Not Beta'd; Standard disclaimer applies;
FYI-the dates/times are the times Ducky leaves the message, the message itself is in italics. Some messages Gibbs listened to right after they were left, other timess he listened to a few at a time. For the most part, it doesn't really matter when he listened to you, it's just to give you an idea of a timeline.
Also, you get to hear what he was thinking, feeling, and doing (the three B's) while listening to messages and avoiding the calls.
Science Doesn't Lie, Chapter 20 People are talking
Italics-Ducky phone messages
Tuesday, 4:37 pm, voicemail timestamp
"Jethro? It's Ducky. I wanted to make sure you were okay, you never returned to autopsy after you raced out to find Timothy. I heard that he left work early today. I do hope that you were able to talk to him before he left for the day. Do call me back and let me know if you were able to find him.'
Gibbs sighed as he listened to the first of several messages from one of the people he was closest too. He often thought of Ducky as his confidant, a best friend, and even sometimes as his conscience. He hadn't meant to ignore the older man, nor had he intended to avoid his calls, but after realizing that Tim had left work, not just for that day, but for a few days, without talking to him, well, it didn't put Gibbs in the mood to talk to anyone.
Tuesday, 5:17 pm, voicemail timestamp
"Jethro? It's Ducky. I am preparing to leave work now. I thought we could have dinner together, you, me, Timothy and the twins. I would love to meet them and would gladly keep them entertained so you and Timothy could talk without any interruptions. I could also pick up some steaks for us if you want, all you have to do is give me a call.
Gibbs gave a ghost of a smile, as he listened to the message. Steaks would've been good, he thought, as he picked up his glass of bourbon to take another sip. Eating with Tim and the twins would've been even better, he sadly thought to himself. He wished all it would take was a phone call to have made that option possible.
Tuesday, 5:40 pm, voicemail timestamp
'Jethro, it's Ducky again. I hope you are not waiting for me to bring over some steaks. Since I did not hear from you, I proceeded to my own abode. I figured if you were not answering or returning my calls, you might not be amendable to be stopping by unannounced either. I do hope you are eating something fairly decent and not just partaking in a liquid dinner.'
Gibbs couldn't help but shake his head at that message, even as he ignored the nutritional advice. Ducky was always the doctor, looking out for everyone.
Tuesday, 6:48 pm, voicemail timestamp
'Still have not heard from you. I will not say that I am getting worried, but I do admit to being a bit concerned since I am not sure if that means you were unable to find and talk to Timothy or if you were simply too busy to call me back. I hope it is the latter and that the two of you are talking as I speak. Oh dear. I do hope your silence does not mean that things are not going well. (Sigh). Call me back.'
Gibbs silently raised his glass in a toast before finishing it off. Things are the same as they always were and he didn't see that changing, not when Ducky was the only one calling him. Gibbs sighed as he disconnected from his voicemail and placed the phone down on his workbench and picked up one of his tools, to begin work on another boat.
Tuesday, 8:22 pm, voicemail timestamp
"Ugh, I really do hate these things, Jethro and wish you would pick up your phone. I was wondering if you would care to join me for breakfast tomorrow morning before work? It would give us a good chance to talk, face to face. Just let me know."
Tuesday 9:17 pm, voicemail timestamp
'Jethro, I just realized how you might have taken my earlier message. Although I dislike answering machines and voicemail, and even sometimes the phone, that does not mean I will not utilize them. Obviously. So, there is nothing preventing you from calling me if you need to talk. Do not worry about it being too late, I am always available for a friend.'
Gibbs ignored the voice asking him to call him back when the phone rang again, he moved to pick it up and resisted the urge to throw it across the room when he once again discovered that it wasn't who he wanted to talk to on the other end. Remembering that Tim wouldn't be in the office tomorrow to fix his phone, or set up a new one, made the desire to throw it even stronger. And stomp on it. Gibbs tensed for a moment before tossing it back down on the workbench and emptying the bottle of bourbon into his glass. That infernal contraption was one of the few ways Tim could reach him, if he so desired. Which apparently, he did not.
"Damn you, Abby," Gibbs cursed as he lifted the glass to his lips.
Last week life had seemed perfect or as close to it as he had ever expected his life to be after losing Shannon and Kelly. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Gibbs had felt happy, hopeful. He had enjoyed going into work. It was no longer a place to hide from the world, a place to be or something to do that he felt gave his life purpose, but he had truly enjoyed it. Enjoyed being with the people he worked with, being involved with their lives.
He had also begun to enjoy life outside of work. He couldn't remember the last time he spent an entire evening alone in his basement drinking bourbon and building a boat. Until tonight, that is, he thought, glaring at the boat that seemed to embody his misery. Oh, he had still worked on projects. Gibbs smiled as he thought about the rocking chair he had made for Tim. His glance then drifted to the pieces of wood stacked in the corner that he had planned on building into toys for Tim's kids. His grandkids, Gibbs thought, taking another swallow of bourbon.
