Not Beta'd; standard disclaimer applies

(And I updated chapter 7 where Tim mentions that he'll have his laptop with him to check on the searches and not his phone)

Next of Kin, Chapter 9, Shakespearean Play

A much calmer and collected Tim thanked Ducky before turning around and walking back towards Gibbs's room, the older man right on his heels. Even though they hadn't talked for long and Tim hadn't said much, he felt better now that somebody else knew the truth. The fact that Ducky was so accepting made him feel even better. The ME had been supportive and understanding, and surprisingly hadn't pushed for details regarding Tim's status as his boss's son.

"Tim!" Abby cried out as she spied the younger man walking past the lounge where she, Tony, and Ziva had retreated to while waiting till they could once more visit Gibbs.

"Abigail, do I need to remind you that you are in a hospital?" Ducky hissed. "Have some respect and keep your voice down, many patients need their sleep. They do not deserve to be woken up to hear your conversations."

"Sorry, Ducky," she apologized, before turning to Tim. "You weren't with us when we saw Gibbs," she stated, glaring at him, her tone softer, but still communicating her displeasure at him. "And when we left, you weren't out here either."

"Sorry, Abs," Tim automatically and absently apologized, his mind focused on other concerns, "I was talking to Dr. Gelfund and then Ducky."

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" She whispered, her voice filled with horror as her hands came up to cover her mouth. "Oh, I knew it! The doctor insinuated that there was more than just the amnesia keeping him here, but he wouldn't tell us anything else."

"I don't think there's anything to be concerned about," Tim stated, trying to reassure her, "But I'm heading in there now and will find out."

"Good!" Abby exclaimed, much more cheerfully than before. "Let's go," she ordered, moving to take hold of Tim and accompany him.

"Abby," Ducky began, hoping to make her see reason since he knew that Tim wanted to be alone with Gibbs, at least for that first visit.

"The doctor won't say anything if we're present," Tony predicted in a flat, monotone voice, which betrayed how he was feeling. "We don't have a right to know," he added, as he stood in front of her, preventing her from following McGee.

Sure that Anthony and Ziva would keep an eye, and if needed, and arm, on Abby, Ducky turned to follow Tim. He promised that he would be there to support him, and part of that was being available in case Jethro didn't completely recognize the younger man.

"But Tim," Abby uttered in confusion, her eyes following the man in question as he walked away from them without another word. "Why would the Doctor tell Tim and not us? We've all known Gibbs longer, well, except Ziva," she added.

"McGee is his next of Kin," the Israeli reminded her when Tony looked away, not saying anything or meeting anyone's eyes.

Abby frowned and looked at the two co-workers standing around her. "Wait…that's really true? I just thought Timmy said that so Jenny would stop arguing and let him go to the hospital to visit Gibbs."

Tony frowned, her words reminding him of something. Shaking his head, he brought up something else that bothered him, "We talked about it on the drive over, you seemed to believe it then."

Abby shrugged, "Yeah, but that talk was what made me realize that it had to be a ruse," she explained. "As you said, it made no sense for Timmy to be listed as Gibbs's next of kin, even if it was solely due to being at the right place at the right time, as Ziva suggested, when Gibbs was completing his forms. I mean, he had to know that none of us would've said no to him."

Both Tony and Ziva shook their heads, neither one sure how to respond to that statement, which left all of them standing in the doorway to the waiting area, staring at one another.

Noticing his patient's son hovering in the doorway, Todd beckoned him in.

"Go, on," Ducky encouraged, standing behind Timothy. "I'm right here if you need anything."

After smiling his thanks to the other man and taking a few more moments to gather his courage and mentally prepare himself for the worst, Tim strode forward.

Seeing the doctor's gesture and noticing movement from the corner of his eye, Gibbs had turned his head.

"My boy, my son," Todd heard his patient whisper in relief as Tim entered the room and approached the bed, "You came." The last was said a bit louder, allowing even those outside of the room to hear his words.

"Of course, I did. I came as soon as I could," Tim reassured his father. Later, when Gibbs was better, Tim would explain how he worked on the case, and that he had revealed part of their secret to the director and the team to make sure he was here. "You remember me?"

