This chapter is exceptionally long, but it needs to be.
Be on the lookout for Mike's subtle reference to what Gibbs told McGee in 19x01 Rule 91.
He found Tim down in cybercrimes, working away at a workstation, a cardboard box at his feet. He'd obviously come down in search of the box and gotten distracted by something. "I'm not accepting this, Tim." Gibbs said softly, giving back his resignation letter to him. "It's garbage. I know you're hurt and no, I don't know what over, nor do I care. You're a good agent, the agency doesn't want to lose you, nor do I."
"It's done, Gibbs." Tim tells him sadly. "Fornell, hopefully will come through with a job for me in or near Manhattan with the FBI or I'll apply to NYU and do my Masters In Education and become a teacher."
"Why? Why would you give up everything that you've worked so hard for?" Gibbs asked, imploring him. "I've seen how much you've grown, both personally and professionally."
"I love Kelly. Not sure if you know that or not, but I do, very much." Tim admitted firmly and Gibbs smiled at him because Gibbs knew. "I stupidly watched her walk out of my life, five years ago. Not going to let her leave again. We both know that long distance relationships, never work out. Especially with a schedule like the MCRT."
"So you get to play the hero who gives up a great career, for love." Gibbs said frustrated. "Look, I stay out of other peoples relationship's. I'm hardly the expert but this one's on me, so I'm going to stick my nose in, a little. Sometimes long distance can work. But both parties have to be committed. They have to want it, be faithful, truthful and respectful of one another and themselves. You two could make it work."
"It's done, Gibbs, Director Shepard will announce my departure, a week from today. If I could have stayed within NCIS, I would have. I've loved working here, working for you, but I have a real shot at happiness for the rest of life here, I can't let her go, again." Tim told him sadly.
Gibbs felt torn, he knew he had to let Tim make his own decision. 'As a father, I am happy with Tim, as Kelly's partner. He's following her to Manhattan so they can be together and make a life together. But as a senior supervisory agent, I know talent when I see it and Tim is talented. "You don't waste good." I even have a rule about it and Tim is good.' He reflected. He felt himself getting emotional about this. "Ok," Gibbs said finally. "Here's what we do, we'll put a pin in it for the rest of this week. Keep it between the four of us and we'll see what Tobias offers you. I'll personally write up a job recommendation for you in the meantime. If you still want to do this, you have my unconditional support." Gibbs said. "But tomorrow evening, I want you by Kelly's side supporting her. You're still expected at the house by four, you got that?"
"Yeah ok. But I'm warning you, she won't be happy." Tim argued. "She's the one who told me not to bother with coming."
"Kell?" Gibbs asked softly, trying to garner her attention. He knew she wasn't really asleep. As soon as he had returned from the yard, she'd taken herself back upstairs. "Ya know that I normally stay out of your relationships but did you and Tim have a fight?" He asked, joining his daughter in her room.
"Oh Dad, everything is all messed up right now." She confessed. "You've got a lot on your plate right now, saying goodbye to Rebecca tomorrow, that should be your priority."
"Baby you're my daughter, always my number one priority." He corrected her, truthfully. "Besides, that was low. You know I'm always here for you, no matter what. You and me first, remember?"
Kelly began telling him about her meeting and how her boss offered her a new job. A promotion, but with it came the condition she'd have to remain in Manhattan. "I thought you hated living in Manhattan." Her Dad told her.
"I do, but this is too good of a job opportunity, its a Senior research assistant position. It might not come up for another five years." She told him and continued the story, how she went to lunch with Tim and told him and he was happy for her.
Then she explained the fight. "I told him not to follow me." She admitted, explaining the fight. "He's insisting that he does. He doesn't trust me!" She sighed, feeling hurt. "I said we can do the long distance relationship and I was willing to try, even if I think it's not a good idea."
"Baby, it sounds like he does trust you, perhaps more than he's ever trusted anyone else before. He's already lost you once, he just doesn't want to lose you again." Gibbs explained. "Maybe he loves you, just as much as you love him."
"I do love him," she confessed. "He hasn't said it yet, he probably doesn't want to rush it, yet. He told me we can't just slip back into where we were five years ago."
"Sounds smart, Kell. You have to know, he probably never stopped loving you, actually the same could be said for you too." Gibbs surmised before adding. "That's the extent that I'm getting involved."
