Disclaimer: Not mine.
Part 6
McGee was anxious. He'd been given permission by Gibbs to leave work at 18:30 instead of 1900. He spent that time rearranging the table in his kitchen to fit six. Ducky had been apologetic, but said he had prior plans so it would just be the team, Abby and a maybe from Jimmy. The result was an eclectic, slightly cramped space. White table cloth hid his crummy table he surrounded it with the stools from the breakfast bar, his writing chair, his computer chair alongside the two regular kitchen chairs.
Dinner had been cooking all day. The pot roast in the slow cooker smelled delicious. The only cooking he had left was the carrots and potatoes and those were already going. He fidgeted with the temperature of the carrots for the twentieth time before forcing himself away from the stove. Jethro followed him out.
He wandered over to his typewriter and picked up the picture frame there, bringing it to set at the table. He checked the carrots again, stirring them once then letting them resume the steaming. He poked at the potatoes judging them still too raw. Jethro wagged his tail giving him a look. Unable to stand still, he paced in the kitchen for a moment before rearranging the table. It was already set, so he walked around it adjusting the silverware to lie in neat lines and centering the plates in front of each seat. Checking on the carrots again he moved them into the serving dish, covering it to keep warm. The potatoes had another few minutes so he set out the carrot dish on the breakfast bar next to the slow cooker.
How is it only 7:00! I have another 30 minutes of this. Maybe someone will show up early. Instead of reassuring himself, the thought made him panic more. He moved back to the table checking that everything was perfect. Picking up the picture he'd brought out he moved it to a counter in the kitchen. Jethro wandered off to lie down. McGee took a deep breath and looked around the kitchen again. He poked at the potatoes and looked in the freezer where the ice cream was still frozen and paced again. He moved the picture frame back to the table and looked at it again. My girl…after several minutes he realized he was grinning like a sap over the black and white image and he flipped it on its face. Wringing his hands he moved away and checked the potatoes again. Done, finally…
With nothing left to do he looked around the kitchen for inspiration. He washed the two pots he used and set them to dry. He jumped as his computer beeped, his calendar giving him a ten minute warning. Checking the table again he picked up the picture frame taking it out and putting it back next to his typewriter. He gave himself a once over and wrinkled his nose at the sweaty shirt he was wearing and headed to his room to change.
McGee was just pulling on a clean shirt when the doorbell chimed and his dog barked. He fumbled with his buttons as rapid knocks followed both amused and frazzled by Tony's elaborate announcement of arrival. Because that just has to be Tony. He pulled the door open just as the doorbell went off again.
"Hey Probie, your buttons are off. Wow, that smells good. You actually cooked, cooked?" Tony pushed his way in nosing around his apartment as was his usual. "So where is your new gizmo? Wow are you reorganizing?"
"Tony, Tony don't touch that." McGee made a choked noise following his teammate as he fixed his buttons. He pulled the wireless mouse from Tony and set it back by the keyboard. "The others should be here soon. You can wait."
XXXxxx
Tony smiled at McGee; he could tell the younger man was nervous. That's probably because he invited the entire team to dinner at his place. I'd be nervous too. "So who all is coming, there's a place missing?"
"Ducky had a commitment. He said he couldn't make it, and Jimmy might miss dinner. He promised his girl he'd go pick up her dog from the groomer. She apparently uses someone in Boston." McGee grinned when Jethro snorted.
Tony turned his attention to the German shepherd. The big dog seemed to sense the attention and stood a little straighter before he moved forward demanding petting. Tony was happy to oblige humoring the large animal as he dug through his mental arsenal of movies. He began chattering about movies starring dogs especially German shepherds, watching his teammate relax. Tim is wound too tight. Maybe he'll share what's been bothering him. I hope that's what this is really about….and if it's not then I can always refuse to leave, get him drunk and make him spill. It's not a school night after all. A plan in mind he relaxed settling on the floor by the computer desk petting the dog and quizzed McGee on his knowledge of canine films.
XXXxxx
McGee leaned against the bookshelf and tried again to change the topic. While the conversation had gotten interesting for a while he could only handle Tony talking film for so long. He frowned.
"What time is it?" he cut in, looking down at his watch without waiting.
Tony blinked at him for a minute before looking at his own watch. "20:10, where is everyone, I'm starved."
"I'll call around. Was Ziva still at the office when you left?"
"No, we shared an elevator. She didn't say anything about dinner but I assumed she'd be headed here after she changed clothes. Gibbs was still in, he might still be working."
"She RSVP'd on Monday. You can fix yourself a plate." He hit the speed dial for Abby.
"It's okay. I'll call the boss, see where he is." Tony pulled out his own cell.
McGee listened to Abby's voicemail and left a quick message then dialed Ziva, as it rang he heard Tony leave his own message for Gibbs. He sighed and left another message feeling his gut tighten.
"Gibbs not answer?"
