I don't own NCIS

"Do you have any ongoing cases right now?" Tim looked at Tony across the dining room table. He'd decided to come up to DC for the weekend to spend some time with him.

"No we actually have the weekend off rare as that is." Tony smirked. "Why do you have some plans for us?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter DiNozzo."

"Aw but you love my filthy mind."

"Okay maybe I do but no that's not why I asked. I want to go over and talk to my father but I don't want to be interrupted."

"Oh." The playful mood was sucked from the room.

"Well yeah he should be at home I'd guess he really doesn't go anywhere. While some times he has Dinner with Fornell odd relationship that and sometimes he goes out with who me and Kate dub the Mystery red head"

"Mystery red head? Ugg please be joking I really don't need step mommy number four."

"Step Mommy." Tony snorted.

"Well you know the only one I got along with was Diane."

"Yeah weird that, Gibbs and Fornell make her out to be the wicked witch of the west."

"She's not bad just disappointed in love. She loved my father and he couldn't let go of my mother's Ghost. Plus from what I remember about Step Mommy two and three she's the best of the bunch. At least she's not a drunk and at least she's not semi crazy. Okay the crazy thing I'm not sure about but you have to admit. Calling someone every year on an old anniversary is a bit out there."

"Ah Step Mommy number Three. Yeah Gibbs has went through many phones because of that."

"True."

"Anyway I'm going to head over there try and clear the air. I said some pretty harsh things to him."

"Hey you just told him how you felt there is nothing wrong with that."

"Maybe but still," Tim shrugged. "I should try and make it right at least civil."

"Okay." Tony leaned across the table kissing Tim. "I'm behind you one hundred percent I hope you get what you need but if you don't I'm here."

"I know Tony, I know thank you for that." Tim stood up giving Tony a lingering look before leaving the apartment.

"Gibbs you better not mess this up." Tony whispered softly to himself.

Driving the short distance between Tony's apartment and his father's house Tim hardened his nerves. He wasn't sure what would come of all of this air clearing but he hoped it would be positive. He let himself into the house and called out as he headed down the basement steps.

"Hey Dad." Gibbs whipped around and looked at his son. He was surprised to see him there after the argument and stinging words out on the late.

"Tim." He breathed. Father and son stared at each other for what felt like forever before Gibbs shook his head. "What bring you here son?"

Tim bit his lip not sure where to begin, how to begin. "Well I mean it's been a while since.. Well since we saw each other I thought I'd come over and clear the air or at least try and clear the air." He swallowed.

"Tim I just want to say…" Gibbs started not sure what to say to his son. Or even how to say it if he figured it out. But before he could say anything else the phone started to ring. "I'll just let that go to the answering Machine. As I was saying." But just then the answering machine picked up and Gibbs froze hearing a voice from the past fill the room.

"Gibb, it's Stan Burley put down whatever you're doing with that damn boat and pick up." Tim looked at him daring him to do it. "I'm working a case on the Enterprise sure could use some help on this one. Really could use your help boss."

Gibbs sighed shook his head and grabbed the phone. He heard Tim's voice behind him. Bitter. "Of course." He internally struggled but in the end his attention went to the phone in his hand.

"You've got my interest." He listened to his ex-agent on the other end of the line. "Okay me and my team will be out there as soon as possible. Have to talk to my director."

"Of course you're going instead of facing this you're running away again." Tim sneered felling as though he'd been slapped in the face as his dad turned towards him.

"I'm doing my job Tim what do you want me to do." There was almost a pleading note in Gibbs voice asking for understanding, but another layer knew he was running, running fast and hard. He knew his son was right but he wasn't ready, couldn't admit that.

"No." Tim shook his head. "This isn't your job this is a favor you're doing for an ex-partner. A job is something the director assigns you. You don't have to do this you're choosing to do this and choosing to walk out that door again." fire snapped in his eyes. He felt like he was fourteen again. shuffled out the door at the mire sight of confrontation. . Work always came first and Tim guessed he'd just have to get used to the fact that that is how it would always be.

"Timothy McGee Gibbs you won't talk to me that way." Gibbs snapped as his heart felt the stab of those words.

"I'll talk to you anyway I want to you're not my Boss and I'm an adult." Stony expressions looked back at each other. Neither Gibbs man willing to bend.

Gibbs sighed heavily trying to work around the lump in his throat. He was reminded forcefully of his relationship with his own father in that moment. "Listen son I've got to go and do this and I've got to call in my team but we'll talk when I get back."

