What did you say your name was ?

Chapter two:

"Hey, Boss" said McGee.

"Tim" returned Gibbs.

McGee mirrored Ziva in a staring at Gibbs' latest project. He shuffled awkwardly and then said,

"I'm worried about Tony. He took Judy being Midge's murderer pretty hard."

"Hmmm" Gibbs said.

"And then there was finding out Dr. Cranston's tribal name for him, and Director Vance yelling at him".

"Uh, huh" said gibbs. McGee remained silent so Gibbs decided to take a short cut, "what was her name for you?."

"Pensive academic" McGee said, "Pensive academic! What did she mean? Sure I think a lot and sure I've got some degrees but that doesn't make me a pensive academic, does it?"

"Well it does go a long way towards it" said Gibbs a little mischievously.

"But NCIS doesn't need a pensive academic" McGee said worriedly, "do you think she means that I shouldn't be a field agent?"

"No. No, I don't think that" Gibbs said.

"Because I don't think a Pensive Academic would be a level ten elf lord or speak basic Klingon, do you?" McGee said hotly.

Gibbs struggled to keep a straight face, "No, I'm sure he wouldn't" he agreed.

Or be able to pass NCIS firearm proficiency tests... or fight Ziva hand to hand... or..." he trailed to a halt. "You don't think I should go back to Cyber Crimes, do you, Boss?"

Gibbs pulled himself together. "McGee, I told you before, 'you're a good agent'. You can't let people tell you otherwise. All your skills make you a vital part of the team. Even the Klingon stuff has come in handy. Dr.Cranston had these word pictures just to make you stick in her mind. I think she picked on you most, um, unusual characteristics. She wasn't passing judgement on your fitness to be a field agent."

"Oh..., well, I guess you wouldn't keep me on the team if I was a Pensive Academic, would you?".

"No, I wouldn't" agreed Gibbs, "go home, McGee. Get some rest."

"Okay, Boss. Guess Tony will be here soon anyway. See you tomorrow."

"Night, McGee."

But although Gibbs waited another hour, he didn't get the anticipated visit from Tony. Finally, he gave in. He wasn't getting any work done and found he couldn't relax while waiting for the sound of Tony's footsteps coming down to the basement. He sighed, laid aside the sandpaper and untouched bourbon and ran upstairs. It wasn't long before he was knocking on the door of Tony's apartment.

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