A/N: A special 'thank you' goes out to delia cerrano for her valued advice/counsel on this chapter.

A bit of different perspectives in this one - so bear with me with the repeating of some things, if you would please.

- remember, this was written 11/11/13. (delayed in posting to put some distance between this and the other wip with similar title.)


Leroy closes his eyes and sighs tiredly as his long-time friend's warning sounds in his ear through the phone. The fact that there's no preamble from the normally talkative soul raises the younger man's concern even higher already. He feels his lover slip from his arms and mentally thanks him for it because he knows Tim's giving him the space to have this conversation in peace, not pulling away for any other reason. Ducky's voice continues on in his ear:

"It seems Anthony believes such a relationship is not one you would have endeavored to attempt without first speaking to me on the matter. While I do not understand why he thinks this way, it matters not at the moment. What does matter is that I warned him not to take it any further this evening, but to go home and sleep." I believe it is safe to say that you and Timothy will have your hands full"

****BANG****BANG***BANG***BANG***BANG***BANG***

Seeing Tim jump in shock and practically fall out of bed while hastening to get dressed, all the while shooting him a concerned look, Gibbs refrains from saying anything to spook him or freak him out worse. Maybe he should prepare him but before he can, Tim is gone from the room, hurrying to quiet the noise that's undoubtedly disturbing his entire building of neighbors.

"Thanks for the heads-up, Duck. Guess he didn't take your advice." Gibbs finally speaks, getting to his feet and scoopIng up his own boxers as Ducky's voice again sounds in his ear.

"Oh, no! Jethro, I'm…"

"OPEN UP THIS DAMN DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT DOWN, MCGEE!"

"Dear heavens, this will not go well at all! Do be sure and not let this escalate into anything phys…!"

"Relax, Duck. I got this. No bloodshed. I promise." The Team Leader interrupts. "Gotta go. Get some sleep." Snapping his phone shut, he slides the boxers on and reaches for the door handle.

"You wanna talk, DiNozzo, you'd better quiet down real quick!" Tim's voice is loud but not nearly as loud as Tony's banging or yelling had been.

It's the anger and determination within his lover's voice that stills Gibbs' motions. He'll listen and be ready to back the younger man up, but he won't take the control of how this goes from Tim, since the younger man is the one currently in Tony's crosshairs. The promise of not allowing this to escalate, however, has him stepping out of the bedroom and into the kitchen so he'll be as close to the confrontation as he can be while still remaining out of sight.

"Fine! But if you don't let me in – in three sec…bout damned time you open the door, Pro-bie!" Tony growls as he steps over the threshold and stops in his tracks. The punch has already been thrown and is already flying through the air as Tim steps back and luckily he sees it and is able to duck while he's moving. This throws Tony off and the Senior Field Agent stumbles and starts to fall face first into the corner of the entry-way table that he isn't expecting to be there.

Surprisingly quick on his feet, Tim launches himself at Tony, football player style, sending them both the floor, but in relative safety without any confrontations with the table. Quickly disengaging himself from the older man, Tim gets to his feet and offers Tony a hand up. Rather than take it, Tony bats it away and sits up, choosing to scoot back until he's sitting with his back to the wall, staring straight ahead, without saying a word.

Leaving him there, Tim retreats to the kitchen; stopping in surprise when he finds Leroy standing in the doorway, just out of sight, watching his Senior Field Agent like a hawk. There was a time that Tim would have labeled the look he sees on the older man's face as unreadable but now, he knows it to be one of pained disappointment. Wordlessly, Tim steps around him but gives his arm a reassuring squeeze before pouring himself and Tony both a cup of coffee. With a small smile of thanks in Gibbs' direction for the coffee that wouldn't be ready if the older man hadn't gotten it going already, Tim heads back to the living room to deal with his friend and former teammate in a way that won't cause his lover any more hurt.

Reinvigorated with the strength of Leroy's silent support and the love and belief in him that the older man has shown him in spades over the past weekend – over the past month, actually, Tim realizes he can handle this. The anger rising up within him for the hurt on his lover's face and the need to make Tony see that his actions are affecting more than just himself, has him wanting to take care of this solo and quickly. This Tony that he's never had to even witness, never mind, deal with, is not going to tear down anything; not the team and certainly, not his relationship with Leroy, no matter how much it angers the Senior Field Agent.

