Not beta'd; Standard disclaimer applies;


Science doesn't lie; Chapter 24 Wake up call


After leaving Tim's place, Tony absently drove around, not quite ready to return home yet. He knew he wouldn't be able to get to sleep right away, he had too much on his mind. It was understandable that things were going to change after Gibbs and Probie discovered their relation. That was the second thing he had admitted to himself, the first being his feelings of jealousy. Tony just couldn't have imagined that it would be changing this much. It was tough enough trying to picture the MCRT without his Probie, but to lose him at NCIS completely? Tony was determined not to let that happen.

Part of him wanted to go back to the Navy Yard, see if the Director was still there and talk to him, convince him not to let that happen. However, Tony knew that the Director played a small part in this, since, according to Tim, most of his actions would be backed up regulations.

It was Gibbs that was the real problem. Tony knew it would be suicide to confront Gibbs about something personal. A head-slap would be the least of his worries, as would a report in his personnel file. Gibbs didn't like it when other people involved themselves in his personal life, but then again, what else could Gibbs expect when he was doing everything he could to ignore what happened and pretending it didn't exist.

He didn't want to head over to Gibbs's house, despite the 'always unlocked open door' policy, but Tony knew that if he didn't, he would probably end up bringing this up at work tomorrow the minute he sees the older man and that it would most likely happen in the bullpen, in front of everyone, and not in the privacy of the elevator. He couldn't do that Tim. Probie would be horrified and humiliated once he learned that not only did he talk about it at NCIS, but that everyone now knew how Gibbs had reacted to the news. But he had to do something, Tony realized. For Tim, for the team, and hopefully it would knock some sense into Gibbs. He just had to figure out a way to do it so that not only would Gibbs actually listen, but also in a way that didn't have Tony end up with any injuries, not even a head-slap.

With a plan finally in place, Tony drove with purpose to Alexandria, parked and exited his car and headed towards the front door. Once there, Tony opened the door and immediately headed to the basement, suspecting that was were the older man would be. Gibbs looked up at the sound of footsteps, but didn't say a word. After a few minutes of standing on the stairs, Tony sat down, staring at one of the men he had most admired.

"What?" Gibbs, eyes still on the wood in front of him, growled when Tony hadn't spoken yet.

"He deserves better," Tony finally commented, staring at his boss.

"Who does?"

"Your son." A slight pause in the sanding was the only indication that his words were heard. "Your grandchildren as well," Tony added, hoping to incite another reaction of some kind.

"You know," Tony continued when Gibbs remained silent, "He told me that you had been over there or calling to check up on him every day since he took custody of the twins. Every day," he repeated, stressing those words, "Until this week when he returned to work and the relationship to his kids were discovered. Monday, after work: nothing, not even with the stunt that Abby pulled. Tuesday, after he found out who you were to him: nothing.

"Today," Tony paused and looked pointedly around the basement, the casual clothes he wore, the bottle of bourbon on the workbench, before turning back to glare at Gibbs. "The day isn't over yet, but it doesn't look like you plan on going anywhere."

Gibbs set down the sander, giving up working on his latest project, "What do you want, DiNozzo?" he wearily asked.

"For you to realize exactly what you are doing, not just to all of us, but especially to Tim," Tony bluntly replied.

"You had no problem acting like a father to him and a grandfather to his kids before, so why aren't you doing that now? He thinks your previous actions was just because he was alone and had no other help. That you felt obligated to do it because of circumstances. The minute everyone else knew, you disappeared on him. The fact that you were related to his kids, but didn't seem to care?" Tony paused and shook his head.

"What the hell else is he supposed to think and feel when you disappear from his life after you learn that you are his father? He's a father now too, and I can tell you that Tim will never abandon them, or ignore his kids, or pretend that the relationship didn't exist.

"He needs to know you care, that you want to be in their lives. You have to get him to believe that. If you don't do something, he'll be gone and none of us will probably see him again."

"What?" Gibbs uttered in surprise, his voice cracking. "He said that? Told you something?"

Tony had just voiced his worst fear, not having any connection to Tim or the kids again. He had hoped, thought, that if he ignored the situation, as Tim seemed to want, that the two could still work together. He might not be spending quality time with his son or his family, but at least he would be around. He could hear and see how they were, be there in case something happened.

