Not Beta'd; Standard disclaimer applies.

Next of Kin, Chapter 7, Driving 'em crazy

As they made their way to the Director's office, Tony asked Tim question after question, as he tried to figure out what he had missed. There had to be reason why Tim thought he should be at the hospital rather than working. Even asking him what Gibbs thought he should do didn't garner the results he expected. But for the entire trip upstairs, Tim refused to speak. Even Ducky didn't say anything, other than to say that it was best to wait until they were behind closed doors. He didn't know what was going on, but Tony knew that with Tim acting this way, he could use all the help he could get. If he had reinforcements, then hopefully he could get the information he needed and they, all of them, including Probie, could get back to work.

Tim did his best to ignore Tony, something really difficult to do when there are only three people in the elevator. He didn't want to have this conversation, and most definitely did not want it to happen in the hallway or elevator where anyone or everyone could overhear. Tim supposed that he should be grateful the SFA didn't try to act like Gibbs again and stop the elevator, trapping him inside until he talked.

Since he joined the team, Tim tried very hard to keep his personal life separate from work, not an easy thing to do with a teammate like Anthony DiNozzo. Part of that was not sharing with others where he worked or what he did. Another part was by not talking too much about his family, his childhood, or how he spent his time outside of the job. Of course, sometimes what he said or didn't say didn't really matter when Tony was involved. The SFA couldn't keep himself from asking nosy questions or snooping into things that didn't involve him, still, Tim was pleased with how much he was able to keep from the other man, he just hoped that trend continued. If luck was on his side, the Director, Tony, and everyone else would accept his offer to explain things at a later time, hopefully after Gibbs recovered and could be present to help prevent this situation from getting out of hand.

When they arrived in the outer office, Tony immediately approached and greeted the Director's assistant, before engaging her in a short conversation that was too soft for Tim to hear. Not that he had really tried to, Tim's attention had been captured by the image of Ziva standing off to the side, apparently waiting for them. The surprise continued when Abby joined them a few minutes later. Seeing the confused look on his face, his ex-girlfriend correctly interpreted it and told him that Tony had texted both females to meet them here. Tim wished that he knew that Tony had done that, so he could stop it, or at least try to stop it, or sent a follow up text telling them not to, thought he imagined that neither girl would abide by his directive. Tim couldn't help but groan. The last thing Tim wanted was to be stuck in the Director's office when Gibbs needed him, let alone have the entire team present. He had a feeling that with everyone there, he wouldn't get away with a quick explanation.

Within minutes, they were being admitted to Jenny's office. Tony entered first, and immediately went to stand beside the Director, sitting in her chair behind her desk. Tim allowed Abby, Ziva, and Ducky to precede him into the office before taking a spot closest to the door. As soon as this meeting was concluded, he wanted to be out of here and on his way to the hospital.

"Agent DiNozzo," Jenny said, looking him in the eye, "Is there a problem?"

"Maybe," Tony replied, casting a look towards the potential 'problem'.

Tim shook his head at Tony's actions and began to present his case. "I have two computers tied up with searches. Any results found will automatically be sent to my email. I'll have my laptop with me, so I can review them, as well as forward them to Tony or Abby if needed. I can also start additional searches on my laptop if needed. A picture of our suspect has been faxed t-"

"That is all good to hear," Jenny interrupted, "But I do not believe I asked for an update. I asked Agent DiNozzo if there was a problem." She paused, giving Agent McGee an opportunity to speak. In her opinion, this particular agent, being both shy by nature and eager to please, as well as still relatively inexperienced, would most likely begin by apologizing.

"I am heading to the hospital to see Gibbs," Tim unequivocally announced before Tony could comment. "I was explaining what I had done and how I could continue, if it was needed, while I would be physically away from my desk and the Yard," he continued before anyone else could speak.

