ducky replied, "In all honesty I don't know. It may only be a few days or it could be longer. The best thing for you to do now is wear the protection I bought."
"But…but…" Tim's voice cracked upon hearing his response forcing Gibbs to stop washing dishes and try to provide comfort. Gently squeezing Tim's shoulder he stated, "I know it sucks, Timmy. However, no one will know except us and really it's what's best for you.
"Yeah, well you don't have to be the one wearing them now, do you?" Tim snapped and buried his face in his hands.
Gibbs and Ducky shared a look, silently deciding who would console him before Ducky nodded at Gibbs. Scooting a chair next to him, Gibbs wrapped one arm around his shoulder and pulled him close. Whispering in Tim's ear he said, "Kiddo, I don't like this anymore than you do, but you need something. If you think having to wear protection is embarrassing, wouldn't you be more ashamed if you had an accident in front of the team?"
Slowly removing his hands from his face, Tim leaned his head on Gibbs' shoulder and sighed, "I'm sorry, you're right. You two are just trying to help and I'm acting like a brat."
Laying a kiss to Tim's temple, Gibbs responded, "You have the right to be upset. If any of us were in your position we would be thinking the same thing."
Feeling a bit better about the situation, Tim sat up and allowed the doctor to finish examining him. Putting away the stethoscope, Ducky announced, "Your vitals are normal my boy. I suspect once you regain some energy your balance will return and soon after control over the rest of your body. Now I would love to stay and chat but I must be going." He slid the bag of protection briefs in front of Tim, "These just slide right on. That way you can do it by yourself."
"Thanks Ducky, now will you come give me a hug?"
Following a round of hugs, Gibbs walked Ducky to the door, "Thanks for stopping by. Be safe driving home and let me know when you get there. Oh, by the way, the rest of the team doesn't know that Tim's been transformed back. I would appreciate it if you could keep it quiet and let him be the one to tell them."
Ducky patted his arm, "Your secret's safe with me. If you feel the need to chat, you know where you can find me. Now go take care of your boy."
Gibbs opened the door; "You don't have to tell me twice. We'll talk with you soon. Thanks again."
By the time Gibbs made it back to the kitchen, Tim was up from the table, staggering to the bathroom, while using the counter and wall to support him. Taking hold of his free arm, Gibbs guided him to the downstairs bathroom. "Well look at you go, by the end of the day I imagine you'll be doing this on your own. You heard Ducky though, rest…rest…rest so that's what we're going to do. Stay here and I'll get the bag from Duck."
Handing the bag over to Tim, he shut the door; "Call me if you need me."
***NCIS***
Over the next few days, two feet of snow had fallen along the East coast bringing the city to a standstill. Citizens were advised to stay home to allow the snow plows to clear the streets. During that time, Gibbs and Tim watched movies, played games and even worked on the boat together. Tim's strength was improving each day and he was now walking successfully without assistance. His lack of control was still an issue, but was also getting better. Gibbs had been in contact with Vance, letting him know that Tim was back to normal but needed some time before he would be ready to return to work. Finally, on the third day of being snowed in, the sun was shining and roads were clear to travel again. Gibbs had requested the remainder of the week off to help Tim readjust and with very little work to do, Vance granted him permission. Although Vance and Ducky were the only people who knew Tim had been transformed back, that was about to change. Gibbs was a mixed bag of emotions as he watched Tim come down the stairs. Sadness, joy and worry were the ones that were making themselves known. On one hand, he enjoyed having both baby and adult Tim around. For a long time his house hadn't felt this cozy. It had always been the place where he slept, but after the deaths of Shannon and Kelly it didn't feel like he lived there. On the other hand, he was happy Tim had been transformed and was regaining his strength each day. Gibbs was grateful that although Tim's situation hadn't been ideal they were able to make the best of it, together. Tim had decided he was ready and able to return home and was eager to get back into a routine. The plan was to stop by NCIS, surprise everybody and then continue on to Tim's apartment.
Gibbs chuckled as Tim stood in front of him wearing a pair of jeans that were a little too short and shoes that were a little too tight.
"Yeah, yeah laugh all you want." Shrugging his shoulders he continued, "I'm sure I'll never hear the end of this from Tony."
Grabbing two jackets out of the closet, he handed one to Tim, "Not unless he wants to be digging my boot out of his ass."
After loading up the car they began the journey to the office.
"You think Vance will be upset that we have Jethro with us?" Tim questioned as the dog took a seat next to the window and stared out.
Gibbs scoffed, "He can't expect us to leave him in the car, besides I don't plan on being there that long. We can leave him down in the lab."
The two men rode in silence each buried in their own thoughts. Finally Tim spoke, "You okay, boss? You've been quiet, well I mean, quieter than usual today."
Stopped at a red light, Gibbs looked over at Tim who was studying him intensely.
Trying to put on his normal stoic face, Gibbs replied, "I'm fine."
Tim chuckled, "No offense, Gibbs but you don't look fine to me. Want to talk about it?"
"Not really." Gibbs' reply was short along with a hint of sadness.
"Okay. I was just trying to help." Feeling defeated and hurt, Tim turned and leaned his head up against the window. He thought their relationship had changed and Gibbs felt more comfortable talking about things with him.
Gibbs sighed and ran his fingers through his hair when he glanced over and saw Tim slumped against the window. The truth of the matter was Gibbs didn't know how to relay to Tim how he was feeling without sounding greedy. However, he quickly realized if he didn't speak with him then all the trust they built up over the past week with each other would be gone.
