Title: Family by Qzeebrella rating PG

[qzee.livejournal.com]

Title: Family
Author: Qzeebrella
For: witchyemerald
Specific prompt 2 (optional): After McGee's father dies, he finds out just how much the team became his family. Either Slash or Gen
Genre: pre-slash with a hint of het.
Pairings: Ducky/Penny Langston, Jimmy/Breena, a hint of Tony/Tim
Category: Death fic, angst, family
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were! All credit to Belisario, CBS, etc.
Summary: Tim learns that Sarah, Penny, and his mother are not his only family.
Warnings: Death fic, Angst, slight AU
Authors note: Although set vaguely within the current season I am ignoring Ziva's departure. There is one mention of a new SecNav but no name or gender is given. Also have tissues nearby just in case.
Additional warning: The fic starts with the Admiral still alive.

***



Tim sat at the right side of his father's bed just watching him breathe. The agent knew that his father did not have much time left. The admiral had slowly wasted away and now there was so little of him left. Tim moistened a sponge swab with his dad's favourite wine and moistened the lips, dipped it inside the mouth.

The admiral's breathing changed, growing shallower and Tim saw his dad's nurse check the pulse. His dad's hand was cool to the touch. His dad's eyes opened and looked right at Tim.

"Son... proud." His dad whispered. A deep inward gasp and then all of the air seemed to leave the body at once. And then silence.

The admiral had always had a presence that had filled the room. A presence that had slowly dwindled and now it was gone. And all Tim could do was swallow tears as the nurse closed his father's eyes.

His father was GONE. Just like that and he suddenly felt all alone.

"Here Timothy, come over here." Doctor Mallard said and helped Tim to the couch. "Do you want me to call Penny and the others?"

"No, I'll do it. I just need a moment Tim replied.

"As you wish." The older man replied and then went to the admiral's body to confirm the time of death.

Tim took a deep breath and gathered all his strength. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and began making calls.

"He's gone." Was all Tim said to Gibbs before hanging up on the older man. Tim then called his grandmother, then his sister, then his dad's girlfriend, and then his own mother. He knew Gibbs would handle calling the team and that everyone else in his dad's life could wait. He finished the call with his mother and was just setting his phone down on the coffee table when Gibbs walked through the door. The younger man wasn't surprised by how quickly Gibbs had arrived for he knew what his boss's driving was like and he knew what the older man's gut feelings were like. He stood to greet his boss and was pulled into a hug and held close.

He swallowed hard. Tim was so glad to see this "other dad", so relieved to confirm with his own eyes that Gibbs was still okay, that the relief he felt had penetrated through the shock he had been feeling. He now could feel a storm of grief threatening to swamp over him and he was fighting it. Tim still believed that he had to be strong for his family, still believed that it would be a sign of weakness to cry.

"It's okay. I'm here." Gibbs told the younger man. "It's alright to let go."

***
Gibbs had already been on his way towards the admiral's house when Tim had called him. His gut having told him that his boy would need him. Tim had become his father's primary care giver shortly after the admiral had left the hospital for the last time, having been given confirmation that the doctors could do no more to extend the man's life. That the time had come for palliative care and comfort measures only. The admiral had gone back to his house by the sea, with his girlfriend in tow, but it was only a few days later that the woman had called Tim to ask him to take over.

The younger man had not hesitated to put his life on hold so that his dad could spend his remaining days at home as opposed to in hospital. Tim had asked Gibbs for an extended leave of absence which Gibbs had been happy to grant. Then Tim had arranged for an apartment sitter to take care of his own place, packed up his clothes, and moved into his dad's place for the duration.

The admiral had promptly called his attorney so as to arrange for Tim to become his power of Attorney - both medical and financial - and then to arrange for a Do Not Resuscitate order, and then put into writing exactly what he wanted when it came to medical care and everything else he could think of.

