Not beta'd; standard disclaimer applies
Science Doesn't Lie, Chapter 18 Not accepted
Gibbs didn't know how long he stood in the lab thinking about what he had just heard. His first reaction had been to deny that it was true, luckily, he hadn't given voice to that instinctive moment of disbelief and denial.
If it had been DiNozzo that had told him that tale, he would've suspected that it was a prank and would have immediately checked the calendar to see if it was April 1. McGee, however, Gibbs shook his head. Even though the young man was a writer, Gibbs couldn't imagine Tim coming to him with such a story unless it was true.
Collapsing into the chair that Tim had sat in earlier, Gibbs stared out blankly, thoughts racing through his mind.
He had a child that was alive. He was a father again. Still, he mentally corrected. Technically, he had been a father years before his daughter had been born, he realized. Years that he had missed, that he would never get back. His hands clenched as he once again wished he knew the name of the person who told Tim's mother that he had died.
'You're not the man I thought you were.' Tim's words replayed in his mind. No, beating that person up wouldn't change anything, but was it so wrong to want to do something? Beating someone else up over the situation was the only thing that was coming to mind, the only way he could think to deal with things at this moment.
Realizing that he needed to talk with someone, to help process this information, and figure out what to do next, he headed to autopsy.
Palmer took one look at Gibbs's face and immediately excused himself, rushing out of the room not even thinking about where he would go or what he would do. He just knew that it wouldn't be good for his health if he had stayed.
"Jethro, what happened?" Ducky asked, leading Gibbs over to the chairs by his desk.
Gibbs looked at the older man before explaining everything, beginning with Abby's visit to the bullpen yesterday morning, the conference room meeting, the confrontation in the lab earlier today, and what the Director said about the situation.
Ducky listened, even though most of this information was not new to him. When Gibbs remained silent for several minutes, the older man nodded empathetically, "My, my, that is a lot to take in," he agreed, still looking at his friend. "What has you so distraught right now? Does it have something to do with the paper in your hand?" he prodded.
Jethro blinked and looked down at his hands, surprised to find the printout of the test results Tim had shown him clutched in one of them. Closing his eyes, Gibbs shoved the paper towards his friend. When Ducky reached for it, he found that even though the younger man had extended his hand, he hadn't released his grasp on the mysterious document. After a few moments of futile tugging and semi-amused looks casted at Jethro, Ducky moved in order to view the apparent prized possession.
"Oh, my," Ducky whispered almost inaudibly, his eyes widening in astonishment and delight, recognizing what he saw.
Keeping his eyes closed, Jethro continued to tell him about going to the lab to see McGee. Finding him hidden in the office, the test results, the conversation his agent had with his mother and the tale McGee had shared with him.
"And you never suspected? Not even after the results of the testing of the Shane's and Kiva's DNA?"
"No," Gibbs gruffly replied, embarrassed about that fact. "How could I have worked so closely with him for all these years and never know? No one suspected," he added, even as a warning not to rule anything out flittered through his mind. "Not even his mother, who should have known that the Agent Gibbs he worked for was his father."
"To be fair, she did believe that you were deceased."
"She should've told my father that she was pregnant," he snapped, his eyes open and brimming with anger. "If I had died, didn't she think that my family would want to know that I left behind a child; didn't my father deserve to know that he had a grandchild? With me being dead, that was a dream he thought wouldn't come true. Instead, she just took a stranger's word for it that I was gone and walked away, taking my child with her."
Ducky nodded, "No doubt there is more to the story, that is something you will have to learn from her. I cannot imagine what she was thinking or feeling during that time, and it is easy to say or judge what she could've or should've done, especially years later."
Gibbs jumped up, stride quickening as he paced the room. "Do you know what I missed?" he yelled. "His first words, his first steps, first day of school. His first date. Helping him with homework, teaching him to play ball, or drive a car, his graduations. All of that and more because some idiot in my hometown lied to her hoping for a date and she believed him."
