I Do Not Own NCIS

Lol! Earthdargon I'd say you are correct in reference to the Jimmy assumption

Danks for all the beautiful reviews!

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The next few weeks went by smoothly, without anymore predicaments. Gibbs asked his father to stay with them to help with Tim, and Jackson was more than happy to get one of his employees to cover for him at the store. Gibbs thought it was best for Tim to stay at home and rest up before starting daycare, to avoid the risk of getting sick. They hadn't heard a deep-sounding cough from him even once, since the night Ducky came to check him out and Gibbs was hoping to keep it that way. Gibbs was pleased just to know that Tim would be able to sleep in, eat three good, square meals a day and have as much down time he needed to grieve and settle in to his new home. He looked more and more healthier each day and his confidence slowly grew as he began to feel more comfortable around Gibbs and Tony.

Tim still experienced frequent nightmares but was able to sleep in the next morning to catch up on the sleep he lost. But, as for Tony and himself it was a different story. Gibbs would rise from a deep sleep to rock Tim until he nodded off, again, and sometimes Tony would wake up to Tim's cries and have trouble falling back to sleep. They were their own little support group, reminding each other what Tim was going through and telling themselves it would eventually get better as the circles under their eyes grew darker with time.

Gibbs discussed the idea with Kate to keep Tim home, even though she had suggested he start daycare as soon as possible. She agreed Gibbs was making a wise choice. Tim would be exposed to a lot of germs in a daycare setting and she found it disconcerting if he was to attend feeling so run down.

Since Gibbs' and Jenny's first date, they had made a habit of talking on the phone every night, once Gibbs got the boys off to bed. Gibbs loved learning everything about Jenny, from her favorite television programs to the name of a long lost aunt living out in Texas she hadn't seen since she was five. Gibbs had never had these feelings with another woman like he was experiencing with Jenny; he found the excitement of getting to know her, invigorating and enjoyable. He especially loved her sense of humor and admired the love that just seemed to pour out of her.

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It was Saturday, early afternoon and Gibbs had planned a date with Jenny to spend at the fair. Mike Franks had agreed to babysit, and Tony was looking forward to it. Tony tried to convince Tim that he was a real fun guy and they could play army and catch fireflies in the backyard when the sun set. Gibbs felt bad, reminding Tony that it was too cool, now for fireflies; the beginnings of autumn, settling in.

Gibbs was appreciative that Mike agreed to come early so that Tim would have some time to get to know him better. He could already detect a reluctance in his demeanor.

The doorbell rang and Tony tramped through the house, as he yelled. "I'll get it! I'll get it! I'll get it! Uncle, Mike! Uncle Mike!"

Tim stayed behind with Gibbs in the kitchen, clinging to his leg. He heard Mike's loud voice boom through the house as he looked up to Gibbs beginning to cry. "No, Stay with Gibb. Pease!" He moved in front of him and began to hop, reaching for him, "Gibb, stay wid me!" Gibbs' heart twisted as he picked him up. Tim immediately wrapped his arms around his neck with a tight hold.

He gently whispered in the boy's ear to get his attention through the crying. "How about we go meet Mike. Give him a chance, Tim."

Tim shook his head earnestly. "No, no, no, want Gibb to be home wid me."

Gibbs placed Tim on the floor, but Tim latched onto him making it difficult to stand as he tugged on his neck. "It's okay, Timmy. Mike's a good guy."

Mike walked into the room and kneeled down to Tim. "Hey, there. You must be Tim."

Tim walked up to Mike and gave him a gentle shove, then stepped back to keep his distance from the strange man, from the safety of Gibbs' legs. He immediately regretted his action, as he tugged on his bottom lip, his eyes widening with fear.

"Tim?" Gibbs looked down at him, confused.

Tim, seeing the disappointment in Gibbs' expression, started to cry intensely. "Sowery!" Tim pointed to Mike then his fingers clumsily brushed his own cheeks. Mike and Gibbs looked at each other confused. Gibbs lifted Tim looking into his face. "What's wrong chief?"

Tony watched Tim's actions as he kept brushing his fingers over his face whenever his eyes were on Mike.

"Dad, I think Tim is scared of Uncle Mike's beard."

Gibbs realized Mike had a slight beard growing in that he hadn't bothered to shave for a week or so. "Oh,Tim. Buddy, it's okay."

Gibbs let Tim cry into his shoulder. Tim burrowed deeper, nestling his face into Gibbs neck, unable to get close enough.

"Sorry about that. It hadn't occurred to me that, that could be a problem." Mike frowned.

"That's okay, Mike. How could we have known? He seems to be associating you with Steve. I'll go walk with him and see if I can get him to calm down."

Mike grabbed Gibbs' arm before he turned to leave. "Probie, I have an idea. I have my go-bag out in the car...Tony could you help me in the bathroom?"

Gibbs looked at his good friend's expression, quickly understanding what his plan was.

Mike nodded to Tony then walked towards the front door, on a mission.

"Mike?"

"Yeah Jethro?"

"Thanks."

"Hey, it's the least I can do, Jethro. We won't give up on the little guy." Mike reached out to rub Tim's back feeling sorry for him knowing he had every right to be upset. Mike winked at Gibbs with a hearty smile.

Gibbs bounced Tim him in his arms, listening to him calm down as they walked through the kitchen. He opened up the fridge, grabbing the juice to pour in a sippy cup for Tim. He screwed on the top then handed it to him. Tim earnestly drank, using it to calm his nerves.