That had been only a month ago. It seemed that as soon as the admiral had admitted that there was nothing more that could be done that he gave up for he had rapidly gone downhill. Gibbs had made sure to go check on Tim daily, to make sure that his agent, his boy was taking care of himself too. Jethro had seen Penny Langston there often, usually accompanied by Ducky. Had seen Sarah come and go with either Tony or Ziva in tow. Had seen Abby curled up with Tim as he took a nap. He had just stepped out the door once when the admiral's girlfriend came to visit. He had even bumped into Tim's mother as she came to drag Tim away for an hour or two. Gibbs knew that Jimmy and Breena had brought dinner every night to give him a break and to visit with him. He knew that even Vance had gone by to visit. All these people had helped Tim handle all of the other people who came by to visit John McGee. The man's friends, his crew mates, and even a few big wigs had all come by at one time or another.

Tim had borne a huge burden though. One of responsibility of his father's care, with the added weight of the grief and pain he so obviously felt as his father wasted away. The anguish of seeing his dad in pain, the over whelming stress of doing everything he could to help his father and yet cursing himself for not being able to do more.

McGee had borne all of that and had managed to be a comfort to his family too, both blood and work family. He had arranged for Ducky to invite Penny to stay at his townhouse. Tim had accepted Ziva's offer to have Sarah stay with her. He had even made a few phone calls to ensure that John McGee's girlfriend would have friends nearby to help her. Tim had taken the time to listen to all of them, to be there for all of them, and to give them time alone with the admiral as needed.

Tim had been tough for the last month but now he needed to let that go. He needed to let himself lean upon others. He needed to let the others help him now with everything that needed to be done and Gibbs was determined to make sure that Tim got what he needed.

***
Gibbs walked through the door and saw Tim shut off his pone. He saw how lost Tim looked for a moment. Jethro reached out and pulled the younger man to him. "It's okay. I'm here. It’s alright to let go.” He assured his boy.

Tim swallowed hard because he was not ready to let go as he still believed that he needed to be strong for his family’s sake. He still believed his father’s adage that “real men don’t cry.” Yet the pain of losing his dad was beginning to hit his heart, was beginning to let itself be known through the shock that had originally settled around him. Guilt too began to creep up on him, the guilt of allowing his father to shut him out for so many years. The guilt of never being quite what his father had wanted him to be and the feeling that he should have been able to do more for his dad. Even though he knew that there was nothing more he could have done.

“Why didn’t I try harder?” Tim whispered.

“You did all you could Tim.” Gibbs reassured his agent. “You did all you could and now you need to let go.” He told his boy.

And the dam broke. A flood of tears began to fall as Jethro comforted his boy and helped him into another room.

Moments later the coroner’s van arrived and Jimmy got out, bringing a gurney with him.

**
Jimmy took the gurney inside and set it near the bed and then went to help his mentor. He helped Doctor Mallard clean the body and dress it in uniform. Then they held a moment of silence to honour the passing of both the man and the officer. Then Mrs. Langston arrived and Jimmy stepped outside to give her some time alone with the older man and her son’s body.

The young doctor stepped back inside when Sarah arrived with Ziva, he hugged her and comforted her until Tim was ready to take over. Then he joined Ziva in the kitchen and made coffee as she made tea.

When Doctor Mallard said it was time, Jimmy helped him clear the room that the admiral’s body was in and then helped his mentor take it away. They drove the admiral to NCIS and took him down to autopsy. Soon a class of students arrived to learn what they could from the autopsy, just as the admiral had wanted; having wanted to make one more contribution to the world he was leaving behind.

**
Tim was sitting on the sofa when Tony arrived, Sarah on one side of him and Penny the other.

“Hey Probie, what do you need me to do?” He asked his friend.

“Take over the phone calls.” Tim answered.

Tony saluted his probie and began making calls to the people who still needed to be informed, using the check list that Tim left by the phone. The agent made sure to check off each person as he spoke to them and did his best to keep track of everyone who called to offer their sympathies too. DiNozzo saw Abby arrive with Mrs. McGee, both carrying trays of food.

Sarah got up and went to her mother, the two of them hugged and cried on each other. Tony could only hope that he would be able to get a few minutes alone with Tim soon. Maybe when Sarah, Penny, and his mother didn’t need the probester as much. He nodded to himself as Gibbs patted him on the back.

Tony smiled slightly. “Any idea if the admiral will be going to Arlington?”

“I’m not sure if he is. Tim mentioned something about his father wanting his ashes to be scattered at sea. I know that they were trying to get all the permissions needed to do that and believe they managed to get all that arranged for ‘when it’s time’ so I’m hoping there won’t be any problems when it comes right down to it.”