"I don't know what your ex-wife's problems were, Dad. You communicate fine with me." Kelly jested at him, elbowing her Dad playfully. He simply kissed her cheek and got up to leave the room. "I should apologise to Tim, shouldn't I?"
"I think he'd like that, he'll be awake." Gibbs replied and Kelly gave her father an incredulous look. "What? I was at the yard, earlier. Keith tells me when one of my agents have worked late or double backed in after I've sent them home."
"Sure."
Gibbs took himself downstairs to await his friend Mike's arrival. He hated getting involved, he'd prefer to stay out of relationships. But sometimes they do need some guidance without overstepping, tonight he felt like he'd struck the right balance, for the first time. He picked up the book he'd been reading out of the coffee table drawer and settled in on his sofa.
The front door opening, mere minutes later startled him, as did the person at the door. He completely ignored Gibbs and headed straight to the the staircase where he met Kelly halfway up them and kissed her, before Kelly broke off the kiss and lead him the rest of the way upstairs, by the hand and Gibbs heard the bedroom door close behind them. 'Atta girl, Kell.' He thought. 'An apology goes a long way in a relationship, most of the time.' Breaking his infamous rule six.
"Probie?" Mike's voice startled him again, this time jolting him awake too. Last thing he remembered was hearing Tim come in and go into Kelly's room. "I am sorry." His former mentor and dear friend said to him, dumping his bag by the door and immediately comforting him.
"Thanks for coming, Mike." Gibbs said softly.
"Where is that favourite niece of mine?" He asked in his typical southern drawl.
"Upstairs, in her room with her boyfriend." Gibbs said flippantly, returning to his book.
"Boyfriend?!" Franks exclaimed. "Shit Probie, I thought we got rid of him. What happened?" Mike Franks was getting worked up, he obviously had crossed his wires and thought she was still dating that loser from New York.
"Not that one, the one from MIT." Gibbs replied, through a yawn. "They've reconnected."
"You've met him, finally?" Franks asked unbelievably. The Gibbs he knew, was overprotective of his daughter, not this seemingly carefree Gibbs that sat beside him on the sofa.
"So have you, it's my Agent, Timothy McGee." Gibbs told him as a matter of a fact.
"Probie's probie is the MIT boyfriend? Your agent is the MIT boyfriend? Tell me you knew and that is why you hired him." Franks was shocked and very few things surprised him, these days.
"Nah, just found out last week." Gibbs supplied through a yawn. "They're good for each other."
Mike and Gibbs watched as Kelly and Tim came back downstairs. "Uncle Mike!" She greeted him warmly with a hug. He looked over at McGee and took in his appearance. This Timothy McGee was dressed in Jeans, Hoodie and cross trainers, not in a business shirt and tie. This one was relaxed and all smiles, not the stressed out, under paid, overtired agent that he'd first met at the navy yard last year. "This is Tim." Kelly told him and he watched her eyes light up as she introduced them. He could see her love shining brightly through for Tim, just as he could see it in the young agent's eyes and smile, too.
"We've met." Franks answered her, before looking him over. "Probie's probie, right?"
"Franks," Tim greeted offering his hand to shake the the old cowboy's hand. "Nice to see you again, how are you?"
"Can't complain, kid. What are you two up to this late in the evening?" He asked, spying both of them in their coats.
"Going to Philomena's." Kelly told Gibbs as she kissed his cheek. "Won't be out too late, Agent McGee has work tomorrow morning. Cold cases don't solve themselves, right Dad?" She added as she and Tim exchanged megawatt smiles and he helped her into her overcoat, waving goodbye to the two older men.
"Well that's the real thing, right there!" Franks deadpanned. "Before you know it, Kelly will be buying a dress and you'll have yourself a son in law."
"Hell Mike, Tim's a good guy, smart as hell, protective and he loves her very much. He has a good job, treats her right, he's respectful and he adores her. Can't ask for much more than that." Gibbs surmised quickly. "He's a best selling author and has a doctorate, too." Gibbs added proudly.
"Sounds like a good man to me, just don't tell her I approve." Franks agreed. "Gotta keep your Probie on his toes. That way he always keeps pushing."
Tim held the door open at Philomena's allowing Kelly entry before ordering two chocolate brownie swirl cones with chocolate dipping sauce on top. The took their cones and went and sat back outside at the tables. "So, Mike Franks is the infamous Uncle Mike, I should have known." Tim said, chastising himself gently.
