Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Leaning against his brothers desk, Tim took time to look around the MCRT area bullpen, only subtle changes had already been made in this particular part of the bullpen during his eight week absence but it didn't bother him after all he knew the shifting of the desks closer together was an attempt by Vance to make room for the new liaison team and other areas had changed dramatically overnight according to his brother, though why the older man was starting quite so soon was still a mystery.
The bullpen was thankfully quiet, still an hour until the rest of his old team would arrive and officially two hours until he was supposed to be in, but still not being allowed to drive meant catching a lift with his brother, who had gone off to get coffee for them both, not that LJ minded, Gibbs had taken to having a brother like a duck to water, it was Tim that had struggled with the changes in the first few weeks.
That's how Tim calling Gibbs LJ had come about, in the first few weeks he had continued to struggle to call Gibbs, Leroy or even Jethro, often falling back to boss, but one sunny Saturday afternoon in the backyard spent telling stories with the rest of the team, including Delilah and Vance, the term had just slipped out as Tim gentle admonished the older man about a prank he and some of his buddies had pulled off during his marine days.
Tim had been mortified, but Gibbs had raised a questioning eyebrow before cocking his head and stating he like the sound of it. When Tony had tried using it a few minutes later, the head slap he received for his cheekiness had them all laughing as Gibbs announced that only his brother was allowed to call him LJ.
Later as evening fell Gibbs hinted to Vance that he was thinking of returning to work as Tim was now able to manage well enough on his own to not need someone constantly with him. Vance had informed Gibbs to take a least another week as after he returned his team would no longer be out of rotation and being a man down things would be hard going.
That's when Jackson had announce he needed to return to Stillwater to sell his house and store, everyone including Gibbs and Tim had been floored by the announcement, but the older man would not be discouraged from his decision stating he had missed to much of his youngest sons life and that he was determine not to miss any more.
With that in mind the three Gibbs's had gone and spent two weeks of quality family time in Stillwater, before Gibbs and Tim returned to Washington, leaving Jackson to finalise everything at his end, including saying his farewells to friends and neighbours whilst the younger pair looked for a place for him to still have his independence whilst being close at hand. When Gibbs had returned to work, Vance had been true to his word and had kept the team continuously busy from then on
That had been a little over three week's ago and Tim had supposed to start back the following week, but the doctors at his final check-up hadn't been convinced, even though he knew that it was only going to be desk work, so Tim's return had been postponed for another two week.
Now he was nervously waiting for the work day to beginning, not in a bad way as he wasn't nervous about working in MTAC after all he worked up there a lot of the time on big case's anyway, nor was he nervous about supervising the team, he had after all managed cybercrimes effectively during his time in the basement, no he was just generally excitedly nervous about being back and others reactions to his new if only temporary position.
"Hey" Gibbs greeted holding out a coffee for Tim
"Oh hey, sorry lost in thought" Tim replied smiling his thanks as he took the coffee
"I could see that, anything in particular?"
"Just the last few weeks and wondering why Vance is already moving the furniture around" Tim reply before taking a mouthful of coffee and letting out an appreciative groan
Gibbs smirked "You mean he hasn't told you?"
"Told me what?"
"There been a change of plans" Gibbs informed as soon as the word left his mouth he could see his brother getting worried and he rushed to reassure him just as the elevator doors opened revealing the Director "Hey it's nothing to worry about, okay."
"Good you're here, let's go upstairs and talk"
NCIS
"Morning" Tony greeted Ziva as they meet up by the front door having walked in different directs from the parking lot
"Morning Tony, today is the big day is it not?" Ziva replied
"That it is, Probie is no longer Probie, reassure me that I'm not the only one thinking that's weird?" Tony requested as he made his way through security.
"No you're not the only one, but it is also a good thing for Tim"
"Yes it is" Tony agreed as they entered the elevator
"What think we should work out is what we should be calling him now, though I guess we could just stick with Tim"
"Tad informal, but we can't call him Gibbs I mean Gibbs is Gibbs…" Tony voice trailed off as they got off the elevator. Several other agents were standing around looking at the new lay out trying to figure out what was going on "Huh looks like Vance has been playing musical chairs again"
NCIS
The three men spent the first three quarters an hour debating Tim's surname, Jethro of course wanted Tim to use his biological surname, but agreed with Vance that there could be problems and that they needed to be able to distinguish which Gibbs people were talking to or about, in the end after a heated exchange between the older men Tim came up with the solution which he thought could work.
"How about I double barrel my surnames" Tim suggested
Gibbs grumbled something under his breath about not liking the link to the Admiral but it was barely audible.