"But think of what you haven't missed, what you can still be a part of," Ducky softly instructed, hoping to calm his friend down and help him work through the stages of grief he was mentally experiencing. "Think of what the future will hold.
"I know that this news is surprising, confusing, feel conflicted, and that the two of you will have to continue to talk about it and work through your feelings," Ducky commented, "Yet, I believe it should also be celebrated. So, let me be the first to congratulate you." Ducky grinned
"Now," Ducky continued, his voice cheerful. "Where is Timothy? I would like to congratulate him as well."
Gibbs visibly deflated, as he once again collapsed in a chair. "Don't know," he wearily admitted. "Probably back at work in the bullpen," he added when the ME looked at him in disappointment.
Ducky frowned. While Timothy was a responsible and steadfast young man, he couldn't imagine him or anyone coming to terms with this type of news so quickly and readily that they would immediately be able to return to work.
"What did Timothy have to say?"
Gibbs frowned, "I just told you. His mother-"
"Not that," Ducky interrupted impatiently, interrupting the other man. "I meant afterwards, when you and he talked about this."
The frown remained on Gibbs's face as he fell silent.
"Jethro!" Ducky scolded, causing Gibbs's eyes to widen as he looked at the older man in surprise. "Do you mean to tell me that the two of you haven't discussed the situation at all?"
Slowly, Gibbs shook his head, "After telling me what he learnt, he left the lab."
"That's it? He didn't say anything besides given you the facts?" Ducky frowned, before turning to look at his friend. "Did you?"
"I…no, not really," Gibbs admitted. "I asked if he knew who told her I was dead," he replied before sharing the words they exchanged after that.
"Jethro, do you really think he would have returned to the bullpen? Where Tony and Ziva waited, eager to ask him more questions about what was going on? Look at you," he pointedly commented. "After hearing the news, you were in no shape to immediately return to work, what makes you think your son would be?
"Now, forget your part in this newly discovered relationship for a moment," Ducky paused to glare at his companion when Gibbs snorted and looked at him in disbelief. "Yes, you just found out that he is your son, but he just found out that his parents, his mother and the man he thought for the last 34 years was his father lied to him, kept secrets from him.
"Who does he have to turn to? To talk to? Obviously not his parents; and if he didn't know, I am positive the same can be said for his sister. I am also certain that he will not be talking to Anthony about this," the medical examiner shared. "I hope he knows that I am always available to help him," Ducky stated, "But no doubt, he suspected that this was where you would go to get some perspective.
"He is your agent. A member of your team that you hand-picked, and one who has had a massive personal shock," Ducky reminded him. "Would you leave him to flounder and hope he figures things out on his own, or would you track him down and do all that you could to help him through this? How much more so should you do that for your son?
"You asked me earlier how you could 'fix' your relationship with him? Talk to him!" Ducky hissed those last four words.
Before the ME had finished talking, Gibbs was once more on his feet and headed towards the door, Ducky's final words acting as an ignition switch to a rocket as Gibbs picked up momentum.
"Oh, hell," Gibbs muttered as the reality of the situation struck before storming out of autopsy.
Ducky stared after him, a smile on his face, "Yes, I doubt you can forget that he is your son."
"Tim…Hi," Jimmy greeted, his voice full of surprise as he came to a stop in the stairwell and once again spotted the other man sitting on a step. After his unexpected departure from Autopsy, Jimmy didn't know where to go, but automatically headed towards the stair. "We have to stop meeting like this or people will talk," he joked.
Tim didn't reply.
"Er, you okay?" Jimmy asked, waving a hand in front of the still and silent agent. "Tim?" he asked, placing a hand on McGee's shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, Jimmy. Hi."
"Hi," the med student worriedly repeated. "Are you okay?"
Tim snorted.
"Still a lot to think about?" Jimmy asked, remembering why Tim had been in the stairwell the previous day.
"And deal with," Tim replied.
"Anything I can do to help?" he asked in concern. "I've been told I have great ears," he added, rubbing one of them to emphasize his point. "Er, to listen," he awkwardly clarified. "As in, I'm a great listening, not hat my ears are especially attractive…or hideous," he nervously added. "They're just ears. Regular ears, though-"
"Jimmy."
