September 1995, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

No one in their right mind would ever accuse Gibbs of being naïve. He might have a weak spot or two, but he was always alert; watching patiently and waiting, biding his time. So when after only three weeks of being away from home her housemate dropped out of school and Kelly told him "Don't worry about it Dad, Tim's going to take the spare room. The dorm is too noisy for him to live in." Gibbs knew there was more to it than that.

Gibbs was preparing to leave for an undercover assignment in Russia the following Monday, but first he made an unscheduled and unannounced trip to Maryland on the Friday afternoon to visit Kelly at her apartment. Parking his truck in the visitor lot, putting the parking permit on the dashboard, Gibbs grabbed his bag, locked his truck and headed into the apartment building.

"Ah Mr Gibbs." A man's voice called out, "I was just about to phone you." He recognised the man as Jake, the building manager. "Did your daughter tell you about young Natalie moving back home?"

"Mr Greco, hello." Gibbs greeted him. "Yes, Kelly told me."

"I don't mean to pry, it's just that your daughter is a respectable young woman and she has a male roommate now. I wouldn't want her to suffer from anything untoward as a result of that boy she has living with her. He's quiet, keeps to himself, which is good. They seem to be really good friends, perhaps more. But I am worried."

"Yes, I know about the new roommate too." Gibbs answered him. "That's why I'm here."

"Mr Gibbs, it is not an issue for me. Please don't think it is, just I have a daughter a little older than yours and I'd hate it if the roles were reversed and no one expressed concern about my daughter's reputation."

"It's ok, Mr Greco. If it's the boy I think it is ... Tim McGee?" The building manager nodded at Tim's name. "It should be ok, I'll talk to them both."

"They did say it was only for a few months." The building manager told him, trying to put the girl's father's mind at ease. "Then he would be moving out."

"Yes, in the new year he will be attending MIT." Gibbs said proudly. "It's ok, Mr Greco. I can't see a problem with him staying. But I will be giving them both a stern talking too."

"As long as you are aware, Mr Gibbs. Have a good evening."

He made a quick trip up to the third floor and knocked on the apartment 3D and waited. Muffled voices from within the apartment could be heard, but not deciphered.

"Hey!" Tim said as he opened the door wide. He ushered him inside, locking the doors. "We weren't expecting you. How are you, Gibbs?"

"Good, where's Kell?" He asked, as he took in the apartment. It was cleaner than when Natalie lived there, it was what he secretly referred to as McGee clean and he was impressed.

"Studying, in her bedroom. You staying for dinner?" He asked as Tim returned to the kitchen. "Coffee?" Tim asked as he poured his girlfriend's father a coffee.

"Thanks Tim." Gibbs said, taking the coffee mug from his hands. "Now just stop a minute. Aren't you going to even say hello? You usually shake my hand, or at least look me in the eye."

Tim stopped what he was doing, spiralling the carrot and looked at Gibbs carefully, being sure to catch his eye. "Hi there." He smiled at Gibbs too. "Kelly has been working on that assignment all afternoon, I promised her I'd make dinner and I am running behind time. I got tied up with my own work. I'd apologise for my rude manners, but I know how you feel about apologies."

"It's ok Tim." Gibbs told him. He took a sip of the coffee, noting that it was a fresh batch and very hot. Tim must have not long made the pot before he arrived. "Can I have that hug now?"

Tim stepped up to Gibbs and hugged him. "Sure, I've actually missed you." Tim shyly admitted to Gibbs.

"Missed you too, Timmo." Gibbs told him truthfully, when he released Tim he inspected him carefully from head to toe.

"Do I pass muster?" Tim sassed at him, making Gibbs laugh. Gibbs was relieved Tim had made a joke, it had broken the awkwardness that had hung over the two of them since the young man was home at Christmas last year.

"Always!" He winked at Tim. "Now tell me what I can do to help."

The two men worked studiously on preparing a dinner of chicken, vegetables and rice, while Tim bought Gibbs up to speed on what was happening with his schooling. Kelly watched the two of them from the doorway of her bedroom. The camaraderie they once shared, that had been lacking was slowly coming back and that made her smile. She didn't want to be the one who stood in the way of their friendship.

