A/N: Many, many thanks to all of you. earthdragon especially

A long chapter - where Ducky and Jimmy sit this one out.


Driving to work, Gibbs has Abby on his mind because he's concerned about her; how she'll react to the discovery of his relationship with Tim and when she'll blow her fuse-box. There's no doubt it will happen because she'll more than one issue with this and consequently, multiple fuses will blow. His concern is who she will aim it at when it does happen. Her public display a few weeks ago – the first Monday after he and Tim had discussed the possibility of a relationship, had shown how badly this could go.

***Flashback***

"Tim! Spill it! You look happy. You haven't looked this happy in weeks and you weren't home yesterday or Saturday. Spill."

"Abby, I'm fine. I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine."

"I want details, Tim. Who is she? Where'd you meet her?" The Lab Rat insisted impatiently as she literally bounced on her toes.

"Need something to do, Abby?" Gibbs groused at her from where he sat behind his desk

"Gibbs!" Abby's shrill protest could be heard throughout the entire floor, as the heads popping up over the partitions gave testament to.

"Now, Abby." The boss growled.

With a grouchy protest, Abby stomped off toward the back elevator, her boots clomping noisily across the floor as she went. Gibbs glanced across the room at his youngest agent, only to find him already busy with work, his attention completely focused on his computer screen. Just the way it should be.

***End Flashback***

Gibbs remembers that day vividly for several other key reasons, not the least of which had been the unusual degree of anger Tim had been wrapped up in. Whether it had been that scene with Abby or the way he'd been left behind as the rest of them took the elevator down to head out to the fresh case they caught later that afternoon, he'd never been able to pinpoint For that matter, if his agent had still been angry at Abby's earlier public rant, was never discussed so he doesn't know. But one thing he does know is that Abby's a firecracker when she's pissed or even the slightest bit distressed. He can still hear her rant back when Tony and Barrett were the hot item on the gossip chain.

"… it's just Change, Gibbs. Change makes me itch. It always has. It's Agent Barrett…I'm not a fan. I mean, of change. Her I don't mind. She's feisty for someone so small. And I like that. Not that I like her, because I don't really. Not like I like you….I just I like our family just the way it is."

Our family just the way it is. Gibbs is inclined to agree with her, except he's never felt the father/son connection with Tim. In fact, it's known enough around the office that more than a number of people have commented on how cold he seems to treat the younger man compared to the rest of his team. Tim's never said a word but the Team Leader knows it's something else they need to air out between them because whether or not he likes it, it's still there underneath it all somewhere. Things left unsaid usually are.

He's always known his youngest agent's own family already had that place in the heart of the gentle, brilliant, green-eyed man and the Team Leader wasn't needed there. Oh, there have been countless time it seemed as though his family had dropped the ball on the young man and truth be told, Gibbs can admit, he has too. But since Tim's never looked to him for the recovery, the Team Leader never stepped in his youngest agent's way of pulling himself back up by his own bootstraps.

Sighing, Gibbs mentally shakes his head. God knows there've been plenty of times he should have anyway but he can't go back and fix those. He can only be thankful every day that Tim's obviously managed to forgive him - and from here on, strive very hard to do better. Of course with the younger man's transfer from his team, it's not the same, but the resolve to do better by him and to make sure others do as well, remains firm, as does the intention of sitting down with him and talking all of this out so that it's not lurking in the shadows while they build on their future together.

It is possible that his standoffish approach with Tim has had a hand in leading them where this has taken them. At least, that's what part of Gibbs' logical thought process is telling him. It's not something they've talked about – yet. But, they will because they've both already admitted to each other that they want everything out in the open between them. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this is part of that.