"Not doing it for him" Tim responded "My mother married an honourable man and he choose to raise me as his own, even though he knew I wasn't, I have happy memories from that time and I'd like to honour him, but I want to be a Gibbs too. Outside of work I will be Timothy Gibbs, the paper for that is already going through. Here using the McGee name will not only honour the man I thought was my father but it would help distinguish us. The question is which was round it should be"
"McGee-Gibbs or Gibbs-McGee" Vance stated
"Hmm, now you say it out loud it's a bit of a mouthful" Tim stated with a screwed up face
"Gibbs Junior" Gibbs threw out "I'll be Gibbs and you can be Gibbs Junior"
"Junior? Really?"
"Why not?" Gibbs huffed back
"Tim could just stick with McGee" Vance reasoned
"No absolutely not" Gibbs put his foot down
"Gibbs can be Gibbs and I'll be Timothy Gibbs, sorry junior just doesn't cut it for me" Tim shrugged
"Let's see how it works and re-visit if necessary" Vance suggest looking at the two, who exchanged quick looks before nodding in agreement "Okay onto other business."
NCIS
"What are you doing here?" Tony questioned having looked up from his emails to see Michael Curtis, an experience field agent for the domestic violence team, walking into the MRTC's bullpen area with a box heading for Tim's old desk.
"I've been transferred Tony" Michael informed
"But you're not a Probie agent and were supposed to be getting a new Probie" Tony responded
"Apparently we are" Michael responded
"Wait, what but there only four desks" That's when Tony noticed that Ziva's desk was very clean and clear "Ziva?"
NCIS
"Now, as in right now?" Tim stated in stunned amazement.
"Yes Agent Timothy Gibbs" Vance replied in response "Now as in right now"
"But I thought I was going to be supervising MTAC covering maternity leave until everything was sorted" Tim replied shock still evident in his voice.
"You were until last week, but three weeks ago Dornegot broke his leg in two places, he's well enough to be working, but obviously can't do anything but desk work, so he's going to work in MTAC, which means we can bring forward the start of your official new as Supervisory Special Agent"
"Wow, okay but I don't have a team" Tim pointed out
"Yeah you do" Gibbs replied
"Boss?" Tim fell back into the old habit, but Vance cut in before Gibbs could respond with anything but a roll of his eyes.
"Your team will consist of a member of Cybercrimes Edward Tanner, whom you have supervised before and is very eager to work with you again, a field agent I have personally selected, who is most definitely capable and has already accepted the position, the forensics will temporarily be covered by Miss Fielding until whilst she trains Lauren Watson for the position. All that's left is to find you someone with MTAC experience and I have personally whittle the choose down to these three all of which are available to start as soon as we get them transferred here, so you need to make your choice today"
"Okay, guess I have a team then, but you never said who the agent is" Tim
Vance smiled as he gestured them out the door "It's a surprise"
NCIS
The trio made their way onto the balcony and stood watching the humdrum of the bullpen as everyone settle into their desk before Gibbs called out gaining everyone's attention "Alright people listen up"
"Thank you Gibbs" Vance acknowledge before turning his attention back to the bullpen
"As of today we have a new structure and I not just talking about the desk layout. We have a new team, head up by newly appointed Supervisory Special Agent Timothy Gibbs" Vance indicated to Tim, who just gave an embarrassed nod "This team is a liaison team, a team any department or field team can call on for help with a case, something you have all been asking for, for a long time." As the murmur increased Vance held his hand up in a request for silence "Make no mistake this team is more than qualified and will also be handling cases of their own in due time."
"Now I am sure your all wondering who is going to be on this new team, let me assure you the team has already been selected." Vance paused and looked directly at Ziva. "Ms David are you ready to take up your position as Senior Field Agent on the Liaison Team"
"Honoured and ready, Director" Ziva replied smiling at the shocked on Tim's face
"Good now I'm sure Edward Tanner will be here momentarily" Vance reasoned
"I'm here Director" The man responded breathlessly as he came round the corner from the stairwell carrying what looked like two heavy boxes "Would have been here sooner but the elevator was busy"
As Tanner finished speaking Delilah walked out with Lauren Watson "Good morning Miss Watson ready to start your training?" Vance questioned
"Yes sir" The shy blond version of Delilah replied, whilst Tim and Delilah exchanged knowing smiles of their own.
"Very good, there we have it people, our new Liaison team, minus one person who will be joining us once they transfer in"
For a moment there was stunned silence, before the agents realised nothing more was going to be said and they turned their attention back to what they had been doing before the announcement had been made and the normal humdrum of work took over once again.
Vance looked at Gibbs and then at Tim "Alright you two get to it"
"Yes sir" came the response from the pair who grinned at each other before walking down to stair way side by side as brothers and equals.
Okay folks there you have it, hope you enjoyed. Will start working on the re-write of my Mexico story soon as I have had a major change of mind concerning that particular story, so expect to see it disappear soon - when it comes back it will be called Mexico Connections