HI, Do Not Own NCIS

Thanks for all the reviews and all. I appreciate it. Hope you are all having a great summer!

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Tim sat on the table in the exam room, as Jenny dressed him into clothes that Kate had bought and brought. Kate had guessed, pretty close to his size.

Jenny tugged an oversize sweatshirt over Tim's head, "peek-a-boo!" Tim belly-laughed as he stuck his finger in his mouth, chewing on it. "Are you getting some new teeth in there, little man?" Tim continued to laugh as Jenny rolled up the long sleeves that hung over his hands.

Kate and Gibbs huddled in a corner of the exam room as they watched Tim and Jenny, keeping their voices low as they discussed Tim's case. Kate was giving Gibbs pointers and suggestions on how he should handle the situation with Tim and what to expect from him. "Read through the pamphlets I gave you," Kate motioned to the accumulation of information in Gibbs' hand. Gibbs began to scan one of them, grimacing.

"He is very comfortable with you Gibbs, he is going to listen to you the best. Now, Tim is going to have a tough time handling this, but you have had some experience with this kind of thing in the past through Tony."

"Kate, it says here I should do my best to keep his mother's memories alive. How can I do that when I have never met the woman? And how do we know if he even wants to keep any of those memories alive?"

"Follow his lead; if he wants to talk about her, by all means let him. It will be tough for him, since he is so young and will have trouble finding the words. Help him if you can, make sure to listen, intently. After witnessing his knowledge of cars I have a feeling it won't be...too difficult. He seems to be one smart cookie." Gibbs agreed with a grunt.

"He's likely to do a lot of acting out; tantrums, even. He may be, very needy and want to be held a lot. He may cry a lot."

Gibbs was sighing as he watched Tim giggle with Jenny, "Are you sure you are up for this Gibbs? We can appoint him to a different family if this is something-"

Gibbs locked his eyes on Kate's. "You're damn, well sure I'm up for this."

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear." Kate said smiling, gently punching his arm.

Gibbs smiled admiring Kate's tactics.

"If you have any questions, call me, any time, day or night. I will be heading over to Tim's house to get what I can that belongs to him; clothes, toys, photographs, baby dishes. I'll have them dropped off later today. I will make sure you get the foster care subsidy within the next few days, as soon as I determine the amount."

"Now...let's see. As far as we know he has no preexisting medical conditions, which is a plus. Oh, and I have a daycare in mind-"

"I could have my father watch him for a while."
"No, I think we should just start him off from day one, at the center. Now, don't get me wrong, I see where you are coming from. It seems like a good idea to coddle him and ease him in slowly. But, he would only get used to your father then to only have to begin all over again at the daycare. New place, new routine, yada, yadda.."
"I get ya."

"Okay. I say we have a talk with Tim then get you guys outta here. How do you think Tony will handle this? Having to share his father with someone outta be tough for him."
"He's actually been asking for a little brother. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? What if Tim's father shows up?"

"Listen, Tim's stay with you could be very short. But, usually, if we do not locate the parent within the first few weeks, chances are highly unlikely we ever will."

Gibbs nodded.

"Why? Do you think this could become permanent?" Kate raised her eyebrows as she tilted her head towards Gibbs.

"Hey, if he's got no one." Gibbs shrugged.

Kate nodded appreciating his growing concern for the boy. She stepped up to Tim, leaning in tenderly, placing her hand on his knee.

"Guess what Timmy, you get to go home with Gibbs, would you like that, honey?"

Tim was apprehensive as he nodded, squeezing his teddy bear, tightly. "But, where's mama? Are we going to see her dare?"

Gibbs stepped next to Kate, touching her arm, "Is it okay if me and Tim have a talk?"

"Oh, sure. Jenny and I will go over his chart while you both talk."

Gibbs scooped Tim up in his arms snuggling him close, then sat back in the chair nearby. "Tim, has anyone ever told you about Heaven?"
"Yus. My grandpa Mitch went dare. " Tim looked at his teddy bear closely then hugged it. "I don't see'm no more."

"Well, Tim your mom is there, now, too. She was very sick. Not like a cold, but her body was too weak to go on."

Tim looked at Gibbs with tearful eyes. He started to sob as he talked, his head moving back and forth. "I can't see her no more?" Tim tried to wipe away the tears, freely flowing from his eyes, but gave up, hugging his bear, tightly to his chest, crying into its fur. "But, who will hug me, now?"

Gibbs pulled Tim close then cleared his throat, whispering in his ear. "I will, Tim. I will hug you."

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Gibbs stood holding Tim, as Tim tiredly leaned against his shoulder. He was all cried out; for the time being.

"Oh, Tim, honey..." Tim responded to Kate with an involuntary, shuddering inhale as she rubbed his arm. Jenny and Kate surrounded them consoling Tim and offering Gibbs support.

"I'll call you soon, Gibbs. And, Timmy... take care, sweetheart. You're a strong little boy." Kate ruffled his hair then waved good-bye to the small group.

