Just a short one. Spoilers for House rules.

Hearing the knock on his apartment door Tim sighed he didn't want to see anyone. All he wanted was to be left alone. He tried to ignore the knocking but he couldn't not with his job. So he exhaled slowly then made his way to the door.

Seeing Tony standing there carrying a large canvas bag, in one hand and a tray holding two large coffees in the other.

"Is there a case?"

"No case." Tony answers as he slips by him.

Tim shakes his head as he closes the door, then follows Tony into the kitchen. All he can do is watch as Tony unpacks the canvas bag and place containers on the table.

"I brought food. I figured that your cupboard would be bare. A salad because it makes Ducky happy, a fruit tart well we are watching our weight, sweet and healthy at the same time and for the main part of the meal my homemade lasagna."

"Tony?"

"You have a micro plane or a cheese grater, Tim?" Tony asks as he pulls out a chunk of Parmesan cheese from the canvas bag.

Tim knows that nothing he says will stop Tony now so it is better to just give in. He get the cheese grater from the drawer then joins Tony at the table.

He has to admit the food is delicious and he is hungry. They eat the meal in comfortable silence. Neither one of them feeling the need to talk it was the first time since his father's passing that he felt the unbearable feeling of heart wrenching pain start to leave.

Together they cleaned the kitchen and put the leftovers in the fridge. When Tim offered to make fresh coffee Tony nodded his head yes. "That would be great Tim, thanks.

They drank their coffee in kitchen nibbling on some cookies that Tony pulled out from the bag. They kept the conversation light and of no importance, just scuttlebutt. It was nice not having to try an engage in anything more in depth.

"I have to go Tim. I've got a hot date waiting for me."

Tim just smiles knowingly. " Where are you taking her? You know your neighbor, Mrs. Peterson."

Tony smile and tips his head slightly. "She wants to go to the market, her grand-kids are coming and she wants to make some cupcakes."

"Hey Tony." Tim calls out as he reaches for the door knob. Tony stops turns and looks at him. "Thanks."

"See you tomorrow at work Probie." Is all that Tony says before closing the door. Almost like the last few hours were nothing special.

McGee stepped into the elevator and held the door open when he heard Gibbs holler out to him.

"Boss."

"How ya doing Tim?"

"Better, thanks."

"DiNozzo show up at your place last night, with food?"

"How did you know?"

"He did the same thing to me when Jack died. He brought coffee and Chinese he watched me sand and sip my coffee. We talked about nothing important just scuttlebutt, when he left a few hours later I felt better."

"Me too. I don't get him boss, Sometimes he is such an overgrown kid other times he is the best agent in the building, no offense."

"None taken."

"You know Tim when his mother died he was never allowed to mourn. DiNozzo men don't cry, DiNozzo men are tough, and they don't let anything or anyone make them think otherwise."

"But he was a kid."

"The kid was never allowed to mourn, but the man wants us to be able to mourn our loss, and lean on him if we need too. In his own way he was telling us that we can mourn and cry if we want too, that he will watch our six and protect us."

"One day I'd really like to find out what makes him tick."

"Never going to happen McGee, Tony is an expert at hiding behind a multitude of masks. You'll never have a better friend and he'll always have your six, he'll even take a bullet to save your life and not think twice about it. you get it now Tim."

"Yes sir, I think so."