A/N: Ok, ok, here ya go... (LOL)


"What?"

"No way!"

"McGee, no!"

"What the hell's goin' on, McGee?" Tony demanded.

"Is this about the new woman, McGee?" Ziva asked with much more seriousness and less volume than her outraged team mate.

"Never said it was a woman." Tim admitted quietly, his eyes glued to hers, wanting, needing her not to judge him.

"So, you are gay!" Tony stage whispered louder than he should have.

"The term is 'bi-sexual' Tony, you know that." Abby snapped out, feeling too many emotions to feel comfortable right now.

"And, it's only been since May that I've been changing in that direction, Tony." Tim admitted seriously. "So, all the years of harassing me about it…"

"McGee." Ziva interrupted. "It is obvious you are happy with this person. This person – they are the reason you are leaving the team, yes?"

"Yes." Tim replied immediately, his eyes still glued to hers. "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction."

"So, then it's someone in the agency." Tony joined in with Ziva's reasoning. "And don't think quoting Churchill gets you off the hook."

"No, it's more than that." Abby supplied knowingly, her eyes narrowed in anger. "You wouldn't leave the team for just anyone. In fact you wouldn't leave the team for anyone, except…."

"Me." Gibbs voice joined them from the doorway.

"Boss?"

"Gibbs?"

" GIBBS!"

It was Abby's distressed outcry that drew the Team Leader's immediate attention and as it pierced Tim's ear drums and his heart, without any words exchanged, he got up and left the room as Gibbs took a seat at the table.

Across from Gibbs, Tony made to stand up, but was stopped with a look from his boss. "Tony, let him go."

Plopping back down, the Senior Field Agent glared at his boss as anger radiated from him. "You lied to me – to all of us. You both did! AND you broke your own RULES!"

"No one lied to you, Tony. Honesty's too important to all of us." Gibbs told him, looking at him with just enough compassion that Tony recognized it. "And no one broke any rules."

"I asked you when you got back from that trip to Atlanta an…"

"And Tim told you the truth. We weren't. It's been gradual, Tony. Very gradual. Never even went out anywhere together, unless you count grocery shoppin'."

"I don't understand, Gibbs." Abby mourned. "Timmy's…."

"Not yours, Abby. Hasn't been for quite a few years now." Her knight in shining armor reminded her. "You'll always have a special place in his heart, Abbs. But…"

"But he deserves more from a relationship than being a show piece. We all do." Ziva chimed in seriously. "Gibbs, I am sorry. I do not wish to pry or to judge, but neither do I wish to lose McGee off this team."

"I know, Ziva. I wish there was another way."

"Why isn't there?" Tony demanded, still angry but like Ziva, not willing to let his probie go without a fight.

"Because this is what I want." Tim said as he walked back in the room and sat back down at the table while he threw his hat into the conversation. "Guys, this is more than just not breaking any rules or bringing down any criticism that might ruin Gibbs' career or his name. It's gonna be hard; damned hard – being away for six months but I'm willing to do this, so that, when the day comes that Gibbs does have to retire, I'll be ready to step up in whatever capacity Tony needs me, if Vance lets me back on the team then. If he doesn't, I'll be more prepared for whatever he's got in store for me and a better agent for the experience.

"Yeah, about that, Probie. Wait! Away for six months? Do NOT tell me, you're taking a job on a ship, Probie! We all know THAT ain't gonna happen!"

"I fixed that problem, Tony. I found a few things, actually, that work to help me not get seasick. And yes, I am going Afloat. Vance has approved it. I leave in two weeks."

"Oh, God! Timmy! Six months? You expect us to live without you for six months?" Abby demanded. "And what about Jethro? I gave him to you to take care of!"

Tim smiled sadly. "A bit over-dramatic, don't you think, Abby?"