Just as the subject of Abby is a part of it. The fact that along the way to where they are now, finally joined where their paths have intertwined strongly enough to secure their relationship amidst any storm, Tim's voyage has included a failed attempt to become serious with Abby means that now, this begins to get complicated. It's that way for both himself and for Tim. The Lab Rat's sense of family is strong and she holds it as dear and precious as the silver-haired man is beginning to hold Tim. However in her case, things tend to get bogged down in near-possessiveness and that's where the concern lies now. It will hurt like hell if she screws with his and Tim's relationship; but it won't tear it apart. Not while Gibbs is still breathing.

The fact that he and Tim are now in a committed relationship with each other, won't stop him from continuing to accept the role as the father figure for either Tony or Abby for that matter, if that's what they need from him. The only thing that will stop it will be their hurtful behavior towards Tim. That ball is in their court. Even Tony's attitude this morning hasn't changed that, at least for Gibbs.

But just like he'd told Tony – he will make it clear to Abby as well – that this conversation – or any piece of it – will NOT be discussed at work! Hell, it better not be breathed about within fifty miles of the Navy Yard, as far as he's concerned! Sure, that's unrealistic, but that's how serious he is about keeping this away from their jobs. It's. Nobody. Else's. Business.

Why the hell is he scolding himself about this?

****NCIS****

Settling in behind his new desk in Cybercrimes, Tim is relaxed and feeling confident. He's early so he has time to get acclimated and really set things the way he's comfortable with. The box of his things from upstairs is already here so he can get right to it. As he works to set things up for himself, he unexpectedly finds himself worrying about Abby.

It's been a while since he's heard from her or even thought about her. In fact, ever since she threw that fit three Thursdays ago about his avoiding her, he's not spent a lot of time worried about her or even thinking about talking to her. That day had gone to hell for Tim and Abby's ranting had played a part in that. He'd given her a second chance later that same day – only to find her in the 'love you like I love puppies' mode. And while he hadn't been looking for love with her any more – he also hadn't needed the distraction or her lack of sincerity.

Still he wonders what will happen when this reaches her ears. And there's no doubt in his mind that it will. What's the best route to take on this? He won't let any one hurt Leroy or get between them. So he's got to think this through. Suddenly, programming and cyber searches aren't the foremost thing on Tim's mind

****NCIS****

With the corrected thought process about this finally settled firmly into place, Gibbs' focus turns back to Tim. Instantly, a smile arrives to transform his face into a picture of contentment. This morning had been precious, but so had last night. Those priceless few moments in the kitchen, reaching out for Tim while the younger man was visibly stressed from Tony's confrontation with him and trying to pull himself back together without even realizing his lover hadn't left him alone, had strengthened everything about their relationship, more than sexual intimacy ever could.

And that's off the charts, too. Huffing out a laugh, Gibbs shakes his head at his errant thoughts. Heading into work is NOT the time to let his mind go back there. Pulling into the Navy Yard, he's distracted by the need to provide his identification at the gate before he drives on through, his mind once again, traveling stubbornly back to this morning and his precious time with his lover who already has become comfortable enough with him to hold nothing back. Parking the car now, He turns off the engine. Knowing it's gonna be a hell of a journey; he goes still and allows his mind to travel back:

He licks and nips the younger man's mouth, pushing his tongue into the sweet, willing warmth. Mentally hanging on to his self-control so as to not to let loose his normal vocal responses, he feels the hunger and lust for Tim more sharply than usual as he takes what he needs while letting his lover take from their dance as well. Those tender, swollen lips are so inviting and irresistible!

Tim's tongue languidly dances with his own and this time, there's no aggressor or dominance, merely mutual silent emotion poured out through their kiss and with their touch. Eventually, they have to pull away from each other, both spent and gasping for breath. Somehow, this has become normal for them; expected even. It's as if they can never get enough of each other's lips or dance enough times this way. Every time is as stimulating, enticing and meaningful as their very first had been.

Talking a deep calming breath now, Gibbs blinks a few times to clear his vision as he works to realign his focus with the present.

*****NCIS*****

It's been a far less than typical morning and Tony's already feeling brain fried and physically like someone ran him over with a truck, the biggest one out there. Still, he manages to make it home, shower and change and on his way to work at the decent hour of 0730. Merely thirty minutes late isn't bad. He's done it countless times before.