Gibbs walked out onto the back porch; Tim always seemed to relax when they were outside. He felt his body droop against his own as he hiccuped a deep breath. "Are you okay Tim?" Gibbs continued to rub his back remembering this was a little boy with fading bruises covering his body, made by a sadistic man who had only wanted to bring agony to his little life.

Gibbs could already hear a buzzing noise erupting from the bathroom as Tony cheered Mike on.

"Swing?" Tim pointed to the baby swing Gibbs had tied onto a tree branch, earlier in the week.

"Sure, big guy."

He walked over to the tree then lifted the safety bar on the swing, strapping Tim in. Gibbs grinned at him, a smile plastered over Tim's face, overshadowing his visible, swollen, red eyes. He stood in front of him to push, watching his face transform into contentment, quickly. Tim took another swallow of his juice, coughing when he tried to talk as he pointed at the birds flying overhead. "Birds...Gibb.."

Gibbs quickly stopped the swing to make sure Tim was okay and wait till he got his breath back as he uncontrollably, coughed through it.

"You're my little nature boy, huh, Timmy?" Gibbs loved the way he noticed all the bugs, birds, and squirrels in the yard. Gibbs began to push him, again.

He was well aware of the back door opening and Tony and Mike coming out of the house. They were casually chatting as they made their way closer to Tim and Gibbs. Mike avoided making any close contact with Tim when he approached to allow him time to accept his altered presence.

"You clean up good, Mike."

"I sure hope so, probie." Mike ran a hand over his freshly shaven face. "There is someone very special that I want to impress." Mike noticed movement on the ground out of the corner of his eye. "Hey! Would you look at that!?"

Tim cautiously watched Mike as he leaned down picking something up that was hopping across the grass. "It's a hoppie frog!"

Mike held it up to Jethro. "That it is." Gibbs didn't seem to have any interest in getting to close to it.

Tim craned his neck wishing he could see better. "Frog?" Mike stepped closer as Gibbs stopped his swing. Mike held it up to the boy. "Oooohhhh. He's... a fer..og and 'ops?"

"Go ahead, you can touch him." Tim's finger touched the head of the frog causing him to jump in his seat, giggling, then commenced a sitting-wiggle dance.

"Frog! Gibb!" Gibbs knew that was his cue to get Tim out of the swing. Tony had just run up to the group with a bucket, hopping in place excited. "Can we catch more, Uncle Mike?"

"Yeah." Tim followed Tony, also hopping.

Gibbs pointed to the back of his yard. "They all come from back there. It gets a bit swampy when it rains a lot and we've had tons of rain lately, so that outta be a frog paradise."

Tim, Tony and Mike took off without further discussion.

"Wait! Get your boots on!" Gibbs yelled.

Tony and Tim started back to the house, Mike following. He wagged his eyebrows at Gibbs. "Who knew the path to a boy's heart was frogs?"

"Well, it certainly is to Tim." answered Gibbs.

Half an hour later Jenny made her way through the house to the backyard following the sound of the kids laughing. She stepped out onto the porch to see Gibbs with the boys and an older man wallowing through mud in the far back. Tony was covered in mud, wearing an army hat, and tall, black boots. Tim was in just his diaper and also wearing big, tall boots,that must have been Tony's, since he seemed to have trouble as he stepped slowly in them. He was also, wearing Gibbs' baseball hat backwards while holding a gigantic frog with two hands as he sung. The boys were obviously having the time of their lives. Tony was holding a bucket as Tim was about to place the frog inside it.

Boys; through and through; thought Jenny.

Tony spotted Jenny first, running straight over with the bucket excited to show her its contents.

Jenny stood, within a safe distance of the bucket and the muddy boy. Tim was still running to her, taking a while as he tripped a couple of times, but getting back up on his feet, unphased.

Gibbs approached Jenny smiling. "This is Mike-"
"Oh, so you're the one that can actually keep this guy in line." Jenny referred to Gibbs as she addressed Mike.

"Oh, we keep each other in line. And, you are the most popular Jenny that I have heard so much about. It is a pleasure." Mike nodded towards Jenny.

"How did you manage to stay so clean, Jethro?"

"I wanted to make sure I looked good for my date?"

Jenny leaned in whispering in Gibbs's ear. "Jethro. Believe me. You would look delectable in mud."

Gibbs blushed, raising his eyebrows in interest towards her comment. "I'm sure I can arrange something for later." He whispered back.

Gibbs kneeled down as he announced his departure to the boys. Tony climbed on his back as Tim fell back into his chest. Gibbs smiled, knowing he now had muddy spots where his boys were making contact with him as he winked at Jenny. She smirked back. Gibbs pulled Tim close, "I love you, Tim." He kissed his cheek, closing his eyes.

"Yus. I wuv you, Gibb." Tim kissed him back. Jenny's eyes filled with tears as her smile strengthened.

Tim seemed to be fine with the idea of Gibbs leaving as Mike swooped down and gathered Tim in his arms and swung him on top of his shoulders. Tim held on by placing his hands on Mike's face, running his palms over his smoothly, shaven cheeks.

Gibbs pulled Tony over his shoulders to give him a 'goodbye' bear hug. "Now, you boys be good for Mike. And yes; you will both need baths. Mike, you should get them in, there's a chill in the air and Tim isn't dressed for it."

"My thoughts, exactly. Come on guys! Who's up for playing army tank?"

"Me!"

"Me, too!" Gibbs laughed to see how excited Tim was even though he didn't know what he was agreeing to.