Chapter 6

Fornell found himself sitting there next to Gibbs watching his friend. He had never before seen the NCIS Agent so conflicted.

'Jethro, do you want to tell me what is going on?' The other man clearly didn't; or hr did but didn't now how. It's one thing to speculate, to doubt and a whole different to know for certain. Jethro had lost his family a long time ago, but had he forgotten how to be a father?

'No, Tobias. Thank you for your help.' As he was finishing his sentence, Ducky appeared at the entrance like in every ancient Greek tragedy; the person needed made their appearance at the right moment to save important time and energy. Gibbs nodded to him to join them.

'Agent Fornell, hello. Did you come to see how our Timothy is doing?' Tobias looked at Gibbs and then at Ducky.

'Yes, Dr Mallard. When I heard about Agent McGee's injury I thought to pay a visit a visit and learn how's he doing for myself.' All in all it wasn't a complete lie; he did like the kid after all.

'Timothy's condition is stable for the moment and he is young so the doctors are optimistic. Our boy is a fighter, but he lost a lot of blood and had a lung fracture. We just have to wait. And that's the worse part, isn't it?' They both nodded lost in their own thoughts.

Ten minutes later and after a lot of Ducky's monologue, for which Gibbs was grateful as he gave him time to calculate his options, Fornell left them alone whishing for the best and promising he'd come again.

'Now, Jethro, are you ready to tell me what is going on?' Ducky echoed Tobias' earlier question and brought Jethro to an unwanted position. Their friendship hadn't fully mended after Gibbs' decision to leave NCIS or not telling him about Shannon and Kelly. Jethro's mind was split in two; he knew he could trust Ducky with his secret but wasn't sure he was ready to even talk about it. As he was contemplating to say or not the truth, Tony came and saw them sitting together.

'Boss? I thought you had left. I came to find Ducky. Probie's about to awake. But it's good you're here too. Maybe he'd like to see you.'

Yes, he most probably would, but could Gibbs go and see Tim like just another team member? His mind was twirling. He had drunk his coffee about fifteen minutes ago and he needed one pronto. Synthia had angered him and made him face his weaknesses, but also made him think of the implications his decision would bring at Tim's life. Her refusal to accept the truth in case their family broke to pieces. He didn't give a damn about Synthia's perfectly shaped life, but Tim? That was another matter. Another thought came crawling; would he want Tim in his life if Shannon and Kelly were alive? But the answer was easy; hell, of course he would! He was proud of Tim when he didn't know the truth. And now he was just angry for not being a part of his life as he was growing up. Did he have the strength to step back and just watch from afar like another of the long list of Tim's colleagues?

'I need to go. Tell T.. McGee I had something to do if he asks…'

'But Jethro…' But Gibbs wasn't there to listen to whatever objection Ducky was about to say. He was out of the cafeteria before any of the two men could stop him.

Tim was going to be fine; the doctors were even anticipating that very soon; he was thankful. His heart swelled at that. He felt the impulse to light a candle to whatever deity had given him another chance to be a father, and he hadn't done that for a long time. He didn't have things to be thankful for. And should he be thankful for having the opportunity to turn his son's life upside down in the first place? Leroy Jethro Gibbs was for the first time in a position of not knowing what to do.

The evening found him in his basement working on his boat but a new first took place there; his time there didn't give him half the enjoyment he usually did nor the much needed peace of mind.

Tim opened his eyes to the familiar green ones of his mother. His Mom and Dad were there to hold his hands and kiss him. But something was missing. Despite his pain and numb brain he had a strange feeling coiling in his stomach, a combination of fear and guilt. He looked around; there was no one else besides his parents. He smiled at them and quickly asked.

'Where's Boss?' It didn't occur to him that doctor wouldn't allow more than two people at the same time in his room or that his parents had given a fight to be both there to see him.

'He had matters to attend it.' Came the instant reply.

'Is Tony here?' Tim's voice was quiet and showed his pain, but the only one who trusted to tell him the truth was the older agent.

At his father's nod, he asked to see him. Thom went to Tony who seemed surprised to be the first one requested. He marched to Tim's room under Abby's envious gaze.