"Damn you, Abby," he cursed again. He had finally developed a familial relationship with everyone on his team. It had been easy to do so with Tony and Ziva. It was obvious what role they needed him to be in their lives, all he had to do was step in and fill that void. Tim had always been harder to figure out, which was ironic since the young man usually couldn't hide what he was thinking or feeling. But Tim had a family, one that, given how he reacted when his sister was in trouble, would fight for each other. A family that was close to one another, one that could rely on each other. Tim had not needed Gibbs in that role. At least, not until he found himself alone and scared, unsure of how to tell his family what had been going on. Gibbs wasn't ashamed to say that he saw an opening and took it.
But because of what he knew about the young man and his family, he suspected that the new relationship he had developed with Tim was only going to be temporary, that he was only a stand-in so to speak, until his parents learned about their grandkids, but he was confident that what had happened would bring the two of them closer, that a part of them would always have that, even after he relinquished his 'spot' back to the Admiral and his wife. Tim would've remembered how Gibbs had helped and supported him during his time of need and the two would've been able to keep the closeness that had developed because of it. Instead, truths had been revealed that no one had been prepared to deal with. Years of lies had been revealed. Years of seeming indifference, which had earlier been forgiven, had been brought forth once more, no longer easily dismissed given this new information. Gibbs knew he only had himself to blame, and that was why he was determined to put aside what he felt, what he wanted and let Tim choose how they move forward.
Unfortunately, as each minute passed, it became increasingly clear to Gibbs that Tim did not want them to move forward. That his son did not want to continue or build on those recent changes. That Tim he wanted to ignore the truth that had been hidden from both of them for the last 34 years.
If the truth had been revealed at a different, say years or even months later, Gibbs felt that things could've been different, but since it came when their relationship was just evolving, it had made it easier for Tim to turn back the clock.
"Damn you, Abby," he whispered harshly into the night. Despite everything, he was glad to know the truth, to know that Tim was his son, he just wished it hadn't been discovered the way it had. He knew he would never be able to forgive Abby for that.
Tim had always seemed so close to his family. Gibbs smiled as he remembered the young man willing to sacrifice his career in order to help and protect his sister.
"He would've been a great older brother to you, Kelly," Gibbs muttered sadly, refusing to let the tears that pooled in his eyes escape. "He would've protected you and cherished you," he continued, his voice filled with emotion, "And you probably would've driven him crazy, like Sarah does. Still, he would've loved you."
Gibbs cleared his throat and took another swallow, trying not to think about what might've been, what could've been, what should've been.
He sighed as he pressed the button that would enable him to listen to the newest voicemail message. He, and everyone else, especially Ducky, would just have to accept that life doesn't always give you a happily ever after. Everyone had the right to choose what path they walked, now all he had to do was learn to accept and live with Tim's choice.
Tuesday 9:58 pm, voicemail timestamp
'I wanted to let you know that I will be at the diner tomorrow morning for breakfast. I do hope that you join me, it is no fun eating alone.'
Wednesday 6:22 am
'I am beginning to think that you are avoiding me, Jethro. Maybe I shouldn't have told you I was going to be at the diner. No doubt you needed food this morning. I am sure you spent most of the night with the three B's: bourbon, basement, and boat.'
Wednesday 7:11 am
'I am not really that surprised that you didn't show up at the diner. Disappointed, yes, but not surprised. Still, you are a friend and dealing with a delicate and challenging situation, and I am here for you, for whatever you need, whether it be an ear to bend, or just someone to keep you supplied with coffee. Give me a call back before I leave and let me know if you would like a coffee, I will gladly deliver it to you.'
Tony wasn't sure how he got home, or even how he managed to get up, dressed, and to work the next day. He still couldn't wrap his head around what Tim had told him. Timothy McGee was Leroy Jethro Gibbs biological son. At least that explained a little bit about why the older man had been acting so strange yesterday.
"It can't be," Tony muttered, looking down at the open file in front of him, the notes about Kelsey Gibson possibly being Kelly Gibbs stared back at him. With everything that Tim had told him the night before, he had forgotten Ziva's theory about Kelsey's true identity.. His first thought was to immediate dismiss the idea and 'close' the case, since he now knew how his boss is related to his Probie's children. There are only a couple of problems with that, what to tell Ziva and Gibbs about why he isn't working on it. Okay, so Gibbs wouldn't really be an issue, except for the fact that Tony wasn't sure how to tell his boss that he knows the truth. Ziva would probably attack him with a paperclip if she suspected he was withholding information from her. There was also the problem that Ziva might someday share her theory with the two of them. Not to mention the fact that Tony wasn't sure it would be completely forgotten in his own mind.