Gibbs smiled fondly at his son, "I could never forget my son, my boy."

Tim just stared at the older man, waiting for more information to confirm that fact.

Gibbs smiled, "Sometimes you trust too easily, yet don't want to trust in that trust," he added.

Tim smiled, his lack of confidence, in his own feelings was something his father had often teased him about, still knowing Gibbs and his gut, it wasn't enough to convince him yet.

"You're stubborn, like me, which has led to some interesting…conversations," he stated, amusement tinting his voice, as Tim continued to stare at him, not backing down or giving in.

"Your favorite color is green, forest green to be exact. Your favorite book is The Moonstone. You recently read a book about a girl and a dragon tattoo. You can't wait for the next Harry Potter book to be released. You have to read a book before you see the movie and then spend the next week after seeing the movie listing all the reasons why the book was better. You prefer to spend time at home, reading, writing, or on the computer and not out at clubs, though restaurants are okay. You like your steaks medium well and your potatoes mashed, can't stand brussel sprouts or cooked carrots. You take your coffee with milk, not cream; if it's a really bad day, you will sugar. You prefer wine to beer, and rarely drink the hard stuff. Because of you, not only did I have to keep Nutter Butters in stock, but you gotten me hooked on them as well," he added, giving a laugh. "You hate seafood and being on a boat, but love being in or by the water. You're allergic to strawberries and you once-"

"Okay, okay," Tim interrupted, before his father could share anything too embarrassing. "I get it. You remember me," or at least things about me, he silently added to himself. All those things were true and were too specific for Tim to think that his father had confused him with someone else, but still, something had the younger man holding back.

The two men stared at each other, taking stock and making sure the other was okay.

"Your pale," Gibbs stated in concern.

Tim snorted, "I'm always pale, you know I don't tan,"

"You burn," his father man confirmed, finishing his statement. "You look paler than normal, son."

Tim shrugged, "It's these lights."

Blue eyes narrowed, "I don't think it is."

Another shrug, "You're looking a little pale yourself."

"It's the lights," Gibbs glibly reiterated his son's answer.

Tim smiled, "I'm sure we'll both be fine, now that you're awake." His relief regarding that fact was palpable.

"Yeah. Come here, son," Gibbs ordered as he stretched out his hand to him. Tim walked over to grasp it and the older man pulled him into a hug. The touch seemed to reassure both of them that all was well and they relished in the comfort that came from it. After a few minutes, Tim pulled back, just staring at his father, glad that he was awake, alert, and appeared to remember him. A few minutes later, Tim gave his father's shoulder a quick squeeze, before releasing the older man and taking a seat on the chair next to the bed, his eyes still locked on Gibbs, everyone and everything else fading out of existence. He spent a few minutes thinking why he still felt so unsettled. His Dad was doing well, according to Ducky and the other doctor. There was no reason to expect him not to recover the memories of those lost years, so why was Tim apprehensive? Replaying their brief conversation in his mind, Tim quickly realized the issue. His father had yet to call him by his name.

Even Ducky commented on the strangeness of that. Gibbs had asked for Shannon and Kelly, by name, and then asked about his son. Not Tim specifically. When talking to him, Gibbs had only called him my son or my boy, never referencing his name. Swallowing the lump that appeared in his throat, Tim told himself to get past this. The important thing was that his father was awake and well. He might not remember Tim's name, hell, apparently there was a lot, fifteen years' worth, that Gibbs didn't remember, but he remembered their relationship, even as new as it was, so that more than made up for not recalling his name. After all, who was Tim to argue with Shakespeare?

"Tim," Jethro called out, trying to regain his son's attention.

The smile that graced the younger man's face could've lit up the room. Facts were great, but there was something about hearing his name on his father's lips that really made him believe that everything was going to be okay.

After staring at each for several minutes, Abby, Ziva and Tony had reached the unspoken conclusion to find Ducky and discover what was going on with Gibbs. They arrived right as Tim released the older man's shoulder and took a seat by the boss's bed.

