Disclaimer: Of course NCIS… characters… and such belong to the powers that be & not ME!!! Story created for purely entertainment value.

You know the drill… I don't own it, but the story is all mine. The character of Kathleen, the 2nd Mrs. Gibbs, is complete fiction and has no connection to actual show history.

A/N: This is not the story I planning, but the one that evolved. I have not forgotten my poll request, but must answer to my muse. The dynamic with Kate, Tony, Tim in season 2 has so many sibling moments it begged to be creatively addressed and I felt up to the task. So, sit back, suspend belief and enjoy it as the fiction it's meant to be.

Warning: THIS STORY will CONTAIN NON-SEXUAL SPANKING; ABORT THE MISSION… DO NOT READ… TURN BACK NOW IF THIS ISN'T YOUR THING.

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Kathleen was leaving on an early flight the next morning. The final transition had to be made no matter how difficult it was going to be for them all. Jethro had picked up all of the heavy stuff. Books, pictures, awards, clothes, etc. had been boxed and put in the back of his truck the day before. First they thought taking the kids out to dinner was best, and then they both rapidly reconsidered when the thought of an outburst came to mind. It was best that this little exchange took place away from prying eyes.

Timothy was very quiet on the car ride. Usually going to his father's wasn't so traumatic. Sure things were really different from life with his mom or grandparents, but they weren't bad. His dad was interesting, nice, a little scary, but really patient and understanding. It was his siblings that kept him awake most nights. There was little he understood about girls or why they liked the things they did, but he enjoyed cooking with Kate and helping her out with projects. His big brother was about as far as he could get from understanding. He didn't get Tony's jokes, he didn't understand his obsession with sports, and he wondered exactly how he kept up with all his friends. Tim had two good friends that he was leaving behind. It wasn't as though Georgetown was far from his dad's place, but they wouldn't be in school together anymore. Just more changes the kid thought. He'd just have to deal with it.

The most important thing to remember, his mom reminded him often, was to be a good boy, to follow the rules, to not let Tony get him into trouble, to keep up with his school work, and mostly to remember that things were going to be different then he was used to at home. Actually there turned out to be lots of important things to remember. Mostly, he was going to have to learn to share for more than a couple of weekends a month.

Her heart was breaking a little too. She knew her ex-husband was capable, but this was her baby. Then she reminded herself how good this would be for the family. Yes, she did still think of them that way. Once Diane was out of the picture and there weren't any new step-mothers to contend with she worked on staying in better touch with Kate and Tony. On cases that ran late and long she would have them over to her place to help Jethro out. At some point they'd reached an understanding about her needs and his and how they'd both fallen short. The failure of the marriage however didn't have to be a failure to their children.

Pulling up behind his truck Kathleen steeled her nerves. It was always a brief moment of awkward when she first re-entered what had once been her home. Diane had made a lot of internal changes that she'd never allowed herself. Something about the house had always seemed like Shannon's and she felt wrong about altering that too much, when Jethro was at sea though his 3rd wife had no issues with boxing up the past and putting her own touches on the place when it became her home. Spending Jethro's money came a lot easier to her. She did have good taste, just very different from Shannon, Gibbs and her. Prime example that bloody red door, Kathleen couldn't fathom the inspiration for that monstrosity. What also amazed was why her ex hadn't changed it back.

"Mommy, are we going to get out of the car?" Her son cut through her reverie.

"Sure baby, just grab your back-pack and teddy."

"We could just leave… I mean I don't need… maybe…" What the boy was having a hard time articulating was that he didn't want to walk in the house holding a teddy bear. It just gave his brother ammunition.

"How about we just make sure to bring him in at bedtime?" Tim just nodded. Placing a hand on his shoulder Kathleen turned him to face her. "Timothy, this isn't a sleepover, you're going to be sharing a room with your brother. He's just going to have to get used to teddy. You just make sure and tell dad if he teases you."

"I know mommy. I just don't want to walk in holding him. Tony says nobody likes a whiner."

"Tony says a lot of things I'm sure. Let's go inside buddy."

They made there way up the double wide front steps.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

From the other side of the door Kate sat in the window seat waiting for the car to drive up. As soon as she saw the headlights she bounded for the kitchen. Her dad was putting the finishing touches on dinner while Tony was in the family room watching television. He'd recently found some cable station that showed hours and hours of old family sitcoms and became addicted. He was lucky it was summer because Gibbs had a strict policy about spending hours in front of the 'idiot-box' during school. Vacations, summers and weekends gave them all a chance to bend the rules a little more.

