TAP 10
Tim was awake ridiculously early. He hadn't been able to sleep in. He also wondered what was happening in the investigation of his car. A ringing of his doorbell at 0500 had him reaching for his back up weapon. The one he kept in his lock box by his bed. The one that he rarely uses, he preferred his sig, so he had cleaned thoroughly and loaded the ammo cartridge last night, ready for use, if need be. He didn't think it would be a good idea to shoot an intruder with an NCIS service weapon on his last day employed by them.
Checking the side window and peep hole, he was surprised to see Pete, standing on his front stoop. He lowered his weapon and let him inside. The two men greeted one another verbally, as Tim ushered him inside. Once the door was closed, Pete lowered his bags to the ground with a thud and Tim tucked his weapon inside his jeans. Pulling him close, the two men exchanged an intimate, but chaste kiss. Breaking apart, Pete scrutinised his boyfriend carefully. "Are you OK? Tell me the truth."
"I am shaken, but I'm OK. I didn't sleep well last night, but I am OK." Tim admitted to Pete. Pete thought Tim looked gorgeous, anyways. Gorgeous, but tired.
"As planned, I am taking you to go see the new Star Trek movie, tonight." Pete declared, retrieving his bags and hoisted them onto his shoulder. "And then... We are going to come back here and you are going to sleep, the whole night through. I am going to keep watch, out here. You're going to get some rest, whether you like it or not. I can't have the FBI's newest agent, their best and brightest down on his sleep."
Tim grinned at him. A charming, boyishly handsome grin. The grin gave Pete butterflies and made him nervous. "Maybe you should keep watch from inside my bed. That way I'm really safe."
"Tim?" Pete said, instantly worried. Tim was the one who had wanted to take it slow in the first place, but now he's trying to take it from zero to six in two point two seconds. "What's going on inside that big brain of yours, beautiful?"
"I was thinking about everything that has happened and how maybe we should seize the day." Tim shyly whispered. "Tomorrow isn't promised."
"Don't think that I don't want to, because I do. But I'm going to do you a solid and not sleep with you ... yet." Pete replied to Tim, taking his hands in his. "We don't need to sleep together to show one another how we're feeling about the situation and each other. We just have to be honest with each other. You wanted to take it slow. We both agreed and I'm not yet ready, either. You're not ready yet, either, OK? You might think you are, based on how shit went down yesterday, but I don't think you really are. Now, I'm going to keep my promise. I'll stay and keep you safe, while you sleep; but from out here on the sofa because if I walk in your bedroom with you... Well, you're a walking a sin, that I can't wait to commit. You're a smart man, you do the math."
"You're right, Pete." Tim confessed. Tim knew that he couldn't trust his feelings yet. He had been scared, not that he had admitted it to anyone. He had been scared that it was someone after him, not just a disgruntled co-worker. Pete had seen through his blasé suggestion and had set him straight. He liked that about Pete.
"Good. Now that's settled, can I give you that kiss good night from last night that Tobias refused to give you?" That was it, Tim was laughing, so was Pete. Pete's silliness had the desired effect. It had made Tim laugh. Pete carded his hand through Tim's hair softly, caressing it off his face slightly. Tim held Pete close to him, studying his face. Before Pete lowered his lips to Tim's in a kiss that had been so tender and loving, yet erotic and sensual it had left him burning to burn. All in all, that was probably the most wonderful, yet dirtiest and sensual kiss they'd shared so far. "Now, I've got to run. Muster is at seven and I've still got to take my sister, Sam to the airport shuttle. I'm supposed to be getting coffee, right now. I just needed to see you, to see that you were OK, to kiss you good morning, after yesterday. I'll see you tonight."
"See you then." Tim quipped with a smile, as he laid a doozy of a kiss on Pete, one last time, before he opened the door.
Tim had to make his way over to car rental lot, on foot, twelve blocks from his house. A simple thirty minute walk. He had previously hired a car from them before and he was in good standing with that particular company. As he walked over, he called up and hired a car, sight unseen. The dealer remembered him from when his old beat up Honda, had finally died. They only had a luxury sports car available, but since he had a good rental history with the company. The company was willing to lease it to him on a strict set fee per week, which was both affordable and reasonable. It helped that he was a federal agent.