They watched as the two men just looked at each other, the younger one appeared to be lost in thought.

"Tim."

"Gibbs remembered!" Abby joyfully cried, quieter than usual since she remembered Ducky's earlier admonishment. She moved, ready to race into the room, only to be held back by Ducky.

"No, my dear," Ducky informed her softly. "I do not believe he has."

"But Tim," Abby objected, staring into the room, Tony and Ziva by her side, confusion evident on all their faces.

They silently watched as Tim and Gibbs talked; none of them hearing the words they softly exchanged.

Ducky gave her a sad smile, "Gibbs remembered him earlier, even when he didn't remember me. That is one of the reasons Timothy had to come to the hospital. After asking for Shannon and Kelly, he is the only other person he asked to see."

"Oh," Abby said at a loss for words. After pointedly looking from Ziva to Abby, Ducky entered the room. While he believed what he had told Abby moments ago about the return of Gibbs's memory, he was hopeful that after seeing his son, who, according to Timothy, he did not know in 1991, then seeing himself, would bring it back. Unfortunately, Gibbs still didn't remember Ducky, except for their brief introduction earlier.

"Wait…who are Shannon and Kelly?" Abby wondered out loud, looking down the hallway as if they would suddenly appear.

Ziva purposely looked away from them and focused on what was happening inside the hospital room.

"Probie?" Tony muttered in shock, still standing in the hallway and looking into the room. "Out of everybody in his life the last 15 years, he remembered and asked for McGee?"

"Shush," Ziva hissed at both of them.

"I can't tell you how happy I am that you remembered all of that," Tim quietly told his father, once the feeling of euphoria passed.

"I know you are; I can see it in your eyes."

Tim rolled those eyes, changed the subject.

"How ya feeling?" Tim asked,

Gibbs gave a shrug, "Confused," he admitted.

Tim nodded in understanding, "I called Mike. He should be here soon." He wanted to mention Jackson, but wasn't sure how his father would take the mentioning of his father once he regained his memory. The two had recently began communicating again, but hadn't completely resolved their issues.

"Mike?" Gibbs repeated with a frown, not sure who his son meant. He shook his head dismissively, that didn't matter now; he had more pressing things on his mind. "Shannon and Kelly aren't here. No one will tell me where they are," his voice tinged with worry.

While Tim paused as he debated the best way to break this news again, Ziva had inhaled sharply, bracing herself for what was to come. She did not envy Tim this task. At the sight of the less composed Mossad officer, her coworkers stared between her and Gibbs's hospital room wondering what was to come.

Tim had known that question was coming, but he still wasn't ready with an answer. "They…" Tim began before feeling his throat close up, making him unable to speak.

"Tim?"

The worry and fear in his father's voice caused Tim's heart to break. Closing his eyes in order to block everything else out, he thought about if it would be better to tell his father what happened or see if he could remember on his own. Taking a deep breath, and forgetting about their surroundings, Tim decided to trust his gut and follow his instincts in this situation.

"Dad," Tim croaked, both the word and the emotions behind it shocked his fellow NCIS employees standing in the doorway and listening. "I…what do you remember?"

Gibbs looked at his son's sad expression before briefly closing his eyes and trying to remember. "I…Kuwait…an explosion…waking up in a hospital. But that's not right," he muttered, rubbing his head. "The doctors said that was the past…fifteen years ago. One of them, the Ducky one, said I worked for NCIS, that I retired as a marine. I don't remember that…I don't remember anything but Shannon, Kelly, and you."

"Shh, it's okay, Dad," Tim comforted the older man, rubbing his hand along his arm. "It's okay that you don't remember yet. I'm here, I'll help you."

Gibbs nodded before once more asking, "Where are Shannon and Kelly? Why aren't they here?"

Reaching his father's hand, Tim grasped it in both of his; blue eyes meeting green. "What do you remember before the explosion in Kuwait?"