"Hey, something smells good." Kelly announced coming into the kitchen. "Dad, when did you get here?"

"About an hour ago, baby." Gibbs told her as he washed his hands in the sink and hugged her tightly. "Now dinner is ready, go wash up."

The three of them enjoyed their meal together and all pitched in to clean up. When the clean up was done, Gibbs made a fresh pot of coffee and poured each of them a mug. "Now, take a seat you two. I think it's time the three of us had a serious chat."

Kelly and Tim looked at each other curiously, before taking a seat the dining table. "What's up Dad?" Kelly asked, but she knew what was up. She knew her father wasn't impressed with their living situation.

"I probably should have had this discussion with you both last year, maybe the year before. It's long overdue, so we're having it now." Gibbs admitted, twisting his mug on the coaster. "I've spoken with you both about love, about relationships, about honesty and about the physical aspects of a relationship. I've allowed you two to sleep in the same bed, albeit platonically, when you were younger and under my roof."

Gibbs took a breather for a minute and let the gravity of the discussion sink into the kids heads. "Now your relationship has changed a lot since the two of you first met, too. You've both had to endure more than what most kids your age. Both with loss and grief, as well as with academic advancement, but within your relationship too. Believe me, most people aren't with their first boyfriend/girlfriend by the time they head off to college."

Kelly knew what her Dad meant. "I certainly wasn't with Shannon when I was thirteen years old." Both Kelly and Tim knew that Shannon and Gibbs' relationship hadn't been the first one for either of them. "Even the most personal of relationships change."

"Sometimes, couples drift apart and other times, they become more intimate." Gibbs was struggling to find the right words. He had been able to talk to the two of them individually, but he was struggling now. He'd never had to talk to the two of them about their relationship before, even when laying down the house rules.

"I think I know what this is about." Tim whispered softly. Tim had known Gibbs would want to talk about this eventually, he just didn't expect it to be with both of them. He expected to be pulled aside for his side of this discussion.

"You're right." Gibbs announcing, changing tact. He realised he had been talking at them, when he should be speaking with them, opening up an honest and open conversation. So he took the seat instead of standing before them, he carried it around the table and sat in front of them. "I've been going about this wrong. You two aren't in trouble. Neither of you, so it shouldn't look like I'm lecturing you both."

He closed his eyes and took a moment. "It's natural that as time progresses, relationships do too. I know that you two have commenced a more adult relationship than what you had last year."

"We've become closer." Kelly agreed, speaking up and admitting it. She wasn't ashamed of herself, or of Tim. Or of what they were doing.

"It's normal that you're going to want to try more things and experience new things, together. Become more and feel more between the two of you." He tried to keep it clinical, for their sake and for his own. "You're probably having a sexual relationship too now." Gibbs stated as he watched Tim not be able to meet his eye and get embarrassed. His daughter was shocked with him.

"Look at me ... both of you." Gibbs waited until both of them were looking at him. "It's ok. It's normal and it's a part of life and evolution. Just promise me, you'll make safe choices and use protection. Remember that having unprotected intercourse has consequences, too. I trust you both to make smart decisions."

"We do." Tim answered, being sure to maintain eye contact with Gibbs. Even though Tim was embarrassed by having to have this conversation with both Gibbs and Kelly, he understood why Gibbs felt it necessary to have it. "I remember everything that you ever told me and the Admiral's half-hearted effort at the talk, too."

"Dad, we always do. Tim wears protection religiously." Kelly told him. "As you said, you've spoken with both of us about it."

"That's all I need to know on that subject. I don't need any other details." Gibbs told him and the young couple made a move to stand up, feeling relieved that the conversation was over ... or so they thought. "I'm not done yet, you two."

Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle at both of the automatically taking their seats again in unison. "It's fine if you want to live together and sleep together. Personally, I'd prefer if you waited until you were older, but it's your lives and your choice to make, not mine. I can't tell you both not to have sex at almost eighteen years old, because I was doing it at your age. Just be smart about it."