Standing before the black Chevrolet Camaro, her engine purring Tim was in love. "Enjoy" the leasing agent grinned at him, as he slid behind the wheel and revved the engine.
It drove perfectly, once he reached the motorway, he put the pedal to the medal to test out that bad boy. It drove like a dream and when he pulled into the base security checkpoint, the guard on duty whistled at him. "Agent McGee, Whoa! This is a definite trade up from the Porsche."
"It's just a rental, Walter." Tim replied. "Oh and it's just McGee. This will be the last time I sign in here, as an NCIS agent. Next time I sign in here will be as FBI Senior Special Agent Tim McGee."
"Congratulations, best of luck in your new job." Walt told him with a wave through the gate.
It had felt surreal, to park in the visitor's parking lot. But he didn't feel right parking in what had been his usual spot. The site of the malicious act from the day before. Gibbs was returning from his coffee run and saw McGee climb out of a beautiful black sports car. "Whoa!" he whistled to himself, as he slipped in the autopsy entrance. He had hoped to catch Ducky before his meeting with Vance and McGee.
Looking around, Gibbs couldn't see Palmer anywhere, but that didn't mean that the autopsy gremlin wasn't lurking about. "Duck?" Gibbs called out.
"Ah hello, Jethro." Ducky said as he returned from the store room. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I do hope one of those cups are for me." Gibbs grinned at his friend. "Thank you, I am afraid you find me all alone today. Mister Palmer is sitting an exam in biology this morning. I certainly hope that young Timothy McGee is the subject of your discussion this morning."
"Duck? I know I was wrong." Gibbs admitted, as he hoisted himself up onto the autopsy slab. Before he launched into a the whole saga from yesterday, beginning with the meetings and how he should have spoken up, McGee's car and ending with the frank and honest conversation he had held with Vance outside the diner, last night. "Now, Abby and Tony are gone. McGee's going, he's so angry he isn't even going to finish out the week. I don't blame him, I let him down. He feels like no one has his back on his own team. How could I let it get this far? I did so many things wrong by him."
" I believe that you were blinded by your affection for Anthony and for Abigail." Duck said, coming to stand in front of his friend. "Anthony and Abigail took that affection and ran with it. Made sure that no one else would share their place. Eventually they let you, let Ziva in, but poor Timothy was left out in the cold; time and time again. You were manipulated by the use of the power of suggestion. For Timothy not to come to you, in his darkest hour of need, speaks volumes of how the young man feels."
"That's just it, Duck." Gibbs grumbled. "He came to me and showed me the evidence he had against Tony. He came to me for help. I told him that I'd take care of it. When I confronted DiNozzo, he promised me that he would stop. I stupidly believed him. I knew what he was like, I should have known better."
"Perhaps you were looking at the situation with rose-coloured glasses?" Ducky offered his friend.
"Isn't insanity the definition of doing the same thing over and over again, hoping for a different result?" Gibbs asked with a smirk. "Who's the insane one here? DiNozzo, for repeatedly breaking into McGee's apartment? Abby? For hoping that she can blackmail her way into a free pass? Or me; for repeatedly asking him to cool it on the hazing and bullying? For taking their broken promises as gospel."
"Come now, Jethro. Insanity isn't even a recognised psychological term used these days." Ducky chastised lightly. "You're all only human, even you. I also suspect that a person who is truly sorry, whom offers a sincere apology, may be forgiven. MAY BE. We both know that the young man has an immense capability of forgiveness. But you have to be sincere, I won't have that young man hurt any further. I admire the boy, dearly. I am truly heartbroken at the loss this agency will endure when Timothy's transfer is complete. I just hope he stops by before he leaves."
"I'll make sure of it, Duck." Gibbs grinned at his friend as he slipped down from atop the autopsy slab. "I've got a meeting to get to, thanks Duck."
"Anytime, Jethro." The kind, Scottish ME grinned at his friends, as the doors swooshed when he exited autopsy.
Trusting that Ziva was busy, working hard, away at her desk and not expecting anyone else in there, Gibbs directly took the elevator up to the Director's level, bypassing his bullpen. As he exited the elevator, he looked down and saw Tim get off at the bullpen level, no doubt by rote repetition. He saw Ziva approach him, they exchanged a few words, before the Israeli did some thing she very rarely ever did. She hugged him, tight. Gibbs could see that Tim was hesitant at first, but when he put his arms around the young woman, she held on tighter. She kissed his cheek and Gibbs couldn't help but smile, at least Ziva had worked out that her reaction was less than stellar. That she needed to apologise.