Tony snorted, "You can't seriously expect Tim to come back to work now that he knows that you're his father and that you want nothing to do with him."

"I never said that," Gibbs fervently denied.

"You haven't said or done anything," Tony angrily hissed, "That's the problem."

"Tony," Gibbs sighed before falling silent. How could he get Tony to see that the situation wasn't as simple as it looked like.

"Gibbs," Tony returned in the same tone.

The two remained silent for a few more moments.

"I'm not going to tell ya what to do. You doing something just because someone else told you it was the right thing to do isn't gonna cut it in this situation. Tim deserves more. I can understand if you're confused, unsure, hell even if you are scared," Tony bitterly commented, "But to do nothing is inexcusable. All that's gonna do is make him think you don't care, he thought that before, and with good reason," Tony pointedly added.

"I know that things are never going to be the same in the bullpen, regardless of what happens," Tony reluctantly admitted. "I would just like it if the people were the same, and if that's impossible, at the least that everyone was still close by. We are family, the fact that some of us are actually related by blood should be a good thing, not the tragedy you are making it out to be."

Tony looked at Gibbs as he moved to stand up. Tomorrow he would continue glaring at the older man, knowing that he had said and did all that he could. If Gibbs still appeared to be living up to that second 'B', he would bring Ziva to Probie's place tomorrow, have him tell her the results of their DNA test, and sit back and watch as she unleashed her tempter on Gibbs for what he was, or rather, wasn't doing.

"You need to figure this out. And fast before it's out of your hands. Regardless of recent revelations, or maybe not," Tony stated, confusing himself, as he remembered what Tim had mentioned regarding regulations. "He's still your partner. Rule 1, you don't screw over your partner."

Tony then gave Gibbs a long beseeching look before turning around and climbing out of the basement.


Ducky sighed as he once again picked up the phone to call his stubborn friend. All he wanted to do was make sure that the other man was doing okay, especially given the information that Mr. Palmer had brought to his attention. Ducky knew he didn't have all the answers, especially since he didn't know how either party was feeling about the recent revelation, he just knew that if allowed, Gibbs would shut everyone out. He snorted, no doubt he should be grateful that the other man hadn't 'retired' to Mexico again.

He suddenly became aware of the lack of ringing on the phone. No doubt he had been too busy caught up in his own thoughts that he missed the voice telling him what to do. No problem, he had called Jethro often enough in the last few days that he knew how to proceed. He quickly looked at the notes in his hand. While he wouldn't be reading them verbatim, there were some key points he wanted to make sure were addressed.

"Jethro, this is getting quite ridiculous. There is no reason for you not to talk to me, just like there is no reason for you to avoid Timothy. I understand how difficult this situation must be for you and I am sure he does as well. All I ask is that you give us a chance. While I admit that I do not know what you are thinking and feeling, mostly because you refuse to talk about what is going on, I believe that I can surmise the fundamentals and have, what I hope would be words of wisdom to help you out. I would rather that the two of us had this conversation face-to-face, but, well, that is rather difficult to do one when of those faces is avoiding everyone.

"If I am right in my summations, well, then I hope you take my words to heart, if I am wrong, well, you only have yourself to blame for not telling me what the issues were, though I do hope you forgive me for my presumptions. Either way, I ask that you truly listen to my words and don't ignore these messages like you are ignoring everyone else in your life.

"First off, and I do hope you forgive me for being blunt, but I am not sure how long these blasted things record for and do not want to be cut off. Nobody expects you to replace Kelly, I am sure this is especially true of Timothy. I have no doubt that he would be the first to say that, that is if you actually talk to him.

"Second, hmm, on second thought I think I will reclassify this as 1B, what would Kelly want you to do? I think she would want you to really get to know her big brother. And I am sure Timothy would love to hear about her as well. He isn't the jealous type, you will not have to pretend that she never existed, that you never loved her. The best way to make sure she isn't forgotten is to keep her memory alive. Not only is Timothy her half-brother, but Kiva and Shane are her niece and nephew. There is a possibility part of Kelly lives on in them.