"Lucky you didn't meet the real Leroy Jethro Gibbs in overprotective Dad-mode, of my MIT days. You got to meet the pod person Dad has become since we reconnected, he's all mellow now. Uncle Mike is worse than what Dad is." Kelly explained, before her curiosity piqued. "When did you first meet Mike?"
"Ah, that's classified. Let's just say Retired Agent Mike Franks was recalled to assist with a case." Tim said cryptically. The team was at the hospital a lot when Gibbs was in his coma after the explosion, he didn't recall anyone mentioning Kelly or even seeing her. He doubted that she actually knew about it and he definitely wasn't going to be the one to tell her.
"You'd think I'd be used of the 'classified' line by now." Kelly observed dryly.
"Sorry Kell," Tim said sadly, before putting a dab of his ice cream cone on the tip of her nose and kissing it off. "Come on, let's call it a night."
The drive back to Alexandria from Georgetown was quiet for a Monday evening. "So, not scared off by my crazy family of all men?" She asked with a laugh as he turned off the engine off his Porsche in Gibbs' driveway behind Mike's rental car.
"Nah, I'll have to introduce you to Penny and Sarah soon, then you'll really know what crazy is." Tim offered as he closed the door behind Kelly.
By unspoken agreement they stopped at the door, Tim leaned against the porch's balustrade and handrail. "You can come in if you want? Uncle Mike and Dad will be in the basement by now." She asked, stepping into his arms and placing hot kisses along his jawline.
"As much as I'd love to, with no Gibbs tomorrow I need an early start." Tim said as he placed his own kisses on her cheek and jawline, slowly moving down to the juncture of her neck, placing kisses along the way. "Ziva will maim me if I am late to the gym in the morning." he said into he neck.
"Shame," she teased. "I thought we could pick up where we left off." Kelly whispered against him, trying to coax his lips up to hers.
"Not yet, Kell." Tim told her, kissing her gently. "Let's get through tomorrow first." he said before kissing her again, this time gently introducing his tongue to hers as they said good night. As the kiss broke off, the porch light flashed off and on three times and Kelly groaned.
"It's just a joy when Uncle Mike is visiting." She said with a laugh. "Thinks I'm fifteen years old and its our first date." Which made Tim laugh as he kissed her again and said goodnight.
Kelly watched Tim's car drive off before schooling her features and storming in. "I am NOT a fifteen year old!" she snapped at him, who sat on the sofa with a bourbon in hand, trying to look innocent. "I appreciate you want to protect me, but this is Tim. You don't need to worry."
"All the more reason to, I don't know him well." Mike reasoned with her.
"Well get to know him, he isn't going anywhere. Trust Dad's gut too, after all Dad hired him, I am sure Dad trusts him." Kelly argued. "I trust him, trust me. I'm not sure what you think he's going to do to me on the front porch with you three inside. One of you being his boss too!"
Tim met Ziva in the NCIS gym at 0500, as planned and they began their workout before Ziva called a halt to it. "You seem better today, are you recovered from yesterday's illness?" she asked him, genuinely concerned.
"Yes, I had a headache." He lied and Ziva saw right through it.
"I know you're lying to me. I will allow it only because I can see you're smiling and trying to hide it. Is it safe to assume you two have made up?" she asked, handing him a towel to dry his sweat.
"Yes, we made up." Tim said and she hugged him.
"Good, I liked her. I'd love to have the two of you over for dinner one night this week." Ziva offered with a smile. "She makes you very happy and I'd like to get to know her better. Besides, she is an old friend of yours, she knows where the bodies are hidden, yes?" she laughed and Tim smiled at her mixed up colloquialism.
"Yes, she knows where the bodies are buried, Ziva and no, she will not tell you, as I know where hers are buried too." Tim laughed at her. "Dinner sounds lovely, but not tonight. How about Friday night, if we don't catch a case."
"Works for me."
Upstairs in the bullpen, Tim unlocked the filing cabinet and pulled out a stack of cold case files and Ziva turned on the lights. They booted up their computers and settled into work, before Tony's arrival. "You are late!" Ziva told him and Tim bit back the smile that was threatening to split his face.
Director Shepard called Tony and asked that he send up McGee up, that there was a computer problem that he needed to deal with upstairs. "Probie!" Tony sang out in a sing song voice, before informing him that he was needed upstairs. Tim made his way up the stairs to the mezzanine level, meeting the Director in the hallway, before she was leading him into her office.
"I take it Gibbs now knows." Jenny Shepard began, trying to read his face. "Tim?"