Seeing Tim smile at Ziva a final time, he watched as Ziva pat his cheek, affectionately and made him promise to keep in touch with her. With a final wave, he took the stairs two at a time, up to the mezzanine level and Gibbs moved off the railing to meet his former agent. "Look, McGee ... Ah, Tim ... " Gibbs stopped him, gently. "For what it's worth, I'm not good at apologies, that's why I have a rule about them. But I owe you a huge one. DiNozzo's inability to control himself, it's on me. I should have tried harder to rein him in, Abby too. I am sorry."
"Thank-you Gibbs." Tim said, as the two men made their way toward Vance's office, where he was waiting. "I appreciate your apology, I accept your apology but I'm not ready to forgive you yet. Yes, you should have reined Abby and Tony in and that's on you. But at the same time, they are both adults and it is not your job to regulate their behaviour."
"Come on in McGee, Gibbs." Vance said waiting for them by the door. Leon Vance felt a little more emotional at the upcoming exit interview than he usually felt. He steeled himself together, gave himself a mental pep talk. Seeing Gibbs and McGee, walking into his office, side by side. Talking, not arguing, was like a balm for his battered skin. He hoped that Gibbs had stuck to his word and he had apologised to the young man, profusely.
The exit interview was enlightening and cathartic for Tim. Of course, he had never faulted Vance and maybe if he had trusted Vance more and bought Vance in sooner, his transfer to the FBI would have been unnecessary. That was on him and Tim accepted that fault about himself and the situation. But Vance also acknowledged that Gibbs had made it hard to trust Vance by his failures as a team leader. Not all of the onus was on Tim.
Overall, McGee felt calmer and more relaxed, than he had when he arrived. Gibbs felt like a small burden had been lifted off the weight of his shoulders. He and Tim had buried the hatchet, so to speak. In that meeting, he had issued a number of apologies for further individual incidents of noteworthy remembrance. Vance felt at peace, but he kept a lid on his regrets. He regretted letting Tim transfer without putting up a harder fight.
"I am having second thoughts about letting you leave the house looking like this." Pete leered at Tim from the front door when Tim opened it. "You look good enough to eat. Are you sure you don't want to see a bad foreign film instead? Or we could stay at home and have some fun of our own instead?" Tim was wearing his one of his favourite button down shirts, onyx black with a silver vertical striped pattern, his favourite jeans, his boots and his casual fitted black micro suede jacket.
Both Tim and Pete knew that the slightly older man was teasing Tim. They were both big Star Trek fans and were both excited about the premiere of the latest film version. "Nope, I was promised we were going to see Star Trek. We're going." Tim grinned and leaned closer to Pete, kissing his lips chastely. "I'm driving too."
Pete had admired the beautiful black Camaro sports car, when he had pulled up in the drive this evening. "I'm very OK with that." Pete grinned at his boyfriend, as he noticed Tim's eyes look him up and down. Being three inches taller than Tim and more solid, they had very different body types. Both had the tawny dark blonde hair, but while Tim kept his long on the top and styled it, Pete's was shorter and general styled with gel or wax. Pete also had a light dusting of facial hair, which was more of a result of not being clean shaven in the last three days. But it had been neatened up with an electric razor and Tim didn't mind the feeling of the stubble. Pete loved seeing Tim look him up and down with that look on his face. But it was a look that always tempted him, to rush into things, head first. "You keep looking at me like that and I'm going to be breaking my promise to you."
Tim laughed at him, as he locked up and armed his house behind him. He knew that look revved Pete up a little. He enjoyed it when Pete would deliberately flirt with him. He got all flustered and Tim thought that it was adorable.
Tim had purchased the tickets online, so Tim held their spot in the queue while Pete got them some popcorn and a soda to share. This was the premiere and it had been sold out for two weeks already. They had been looking forward to this for a while now.
Vance and his wife were huge trekker fans, Jackie not as much as Leon. But still, Jackie had surprised the man last week with tickets to the premiere and told her husband that she had already organised a sitter for the kids, Kayla and Jared. Jackie stood in queue waiting for their seats, while Leon was getting the popcorn and his pre-requisite goobers box.