The blinking of her eyelids was the only indication that she heard him. Regaining her composure at the unexpected response, she finally responded, "It is understandable that you are worried about Jethro, we all are," she tried to reassure the young agent, deciding that his words and firm tone were due to the current situation finally catching up with him, and the lack of proper sleep. "But do you really think that your time would be better spent there than here?" she pointedly asked, giving him the opportunity to recant his earlier statement.

"Yes." The single word answer was just as impactful and surprising as his previous words and brought out different reactions from everyone.

Abby covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the look of surprise on most of her coworker's faces. Out of everyone present, she knew Timmy best, months of dating and a period twice as long as best friends had that result. Still, even she was slightly surprised by his firm tone and attitude. It wasn't the first time she had witnessed it, but the previous times had been when he thought she or someone in his family, usually his mother or sister, were hurt, in danger, or needed his help. She just couldn't understand why it happened in this situation. She knew he cared for Gibbs, after all, it's Gibbs, but he was awake now, and yeah, he might've lost some memories, but those would come back, there was no reason for Tim to be so obstinate, and definitely no need to be rude to the director.

Ducky was slightly amused, though mostly curious about why Timothy chose this path instead of telling him what role he played regarding Gibbs's records. For some reason, Timothy was stubbornly refusing to explain why he should be at the hospital and because of that was coming across as impertinent.

Ziva looked at Tim as if she had never seen him before. Why would a visit to the hospital to see Gibbs be so important that this man, who was always unfailingly polite, act so defiantly?

As Jenny's gaze flitted from Ducky, as she speculated about the possibility of McGee having some kind of breakdown, to Tony, when Ducky didn't appear concerned.

"And there's the problem," Tony muttered. Things were stressful enough with Gibbs injured and still unconscious in the hospital. He didn't want to deal with an insubordinate Probie on top of that.

"Just trying to follow the rules," Tim offered in explanation.

"What? Rule 18?" Tony snarked.

"If need be," Tim replied, that had not been the one he had thought about, but it did apply in this situation. "Look," he said, glancing around the room at everyone and briefly meeting their gaze, "I've done what I can for now. Yes, I could stay here, continue to check on those searches and work on anything else that might come up or to mind to find track down the who and why, but right now, I need to be at the hospital."

"If he gets to go, so do I," Abby chimed in before the Director could respond.

Tim turned to her, "You spent all night there," he reminded her.

"Well, yeah," she agreed, "but he wasn't awake then."

Tim just shook his head.

"Wait, he's awake?" Tony asked, Ziva and Jenny both straightening up and listening carefully for the answer to that question.

"Yes," Tim and Ducky confirmed in unison, neither one adding anything more. Though that partly could be because both Tony and Ziva immediately started asking questions regarding Gibbs's health.

After a few minutes, Jenny was able to get everyone to quiet down and re-focus on the matter at hand. "We will discuss why I wasn't informed of that fact later," The Director announced, giving them a look that communicated her displeasure. "Agent McGee, I can understand wanting to see him,"

"I need to be there," Tim repeated, for what felt like the millionth time to him.

"Rule 1? Always be there for your partner?" She rhetorically asked. "As I said, I realize how you might feel that way," she began. "What happened was a shock to all of us. It is understandable that you might feel worried about Jethro's condition, and uncertain without him around. I believe this is the first time he's been significantly injured since you've joined the team, it is natural that you might be feeling," she paused, searching for the right word.

"A bit lost without Gibbs?" Abby suggested.

"Seriously?" Tony asked, aggravated that this was taking so long. "You're missing the boss that much that you have to act like a rebellious teen? I told you not to worry, that he'll be fine; it's Gibbs."

"Easy for you to say," Tim snapped at Tony and Abby, his emotions finally getting the best of him. Of course, feeling like the Director was patronizing him hadn't helped. "He's not you-" Tim caught himself mid-sentence and broke off before inhaling deeply and releasing that breath, "Both of you have been able to visit him at the hospital already," he concluded instead.