"No. Girls didn't pick up either huh? Well no worries. I'm sure it's nothing. I probably just missed the traffic." Tony's answer was half hearted.
"Yeah" McGee sighed. "Hungry?"
XXXxxx
Tony 'ooh' -ed and 'awe' -ed over the dinner as they fixed their plates and sat at the mostly empty table. He groaned at the first bite of pot roast. "God Probie, I didn't know you could cook like this."
He grinned at McGee's blush and gently teased him about it as he continued to complement the meal. McGee offered him a drink and he accepted a soda not wanting to drink if something was wrong. McGee pulled out a root beer for himself as well making Tony force a smile.
They nibbled at their food shooting glances at the door. When Tim's phone rang he jumped slightly.
"McGee….Hey Jimmy….I understand…No really, it's fine….Go take care of your girlfriend….Thanks for calling Jimmy….Yes, it's really okay…You know what Gibbs says about apologies. It's no problem. Talk to you tomorrow…Bye."
"I take it Jimmy isn't going to make it?" Tony kept his voice light.
"Nah. Apparently the groomer over-groomed the dog and it's not pretty. I can't decide if he is going to be miserable or very lucky tonight." McGee joked lamely, but the smile was genuine.
Tony laughed and resumed inhaling his food feeling slightly better.
XXXxxx
"It's 2100; I'm giving up on dinner." McGee stood abruptly and hauled his dishes to the kitchen stopping just shy of throwing them in.
Tony had followed him in and set his dishes down much gentler, running water over them.
"You should just go." McGee felt dangerously close to a meltdown and wanted his Senior Field Agent gone before then.
"Hey, what? No!" Tony looked shocked. "You still have to show me your gizmo."
The gentle tone of his teammate undid him. He laughed hysterically and didn't realize he was crying until the older man touched his arm. He slid down the sink laughing and crying overwhelmed by emotion and unable to stop. He sat like that until he ran out of breath and tears and energy.
XXXxxx
Tony watched his partner breakdown. He silently sat down next to the other uncertain if touching would make Tim worse or better. Come on Probie, snap out of it. Talk to me, I'll make it better. I'm here. Slowly Tim wound down until he was just sitting breath coming in uneven pants, his face red and wet. McGee looked so lost and lonely for a moment Tony felt his own breath catch. He dug out his handkerchief offering it silently.
For a moment Tim just stared at it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Then he grabbed it and wiped his face and Tony tried not to think about the way his Probie's hands were shaking.
"Are you sure?" the question was tiny and uncertain.
"Sure of what?"
"Sure you want to see. Sure you want to know. It's not a gizmo." The voice was still quiet, almost shy.
"Of course I'm sure Tim." Tony offered his brightest smile, hiding his concern.
"Promise you won't be mad." McGee sounded fragile.
"I promise." Tony met his teammate's eyes and spoke seriously. "Show me McGee."
Tim nodded slowly and stood. He started to leave the kitchen then paused and went to the fridge. He pulled out a quart of chocolate fudge ice cream and went to grab a spoon. He held a second spoon up like an offering. Tony took the spoon solemnly resisting the urge to joke and break the mood. McGee's mood was uncertain and he had no desire to break his friend.
Tony followed out of the kitchen, surprised when Tim made a beeline for his writing corner. He missed what the other picked up but was unsurprised to see Tim slide down a wall and sit. He joined Tim on the floor and waited. Tim was staring at the object in his hands and after a moment Tony scooted over. Shoulder pressed to shoulder and Tony leaned over to get a look.
He blinked at the picture frame. The black and white image took a moment to register as a picture. Is that? No, it can't be…
"It's a girl." McGee's voice was very soft.
"A girl?" Tony blinked in shock.
"My little girl." McGee sounded so damn proud of that.
"Wow." Tony couldn't think of anything to say. He had a million questions. "That her head?" he pointed to the roundish area, and was relieved when Tim laughed and relaxed a bit.
"Yeah. And this is her hand and her little feet" Tim pointed out the features beaming.
"How far along?" that seemed to be another safe question out of the dozen in his head.
"Seven months. She's due in October." Tim sounded excited, and then his voice went quiet again "she'll be all mine then. I have full custody."
"Full?" Tony stopped letting the implications of that sink in… so the mother is out of the picture and Timmy is about to be a single father. "You okay with that?"
Tim looked up surprised, meeting his eyes for the first time since the promise in the kitchen. "I'm okay with it. Excited, scared, overwhelmed, terrified, but more than okay with it. I'm gonna have a baby girl!"
"Congratulations then" Tony smiled sincerely. He must have said the right thing because the tension left his teammate and McGee beamed at him.
"I've been doing a lot of research and getting ready. I still can't believe it's real though. It's crazy how this has my whole life around. You know I got rid of my Boxter?"
"What!" his eyes went wide.