"Oh yes, he too wouldn't accept my resignation." Tim filled her in on Gibbs proposition and she wholeheartedly agreed.
"I'm searching internally too, we don't want to lose you. Especially to the FBI." She told him. "You're an asset to our agency."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Tim smiled warmly at her. "Was there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yes, please pass on my condolences to Jethro when you speak with him next."
"I will, I'm leaving early today, he wants me at his house by 1600." Tim told her and she rose her eyebrows in surprise.
"Has he introduced you to his daughter yet?" Jenny asked him, genuinely curious. "I think you and her would hit it off and make a good couple."
"Umm, this is awkward." Tim told her, before she interrupted him.
"Oh I know, you have a partner. A partner that's special enough to leave your dream job for, it's just I've just always pictured young Kelly with a man like you." Jen explained, cutting him off. "You're just her type."
"Kelly Gibbs is my girlfriend, ma'am." Tim told her and she smiled widely, shocked and surprised.
"Gibbs does know, right?" She asked with a laugh. She knew that Gibbs was a loving, but overprotective father to his daughter.
"He knows. We used to date, when we were at MIT together. We've recently reconciled." Tim told her.
"I'm surprised that Gibbs hasn't gone into protective papa bear mode with her yet. He usually doesn't like her boyfriends." Jen explained. "I've been friends with Gibbs for a long time now. I've seen it all. The good, the bad and the ugly."
"I know, she told me. I'm putting every ounce of my energy into not asking myself that very question." Tim answered her honestly.
"I'm very happy for you both, but we both know you have somewhere else to be. Tell DiNozzo, I've dismissed you for the day. Take a half comp day and go check on Kelly. She's a strong woman, but no doubt she's so focused on her Dad, she won't have processed it herself yet."
"Thank you, Director." Tim said with a friendly smile, before returning to the bullpen, grabbing his gear and leaving.
He went home and packed his suit and shoes, had a quick shower and changed into his jeans and tee before heading over to Gibbs' house to catch up with Kelly. It was almost 1300 and he was early. He had stopped at his favourite florist and picked up a bunch of flowers, choosing white and pink roses scattered around some gypsum. He scribed a quick sympathy card and attached it to the bunch. Addressing it to Kelly and Gibbs.
"Anyone home?" He called out as he came in the front door, flowers in hand and suit bag slung over his shoulder, he made his way to the kitchen where Gibbs voice called out. "These are for you guys." He told Gibbs as he handed the bouquet over.
"Shouldn't you still be at work?" He asked, half chastising in a gentle tone.
"Got called into a meeting with Director Shepard, she encouraged me to take a half comp day. She said to pass on her sympathies." Gibbs rolled his eyes lightly at that.
"Tim? What did the Director want?" Gibbs asked.
"Funnily enough, she wanted me to meet your daughter." Gibbs laughed at that.
"Yeah, Jen knows Kelly pretty well." Gibbs agreed.
"Oh and she's looking for an internal position at NCIS, near Manhattan."
"That's what I like to hear." Gibbs said as he pat him on the back.
"Kell's upstairs, but she's on a teleconference with her boss." He told Tim as he silently offered the young man a mug of fresh coffee.
Kelly came downstairs as Mike and Jackson returned from having lunch at the diner. Before anyone could say a word, Kelly summoned Tim upstairs and he immediately followed her up, not before glaring at the three men who stood at the foot of the stairs. The men heard the bedroom door closed shut firmly.
"Come here." She beckoned him seductively. "I need your help." She whispered against his lips as she removed his tee from over his head.
"Come on, Kell." He groaned, "now's not the time to be started something." She was making all the right sounds and all the right moves. "The funerals in two hours."
"You're right, now isn't the time. I just want to lay, skin to skin." She said, as she lowered Tim on to her bed and ushered him to lay down. She lay on top of him and rested her head over his chest.
"Did you ever think that we'd be back here? Five years after the first time?" Kelly asked him after a while, breaking the silence.
"I always hoped." Tim answered her honestly kissing her forehead.
"When are we going to … ya know?" She asked. "It's not like we haven't before."
"Maybe I want to seduce you all over again." Tim said with a wink. "Maybe, I want it to be romantic, maybe I don't want to stuff it up, like our first, first time."