Gibbs turned his attention to Jenny, giving her a small smile then, repeatedly looking at the floor. "I want to thank you for all you've done for us. You are a credit to the hospital-"

"Thank you, Jethro. I've wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember. This is my life."
"It's good when you are able to follow your passion."

Gibbs stood admiring Jenny as she fidgeted, growing uncomfortable."Well, I should really get-"

"Now, you're sure you don't need a ride home?"
"Like I said, my sister is picking me up. We are going to her place to watch a few movies." Jenny yawned, then leaned forward to wipe the last vestiges of tears off of Tim's cheek. "But, I have a feeling I won't get past the beginning credits."

Gibbs let out a huff, feeling awkward, with a loss of words. "Well, I think you have an idea what I'll be doing." Gibbs shrugged. "Jenny, I, uh, um, thanks for everything."

"You're welcome, Jethro. Bye, Timmy."

Jenny stroked his leg as Tim's swollen, red eyes closed. "Bye, Junny," he whispered.

Jenny proceeded to the door. Gibbs nervously fidgeted with Tim, feeling the weight of him grow limp as he fell asleep. This was probably the roughest day of this kid's life. He had to get him home and settled in. Introducing Tim to Tony would be another large feat the toddler would have to undertake in one, very long day. Gibbs had no idea what to expect when the two of them would first meet, but was grateful Tony had already been wishing for a little brother for a long time.

Gibbs felt a deep agitation grow in the pit of his stomach as he watched Jenny leave. He knew it would be wrong not to get her number or at least try. Hell, she may already be taken, someone as beautiful; not just on a physical level, as her. Gibbs knew, in his heart that she was special and if he let her walk away without at least an attempt to see her again, he would be making one of the worst mistakes in his life.

Gibbs grabbed their belongings from the chair and walked to the door not far behind Jenny as she exited the lobby.

"Goodnight Agent Gibbs, take care!" The receptionist and some nurses standing by the desk yelled, kindly.

"Good evening, ladies."

He trotted past, waving then picked up speed once in the foyer. Gibbs spotted the car seat Kate left for Tim sitting on the ground by his car. Jenny was nearing a car that must have been her sister. "Oh, would you look at that?! I sure hope I remember how to buckle one of those into my...car! The baby car seats are so much more different than the one I have to deal with for larger children."

Jenny heard Gibbs' loud voice as she put her fist against her hip to turn and give him a look. "You have got to be kidding me."

"What? Its been a while-"
Jenny huffed exasperated. "Oh, come help me...because I don't know how to ask this woman... out on a date... so I'll just... keep procrastinating."

Gibbs blushed, wishing he could cover up his embarrassment so, just laughed. "Yeah, I panicked when I saw you leaving. Sorry."

Jenny broke into a smile.

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Gibbs carried Tim through the door of his house as Tim awoke, blinking then, clinging to Gibbs when he realized he was in a new place. "This is where you will be staying buddy." Tony ran to meet them, jumping up and down, "Put him down dad, then we can play!"

Jackson followed behind Tony, placing his hands on Tony's shoulders. "Simmer down, son. Let him settle in and get accustomed to his surroundings."

"He can do dat while he's playin'." Tony hopped and waved his hands, motioning for Gibbs to release Tim.

"He was just sleeping, Tony," Gibbs replied, gently.

Tim stuck his thumb in his mouth studying Tony from the safety of Gibbs' arms. Gibbs cautiously, attempted to set Tim on the floor but, Tim would have none of that; his arms attached around the man's neck, tightly. "No, Gibbs, stay wid me, pease."

Tony moved forward, tugging on Tim's cookie monster slipper. "It's okay, Tim. We can play and... stuff."

Tim shook his head adamantly. "No. Gibbs." Tim nestled his face into Gibbs' neck.

Gibbs could see the instant feeling of rejection cloud over Tony's expression, as his arms crossed in front of his chest. Tony stared at the floor as his foot tapped it. "He doesn't like me dad." He pumped a fist downward, angry.

Gibbs pulled up a chair then pulled Tony close. Tim kept his back to Tony clinging to Gibbs. "Tony, you have to understand, it's not that he doesn't like you, this is going to be tough for him. He has had a really," Gibbs made sure to emphasize real, to get his point across for Tony, "really tough day. So I am going to need a lot of help from you so he can ease his way into a routine and get to know us better. Now, what do you say we start off by watching a movie? And I can order us a pizza for dinner."

"Yeah, we could watch Alladin!" Tony tapped Tim's back. "Have you ever seen that one, Tim?" Tim slowly peeked at Tony, shaking his head.

"It's about a big, blue, genie guy and there's a little monkey. And a tiger, hey, did you ever go to the zoo, Tim? They have tigers there."

"Are you stayin', dad?" Gibbs looked at Jackson.

"You kiddin'. I wouldn't miss a chance to get to know Tim better." Jackson winked at Tim.