"So that's what this is about," Tony muttered, before turning to Jenny to discuss the situation.

"It's not," Tim commented, only to be ignored by both of them as they continued their private conversation in hushed tones.

"Timothy," Ziva quietly began after making her way over to her teammate, "Why are you so adamant that you need to be there?"

"Because I do."

Ziva rolled her eyes, "Yes, but why? Maybe if you shared that information it would help. It certainly couldn't hurt," she pointedly added.

"I know," Tim sighed in resignation. "I just really didn't want to say anything about that yet."

Ziva looked at him searchingly. She didn't know his reasoning, and in fact, was having a difficult time identifying why this was so important, but the fact that he was so reluctant to share it had her suspecting it was something that Abby would describe as both 'juicy' and 'game changer'.

Looking over at Ducky, she realized that he seemed to support Tim's request to visit the hospital, but was allowing Tim to share what he deemed necessary, though the look on his face lead her to believe that he didn't agree with the younger man's tactics.

From her continued perusal around the room, she realized that Abby was as unaware of McGee's reasons as she was, but where Ziva approached Tim, Abby was focused on Tony and Jenny, attempting to hear their conversation.

"If, as you say, you need to be there," Ziva stressed, "I suggest you say something now, before they completely prevent it from happening."

"They can't," Tim replied firmly.

"Do not tell me, tell them," she commented, inclining her head towards the Director and Tony, who appeared to be finished with their conversation.

"I am listed as Gibbs' next of kin," Tim suddenly announced, surprising everyone but Ducky with this piece of information.

After a few moments of shocked silence, Tony started to laugh. "HA! Nice try, Probie," he said, looking at the director and rolling his eyes.

"It's true, I am," Tim snapped. "Ask Ducky or call the hospital if you don't believe me."

All eyes swiveled to the ME.

"He is," Ducky confirmed. "The doctor mentioned it since the hospital was having a difficult time reaching him. That is why I sought him out before informing you that Jethro woke," he said in way of an apology to Jenny.

"You…But…" Tony stumbled over his words, his gaze fleeting between Tim and Ducky.

Jenny nodded in reply to the doctor's words. If that information was true, then he had a reason to tell Agent McGee first.

"That is why I need to go to the hospital. I have some information I need to impart to the doctor now that he is awake."

"Can you not just share that information to Ducky and have him pass it on?" Jenny asked.

"Like a game of telephone?" Tim asked wryly. "No. The doctor could have additional questions."

"Perhaps you can contact the hospital and speak to the Doctor directly?" she suggested.

Before she finished, Tim was already shaking his head. "My cell is out of commission, we'll be playing telephone tag for most of the day. Besides, as next of kin, I should really be present to oversee his care if I am able, and I am able," he affirmed when Jenny went to open her mouth to reply. "There is nothing I can do from here that I can't do there, in fact, as I tried to explain earlier, if there was ever an ideal time to be away from the yard during this case, this is it. I really should be there, and technically, you cannot stop me from going," he added.

"Why are you listed as his next of kin?" Tony asked, finally giving voice to his thoughts.

"I...that is something for another time."

Tony shrugged but kept his eyes on Tim, "Now seems like the perfect time to me."

Tim ignored him and looked at the director, "Ma'am, do I have your permission to go? This information could be crucial to Gibbs' recovery."

Jenny looked at him before her gaze took in the rest of the team and gave a sigh, "You do."

"But-" Tony began in protest, the same time that Abby also started speaking.

"I want-"

Holding up a hand, the Director silenced them. "All of you should take the opportunity to see him. As Agent McGee pointed out, this is the ideal time during the case to take a break. No doubt it will help ease your concerns regarding his health and help you to continue when you return."

"Director," Ducky interrupted, "If I may say something," at the director's nod, he continued, "Gibbs has suffered a severe head injury due to the explosion. His memory isn't what it used to be. In fact," he paused, looking at the team, "he believes it is 1991."

