FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTER:
His house felt empty now, Gibbs decided to take the day off afterwards and no one questioned it, not even Vance. He wanted to be alone. He needed a little wallowing in self pity. 'Actions have fucking consequences, Jethro!' He chastised himself. 'You knew Tony was pushing the wrong buttons and Abby was making his life hell. If you'd stepped in, he wouldn't have felt the need to transfer out.'
After two glasses of bourbon and two hours of wallowing he went up into Kelly's room and gathered their bedding, determined to wash it all, making it fresh in case one or both of them made a flying visit home soon. Going into the bathroom, he grabbed the trash bin from the bin and replacing the liner. As he took it out to the wheelie bin outside the bag caught the locking mechanism on the glass sliding door - which was always loose and catching things, mostly clothes. It ripped open the bag and the rubbish scattered all over the ground. Gibbs made light work of getting a new bag and picking up the rubbish. As he bent to pick up the last wad of tissues he felt a small plastic stick was wrapped inside it. Unwrapping the wad carefully, he bought it up to his line of vision and clear as day he realised he was holding a pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test!
"Duck, any chance you could swing by the house?" Gibbs asked, barely letting him get a greeting out. "It's important."
"Sure Jethro, I was planning a leisurely lunch myself since I'm technically not on duty." Ducky replied, packing away the inventory paperwork he was about to begin. The worry in Gibbs' voice was new. He hadn't heard it before in all the years they'd been friends. "Let me tell Germaine, I'm stepping back out. Vance bought the man in to cover me, he may as well do the job properly. I will see you in fifteen minutes."
"Thanks Duck!" Gibbs said with an air of desperation.
'Pregnant?!' Gibbs thought. 'How the hell did that happen?' Well, he knew how that happened, chuckling to himself at his thoughts. He knew Kelly was on the pill. She had been since she was sixteen because her cycles went crazy and it was the only way to control it, according to the specialist Ducky had recommended. What is more frustrating is he knew Tim wore condoms. He'd seen them in his nightstand when he'd packed up his apartment and he'd seen them in the rubbish at Kelly's when he'd taken out the trash after dinner one night.
"Jethro, what ever is the matter?" Ducky asked, as he entered the front door. "Are you ok?"
"Rule four Ducky!" Gibbs stated. "If you have a secret, keep it to yourself. The second best thing is to tell one other person. There's no third best."
"I won't tell a soul." Ducky swore.
"I think Kelly's pregnant." He whispered softly in case someone might over hear, despite the fact that they're alone in the house. "I was tidying up the bathroom and I found it in the trash in Kelly's ensuite when I accidentally broke open the bag." Holding up the said positive pregnancy test.
"Oh" Ducky verbalised, but his mouth continued to make 'oh' shapes. "Oh my. Jethro, this is a development."
"No shit, Ducky." Gibbs snapped. "It's barely been six months." Gibbs worried. He knew Tim was a good man and would do right by Kelly. But he wanted to give her everything she deserves, the big white wedding, the expensive honeymoon and the family home he and Shannon had purchased when she was born and kept rented out to pay for that big wedding and expensive honeymoon. Kelly didn't even know about the house. But it didn't stop him worrying about Kelly's schooling and her career.
"Before we assume, is there any chance it could be a friend of hers?" Ducky asked.
"No, Tim bought the trash down Wednesday morning and they were so busy in the lead up to departing the only time they saw their friends was at the diner, the night before they left."
"Any chance it belongs to Ziva, Abby, Emily or Kasie?" Ducky asked, trying to eliminate people who had access to his house. "Any other mystery red heads who've been here?" Ducky asked with a chuckle.
"Very funny, Duck!" Gibbs chastised. "Ziva isn't seeing anyone at the moment, Emily would never, she'd play her parents against each other instead, Kasie has never come here and isn't that comfortable coming to me yet. No one has seen or heard from Abby since IA started their investigation into missing computer files. Definitely not any of the women I see. I think at our age we're all passed the unplanned pregnancy phase. Besides I'm not bedding anyone right now, haven't for quite a while now."
