4. Gabriel tries to show Gibbs the right way.

Monday morning came earlier than they thought possible.

Tim woke up feeling tired. He blamed his emotional break down the night before. And Abby. Definitely Abby. Abby, who had hugged him and didn't let him go until he pressed her to him and cried his sorrow in her arms. And then it was Ziva who spoke softly in his ear in a language he didn't recognize as she soothed him with gently spoken words. Tony, whom Tim tried to avoid with a handshake but failed as he was pulled in another tight embrace asnd Tony cried with him. Jimmy's awkward hug as if he was afraid he wasn't wanted in Tim's tight circle of friends but not caring for any embarrassment if he could offer comfort in any way possible.

Ducky and Gibbs let them comfort the grieving man until it got too much and Tim looked at them imploringly. By the time they managed to pull his over worried friends away from him Tim felt wrecked, with his head aching and memories flooding back threatening to overwhelm him.

After that, Ducky intervened to calm the spirits and the night progressed more peacefully.

-NCIS-

Tim came down the stairs slowly. Gibbs observed him silently from his place by the counter. Tim was dressed in a black shirt and slacks.

"Good morning, Boss."

"Hey, McGee. How are you today?"

Tim shrugged. "It's good to go back to work today. Something to keep me occupied. I will have a talk with my lawyer about Paul too. Is it still on about Gabriel tonight?"

"Yes, McGee. Your Uncle is going to kick both our asses if we cancel it."

Tim took a sip from his coffee and looked at Gibbs. "Thanks for having me here, Gibbs. It was good that I wasn't alone this weekend."

"Well, McGee, you're not going anywhere until you make that damn airplane, so I don't really know what you're talking about."

Gibbs didn't even look at him and Tim had known the man long enough to take the order as it was; an invitation to continue staying with him until their project was done.

They had no new cases which meant Tim had to be in the yard all day. All agents came to give him their condolences, the Director asked him to go to his office for a private conversation and when the time came Tim was more than happy to leave work and go home. He met with Gibbs in the parking garage, each man going to his own car.

"I'll see you there." Gibbs said to Tim.

Gibbs was the first to arrive to Gabriel's driveway. He encountered piles with leaves strolling down the long path. He could already see Tim coming to dispose them next weekend after trimming the hedge. Gabriel kept the house and himself well protected with a line of coral bark maple trees.

"You know, you don't avoid burglars with all those trees." Gibbs said to Gabriel as he wrapped his arm around the other man's shoulders. "And your beard needs shaving."

"It's not the burglars I want to avoid, Jethro, but bigger fish. And I like my beard thank you very much. I have more important things to do than trying to not cut myself." Gabriel replied ushering the other man in. "Where's Tim?"

"He took a different route. He'll be here shortly."

"Many things have happened to that child at the same time. I loved Sarah, but I never got to know her as much I do Tim. She's the lovely baby I left behind but has always remained a memory. I'm so sad for her loss, and her husband's, but my feelings for Timothy are different. He's the son I've never had. I can honestly say –and I feel so bad and guilty about it, Jethro- that I feel for his pain more."

"He's lucky to have you, Gabe."

"Come; let's make things ready to eat as soon as Tim gets here." Gibbs got down on his knees to pet Tarf who kept barking energetically from the moment Gibbs came inside.

"That dog likes you and Tim more than he likes me."

"Well, he's your guardian, we get to pet him and scratch him behind his ears." Gibbs demonstrated the act as he told the words. "Why did you want us to come?" He asked as he stood up again following Gabriel in the open-plan kitchen and dining room. He watched as Gabriel proficiently took the griddle from the oven, being protected by any burn with the rack guards and the ellbow-length, quilted flame retardant mitts he wore.

Gabriel settled the cutting board on the granite countertop and with a double spatula he took the lamb and cut it in pieces, all in the same size.

"I can't understand how you do this?"

"What?" Gabriel looked at the general direction of where Gibbs' voice came from. For Gibbs it seemed that the man was staring right through him.

"Cut all the slices the same size."

"Lot's and lot's of practise, Jethro. I didn't wake up one day with this talent."

"But that's exactly how you used to cut the meat… before." Gibbs bit his lip after saying the words loudly.

"Ah Jethro, is this a nice way to call me anal?"

"Well, yes. Methodical. What can I do to help? I can't sit here watching you doing all the hard work."