/FLASHBACK/
Kelly moaned out loud, her and Tim had been dating for two and a half months. They'd gone to see a movie tonight and she had invited up him into her dorm room. They'd started out kissing, he had introduced his tongue into hers and they'd began heating up. He kissed, sucked, laved and nibbled on that delicious bottom lip of hers. Kelly's hands had moved gently from his flanks, down to his hips where the gripped the hem of his tee before she removed it in a swift, fluid motion before returning her lips to his, just as fast. Tim's hands found her breast and began massaging them, as he broke off the kiss and lowered his mouth to her jawline before moving down her body. He laved at her neck juncture. Before finding the zip on the back of her dress. He lowered it down, unzipping her. Once he had enough access he took her white laced clad nipple in his mouth and sucked hard, running his teeth over the nub. Kelly cried out in her pleasure before climbing off the bed and removed her dress and pulling him up and stripping Tim naked. Tim span her around quickly and gently pushed her down, which made her laugh.
He resumed kissing her as his hands found her bare hips, before roaming up her back and grasping the clasp of her bra. "May I?" He asked softly, peppering her face with soft kisses. She nodded her approval as her hands slid down to his hard member and began tugging it. "Like this." He showed her, his hand over hers guiding her on how to grip his girth and the speed he liked.
"Sorry, I've never been this far before." She admitted in a small voice. His hand left her to use what he'd just taught her.
"We can stop if you're not ready." He told her in an equal whisper. His hand having found her nipple and began tweaking it, making her nub hard.
"Oh I want this, if I didn't I'd definitely be able to escape by now." She told him, rolling her hips against his to urge him on.
"Well I do have three rules that I live religiously by, that I think you'll enjoy. One, matter what you tell me, I will always wear a condom." Tim's fingers, began playing with her pubic hair before 'accidentally' swiping her clit. "Two," he panted as his fingers traced and dance over her wet, hot, sex. "Always tell me if I'm hurting you or want me to do something to get you there." He slipped a finger in to his first knuckle. She was wet, he knew it wouldn't take her much to send her over the edge.
"I have been fingered before, ya know, come on." She teased with a giggle, guiding his finger all the way in, before backing off and re-entering her with two of his long slender fingers.
"Three," he hotly whispered in her ear. "I'll always ask if you're sure, every time." She was really wet by now and had already had at least two micro orgasms that he could feel. "Are you sure?" He asked her again.
"Hurry up!" She begged. He fumbled around for his jeans and found a condom in his pocket, making quick work of opening it and sheathing it on. He lined himself up and gently entered her.
Kelly enjoyed him between her legs. She had been ready to lose her virginity since they met. She had been amping up his physical affection, trying to seduce him into bed for some time now. Tonight, hadn't been perfect, until now. They'd chosen a bad foreign movie, which in hindsight was a terrible idea because the movie theatre was packed. They'd been hoping they might have sometime alone and could make out a little, but there wasn't an empty seat in the theatre and Kelly had been sitting between Tim and some kid with a terrible BO problem. After the movie, they'd walked to their favourite ice cream place only to find it closed due to an electrical malfunction.
Tim had rescued the date a little by then and had found a bakery, getting her second favourite dessert, a custard tartlet.
"Yes Tim." She cried out as he bought her to a big climax and followed her over the edge, spilling his seed inside the condom. He gently pulled out of her, removed it and binned it, before joining her back on the bed. "Is it always that good?" She asked with a smile, cuddling into his nakedness.
"It's normally better. The first times are always awkward." Tim admitted kissing her.
"It's time to start getting ready Leroy." Jackson told him gently. "Go on up and have your shower and take Tim his suit." Handing his son the suit that had been hanging over the handrail on the staircase.
"Thanks Dad," he told his father, hugging him before heading on upstairs. He came face to face with his daughter's closed bedroom door on the way to the bathroom. He couldn't hear anything from within the room and knocked on the door softly. With no answer, he knocked again. A bit firmer this time and a small voice called out to come in.
Inside he saw Kelly and Tim get up off the bed. "Time to get ready, you two." Gibbs whispered, placing Tim's suit bag on the back of Kelly's desk chair. He took in their appearance. Yes, Tim was shirtless, but other than that, they were both fully clothed, there wasn't any evidence of anything improper. He actually thought they looked like he'd woken them up from a nap. "The rest of the team will be here soon."
"Thanks Dad." Kelly said, through a yawn. Tim rubbed the sleep from his eyes and as he closed the door behind him, he smiled a small smile at the young couple.