But, the thought that Tony might feel hurt by his obvious discovery – somehow- of Tim's relationship with Gibbs, well, that's another story. Hurting Tony had never been part of Tim's plan and isn't something he wants to do. It was that thought that had Tim getting Tony a cup of coffee and heading back now to the hallway to deal with this head on.

Holding out the cup toward the Senior Field Agent, Tim quietly suggests. "Here, drink this."

"Don't want it." Tony replies bullishly as his eyes remain staring straight ahead. "I'm not druunk!"

"Okay." Tim returns without batting an eye as he sets the coffee down on the table he's just saved Tony from. Settling on his feet with his back to the opposite wall from Tony and crossing his arms against his chest, Tim offers the older man the chance to start this ball rolling. "Now that you're not waking my neighbors –– or the dead; why don't you say what you came here to say, Tony?"

Tony is back on his feet and in Tim's face in a heartbeat. "You lied to me!"

"I didn't lie to you about anything, DiNozzo." The younger man's response is quiet and unwavering even as he steps back enough to be out of the other man's space.

"Oh, YES, you did! A lie of omission is still a LIE! You weren't pissed at Gibbs- because you're too busy SLEEPING with him!" Tony yells in fury. "What, you didn't think I'd put the pieces together, Probie, is that it? Didn't think I'd catch your little play on words? Or figure out you spent the whole day NOT looking at him so I wouldn't see you lusting after him? Got news for ya, YOU out-ted yourself with your little spiel about 'I know you pulled out the big guns because you went to Gibbs.' The ONLY way you would have known that I went to Gibbs out of concern for you, by the way – was if Gibbs told you – and HE would never do that – unless… God, I can't even say it again – it makes me sick!"

Tony practically throws himself as far away from Tim as he can get, his feet taking him to the living room.

Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, Tim glances toward the kitchen, knowing Tony's reaction is hurting his lover and hating it. The empty doorway verifies that and raises the anger Tim's feeling towards Tony. All concern about the Senior Field Agent being hurt in this – has transformed itself into anger that Leroy is being verbally treated this way by someone he's long considered to be the son he'd never had. The man's been through enough pain and loss in his life. To have his relationship with Tony take this blow when they could have talked it out much more calmly instead could be devastating and that thought is the only one that keeps Tim from blowing up at Tony's insensitivity and obvious bias.

With another deep breath taken and slowly released, Tim steps into the living room after Tony. Finding the older man standing morosely at the window with the steel stiffness in his shoulders does nothing to ease the anger steadily building inside but for Leroy's sake, he does what he can to keep this civil and try to get it under control. "Well, at least you're honest about it." Tim offers without raising his voice.

Tony whips around angrily. "Don't talk to me about being honest!"

"So, you're homophobic after all. Is that it?" Tim asks almost too calmly. "After making fun of me for years – and telling all the ladies in Accounting that the new probie was gay – when he wasn't, by the way – and all your declarations over the years about not being offended by anyone who swings that way – was all a lie?"

"What? NO! NO, I am NOT phobic- of ANY thing! No, I don't care about that! The part that pisses me off, McGee, outside of the fact that you've been lying to us all these years, is that – out of every other man out there – on the planet, for God's sake – you somehow hoodwink Gibbs? How the hell you managed that, I'll NEVER understand – but the Team is off limits and YOU KNOW IT! Rule 12, remember? NO one gets to break that rule!"

Seeing the Senior Field Agent's hands clenching and unclenching into fists, Tim's gut knots up with concern. He swallows a retort about the Senior Field Agent carrying the torch and pushing it with Ziva all these years. Still, he pushes on, needing to do this for Leroy, as much as for Tony. The more aired now, the less room for misunderstandings later. It's obvious Tony will not listen to being set straight on some facts, so Tim pushes this toward present resolution instead. "You rehearse that speech on your way over here, Tony? Just to be clear – you're pissed about my relationship with Gibbs changing into an intimate one – but not hurt by it. Is that right, Tony? Because I really need you to clarify that for me. For all of us." Tim pushes firmly, his tone strong without a trace of backing down.

"What? Why? What the hell does it matter?" Tony's anger is still tangible in his volume, but his confusion seems to diminish the entire rampage. The older man steps back, almost falling into the wall behind him, before straightening up enough to be leaning against it more comfortably.

Now it's Tim in Tony's space, in a heartbeat, he's close enough to the older man to feel his breath on his face as he finally yells at him with the anger that he can no longer contain. "It matters because you coming here like this; your attitude right now- is unfair and unnecessarily hurtful and cruel!"

