a/n- and so it begins. BTW, using clues from the episode Heartland, Gibbs is currently 53. Since this story is set before Ziva went to Somalia (She's still Officer David, not an agent), that puts Gibbs at 51, turning 52 for this story. Thanks to MaddieStJ for the help with the exact dates. Math is obviously not Greta's strongest subject.

It wasn't even daybreak and nobody answered when he banged on the door, so Daniel McGee forced it open. Even with some of the furniture remaining, the apartment had an abandoned feel to it. Determined to find his son and the pervert he obviously lived with, McGee started to go through the desk, looking for any clue. Nothing showing another address was there, but a copy of the cell phone bill gave him a way to track down his wayward son.

-NCIS-

Monday morning came way too early for Jethro Gibbs. He woke at 0500 as was his norm, but for the first time in many years he wanted to call in sick and spend the day in bed. It wasn't until the alarm went off at 0600 that he even moved, turning it off before it could wake Tim. He contemplated using the excuse that their flight got back so late, but a tapping on the door brought reality back with it.

Abby was tempted to open the door, but restrained herself. Instead, she knocked softly and leaned against the door to be heard. "Thanks for letting me stay here last night guys. I'm gonna head out so I can go home before work. See you there."

Sensing that Tim was now awake, Gibbs listened as Abby clomped away and then down the stairs. He kissed Tim's forehead just before the other man shifted back. "I guess we have to get up."

"Yeah, I suppose it's time to face the real world." Tim climbed out of bed and stretched, smiling at how attentively Jethro watched as he touched his toes.

Gibbs was definitely enjoying the view. "Joint shower?"

"You do want to be to work on time, right?"

Laughing, Gibbs pulled on a pair of boxers before going down to start the coffee. Just as the first drops of water hit the grounds, there was a banging at the front door. Expecting Vance, he didn't look before throwing the door open. "Diane?"

-NCIS-

Tim was still smiling when he jumped into the shower. He'd certainly learned just how much fun a joint shower could be, but that would have to wait until they had more time. As he dried off, Tim looked around the bathroom. It was rare for a house of this age to have a master bathroom, but he wondered if they could change the layout enough to fit a tub up there.

He heard his phone ringing and wrapped the towel around his waist, hurrying to catch it before it went to voice mail. "Hello?"

~You let him tap your ass yet, boy?~

"Dad?"

~Well, have you?~

"I'm happy, why can't that be enough for you?"

~With a man? You're fooling yourself if you think it's going to last. Fags don't love, they just use. What'll you have left when he dumps you? Nothing, that's what you'll have. You'll just be another lonely fag waiting for someone to hurt, just like I always knew.~

Recognizing an argument that couldn't be won, Tim quietly disconnected before throwing his phone on the bed. He paced around the room for a while before dressing, the insecurities rushing back. All he could hope for was that Jethro would be ready and willing to give him the support he needed right now.

-NCIS-

"Diane, what are you doing here?" Not wanting Tim to hear whatever she had to say, he marched her back out to her car.

"So, is it true, you turned gay?" She twisted free of him and glared.

"My personal life hasn't been any of your concern for a long time."

"What, did you run out of women that would put up with you, so you had to cross the fence? Do you really think you're any more capable of keeping it going with a man than you were with women? The low hiss of her voice wasn't attracting attention, but it did tear through Gibbs. "It won't last, Gibbs, with you it never does. If he's lucky, somebody will save him before you suck the life out of him."

"Get out of here, Diane, before I lose my temper."

She took her time getting into the car as Gibbs paced in the driveway, remembering every failed relationship and the angry accusations that came before the loneliness when they gave up on him. Once she was back on the road, he stormed into the house to get dressed, passing Tim on the stairs.

"Jethro, what's wrong? What happened?"

Before he could answer, a sound at the door caused him to spin around with a curse, ready to physically remove Diane, but it was Abby standing there.

"My car's making a funny noise, can I ride in with you guys?"

Gibbs rubbed his face in frustration. "Yeah, sure, Abby. Just let me get dressed."

When he disappeared upstairs, she turned to McGee. "What happened? Everything seemed fine last night, did you guys have a fight this morning?"

He forced himself to sound calm, not wanting to admit to her what his father had said to him. "No, we didn't have a fight."

"Then what..."

His father's words still echoing through his head, Tim shuddered. "Just don't, Abby, please."

It was a strange ride to the Yard that morning, as Abby sat in the back seat, watching the the men as they seemed to withdraw from each other. As soon as they arrived, she texted a 911 to Tony. He'd know what to do.

-NCIS-

Leon Vance was barely at his desk when his assistant rushed in, not even spending the time to activate the intercom. "Sir, you've got a call from the Attorney General's office. He said it was important."

Frowning, he picked up the call, listening closely. "Would you repeat that, please?" Finally he smiled in relief. "Thank you very much."

-NCIS-

Tony and Ziva arrived in the lab just as Abby was turning on the lights. "Abs, what the hell happened this morning?"

"I don't know, Tony." She dropped her bag just inside her office. "I told them I was leaving this morning – they didn't answer, but their alarm had just gone off and I heard the bed squeak. Then when I was driving home, my car started making a funny noise so I parked it and walked back. The front door was open, but I know I closed it when I left. Gibbs was really, really mad about something and Tim..."

Ziva had been listening closely. "What about McGee?"

"He looked shell shocked and just told me to leave it alone, but I don't even know what it was."

"They had too good of a weekend to be fighting. Something else must have happened. Come on." Tony started for the stairs, unwilling to wait for the elevator.

-NCIS-

Convinced that Tim must have heard Diane's rants, Gibbs wanted to get a few minutes alone with him, but the beginning of the shift meant that the elevator was crowded with people chatting about their own weekends. He tried to make eye contact, but Tim was staring at the floor as the elevator arrived at their destination.

For his part, Tim struggled to keep breathing steadily as his father's cruel words bounced around in his head, not understanding what had changed Jethro so much in the time it took to make a pot of coffee that they hadn't even had. The sounds of pounding feet forced him to look up as the rest of the team rushed towards them, but it was the booming voice of Director Vance that stopped all of them.

"It's over, Sutton's dead. Congratulations on a well-played operation, you two. You pulled it off admirably."

The silence lasted only a moment before chaos broke out.

"What?"

"An op? No way."

"It wasn't real?"

Gibbs only had a glance at McGee's heartbroken face before he was surrounded, but he didn't have a clue what to say.