“Are you anticipating any?” Tony asked, worried that Gibbs’ gut was sounding a warning.

“No but no matter how well you plan these things, little things are bound to crop up. Things that you didn’t anticipate having to be done, we will be there if or when that happens though.” Gibbs answered.

“Of course we will.” Tony said.

**
Ziva prepared plates for Tim and his blood family and then kept an eye on him to make sure he ate. She saw as Tim and Sarah eating and so went back into the kitchen for a few minutes.

"Can you give me a ride back to Donald's?" Penny asked as she stepped into the kitchen and saw her puzzled frown. "Doctor Mallard's."

"Of course." Ziva replied.

"Drive like I do." Tim ordered as he stepped into the kitchen.

"I shall try." Ziva promised.

"Thank you my dear." Penny said. "I've heard a few horror stories about your driving. Not all from Tim."

"I do not believe that my driving is bad but I will do as Tim says." Ziva assured the older woman. "I know how much you mean to him."

"He means a lot to me." Penny told her. "I like to think that he takes after me with his scientific mind and his determination to do what is right."

"He is a good man." Ziva said and smiled.

"Yes and I keep hoping that he will find the right person for him." Penny told the younger woman.

"I believe that he has." Ziva informed her.

"If you mean Abby, that will only work if Agent Gibbs relaxes that ridiculous rule of his." Penny pointed out.

"I mean someone else and I am certain that they will over come all of Gibbs' objections, that is if he objects at all." Ziva told Penny.

"Oh? Who?" Penny asked.

"It is not for me to say." Ziva demurred.

"Of course," Penny sighed and then got into Ziva's car. "I just wish that Tim still confided that sort of thing to me. I just worry about him. As I worry... I mean worried about... about my John. My son and I had our differences but he was still... still my little boy."

"Your heart will keep the memory of the love you had for him safe. Just as my heart keeps my love for my sister, my brother, and my parents safe." Ziva assured Penny.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."
**
Once everyone else had left, Tony dragged Tim out of the admiral's house and back to the senior agent's apartment, not wanting his probie to be alone.

"So... should I ask about what's going on in between Penny and Ducky?" Tony asked.

"They're friends." Tim replied."I am kind of hoping that Penny will settle down with him but.. they haven't made it official and I'd rather not think of my grandmother and anyone as being anything more than friends."

"I got you." Tony said. "The duckman would make an awesome step granddad though."

"He would, but even if he and Penny never get together in that way, I still think of him as my honorary grandfather."

"I sort of think of him as an uncle." Tony told Tim.

"That's because you're MUCH older than me." Tim told him.

"Hey! I'm not THAT old." Tony protested.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

"Just for that I'll make you take the couch you whipper snapper you." Tony threatened, not really meaning it.

Tim grinned and then swallowed hard.

"You okay?" Tony asked.

"Just remembering.." Tim replied. "I was around six and my dad's dad was staying with me and mom and Sarah. She was just born, born while dad was deployed. I don't remember being told where dad was serving but I suspect it was somewhere in the Middle East at that time and my grandfather started calling me 'you young whipper snapper.'"

"Was it because your grandfather was so old at the time?"

"More because I had told him that I wanted to be a detective when I grew up and not a sailor." Tim replied.

"Oh. Due to the sea sickness thing."

"Actually, no. I didn't get the 'sea sickness thing' until my car accident when I was sixteen. It damaged something in my inner ear and after that any time I got into a boat, I would get sea sick. Before that I had no problems being on a boat. I just never wanted to be in the Navy. Even back then I knew I wanted to be a detective and help catch bad guys. That or be an astronaut."

"I think I was chasing girls and pulling their hair when I was six. Well that and annoying the other boys as much as I could get away with. I don't remember thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up back then."

"You haven't changed." Tim said and smiled.

"Why improve on perfection?" Tony asked.

Tim laughed for a moment and then broke down crying.

Tony pulled Tim into a hug. "It's okay, let it all out." Tony said and felt Tim relax into his arms determined to hold him close and to shelter him. He could only hope that it would be enough.