"Aw, did I hurt the probie,'s feelings?" Tony taunts as he pushes Tim back out of his space, freezing in place as a blur of motion at the edge of his vision catches his eye. When he looks again, he sees nothing. Slightly confused and even angrier now; Tony glares at his former teammate who's showing no sign of backing down. Where is the probie who never hesitated to back down from him?

Tim stands firm where he is once his balance is regained, satisfied that's he's still close enough to be heard without continuing to raise his voice. "No, Tony, I no longer care what you say to me – so you didn't hurt me. I mean, I thought we were friends and could work things out in a less physical way than you throwing punches, but that's not …what you did by coming here like this- is much worse. You've hurt the one person who deserves it the least in this world."

"Huh?"

"The man who's loved you like a son – treated you better than your own father has – taught you almost everything you know – gave you all the slack you ever needed – pulled you in whenever you needed that too – did you REALLY think how you reacted to finding out about his new relationship with me – wouldn't affect him?"

By this time, Tony's confused as to how in the hell this got turned around into being his fault. What the hell is Tim getting so fired up about? He's the one who's been busy being, well, busy – and dishonest, too! Wait. What about …"Who...?"

Tim shakes his head in consternation at the one word that escapes the older man's mouth after everything Tim's just said to him. Even angrier now, Tim's voice rises again. "Damn it, DiNozzo! You hurt Gibbsby handling it like this! And that's not okay!"

"Huh? How in the he…?" Tony's caught in the shocked stupor usually only seen on someone fighting a hangover. It's clear he has, in fact, been drinking and that seems to take some of the fight out of Tim. It's unfair to continue with this altercation while Tony's in this state. It won't accomplish anything anyway. But, Tim is not amused. Stepping back into Tony's space, he rises to the occasion and does what he has to, to protect his lover. "Go home, DiNozzo! And stay away from Gibbs until you can muzzle that mouth and not say something to hurt him worse! And when you can stay sober!"

"I am NOT druuunkk!" The slurring makes that short denial an obvious untruth but Tim doesn't touch on it.

"Not what I said, Tony. But, now that you mention it, there's the couch. Crash on it before you crash your car and hurt someone trying to get home in the state you're in. I'm taking your keys"

"Huh. No WAY! I'm NOT stayin' here." Tony argues defiantly in a tone that says there's no way he won't get his own way.

Surprisingly Tim has an instant comeback as the younger man sighs and scoops up Tony's car keys up from the floor where the older man had somehow dropped them earlier. "Fine. Then I'm driving you home – in YOUR car! Let's go."

"Uhm, no. Here's works. Not where I'd rather spend the night, but since Gibbs obviously isn't here and you two aren't gonna be playin' house in the next room or anything, it'll work." Tony snidely gloats as he plops down on the sofa and plucks the TV remote from the couch cushion next to him. Randomly pushing buttons, it takes a minute before the television springs to life.

As the sound of the evening late night show fills the air between them, Tim frowns. "Yeah. Somehow, I thought you'd say that. I'll get you a pillow and a blanket."

"Gee, you're a swell guy, Maghee!" Tony drawls mockingly.

"Keep it up, DiNozzo and I'll let you sleep in the hallway – outside my door – without your car keys or phone!" Tim warns as he opens the hallway closet and takes out a fluffy pillow and blanket he normally keeps there for his sister's visits.

"Just when ***yawn** did you get so mouthy, any *yawn* way, Probie?" Tony asks around the yawns that are overtaking him now."

"Since I found that I really do have people who give a damn about me, Tony. " Tim answers as he comes back to the couch and stuffs the pillow under Tony's head. Dropping the blanket down on top of the older man, Tim picks up the edges and lifts up so that it will fall open, settling it over the nearly asleep guest as he keeps on quietly answering the question. "Saw it for myself, too. Just like you've known for a while now thanks to Gibbs taking you under his wing. Makes a difference, ya know?"

"Mmmm. Big differen…." Tony's head lobs to the side and Tim can't help but smile softly. The guy may have come here more pissed off than Tim had ever seen him and with more drink in him than he'd admitted to, but he sure looks like a soft marshmallow now. It's not long before the smile is gone however.

****NCIS*****

…"The part that pisses me off, outside of the fact that you've been lying to us all these years, is that – out of every other man out there – on the planet, for God's sake – you somehow hoodwink Gibbs? How the hell you managed that, I'll NEVER understand – but the Team is off limits and YOU KNOW IT! Rule 12, remember? NO one gets to break that rule!"

