Hurt By Sultan76 Rating: M
Tim was royally pissed off which was a feat in itself considering his normal temperament.
It was well past midnight by the time he got home dead weary which could account for some of his anger. The rest of it though sat squarely on the shoulders of his boss. Boss was a friggin loose term after today, it was times like this he almost wished he was in cybercrimes.....almost.
He had gone from being groped by his boss to being almost ignored for the rest of the morning to being stuck on some neighbourhood canvassing in the freezing January weather. Add to that it didn’t seem like he could do anything right once he did get back to the office when every breakthrough he had wasn’t fast enough, the information not good enough and the orders kept coming, impossible barked commands that had him chasing his tail making something out of nothing.
The Boss’ normally short temper seemed to be aimed at him, as if groping him this morning in the gym showers wasn’t enough.
Tim stood under his own shower as hot as he could stand it and just let the tension out and the warmth in to the muscles. Soaping up he started scrubbing his skin, finally feeling clean and warm for the first time that day.
He felt his anger starting to dissipate as his muscles got warmer and looser and by the time he finally emerged the water had run cold but his skin tingled with being rubbed too hard.
After reheating some of the previous nights takeout he sat himself in front of his computer and rubbed his blurry tired eyes, switching on the machine to check his e-mails. There weren’t many, a few updates and subscription reminders that he transferred into a folder for another day. Yawning he took his laptop to the couch and sunk into the plush seat to open the rest from some friends and one in particular from Sarah. He always loved hearing from his sister and after a day like he had just had he needed cheering up.
He had a beautiful way with words, sharp and witty that had him chuckling and feeling better. Halfway through her diatribe at the cafe barista who couldn’t seem to make her afogato right, there was a knock at his door.
Frowning he set the computer aside and got off the couch. The clock on the stove read 1am and that didn’t bode well. Looking through the peep hole he sighed as his gut feeling was confirmed.
“Boss? What are you doing here?”
“Need to talk Tim.”
“What? Something else I screwed up today?” Tim couldn’t help himself as the anger he had dealt with in his shower was back.
“Can you let me in McGee?”
Tim hesitated; he really didn’t want to have this conversation.
“Please Tim.....please I need to talk to you?”
It was the please that got to him, he couldn’t remember the last time his hard assed boss use that word.
Cursing his own good manners in weakness he unlatched the door, sure he’d let him but that didn’t mean he had to play along and be nice.
He let the door swing open before turning his back on it and retreating to the kitchen, leaning against bench at the far end of the room in a show of power.
He watched Gibbs walk in carefully, looking around before catching him in the eye.
“Nice place.”
“You didn’t come here for the decor Boss, what do you want?” Tim was grateful he sounded more confident that he felt.
“We need to talk.”
Tim huffed out a laugh. “WE?”
Tim watched in amazement as his normally unflappable boss looked....well....uncomfortable and that thought alone almost made him laugh out loud.
Jethro squared his eyes and took a deep breath giving McGee a hard stare as if he could see right into him and suddenly Tim felt scorched under its intensity.
“OK, I need to talk.”
Tim swallowed hard and almost imperceptibly nodded. “So talk.”
****
“Can I...can we sit?”
Tim merely motioned to the dining chair but didn’t move from his position.
Gibbs let a half grin spread across his face, secretly proud at his agent’s stubbornness.
“I figured I needed to talk to you about this morning Tim.” The use of his first name did nothing to set Tim’s mind at ease but he wasn’t about to give in.
“I guess....I owe you an apology.” The young man spluttered, of all the things he thought he would hear from his Boss’ mouth, this was the last thing he expected.
Gibbs watched Tim’s eyebrows rise and almost laughed at the look on his face.
“Yeah I know....never apologise...but.....”
“But what?” Tim wasn’t sure he liked this other side of his Boss, but he was curious to hear more.
“I owe you an apology Tim, I should never have...come on that strong but I want you to know something.” Jethro waited, feeling out the silence before he started again.
“The way I did what I did?....for that I am sorry. What I’m not sorry for is for doing it in the first place.”
He looked up at Tim who had creases in his forehead in pure confusion.
“Tim...McGee...I’m not good at this, hell three failed marriages can surely tell ya that-“
“Three marriages to women...”
“What?”
“Women...it’s always been women.”
“Yeah well maybe that’s where I failed Tim.”
McGee shook his head and blew out in exasperation.
“What exactly are you saying here Boss?”
“Dammit McGee you don’t like makin’ this easy do ya?
Jethro got up from the table and moved so he was facing Tim, leaning back against the table.
“What I’m sayin’ McGee...Aw hell Tim...”
Gibbs swallowed and walking up to Tim he grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed him relieved beyond measure when the young man started kissing him back.
Tim was the one who broke it off first though, posture stiffening in panic before pushing Jethro away.
“No Boss...you need to leave.” Tim was panting hard and not just from the rush of the kiss.
The change in Tim startled Gibbs. The man was rigid, fearful even.
“Tim please....will ya just listen to me.” Gibbs pleaded, taking a step forward but cringing when Tim backed himself further away so he was now pressed up against the wall. Jethro stepped to the side, making a cautious circle to give Tim the room he seemed to need to feel safe
“Is it so bad that I lo- that I’m interested in you Tim?”
“You couldn’t be interested in someone like me.” The voice was quiet but resigned yet if possible it had the edge of longing.
“Explain McGee...why do you presume I couldn’t be interested?” He kept his voice low yet forceful.
“No one ever just wanted me for me...you can’t, you don’t-....if it’s a man you’re looking for you should try Tony, he seems more your type.”
“DiNozzo? How you figure that Tim?
“He’s confident, stronger than me, better looking....just better, at everything.”
“Do you think so little of yourself McGee?” Gibbs watched the young man’s face carefully as it crumbled.
“I won’t let it happen again.” McGee’s eyes seemed far away, his memory recall creating a strange sad look on his face.
“Who McGee? Who hurt you to make you feel like this?”
“He did...and I trusted him. I let him get close to me.” Tim’s voice whispered, as if afraid of spilling a safely kept secret.
TBC
Part One: Oh Crap, Part Two: Favourite Things, Part Three: Why?, Part Four: Mind Games