**
The next few days seemed to both drag on forever and go by ridiculously fast to Tim. Tony had helped him deal with the funeral home, the new Secretary of the Navy, and all the million and one little things that had cropped up. Tony had been there to hold him when he cried, to give him a head slap whenever Tim began feeling guilty for not doing enough, and had been there to listen to him whenever Tim had wanted to talk about the three different men John McGee had been. Tim told him all about the officer, the father, and all too rarely, the dad that John McGee had been.

Tim was amazed at all the team had done for him and his blood family. From Ducky and Ziva taking care of Penny and Sarah for him, to Abby running interference between his mom and his dad's girlfriend, and to Gibbs who always seemed to show up wherever he was needed most, just as he was needed most. It had all been so much and he was grateful to all of them so why was he hiding from them now?

Why was he sitting on a park bench near the pier where the service would be instead of making his way there? Was he afraid that if he stepped onto the pier and went over to where all the chairs were set up and where the urn with his father's ashes would be that he couldn't pretend that his father was deployed anymore? No... that wasn't it. It was more as if he felt that he had no right to be here. He had, after all, refused to speak to the admiral for eight years and they had only just begun healing the rift in between them when the man had died. Right now, in this moment, he felt like he had been a terrible son and just couldn't imagine being welcomed at his own father's funeral.

*SLAP*

"Sorry boss." Tim apologized and rubbed his head.

Gibbs glared at his agent. "How many times am I going to have to tell you that you did everything you could." Jethro asked the younger man.

"Sure, at the end. But I refused to call him for over eight years."

"Did he call you during that time?"

"Well, no, but.."

"No buts. It was a two way street and in my mind he was more to blame for the split. He wasn’t able to accept that you were different from him, not until the end. You were the one to take the first step in reconciling and you were there for him when he needed you. You're a good son and a good man and it's time now to see him off one last time."

"On it boss." Tim said and stood up, walking with Gibbs down the pier to where the service was going to be held.

One section of the pier had been close for the service and arrangements made for one of the admiral's staff to take the ashes out to sea after the service was over. A hell of a lot of paper work and permission slips had had to be signed to make this happen but it had been what John McGee wanted and had been what his son, Tim, made sure would happen.

**
Tim sat in one of the chairs provided, Tony on one side of him, Sarah on the other. Penny sat in between Sarah and Ducky, leaning on the older man as she cried. Tim's mother was sitting with Ziva in another row and his dad's girlfriend was sitting with Abby. Gibbs was next to Abby, Jimmy and Breena next to Ziva. His work family was taking care of his blood family. Tim was so thankful for them all.

**
Tim listened to the twenty four gun salute and watched as two of his dad's former staff members folded the flag. They came to him with it and he accepted it as Sarah clung to him and sobbed. One of them saluted him.

"Thank you." Tim acknowledged him and he withdrew.

Tim reached out to Tony and the older man helped him stand. Ducky was holding Penny, Sarah and Ziva nearby. His mother approached them and Tim went to her, "I'm sorry."

Mrs. McGee clung to her son and cried as Sarah joined them. As they held onto each other, the admiral's ashes were carried onto a waiting boat. Ducky and Penny followed them on board and then the boat departed.

"Come on, let's head to Gibbs. Ziva and Breena have a luncheon waiting for us." Tony told them.

"Okay." Tim said and let go of his sister and mother. He watched as Sarah joined Ziva and his mother joined Abby. McGee knew that Penny would join them later and that, thankfully, his father's girlfriend was not going to be there. She was nice enough but she wasn't really family.

Ziva and Sarah reached Gibbs place first of course. Sarah tried to claim that the former Mossad officer had driven like Tim but if she really had then Gibbs would have reached his own house first, followed by Tim and Tony. Tim decided not to argue though for it was obvious that his sister had arrived safely.

A few minutes later Abby showed up with Mrs. McGee. Jimmy and Breena close behind them.

"Gibbs you're not allowed to EVER flirt with her." Abby ordered him. "I know she's a redhead and really nice, which should go without saying since she is Timmy's mom..."

Gibbs shut her up by kissing her on the cheek. "I know."

"I take it that you have a thing for redheads?" Mrs. McGee said.

"Normally but you're Tim's mother and Tim is one of my boys so..." Gibbs said.

"I understand." Mrs. McGee said and stepped into the house and almost right into Tim's arms.