"Like the old days then?"

"Yes, only then it was you sitting watching us."

"Hush!" Like Uncle like nephew, Gibbs thought at the gentle chide while Gabriel kept talking. "I wonder and worry about Paul. I am sure Tim wants to have him and raise him just like Sarah and Sergio wanted…'

"I haven't talked to Tim about it, but how about the father's family? Didn't they want the child?"

"His parents are dead, and he's got a grandfather who is alive but not in any condition to raise a three year old child. That's what Tim told me when he called me after the funeral."

"Tim thinks it's implausible to look after the kid himself."

"He's got a point." Gabriel worked meticulously cutting the tomatoes for the salad. "He's an unmarried, federal agent. He works strange hours and days, he's got a demanding Boss; it is difficult even in theory."

"You are not helping, Gabe."

"He's not here. He's not listening to me, but all those thoughts have already crossed his mind. He may be the legal guardian of the kid, but he's not sure he can make it work."

"So you're saying he should leave Paul at his parents."

Gabriel's face of distaste was answer enough. "No, that's not what I mean. That's why I asked you to come over. I fully intent to offer my services."

"Now you sound like Ducky."

Gabriel never met Ducky, but he had heard enough tales about the medical examiner that he felt as if he'd known him. "Well, I want to tell Tim I can become the boy's nanny while he's at work. How about that?"

"Gabriel. How will you be able to do that?"

Gabriel's handle of the knife was nothing less but professional. "I am not talking about a temporal solution, Jethro. I am talking about having professional help but being the one in charge of Paul while Tim's at work."

"And you're going to tell him tonight? So why did you want me here?"

"Wouldn't you want to help as well?"

The words caused Gibbs to feel a need instead of want. He shook his head. "I'm too old for that, Gabriel."

"Yeah, right. You're young enough to run around shooting bad guys but too old to give a child a decent upbringing."

"Kids need stability."

"I get that." Gabrie turned his face up as if to look at him. "After all, this is a discussion about having a plan so Tim can raise the boy until he finds a nice girl to marry." Gibbs flinched and Gabriel smiled. "You know, if I only I could see now…"

Gibbs frowned and asked defensively. "What do you mean?" Following Gabriel's train of thought was proven to be impossible at times.

"Just because I can't see, it doesn't mean I can't feel, Jethro. I remember you with Shannon. Granted, I have been around when you were with Hollis, but it wasn't the same. Hollis is an amazing woman. So why didn't it work out? Both she and Shannon were strong women. However, you and Shannon were younger when you found each other. Thirty, thirty-five years ago the world was so different in regards to relationships. I remember Shannon's strength, her way of dealing with you and opposing to you when she disagreed with your opinion. But, I also remember her yielding in your protection and you to hers. They were different kinds of protections but you felt safe in giving in to her. You need to feel needed, to know that someone doesn't just want or love you, but needs you as well, and not in a clingy, jealous, childish way but…, you know. I won't say it's the right way of dealing with relationships and other people, but it's who you are. And Shannon knew it and knew that showing vulnerability in front of you wouldn't make you think less of her. You were still equals, but you were different. And today, that's not easy to be found, it has become political incorrect. Women don't want to want to feel protected. They can protect themselves well and men are threatened by it. That's why it didn't work with Hollis."

"Is there a point to this lecture, Gabriel?" Gibbs didn't even know why he kept listening to him talking, other than Gabriel's soothing voice was calming his nerves.

"Sure there is," Gabriel replied laughing.

"And…?"

"And you're an old boy, Jethro, quite intelligent too. You know what I'm talking about."

"Tim is, damn! I don't what Tim is or what he wants."

"Tim wants the same things you do. Someone to take care of and be taken care of, as well."

"You are talking nonsense, Professor."

"Am I, gunny? Between Tim, you and myself, Pall will be looked after just fine."

Gibbs's eyes narrowed. "Paul?"

"Yes, why? What did you think I was talking about?"

Gibbs knew when he was challenged and he was too tired of hiding so he took the challenge in a stride. "That you would trust Tim into my care."

"That too. But make no mistake. You'll be in grave danger if you ever hurt him."

"You, we make assumptions about Tim here when we don't know his feelings on the matter."

"If you don't know his feelings, then you're more blind than I am, Jethro."

"Have you talked to him about it?"