"No! You can't do this! How can you stand there and tell us that you found love – had the most memorable experience of your life – with Gibbs – and in the same breath – calmly tell us that you're leaving him for six months! You call that love? What the hell's the matter with you? Gibbs deserves so much better than that! "

His breath catching in his throat, Tim fought to hold back his biting retort, his anger, and his pain. He could feel his lover's eyes on him, trying to infuse him with love and understanding, compassion and strength like they always did for each other in tough moments like this, but this time, he couldn't do it; couldn't look into those eyes, he'd lose it for real if he did. Turning silently on his heel, he walked out of the dining room and outside, eyes clouded with tears.

***NCIS***

"Abby! What a horrible thing to say! " Ziva admonished the Lab Rat angrily.

"What? It's true, isn't it? If he did really love Gibbs, then he wouldn't be leaving him like this." Abby declared, her arms crossing in front of her chest defensively. "And he never answered me about Jethro, either! Who's gonna take care of him? Why would McGee do this?"

Tony watched Gibbs from across the table as the older man swallowed hard, blinked hard, swallowed hard again and finally looked up – at Tony. "It's tearing him up inside. But, he'd rather do this then let me retire now." The Team Leader told his Senior Field Agent.

"You gave him the choice." The man's Senior Field Agent surmised quietly, respecting and appreciating the fact that the boss was talking straight to him.

Gibbs shook his head. "I reminded him that the option's there. He refuses to even consider it. Says the Agency needs me."

"He's right." Tony admitted, his eyes locked on those of the man he'd dedicated his last eleven years of his life to working for; looked up to above anyone else and understood the mountain of unspoken hurts and pain and even the loneliness from a lifetime spent alone in that loss he'd seen in the man's eyes over the years. "So, this is the real deal then."

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." Gibbs recited from memory as his eyes remained locked on his, needing him to try and understand and accept what he was being told.

"You are quoting Sam Keen." Ziva stated with mild surprise. "It does look and sound as though this is 'the real deal' as Tony has said."

"Yeah. Not since Shannon…" Gibbs dropped his sentence as he grabbed at the nearest glass of ice water and downed half of it before setting it back down on the table.

"Wow." Tony said almost reverently into the silence. "Never saw this comin'."

"None of us did, Tony." Ziva reminded him quietly. "But, I for one am very happy for both of them. They have both had much more pain and heartache than any one person deserves. It is wonderful that they have welcomed change and found each other. They have obviously built something quite special together and as their friends and people who love them both, we should support them completely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my friend, who obviously is hurting very much over this upcoming separation and most likely needs a friend to lean on."

"Thank you, Ziva." Gibbs offered as he stood up with her, kissing her on the cheek.

Surprisingly enough, she stood next to him for a moment, speaking softly to him. "I support you both; however, I will not be happy if one of you hurts the other. You are both very important to me, Gibbs. I do not wish to see either of you hurt."

He smiled softly at her. "That makes three of us, Ziver."

She nodded and headed outside, leaving her friends to work through this with the Team Leader on their own, hoping they'd be the solid people she trusted them to be and not hurt him the way Abby had so thoughtlessly just hurt Tim.

***NCIS***

Tim found himself at a nearby park close to Leroy's house and sat down on a bench. Wiping at his eyes, he worked to put his emotions back into their proper place and calm himself down. Abby's words had stung; but the real pain had come from the renewed visualization of six months without Leroy. Six months of worrying whether or not the older man would still want this future with Tim; the change in orientation in his personal relationship was, after all very new.

Would Leroy still want him in six months when he wasn't actively there for him and with him in that time or would he find it more comfortable and comforting to go back to being with a woman? Tim knew he was thinking crazy thoughts; that his emotions had him worrying about lots of things he wouldn't ordinarily worry about, but he couldn't seem to help it.

"Hello, Timothy."

"Ducky!" Tim was pulled from his worries with the surprise appearance of the beloved M.E.

"If I might say so, you look as though you could use a friend. Mind if I sit?"

"Thanks." Tim smiled as he gestured toward the empty place on the bench. "Please,"

"I understand from Jethro that the two of you have become very close. In fact, he has shared with me that he hasn't felt like this since he lost his beloved wife." Ducky opened the conversation while he got comfortable on the bench next to the younger man.