"no super hearing," he continued.
"It's okay, Jimmy," Tim stated. "I knew what you meant and you wouldn't believe me if I told you. I'm not even sure Gibbs believed me," he quietly muttered.
"Of course, I'll believe you," Jimmy argued. "Why wouldn't I? You're not the type to lie or play jokes, well, okay, maybe to Tony, but that's because he starts it first, so I ca"
"Jimmy."
"Right," Jimmy blushed and fell silent.
"I'll believe you," he repeated a few moments later.
"Thanks," Tim replied. "But I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about things yet. I have a lot more thinking to do."
"Okay, but know that I'm here if you want to talk," Jimmy advised. "Er, here, as in around, not here as in the stairwell. Though it might seem that way, since we do keep meeting here, but-"
"Jimmy."
Jimmy fell silent at the reminder. "Right, well, I'll let you do that thinking," he stated, rushing out of sight before he started to ramble again.
Once he was gone from view, Tim stood. Apparently, the stairwell wasn't a good place to sit and think. If Jimmy came across him, who knows who else might do that. Tim tensed as he wondered at the odds of Gibbs taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
"I need a coffee," Tim muttered, partly in truth, and partly as an excuse to move and do his thinking elsewhere. He wouldn't get much accomplished if he was more worried that he would be discovered by Gibbs at any moment.
Even though he suspected Ducky was right and that Tim had not returned to his desk in the bullpen, Gibbs still hoped to see the younger man there when he turned the corner.
"Where's McGee?" he demanded, his eyes frantically scanning the room.
"Haven't seen him since he returned to the lab after meeting with everyone upstairs," Tony replied. "Er, do you want an update on what we've learned about Kelsey?"
"No, I want to know where Tim is," he snapped.
Ziva frowned, her hand reaching for her phone, "Should I call him?"
"Ye…no," Gibbs corrected himself, knowing that despite rule 3, Tim's phone was probably turned off.
Ziva replaced the receiver, a confused look on her face as she sought out Tony's eyes.
"Anything we can help you with?" Tony finally asked, breaking the silence that had stretched on for several minutes.
Gibbs hesitated, wondering if he should call off the search into Kelsey's background. Of course, if he did that, his agents, especially Tony, would want to know why they were no longer pursuing that trail. The answer to that question was something he did not feel comfortable sharing at this time. "Whatcha got on Kelsey?"
Tony and Ziva exchanged looks at the abrupt about-face. Tilting her head to Tony, Ziva indicated for him to begin.
"Glad you asked," Tony grinned, standing up. "We started with where she is now and traced her steps backwards,"
"We were able to verify what we were told," Ziva confirmed.
"Nothing unusual in any of her Foster homes. The few years prior to that, she was home schooled. The reason given for that was because of her mother's status as a single parent," Tony stopped and looked towards Ziva to continue.
Ziva hesitated. "We know she was in California in 1990, and have searched elementary school records for 'Kelsey Gibson'. Not knowing the exact area, there were several results. We are currently comparing those school photos of 'Kelsey' to a confirmed picture we have of her, to get a positive match."
"Once we have accomplished that, we can try to get the school records to get the name of her parents."
"And if she was homeschooled then as well?"
"Then we will try medical records," Ziva informed him. "However, since it is believed her father was around when she was younger, her mother would not have been a single parent at that time, and might not have home schooled her."
Gibbs nodded, deciding it didn't really matter anyway. "Okay, let me know what you find."
His agents nodded in agreement.
"Er," Tony hesitated as Gibbs moved to leave, "Do you want us to contact you or wait till your Gibbs' gut brings you around?"
He paused, wondering how much he would be able to trust his gut, since it hadn't given any signs regarding this current situation. "Wait on that," he directed, "But call me when Tim appears and don't let him leave," he ordered as he exited the bullpen, leaving two very confused agents in his wake.