Taking a deep breath, Gibbs patted Tim on the knee, "Sorry, kiddo. I know you were only trying to help."
With his attention focused on the older man, Tim spoke, "Talk to me please! What's going through your head right now?"
"I'm going to miss you, Timmy."
"I'll miss you too, Gibbs. It's not as if we still won't see each other. You're still my boss and…"
Tim couldn't get any further before Gibbs interrupted him. "Baby Tim," he blurted out.
Scratching his head, Tim blushed and whispered, "Oh" as the light bulb suddenly went off in his head.
"Listen, Tim. I know this whole situation has been a nightmare for you. However, I want to thank you for trusting me to take care of you, protect you and most importantly, love you. The truth of the matter is when Kelly was younger I didn't get the chance to be the loving, doting dad because I was in the Corps."
Pausing to compose himself he continued, "It was nice to be given a second chance at something so sacred and I'm going to miss not having a little guy around anymore. That's not to say I'm not happy that you're back to your normal self because I am. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I really enjoyed taking care of you."
Bit by bit, pieces of the emotional wall Gibbs put up decades ago were beginning to crumble. Happy he could be a part of it, Tim wanted Gibbs to know that it wasn't all for not.
"Wow, boss, I don't know what to say. First off, thank you for taking such good care of me. I'm glad I could give you all those wonderful feelings back. As much as I disliked being a baby, there is nobody in the world who I would have rather had as a temporary caregiver. I didn't have the best childhood, but given this past week with you, I feel like I have."
Gibbs choked back tears, "Thanks, Timmy. That really means a lot to me. You know I'm always here if you need me."
Reaching over and patting Gibbs' arm, Tim replied, "I've always known, boss."
After they parked and exited the vehicle, Gibbs wrapped his arm around Tim's shoulder and squeezed, "Ready for this?"
Taking a deep breath, Tim nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go drop Jethro off at the lab."
Abby's music was blaring when they walked into the lab. Sitting at the computer with her back to the door, Tim leaned down and whispered in Jethro's ear. "Go get her, boy." The two men watched as Jethro walked over and licked Abby's hand. She jumped at the wet kiss, "Jethro, what are you doing here?"
Raising his voice loud enough to be heard over the music, Tim shouted, "Turn around, Abs!"
At the sound of Tim's voice, Abby lowered the music and slowly rotated the chair, a look of disbelief set firmly on her face. "Timmy! You're back!" She bellowed, running towards him and throwing her arms around his neck. The force of her hug caused Tim to stumble back and if not for Gibbs' steady arm, they would have hit the floor.
She took a step back, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "You look great, when did this happen and why wasn't I informed?"
Gibbs started to open his mouth, but stopped when Tim spoke, "A few days ago. I wanted to wait to tell everyone once I regained some of my strength. Gibbs and I have been hanging out at his house."
Abby patted his cheek and started to babble, "You look so good, not that you didn't look good before. There's something different about you, not in a bad way…"
"Abby!" Gibbs interrupted her before she could go any further.
"Sorry, I'm just so happy that my Timmy is back." Enveloping Tim in another hug she asked, "Do the others know? Tony and Ziva are upstairs in the bullpen; I can't wait to see their faces."
"Ducky and Vance are the only people who know. I think we should head up to the bullpen now."
Leaving Jethro in the lab, they shut the door and headed for the elevator with Abby permanently glued to Tim's side. When the doors slid open they could hear Tony and Ziva arguing about who was going to be the first one to hold Tim when they saw him again.
Neither noticed the trio behind them until Gibbs growled, "Is this what happens when I leave you in charge, DiNozzo? No work gets done?"
"Boss!" He gulped, lifting his head as Ziva spun around clutching her chest. "Gibbs! You scared me!"
"Hey Guys." Tim waved, walking over to Ziva's desk where they had congregated.
A huge grin appeared on both of their faces.
"Probie!" Tony greeted him with a bear hug then pulled back and looked down. "Huh, are you sure you're finished growing because you look like you're a few inches shorter than…"
Smack
"Sorry, Tim." Tony stepped aside and rubbed the back of his head.
"My turn," Ziva smiled and allowed Tim to wrap his arms around her. "It's good to see you Ziva. I missed you."
She ran her hand down his cheek, "We missed you too, Tim. When did this happen?"
Gibbs sighed, "The night after Lucy's interrogation. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and he was changed back."
Tim cleared his throat; "I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for all that you've done for me. I want you to know that you have my heartfelt thanks and I love you all."
"Aww group hug!" Abby squealed as the four embraced each other in the middle of the bullpen. Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat as he watched his four kids cuddle. Yeah, they picked on each other and occasionally played pranks, but they were family. His family and for that he was thankful.
Noticing Tim was becoming exhausted he made eye contact with his youngest, "You ready to go home?"
Tim grinned, "I am home. And there's no place like it."
Finis
A/N I hope you enjoyed! GottahavemyNCIS and I are co-authoring a sequel to McBaby called: An Unexpected Love. We're posting the new story under our joint profile, GottahaveHarmonFreak. The first chapter is up now and here's a brief summary. We hope you enjoy that story as much as you have this one! We'll see you over there!
"An Unexpected Love"
As Gibbs and McGee recover from recent events, each comes to a startling realization. While working on one of their strangest cases to date, chances are taken and new relationships are formed. This is a sequel to McBaby. Although it's not necessary to have read McBaby, we welcome new readers! Eventually slash, McGib!