"So, by process of elimination, it's Kelly's, then?" Ducky surmised. "How do you feel about that? Knowing it's most likely Tim's baby." Playing devil's advocate, he asked.
"They're both old enough to know better, they do the crime, they do the time." Gibbs said painfully. "But I'm too young to be a grandparent though!" In almost a whiny voice, he added.
"Well said Grandpa." Ducky said with a wink.
"Uh-uh, no way!" Gibbs tsk'd him. "Dad's Grandpa, I guess that'll make me Pop or Poppy, Grandpa-Ducky."
"Maybe Duck-Duck instead." Ducky reasoned, not feeling old enough to be a grandparent either. His heart felt nothing but happiness for the young couple.
Entering the airport, in North Carolina was surprising as they were both used to the hustle and bustle of Dulles, in DC.
"Agent McGee?" A woman approached them at baggage claim. "I am agent Chris Donovan, the relocation agent for NCIS Carolina's office." She introduced herself, holding up her ID for Tim to verify. "Let me help you with your bags, I know you're not supposed to be lifting anything like that yet. Acting Director Vance has already warned me about your neck injuries."
"Lovely to meet you in person." Kelly said sweetly shaking the older lady's hand. "Thank you for meeting our flight."
"You're welcome, Miss Gibbs." She said. "Lovely to meet you too."
"Please, we aren't formal. It's Kelly and Tim." Kelly said warmly.
"Call me Chris then." Donovan said. "First off I'll take you to the apartment where you'll be temporarily staying to freshen up. I'll return to collect you by 1300 and we'll go check out the three apartments, I mentioned. Also, I have found a cosy 4 bedroom cottage by the water, that's in your price range too. The cottage is move in ready. You could be in there as early as Tuesday. Is there anything you need to do before we head to the apartment?"
"Coffee." Kelly and Tim said simultaneously.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Chris laughed at the young duo. "I know just the place."
"Decaf for you, Kel." Tim reminded her and she pulled a 'yuck' face at her. "Or you could try some herbal tea. Something like peppermint or ginger."
"Ooh, I bought the jasmine tea I like, I'll just get the mug of boiling water." Kelly said, remembering she stuffed the unopened box of her favourite tea from her dad's pantry in her overnight bag before they left the house this morning.
As soon as the duo arrived at the apartment, they found a welcome basket of fruit from the Vance's and an invitation to dinner tomorrow night to meet the family.
Kelly felt exhausted, luckily for them both, Vance had organised an agency car to be on loan to the couple until Gibbs and Ducky delivered their SUV the following weekend. Kelly decided if she needed to look at houses, she was going to have a nap. Tim took the agency sedan and found a local market to pick up some essentials.
"Do I tell them we know Duck?" Gibbs asked. "Tonight, they promised they'd call on the tablet thing and let me know how they went looking at the apartments."
"No Jethro," Ducky advised. "You don't know anything, ok? You let them tell you. It's probably early enough that they haven't even been to the doctors yet."
"Do you think she's sick yet?" Gibbs asked suddenly, remembering Shannon's horrific morning sickness when she was pregnant with her. "Shan would get violently sick everyday with Kelly."
"Probably a bit early yet, Jethro. But then again, each pregnancy is different. She's probably going to be more tired than anything." Ducky surmised. "It's a new town, new friends, new school, baby on the way. Not to mention a new climate, a climate that's higher in elevation than DC. That alone will make them both tired until they acclimatise."
"What if she-" Gibbs began to ask, but he got cut off by the ME.
"Don't go borrowing trouble," he warned. "All you'll do is tie yourself up in knots. She will be ok and I suspect, after having it confirmed by a doctor they will spring the news on us."
They met up with Chris at the apartment at 1300, and headed out to the first apartment in Tarawa terrace, it was immediately vetoed because it was a ground floor apartment and his security clearance prevented it. Chris hadn't realised that he had such an extremely high security clearance for a JFA. That being said it also eliminated the one in Mimosa Bay.