With traffic at its' usual snail pace of a crawl, Tony's mind has plenty of time to wander. Understandably, it doesn't go far, just back to the weirdly arrogant conversation he'd had with Gibbs earlier. Funny how that one had come back to the other conversation he'd had with him, the one where the guy chewed him a new one over Barrett. To this day, Tony's confused and even still stung by that one. Who does that – what the boss did that night - turn on someone who comes to you to talk? That conversation in his Team Leader's basement had stung for a while. Hell, when Gibbs had reminded him of it this morning, it had smarted all over again, like it just happened yesterday!

Why he's thinking on that instead of the point of the unsatisfactory discussion he just had with Gibbs, Tony's not sure. The older man's pointed reminders do have him thinking though. Did Tony not remember all the snide and less than pleasant remarks, innuendos and insults he'd handed out to the other two agents under him through the years in regard to their private lives? Had he really forgotten playing the 'it's my private life and none of your business 'card when Gibbs had socked it to him about Barrett the first time?

Looking back, it's easy to see why Gibbs would call him out on that one now. He really is being hypocritical! Snickering now in self-depreciation, Tony chastises himself. Had he REALLY even tried to say it hadn't been affecting his work? Wow. Back then he'd had no concept of the distracted state he'd been in, obviously. Now, in hindsight, he vaguely remembers staring at Barrett across the room in the middle of the day with a floor full of people as witnesses. Who could have possibly missed that?

He knows it disrupted the way the team operated. That much had been easy to figure out then because the tension in the air the rest of the day and even the next day had been uncomfortable, to say the least. It had created bumps in the road they hadn't needed; especially in the middle of a case. That first day had been the first time McGee had looked truly disappointed in him. It's what caught his attention the most; what had sent him to Gibbs' for that discussion in the first place. Okay, maybe not entirely. But, along with the missing head-slaps, he'd seriously been shaken off his rocker enough to go looking for answers that night.

*****NCIS*****

It's not working. Stubbornly, Gibbs' memories insist on playing out even further, more explicitly. Laying his head back against the head-rest, he smiles as one of the most memorable moments from this morning and the wave of emotional responses he'd felt then, all comes back clearly front and center to his mind now:

With one last lingering touch over his lover's rear entrance as he removes his fingers, brushing up against Tim's where their hands were still joined in prepping the younger man, Leroy kisses him tenderly, moving with deliberate slowness that leaves no doubt where he's headed. Once last glance at the younger man steals his breath away when the depth of emotion in those eyes, as Tim gaze at him hungrily, quickens his heart.

Leaving his lover's eyesight just enough to line up snug behind him while the younger man turns his head and snuggles it up on his shoulder, Leroy wastes no time gently spearing the gorgeous body oh so willingly opening to him, just enough to heat up the moment before continuing on, his self-control pushed to the limit. The golden aura of pleasure-filled silence that has encompassed them merely serves to heighten their senses through it all. Touches seem more exquisitely tender and meaningful, each look more treasured. His heart squeezes tighter with emotion every moment spent pushing himself gently in, one breathtakingly gloriously beautiful 'feels so damned good' inch at a time, both of them quietly gasping in subdued awe at the intensity of it all.

Leroy's completely within him as the younger man's arm is wrapped up around his neck, their bodies molded together everywhere they touch, their eyes speaking for both of them, locked on each other, saying much more than any words ever could. He moves with agonizing slowness, playing his lover's body like a finely tuned violin, moving gently in perfect union with Tim giving back at every stroke, their rhythm just as soft and sweet now as that first time they traveled this road together

Even their thirst for each other is in synch, both of them giving completely and wholly without reservation. Leroy's gently filling the man he's falling in love with so completely, he can literally feel the tremors of emotion running through Tim's body, still snug against his own. Both are breathing heavily as the building pleasure begins to overwhelm and consume them while they climb further and reach further heights beyond normal grasp.