The mood in the Gibbs family living room was somber, as it should be. Tony, Ziva, Abby and Ducky were standing there waiting on Gibbs, Kelly and Tim to come downstairs. Jackson stood between the ladies, dressed in his suit, with an arm around each of them, Tony and Ducky were quietly catching up with Mike nearby. Tim come downstairs with Kelly, each dressed minus Tim's shoes which were still by the door. Ziva and Abby left Jackson to greet them. Abby and Kelly hugged, as did Ziva and Kelly. Ziva hugged Tim too and Abby gave her a strange look. Tim quickly found his shoes and popped them on. "Someone should go check on Gibbs." Abby said softly, making a motion to indicate that it should be her.
"You go Tim." Kelly told him. "He reached out to you last time." She added, making a point of telling Abby in particular that Tim had been there for her father.
Tim trotted back upstairs and knocked quietly on his door. "Gibbs?" He asked softly.
"Come on in, Tim." He instructed and Tim found him sitting in the end of the bed reading the eulogy that Tim helped him write. "Just checking this over one more time, making sure it's perfect for her." He told Tim. He was fully dressed with his black tie draped loosely around his neck, untied.
"Don't change a word, it's perfect." Tim told him, taking the page from him, folding it up and putting it in his breast pocket. Gibbs stood and tried to tie his tie, his shaky hands made it difficult and he struggled to tie it. Tim stilled his hands with his own. "Let me." He offered and he tied the tie into a perfect half Windsor knot.
"Thanks Tim." Gibbs said, patting him on the cheek gently. "For everything." Gibbs was genuinely thankful for Tim's gentle support.
"I've got your six, Gibbs." Tim replied, patting him on the back softly.
The duo made their way down stairs and Kelly looked at them both with questioning eyes. She could tell her Dad had needed that moment alone and Tim helped ground him when he was feeling like was beginning spiralling downwards on the weekend.
"Let's go, Dad here's the keys for the truck." Gibbs said, tossing them to Jackson.
"Thanks, I'll drive." Mike intercepted them, patting Jackson on the back.
"Tony, have you got Ducky and the girls?" Gibbs asked, particularly ensuring the girls had a ride.
"Yeah Boss, Tim you want to ride with us, or you going to take your Porsche?" Tony said, wanting clarification on where Gibbs wanted Tim.
"He's riding with us, DiNozzo." Gibbs answered, gently slapping his head. "We've got the challenger."
The ride to the church was unremarkable and they entered the church as a united front. Gibbs and Kelly went into the side room, for a private viewing and to say the sir goodbyes. A moment later Gibbs popped his head out and motioned for Tim to come in. "Take her to get some water please, son." Gibbs asked, ushering a crying and upset Kelly into his arms, allowing him to have a private moment with Rebecca to say goodbye.
Abby watched as Tim comforted Kelly, before Gibbs came out and joined them. He watched as Tim wordlessly comforted Gibbs too with a nod. Gibbs pulled Kelly into him for a cuddle and then reached over and pulled Tim into their embrace too. "That's hinky." Abs whispered to Tony and Ziva who'd approached her, to see if she was ready to find their seats.
"What's hinky, Abs?" Tony asked her, in reply to her off statement. "What Kelly cuddling with Tim and her Dad?"
"Gibbs was the one who pulled Tim in." She said unbelievably.
"Maybe Gibbs sees Tim as permanently in their family now." Ziva said. "We should leave them to it, no? L let's find our seats."
Gibbs and his father walked down the small aisle of the church, taking a seat in the front pew, with Kelly and Tim. Mike was sitting with the team, minus Tim behind the family. Jackson was on the end closest to the aisle with Kelly between Gibbs and Tim next to Jackson. Ducky and Mike made sure to set themselves directly behind Gibbs, Ziva took up the position behind Kelly, wanting to support Kelly and help Tim. On the other side of the church sat Rebecca's parents, her sisters and her friends were scattered behind either family.
