McGee stood outside Gibbs' front door nervous and not entirely sure what to expect. He had never been in the basement for a social call. He had never felt it necessary to pour his heart out to Gibbs, to to seek his fatherly advice. Gibbs often reminded Tim of his own father, and if they were as much alike as he thought, Gibbs would not put much credence on his personal concerns. He tried to push that thought aside as he actually entered the house. He wished he could have just talked to Gibbs in the bullpen, but there were some things that could not be discussed at work.

McGee descended the stairs cautiously, hoping that Gibbs wouldn't mind the intrusion. Gibbs was working on his still ambiguous project, making some measurements when his head popped up to see who had come to visit him.

"Hey, Boss," McGee said carefully.

"McGee," he replied, surprised, "What're you doing here?"

"Is this...not a good time?"

"No, it's a fine time, you know my door's always open for you guys. I just wasn't expecting you."

"I should have told you I was coming."

"No, McGee. I knew someone was coming. I just wasn't expecting you."

"Oh."

Gibbs nodded. He'd been expecting Ziva with the past few days she'd had, but McGee was a welcome change. With the look McGee was giving him, he knew the visit was very much needed.

"You haven't made a habit of coming to see me as much as the others."

"I know. I guess I just...didn't need it."

"Until now."

McGee nodded.

"Must be important."

"It is," McGee said, seriously.

"Well do you want to talk about it, or do you want a drink first?"

"I...I don't think I should be drinking for this."

"Okay," Gibbs said, walking around his table to the work bench. He motioned to one of the two chairs sitting next to the bench. "Well then pull up a chair."

McGee grabbed one of the chairs and sat quickly, Gibbs taking the other. McGee was fidgeting slightly, not sure at all where to put his hands. Gibbs took a breath and waited just a moment before speaking, knowing McGee would need some coaxing.

"You nervous?" Gibbs asked.

"Kind of, yeah."

Gibbs smiled, "I thought you'd outgrown that, Tim."

"I thought I had too, but this is a special circumstance."

Gibbs waited for a moment while McGee stared down at his hands, thinking. Gibbs watched him closely as he brought his thoughts together. This was not the McGee he'd come to know. He was nervous, unsure as he'd been in his probie days. He looked like he used to when he was about to tell Gibbs something that he knew would upset him.

"You know Abby better than anyone, right?" McGee asked.

Gibbs did a slight double take, taken aback at the question. "Not as well as you do," he answered honestly.

"I don't think so."

"Why's that?"

"You've known her longer than I have. And she opens up to you, you know?"

"She does, sometimes. She doesn't talk to you?" He asked as he poured himself a drink.

"She does, but not about anything that matters, lately."

"Something going on with you two?" Gibbs asked casually.

"I don't know anymore."

"Have you two been seeing each other?"

"Sort of. It's been on-again off-again, but we're not seeing other people." If Gibbs was shocked, he didn't show it.

"On again off again on whose part?"

"Abby's."

"And you're getting frustrated."

"Yeah. It's like...we both know that there's something there. There always has been. And since the bombing, it seemed like maybe we could finally do something about it, you know? But sometimes she's into it, and other times she's keeping me at arm's length, and I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what she wants, and I don't know what she wants from me...I just...I feel like nothing I do is going to make her happy."

Gibbs was slightly stunned. All this time, McGee had been flying under the radar with his affections for Abby. Gibbs had some idea that the pair still had feelings for one another, but McGee's longing was far less palpable than Tony's. He supposed it was because Abby was so affectionate. He could touch her, hug her, comfort her when she needed it. He wasn't sure if that made Tim's struggle easier or even more difficult.

"I just feel kind of hopeless, you know? Like she's going to lead me on until she can find someone better," he shrugged.

"There is no one better, Tim. Rest assured of that."

McGee smiled sadly. "I can't be that guy, anymore. I can't be the fall back."

It sounded as though he were giving a break-up speech, but instead of talking to Abby, he was talking to her surrogate father. Everything about the situation should have been horribly awkward and nerve wracking, but Gibbs remained cool as a cucumber. His presence was calming, and his words reassuring. There was no judgement in his eyes, only empathy.

"You deserve better than that, McGee. You deserve someone who's going to treat you well, and give you something back. If she can't do that, it might be time to put all your cards on the table, or move on."

"That's what Sarah said. She said that I have to assert what I want, and if that's not what she wants...I have to let go," he said, his voice breaking slightly at even the possibility. He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Do you know...has she ever really been able to commit to anyone?" he asked, unsure.

"Is that what you want from her?" Gibbs asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah. Not necessarily a life commitment, but some sign she actually wants this would be nice."

"Maybe you need to tell her that."

"I just don't want to do anything to upset her. I know she's your favorite."

Gibbs shook his head. "You need to worry about you, McGee. I'll worry about her."

"I can't just not worry about her."

Gibbs smiled sadly, " I know. That's what makes it so rough."

McGee nodded solemnly. "I didn't understand rule 12 before, Boss, but I get it now. This is the kind of crap you wanted to keep from happening."

Gibbs sighed, taking another swig, "The thing about the rules, is that they're mine, McGee. They don't have to be yours. I make a point to teach them to you because it's how I live my life...but there has to come a time that you take what I teach you, and make your own rules."

McGee's eyes grew wide, not entirely sure what Gibbs was telling him to do.

"Tim, you've got to stop worrying about pissing me off." McGee's eyes widened once again. "I've been here to guide you, but this is your life. You have to do what makes you happy, no matter what I think."

McGee nodded succinctly. "Okay, boss."

"Okay," he paused "You wanna stay for a drink?"

"Thanks, but I think there's somewhere I need to be," McGee responded, getting up from his chair.

"Alright," Gibbs said with a smirk.

Before McGee could go any further, Gibbs clapped a hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly. He looked him straight in the eyes, making sure Tim truly felt the words he needed to say. "I'm proud of you, kid," he said, the smirk never leaving his face.

"Thank you, Boss," voice bursting with pride and sincerity.

Gibbs tipped his chin to the stairs, "Get outta here."

McGee was just at the stairs before he turned back to Gibbs, who was halfway back to work on his project.

"Gibbs, seriously...thank you for everything."

He didn't wait for acknowledgement before turning to leave again.

As Gibbs set back to work he said to the now empty basement,"Anytime, McGee. Anytime."

.