Ziva inhaled sharply, unable to conceal her response.

"What do you know?" Abby asked, looking at the other woman.

Ziva hesitated a moment as she decided what to share with the team. She already suspected that none of them knew about his first marriage and daughter. "Gibbs was in an explosion in early 1991, he was in a coma for a bit. No doubt, his mind confused the two incidents."

Ducky nodded, suspecting that Ziva knew more than she was telling, "No doubt. That explains the how and why. You are all more than welcome to see Gibbs, if his doctor agrees, however, be aware that he will not know you."

Abby stifled a sob, "I just need to look at him, know that he's awake and alive."

The rest of the team nodded in agreement as they rushed to exit, catching up to Tim, who had left.

That didn't quite go as planned, Ducky thought as he exited the Director's office. Oh, yes, Timothy had been given permission to leave work to attend to matters at the hospital, unfortunately, so had the rest of the team. Hopefully, Ducky will be able to get young Timothy to ride with him, giving him ample opportunity to talk.

"Probie, with me, we need to talk," Tony ordered, hurrying past everyone else and heading down the stairs towards the bullpen.

"Tony, I don't have time to talk, I need to get to the hospital," Tim argued, continuing to stand by the elevator on the mezzanine, waiting for it to appear.

Tony paused mid-step before turning around on the stairs to look up at the defiant man. "Ziva will drive us, we'll be there before Ducky and Abby probably leave the parking lot," Tony predicted. "We can talk on the way."

"I want to go to the hospital as a visitor, not a patient," Tim returned, before casting a worried glance towards Ziva, "Er, no offense, Ziva." Ziva just shrugged off his remarks. She too had stopped proceeding down the stairs and turned to witness this discussion.

"Then you can ride with me," Ducky injected, coming to stand beside Tim and seizing the opportunity that he saw. "Anthony and Abigail can accompany Ziva."

"Probie,"

"But,"

Tony and Abby both tried to protest that plan.

"Okay," Tim agreed, interrupting the other two, just as the elevator doors opened. He quickly ushered the older man in before entering himself, pressing the button for the main floor and the door close button to get the elevator moving quicker.

"We'll need to stop by autopsy, so I can pick up my keys," Ducky informed his companion.

"No need," Tim replied, dangling his own keys from his hand, "I'll drive."

"But"

"I trust your driving," Tim stated calmly, "But I really want to get to the hospital, enough time has been wasted," he observed. "You are more than welcome to ride with me, or you can get your keys, grab Tony or Abby and drive with one of them."

Ducky sighed, admitting defeat. At least he would be the singular focus of Tim's attention.

"How the hell did that happen?" Tony muttered, hanging onto the door handle and morosely staring out the window as the car whipped around another corner. He had been silent the entire walk to the car as well as the beginning of the drive. McGee, Probie, Elf Lord was listed as Gibbs's next of kin? He couldn't be more surprised than if Tim had announced he was in love with Ziva.

"What?" Ziva asked, looking around and trying to identify what Tony was talking about.

"Eyes on the road, Ziva!" he barked, gripping the door handle tighter.

Ziva rolled her eyes, but resumed her focus on the road in front of her.

"And I'm talking about McGee, Gibbs, next of kin," Tony answered.

"Oh," Ziva shrugged dismissively. "My guess is Gibbs asked and McGee felt like he couldn't say no."

"Well, of course, he wouldn't say no," Abby chimed in from the back seat, "It's Gibbs!"

Tony rolled his eyes at both of them, "Yeah, I get that, but why Probie? Why not...someone else?"

"Like Ducky," the Goth scientist added. "I think Ducky would be the natural choice of who should be notified in case Gibbs or anyone of us is injured. I mean, he's a doctor, so he'll have the medical knowledge and experience to know what might be best. And in this case, he's known Gibbs the longest. Plus, there's-"

"Abby," Tony interrupted, "Enough. That's not the point."