Gibbs frowned. "Hot…lots of sand…letters…notices…" Gibbs paused and shook his head, trying to erase that last thought. "Lots of sand, letters," he repeated, trying to focus on something happy. "Writing Kelly about all the sand, getting a reply from her asking if I could build a sand castle like we did at the beach. Getting shit from the guys when I did," Gibbs smirked. "It was less than half a foot high, but it was a beauty. Possibly the first ever sand castle in Kuwait," he boasted in pride. "Kelly would've loved it…Kelly," he muttered, rubbing his head again. "I sent pictures of that castle to her in my next letter…she would've loved it," he repeated.

"Yeah, she would've," Tim agreed, waiting for what he knew was coming.

"I never got a chance to tell her about it," Gibbs sobbed/softly stated, his voice sorrowful. "She never saw the pictures, did she?" he added, tears silently falling from his eyes.

"No," Tim softly confirmed. Gibbs had told him that story before, about finding the unopened letter, complete with pictures sitting on the dining room table when he was finally discharged and able to return to the house he had lived in with his wife and daughter.

"Shannon…" Gibbs muttered hoarsely. "Letters…notices. I received notice that-" he stopped, not wanting to say the words. "I took on one more mission," he continued. "Danger…an explosion…waking up in a hospital. They said I was in a coma. NIS…Shannon," he choked back a sob, his eyes popping open. "God, Kelly," he cried.

"I know, dad, I know," Tim comforted his boss and father, wrapping his arms around him as they both cried.

Ducky pulled the privacy curtain around the grieving pair, wishing he had thought to do so earlier, before turning to the door and ushering the team away from the room.

"Ducky?" Tony hissed as he was reluctantly led away, "What the hell just happened?"

"Not the time or place, Anthony," Ducky reprimanded as he continued to guide the team away from the scene.

After Ducky led them away from the emotional scene involving newly declared father and son, Tim had not left Gibbs's room. In fact, the younger man had seemed to completely forget that the rest of them were even at the hospital. He had completely disregarded the multiple texts sent by Tony, Abby, to tell them what was going on, he had even ignored Ziva's texts. Imagining what those texts included, and how they could escalate, Ducky asked them to refrain from sending anymore before calling Timothy himself. To his surprise, the call wasn't answered. It was unlike Timothy to ignore his calls and for a moment, he worried that something had happened to Jethro and that Timothy was unable to answer his phone. Luckily, before he mentioned this thought to anyone else or went tearing down the hallway and into Jethro's room, he remembered that Timothy's phone was damaged and that he hadn't been able to replace it yet.

"Anthony," Ducky began, "What happened to Timothy's phone? He mentioned that it was damaged. Has he been able to replace it yet?"

Tony groaned as he looked at his own phone. What a waste of time, texting Probie. "Er, no. He told Jenny it was damaged and he left straight from there to the hospital. As to what happened to it," he shrugged, "All Probie said was that one moment it was in his hands, and the next it wasn't."

"He found it as we were leaving," Ziva informed them. "It was cracked and wet. He mentioned something about rice?" She said, her voice displaying her confusion. "I believed he was so focused on getting to Gibbs after the explosion that he hadn't made sure it was securely in his pocket and it slipped out or he absently dropped it."

"Ah," Ducky replied, nodding his head in understanding. "I believe I will pop into the room, see what Timothy wants to do and make one more assessment of Jethro's condition before we leave."

"But-"

"Can I-"

"No, the three of you will remain here," he directed, not letting Tony or Abby finish or even allowing Ziva to start speaking. "I will be gone for just a moment," he added, before turning and walking away.

Within minutes, he returned. "Timothy will be staying here for now. He wanted me to remind you that he has his laptop and will be back at the yard within a few hours, or sooner if something came up."

"Shouldn't someone stay with him?"

"I am sure he will be fine," Ducky replied, "Now, let us be on our way."

Left with no other choice, the other visitors had grumbled, but agreed that they should return to the Navy Yard.

Once they were outside and walking across the parking lot, it didn't take them long to start asking more questions.

"What is going on?" Tony angrily demanded to know as soon as they headed to the car. He had reluctantly agreed that the hospital was not the right place to discuss what they had overheard, but the parking lot? To him, that was a perfectly acceptable alternative.

