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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"Rise and shine small fry!" Tony hopped down from the top bunk landing directly on his brother's perpendicular one. After ten days in the room with Tony, however, Tim became a wiz at curling into a sleep ball that kept him out of the line of fire from his brother's ginormous feet.

Flicking the lights on Tony proceeded to the bathroom with more bounce in his step then he had in his heart. He had found out that most of his buddies were going to the Horror-Fest down at the multi-plex later in the afternoon and there was pretty much no way he was going to be allowed. Even when he barely hinted at the possibility of going the idea was shot down by his ex-Marine father.

*****Quick-Flash*****

"So Timmy what's your favorite scary movie?" Tony asked incredulously.

Gibbs just eyed his oldest.

"I don't have one. I'm not allowed to watch scary movies."

"Well, dads are different then moms maybe now…"

"No," was the curt response to an unasked question. Kate sniggered into her hand.

"I didn't even ask anything." For some reason Tim was on the receiving end of the scowl not their father.

"And you're not going to either. Eat your dinner."

Tony couldn't figure if his dad knew about the movie-fest or if he was being shot down for another reason, but he was annoyed with his little brother regardless.

*****End Quick-Flash*****

"You're still in the bed? Move it kid I don't want to waste any daylight."

Timothy was sitting up in his bed watching his brother pull clothes from the dresser. Tony was being mostly nice but he knew it must've only been because his dad had made it an order. A small part of him was looking forward to the day out together. Another part of him was nervous about being alone with teenager all day. Trying to shove 'teddy' further away from his grasp behind his pillows Tim scooted closer to the beds edge to get off.

"You don't have to hide that from me kid. I used to sleep with a stuffed thingy too. I think your mom actually gave it to me." He never turned around or made eye contact but his voice was slightly reassuring. He'd watched the kid play hide the bear for over a week now. Listened to him toss and turn until he was sure Tony was on the top bunk for the night and not going to see him snuggled up with his overstuffed caramel colored big eyed plush friend.

"Tony you had a 'teddy'?" Well, this was a nice turn of events for the little guy.

"Of course I was MUCH younger than you," with that he left the room again for a shower.

There was a stream of consciousness that was hard for an almost 9-year-old to process. Poor kid didn't know if the conversation meant his brother thought he was a baby or not for sleeping with 'teddy'. Whatever was the conclusion he reached making his way to his dad's bedroom down the hall. He passed Kate's closed door. Knocking first Tim turned the knob and went in. The shower was already running. He wondered if he would ever like to get up early like his dad.

Climbing onto the bed he took the cell phone from the charger and hit the number four key to speed dial his mom. It was the middle of the day in Rome and he liked to speak to her at the start of his day. Punching in all of the numbers meant always having to have the paper with him or asking for help, so his parents programmed it into his dad's phone the night Kathleen left. Most mornings he came in while the early rising Special Agent showered and was done before he came out. His timing must have been off this morning though, because as he sat chatting with his mom he felt his father come up behind him and kiss him on top of his head. Maybe he was late or taking too long.

"Tell your mom good morning."

"Daddy said good morning… yes, ma'am I'll remember… I don't know yet… maybe the park… alright… I love you too mommy… oh, okay." Reaching up toward his dad the youngest Gibbs added, "She wants to talk to you."

"Okay, Sport go get ready."

"Morning Kath… yeah, they're going to spend the day together… I'm working… no she has plans… what's with the third degree Kath? I'm not worried… nothing I can do about that… you can always come back… I know you did and now it's my turn so let me deal with it! I'm not doing this Kath… fine, I'll make sure he does." Closing the flip phone Jethro never waited for a goodbye.

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

"Bye daddy," Kate was saying as she almost left the house to get in her friend Stacey's mother's car. "Oh, can I stay at Stacey's for dinner?"

"Call and check in later and I'll let you know." She was gone. "Boys let's go I'll drop you on my way to the Navy Yard."

"No need dad Timmy and I are gonna ride our bikes."

His gaze shifted between his boys. Tony could go on his bike for hours. The kid had the physical ability plus enough social and street smarts. Timothy on the other hand probably hadn't gone further then his grandparents circular driveway or the park near Kathleen's condo. He needed to trust them though giving Tony the chance to step up.

"You okay with riding back and forth to the park Tim?"

Stealing a glance at his brother the 4th grader puffed up his chest a little, looked his dad in the eyes and answered. "Yes I can do it."

"Alright, but you wear all your gear. Go get it." As soon as Tim took off for the back porch Jethro started issuing orders to his oldest. "You watch him the way I watch you."

"You want the kid to have some fun don't you? Right, eagle eye observation… got it."

"I'm not in the field today; just catching up on some paperwork. You are back in this house by 5 o'clock… not a minute later. Make sure you have your money and your phone. The minute he wants to come home you bring him."

"What do you think I'm going to do to him?"

Anthony David Gibbs got fixed with a stare that could melt ice.

"We're going to the park, and then to Jake's… his mom's making burgers, maybe some video games and home."

"I'll get pizza for dinner."

"You know my favorite kind big guy."

The door closed on his father and when Tony turned around he was face-to-face with a fully suited Timothy Michael Gibbs who really did resemble a robo-nerd. The boy had on elbow pads, knee pads, a helmet, and gloves with no fingers. It was all the teen could do not to explode with laughter. Even he knew that would be too harsh undoubtedly ending the day outing before it got started.