As Leroy relishes this moment, their eyes showering each other with awe, unlabeled emotion and tenderness, their shared ecstasy, becomes a priceless memory as their tandem explosions through the stratosphere becomes more out of this world than imaginable. Knowing it's Tim's favorite place to be; the younger man's absolute favorite way to feel completely connected to the man he cherishes, makes this Leroy's favorite way to make love now too. There's a connection here now on so many levels, there's nothing like it!

**SLAM**

The nearby slamming of a car door drags Gibbs back to the present. Shifting in his seat to better accommodate his body's physical reaction to this vivid walk back through this morning, Gibbs blinks and glances at the time. Crap, he's running late now. Not a good start to the work day. Oh, the hell with it, he thinks as he gets out of his car and heads to the coffee shop. It's been a great morning! What was it he'd felt when he'd first woke up this morning? Oh, right Confirmation. Reaffirmation. Promise. Trust… beautiful shining green orbs filled with desire and adoration, locking on to hisGod, is it time to go home yet?

****NCIS*****

Being the first one in to work in the mornings has its' own rewards, Ziva realizes as she settles down at her desk to begin work at 0645. She's had her morning coffee and breakfast and is ready to get busy. It's what she needs to do to distract herself from concentrating too much on what she witnessed last night. Having never seen Tony that worked up about anything, she's not sure what's going on.

But she is sure that it's not her business until and unless Tony makes it her business. As his friend, she hopes he'll let her in. Realistic as she is, however, she' doubts that will happen because she knows her coworker and sees how he operates regarding personal issues that bother him.

****NCIS*****

Shoving everything back behind the curtain that mentally separates work Gibbs from private Gibbs, the Team Leader sighs heavily as he heads back from the coffee shop, his focus struggling to change direction. This is rare for him, all this thinking, coming in late to work and focusing so much on personal issues. But the intensity of what's already there with Tim in conjunction with the heat of the opposing anger from Tony is keeping this in sharper focus than it should be. It's blending into his job before he even steps inside his squad room this morning.

The opposing anger. Yeah, that bone-jarringly angry discussion with Tony hadn't ended particularly well. Tony might deny it, but he is definitely homophobic. He has already proven that before, with his tasteless jokes about Tim's sex life; jokes that had definitely NOT been funny. So then why hadn't he, as Team Leader ever stepped in and put a stop to them?

Sighing heavily now,Gibbs mentally adds that serious wrong committed against Tim onto the pile he's already uncovered, to be sorted out later. His thoughts continue on the same path, as if anxious to sort as much of this out now as possible.

*********NCIS*********

Tuesday. Today's Tuesday. It's been almost three weeks since McGee's been down here; since we've talked. Something's wrong. And he doesn't want me to know about it.

Sighing out loud, Abby turns from staring at her calendar and glances around her lab at her babies. They're all warming up just fine, the room alive with the sounds of their humming. There's no active case at the moment so there's nothing laid out or actively being processed. With some free time on her hands, Abby wraps her arms around herself in one of her self-hugging moments she goes through when she feels insecure about the people in her life. A moment later, she relaxes from that but quickly retreats to her desk in her inner office.

Pulling her feet up to her chair, she settles her chin on her knees and stares vacantly at her monitor. Where had things gone so horribly wrong with McGee? They used to work together so well. He used to tell her everything; albeit reluctantly at times, but nevertheless he'd never been able to hide anything from her for very long without fessing up eventually. It had always been like watching a weeble wobble – falling over with the weight of whatever was bothering him but always getting right back up once he'd gotten it off his chest with her help.

That's gone now. It's been gone since the days before she'd made that scene in the squad room. In fact, that was what had driven her up there to confront him in the first place. But, that day; when Tim had attempted to work with her the very afternoon she'd read him the riot act so publically, he'd been strangely put out by her really good mood. And while that in and of itself wasn't normal, the fact that he's not been back down here since is even more so.