"Is it not?" Ziva murmured. "I mean, you are wondering why McGee, right?"

Tony frowned but didn't comment.

"Oh!" Abby exclaimed in realization. "He's not wondering why Timmy, but more why Timmy instead of him."

Ziva shot her a quick glance in the backseat, "That is the same thing," she argued.

"Nope," Abby disagreed, popping the 'p'. "Not at all. I mean, he could probably understand and accept why it might be Ducky, or possibly even Jenny. Perhaps even if it was another agent that Gibbs has known longer and has worked with for a few years, but McGee? Who's known Gibbs for the least amount of time than all of us, except you?" Abby paused and shook her head, "He's right. McGee being listed as Gibbs's next of kin doesn't make sense."

"Thank you," Tony muttered, feeling a bit vindicated since she agreed with him.

Ziva shrugged, "He's a member of the team, has been for a few years. It probably could have been anyone of us."

"But it's not," Tony replied. "It's McGee."

Ziva shot him a look, not sure why that seemed to matter so much.

Noticing the look on both of their faces, Abby sighed, "Look at it this way," she said before beginning her explanation. "As far as we know the two have never really had a conversation that hasn't involved a case. We never hear about Timmy visiting Gibbs's basement, or asking the older man for help with anything. Every time Tim tries to explain something at work, Gibbs just stares blankly at him until he gets to the point. The two have nothing in common. Timmy with his million years of schooling and degrees, I mean, his vacations are often week-long intensive classes," she added, giving them new information about their teammate. "Then there's Gibbs, who squeaked by high school, joined the marines the day he turned 18, and was trained in combat and as a sniper."

Ziva frowned again, "But he is still a valuable member of this team, hand picked by Gibbs," she pointed out. "I do not see why it matters that Gibbs chose to list McGee as his next of kin."

"It just does," Tony insisted. "And he's not the only one Gibbs hand-picked to be on his team," he added.

"I see," Ziva nodded, "You are jealous."

"What? No!" Tony argued.

Abby smirked, "It does kinda sound that way," she agreed. 'It is pretty petty after all."

Ziva glanced in the back again, "Glad you realize that, since you sound the same."

"What? No!" she denied, repeating Tony's words.

"Both of you are close to Gibbs," she stated. "That is obvious in how you interact with him and him with you."

"So, you agree that we would've been the better choice."

"No."

"Because we are too close?" Abby questioned. "Would be too emotional if something happened to him, like this?"

"No," the liaison office repeated. "All I am saying is that maybe there is more behind the decision than we know."

"Like what?" Tony snapped back, "Because that is the part we are really having trouble understanding."

"I do not know," an exasperated Ziva admitted, shrugging and raising her hands up in the air.

"Wheel!" both her passengers cried out.

Shaking her head at their overreaction, Ziva placed both hands back on the steering wheel and continued. "Maybe he asked McGee so Tim would feel like he really belonged. Maybe he did it as a way for the two to get closer. Maybe they both needed to list someone local, so they made an agreement to list each other."

"Huh," Tony muttered, Ziva's words reminding him of a conversation he had with Kate, "HR did ask for a local contact for Kate," he shared.

"See! There you go," Ziva gloated. "Maybe HR wanted Gibbs to list a contact that was more local and reliable. Maybe-"

"Wait," Tony interrupted, "Reliable? How would you know that Gibbs's contact wasn't reliable?"

"Or that it wasn't local?" Abby questioned.

Ziva kept her eyes on the road, making sure not to look at anyone.

His eyes narrowed, "You know who he had listed before McGee."

"Ziva?" Abby prodded, when the other woman didn't say a word.

"You had dossier's done on us," Tony realized. "You researched us, to try to find out who and what was important to us."

"I did not research you, as you put it," Ziva denied.

"But you had dossier's," he argued.

Ziva inclined her head in admittance, "Standard procedure," she noted. Catching the look on Tony's face, she added, "And you would have done the same thing if our positions had been reversed."