"Second, I know that you might be afraid to lose him, but by cutting him out of your life, you are ensuring that result. Nothing in life is guaranteed. As you said, you already missed out on so much of his life, wouldn't it be best to grab onto everything you can now, while you have the chance rather than throw that opportunity away?

"Third, I have never seen you as happy as you were when you were helping Tim during his difficult times. Being able to focus on others helped you regain the joy life has to offer. I really do not want to see you lose that again.

"This one I'm going to list as 3B, I said it before, and I'll say it again. You are a family man; you thrive on having people around you. People who need you as much as you need them. If anyone doubts that, they just need to look at your team, you created a family out of a bunch of random strangers. Most of them closer to each other and you than they are to their biological families. The fact that some of those ties are biological, should only bring you guys closer, it shouldn't be a wedge to separate you.

"Fourth, hmm, maybe that last point should be four and this one should be 4B. I suppose it doesn't really matter. Anyway, you picked Timothy to be a part of that family. The moment you met him you saw something in him. I am beginning to think that you saw a bit of yourself in him, and with good reason.

"Fifth, and I do hope you forgive me for speaking so bluntly again, but I truly fear that you will not recover if you continue on this way, hiding, suppressing all of your emotions, acting like a loner. It is not healthy. Shock, much like Grief has many stages. Yes, you need to work through them, but again, you do not need to do this on your own. You especially do not need to ignore the fact that you have a wonderful adult son that any man would be proud to include in their family tree.

"Sixth, you are a marine. Man up. Don't let your fear prevent you from having it all, a son, a grandson, and a granddaughter.

"Seventh, check your rules. Rule 51. I do not know what you are thinking, but I am sure that you are wrong. Especially if you are thinking that Timothy does not want or need you in your life. I am sure how you are acting right now is in violation of many of your rules, especially since no one else knows all of them but you. I can think of at least two that come to mind, Rule 8, don't assume, and 5, don't waste good.

"Eight, the KISS principle. Keep it Simple. No grand gestures or fancy speeches, just tell him how you feel, everything you feel. Be honest, to do otherwise is truly being stupid.

"Nin-"

"Duck, how many points do you have?" Jethro finally interrupted.

"I…who? Jethro?"

"That is who you called," Gibbs calmly stated.

"You picked up the phone. I wasn't really paying attention," the doctor admitted. "Just waited a few seconds for that bloody beep and began talking."

Gibbs smirked, "So, I noticed."

"In answer to your question, I have ten points," Ducky smartly replied. "Did you actually listen to the ones I have shared or do I need to go over them again?"

"I listened."

"And?"

"And I really appreciate what you are doing,"

"I hear a but in there," Ducky said with a sigh.

"But I need to figure this out on my own."

"You really don't," Ducky disagreed.

"This part I do," Gibbs argued.

"I thought you listened to the points I shared."

"I did."

"You are not acting like it," Ducky challenged. "You are acting like the same closed off Gibbs, who has to take on the entire world himself," he added, his tone daring Gibbs to prove him wrong.

"Would you believe it and me if I share that I am glad to know that so many people care about what is going on in my life?"

Ducky paused, "Now I am not sure that you are really Jethro."

"And that is why I didn't say anything," Gibbs replied. Ducky could hear the smirk in his voice. "I know you all mean well and that I don't have to do it alone. I do ask that you let me come to you though. It's come to the point that there are too many cooks in the kitchen," he added, thinking about his conversations with Vance, Fornell, Tony, and now Ducky.

"We do not want to do the cooking for you," Ducky protested, "We just want to make sure you get that wake up call and don't burn anything."

Gibbs remained silent.

"Very well," Ducky finally sighed in resignation. "At least promise me that you'll think about what I, and everyone else, said."

"I will, Duck," Gibbs said before hanging up the phone and terminating the call.


4-7-2020

So, Tony confronted Gibbs and walked away unscathed

What did you all think of Ducky's 'message'?

Will Gibbs listen? And more importantly, will he seek out Tim or will the two just go their separate ways as Tony predicted might happen?

The good news...the next two chapters are pretty much ready to be posted. And there isn't that much more to this story (Not sure if that's a good thing or not, you will have to figure that one out)