"Ha like I'm holding my breath there." He scoffed. "Sure I'll see you in a week a month whenever the hell you finish this case and I can get your attention again but then I won't even expect it then since I'm sure you'll be running off on another case. No I'm just no." He stormed up the stairs fighting the fury that was building inside of him. Leaving Gibbs standing in the basement. Gibbs cringed as he heard the door slam.

He couldn't, wouldn't let himself think about that as he grabbed his phone and dialed Kate and Tony telling them to meet him at the Navy yard.

"Boss." Tony answered his phone confused "I thought we weren't on call." As he silently prayed that Gibbs hadn't fucked up with Tim.

"Stan Burley an agent that worked for me before you came on the team called he's now an agent afloat and he needs help on the case. Meet me in the navy yard, I have to call Kate."

Tony was silently cursing. He wanted to ask about Tim but then he couldn't because Gibbs didn't even know he knew Tim. He wanted to strangle the man but he couldn't do that either. He grabbed his go bag and got into his car. His fingers itched to call Tim offer the comfort he knew was needed but there just wasn't time. Not now. He shook his head sadly realizing Tim was being shafted even by him even if he didn't mean to.

"What has gotten into did you have a hot date or something. Sad you're not going to get laid." Kate teased Tony trying to get the scowl off her partners face. He just glared at her. His lips tightened.

"Come on it's not that bad. I know we weren't supposed to be on call but it's not that paid. Think of the pay." Tony just pressed his lips together tighter and glared. He knew it wasn't Kate's fault but he couldn't snap at Gibbs. The person he was actually pissed at.

"Shut it Todd." He snapped going through the ship.

"Fine DiNozzo." She snarled back.

"Cut it out you two." Gibbs called back them. "Tony you're pissed at me for ruining your weekend. Fine we'll discuss that later now we have a job to do." Tony snorted.

"Yeah later," He mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?" Gibbs swung around and glared at his senior agent. He had enough to deal with, with his son he wasn't going to deal with a moody Senior agent to.

"Nothing Boss." Tony got to work interviewing the people on board the ship. It was an exhausted team that left the ship late the next day Tony wanted to drop. Gibbs wanted to drown in Bourbon and Kate just wanted away from the two surly men. There was some tension there she just couldn't figure out.

"Tony I want to talk to you." Gibbs stood in front of Tony's desk in the bull pen as soon as Kate had left.

"Really now Boss, because I have to be back here in 8 hours and I would actually like to get some solid sleep. Who knows when I'll get the chance again? I do have a life outside of the job. It's great you want to help a friend. Really super. But maybe just maybe you should consider other people." He grabbed his Go bag. "Goodbye."

"DiNozzo stop now." Gibbs snapped stunned at the way Tony had just talked to him. "Listen you're pissed and you're tired and I understand to an extent but you can't talk to me that way. This case was important. Don't you care about those men we helped.

"Sure I do but I also care about sleep and I care about people whose plans I have to ruin to do a job that wasn't really a job more of a favor." He wanted to say more like maybe you should consider it but he didn't. "Listen Boss I'll see you after some sleep goodbye."

"Yeah Bye DiNozzo." Gibbs watched him go shaking his head. He had no idea what was with Tony as far as he knew Tony wasn't with anyone was he really that upset over a fling. He shook his head. He couldn't commit any brain power to think about that. He had to think of Tim but right now he wasn't ready for the heated argument he was sure was to come. He drove home collapsing on the couch.

Tim sat at his typewriter and started to write letting all his frustrations anger and sadness pour out onto the page and into this maybe not so fictional characters. He closed his eyes. Letting memories wash over him. Memories of watching his father walk out of the house over and over again. Of being shipped off to Grandma or Grandpa. He'd understand if it was an actual case he couldn't turn down but he could have should have turned down this one. . There were other teams other agents. Leroy Jethro Gibbs wasn't the be all that ends all that he and his friends seemed to think. Tim shook his head He guessed he should be used to it by now it was a pattern.

His fingers itched to call Tony but he knew he couldn't Tony was working and he couldn't fault him for that. The next day he was back at the typewriter if anything this was giving his muse something to concentrate on. He startled when his phone rang.

"Tony."

"Tim I'm sorry I'm so sorry."

"Tony it's not your fault. I don't blame you." Tim heard the exhaustion in his voice. "Did you just get home?"

"Yeah."

"Tony get some sleep I love you."

"I love you too and I'm still sorry even if it's not my fault."

"I know and I love you even more for that." Tim smiled slightly as he shut the phone. At least he had Tony always Tony.

A/N thanks to everyone who reviewed. Next up is of course Sub Rosa so Tim will work for the Team. How will he and Tony act like they never met? What will Tim think of Kate and what about the Gibbs Tim tension?. The more reviews the more motivation to write the next chapter.