She's a puzzle solver by trade and this is a puzzle. The answer is important on a personal level so she's even more determined than normal to solve it; which says an awful lot. Suddenly, her mission for the day is not job related, but strictly, McGee related.

*******NCIS*******

Thinking on it some more, Gibbs can't help but frown. It's ridiculous for DiNozzo to accuse Tim of being a liar just because he said he wasn't gay back with the lotion incident. The truth is that Tim is bi, which isn't the same thing at all. Not to mention, at the time DiNozzo was throwing the accusation around publically enough to embarrass everyone, Tim happened to be in the long stretch of being comfortable dating and having relationships with women.

In any case, gay - straight - bi - celibate, Tim's sexual proclivities are none of DiNozzo's business, or anyone else's for that matter. In fact, it's long overdue that the rule be laid down in stone, no more talking about their sex life anywhere within these walls or on the clock. That's one that should have been a serious line addressed whenever it had been crossed and now that it's come to his attention; albeit only because it's finally affecting him, personally, Gibbs is determined to see it through.

All that aside; he still doesn't understand DiNozzo's attitude towards Tim. The younger of the two is a private person and every single one of them knows this. Quite naturally, Tim doesn't talk about what goes on in the bedroom. Years of pulling shenanigans on the probie who has still never started broadcasting information about his life, should have driven that point home to the Senior Field Agent ages ago.

Yet his discussion with Tony this morning seems to have highlighted the fact that this is not something that's sunk in yet. He can't help but wonder what it will take for that to happen. Hopefully, nothing drastic. Who knows, maybe the heated discussion he'd had with the younger man this morning will help somehow. At this point he can't help but think back on pieces of it:

"Ok! What happened to Rule 12? You two didn't just suddenly decide to get together!"

As those words had hit him earlier, Gibbs hadn't been able to help but flash back to the heart-wrenching confession from Tim that; had he heard it, would have let DiNozzo see just how right he was:

"I've wanted this for so long. I know that first night was real, but…Thought if I kept you at arm's length; if I refused to let myself get comfortable with you, then you wouldn't be able to find out I wasn't good enough. That you'd realize I was going to be too much work. I thought if I didn't give you the chance to get closer, you'd give up before you found any of that out. I thought if I kept myself busy watching other people already …"

Hearing those words again as they played out in his mind, had stirred Gibbs heart for Tim anew. That had been a deep moment between them and to this day, he treasures it as well as the show of trust Tim offered with it. But, DiNozzo's next remark had his thoughts moving from there rather quickly.

".. So there had to be a break of that rule in there somewhere!"

Well, Tony was right about that too. Or is he? Rule 12 is 'Never date a co-worker.' Technically, he and Tim have not dated. So, where is the break in the rule? Sighing, Gibbs scrubs his hands over his face. The break is in the spirit of the rule and there's no hiding from that.

******NCIS******

Funny, all of this coming back to him now, Tony thinks as he finally makes it to the Navy Yard and gets waved in after a brief glimpse of his id. On the heels of trying to talk some sense into his boss about the very same subject. The talk with Gibbs. Yeah, that's not far from his mind either. In fact, maybe if he purposefully rethinks it, it will make more sense to him; settle things more. Parking the car in the employee lot and heading inside, he lets his mind go back:

"On the clock 2 hours."

"What?"

"How long Tim and I were … - after…"

What are you sayin', Boss?"

"You heard me just fine."

"So his sudden transfer has nothing to do with the job it's perso…"

"That seem like somethin' I'd do, DiNozzo?" Gibbs demands angrily.

"No. But then again, neither does the two of you shacking up like this!" Tony's defenses are up as he fires back with his own dose of anger.

"You can't picture it like one of your damned movies, so that makes it not okay with you?"

"That's not what I said, Boss! And like I told HIM, I'm NOT a phobic ANYTHING! It's just …this…this….it's not ….RIGHT!"