Tim liked the apartment in Holly Ridge and they put that in the maybe list. They did decide to put their name down for a house on base, at Chris' suggestion, especially as it was only a twelve month post.
"Let's look at that cottage on the way back." Kelly said through her yawns. It was barely 1600 and Kelly was peaked.
The trio pulled up at a quaint weatherboard home, it had a red brick path leading to a few stairs and a wrap around porch. On the front porch was two rocking chairs and a love seat swing. From the porch, they had a great view of the water and it glistened in the late afternoon sun. Inside it was completely renovated and not what they were expecting. Beautiful renovated wooden floorboards throughout, a modern kitchen with all the mod-cons including a built in coffee machine, double wall ovens and built in microwave, dishwasher and the huge sub zero fridge/ freezer combo had matching wooden panelling to the cupboards with a small butler's pantry. The bottom floor contained three generous sized bedrooms at the back of the house, a main bathroom and guest half bath, a full sized laundry with brand new appliances and mud room. Upstairs lead to a parents retreat with a huge cal king bed, bedside tables, a small second living area and double doors which lead to a large balcony that overlooked the estuary. there two adirondack chairs and small table out there to enjoy the view. Back downstairs, Kelly found the basement and laughed out loud. The basement had been set up as games room and was fully decked out accordingly. "Dad can't build a boat down here." Kelly called out to Tim. "Seriously though, Chris said the dock across the street is part of the property, should ask Dad to bring us my boat. We could sail to explore too."
"As long as we weren't out for more than twelve hours at a time, it'd be ok." Tim said, reminding Kelly about his inner ear condition. "We can ask Gibbs tonight. The Lexus SUV should tow it. No worries."
They looked at each other and read each other perfectly. This was the house for them.
"We'll take it." Tim said to Chris as they returned to the car where she was waiting. "We love it."
"You're kidding right?" She asked, amazed. "It's the second place we've looked at."
"It's perfect! Kelly and I love the outdoors." Tim said, just as excited as a two year old hyped up on candy. "Kelly's Dad built her a boat and she was sad we couldn't bring it with us. Having the dock and moor right across the way is perfect. When he brings our car next weekend he can tow it down for us."
"The launching area is at the end of the street too, so not far to power up to moor and dock. About fifty feet or so. Nice and close." She explained. "I'll go and get the paperwork for you to sign. The landlord is an NCIS employee too, so that makes things super easy. We can go to the navy yard and get the paperwork now if you like."
"Maybe drop Kel off first," Tim suggested, seeing how peaked Kelly was. "If that's ok. I can follow you in the sedan and you can show me where to park and whatnot. I haven't been to the Carolina's office before. I'd love to get a sneak peak. Always takes me a bit to get lay of the land in a new office." Tim asked politely.
"That's actually a great idea. A few of your team members have actually arrived already. If I know someone, I'll happily introduce you." Chris offered.
The trip to return to the apartment was only ten minutes from where the cottage is. Barely fifteen minutes later they'd passed through the Camp Lejeune security checkpoint and made their way into the field office, through security. Chris introduced Tim to Buddy, he'd apparently been running the security desk since the dawn of time down here. "Won't give ya full tour because you'll get that at orientation but here's ya bullpen. "Schwartz, this is McGee." Chris said introducing the agent to him. "McGee's from the DC office. He's on the taskforce with you. Schwartz is a SFA, this is only his second assignment as a SFA."
The two men said hello and silently sized each other up. "Timothy McGee." Tim held out his hand in a handshake. "JFA McGee, formerly MCRT under agent Gibbs."
"Thought he was a myth, a legend, heard stories about him. Heard his a hard Ass who hates everyone and everything, an arrogant and condescending A-hole." Schwartz said.
"You've been misinformed." Tim lowered his voice in to an almost a growl. "Maybe now's a good time to mention a few things about me. One, I still work for Gibbs and he will be in this office on Friday. Two, never talk about him behind his back or he'll know as soon as he looks at you."
"Aww crap, really?" He said, worried. "Look, I'm nervous and when I'm nervous I tend to run my mouth off."