"McGoner," DiNozzo teased when Tim entered the bullpen about an hour later, "Gibbs is looking for you and he doesn't look happy," he warned the younger man.
Tim just walked by ignoring him and starting straightening his desk. While he hadn't figured anything out, he did realize that he was right. He wouldn't accomplish anything if he was more worried about Gibbs finding him.
"Someone else doesn't look happy, either," Tony noted as he stood up and started to approach Tim's desk.
"McGee, are you okay?" Ziva asked cutting in front of the SFA.
"Uh-huh," Tim replied as he placed his gun and credentials in the drawer, grabbed his bag and walked around his desk. Immediately, Tony and Ziva moved to prevent him from walking out of the bullpen.
Worried about what was going on, they both started talking simultaneously.
"McGee,"
"Probie,"
They exchanged looks before turning back to Tim.
"You wa-"
"Wh-"
The two continued before glaring at one another, each one wanting to be the one to talk to Tim and find out what was going on.
"I've known him longer," Tony commented to Ziva.
"I probably know him better," Ziva retorted.
Tony opened his mouth then closed it again as he looked at her suspiciously, "How well are we talking about?"
"Tony!" Ziva hissed, noticing that Tim had kept moving. "Move it, he is leaving."
Tony looked back and saw that rather than try to pass them, Tim had turned around and was walking the outside edge of the bullpen to the exits.
"You get the stairs, I'll take elevator," Tony ordered. "We'll make him choose who he talks to."
Tim rolled his eyes as he noticed Ziva in front of the stairs and continued towards the elevator. He couldn't ignore or lie to her, however, he had no trouble tuning DiNozzo out if the older man tried to follow him out of the building.
Tony smirked as Ziva when Tim stepped by her and headed in his direction. "So, what happened?"
Tim just glared at him.
Tony snorted, "Not even close to Gibbs."
It took all of Tim's efforts to keep from wincing.
"I know what Abby did was wrong," Tony began, suspecting why Tim was so upset. "You of all people should know how she is. She gets an idea in her head and runs with it, without thinking of the consequences."
Tim snorted but didn't say a word.
"And she gets some pretty crazy ideas," Tony joked. "I mean, you and Gibbs lovers? Having a child together?" He snorted.
Based on the most recent revelation, Tim couldn't help the shudder that followed Tony's words.
"I know right," Tony laughed again, before looking around him and instinctively rubbing the back of his head, "He's not here, right?" Gibbs had a habit of showing up whenever he made an inappropriate comment or insulted the boss.
Reminded that Gibbs could return at any moment, Tim reach out and pressed the elevator down button again, this time more forcefully.
Tony watched him knowingly, "Avoiding Gibbs, then," he observed, believing his suspicions were correct. "Well, you can't be too surprise that he backed Abby," he continued. "I mean, he treats her like she's his beloved daughter to replace the child he lost."
Tim turned away and forced his body not to react at those words.
"Gibbs will calm down," Tony continued, hoping he was right. "I heard being a grandfather mellows even the grumpiest of men."
This time Tim wasn't able to control his reaction.
"It's true?" Tony asked in shock, staring at Tim in amazement. "Well, that explains why he's no longer mad at Abby," he mused, finally overcoming his shock. "She did find his family."
Tim remained standing in front of the elevator, trying to will it to arrive faster.
"So, your kids' are related to Gibbs," Tony continued. "It's not that big of a deal, the team is almost like family anyway. Well," he teased, "Most of us, you've never been as close, but that's probably because you end up sleeping with his daughters," he joked. "What is it with you and Gibbs's daughters?"
"Tony, shut up," Tim finally spoke right before the elevator dinged and opened its doors, finally allowing him to escape.
Tony stepped into the elevator after him and leaned against a side wall, giving himself a clear view of his partner. He was all set to accompany Tim downstairs and to the parking lot to find out what was going on if it was necessary.
"McGee,"
At his name, Tim and Tony both looked up to find Vance at the top of the stairs. He didn't say a word, just stared at Tim before inclining his head requesting for Tim to join him.