"Wow. He told you that?" Tim didn't know what to say. Knowing Leroy shared how he felt about Tim with the man he'd been friends with for over ten years, warmed Tim's heart. He was grateful that Ducky had remained someone Leroy could confide in, about anything.

"Oh, yes. You see, he is quite happy with you, Timothy. He cares for you, obviously, very much and wanted me to be aware of it, to help look out for both of your well-beings. Which, I might add, I have every intention of doing regardless, of course, as i care deeply about both of you."

"Thanks, Ducky."

"So, tell me, young man, how do you feel about all this?"

"This being Gibbs? Or me leaving the team so we can have a future together when I get back?"

"Ah, yes. That's right. Timothy, this is quite a drastic change. Are you ready for yet another change of such magnitude in your life?" Ducky probed kindly, worried about Tim's emotional journey through all these changes.

"Finding out I could love Gibbs in a relationship, being the first change? Yeah, Ducky. I am. If it means I get to keep him forever, I'm ready." Tim's eyes gave evidence of the intensity of that devotion he felt down deep for the man they spoke of.

"Well, I suppose that answers my first question. It is quite obvious you do love him, although it has always been obvious that you care for him a great deal. Nothing says love like sacrifice, Timothy. I do wish you well. Be sure and stay in touch, won't you?" The M.E. asked as he stood in preparation for leaving.

"Sure. And thank you, Ducky. This means a lot to me. You'll take care of him for me while I'm gone, right?"

"Rest assured, Timothy. No one will let anything happen to Jethro while you are gone. Now, I'm afraid I must take my leave, as I have pressing things to attend to."

"Thanks for the support, Ducky. And I appreciate that you'll look out for him while I'm gone. But, make sure you take care of yourself, too, alright?"

"Oh, most definitely, dear boy. Don't you worry on that score. Good night, Timothy."

"Night, Ducky."

"Ducky is right." Ziva's voice at his elbow startled Tim. Whipping around, he found her standing just a foot behind the bench.

Hmm. Sly ole' fox must have known Ziva was there and left so she could talk to him. "Hi." He greeted her quietly.

"Are you alright?" She asked as she sat down next to him, taking one of his hands in hers to both comfort him and warm both their hands.

"As alright as I can be, I suppose." He answered her honestly.

"It is hard to walk away from the comfort and security of being with the one you love. Especially to go do a job you are unfamiliar with for six months." She sympathized, having been through it herself more times than she could count, given her former line of work. "And in an environment you've been unable to withstand without being intensely ill, until now."

"Love him more than my own life, Ziva." Tim admitted quietly. "I'd quit and move to Mexico with him if it came down to it."

"But you are scared."

"To death."

"Of what, Tim?" She probed gently.

"Of losing him. Of him changing his mind while I'm gone. No one enjoys being lonely, ya know?" Tim looked down at his lap.

"About you?"

"About me – not because of me but because I'm …"

"Ah, I see. And you are worried that he will become so lonely that he will change his mind about being happy and in love with you – a man – and actively rethink that decision and pursue a woman to get involved with as he has in the years before."

Tim huffed out a short laugh. "God, when you put it like that, it's a terrible thing to consider him capable of."

"Exactly. So, now you know you are letting your insecurities get the better of you and it is time for you to stop that."

"Thanks, Ziva."

"You are welcome. Shall I tell you what he said to us once you left the room?"

"Think it would help?" Tim asked hopefully.

"That is why I am offering to tell you."

"Okay. Then please tell me?"

"Gladly. He spoke directly to Tony as he said this, as if he needed Tony to understand it more than most. His words were, "Not since Shannon."

Tim blinked. He was blown away that Leroy would have admitted something so personal to the team. He'd never spoken of Shannon in all the years they'd worked for him, until the shipboard explosion. And when he had begun speaking of her after his return from Mexico, it had only been on rare occasions and in passing. Now he was willingly admitting to those closest to them both, that Tim… he couldn't fathom the depth Leroy was speaking from because he didn't feel worthy of it, but he could relate to it, because it was how much Leroy meant to him.