"Three point one four!" Mrs. McGee exclaimed and then burst into tears.

Tim pulled her into his arms and then maneuvered them away from the door.

"I shouldn't." His mother protested.

"Yes you should mom. He was your husband for years and you loved him. It's okay."

Gibbs stepped back and headed toward Tony.

"Give them a few minutes."

"Okay but you have to know that I will ask Tim about the3.14 thing." Tony said.

"It's his middle number or symbol." Sarah informed them.

"You mean his middle name." Tony corrected her.

"No, I don't." Sarah replied. "My mom was a high school teacher before Tim was born and she wanted to put the symbol of Pi or at least the first five digits of Pi on Tim's birth certificate where the middle name would usually go but the attending doctor would not let her. Which left Tim without an official middle name but his unofficial one is still Pi."

"Apple or cherry?" Tony asked."Ow. Thanks boss."

Sarah giggled. "So the head slaps do work."

"They do but you'll be like Abby. You'll never get a head slap from me." Gibbs promised.

"Will she get cheek kisses and Caf Pows?" Abby asked.

"Cheek kisses, yes, Caf Pows no." Gibbs answered and then kissed Sarah's cheek.

Sarah's chin wobbled and then she began to cry.

Abby wrapped her in a hug. "What's wrong?"

"Dad used to kiss me right there and now... now he won't ever do it again."

Abby soothed the younger woman and Gibbs stepped aside.

Tim saw when his sister began to cry and almost stepped back from his mom to go to her when he saw Abby take care of Sarah so he just kept on holding his mom as she cried.

"Hey McApple Pi, you want me to fix you a plate?" Tony asked.

Tim snorted. "Yeah, and my mom one too. We'll go sit on the sofa."

"Your team is weird." His mother told him.

"Yes, almost as weird as my family."

Mrs. McGee lightly punched Tim's arm. "We are not weird, were just different."

"If you say so mom."

"I do."

**
Penny and Ducky arrived an hour later. Penny leaning heavily on her friend.

"I hate cancer." Penny said.

"So do I." Ducky said as he helped her to the loveseat. "It has taken away too many of my friends and family."

"I just wish.." Penny sighed. "I wish I could step back into the past, to when John was a little boy causing mischief and pretending to be a sailboat captain, just so I could give my little boy one more hug."

"I know." Ducky said as they sat together on the loveseat and held her close.

**
As the afternoon wore on Penny told stories about John the boy and the young man. Tim told stories about the officer and the dad. Mrs. McGee told stories of how she and John got together and the team began to feel like they had known the man personally instead of just having met him.

Sarah was the first to leave, going back with Ziva to the Israeli's place, not wanting to be alone yet. Then Ducky and Penny left together to go to his place where they would share a bed as they had every night she stayed with him.

Jethro went to his boys and pulled Tim into a hug. "Take a few more days off. Keep Tony company and keep him out of trouble."

"I'll try but I can't guarantee that I will be able to stop him from getting into trouble.

"Hey!: Tony protested.

"He knows you too well." Gibbs said.

"Yeah." Tony agreed with a smile.

"Now you two get out of here." Gibbs ordered.

Tony and Tim left, the older man driving them back to his place.

"I'm here for you Tim."

"I know Tony, thanks. For everything I mean."

"You're welcome." Tony said and pulled him into a hug.

**
Somewhere on the calm sea where all sailors go, at least for a while, John McGee smiled. His boy was in good hands. His mother and his daughter were both taken care of. He could rest easy.

He was joined on his boat by a very special little girl with red hair and her mother and their friends Kate and Jenny. They sailed off together, into the sunset and John McGee was determined to take care of all of them for Gibbs just as Gibbs would take care of his family for him.

Comments

[taylorgibbs.livejournal.com]

Aww! Sad but uplifting!

[qzee.livejournal.com]

thank you.

[singer-s-lament.livejournal.com]

Terribly sad but heartwarming when the team rallied behind him.

[qzee.livejournal.com]

thank you.

[witchyemerald.livejournal.com]

Thank You, Thank You!

I love a good "Team comes together for Tim" Fic and the Team as a family.

Ducky and Penny would make a good/interesting couple. The writers can get on that any time now :)