"Yes, sir," Tim agreed, already exiting the car. He quickly headed up the stairs as the elevator doors closed on Tony.
"I received an interesting email a few minutes ago," Vance began, looking at Tim expectantly. Tim had silently entered his office and stood before his desk. It had taken a lot of prompting for Leon to get the young agent to be seated, in fact, he refused to talk until Tim had done so.
Tim inclined his head in recognition of the email, but refused to speak.
Vance sighed, "Did you finish what we talked about earlier? Limiting Miss Sciuto's access and logins?"
"Of course," Tim replied, briefly insulted by the question. Regardless of what was going on in his personal life, he wouldn't leave a job undone.
"And the back trace if she attempted to view the results?"
"She won't get any information," Tim reassured the Director.
"Not what I asked," Vance pointed out.
"It's done…"
"But?"
"But somebody has to check the program daily," he admitted, "To see if she attempted to get in."
"Can Cyber Crimes do that?"
"I…yeah. I'll send them what they need."
"Or you can do it yourself," Vance suggested.
"I…I resigned," the young man reminded the Director. That was the only thing he felt he could do, after all, he couldn't spend his days hiding in stairwells or going for coffee in an attempt to avoid everyone. The best thing, he realized, was to make a clean break of it. He didn't think he would have any trouble finding another job, and if he did, well he could always write full time.
"Not accepted," The Director replied.
Tim stared at the older man, "You can't make me come in every day."
"No, I can't," he admitted. "But I hope a few days off, with pay, will help you deal with the situation and enable you to put it behind you."
"Not gonna happen," Tim muttered.
Vance nodded, part of him had expected that response.
"If Abby does not violate her suspension and is not terminated, I can see why you would have a difficult time working with her," he confirmed. "Regardless I do not want NCIS to lose you, nor do I want to break up the best team NCIS has ever had," he added, smiling at one of his top agents.
"Abby will be transferred," he promised, hoping to reassure his agent.
Tim shook his head.
"Yes," Vance stated firmly. "She brought it on herself," he added.
"Won't matter," Tim rebuffed. "Gibbs," he paused, not able to say the words he needed to.
"Understands," Vance stated firmly, meeting Tim's eyes.
Tim just shook his head. "That's not why I'm leaving," Tim admitted.
Vance nodded as if he had his suspicions confirmed. "I see," he spoke softly, pausing to allow Tim time to respond. "I didn't take you for the type to quit because of a bit of scuttlebutt."
Tim snorted, his posture and facial expression indicating that that wasn't the reason either.
Vance took another look at his resignation email. "You wrote: 'In lieu of recent events, you feel there is no other option than to resign from your position as Special Agent on the MCRT, effective immediately,'" Vance concluded, staring at Tim.
"Now, you could be referring to the birth and custody of your children, but that happened three months ago. Of course, your children being released from the hospital is more recent," he added. "Yet there has not been ample time to see how that might interfere with your position here. Plus, when we talked last week before you came back, you had decided to give it some time before deciding how you wanted to proceed. And if you needed more time to adjust, you do have some more paternity leave available to you," he reminded his agent.
Leave wouldn't help, Tim thought, all that would do was put things off till later.
"The most recent thing that has occurred is that Gibbs and your kids are related," Vance said, continuing when Tim didn't speak, "But we do not have any information on that yet," he muttered, almost missing the look on Tim's face.
"Tim?" He questioned, his tone soft and gentle.
"I…we-"
"Leon, we need to talk about McGee," Gibbs said as he barged his way into the Director's office.
Tim snorted before standing up. "Not necessary, Bo-Gi-sir," Tim stated. "Director," he said giving the man a nod as he headed towards the door and crossed the threshold.
Vance shot a glare at Gibbs for interrupting, but otherwise ignored the senior agent. Realizing what McGee intended, Vance had stood up and met the younger man at the door.
"Still not accepted, Agent McGee," he softly informed his employee. "I will talk to you within the next two days, Tim," he firmly added.