"Yeah, I got an SUV. Kids need so much stuff you know? And space. I want her so bad, and I want her to be happy and healthy and that is the most important thing but there is so much… It's just been so overwhelming and I kept trying to tell but I couldn't say the words. So I set up this dinner and figured I'd have to tell and then everyone…" Tim cut off with a strangled noise.
"Hey, hey it's okay. You got me." Tony leaned harder against his Probie trying to figure out what to do. "And we have ice cream."
XXXxxx
Tim gave a choked laugh at the suggestion and opened the container, setting the picture safely in front of them.
"What is the most overwhelming part?" after a few bites Tony asked.
"…I don't want to move. This place isn't exactly big enough for me and a kid. I've been trying to figure out how to baby proof this place and between all the cords for my electronics and the freestanding bookcases it's just too much. But I really really like this place. I talked to my landlord and he said if a two bedroom opens up here I can transfer without breaking lease, but I really don't want to move out of this place. I mean it's nothing special, but it's mine and I already switched my car and my priorities. I just don't want to give this up. And it's stupid to be selfish about something like this, but I can't make myself even look for another place. I am so stressed out trying to make this place acceptable when I know better."
"Take a breath." Tony cut in. "How about tomorrow you and me take a look at this place top to bottom. I know there are some interior design programs online, we can plug in your info and see if we can reorganize and make this work." Tony took a bite of ice cream
McGee blinked stunned. He hadn't even thought to look online for-
"Stop computing McGeek, I'm still talking." Tony gestured with his spoon. "Now if we can't make it work I can do some hunting for you. I know a couple of real estate agents. We can find the best place for you. It will be a place that fits your budget, loves your dog and will make your little geek heart very happy because it will be a place you like, not just a place you got because of your little angel. It will be an upgrade you are happy with, okay?"
"I don't know Tony I don't-"
"Hey. I'm using big 'ifs' here. We could make this place work. We'll try our hardest. It's only if we can't that we go for plan B. And you will like it if that's what we do." Tony gave him a confident look.
"If you say so Tony." He mocked, but he did feel a bit better seeing Tony tackle the problem.
"And I do say so Probie. Now what is second most stressful?"
"Schedules… I don't want to leave the team but god I am having a kid. You know the crazy hours we keep. It's not even that, I am probably getting a nanny. It's more… The first little while is going to be hard. Babies are supposed to cry a lot at night and if I am getting home late and spend my nights up and down with the baby, am I going to be alert enough to do my job?" Tim spoke his truly biggest fear.
"We can make it work." Tony spoke slowly, thinking about it. "If anyone can make it work Gibbs would. I mean come on, a baby girl. That'll make him soft like nothing else. Not going to lie to you Tim but if worse comes to worse, you know we'll hold your spot for you if you take paternity leave or if you need to go do a 9 to 5 in cybercrimes for a stretch."
"You can't guarantee-"
"Hey! I can. Vance might not like it but we can have a team of three. Remember Gibbs and I were a two man team for almost a year, and Kate was on our team for several months before you were recruited. We can pull you or some other teckie if we need it. You should know better than anyone that it takes a lot to make it on Team Gibbs and the boss won't be looking to replace you. I guarantee that. You are part of this team."
"Are you sure of that?" he asked quietly looking pointedly around the empty apartment.
Tony smacked him gently upside his head. "I don't know what happened tonight, but I intend to find out. You better not doubt it ever Tim. Got it."
"Yeah, think I do."
"Aww Probie." Suddenly Tony's arms were wrapped around him and he was pulled into a hug. "It will be alright. You are going to be alright. You are going to have a beautiful little girl who is going to be spoiled rotten by the most fearsome team NCIS has. She is going to be smart as her Daddy and as pretty as her mom- her mom is pretty right Probie? - and her Uncle Tony will teach her all the important things in life."
"You are not teaching my girl anything about boys or dating or-"
"God no Probie. My niece will never go near a boy until she is 32. No I meant the things like how to get into movies for free and how to skip the lines to the rides at Disneyworld."
Tim stared at him for a moment weighing his words. "Not your niece."
Tony's face fell "Okay Probie how about-"
"Not your niece, I was thinking… your Goddaughter?" Tim watched as Tony's mouth fell open before the other man flashed his famous DiNozzo grin.
"Wow Probie. Tim. Yes!" Tony let out a little whoop.
Then the doorbell rang. They exchanged looks and both stood and went to the door. Tim pulled it open.
"Gibbs! I didn't think you were coming." McGee blurted.
XXXxxx
Gibbs raised an eyebrow "said I'd come. What is going on here?" He asked taking in the red eyes of his agent, the ice cream container with two spoons DiNozzo brought with him to the door and the German shepherd who looked unreasonably happy to see him.
"It's a long story Boss, come in." DiNozzo pulled McGee out of the doorway and grinned at him. "Where you been?"
"MTAC, don't make me ask again."
"Well…"
.
.
.
XXXxxx
A/n It couldn't be helped. This just got so long I had to stop here. Gibbs next chapter! Review.