Chapter 8

'What? How do you know?' Synthia stood and Thomas couldn't hide his surprise. How was it possible that Tim knew about it? Tim readily told all the facts.

'At the beginning I didn't. I didn't know what I had heard.' At his mother's horrified expression he tried to calm her. 'It was around the time Sarah was born. I must have been around seven or eight when I accidentally heard you two talking. Back then I didn't realize what you meant when you said 'I love Tim as much as if was my own' so I just wrote it down on my diary. I had forgotten all about it until one day, I was twelve, as I was arranging all my old notebooks I started reading my old entries. When I stumbled upon that I tried to remember when it had happened. Soon, I realized that I was probably adopted. And it's just made me love you more. As time passed it was always in my mind but I didn't make it a huge deal. Sure, I'd like to meet my biological parents, but I was waiting for you to tell me before start looking for them. And only if it's OK with you.' He smiled at his Mom. 'And it was an extra bonus that I have similar features to yours, right?' His attempt to make her smile had the opposite affects. He thought he had realized the truth when in reality he had mixed everything. And now they had to tell him the truth.

'Son, whatever you heard… well it's not exactly as you think. No, I'm not your biological father but your Mom is…. You know, your Mom.' Thomas said while hugging his wife.

Tim felt like the earth was moving under his feet, and he wasn't even standing. This was a bigger shock for the young man. He had created a nice little story in his mind since a very young age about his loving foster parents who loved him as much as their own kid that the new information was putting his world in a new sight. His Mom had an affair with another man. Despite Tim's age that knowledge never comes as a welcomed one especially when the family he grew up was always close to perfect. He needed to think.

'Why are you telling me all these now?'

'Well, Tim…' as Thomas was ready to explain the situation, the door opened and appeared Tony, Ziva, Ducky and Gibbs who had come to see Tim. It was the first time Gibbs was there in daylight. And it was the first time Tim was seeing him too.

'Boss!' Jethro instinctively knew they had interrupted an important conversation and he didn't miss Thomas' look sent his way. McGee knew. He moved to Tim.

'How are you, Tim?' Had Boss ever called him in his given name before? Tim wasn't certain.

''I'm fine. The pain lessens day by day. I'll be released in a couple of days. Good to see you're OK too, Boss.' So, as Tony had told him, Tim really worried about him.

'I'm fine. Thanks to you.'

'How about the case? I never thought to ask before.' Tim looked down at his blanket embarrassed about that fact, but not really wanting to listen either. He just wanted to forget about the last ten minutes.

'Don't worry, kid. We managed to catch them without you. But you did save m life.' Everyone but Ducky were surprised to see him sitting in Tim's bed and taking his hand in his. He stared at the bright green eyes that turned up to look at his. 'And I thank you.' Tim was redeemed to the young boy he had first met as shyness and pride overtook him again. He looked down and mumbled something along the lines of everyone would do the same thing.

'And before leaving you to the conversation you had before bursting in, I'd like you to tell you that Agent Fornell sends his wishes for a quick recovery.' Tim thanked him and then the rest of the team members gave him a hug saying they'll be out to wait for a while. Then was when Thomas spoke.

'Agent Gibbs, could you please stay?'

'What? No Thomas, please no, not now.' Synthia didn't want to tell it now. It was too early and Tim was already too shocked listening to his mother's betrayal. She had to give him time to absorb everything, but Thomas wasn't certain if it would be for the best to have it dragged more. Gibbs realized what they needed him for.

'Mr McGee, if I can talk with you for a moment.' Tim had absolutely no idea what was going on around him and looked from one to the other waiting someone to talk.

'Yes, Agent Gibbs.' The two men went out leaving mother and son alone. Tim couldn't face his mother, he felt weird knowing that he was the proof his mom had cheated on his dad.

'Can you forgive me, Tim?' She asked but it was too soon and after all, he wasn't the one to forgive her, right? If Tomas had forgiven her, then why shouldn't he?

'Can I stay alone for a while?' Instead he asked.

'Yes, of course you can. But you'll talk with me later, OK? Please, Tim?' He didn't like to hear his mom begging so he turned his head towards her, not making eye contact yet.

'Sure, Mom.' Being alone in his room he wondered what had just happened. He thought he had worked out his family secrets on his own and now the roof had come crushing on him. And why did they want Gibbs with them to talk? What did he have to do with this? Did they really believe Gibbs could help him with anything? No matter how much he respected the other man, his Boss was not a man he wanted next to him in a vulnerable moment. He was always so strong and Tim didn't want anyone seeing him like this; not knowing about his emotional state himself, not knowing where to start evaluating his whole family. It was hard enough being physically weak, emotional weakness was just something Gibbs wouldn't understand so, no, he didn't want him there. Not now.

Jethro and Thomas walked silently outside the hospital with the first just giving a reassuring nod to his colleagues and Ducky. The doctor followed his friend with his eyes knowing the moment of truth was close but having no idea how Tim was going to take it.

They sat on a bench outside the hospital. Both were silent, waiting the other to start talking. Gibbs thinking of Tim's face as he entered the room; he was so shocked about something. Jethro didn't like seeing him like this. Thomas on the other hand wondered if he'd ever come to respect Gibbs as much as his son did. He seemed a nice, decent man. He could only hope that was the case.

'I know Tim is my son.'

'I figured that you would. I even told Synthia that she made a mistake about lying to you. She's afraid of losing her son.' Jethro couldn't see her reasoning. 'She's a mother and her son always saw her as someone inculpable, who never made any mistakes. And the moment you all came in, we had just told him she cheated me.' Now Gibbs knew the reason behind the shock. 'And I also planned to tell him the whole truth. He deserves to know. And if I don't do it, you will.'

'Yes, I want Tim to learn the truth, but I'm not going to push you or Synthia about it. You can tell him whenever you feel ready in reasonable amount of time.'

'You're a good man, Agent Gibbs, but I don't think we should wait. It will only tire all of us. Besides, Tim already knows there's something more and he'll start wondering what it has to do with you.' Deep down Jethro wasn't so certain that it wasn't way too soon for Tim to learn the truth, hell it was soon for him to say it, but he also knew that Thomas was right. The longer it took them to admit it the bigger the fallout would be.

'Let's go back, then Mr McGee. Tim is waiting for us.'

'Name's Thomas. My son is your son, so you need to learn to say it. We spend our holidays together and when Tim accepts all this you'll become a part of what we have… Somehow we will have to make it work…' Somehow.

'You're a far better man than me, Thomas. And now I know how Tim became the one he is…' He couldn't help but envy this man who grew Tim up and at the same time wonder how Tim would have been if he had grown up with Jethro as his father. He smiled and realized he preferred the kind hearted geek to a sporty brass young man.

They returned to Tim's room to find him alone. Thomas went in search of his wife and Jethro remained alone with Tim for a little while.

'Boss?' Tim timidly asked. 'Do you know what my parents want to talk about?'

'Yes, Tim, I do, just wait for a while and so you will.'

'Do you have to be here?' What was that about? Didn't Tim want him here? 'You see, Boss, I don't know what they want to say to me and I don't want you to…'

'Don't worry, kid. Everything will be solved, one way or another.' Tim was perplexed. It was the second time his Boss called him 'kid'. Being always the youngest, it usually annoyed him to be called kid, but not now. Now, Gibbs was saying it with an affection he hadn't heard before from the older man. It felt somehow nice and right.

And there's one more chapter to come.

If anyone noticed the header in chapter three "Decisions" it was because at the moment I was struggling with the newest chapter of the sequel and made that mistake in the title…