Tim didn't say a word as he opened the door and headed back to the bullpen.
Tim hurried down the stairs. Part of him couldn't believe that Gibbs hadn't said a word to him. It was the first time the two had been in the same room since they both learned the truth, yet the man had ignored him. It certainly seemed to affirm his actions in tendering his resignation, Tim thought. Now he just had to keep everyone else from learning what was going on.
"Tim," Ziva called out as she spied the young man. "Tell me what happened."
"No." Tim practically shouted his refusal at her.
Ziva paused in surprise at both the response and the tone. "Why not?"
"Because it doesn't concern you."
"I am a coworker, a teammate, and a friend," she replied, "I am concerned and am willing to listen."
Tim inclined his head, even as he continued to move. "Coworker and teammate, certainly," he agreed. "And probably more curious than concerned," he added.
"Not a friend?" She asked with a frown, ignoring the latter half of his statement.
Tim shrugged, "A friend wouldn't demand I tell them what is going on; a friend would respect my wishes not to talk about it."
Ziva thought about his words, was he right?
"A friend would tell us without having to be asked," Tony commented, joining in on the conversation.
Tim gave another incline of the head.
"A coworker and teammate should know if the badge and gun left behind is significant," Tony added, staring at McGee. "A friend would be privy to the reason why that might be significant," he concluded.
Tim paused. He knew how Tony could be, he wouldn't be happy unless he got an answer, and with Ziva on his side, Tim doubted he would be able to leave unless he gave in. "The Director gave me a few days leave to…deal with what has happened."
Tony smiled, suspecting why that was. "Ah, going to contact your ex for a DNA sample," he whispered so others wouldn't hear.
Ziva had been watching Tim when Tony said that, "I do not think that is why," she murmured, still looking at Tim.
"Did you ask for a couple of days off?" Ziva asked.
"Not really," Tim answered truthfully, yet not meeting their eyes.
"Why did he give you the time off then?" She suspiciously asked.
Tim shrugged, "He suspected I might be feeling a bit confused and betrayed and might have a hard time trusting and working with others after their reactions to all the rumors."
"Oh." Tony and Ziva fell silent, both of them feeling guilty as they suspected their actions the previous day part of the reason why Tim would feel that way, as well as why he didn't consider them friends.
Tim blinked, he hadn't expected his words to leave them paralyzed and speechless. Quickly taking advantage of the opportunity, he headed for the stairs. There was no way he was going to risk getting cornered in the elevator if one of them snapped out of it before he was able to make his escape.
"It's only for a few days, right?" Tony called after him, the sound of hurried footsteps breaking into his thoughts. "Right, Probie?" he repeated when Tim didn't answer. "You'll be back by the end of the week?...Probie?...McGee?...Tim?" he said as the stairwell door finally closed. He would've chased after his teammate for the answer if Ziva hadn't grasped his arm, preventing him from doing so.
"Why did you stop me?" Tony asked, shaking off her arm after the door had closed behind McGee.
"It would have only made the situation worse," she informed him. "This is not the time or place," she added, looking around, Tony's eyes doing likewise.
Their eyes once more fell on the stairway exit, both hoping Tim would reappear, even if they knew it was highly unlikely.
"Why would Vance tell him to take time off today, when Abby is gone and everything has been so much better instead of yesterday when rumors were rampant?"
Ziva snorted.
"What? It's a valid question," Tony defended.
"Obviously something else has occurred,"
Tony frowned, "Maybe,"
"Tony, he placed his gun and badge in his desk before the director called him upstairs," she calmly pointed out before returning to his desk.
At the truth of her words sunk in, he walked in a daze, back to his chair. "I don't like this," Tony muttered. "I really don't like this."
Ziva inclined her head. "There is something else you will not like."
"What?" he worriedly asked.
"Telling Gibbs that McGee was here and that we let him get away."
3-10-2020
Oh my! Tim quit NCIS...seriously, how could you not accept someone's resignation? There is no way you can make them show up and work everyday...
And what happens next?