Kate, having announced the arrival was told to wait for the bell to ring. She had to have her dad or Tony check the peephole even though she was sure who it would be on the other side because she was too short to reach. Opening the front door without checking was like her dad's rule #4 or 5. He had plenty, whose numbers seemed to change with his memory. The last time she'd flung open a door her father got served with court papers from 'Aunt' Diane. Kate spent a very long early night in bed for that slip up. Peeking out the window again she wondered why they were sitting in the car so long.

Kate was extra excited since she had found a recipe for a chocolate cake in one of her mom's old cookbooks from Ladies Home Journal that she wanted to make with her brother after dinner. Her dad had actually found it a sweet idea that would hopefully take his youngest focus off his mother's imminent departure.

Finally, was the thought as the excited twelve year old heard the chimes. "Daddy… Tony they're here."

Gibbs came out of the kitchen. He could never figure why Kathleen refused to use the keys she had when she knew he was home. Diane had insisted on changing the locks, but after the divorce Jethro gave the new keys to Kathleen again. The only reason he even bothered with locking the door at all was the kids.

Opening the door, "Kath you can use the key." Jethro reminded for the millionth time.

"I just love having you answer my call." They kissed cheeks and exchanged a brief comfortable hug.

Then to his son, getting down to his level, "hey buddy I'm really glad you're here. I made your favorite dinner and Kate has a big surprise for you for desert." Another hug was exchanged and greetings ensued.

"Kathleen that's a great scarf I love it." Caitlin, the maturing young lady truly admired her former step-mother's style.

"Thanks Kate I got it when I was in Italy on assignment. I'll be sure to send you some fun ones back once I get settled. Now, where is that oldest one of ours Jethro?"

"Hey Tony get out here now unless you want to loose watching privileges for the rest of the week."

The teenager swaggered in barefoot with jeans and a t-shirt on. Getting cleaned up and changed for dinner apparently had slipped his mind. "Just wanted to catch the ending… hi-ya Kat… Kid," he added as an almost after thought.

"You better have a hug for me. I'm not going across the street kiddo." Kathleen held her arms open.

"Sorry Kat." He meant it too.

Gibbs hated when Tony called her Kat. He never allowed his children to forget their mother and certainly didn't want them calling anyone else mom, so he usually let them workout titles and labels with the ladies in his life. Tony had a special affinity for nicknames. He took to calling Diane Lady Di, a title which she relished. Kate wouldn't call her that for anything and had settled on 'Aunt' Diane. Gibbs thought whatever worked he could live with as he watched how good Kathleen was with them. It almost made the ex-Gunny wish they had made it work. But he didn't do regrets or looking back finding it a futile exercise.

As they all headed for the kitchen Tony reached for his little brother's back-pack. "Hey Squirt you're not leaving anytime soon so you can probably take this off."

"Oh yeah, I just forgot. Daddy can I go put this in my room?"

"Of course kiddo, this is your home Tim. Tony, take him up and this time get cleaned up for dinner… a clean shirt and something on your feet." Tony was leveled with a look.

"It's not like I slept in this or anything," was the mumbled, unacceptable remark.

The goal was not to frighten Tim, so Jethro let the older boy's sarcasm slide. He did stow it for comment later.

Kate had taken the lead while the boys took a detour. Kathleen leaned into her ex whispering, "I see he's doing much better these days."

"Kath, I'm trying here."

"Not placing blame Jethro. I get it's an adjustment, but…"

"He knows not to cross the line Kathleen you don't have to worry about Tony and Tim. This is normal brother stuff. You just grew up as an only child so you have no idea."

"Another of my short comings Jethro…" Oh, right, this is why they weren't still married thought Jethro as they crossed into the kitchen.

Tony and Tim headed up with Tony dropping this pearl of wisdom on the 8-year-old. "Girls say daddy Timmy boys say dad." Then the lanky teen, who was all legs, walked ahead like nothing.

Once in the room Tim did admire the space a lot. He wished he could learn to build things the way his dad could. The bunk-beds scared him a little, but his father promised to figure out another configuration for both beds to come down when he had more time. For now Tony was stuck on top. It was another thorn in his side. He watched his big brother change and then followed the order that it was time to get back down to the meal.

"Dad made spaghetti and meatballs for you."

"Great, that's my favorite thing he makes. What's yours Tony?"

"Anything without tomato sauce Squirt, since I'm allergic. But hey, you eat up and enjoy I love plain pasta. The bread and salad will fill me just fine." Tony added clapping the little on the back… a heckling laugh in his throat. He wanted to resist the urge to pick at the kid, really he did, but he just didn't see how he was going to be able to help it.

Timothy was practically swallowing his own tongue when they entered the kitchen. The table was set not only for dinner, but for his new life.