It's impossible to tell who's hurt more by the angry outlashes and there's a moment of heavy silence between them where Tony swears he hears his own heart break.

"We have more in common than you ever thought." Gibbs sighs.

"Huh?

"Me. You. We're both hypocrites."

"What? Wait, how'd you figure?" Tony's confused as much as he is surprised.

"You've been sproutin' homophobic crap at Tim ever since he got on this team! Think your public announcements haven't made it around? Think I didn't hear talk about the rumor you started about him in his first year, DiNozzo?"

Okay, maybe I have, but that do…"

"Broken my own rules enough, there's no doubt I fit the bill."

"Jenny."

"For starters."

"Okay. So now what?" Tony asks with genuine confusion. "Where does that leave us?"

"On your own time, nowhere near the Navy Yard, you figure out what you're gonna do with what you know."

"While we have to break in a new probie."

"That all Tim is to you? The probie you already broke in and didn't want to lose because you didn't want to go through the trouble of doin' it again?" Gibbs demands angrily.

"NO! Well….okay, I'll admit, that might be part of why I'm so pissed at him, but…."

"But, what, DiNozzo? Spit it out!"

"He's a computer whiz, all right? We need that!"

"More like you need someone to use as your sidekick."

"That's not fair, Boss."

"You sure about that?"

"Positive!"

"Hmm. Not sure Tim sees it that way. Pretty sure he's never been happy about you invading his private life with all the crude jokes and out of line remarks."

"Well, here comes the hypocrite! You never stopped me! Not once! NOW you wanna get on my case about it? Where was this when it was actually going on, Boss?" Tony snipes as he storms from the room, grabs his keys and wallet up.

"Not one word in the office, DiNozzo!"

The boss' firm order from behind him, rings out in the air as he moves, slamming the door behind him on his way out of the apartment.

***Ding***

The elevator's alarm that it's reached his destination brings Tony back to the present. Glancing around the squad room as he steps off the box and heads to the team's workspace, he frowns when his eyes fall upon Tim's desk. That's right. The Geek is gone.

Wow, that sounded hateful even to his own ears! Maybe he is being an ass about this. It may have been a while back, but after thinking about this all morning, he does actually remember the crap he pulled on the younger guy that was over the line about his private life. Gibbs is right about that. Frankly, he's shocked that he hasn't gotten canned over some of it, looking back now. Why hadn't he?

Stowing that question away for a later discussion with the boss when they get back to that question Tony had thrown at him, the Senior Field Agent keeps moving, resetting his focus on the here and now and the mission he's on to fix things with Tim. He knows something's got to be said to smooth over the crappy way things were left between the two of them last night. He may have been drunk, but he remembers enough to know it was a confrontation that could have gone better.

He's amazed with his own ability to fast-track his initial reaction's about face to where he's thinking now. But these guys are his friends, his family and both of them deserve happiness. Hell if anyone does they do; especially Gibbs. The man is no fool and he doesn't love easy, so this has to be as seriously real as it gets. With Tim's penchant for forgiveness, this really isn't all that big of a leap, now that he thinks about it. After all, the boss never was very paternal-like with McGee, beyond a slice of a moment here or there when absolutely necessary.

The fact that they were quick to change things on the team so that neither part of their dynamics were messed with; proves that it's for real. So, if he wants to keep them in his life, Tony's got to get onboard with it and he knows it. What's more he's feeling more open to doing so than his knee-jerk reaction allowed for. Now, his earlier disagreement with the boss is a distant memory. They've had bumpy rides before and they always come up smelling like roses. This time will be no different.

The boss isn't around, so maybe he can squeeze in a minute to go try to make this right with McGee. With a grin, Tony glances at Ziva and tells her he'll be back in ten minutes. Before she can object, he's gone from the squad room, hitting the stairs at a run. After all the talk and time to think about things this morning, he's ready to at least attempt to let this go, so long as he and McGee can shake on that – and agree to give each other some much needed space to process all of this.

