DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS

A/N: A sequel of sorts to "Not So McPerfect: A Little Sister's Story

Measuring up to an Overachiever: A Not So McPerfect Story

Chapter 4

At dinner Mom and Dad couldn't get enough out of Tim. I never thought I'd feel sorry for him. But he did appear to sort of relish in the attention, so maybe he didn't need my pity.

"So how is Norfolk these days?" Dad asked him.

"Things are good, but I may be transferring to D. C." Tim answered with an underlying excitement in his voice.

"Really?" Dad was intrigued.

"Uh, uh," he answered uncharacteristically while drinking from his cup that earned him a scowl from Mom. "Sorry, Mom," he smiled apologetically and she forgave him with a smile in return. "Anyway I assisted with a case a team from Washington was investigating."

"How exciting," Mom encouraged.

"Well the case was a bit disturbing. I won't go into details," he gave me a pointed look.

"Bah! I'm not a child Tim," I frowned in disbelief. Really! How insulting. How was treating me like a child going to help with my situation with Roger?

"I didn't mean it that way Sarah. I really don't want to talk about the details."

"That bad, huh?" I knew how sensitive he could be. It must've been a pretty bad experience, evidence wise.

"Aside from the victim, it wasn't that bad. There were a few searches I had to conduct that kept me pretty busy. I got collaborate with the forensic scientist, Abby," his voice softened with her name.

"Someone likes a girl named Abby," I teased making him blush.

"We went out a few times, but it's nothing serious," he shrugged.

Dad's eyebrows raised, "Where were these dates at?"

Tim looked down at his plate pushing his food around a bit before answering, "In D. C. I had another reason to go there though. There was a request to update their computer systems. It was a nice bonus to get to meet Abby in person and go out to dinner a few times after work."

"A few dates in one week. Why would you say that's nothing serious?" Mom inquired.

"Well one dinner was shared with a group of people, so it wasn't really a 'date'. Plus Abby is rather a," he paused to think of the right phrase, he missed, "free spirit, I guess."

"Hmph," Mom looked displeased. "That's what we used to call the girls who were a bit 'free' with other 'things'," she glanced my way.

I rolled my eyes. Seriously, how old did they think I was? I saw Tim's ears turn red and somehow managed to keep my jaw off my plate. I'm thinking Timmy was a bad boy.

"Just as well you aren't going to pursue a relationship,' Mom finished.

Tim mumbled a 'Yes Ma'am," and took another bite off his plate.

I decided to make my announcement, "I invited a friend for dinner tomorrow. Is that alright?"

Mom smiled, "Sure, dear. That's nice."

Thanks Tim. She was so distracted by what may or may not have been occurring between her son and Abby that she didn't ask any questions about my 'friend'.

After dinner Dad took Tim off to talk 'guy stuff', while I helped Mom with the dishes. It couldn't hurt to try and gain some points with her.

She really seemed concerned about Tim, so I tried to ease her mind and stand up for my brother, too. "Tim's a good guy, Mom. He's smart. He's not going to do anything stupid."

She did seem to relax a little bit. "You're right, Sarah. I shouldn't worry about him. He's a good boy."

Boy? I shook my head. Well I did what I could. He could fight that battle. Then again if she was thinking of him as being so young, where did that leave me?

"He's not such a 'boy' any more, Mom!"

"Oh, I know. But he'll always be my little boy. Just like you'll always be my little girl."

I smiled around the grimace I was fighting to hide.

Dishes dried and put away, I went to call Roger. We talked for a few minutes, but he had to go because his dad was calling for him.

"See you tomorrow night," I told him before hanging up.

I went to bed playing out different scenarios of my parents meeting Roger. Come on Tim, come through for me!