When he arrived back at his wife, he scanned the crowd by habit, impressed that the crowd seemed to be a good mix of young and old, couples and friends. He squinted, as he gave it a second scan for threats. He thought he saw McGee, three couples in front of him, but he wasn't sure. He dismissed the thought out of hand, because he was still smarting over the verbal tongue lashing that Clayton Jarvis had given him over McGee's departure, late this afternoon.
"Honey, this is it." Jackie announced eagerly as the line began to file into the Dolby Titan XE cinema. Leon took Jackie by her hand and lead her to their seats, three rows from the back. Just off centre. and they settled in to the newly furnished leather chairs, before quickly lifting the arm rest between them to allow them to cuddle into one another.
"Babe," Pete offered Tim to sit first in a low and sexy bedroom voice, his hand indicating the younger man should choose what seat he would prefer. Tim moved into his hand, which allowed Pete's hand to caress his ass barely, as he sat. Pete took his seat beside the younger man, with a smirk and immediately rested his arm across the back of the chairs, as Tim lifted the arm between them. Allowing the couple to sit closer than friends would normally sit. This was the first time they had ever been in public on a date, and shown the public that they were a couple. Up until this point, they had never so much as indicated that they were more than friends.
"Tempter." Pete whispered in Tim's ear, as the previews began playing. "You're playing with fire, Tim."
Leon watched the couple settle in front of them, it was clear that the two men were on a date. He couldn't get over how much the man looked like McGee from the brief glance he'd had of the man's face. Despite the fact that his hair had fallen across the right side of his face and he didn't get a clear view. Jackie grinned at him then indicated to the couple in front of them with a grin. She loved seeing same sex couples out, enjoying themselves, just like heterosexual couples did. The freedom of it all. If Leon had any worries about the couple in front of him, he didn't let it show. In fact, he and Jackie snuggled into watch the movie together and he didn't give them a second thought for the rest of the film. Just as the other couple in front of him, did t have a care in the world for the duration of the film.
When the film was finished, the cinema began to file out. As the couple in question stood up, Tim turned around to stretch and came face to face with Leon Vance. "Ah, hello." Tim blushed, he felt like a kid who had been caught sneaking out of his house with the cute boy next door.
"McGee." Vance greeted him with a smile, he hoped was a reassuring one. Pete heard the man behind them greet his boyfriend by name and he turned around too, afraid of who he would see. "Didn't know you were a trekker fan?"
"Since I was a little kid." Tim replied, tersely. "Excuse me." Tim squeezed past Pete. Pete gave him a questioning look, but he could see that Tim was panicking. Pete looked back at Vance, seeing the black man and wondering who he was. He gave the smiling stranger a smile of his own and followed Tim's hasty exit out of the cinema.
"Who was that, Darling?" Jackie asked, witnessing the entire exchange. She thought the shorter man looked vaguely familiar, but couldn't place him. "Was that...?"
"One of my agent's. Former Agent, actually. He resigned on Friday. It was his car that was damaged in the parking lot yesterday." Leon explained as he and his wife made their way out of the theatre. He had told Jackie the bare bones of the incident, because it had been troubling him so much, he couldn't switch his mind off.
"I take it that you didn't know, he was gay?" Jackie asked, based on the reaction that the shy young man had had to seeing her husband standing before him. At Leon's shrug, she put on her sternest face. The one she used when the kids knew they were in deep strife. "Leon Phillip Vance, you go and look for that young man and you will tell him, that everything is OK. That he can count on your discretion. Go! If we don't find him, you will call him and speak to him. You should have immediately told him it was OK. What if he's not really out yet, like Michael? Go."
Vance forced his way through the crowd, scanning it for Tim and his date. They couldn't have gotten too far. He was searching the crowd; high and low, repeatedly. He had already passed his wife, twice and he was desperate for the men's room. He went into one at the back of the cinema foyer. He'd snuck back in when he was in the crowd, looking for McGee. It was mostly empty, as it was only used by viewers during their session. As he approached the urinal, he heard a voice from the stall at the far end. He'd know that voice anywhere. It had belonged to McGee.
Leon lingered by the door opening it and closing it as if he had left. He knew that if McGee knew he was there, the young man wouldn't come out. Seeing both men emerge from separate stalls had Leon letting out a relieved breath that he didn't know that he was holding. He sidled up beside the couple at the sinks. "Tim?" He asked, seeing the man in the actual light and getting himself a good look at the man who was with him. "It's OK. I promise. I know it's not any of my business. But are you OK?"