Gibbs eyes close in pained resignation and hurt for Tim. Of course Tony would accuse Tim of lying about his sexuality all this time. He should have seen that coming just as he should have known Tony wouldn't like this change in dynamics, especially since it included a change in both the Team Leader's and the Probie's sexual preferences, which, normally wouldn't be any of anyone else's business, but …

. "You rehearse that speech on your way over here, Tony? Just to be clear – you're pissed about my relationship with Gibbs changing into an intimate one – but not hurt by it. Is that right, Tony? Because I really need you to clarify that for me. For all of us."

With a soft smile playing across his face, Gibbs offers a silent 'attaboy' to the youngest man for his tenacity seldom seen on such a private level before and never with DiNozzo. Realizing it's for him that Tim is pushing Tony to clarify what he has to say on the matter only tightens the feeling in his heart for the green eyed gentle man who's become his lover.

"What? Why? What the hell does it matter?"

"It matters because you coming here like this; your attitude right now- is unfair and unnecessarily hurtful and cruel!"

Blinking in surprise at the direction Tim is taking this; Gibbs eases closer so he won't miss anything. He's still not certain Tony's lost the urge to beef it out either. In either case, he feels much better being as close as possible.

"Aw, did I hurt the probie,'s feelings?"

Gibbs doesn't know if it's his Senior Field Agent's tone or the push he gives to Tim that has him moving, just barely, towards going to intervene. But the sight of the older of the two in the other room freezing as he almost catches his presence has him stepping back before it's too late. The last thing he wants to do is make this worse.

"No, Tony, I no longer care what you say to me – so you didn't hurt me. I mean, I thought we were friends and could work things out in a less physical way than you throwing a punch, but that's not …what you did is much worse. You've hurt the one person who deserves it the least in this world."

The silent man in the hallway suddenly feels the need to wipe away at the unbidden moisture from his vision. He has to blink several times before he can see straight again as the discussion continues in the next room, with only the slightest hiccup.

"Huh?"

"The man who's loved you like a son – treated you better than your own father has – taught you everything you know – gave you all the slack you ever needed – pulled you in whenever you needed that too – did you REALLY think how you reacted to finding out about his new relationship with me – wouldn't affect him?"

'who...?"

Edging closer, Gibbs eases into the hallway to better hear the young men's discussion. He's pretty sure it's not going to turn physical now, but he wants to be certain to stay close, just in case Tony's anger is running deeper than he thinks it is. It sounds as if Tony's just drunk enough to be easily set off. Besides, with the emotion Tim is letting out on his behalf, he's finding himself in need of something to hold onto as his knees nearly give out on him. It's been a long time since anyone's defended him so personally like this and…

"Damn it, DiNozzo! You hurt Gibbs by handling it like this! And that's not okay!"

Leroy's heart skips a beat to hear Tim be so angry on his behalf. It touches him. But, he's not ready for either one of these young men to be adversely affected by anything he does. He really shouldn't stay but he'll need to wait until Tony leaves before heading out. He's not abandoning Tim just because the walls are falling down around their relationship. Thick and thin has obviously arrived and it's time for Leroy to prove he means what he said; that he'll be keeping the promises he's made to Tim.

"Huh? How in the he…?"

"Go home, DiNozzo! And stay away from Gibbs until you can muzzle that mouth and not say something to hurt him worse! And when you can stay sober!"

Obviously, Tim has this well in hand. Hell, he's even cornered the market on watching Gibbs' six away from work now. That realization stops the older man cold. All it has taken to give Tim the wherewithal to believe in his own strength was for someone to show him they believed in him too. Of course, showing him that he really is lovable hasn't hurt either. That's why there'll be no more of this brought up at work. No one's career will be taking a hit if Leroy has anything to say about it. With that determination in place, Gibbs retreats to the bedroom so the chance at being spotted and revving up the engine on this is minimized. He has faith in Tim that goes without saying. But, now, he's sure now that Tony's not dangerously angry anymore and they'll part company without shedding any blood or any more thrown punches.

****NCIS*****

Tim has to wonder what the morning will bring. Taking the remote from where it's dangling in the other man's hand, he turns the TV down enough so that it's just background noise now. He sets the remote down on the coffee table in plain sight for Tony while scooping up the man's keys and cell phone and carting them to the kitchen counter, next to the coffeemaker. Setting the machine to brew a fresh pot at 0500, he rinses his and Tony's cups out, turns them over in the dish drainer and turns out all the lights but nightlight between the sink and the stove.