"If I were you, I'd try to break that habit now." Tim advised. "Nice to meet you, see you on Monday."
"Yes, see you then. Hey, thanks for setting me straight about Gibbs." Schwartz said.
Having found analyst Tina Grey and gotten the paperwork for the lease from her. Her and her ex husband had bought the place as an investment property. He split and signed over his share, then died. She renovated it herself. "You're one of the DC boys?" She asked, shaking his hand.
"Yes ma'am." Tim answered. "MCRT, Gibbs' team."
"That's good." She said. "Call me Grey or Teen, then. Gibbs is a good man, we go back a very, very long time. Longer than either of care to remember or admit." Grey was an older woman, almost sixty, dark blonde hair that had began to grey. She seemed a very no-nonsense, practical woman, who like Tim and Gibbs, kept her desk organised, void of personal items and clutter-free.
"He is a good man." Tim confirmed. "I have the world of respect for him. We've worked together for almost six years, I was his probationary field agent, then later I became his JFA, I am still attached to the team, remotely. He recruited me straight off the dock at Norfolk where my first assignment was, on my first solo case. He kept me TAD almost that whole year, before drafting me onto his team." Tim explained briefly.
"Well at least you're trained right, you'll meet a few 'hot shots' on that boys club taskforce of yours." Tim smiled warmly at her, choosing to watch his words carefully. "Rumour has it an actual genius is joining that team, so you'll have your work cut out for you too."
"Thanks, I'll have the signed contracts on Monday morning for you." Tim offered
"I'll bring the keys. NCIS pay me for the first month, but you'll need to bring last months rent too."
"That's fine. Do you prefer electronic payment or cash?"
"Electronic, I don't like carrying cash."
Kelly and Tim called Gibbs over the video call and when he answered Ducky, DiNozzo and Ziva were there too. Kelly showed them around the apartment.
"Best thing is, we've already found somewhere and signed the lease. We get the keys and move in Monday." She gushed. "Oh Dad you should see the place. It's beautiful. That reminds me, we need a favour from you."
"You mean besides driving Tim's car 5 hours away from DC, down to you in North Carolina." Gibbs jested.
"Can you bring my boat too?" She asked. "Please …."
"The SUV should tow it no worries." Tim added.
"Honey, that boat takes a while to launch. It's a mooring boat." Gibbs didn't like the idea of Kelly trying to launch and re-trailer the boat every time they wanted to go sailing. He knew she has the skills and was more than competent, as was Tim. It was just a timely exercise and wasted precious time. Time that they could be enjoying themselves.
"Dad, the new place comes with a dock and mooring license. We're that close to the water."
"We're off the estuary, New River." Tim explained. "It's a cottage and that's all we'll say about it until you're here. Seeing and believing is two different things."
"That's great, probie." Tony encouraged. "Hope you're in there by Halloween. Zee and I are making plans flying out for the weekend. We're off work. Got a three day weekend, that weekend." Tony added, having just come back into the room, catching the end of Tim's detailed description of their new place.
"Pretty safe bet we will be." Kelly winked at Tim. "We get the keys on Monday." She announced.
"That is very fast, Timothy." Ducky added, concerned. "Are you sure it's up to code? You did look at everything yourself? " Both Tim and Kelly laughed.
"Yes, Tim was checking everything. But seriously, you'll see for yourself next weekend Uncle Duck. Dad probably knows the landlord, she's an analyst for NCIS and has worked in practically every office throughout her almost forty year career."
"Only one analyst I know with a career like that." Gibbs smiled. "If it's Tina's place, then it's as up to code as anything here. Her family owns Grey Construction and they build everything from houses to schools, apartment buildings to the latest extension at the NCIS HQ. They've got their fingers in everything construction, Duck."
"The very same." Gibbs smiled widely at Tim's confirmation.
"She and I have worked together a lot over the years, known her since my childhood, Tim. You have any problems or need help, you go to her. She's one of our people." Tim knew what Gibbs meant by 'our people', it was a phrase he didn't use too often to describe people. It meant she could be trusted.
