"Come Here. Let Me Fix It" - NCIS

Title: "Come Here. Let Me Fix It."
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: G
Pairing: Timothy McGee/Nick Torres
Warnings: None

Disclaimer: NCIS and the characters herein are owned by CBS. This is a non-for-profit, personal use of their setting and characters.

McGee growled as he struggled with the impossible piece of fabric around his neck. Torres turned to look at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's this stupid bow tie!" McGee exclaimed. "I can't get it on right! It's always crooked, or drooping, or..."

"Come here. Let me fix it," Torres said, gesturing McGee over with his hands.

McGee rolled his eyes and walked over, head tilted up as Torres wrestled with the tie for him. "There we go," Torres said after a minute.

Looking into the mirror in front of them, McGee begrudgingly admitted that Nick did a better job with the bow tie than he could ever do himself. "Thanks. I don't know how Ducky handles these things everyday," McGee grumbled.

Torres laughed. "Surely you've had to wear a bow tie before?" he asked.

"Yeah, but someone else always has to help me with it," McGee sighed. "I can never do it on my own, and it sucks."

Torres just smirked, and said nothing.

"What?" McGee asked.

Torres shrugged. "It's nothing."

"What is it?" McGee pressed. "You don't smirk over nothing."

"It's just...kinda cute, you needing help with that. I can see the ladies loving getting to fix your bow tie before you walk in somewhere important," Torres said.

McGee brought a hand up to the bow tie in thought. "You think?"

"If they like doing it with regular ties, then they love doing it with bow ties. Bow ties are only for special occasions," Torres said knowingly.

"Ducky wears one every day," McGee challenged.

"Ducky is the exception, not the rule," Torres replied. "And besides, to him, every day has a special occasion. He's an infuriating optimist like that."

McGee laughed, because it was true, and absolutely something that Torres would see as infuriating. "Don't tell me you don't like optimists?" he asked.

"Not really," Torres said, wrinkling his nose. "In small doses it's okay, but if someone is always optimistic it drives me nuts."

"How do you stand Bishop then?" McGee asked.

"In small doses," Torres said simply.

McGee laughed at that response. "What is it with you and having deadpan answers?"

"Maybe I'm just that funny," Torres said, smirking.

McGee rolled his eyes. "Yeah, somehow, I doubt that."

Torres mocked offense and shoved McGee, who shoved right back. They undoubtedly would have wound up in a wrestling match on the floor had Gibbs not come in and barked, "McGee! Torres! Get out here and get your earwigs in!"

"Yes, boss!" the two said, walking out of the changing room they had been using.

Bishop looked them over and whistled. "You both clean up nice," she said appreciatively.

"Who cleans up better, though?" Torres asked, cocky grin firmly in place.

Bishop looked between the two and grinned. "Actually, Nick, I think McGee cleans up better."

McGee laughed and Torres held a hand to his chest. "I had to fix his bow tie for him! Doesn't that take away the appeal?"

Bishop shrugged. Nick growled. McGee just laughed.