"As far as living together, that's ok with me. But you need to maintain separate rooms. I won't have Admiral McGee on the phone to me, making a mountain out of a molehill over this." All three smiled at that. They all knew that every once in a while the Admiral blew in to town and decided to be a parent, criticising everything and everyone. Tearing Tim's world down in his wake and leaving just as fast as he arrived. Now that Tim was away at school, Penny was always on the road and rarely around.

"Timmo, nothing needs to change between us, either. I've always been here for you and I always will. Just promise me, you'll go heavy on questions and light on the details from now on." Gibbs finished off on a light-hearted note. He saw Tim nod his affirmative at him.

"Dad?" Kelly asked, looking at him. "I'm sorry. I know you hate apologies, but I was weak, I broke our agreement."

"Oh Kell!" He sighed, moving closer to her. "Don't apologise, you're growing up. It wasn't fair to you to make you promise to tell me before you two decided to take the next step. I have to learn to let go a little more, you're not my little girl anymore."

Gibbs watched as Tim reached out and took Kelly by the hand. "Now that's over with, who's room do I sleeping in?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Ah, ... that would be mine, Dad. Our room is in Tim's bedroom." Kelly answered and Gibbs grinned at them. He knew who wore the pants in their relationship and it wasn't Tim. Gibbs had known the answer to that question before he'd asked it. After all, the first rule of interrogation is don't ask a question you don't want to know the answer to.

"Great, so I'm in your bedroom. I'll just grab a shower and freshen up and we can play a board game." Gibbs said, snatching up his old SAR bag he used as his go bag and headed towards Kelly's room.

He looked around Kelly's room and noticed that the desk had her workbooks and text books on it, haphazardly stacked. The desk was still tidy. The chest of draws were perfunctory and empty. As were the bedside table. He noticed the bed was made up with her fancy quilt and little pillows, certainly not like her bed at home. Gibbs knew by looking around the room. Kelly hadn't slept in here since the night Tim moved in.

Coming back to the living room in his sweats, fresh from his shower, he found the couple cuddled up together on the sofa. They were snuggled into one another, each had their own text book in resting on their respective laps. Tim was taking copious notes from his text book as Kelly occasionally highlighting key points in her own book. Both enjoying the peace and quiet of the apartment, as well as the intimacy of being together and doing something mundane, like studying.

He grinned a wide grin to himself, they hadn't even heard him return, but they'd just given him a a rather large glance into the life they shared together under their own roof.

It made his heart pang, as he realised that chronologically they were still kids, but in terms of maturity, they weren't kids anymore.

November 2002, Gibbs Family Home, Alexandria, Virginia

Gibbs was tiptoeing off to bed on the top floor of his home. It was 0240 and he was finally tired enough to sleep. The kids had gone to bed an hour or so beforehand.

As he always did when Kelly and Tim was home, he checked all the doors and windows were locked.

As he headed to his room at the end of the hallway, he noticed that Tim and Kelly hadn't bothered closing their bedroom door. That was out of the ordinary. Ever since they had shared that small, two bedroom apartment together in Baltimore, they always slept with the door closed.

Through the darkness, he could see that the couple in question weren't actually asleep. Sure they were in bed and under the covers together. Gibbs knew as much as his body told him to stay and see if they needed him or wanted to talk the issue out, his brain told him that he should just leave Tim to it. Whatever it was, Tim seemed to have it under control.

Tim and Kelly weren't sleeping and they were both aware that Gibbs had come upstairs to go to bed, now. Kelly's body was still shaking uncontrollably as she hiccuped and was sobbing softly. Tim had his arms around her and was comforting the young woman, murmuring words of reassurance, love, support and understanding.

As Tim had suspected earlier, Kelly was feeling ashamed that her body was struggling to get pregnant. Something that her body was literally made for. She didn't feel like she was womanly or feminine anymore. The toll of the heartache had begun to physically hurt.

As Gibbs lay in his bedroom, he could hear Tim moving about their room. He could hear their voices, but couldn't distinguish what was being said.

Soon enough, the voices died down and soft sighs of sleep could be heard throughout the top floor of the Gibbs family home.

Saturday morning dawned before he was ready, waking at 0500 and instead of waking, Gibbs chose to roll over and sleep a few more hours. He lay there briefly, listening to the house, straining to hear if anyone else was awake. It didn't surprise him that both Kelly and Tim were still asleep. Whatever the issue had been last night, clearly it had taken it out of the married couple, driving them to exhaustion.