"Big kitchen, Kelly?" Ziva asked.
"You'll drool, Zee!" She replied enthusiastically. "Dad, its got a fully automatic coffee machine too." Which made everyone laugh.
Kelly and Tim both yawned again. "That's it for us." Kelly said through the third yawn in five minutes. "It's been a long day, time for bed."
"You're both tired." Gibbs said in a parental tone. "Guys, say good night." Gibbs instructed to Tony and Ziva. "The kids are exhausted. I'll talk to both soon. Take care of each other."
"Night Dad, love you." Kelly said and they both signed off.
Kelly and Tim both yawned again. "That's it for us." Kelly said through the third yawn in five minutes. "It's been a long day, time for bed."
"You're both tired." Gibbs said in a parental tone. "Guys, say good night." Gibbs instructed to Tony and Ziva. "The kids are exhausted. I'll talk to both soon. Take care of each other."
"Night Dad, love you." Kelly said and they both signed off.
"It's great they found somewhere to live so soon, yes?" Ziva asked as soon as Gibbs disconnected the call. "I am concerned that they both look so tired though."
"Ziva, my dear." Ducky began. "It's a different climate. They're at a higher elevation too, that's going to take time to get used to. At least they're still in the same time zone, so no jet lag."
"Are you going to ok to tow Kelly's boat that far Boss?" Tony asked. "I could come along too and help with the driving." Tony was eager to see their new place. It sounded too good to be true.
"What am I, Anthony? Chopped liver?" Ducky asked feeling put out and ignored. "I am capable of towing a boat too, and I have been doing it since I was a wee lad. Before you were a twinkle in your father's eye."
"Sorry Ducky, you know what I meant though." Tony placated.
"I get that you're anxious to see them again, but I assure you, they aren't up to entertaining guests yet. By Halloween, no doubt they will be, but not yet." Ducky chastised. "Jethro and I will not be there as guests, we are simply delivering the vehicle and boat. I, however, do plan to stock their freezer with some delicious homemade meals while I am there. I believe from Palmer that there isn't much options for take out food there."
"Ducky, I will drop off some meals to you too Thursday night. I don't like knowing that if they're too tired to cook, that take out isn't always an option for them." Ziva added.
"Vance did say that Tim is off for the thanksgiving weekend, maybe I can convince them to fly in. We're on call, but it's generally a fairly quiet weekend." Gibbs offered. "You'll have just seen them for Halloween."
"Yeah Gibbs" he answered. Rolling over, looking at his alarm clock on the bedside table. Last night after everyone had left, he'd felt melancholic. He took Kelly's baby albums upstairs to his bedroom and laid down reminiscing about his baby girl and pondering the future.
"You didn't tell me your young Kelly was moving here." Tina chastised her dear friend.
"Hey Teen." Gibbs smiled, hearing from his long time friend. "Surprise! But seriously, I thought you'd moved back to the New Orleans office by now. That's your usual home base."
"Nope, staying here in Jacksonville for another year. Met your man yesterday, respectful young thing. We're we ever that young?"
"No one's ever been that young, that man has had to grow up way too fast in life." Gibbs said sadly. "But he's a good man, he's a damn fine agent and he's a good partner for Kelly."
"Any relation to that a-hole Admiral McGee?" She asked, with her curiosity piqued.
"Unfortunately yes, though it's hard to believe that they're father and son. I never met the Admiral but heard he was a piece of work."
"Was?" Tina asked.
"Murdered in July in Norfolk." Gibbs supplied
"Thought he was stationed in California."
"So did his son. We investigated and never did find out why he'd travelled to Norfolk. Of course our cyber guy was Tim and had to be excused from the case. But we caught they guy and his serving a max sentence."
"Don't worry, you say he's a good man, he's a good man. Must favour his mother." Tina surmised.
"Both his parents are deceased. From what I have heard she was such a sweet woman. Ducky, our ME here and I have taken that boy in as our own."