The service itself was brief and straight to the point. Just as she wanted. Gibbs was called up to say some words about Rebecca. Pulling out the folded up eulogy Tim had helped him write from his breast pocket and donning the reading glasses that Rebecca always told him he needed, but he rarely wore and began speaking. "Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a man of very few words. When the time came to think about what I was going to say, I came up blank. Not that I had nothing to say, I didn't have the know-how to say it. A good friend told me to write her a letter, reminding everyone and myself of my feelings for Rebecca and how I feel. So here we are" Gibbs said, giving the letter a slight wave. "Dear Rebecca, The day we first met was a special day for me and as cliche as it sounds, our eyes did actually meet across a crowded room. We started out so head over heals in love, or as my daughter would often say to you 'he's stuck on stupid around you.' …" Gibbs told the story of the four years they'd spent together and everything he loved about her before concluding his eulogy. "There's one more thought I want to share with you all. It's a quote from Rebecca's favourite author, Anne Lamott. 'You will lose someone you can't live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn't seal back up. And you come through. It's like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.' You're always in my heart. Know how much I love you, Rebecca." He reached his pew and his Dad and Kelly cuddled into him, comforting him as he hastily wiped his tears away. Tim reached over, past Kelly and clamped his hand down on Gibbs' shoulder in support. Gibbs reached up and pat Tim's hand in thanks, feeling the support from within. He could feel both Mike and Ducky's hands on his back too.
The service concluded with a prayer before the pastor told them that there was a private cremation to take place.
Rebecca's parents came over to where Gibbs continued to sit in the pew. No one from NCIS, Mike or Gibbs family stood up and moved outside. "Beautiful speech." Her father told him. "Wasn't too bad for a husband who's wife was leaving him when she was killed. It's all …-."
"John please," his wife had begged her husband not to continue. "Jethro, we are sorry too. You lost Bec just as much as we did. We lost a daughter, but you lost your wife. Even if there were problems, there, no marriage is perfect and I know you two were sorting them out. We still should have been more understanding and supportive of you and Kelly, too. Whether my husband likes it or not, you and Bec were still married and she did love you. You'll always have a place at our table. Kelly, too." She hugged Jethro gently, kissing his cheek too. "Can I come by tomorrow evening? I have some things of Bec's I think she'd like Kelly to have." She asked, wiping her tears away. "I promise to leave John at home."
"You're always welcome in our home, Mary." She thanked Jethro for loving Rebecca and they took their leave.
Everyone filed back into the Gibbs home where Jackson immediately started the coffee, Ducky the tea and Mike was opening a new bottle of bourbon. Ziva and Abby were in the kitchen, opening up the food they'd made to eat afterwards and Tony was heating up the lasagna he and Ziva had made prepared earlier. Ducky had bought a big salad to share. "It was a beautiful speech Gibbs." Abby said softly, coming back to where Gibbs was sitting in the living room in his favourite arm chair. His shoes had been kicked off and were in amongst the pile of shoes at the door. It seemed when Kelly kicked her heels off, with Gibbs following, everyone else followed suit too. "Ducky, it was a good idea to use a quote from her favourite author."
"I wish I could take credit for that idea, Abigail. But it wasn't my idea. It was brilliant, to quote her favourite author. She worked in the publishing house, that published Anne Lamont's work too."
"Abs, the good friend who helped with the eulogy, it was Tim." Gibbs said softly, watching her reaction to that. He could see a retort on the top of her tongue and was thankful she kept it to herself.
"Where is he anyway?" Abby asked, "he should have been helping us in the kitchen, too."
"He and Kelly are upstairs. Kell needs a minute." Gibbs told her and Abby dropped the issue immediately, recognising Gibbs tone.
Ziva dished up a warm delicious lasagna and some of Ducky's salad for dinner for everyone and Tony handed everyone a cold beer each. They toasted Rebecca and ate. Gibbs, Franks, Kelly and Tim opted for a second one. Ducky begged off for home first, then Tony and Ziva left at the same time as Tony had picked, Ziva and the food up. Jackson excused himself for the evening next, citing a slight headache from the beer. Abby finally and reluctantly relented her over the top attention on Gibbs at last. "Need a ride, McGee?" She offered as she was getting into her hearse.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm staying a bit longer." Tim said and Abby looked shocked that Gibbs smiled at that fact.
"Well call me, if Gibbs needs someone to talk to and I'll come right back." Abby said snarkily. Tim smiled weakly at her before she drove off.
Gibbs breathed an audible sigh of relief once Abby had left and he joined Mike in the basement, but not before thanking Tim for all his unwavering support today and over the last few days. Kelly lead Tim upstairs into her bedroom, she excused herself and went into her ensuite and changed into her pyjamas, as Tim stripped down to his boxer shorts before they climbed into bed. Kelly climbed into Tim's arms as he held her close. "I love you." Kelly whispered to him, as they lay in the dark.
"I love you too." Tim replied.