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A/N - Tony is a better friend to Tim than what normally appears to be in the TV series, think of last season's (season 11) the more mature Tony.
Chapter 11
"What is your problem Tony?" Ziva demanded, as she continued to watch him pace back and forth.
The pacing had started shortly after Ducky had gone to find Jackson after receiving reassurances from all three of the younger team members that they had no issues with the fact that Tim was in fact Gibbs half-brother; now half an hour later it was beginning to get on her nerves.
"Yeah Tony, I thought you said that you're alright with Tim being Gibbs' brother." Palmer stated.
"I am." Tony growled back, he knew he wasn't being fair to the others but he knew things about Tim the others didn't and Gibbs especially didn't.
"Then I repeat what is the problem?" Ziva exasperated.
"I'm just not sure I'm alright with Gibbs being Tim's brother." Tony replied clearly frustrated.
"Isn't it the same thing?" Delilah questioned; she had joined them just as Ducky was leaving the waiting room, having brought a number of copies of the proof that had been requested.
"No, no it most definitely isn't." Tony stated firmly, only to sigh when he saw the looks of confusion on the others' faces, he was going to have to explain it to them whether he or Tim liked it or not.
NCIS
Ducky had been wandering through the hospital for a while looking for Jackson Gibbs when he finally spotted the man in question just outside the building in the canteen's garden area, sitting on a bench discreetly away from everyone else there. Ducky slowed his approach and waited for the older man to acknowledge his presence.
"Leroy send you?" Jackson enquired.
"Not exactly" Ducky replied, "He is concerned of course, but right now his attention is focus on Timothy."
"Yeah, about that…" Jackson voice trailed off, telling Ducky the other man wasn't yet ready to talk about what was bothering him quite yet.
"You do not have to explain anything to me. Jethro would like to know and Timothy especially will need to know what happened." Ducky informed before he continued with a suggestion, "If you think it might help I can enlighten you a little, to some information I became privy to just about a year ago."
Seeing the other man nod at the suggestion made, Ducky started telling Jackson about the night he came across a frustrated Timothy in the bullpen.
NCIS
Sarah and Gibbs continued to watch Timothy with a new level of understanding and the silence, with the exception of the bleeping monitors, was comfortable; however Gibbs needed to know what was happening with the case and his requirement for coffee was making itself known.
"Sarah." Gibbs spoke softly to gain the young woman's attention.
"Sorry?" Sarah questioned having been pulled out of whatever she was thinking about.
"I'm going to go get an update and coffee can I get you anything?" Gibbs replied.
"Tea would be great." Sarah replied with a small smile, happy to finally be getting some alone time with Tim, even if it would only be for a few minutes.
"One tea coming up." Gibb replied playfully before turning serious. "There are two agents on the door, and I'll only be a couple of minutes, okay?"
"Okay." Sarah replied, her complete focus already returning to the young man in the bed.
NCIS
"Have any of you known Gibbs to go to McGee's place, or Probie mentioning Gibbs dropping by?" Tony questioned, seeing the temporary Forensic scientist's face he quickly reassured her "I know you wouldn't Delilah."
There was a few moments of silence and the older agent could tell the others were contemplating his question.
"When I think about it, no." Ziva responded with a puzzled look on her face; Gibbs had dropped by her place countless times, and she knew it was the same for Tony, having been there a couple of times when the older man had come to see him. "Actually anytime Tim's asked for a favour like needing a lift into work, he's always been outside ready and awaiting, so I have never seen inside his place either, not that it's an area I would consider living in."
"Yeah, but you know where he lives right." Tony stated, he had to agree with Ziva, Tim lived on the outskirts of Silver Springs and it was definitely not the best area to live.
"Yes."
"Well that's more than what Gibbs does." Tony informed them.
"What are you trying to tell us Tony?" Palmer questioned.
"Think I'd like to hear that answer for myself." Gibbs growled startling the group who hadn't been expecting him to be there.
NCIS
"Why are you telling me these things?" Jackson questioned, having been listening to Ducky telling him different stories of Timothy for a while.
"I thought it would give you an insight into the man, Timothy has become." Ducky replied.
"Change my mind you mean." Jackson retorted.
Ducky sighed and shook his head. The saying "like father like son" came to mind when he recognised where Jethro got his stubborn behaviour from, before trying a different tack. "Jackson, I have never been where you are now, so I will not presume to understand how you are feeling, but I will ask why you are so resolute that Timothy is not your son."
"How can he be when I don't remember any kind of relationship in which a child was conceived other than my marriage?"
NCIS
"Boss!" Tony startled at the voice coming from behind him, seeing his colleagues just as surprised made him realise that they had not seen Gibbs approach either.
"Well DiNozzo, I'm waiting." Gibbs growled.
"Ah, boss I'm just saying that you've never been to McGee's place of residence." Tony replied.
"I got that much DiNozzo." Gibbs' acknowledged before he continued "I just wondering what that's got to do with anything, beside you all know my doors always open."
"Well yeah but….." Tony trailed off.
"Rip it off lack a band aid Tony." Gibbs ordered.
"Fine! Tim's never come to you because the only times he's ever needed to you've put Abby first; after all she's your favourite and can never do anything wrong!" Tony retorted.
Gibbs looked round the room; both Palmer and Delilah refused to make eye contact with him, whilst Ziva had moved closer to Tony, laying a supportive hand on his arm
"Tony is correct, Gibbs." Ziva stated as she entered the discussion, receiving a raised eyebrow from the man she continued to clarify, with a sigh she simply replied with one word "Mexico."
"That's just one example!" Tony seethed.
NCIS
"But you have had other relationships." Ducky pointed out.
"Well yeah, I know Jethro told you that, because you know the reason why we didn't talk for years."
"Yes well, hindsight is a wonderful thing."
"Hmm, well surely if I got a woman pregnant she would have told me besides, the kid's too young."
"Both men and women can still produce children even in their fifties; though for women it's less likely." Ducky educated him. "However taking into account Timothy's age you would have been in your late forties and Jethro was nineteen when Tim was born."
"So Leroy was already in the Marines." Jack replied.
"Yes, he joined in 1976 correct?"
"The day he turned 18." Jack confirmed. "Had a rough few months coming to terms with that."
"Hmm, how many months?" Ducky questioned.
"Sheriff Gantry jokes that it took me six months to sober up after Leroy left."
NCIS
"Tim put Abby in danger taking her and those students out there like that." Gibbs growled.
"Yeah, that's what Abby told you wasn't it? Did you ever even ask Tim what really happened?!" Tony retorted.
"Why would I need too?!" Gibb demanded.
"Oh you know, so you got both sides of the story or at least the truth." Tony reply was filled with sarcasm.
"Abby told me the truth DiNozzo!"
"Did she? So she told you that McGee offered his life up for her and the students?" Tony countered.
In the background a couple of soft gasps were heard, but went ignored as the two men squared up to one another.