"Well, okay then don't you just look ready to burn rubber. Let's go kid."

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

If anyone were to ask him Anthony David Gibbs would deny it vehemently. There was no way he was enjoying his little brother. Were his buddies really taking to the kid? It was all a little weird for him. Oddly enough the kid had a lot in common with the older boys. He loved video games and he was good at them. Most of the twelve to fourteen year olds hadn't even seen some of the levels the kid had been to. Sure there were some initial giggles when they showed up at the park and the kid looked like a rubber-maid preschooler with all his gear on. Then there were the baseball and basketball mishaps. Tony still didn't know how he was going to explain the bruise, which he was positive would show up, on Timmy's arm. All he could think was thank God it wasn't his face and that nothing got broken. Tony had not underestimated the kid's lack of sports ability.

Jake's mother had served up an outstanding lunch to the six boys her son brought home then proceeded to dote on Tim, the youngest, for the rest of the afternoon. Presently he was in the kitchen helping her load cookies on the tray for the boys sprawled around her television playing games.

"Tim, honey just set it on the table. Jake I'm going to grams are you and your friends staying in the rest of the day?" Mrs. Sumpter inquired.

When he told her they were going back to Tony's to help Special Agent Gibbs with his boat Tim's head shot up. He didn't remember his dad or Tony mentioning anything like that happening. The look his brother tossed him told him that moment was not the one to start asking questions.

As soon as the coast was clear the boys started putting things away so they could get to the multi-plex in time for the one o'clock show. Tim kept hanging back waiting for a good time to ask his big brother exactly what the heck was going on. Finally, as Jake was locking up and the others were getting on their bikes Tim got his opening. He didn't want to sound like a baby or a chicken since the boys really seemed to like him, but he didn't have a good feeling about lying to Mrs. Sumpter or about whatever it was they were about to do.

"Tony are we going home?"

"No."

"Then where are we going?"

"To the movies kid," not wanting to be overly impatient Tony's responses still read as curt and cross.

"Does daddy know?" Tim's tummy was doing that floppy thing again.

"Its dad kid and no he doesn't, does it matter? I'm not going to tell him and neither are you, right? Besides as long as we're back by five it won't matter."

"I guess not… I mean, no I won't. Tony what are we going to see?"

"Nothing if we keep talking instead of riding. Now hop on. It's too far for you to ride your own bike." Tim approached.

"Uh-uh, you still gotta wear the head gear. I will not be able to explain a brain splat."

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

Gibbs had been so wrapped up in reports and back logged paperwork he had barely squeezed in lunch. Mike Franks liked meticulous reports and would send an agent of his back for multiple revisions. After being taken to task four times for one report Gibbs started coming in on his day off or late at night to focus without his boss' hovering.

Kate had called to check in twice already, but hours went by when he realized he still hadn't heard from his boys. Perhaps there wasn't enough of an impression made on his oldest to check-in. Right before panic and fury took up residence in his gut his cell went off.

"Gibbs… speak… Tony did you forget the meaning of checking in… I don't care about it being your turn on some game… where's your brother… that's good… sounds like it hasn't been too bad… right, just remember… yeah, I will… not a minute after five." Disconnecting the call he sipped his coffee and sighed in relief that at least things were going well.

The boys were going to keep hanging at the Sumpter's and be home for dinner. Maybe this could be the night were everything went smoothly in the house.

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

"Problem Tony-D we can't get a ticket for the squirt. Big Margie is tearing them and she'll never let him pass. The movie is PG-13. No adult… no Timmy. Looks like you're sitting this one out." Jake announced.

"I don't think so." Was Tony's answer with a devilish grin tacked on for good measure, "just get mine and I'll get the kid inside," handing his friend the ticket money Tony looked at his stub to see which number theatre they were going in.

As the others filed in the front door Tony ushered his brother to the outside entrance to theatre eight.

"Alright big guy you're going to wait right outside this door and don't move. I'll open it for you when I get inside. I'll be about five minutes… tops."

Panic didn't begin to describe what was running through young Timothy's body at the moment. "Tony are you sure? You can't take long okay."

"Hey, it's been a good day kid let's not ruin it with you whining and babying-out on me. Just hang tight and I'll be opening this door for you any second. Whatever you do don't knock or start making noise."

Knocking or making noise… none of those things came into the kids mind. His brain and body were consumed with shaking terror. It was still light out, but Tim was spooked about standing in the back of the theatre alone and even more about watching a Vampire movie. He wasn't sure if it would be worse to be left out of this part of the fun or included.

"Okay Tony I'll wait right here but just for five minutes."

Ruffling his hair the teen took off on his lanky sprinter legs trying to get back to his brother in less than five.

He nearly wet himself when he got into the theatre. His friends were huddled in the center row and straight across from them was the door where his little brother was probably shaking like a leaf on the other side. What made the blood drain from his body was the security guard on his side of the door making any attempts at retrieving Timmy almost impossible.

Sliding into his seat as the house lights faded to black and the screen came alive with previews Tony gulped. He was trapped. The only thing he could pray for was that the rent-a-cop would leave as the show got underway, so much for planning.

TBC