Pete's questioning look at Tim, had Leon surprised. "I'm OK." Tim managed out. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Pete, this is Leon Vance, Director of NCIS. Director Vance, this is Pete Kennedy."
"Nice to meet you, Pete. Tim, I told you in my office today, please call me Leon. You don't work for NCIS anymore." Vance said, as he offered Pete his handshake. "I take it, not many people know. About the two of you."
"Neither of us are out, per se." Pete explained as the three of them left the men's room together. "My mother knows, but that's it, but not about us and Tim isn't out at all. Both of our jobs are another big reason why we haven't come out any further."
"What do you do, Pete?" Leon Vance asked. Twenty - three years as NIS and NCIS Agent had him pretty confident that Pete was in the military.
"Navy, sir." Pete answered. "Anymore than that and Jarvis would have to read you in."
"That explains it, then." Leon said, as he stopped the men from walking a moment. He could see his wife, just up ahead, waiting for him. "I want you both to know that you can count on my utmost discretion. Should either of you choose to come out, you will have my full support. Pete it was lovely to meet you, the three of us should catch up for a beer sometime. Tim, the offer I made you in my office earlier today, it still stands. Anytime, you name the place."
"Thank you, Director." Tim said and he was counting on Leon keeping his word. He didn't want to risk his father finding out, until he had absolutely no other choice.
"Let me introduce you to my wife, Pete." Leon said smoothly, before looking closer at Tim. "Tim, I'm sure that Jackie would love to see you, again."
"Just for a moment, Director." Pete agreed, taking his boyfriend's cues. "I have something else planned to show Tim and we have a celebratory dinner waiting for us at home."
Leon smiled at the two men, he had to admit to himself, they were a good looking couple. He had wondered how long they'd been together and if it was serious. He had known in the past that McGee had dated women and that he had always ended up with his heart trampled all over. "Jackie, Darling. this is Pete and you remember Agent Tim McGee."
"Lovely to meet you, Pete." Jackie smiled warmly at him, putting him and ease, as she offered her hand for a handshake. "Hello again, Tim."
Tim had been to the Director's house on occasion, in the past; either for a security detail, or for a web or internet tech problem. Jackie Vance had also called NCIS once, looking for Tim when Jared needed help with a math problem "Hello again, Mrs. Vance."
"How many times must I tell you to call me Jackie?" She admonished the young shy agent. "Especially now you don't work for my husband. Congratulations on your new job and the promotion. You must be so proud of him, Pete."
"I am. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." Pete smiled at Director Vance's wife. "But as I was saying to the Director before; we have a celebratory dinner waiting for us at home."
"Let us walk you to your car, we've got to get back to the sitter." Jackie smiled at them, as they four of them made their way over to the black Camaro. "We must have you two over for dinner, sometime."
"The Director has my number." Tim smiled as he hit the fob on they key chain and the black sports beauty beeped and lit up. "It was a pleasure to see you both."
"Nice wheels." Leon chuckled, as he held open Tim's door for him. "I'll be in touch and good luck over at the FBI, Tim. You need anything, you can give me a call, OK?"
They waved them off as Pete hit the button for the top to go down, even though it was on the cool side. Tim waved to them a final time and let the car strut its stuff, as he left the parking lot and the Director behind him.
"That was weird, right?" Tim asked, as Pete kissed his neck and Tim unlocked the door. "The Director and Mrs. Vance inviting us to dinner."
"Oh yeah" Pete said hotly into his neck, as Tim turned the final key to unlock his front door. "Is he always so intrusive?"
"Not usually." Tim murmured between kisses, as he led the older man into his living room. "Right now though, his lips are on my ass, in hope that I won't sue the agency. Not that I would, but apparently I can."
"I'm not sure how I feel about his lips on your ass." Pete sassed, as he kissed Tim, this time caressing the young man's tongue with his own. "The only lips I want near your ass is mine. Even if I do have to wait patiently for my turn."
Tim gave his whiny jibe a small chuckle and Tim didn't last another fifteen minutes. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Pete helped settle him into bed and kissed him good night on the cheek.
As promised, he retreated to the living room and camped out in his bag and a pillow, on the sofa.