****NCIS*****

Sighing heavily as he walks, the silver-haired Senior Agent mentally head slaps himself. He should have admitted to the younger man that as Team Leader, Gibbs bears a lot of the culpability of what they talked about because he never corrected any of it or put a stop to it. He's pretty sure that's a big part of what has Tony so riled up. He'll talk to him later and straighten it out. His Senior Field Agent had a very valid point and that bears following up on, as well.

The question of the hour though, is where exactly did that break of Rule 12 happen? Gibbs has been struggling with that ever since this discussion began. He can't honestly say that just because he didn't act on it until this past weekend, beyond that first night, he and Tim had oh so sweetly kissed and connected, at least for a moment that he's justified in his position with Tony right now. He's not and he knows it because Tony's right. He broke the rule with Tim that first night, the moment he'd connected with Tim at that level. Even now, he remembers it vividly:

***Flashback***

"I'm not judging you, Tim. Not my place to do that when I've been where you are…There's always something about ourselves that we keep locked away from the rest of the world, Tim. …. Nothin' wrong with it. It's all a matter of personal choice and keeping it all private…. You don't have to hide it anymore."

"… I need this to be real. I thought I could live in these dreams that have been driving me insane for the past few weeks, but I can't. It's too real but not real enough."

"I promise you this is real, …."Have I ever lied to you?...You're afraid to tell me what's really going through that brain of yours. Don't be. I meant what I said, Tim. I'm here for you. Talk to me."

"Is this part of 'for starters'? Tim asked so quietly, it was almost a whisper

"This is part of wherever you want this to go, Tim." Gibbs promised him as he kissed him gently on the temple. …"

***End Flashback***

Oh, yeah. There's no doubt about it. Rule 12 got broken by Gibbs in those gloriously precious moments that Tim McGee let him in. There's no doubt about that at all.

Tony's objection hadn't stopped there, though His accusation had lit a fuse.

"... C'mon, Boss. You know exactly what I mean, here! McGee's hoodwinked you! With that baby-faced kid battin' his puppy dog eyes at ya; it wasn't right – him doin' that!"

The older man is snapped back in time as those words hit him again now in retrospect, the way it really happened sharp and clear in his mind:

There had definitely been NO hoodwinking going on. That much is set in stone. It doesn't matter what any one else believes.

*****NCIS******

Stepping lively off the bottom step and yanking the door to the Cybercrimes Unit open, Tony's fully prepared to attempt to fix things with his probie. It should prove especially easy since Tim's so renowned for not holding grudges. Besides, they've been friends for ages now so they should be able to weather stuff like this, right?

Wait. If they've been friends, why didn't McGee talk to him about any of this? From what Gibbs is trying to make Tony see; the turning his interest from women to guys wasn't sudden at all. In fact, according to the boss, it involved a lot of thinking first. So then why didn't McGee come to him; his older brother of sorts? Surely, he needed someone to talk to?

With these questions filling his head along with a steadily increasing dose of irritation that he hadn't been asked to help Tim sort through it all, Tony's mood has shifted dramatically and so has his willingness to let this go, to be so quick to sort it out without a discussion of any kind. In short, he's not sure he can follow the boss' order on this one.

It's early enough that there aren't but a few Cybercrime geeks around and all of them are already engrossed in their work. Strange as it may be, none of them seem to even be giving Tim's presence a second thought. Tony's relieved about this as it gives him the privacy he needs for this talk.

In fact, one look at McGee's serene expression when he sees it a moment later, is all it takes to push Tony into the completely unhappy mode that has him spoiling for a fight. Here he is, spending the last 12 hours plus, struggling to come to terms with all he's found out since yesterday in the squad room and the reality of Tim's leaving the team, to accept it and move on – and the arrogant probie is sitting there on cloud nine like he doesn't have a care in the world? Seriously? From out of nowhere comes a conversation he's had with Tim that hits close to home right now.