After laying there for another hour, attempting to sleep, however in that hour his mind had raced instead. 'What if one of them had been unfaithful? What if one of them are sick? What if one of them were hurt? What if one of them wanted a different life? What if one of them asked for a divorce?'

Deciding he definitely couldn't get back to sleep now, he softly padded downstairs and saw Tim sitting on the foot of the staircase, his head in his hands. "You ok, son?" He asked, trying not to startle Tim but failing miserably. He saw Tim jump in to the air, before retreating into his shell. He could see the walls Tim put up as his infantry retreated.

"Fine Dad, just couldn't sleep." He lied and they both knew it was a lie. Gibbs didn't comment on the fact he could see the unshed tears in his son in law's eyes.

"Come on son, coffee and basement, let's go." Gibbs urged the young man up off the floor, offering his hand and hoisting Tim off the step. Gibbs knew from past experience, that sometimes Tim needed to be forced to talk in order for him to feel better. But he also knew when to leave him alone too and right now, it was the time to force Tim to talk.

Gibbs watched his son in law as he carried their steaming hot coffee mugs downstairs to the cool basement. Both men dressed in their heavy bed sweats and thick wool socks. They sat at either end of the old beat up sofa down there.

The silence was heavy between the two of them, with Gibbs patiently waiting for Tim to start and Tim very reluctant to break his silence.

"Whenever you're ready, Timmo?" Gibbs reminded him.

"Kelly doesn't want you to know." Tim began explaining his dilemma.

"She wants to be a mother?" Gibbs asked, surprised. She wasn't yet finished with med school. Honestly, he thought he had a few more years before someone gave him the Grandpa moniker. But even the father had seen it in his daughter. It didn't take a genius to know that Kelly longed to be a mother for almost as long as she had been alive.

"I...we..." Tim clammed his mouth shut. He didn't want to upset his wife, by going behind her back and telling her father. After all, he was married to Kelly, not Jethro Gibbs. But he and Jethro were closer than most men and their father in laws. They were friends, pals and Gibbs was his mentor. A guiding, nurturing and loving hand, the one he often needed growing up. It didn't help that he had been able to count on Gibbs to kick his ass if he set a foot out of line.

"You've been trying and it isn't happening?" Gibbs guessed and sighed. He knew that heartache too. He knew the heartache of wanting that baby and yearning for it and month after month, nothing happening. That's something he would never wish on anyone. "You guys are still young, there's plenty of time yet."

Gibbs tried to encourage and support them, based on his guess. Tim hadn't confirmed or denied his suspicion, but deep down in his gut he knew he was right. He hadn't seen Tim not willing to open up to since he was a small boy.

June 1984, Joint Base Alameda, California

Jethro and Shannon had spoken with Kelly in a long discussion about what had happened to her best friend's mother. About how Tim was feeling, about how his father would be feeling and about how his Grandmother was feeling. They spoke about death, about grief and about mourning. About how people dealt with that in different ways.

They spoke with her about how they needed to be there to support Tim and his family, to be their friends and to help them through the difficult times. Then Shannon did something very out of character for her, she told Kelly she had to make a grown up decision and although she could ask her parents for advice. The decision had to be hers alone.

"Funerals can be scary, Kelly." Shannon told her. "Especially when you've never been to one before and you don't what to expect."

"They can be upsetting too. Not only because Mrs McGee is now in heaven, but because your best friend is hurting and it's a pain you can't understand, because you still have me." Shannon had continued. "Tim is going to be upset, possibly crying. He might even be angry, frightened, mad, scared. He could be overwhelmed too."

Jethro looked over at his wife like she was insane. Their daughter was only six and a half years old and Shannon was giving her a choice. The Ryan family across the street had offered to look after Kelly, allowing Shannon and Jethro to go to the funeral alone. He had wanted to protect her from this, but Shannon had been adamant, loss and grief are a part of life. That they shouldn't shield her away from it.

"It's your choice, Kell." Her mother told her. "No one is going to mad or upset if you don't go. No is going to mad or upset if you come too. This is a grown up decision and it's yours to make. There's no right or wrong answer."