'Probie, out and about, I see..' he tried for humour seeing McGee's sweet face pale with pain, but relief washed him over finally seeing him awake. Tim was safe and Ok and even happy to see him.

'Hi, Tony.' His voice was weak though.

'Hey! How are you?' Tim tried to raise a brow but it hurt too much so he amended.

'Like my lung has a hole in it, which it does apparently.' He was breathing with difficulty and he needed to sleep as to let the pain pass on its own. Tony could see the younger man was troubled by something but gave him time to talk on his own. And Tim did, just like always.

'Tony? Is Boss alright?' And that wasn't what DiNozzo expected to hear.

'What?'

'I saw that he was the target. Was he hurt?' Or worse? That he didn't say but he did think about it. Was his injury for nothing? Tim's heart started beating faster. I f Gibbs had been killed… 'And he's not here. Mom said he had to be somewhere, but her expression had something… off…' the last part came as a question.

Tony could only confirm Synthia's earliest words. After all he didn't know anything more than that and even if he had noticed something was amiss with their boss he wasn't going to admit it to the injured young man.

'He'll be here soon Probie. Don't worry, he wasn't injured at all.'

'After that a nurse asked everyone to leave and Tim had his needed rest.

Synthia was grateful her son was alive. Jethro's sight that morning had shattered her world; past mistakes came to hound her, but only for a few moments. She had to be thankful to God for saving her baby but if it wasn't a certain man she wouldn't have had him in the first place. Sitting there outside her son's room, she considered about his relationship with his boss. From past conversations, she knew how much Tim respected and admired Gibbs, and now? She had no idea what she could do. The lie had come too easily, but she knew Jethro hadn't believed her. Was the end close? Would she have to say the truth to her son? A truth that embarrassed her more than anything else, but that had given her the best possible gift….

Thomas had been a wonderful father; he had given their son the love, the warmth, the protection, the advice Tim needed. Sometimes she wondered if Thom didn't actually love Tim more than he did Sarah and always came to the conclusion it was a possibility. He loved Tim unconditionally despite knowing he wasn't his biological father.

Synthia had told Thom what had happened right after Jethro had left. It was her excuse to make Thom left her as well and she couldn't base her marriage in a lie. At first he got angry, as she expected, but when she realized she was pregnant, little by little he accepted and forgave. Soon, he forgot and when Tim was born pre-maturely it was as if nothing had ever happened. Tim was his son in everything but blood; until this morning. How was possible she had never paid attention to Tim's words about his Boss? Hadn't he ever said his name?

Thomas was watching his wife and realized something was bothering her. She had been nervous since they had set foot in the hospital and it was time to have a conversation.

'Synthia? Come with me.' She obediently followed him at the same cafeteria of that morning.

Gibbs noticed his watch. It was already 21.10. No answer had come to him, no magical balm on his emotional turmoil. His mind was on the young man in the hospital; on his son, Tim McGee was his son. Timothy McGee should have been Timothy Gibbs. If he wasn't awfully near to bursting to tears he would have been sobbing from laughter. The shy, quiet mannered, stuttering, gentle genius was his child; his to be proud of. The thought was as overwhelming as Tim himself was when someone got to know him better. The passionate, trustworthy, strong Tim that Jethro had seen him changing from an insecure boy to the confident man. His son! And he couldn't tell him the truth. He had to sit back and watch him from afar, pretending he was only his boss.

He was feeling like a thirsty man standing in front of clear, cool water, only a few centimetres away, but forbidden to him by an unseen power.

'Damn it all to hell!' He shouted finally his nerves getting the best of him.

'Jethro, will you talk to me now?' Gibbs turned around to see Ducky at the stairs. He hadn't heard him or noticed him until he had spoken. He sighed. Blue eyes locked on blue.

'Tim is my son.'

Note: In this chapter I tried to show everyone's emotions, including Tim's Mom. She's scared not mean. Hopefully I made it clear…and if not, next chapters will show that.

A huge thank you to everyone who has commented, favourited and alerted but I can't send them a PM. And the same to those I already have thanked in private!