"Oh Leroy, that warms my old heart." She smiled. "Always such a shame you never had more than the one child."
"What can I say, I got it perfect the first time?" Gibbs joked. "Told him and Kell tonight to come to you, if they need help. Tim won't ask for help. He might need a push."
"Relax Leroy, I'll watch over your chicks for you."
"Knew I could count on you." Gibbs said softly.
"It's what we Stillwater peeps do, look out for one another. Be seeing you soon?"
"Tim's taking me to the office Friday. Coffee?"
"It's a date!"
Gibbs made his way into the office, they weren't scheduled on, but he was on a mission. In the bottom drawer of his desk, he still had the photo albums from that day at Norfolk. Tim had put them in boot of their sedan before he left. When Ziva had returned to DC, he'd taken them from her and locked them in his desk drawer, away from prying eyes.
"The kids get settled in?" Balboa asked, startling him from over the divider in the squad room. Gibbs physically jumped at Balboa's question.
"Ah yeah," Gibbs said stunned someone had asked him about Tim so soon. "They called last night. They've found a place to live already and Tim went into the office and already met one of the taskforce men."
"Good," Balboa said. "Gibbs, we've known each other a long time now. Can I ask you a question?" Balboa was like Gibbs, but discreet. He rarely pried, unless he had to.
"Shoot," Gibbs answered. He always had time for Balboa. He'd known him since he began at, what was NIS then, now NCIS.
"Is Tim doing ok? Emotionally. I've been worried about him. That kind of injury sucks, not to mention the emotional trauma of the whole attack." Gibbs closed his eyes for a moment, Jarvis Clayton had asked him that very same question last week. It made the guilt eat at him a little more. He should have been better prepared.
"Kelly said he's been getting better, the nightmares and flashbacks are easing. I know he's having nightmares are still there, just not as frequent. They've got him seeing a therapist, as part of his rehab." He supplied.
"I got the emergency room Doctor's initial report. The doctor wasn't convinced that Tim would regain the use of his arm fully and his neck may cause further issues for him."
"That's right, that's what they told us that day at the hospital too. Honestly, he's doing better than expected everyone expected. His physiotherapist is happy with his progress, he has began hydrotherapy too and he can type again. As he builds back up his stamina, I'm sure you'll find he will be as good as new." Gibbs was sure of himself.
"I'm glad, Gibbs." Balboa said smiling. "I like the boy. He's smart, talented as hell, got a good head on his shoulders. He's going to go far here at NCIS."
"All the way to the top." Gibbs confirmed, proudly. He had seen that in Tim on the dock that day in Norfolk, all those years ago.
"Unless Director Shepard has anything to say about it. Don't know what her problem is." Balboa flippantly said.
"What do you know?" Gibbs growled.
"I know she's speaks down to him, constantly threatens to fire him if something goes wrong, even if its beyond his control. I know she gave him a redacted case file above his pay grade to solve and then reamed him out because he solved it and it was above his security level. She bullies him too, treats him like he's invisible until she needs something."
"Can you write up every thing for me?" Gibbs asked, determined to put a stop to it.
"I'll have it for you by Wednesday. My team members have intimate knowledge of a few other issues with our actual director and McGee."
"Have them write it out too." Gibbs advised.
"Agent Gibbs, I'm sorry to just stop by like this." Jarvis said as he entered Gibbs'. It was Tuesday night and Gibbs was kicking back on his sofa reading Tim's newest book that had just been released that morning. The third book in his trilogy. "Can I have a moment of your time please?"
"Call me Gibbs, your nephew and my daughter are …" he trailed off.
"Yeah, they are." Jarvis grinned. "In that case, I'm Clay, away from the office, that is."
"Clay, what can I do for you?" Gibbs asked, marking his spot in his book and closing it.
"Phil, Clare and I are concerned about Tim and how his dealing with his dog attack. We know he's recovering and doing his PT, but he looks so drained and tired."
"I asked Kell the same thing." Gibbs admitted honestly. "She said he's began to see a therapist as part of his recovery and it's taking time. He's down to about five nightmares a it was two or three a night in the beginning."