"Tim? Are you joking? That boy doesn't talk about things he thinks he can't achieve."

"Is he even gay?"

"No, are you?"

"Bisexual?"

"Not from what I know."

Gibbs pushed himself off the counter he had been leaning on. "What the hell, Gabriel? What are you playing at?'

"Tim wants a family, I know that. Everything else comes next. With Paul, and after losing Sarah, he can have a family."

"Why would he want a family with me?"

Instead of answering Gibbs, Gabriel obfuscated. "What time is it? He's late isn't he?" Gabriel's words were cut by the back door opening and Tim came in.

"McGee! What happened?"

"Tim? Why did you come in from the back door?"

"I was being followed." He said warily. He sat on the couch, arms tightly wrapped around himself. "Or I think I was followed. Not so sure right now."

"What's wrong, Tim?" Gabriel asked him.

Tim's eyes locked on Gibbs'. "I don't think it had anything to do with you, Uncle, despite my precaution to not come from the front door. I kept seeing a truck coming too close behind me. If they wanted to go unnoticed by me they weren't doing a good job so I thought nothing of it in the beginning." By now, Gibbs had sat next to him and Gabriel leaned on the piano.

"Then why do you think you were followed?"

"After you left me, Boss, I got a call by Inspector Lorenzi. I met him after Sarah's… death. He told me they had new information about the truck driver. Apparently his ID was fake. His name was John Zeller Jr. and he was actually wanted by the Interpol to be exported in the USA. Lorenzi said he'll send me the details." He didn't wait for the question that was to come. "He was wanted for assassinations." Tim said sighing and rubbing his forehead. He could feel the early stages of a headache. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and he didn't feel like eating any longer.

Gabriel dropped to his knees in front of Tim. He reached out his hands to wrap them around Tim's forearms "We'll figure it out. Sarah and Sergio will find their peace."

Tim felt Gibbs' hand squeezing his in a silent agreement to his Uncle's words. He stared over Gabriel's shoulder at the small pieta figurine on the coffee table.

-NCIS-

Gabriel insisted Tim should stay in his home that night, after making him eat dinner. He didn't discuss his plans about Paul with his nephew figuring it wasn't the right time. Gibbs was undecided over staying as well or going home. He didn't want to leave the two men alone. Gabriel made it easy to make a decision.

"Are you staying as well, Jethro? Come on, I'll show you were you can spend the night." He said when Tim went for a shower. Gibbs reached out and gripping Gabriel's arm he pulled him back.

"I won't stay and neither will Tim."

"What? No!"

"Listen to me, Gabriel. We need to keep your place secret both for you but…" Gibbs looked over at the bathroom. "But also in case we need it in the future."

"You think someone's after Tim."

"What do you think?"

"Listen to me Jethro." He leaned close to Gibbs, his voice low. "I have been hiding for almost two decades, I lost the chance to see Tim and his sister growing up, I lost any chance to have a family of my own. My family is that boy in there." He pointed at the bathroom door. "Damn right I think someone's out to get him. What I need to know is why. And I trust you do learn it. And protect him."

"He's not a child to be protected, Gabriel."

"Is that what we talked about, Jethro? Sarah's dead. Remember that. Now, he needs you."

"Damn it, Gabriel. I'll help him. If Sarah was murdered we'll catch whoever did it. What else do you want me to do?"

"Nothing! You said you wanted to take Tim home."

"He's not a thing. He can go wherever he wants to." They both kept their voices down, not wanting to be heard by the man their discussion was about. "Gabriel, what if he needs to stay here for a while?" He raised one eyebrow forgetting the man in front of his cannot see him. Not any more.

Gabriel sighed and turned around. "I'll go prepare your dinner to take it home with you." He moved elegantly around the furniture and by the time Tim came out of the shower, looking no better than before he had everything ready.

"Tim, Gibbs wants you to go with him at his place."

Tim looked at them. "Ten minutes ago you wanted nothing more than to stay here. Well, never mind. I agree actually. We should go at Gibbs' so we can go to work earlier tomorrow. I'll get ready."

When they were once again alone together, Gibbs gripped Gabriel's forearm. "Don't worry. He'll be safe with me."

"Just don't do anything stupid. Not tonight."

Gibbs knew instantly what his friend meant. He sighed trying to be calm. "I can keep my hands to myself. I'm not a teenager."

"I count on it."