"What was that, Tony?" Ziva asked from her desk. "Did you find something out about Kelly?"
"Kelsey."
"What?"
"Kelsey," he repeated. "She isn't Kelly. She can't be," he added. God, if Tim thought things were difficult now, how much more would they be if he or Ziva had shared their theory with McGee or Gibbs. Tony gulped, realizing how bad things could get.
"Tony,"
He shook his head, "Sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence," he replied.
"But,"
"Gibbs isn't always right," he replied before tensing and preparing for an unwelcome headslap.
"Surprisingly, he is not there and did not hear you." Ziva commented, seeing his actions.
Tony sighed in relief, "Good. But I stand by what I said."
Ziva looked at him, wondering at his change of heart, as well as his newly found conviction. "Okay, then let's prove it."
Tony nodded in agreement as he got to work. This time he was determined to stay until he learned the truth about Kelsey.
Wednesday 8:04 am voicemail timestamp
'It is rather silly of you to avoid me, Jethro. I know where you work and where you live. One does not need to be an investigator to realize that the reason you are doing so is because you have yet to talk with Timothy. My dear friend, what are you waiting for? You cannot let this linger. I will see you shortly'
"Good morning," a cheerful Ducky greeted everyone as he entered the bullpen, only to come to an abrupt stop at the sight of Timothy's empty desk. "Where's Timothy?" he asked, looking around as if the young agent might pop out behind a desk or a partition.
When no one answered, he looked towards the team leader for some information. Ducky's eyes narrowed when Gibbs didn't respond and continued to look down at his desk. Turning his head, he focused his gaze on Anthony, only to find him glaring across the bullpen at his supervisor.
"Anthony?" Ducky softly prompted.
"The Director gave him a few days off to…deal with the current situation," Ziva finally responded when no one else had indicated that they even heard the question.
"I see," Ducky replied, raising an eyebrow and shooting a look at Jethro. "I had wanted to invite him down to join me in a cup of tea. I have yet to see any pictures of his children," he softly informed them. "Jethro, perhaps you would care to join me? I am thinking that you do not want coffee this morning," he added.
"Can't gotta work; down an agent," Gibbs gruffly replied, still focused on the file in front of him.
Ducky raised an eyebrow again since he knew that they were currently on cold cases. Being down an agent did not significantly affect their workload.
"I would love to join you, Ducky," Ziva offered. Since the ME appeared, her gaze has drifted from man to man to man. The three of them knew something she didn't, of that she was sure. She couldn't risk asking them here, since she wasn't sure if all three of them knew the same thing or even if they knew that the others knew it as well. A cup of tea and a conversation sounded like the perfect way to get some information from Ducky. She would leave the sparring mats and the paperclips for Tony, she decided.
Ducky sighed, "No, Ziva, that is okay. As Jethro said, you are missing a man. I wouldn't want to be responsible for keeping your team apart or away from their work."
At his words, Gibbs looked up and shot a glare at one of his older friends. Ducky returned the look with a another raised eyebrow, as if to ask, 'You have something to say' or maybe it was a challenge of some sort. Tony wasn't sure. All he knew was that something more was going on between the two men than a refusal to drink tea.
Tim tensed as the phone rang, a bit after his work day was supposed to have begun. He knew that he should have contacted his boss and let him know that he wouldn't be in the office, but given the recent events, he didn't know if he could talk to the older man and keep it business as usual.
"Hello," he softly greeted as he activated his phone, not looking at the screen. He was afraid that if he saw the name 'Gibbs' flashing on his screen he would chicken out.
"Timothy," Ducky's cheerful voice called. "I do hope everything is well with you and the wee ones."
Tim smiled, "I am fine, as are they."
"That is excellent news. I was worried when I heard you were not in today. I hope you do not mind me calling like this."
"Not at all," Tim reassured him.
"Good," Ducky replied in relief. "I was surprised at the news that you were a father, and a bit concerned when I heard about the difficulties they had during the gestation period. I am sorry you had to go through that alone. I hope you know that you only had to say what was going on for me, or anyone else, to be by your side and assist you in any way possible."
Tim smiled, "I know you would have."
"Any of us would have."
Remembering how Gibbs had been by his side, the concern Ziva had expressed, and his conversation with Tony, Tim was beginning to agree with that. "Yeah, I'm starting to understand that now."
Ducky sighed in relief. "I want you to remember that, Timothy. Promise me that you will ask for help from your family, real or chosen, if you need it."
"I will," he promised.
Silence hung on the line between the two before Ducky began speaking again. "Timothy, can I ask you about a rumor I heard?"
Tim closed his eyes and grasped his phone tightly. He should've known a rumor about what had happened was already circulating.