"Daddy?" Kelly's voice bought his focus back to her. "If I go, will you be there too?"

"Yes Baby, we will go as a family." Gibbs told her. "If you don't go, I'll still go and I can tell you all about it."

"I want to go. I want to say goodbye to Mrs McGee and I want to promise her that I'll take care of her Timmy." Kelly told her parents. "I want Tim to know that I was there and I want Tim to know that we are here for him."

That afternoon, Kelly stayed with Gibbs and Shannon hit the shops to find her daughter a dress to wear that was appropriate for a funeral.

The following afternoon, the sun was shining and the birds were singing, it was a beautifully warm and bright, summer's day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. But the atmosphere was anything but happy. It was oppressive and grief-stricken. The traffic from base to the cemetery was surprisingly light for a Friday afternoon.

The mourners were gathered on top of the hill, by the peace garden, a lot of the mourners were military personnel, dressed in their formal military uniforms. They were nearly all Naval Officers. The only member of the USMC in attendance was Staff Sergeant Gibbs. He was dressed in his formal Marine Blues, his wife in a black linen dress and heels, and their young daughter in a black dress with white frilled socks and black sandals.

When the Gibbs family trio arrived at the cemetery, they were taken to their seats by a young man in a Petty Officers uniform. From where they were seated, they could see Tim's Grandmother Penelope sitting in the row in front of them. She hadn't batted an eyelid at Kelly's presence in the cemetery. The Gibbs family were surprised though, to find themselves seated right behind The McGee matriarch and the reserved seats where they assumed that Tim and the Commander would be seated.

The hearse pulled up and the naval officers carried her coffin to the pulley's where it would be lowered into the ground at the end of the ceremony. Following behind the casket, was Commander McGee and Timothy, solemnly walking behind.

Timothy was dressed in his black suit, his white shirt and black tie, his Sandy blonde hair combed to perfection. His father dressed in his formal naval uniform, rested a heavy hand on his son's shoulder as they walked behind the casket and took a seat in the row of chairs in front of them.

"Welcome." The funeral service began and Gibbs watched Tim closely. He was void of all emotions. Like a robot, he sat ramrod straight beside his father. His father offered no support or comfort to his son either. Penny sat beside Tim on the other side of him, just as straight and attentive as her son.

He felt a little hand slip inside his and looked down at his daughter who was now holding his hand. He caught his wife's eye and she was drying her own eyes. Kelly had her handkerchief. She had tears threatening to fall, but they never fell. Of that, Gibbs was thankful. If Kelly had of cried, he felt he would have lost his composure too.

Beside Gibbs, a man sat stoically. He showed no emotion and although he wore a naval officers graduating class ring, he wasn't in his uniform. Gibbs wondered who the man was.

As the music played and the coffin lowered into the ground, Tim's body shook briefly and Gibbs couldn't help himself. He reached out and touched Tim's back in comfort and support. He noticed that Shannon and Kelly's hands had joined his as the Gibbs family reminded the little boy that he wasn't alone.

After the service, his father and the other officers had decided to gather at the Officer's club, back on base. Gibbs secretly thought to himself that he highly doubted the men would be remembering and toasting the late Mrs Nicole McGee.

Penny had looked torn about what to do about Tim until Shannon stepped up the McGee matriarch and offered Tim to have a sleepover at their house for the weekend. That it was officially summer vacation and they were planning a trip to the beach the following day. That Tim might enjoy the distraction.

A quick stop at the McGee home for Tim's bag and the four of them retired to the Gibbs family home for the night.

That night it was late, Shannon was asleep and he was beside her in bed. He had been finally dozing, but something had woken him. Stealthily, he climbed out of bed, replacing his body with his pillow so Shannon didn't miss him.

Creeping downstairs, he found Tim in the foot of the stairs. His head in his hand, that sandy blonde hair a mess and soft sobs reverberating through his little body. "Tim?" Gibbs asked softly, sitting beside the boy on the bottom of the step. "Are you hurt?" Gibbs reached out for him and watched as Tim physically recoiled at his touch. "Tim, it's Gibbs. You're safe here, remember?"