Jarvis looked grim. He didn't look like a confident SECNAV at that point, just a worried man. "I don't know how he does it?" He confessed. Spying the book Gibbs had sat on the coffee table. "Oh hey, Gemcity, the three of us are such huge fans. Is this the newest one?"
"Yeah," Gibbs said. "He's really good."
"When the first book came out, with all the buzz around the identity of Gemcity, Clare was convinced it was Tim."
"Why?" Was Gibbs only answer, as the Penny dropped that Kelly and unbeknownst to Tim , Ducky and I were probably the only ones who knew Tim was Gemcity.
"At Lucy and Sam's college graduation party, Tim bumped into an ex-girlfriend who broke his heart and had moved onto a new man. The new man was married and Tim was even more heartbroken, as you could imagine. Apparently he told Clare about this novel he was going to write in graphic detail and how he was going to be a famous author. He was so drunk he passed out and has no recollection of it, to this day." Jarvis was grinning and Gibbs had a small smile. "Clare had drunk a few cocktails that night too, Gibbs and my sister can't handle her liquor." He laughed.
"Sounds like Tim definitely isn't a love 'em and leave 'em type." Gibbs surmised and it made his heart feel happy for Kelly.
"Definitely not." Jarvis confirmed. "More like he rarely loves and when he does, its usually a hard and fast. She moves on before he knows what's happened." Jarvis looked Gibbs in the eye. "Your daughter Kelly, she isn't like that. Phil, Clare and I have never seen Tim with a girl, like he is with Kelly and Vice versa. They're in it for the long haul."
"They are," Gibbs confirmed. "They're a great couple too. I think they love each other very much."
"Now I also wish to speak to you about Director Shepard, there are some serious reports floating around that she has a vendetta against one of her Agents." Jarvis said, taking a breath. "One of your agents, Junior Field Agent Timothy McGee."
"I'm aware of the situation and have began slowly collating the little evidence I have." Gibbs confirmed.
"Good, when you've got all of it ready, give me a call. This assignment for Tim has come at a good time, with this attack the last thing he needs is director Shepard personally making threats to Tim."
"This is it?" Tim asked Kelly, pulling up at the Vance's home.
"I guess so, it's the address they gave us." Kelly answered as the front door opened Leon Vance came to meet them at the car.
"Welcome to North Carolina." Leon greeted warmly. "Agent McGee, Ms Gibbs this is my wife Jackie. Jackie, this is McGee and Ms Gibbs."
"Call me Jackie." She said warmly, shaking both of their hands. "Welcome to our home. These are our children Kayla, she's eleven and Jared who's nine."
"We're just Tim and Kelly," Tim said smiling.
"Leon and Jackie away from the office. Here in the office I'm sir or Deputy Director." Leon explained.
"How are you liking North Carolina so far?" Jackie asked. "This is why we haven't relocated to DC yet, it's such a short commute for Leon to come home on weekends. We've been here only a year ourselves. We were in San Diego before this post. Plus soon Leon will be back in the Carolina's office again and we will see him every night again."
"From what we've seen so far, it's beautiful." Kelly said. "We get the keys to our new place on Monday, once we're moved in we will explore more."
"Well you two didn't waste any time." Jackie laughed at the promptness of the young pair.
"You didn't take the first house you looked at, did you?" Vance asked worried that they had done just that. "We give you thirty days to find somewhere for a reason."
"No, it was the second. Our landlord is an NCIS analyst." Tim explained how two apartments had been eliminated due to the risk to his security clearance.
"You must be subletting from Agent Grey. We are too, this is one of her homes." Vance said.
"Yes, our interior is similar. She does beautiful work." Kelly agreed.
"Leon tells me you're studying midwifery." Jackie said, engaging Kelly into the conversation more. "I'm a midwife and doula. If you're interested in becoming a doula, let me know. I run courses regularly. It's a good way to get the hands on experience as you work through your diploma."
