Chapter – 03 – My Sons

Gibb sat across from his sons and said as gently as he could. "Palmer I need to tell you something. I found out last night that you and Tim are my biological sons." He set the papers from the night before in front of Palmer.

Palmer read the papers then looked at Tim with a raised eyebrow and said with a smirk. "Your five years older than me, which makes you the big brother. Does this mean I get to do all the things to you annoying little brothers do and get away with it?"

Tim smirked back as he wrapped an arm around his little brother's shoulders and said. "If you call never being able to sit again, getting away with it. Sure little brother."

Palmer pouted then smirked as he said. "Aunt Penny will protect me."

Tim laughed and said with a smile. "How did that work for you last time Jay?"

Palmer pouted then looked up startled when Gibbs cleared his throat. He blushed and said. "Sorry Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs frowned but then said. "You don't seem shocked. Why is that Palmer?"

Palmer leaned into Tim, who then glared at Gibbs.

Gibbs glared right back and said. "Palmer, Explain now."

Palmer fidgeted then said. "I've known you and Director Shepard were my biological parents for a while now."

Both Tim and Gibbs gasped in shock.

Palmer hung his head and moved away from Tim's side. He said quietly but both men heard it plain as day. "Director Shepard's autopsy was done at NCIS and Dr. Mallard insisted on doing it alone. At the time, I thought he was being considerate since he knew I had a great deal of respect for her even though I had not worked with her long. He asked me to go work in my office and close the door. However, as he often does when working. He forgot about me and forgot I could hear every word he says whether my office door is opened or closed. Everyone knows Dr. Mallard talks to the bodies he works on. Well about a half hour later, I heard him tell her how proud she and Jethro would be of their son as he was graduating early from medical school. I thought this odd, as so was I. This went on for a while Dr. Mallard calling Director Shepard, Jenny and talking about a man named Jethro and their son. As he worked, he said several different things that confused me, as they were things I had in common with this son. That is until to my shock I heard him say my name and call me their son. I know I am adopted, I have known all my life. My father died when I was five and it was just mom and me, we had no secrets from each other. I did not say anything to anybody as I still did not know who this Jethro was or if I misunderstood. I began searching for my birth parents. I started the search by going through my mom's old papers. It took me a few days to get through them all; mom was a pack rat and kept everything. Nevertheless, I finally found my adoption papers. I was born on March 13 at 3:18 am to Jenifer Maria Shepard she named me Samuel Jackson Gibbs and listed the father as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. When I was adopted my parents changed my name to James Alexander Palmer Jr. after my dad."

Tim pulled Jay into his side and rubbed his back as he said. "Why didn't you say anything Jay? I would have helped you search."

Palmer leaned into Tim accepting the comfort offered. He said quietly. "Didn't think anyone would believe me, I mean come on Tim. If I had told you, would you believe me? Papers can be forged; I did not want to go through that. So I didn't say anything and saved myself the heartache."

Tim glared down at his little brother and gave a sharp smack to his bottom.

Palmer gasped and tried to move away not knowing if more was coming but knowing he was in trouble. He knew he was being foolish all this time hiding it from Tim and their partners. Nevertheless, he was scared they would not believe him and laugh at him.

Tim held him to his side until he stopped squirming and then rubbed his back as he said. "Papers or not James Alexander, you were my best friend and little brother before I knew we shared a father and nothing has changed now that we know we do. I will always believe you and have your back. Never hide anything from me again, ok. How can I help or protect you if you hide things from me?"

Palmer's eyes teared up and he hugged Tim whispering he was sorry. He smiled and then gulped when Tim whispered back it was ok and they would talk later.

Gibbs sat next to Palmer and gently pulled him in a hug, preparing himself for the young man to fight. However, he was pleasantly surprised when he latched on and hugged him back.

Tim watched Jay hug Gibbs for the first time and smiled at the surprised look on Gibbs face. He said smiling. "Jay is a cuddle bug. Mad, Sad, Scared, or Happy rub or scratch his back and let him latch on and he's in heaven."

Palmer blushed and tried to move away from Gibbs.

Gibbs chuckled and pulled him in closer as he rubbed his back. He said with fondness in his voice. "Your mother was the same way."

Palmer froze at first but then relaxed as he looked up at Gibbs and said in a soft voice. "Why did she give me up?"

Gibbs sighed and got more comfortable on the couch Palmer still cuddled in his side. Gibbs fought for the words but Tim answered for him.

"Jay from what I've known of Jenifer Shepard in the time we worked together. She was a professional that put her career first and her personal life second, anything that got in the way of her way up the latter she did not tolerate. As much as she loved Gibbs, when he asked her to marry him, she said no. From what I heard, she said a family would make her hard to take seriously in the professional world." Tim said as gently as he could but he would not lie to his brother even if it spared his feeling.

Palmer nodded and looked up at Gibbs as he said. "And you?"

Gibbs hugged his youngest son to him and said. "I didn't know. I swear I didn't know she was pregnant when she left me, if I did. I would have fought to keep you and raised you myself."

Palmer nodded and moved away so he could look Gibbs in the eye as he said. "I'm scared of you. I don't want to be but I am."

Gibbs stayed where he was and nodded then said. "We can work on that together son the three of us. I know we won't be a family overnight but I have both my sons back and I want to get to know you both and have you get to know me and your grandfather."

Tim and Palmer smiled and nodded their agreement.

Gibbs smiled and said. "But for now it's story time. Who is Aunt Penny? And how did it not work out?"

Palmer pouted and blushed as Tim laughed.