"It is not my place to say," Ducky said, hoping to placate the angry agent.

"Maybe not," The doctor's words had helped Tony see that these weren't the people he was upset with, and allowed him to calm down a little, "but those who should have, didn't," he angrily retorted, "so spill."

"Tony!" Abby and Ziva chastised.

"And don't think this gets you off the hook, missy," Tony said, wagging a finger at Ziva. "I know you know more than you're telling."

At his words, Abby gasped and covered her mouth, remembering Ziva's earlier reactions. "He's right, you do," the scientist agreed, glaring at the other woman.

"And you probably do to," Tony continued, looking at Abby suspiciously.

"What?" she cried in disbelief.

Tony's eyes narrowed, "You're his best friend, you and McGee dated for almost a year and you are trying to tell us that you didn't know about Daddy dearest?" he mocked. "At least the mystery about what you saw in Probie is solved," he muttered.

"What?" Abby repeated in outrage, "I didn't know. He told me his father was in navy!"

"So, he lied to you, too."

"Anthony," Ducky reproached.

"What? Am I wrong?"

"Are you right," Ducky returned. "What proof do you have?"

"Gee, I don't know, maybe that little scene in the hospital we witnessed?"

"Timothy is still Timothy," Ducky cryptically replied.

"No," Tony countered, "Timothy McGee is apparently Timothy Gibbs, son of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. All I want to know is why didn't they tell us? I thought we were a team. Instead it was father and son and a few coworkers who weren't worthy of knowing anything even close to the truth."

Ducky sighed, "I do not know the details regarding Jethro and Timothy's familial status. Timothy did let slip that the relationship did not exist in 1991, though. Even Timothy was puzzled as to why Jethro asked for him in addition to Shannon and Kelly," the ME informed them, deciding not to share how worried the younger man had been that he wasn't really remembered.

"And they are?" Abby asked, speaking before Tony could say a word.

"They...well," Ducky swallowed the lump in his throat as he thought about his friend's loss.

"His wife and 8-year-old daughter," Ziva quietly supplied, rescuing Ducky from having to speak in his emotional state.

Abby's jaw opened in surprise before her emotions overcame her. "Gibbs has a family and never introduced us?" she whispered, her voice filled with anger, hurt, and shock.

Tony snorted, "Oh, we were introduced to his son," he reminded her, "Just never told that he was his son, so why would he share the rest of his family with us. Apparently, we aren't important to Gibbs as we thought."

Ducky closed his eyes to keep from yelling at his co-workers. He understood that they were upset and hurting. The secrets revealed today had been a surprise, but the ME knew that getting upset and angry at their words and attitudes wouldn't help the situation. The best thing to do was give them time to process and piece together everything they learned, then the team would be able to move forward.

"His wife, Shannon, and daughter, Kelly, died in 1991, while Gibbs was overseas in the Marines," Ziva quietly stated. They should know that information, it had been mentioned earlier when Tim and Gibbs talked in the hospital, yet she still said it, knowing that the reminder of the truth would impact them more than any words she could say in anger. "Days before Gibbs's first coma," she subtly added.

Silence overcame them as Abby and Tony froze at her words. They had been too consumed with the fact that their boss had children that they hadn't known about to remember the tragic ending that had been revealed in the midst of all the other secrets.

"Poor Gibbs," Abby murmured, as the topic of conversation faded away as they entered the car they had reached moments before.

9-27-2020 (Updated 9-30-2020)

So, Tim saw Gibbs. Hoped it was everything you wished for.

What do you think is going to happen when the team gets back to the yard? When Tim finally arrives as well?

Had trouble naming this chapter. Finally decided on 'Shakespearean Play' since Shakespeare's plays were tragedies (Shannon & Kelly's death mentioned in this chapter definitely qualified), Histories (the history between Tim & Gibbs), Comedies (usually involved a lot of eavesdropping, assumptions, miscommunication, and mistaken-or concealed-identity). Then there was also Gibbs not using tim's name and Tim trying to convince himself that it didn't matter...What's in a name?

Plus, I like Shakespeare...and couldn't think of anything else.