Tim looked up at him, his green eyes wide and doe like. Tim said nothing as he looked up at Tim. Gibbs could tell Tim was desperate to reach out, but feared to. Probably from some misguided advice his father had given him no doubt. "It's ok to let me in Tim." Gibbs pleaded with him. "Remember, this is a safe space to talk."

Gibbs felt dejected. In the three months he'd known this boy he'd watched him open up to Shannon and Kelly, but not to him. Except that morning in Kelly's cubby house last week. They were extraordinary circumstances it had seemed. Gibbs sighed softly, mostly to himself.

Kelly's cubby house. It's safe. "Want to go out to the cubby house?" Gibbs asked suddenly with a small grin for the small boy.

"It's dark outside." Tim reasoned with him. He had stopped sobbing, but his tears were still falling.

"Not if we take the flashlight." Gibbs replied, giving him a small encouraging smile. "Let's get our jackets and the afghan off the back of my chair."

Gibbs ushered Tim to get the afghan and the jackets from the hall closet. Gibbs made some warm hot chocolate for the two of them and got the flashlight from the cupboard under the sink.

It was a balmy night, not too cool. But Gibbs encouraged Tim to put on a jacket, not wanting the boy to get sick from the temperature change. Inside the house was definitely warmer.

Once the duo was settled inside the cubby house, Gibbs handed Tim his hot chocolate mug and took a sip of his own. "Remember the secret I told you?" Gibbs began. "About my mom."

"She died, like my mom." Tim answered. The two of them were quiet. Each enjoying each other's company peacefully. "Did you get mad after she died?"

"Yeah, I was mad. Mad at the world, mad at my dad. Mad at her too." Gibbs confided in him. Gibbs knew Tim hadn't expressed any feelings in front of his father since that day he ran away and hoped Tim could express them soon. He didn't want the boy who had wormed his way into his gruff marine heart to bottle up his emotions until they exploded in an unhealthy way. "Who are you mad at?"

"My Dad." Tim sighed. "He doesn't even seem to miss mom. He went to the offices club." Gibbs had noticed that too. The boy was astute and he realised that Tim saw more and understood more than a lot of other children his age.

"Officer's Club." Gibbs gently corrected him. "I know." Gibbs didn't have much else to say there. He certainly wasn't going to defend the Commander's actions. Especially to his son, that would just insult everyone's intelligence, including Tim's.

"Is it wrong that I wish my Dad died instead of my mom?" Tim suddenly asked, looking at Gibbs with those big green eyes of his again.

"I think it's normal to feel that way sometimes, Tim." Gibbs told him. "Everyone grieves differently. I remember wishing the same thing when I was your age. Then I hated myself for it, because yeah, he was here and my mom was gone. But it didn't do anything but hurt my dad."

Gibbs moved the now empty hot chocolate mugs away so they didn't get broken. He knew Shannon wouldn't be happy if they got broken. "But our situation is different, too. My dad was great. I love my Dad. I was close to my Dad, back then."

"I don't hate my Dad, but I don't love him either." Tim admitted softly. "Dad's never really home. He's like a stranger. When he is home, he's always busy. Or he wants to be somewhere else. I wish I had a Dad like you."

Alarm bells were ringing loud and clear in Gibbs' ears. He was determined to start paying more attention to Tim. It was clear that little Tim needed a male role model and John McGee treated his son like an inconvenience. He couldn't believe a man like McGee couldn't want to have a son like Tim. Gibbs and Shannon would do anything to be blessed with another child. "Why's that?"

"Cause you talk to me. You let me get upset. You let me be happy." Tim said in a sad tone. "You don't get upset with me if I just want to read my book or be left alone. When you're at home with Kelly and Shannon. Your mind is here too. You love Shannon and Kelly, you show them how much you love them with everything you do. I don't think my Dad's capable of love."

Those eight words just broke Gibbs' heart. I don't think my Dad's capable of love. What kind of six year old child should know that? Should even suspect that? Gibbs had to harness his internal anger at Tim's old man. This was the part of the social injustice hated, how people who don't deserve them can have as many kids as they like and people who truly longed for them struggled.