***Flashback****

"I know what's going on in that paranoid little brain of yours, Timmy. You're not the smartest kid in the class anymore and you don't like it."

"No, it's not that...It's just, I enjoyed it more when it was just us. Doesn't it bother you, having Barrett's team around?"

"My life was a lot simpler before she got here."

"How so?"

"Gibbs is giving me grief about sleeping with her."

"You're sleeping with Special Agent Barrett?"

"Catch up, Tim. Whole Navy Yard knows about it."

***End Flashback****

That what the grin on McGee's face is all about? It's my turn to be made fun of for not being the smartest kid in the class anymore or something? Before Tony can think about it, the question topmost on his mind at this very minute, spurts out of his mouth as he reaches Tim at his desk.

"What's with the canary eatin' grin, McGee? Think just because I didn't figure things out sooner, that makes me the class dunce; the one who needs to 'catch up' so you've finally got something to laugh at me about?"

Very deliberately, Tim slowly stands to his feet, taking great pains not to draw any extra attention to himself or the persistent, stubborn, field agent standing in front of him attempting to bully him into hashing things out between them right here at work. With his voice as low as he can take it without it being a whisper, Tim gets in the older man's space just enough to keep this between them, allowing his anger to show through his glare, he lets it rip. "I will not talk to you about this...here!"

An embarrassingly long silent moment later, one spent with Tim successfully out-glaring Tony, the older man silently turns on his heels and leaves the same way he came; unannounced and without fanfare. Pounding the stairs with the outpouring of frustration he's feeling, it's not long before he's back on the squad room's level and striding to his desk.

*****NCIS*****

Tony's objection hadn't stopped there, though, Gibbs admits to himself as he silently settles in behind his desk with just a nod of greeting in Ziva's direction. The younger man's accusation had lit a fuse.

"... C'mon, Boss. You know exactly what I mean, here! McGee's hoodwinked you! With that baby-faced kid battin' his puppy dog eyes at ya; it wasn't right – him doin' that!"

The older man is snapped back in time as those words hit him again now in retrospect, the way it really happened sharp and clear in his mind:

"Damn it, Tim! You really believe your safety is an acceptable casualty in this war you insist on having with yourself?"

Tim shook his head in denial without speaking, his eyes once more gluing themselves to the floor in front of his feet.

"LOOK AT ME!"

Tim did as he was told, this time without hesitation.

"If you didn't want to see where this could go between us; all you had to do is say so! Putting yourself in danger to make the point is unacceptable, do you hear me?"

***End Flashback***

By the time the night was over it had been a whole different ball-game; a new one with plenty of promise for a better tomorrow for both of them. Gibbs smiles softly now, the trust and openness Tim entrusted to him that night, still warming his heart.

"... Tim!"

"Boss?"

Gibbs walked up to him and gently cupped his cheek in his palm. "Remember what I said tonight. You're safe now."

Tim leaned into the older man's rare demonstration of affection, obviously still very hungry for it.

Sliding his hand back around Tim's head and down to his neck just under his hair, Gibbs kept his tone gentle as he told him one more thing. "Everything'll work out. Go on to bed."

***End Flashback***

Yup. Absolutely NO hoodwinking there! The sound of the stairwell door slamming off in the distance drags him back to the here and now more firmly this time and he sets his attention back to his computer screen while he waits for what's coming.

*****NCIS******

Tony's hit his stride as he passes the divider that blocks his view to the rest of the squad room. He's startled in mid-stride at the sight of the boss back in the squad room, his footsteps faltering visibly. Noting with relief that Gibbs isn't even watching for him, but rather seems engrossed in whatever's on his computer, the younger man takes a deep breath, slips into his chair as inconspicuously as possible and boots up his computer while he waits to hear what's coming. He doesn't have long to wait. Less than a minute goes by before the silence in the air is broken.

"Where the hell ya been, DiNozzo?"