Suddenly, it occurs to him that his lover is no longer in the kitchen and he's not even sure if he's still here or when he stopped hearing what was being said. He stops and sits down at the kitchen counter in the barely lit room as he feels the anger coming back now, for the hurt and the disrespect shown, not only to Gibbs tonight, but to himself, too. With his arms on the counter, his head bowed onto his chest and his eyes closed in frustration, Tim works to get his emotions in back under control.

He'd worked so hard to deal with the changes in his lifestyle these past few weeks privately and without letting it affect his job. He doesn't regret allowing Ducky in to his private battle because ultimately that was what helped so much when push came to shove with Gibbs in the end. He does feel now, however; as if the fight to keep it as private as possible was all for naught. Being transferred off the team so quickly will help Tim be able to deal with Tony's attitude, of that, he's sure. But, that doesn't help Gibbs. What's going to happen to his long-standing working relationship with Tony, built on trust and respect?

His heart heavy now, all he can do is hope this won't tear the Team Leader down or shred what's left of the man's team.

"Hey." His lover's soft-spoken address from just behind him as strong hands reach out to massage his shoulders brings Tim's head up off his chest and his eyes swing around to find those cobalt blue orbs he loves to get lost in so much.

"You're still here." Tim marvels quietly.

Pulling Tim gently, Gibbs propels them toward the bedroom, closing and locking the door behind them once they're inside. Gesturing for the younger man to sit on the bed, Leroy sits down next to him. "I made you a promise."

"That you weren't going anywhere." Tim recalls in a whisper, as if he's afraid to speak any louder. "But that is different."

"How?" His lover wants to know.

Tim shakes his head. "This is your team. No one screws with your team. You can't tell me that this doesn't mess things up."

"Were pretty messed up when I split to Mexico."

Tim nods silently.

"Couldn't get much more messed up when Vance split you guys up."

Tim quietly agrees with that assessment.

"Even more messed up when I didn't speak to you the whole four months you were in Cyber-crimes."

With his breath catching in his throat at the realization that the man did understand that – that four months had almost fatally wounded Tim's trust in him, Tim blinks away the sudden moisture from his eyes.

"Pretty messed up when I left Ziva behind in Israel."

This time, there's not even a nod from Tim.

"None of which we get a redo for." Leroy's voice is still quiet and calm but he deliberately lets the small space between them remain while they talk this out. Too much touching will disintegrate this into a moment where their hunger for each other takes over. They need this talk first.

"I know." Tim admits as he continues to look at his own hands in his lap.

"We have a chance to fix this."

"You have a plan?" Tim wonders with hope in his tone as he finally looks up at his lover.

"Team nights – my place – with you included.

Tim shakes his head. "I don't think I should be there. At least not the first couple of nights."

"Leave that option open." Gibbs quietly suggests in that tone that makes it more than a simple request.

"Okay."

"Come to bed. You've got a busy day tomorrow."

"Leroy." Tim quietly addresses him as the older man heads around the bed to get in it.

Gibbs stops and looks over at the younger man,immediately reading his mind with mind-blowing accuracy . "Don't, Tim. This isn't your fault any more than it is mine. We just can't put the genie back in the bottle, that's all."

Silence settles between them as neither look away from the other for a long minute. It's as though Tim is searching for proof positive that Leroy isn't blaming him; as if his words aren't quite enough.

Rather than be upset at the obvious need Tim has to anchor himself to whatever truth he finds in Leroy's eyes now, the older man softly smiles as he gestures toward the bed once more. "C'mon."

It's not long before they get comfortable snuggling together under the covers. But Tim still has one last burning question he needs answered tonight. Wrapped securely in Leroy's arms, he raises his head so he can look at him as he asks. "So, now that Tony knows, do we just go ahead and out ourselves to the others? It's all about honesty, right?"

"Let's sleep on it, alright? Honesty's important, but we have a right to a private life just like everyone else." Leroy suggests as he kisses Tim on the temple and pulls him closer.

"Yeah." Tim breathes out tiredly as he settles onto Gibbs shoulder. "Please tell me we're not going to lose this."

"I promise, Tim. I'm still not going anywhere." Leroy vows in his ear before carding his hair back. "Go to sleep. You've had a busy night defending me."

With a quiet huff of laughter, Tim murmurs sleepily. "Had to... love you."

Tim's breathing evens out as he succombs to sleep before Leroy can even get the words out. "Same here, Tim. Same here."