"You do not have to comment on the rumor if you do not want to. Either way, I will not speak of it to anyone else," the older man reassured him.
Releasing a breath, Tim responded, "You can ask."
"I heard through the grapevine that you almost named your son after me, is that true? If so, I am greatly humbled and would have been honored."
Tim could here he sincerity in his voice. "I…When I first found out I was going to be a father, I decided I wanted my child's name to mean something. With that, I thought of the people in my life that I admire. You were definitely one of them," Tim admitted. "In the end, especially once I knew that she was carrying twins, I decided to go with names that reflected on their heritage rather than naming after the people in my life."
"Wise choice," Ducky commented. "It reminds me of a tale I once heard where a young woman…."
Tim smiled and listened as Ducky talked.
When he finished, Tim was laughing, "Really? She gave her kid 18 names?"
"What else could she have done?" Ducky asked. "She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings and leave someone out."
"The poor kid," Tim muttered in sympathy.
"I heard he changed his name the moment he turned 18," Ducky added.
Tim snorted, "Which one did he pick?"
"Ah, a better question would be what he named his children," Ducky teased.
Tim just shook his head. "Thanks, Ducky, I needed that."
"No problem. Now, I best get back to work. Remember you promised to call me if you need anything, even if it is just someone to talk to."
"I will," Tim vowed again.
"Good," Ducky replied cheerfully. "Before I go, I wanted to congratulation you your new family. I hope to see a complete family portrait soon," he added before ending the call.
Tim gave a puzzled look at the phone before setting it down and returning to his earlier tasks. He would definitely have to think about a family photo, though. He really liked the idea of that.
"Dr. Mallard?" Jimmy hesitantly asked, his voice not sounding like his regular self.
"Yes, Mr. Palmer?"
"Is everything okay?"
Worry, that was what he had heard in Mr. Palmer's voice, Ducky realized, relieved that he had been able to place it. "Everything is fine, Mr. Palmer. I am just a bit tired. A friend of mine is going through a challenging time and is being quite stubborn," he replied, scowling as he once more thought about Jethro's behavior.
"Oh, uh, well, that's good, er not that you're tired, but that everything is fine with you," Jimmy awkwardly rushed to explain. "But I meant here, at NCIS, specifically with Tim and the team."
Ducky put down the tools that he was organizing and turned to face the younger man. "What do you mean?"
"I…well, it's just," he paused and took a deep breath. "I ran into Tim in the stairwell again yesterday when I left when Agent Gibbs entered. He seemed to have a lot on his mind."
"A lot has happened," Ducky reminded his assistant.
"Yeah, I know that. And I can understand some of that," Jimmy readily agreed, "but when I ran into him on Monday he seemed to be doing better than he was yesterday and that doesn't make sense. And now he's not in today. I would think with Abby gone and the rumors dying down that he would be doing better, but it seems like the opposite is happening."
"Hmm," Ducky replied non-committedly, not meeting his eyes.
"Then there's Agent Gibbs," Jimmy continued.
Ducky tensed, "Did Jethro say or do something to you, Mr. Palmer?"
"What? No?" Jimmy hastened to reassure his mentor. "He's just…well, according to rumors, he's acting like someone died."
"In a way, he thinks something did," Ducky murmured, remembering his previous thoughts about Jethro and the stages of grief.
"Huh?"
Ducky just shook his head, indicating to Jimmy that it was unimportant to their conversation.
"Oh!" Jimmy said connecting some of the pieces. "He's the stubborn friend that's going though the challenging time," he commented out loud. Nothing Ducky said or did confirmed his statement, but Jimmy was sure he was right. The only thing was, he didn't see how that related to what was going on with Tim. Before he could think things through, he said as much out loud. "What does that have to do with Tim and why he's suddenly not dealing so well with everything?"
"We need to get back to work, Mr. Palmer," Ducky ordered, shutting down the conversation.
"Oh. Oh!" Jimmy's eyes widened and his froze in place as he realized why that could be.
3-25-2020
So, do you think Ducky is trying to be too meddlesome?
What will happen with Tony & Ziva?
Do you think Jimmy figured it out or did he add 2+2 and get 5?
I know the first part is a bit rough...I changed it and edited it sooooooo many times, that I didn't think I could look at it again, so it was either post it as is, or put it away for a while and post much later, so, here it is. I hope you understand how messed up and confused Gibbs is feeling (and drunk, considering all the bourbon he drank). As usual he's being stubborn and think he's right, but at the same time, he's decided to follow Tim's lead regarding what happens next, which would normally be a good thing, but probably isn't the smartest idea in this situation considering Tim is just as stubborn and messed up, and dealing with even more shocks.
And I admit I totally had tears in my eyes when writing what Gibbs was saying about Kelly and Tim.