"The girls will be talking midwifery, doulas and all things babies for a while now, let's head to the back screened in patio and we can talk NCIS and my plans for you." Leon said, escorting the young agent away from the kitchen.
Tim dutifully followed Leon to the screen led in patio accepting a drink along the way. "What are your goals at NCIS?"
"Ultimately, I'd like to expand my skills and work my way up. Maybe even run my own team some day." Tim admitted. "I understand these things take time."
"You haven't undertaken many courses with NCIS except the mandatory training." Leon noted. "I know about your doctorate and multiple degrees. I have read your file, cover to cover."
"It's not that I haven't applied, I have. I completed a few workshops under Morrow but every one I have applied for I have been knocked back for 'operational reasons'" Tim quoted.
"Any idea why Director Shepard seems to have it in for you?"
"Besides being lazy and not the ideal agent, no." Tim resigned, reciting what the Director had said to him in the past.
"You're not lazy, that much I do know." Leon argued. "I have a list of seminars and workshops I want you to complete while your here. By the end of this assignment, I'd like to have you ready to move up to a SFA position."
"They won't take away from the taskforce?" Tim asked.
"No, these are to be undertaken instead of cold cases. Only cold cases when you're not attached to MCRT in DC, on the taskforce or undertaking this required training."
"I'm looking forward to this." Tim confessed.
Dinner was a lively affair, the children, Jared in particular, was mesmerised at Tim's ability to do math and anagrams in his head and his impressive computer skills that surpassed his and his fathers skills combined. Kayla was fascinated to hear Kelly's stories of working in the emergency department and how her midwifery course was going, she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps. However when Kayla asked Tim about the bandage on his neck the room sobered up quickly. "That's too raw to talk about yet, baby." Vance had told her. Truth be told, he was still touchy about it himself. He could only imagine how McGee felt about it.
"I'm still doing PT and recovering. When it's all better, you can ask me." Tim offered the young girl, who was happy with that negotiation.
After dessert they bid farewell to the Vance's and Jackie and Kelly had already made plans for Jackie to come help them get the house unpacked on Monday afternoon.
Sunday was spent relaxing mostly with the most strenuous task of the night was deciding who was cooking what for dinner. They had explored the streets near their new home and found a diner and enjoyed a delicious, hearty lunch there. It wasn't like 'Elaine's way' but it would fill the void until they returned to DC next. Best of all, the coffee wasn't half bad.
Tim decided on a simple dinner of spaghetti and salad since lunch was so big. Tomorrow was such a big day and they were more than thankful they'd decided on renting with furniture rather than bringing their own. With Kelly's pregnancy and Tim's neck and arm it'd be awkward to get the furniture moved.
The week began more crazily than expected. They woke up to no power and a crazy warm day for a mid October day.
They got the keys to their little cottage and went back to the quest serviced apartment to pack up the few belongings they had unpacked, pack up their food and they made their way over to their new home.
Tim and Kelly unlocked the door and took a look around again, this time as the tenants of this beautiful home. "I think we're going to be very happy here." Kelly said, kissing Tim.
"We already are sweetheart." Tim answered before a knock at the door disturbed their reverie.
"Kelly?" Jackie Vance's voice called out. "Tim? Anyone home?"
"Jackie, welcome!" Tim smiled as he lead her into the kitchen. "Coffee?" He offered.
"I bought some champagne, thought we could toast your new home." She said, popping the champagne open before either of them could answer.
"We can't." Kelly said softly, avoiding the older woman's gaze.
"Sure you can." Then Jackie Vance realised that Tim was probably still on pain meds and antibiotics. "Tim probably can't. But I'm sure you can."
"No I can't." Kelly reiterated. "I'm …" she stammered off, unable to find her words.
Jackie's mouth formed an "o" shape. "How far along?" She asked, smiling wide at the young couple.
"Not very. We have a doctors appointment tomorrow to confirm it." She whispered. "You can't even tell Leon. My Dad, he doesn't know yet."
Tim looked defeated. He'd just realised they'd have to tell Gibbs about the pregnancy as soon as he arrived. Gibbs was going to kill him