"Still…"

"No," Ziva firmly stating, shutting him down. "I am right and you know it."

"Tell us who his previous contact was," Abby begged, bringing them back to the original conversation.

"And how recent that information was from," Tony added.

"Well over a year ago," Ziva informed them. "Closer to eighteen months, actually."

"So, after, Tim joined the team," Abby realized, speaking her thoughts out loud.

"And the contact?"

"A friend of Gibbs," Ziva stated. "Lives in Mexico and does not receive phone service at his home address."

"I would agree that that's not local or reliable," an amused Abby admitted.

"And Probie's next of kin?" Tony asked, "Is it Gibbs?"

"It wasn't then," she offered.

Tony sighed in relief. Maybe Ziva was right. Maybe Probie being listed as Gibbs's next of kin didn't really mean anything.

When they entered the car, Ducky had hopes of Tim explaining what was going on, both in his mind and the reason why he had been chosen to be listed as Jethro's next of kin. Unfortunately, Tim did not seem to have the same agenda. Ducky had tried to initiate a conversation with the younger man, many times, only to be ignored or have the conversation redirected.

Knowing that time was limited and that every minute that passed without Timothy talking brought them closer to the end of their drive, he made another attempt, hopefully one that the younger man couldn't ignore. Ducky wasn't sure if he would be happy or upset with the comparison, but as long as he reacted, the ME would consider it a plus.

"You are behaving very differently than you normally do," the amateur psychologist commented. "In fact, you are acting very much like Jethro," he said, hoping that would get some reaction from the other man.

"Not the worst thing somebody has ever said to me," Tim commented.

"It was not meant to be an insult," Ducky smiled, while inwardly he cheered, glad that he found a topic of conversation that his companion was participating in.

"Then I thank you for the compliment."

"Wasn't necessarily a compliment either," Ducky dryly admitted. "Simply an observation."

Tim shrugged, "Working together for a few years would do that."

"I believe there is more to your behavior than just that," the doctor noted. "After all, if it was simply due to that, you would have exhibited such behavior before now. As would myself, Abby, and Tony," he added, grinning. "After all, all of us have known him for many more years."

"It's been a long day," was the only explanation Tim provided, his eyes once more seemingly focused on the road and traffic around them.

"I am sure that it is more than that," he stated, prompting the young man. "You know you can talk to me," Ducky continued as he scrutinized the man next to him.

"A long night as well," Tim dryly added, his tone indicating to his passenger that he wasn't going to share anything.

"And now you are channeling Tony," Ducky murmured.

Tim just shrugged.

Ducky sighed and reminded himself that he did garner a reaction from Timothy, so it wasn't a complete failure.

Still, he wanted to know and had a feeling that Timothy wouldn't say anything once his teammates were present. That, and the fact that their arrival at the hospital was imminent, left him with no choice. Ducky decided to forgo subtlety and state what he wanted to know.

"I admit to being curious as to how you wound up being listed as Jethro's next of kin," Ducky said, tired of his subtle hints being ignored. "I am sure there is quite a story behind that," he added, staring at the driver.

Unfortunately for him, his words were also ignored, as Tim continued to keep his focus on the drive to the hospital and not the conversation.

When the silence dragged on and they reached their exit, Ducky sighed and leaned his head against the window, "Save me from stubborn agents," he muttered, resigning to the fact that he wouldn't be learning any of the details yet. He completely missed the smile that graced Tim's lips at those words.

9-18-2020

Since I didn't update last week (very bad week for me), I posted a longer chapter this week. First half was called 'Probie Problem', second, 'Driving 'em Crazy'. Posted it as one chapter, using the latter title. Hopefully I will post more shortly.

Hope you guys are enjoying this story.

How do you think Tony, Abby, and Ziva would've reacted to hearing that Tim was listed as Gibbs's next of kin? How about Jenny?