Ziva was right. His insecurities had almost beaten him, but Leroy's love was stronger and his own love for Leroy was tougher than nails. Together, they could overcome anything; including six months apart. Smiling, he stood up, still holding her hand. "Thanks, Ziva."

Ziva patted Tim tenderly on the cheek and looked him in the eye as she said what she needed him to hear from her own heart. "I am very glad that you and Gibbs are happy and I will be very unhappy if you leave any earlier than you have to.

"I'm not leaving early, but I'm already off the team, Ziva. I'll be working second shift – backing up all of your files- all of our case files since the last time we did a full systems clean-up."

"I had hoped not to have to lose you from the team so quickly or at all, but it would seem…"

"Thanks, Ziva. But I'd rather do it this way than risk any mud-slinging. Gibbs doesn't deserve it. He's had a hard enough life and he's worked too damned hard for the Agency to have to put up with any problems over our relationship."

"The response of an honorable man." Ziva smiled encouragingly at him.

Tim smiled in appreciation.

"You are ready to go back now, yes?"

Ziva stayed close as Tim nodded at her, his face still alight with renewed happiness. "Oh, yeah!"

"Good! Then what are we waiting for?"

***NCIS***

As they walked back to the house, hearing voices in the backyard, headed in that direction. Tim's eyes lit up at the sight of Leroy. Tony noticed it from across the yard and headed over to meet him.

"Hey, we're cool. It's a tough thing to wrap my head around, but the man is in love with you, Probie. Don't screw it up and don't you dare hurt him. See you at the office before you ship out, man." Tony slapped him on the arm and headed back inside the house. Stopping in mid-stride- Tony turned around and came back. "It was you!" He said to Tim almost accusingly.

"What was me, Tony?' Tim asked in genuine confusion.

"The one who got Vance to give us the week off for Christmas!" The Senior Field Agent's eyes danced with merriment at the thought of having solved the puzzle of the decade.

Tim huffed out a small laugh as he shook his head. "My lips are sealed." He replied as he tried to slide his straight face back on.

"Yeah. Okay. I get it. That's your story and you're sticking to it, right?" The older man teased.

"Exactly."

"Yeah, alright. Just realize that I know what I know, Probie."

"Goodnight, Tony." Tim reiterated to make his point.

"Night. Don't forget what I said, Tim. Don't hurt him." Tony headed out, this time, disappearing from sight as the sound of his car door closing and his car engine roaring to life filled the air.

Ziva let go of his hand. "I too, need to go. Just remember, McGee. I am here. For both of you. AND I agree with Tony. Do not hurt him. However, I also have warned Gibbs as well. Neither of you deserves to be hurt."

"Thanks, Ziva." Tim kissed her cheek and watched her approach Gibbs, speak to him for a minute, kiss him on the cheek and turn and walk toward the house, going inside to say her goodbyes to Jackson and Ducky.

Gibbs looked up and smiled softly at Tim before sliding over on the picnic table bench to make room for him. Sitting down across from Abby, Tim silently looked at the woman he once loved with all his heart until she'd broken it once too often. Her eyes were puffy and red, her mascara in smears and her expression heartbroken. "Something happen?" He asked worriedly.

"I need to go." She mumbled as she slid from the bench and practically ran from the yard, back inside the house.

Turning to his lover, Tim asked him with genuine concern. "Are you alright?"

Leroy swallowed around the lump in his throat and looked back at the young man, "Yeah."

Tim nodded and drank from the water glass in front of him. Setting it down, he slowly turned the stem in his fingers.

"How 'bout you? " Leroy asked with his own concern.

Tim lightly scoffed as he looked up at the man he loved and smiled as he answered

"The firing squad bailed; I'm still standing and I still have you. I'm definitely alright."