"Freeze, Federal Agents…Drop your gun." Special Agent Gibbs shouted.
"Nope" the stranger answered, as the flash and then the searing pain blasted into his body, his gun now dropped, slid along the ground to stop by the now cooling body of one "Steady" Eddie Edwards, who was yes now very steady, lying on the deck.
-oOo-
He lay in the hospital, the drugs keeping him sane….or was that insane….they were in his blood stream he watched the strangers milling about. The line on the heart monitor went from a blip to a straight line_
"I'm sorry, so sorry," Dr Mathews said to the Director…..
-oOo-
"Daddy," as he saw the girl run to him, "Daddy."
"Kelly here, don't touch daddy." He saw his wife shout, she stood looking at her husband.
"Shannon?" he questioned quietly.
"Probie, not good to see ya. You're far too early, Cantina not open yet." He heard a familiar voice laughing. He turned to see Mike standing, smoking a cigarette.
"Thought it was banned here, only in the other place." He asked puzzled.
"Nope, as long as I keep my space." Mike replied.
"Daddy," Kelly shouted again, "Mommy, I want to hug daddy."
Gibbs felt the pain in his chest, he gasped, looking down he saw the strangers round his body.
"Stand back…..defibulator…."as he saw his body arch, and the line become a blip again.
"Mommy they hurt daddy," as Kelly clung to Shannon, "Daddy." The child shouted.
Gibbs saw the strangers stand back, and the Director smile.
"Welcome home Gibbs." Vance said, looking at Jethro, but Gibbs' body and face was showing no emotion; he was home in body but not mind.
-oOo-
Flashback
"Grab your gear" Gibbs shouted at his team.
"Who's dead?" Tony shouted, grabbing the keys that Gibbs had tossed at him.
"No-one…..yet…hostage situation, Quantico….and right up your street… DiNozzo….cheerleaders."
They arrived at and went straight to the situation, Gibbs the Military Police, "What we got?" he enquired.
"We got one shooter, but the girls seem OK."
"Shooter a Marine?" Gibbs enquired.
"Nope, local was dating one of the girls, daughter of a Captain." The Commander replied.
"Grudge?" Gibbs further questioned.
"Could be, more like split up, you know how young girls change boyfriends like their underwear." The Commander laughed.
"Nope Sir, I don't, never been in a situation like that." As he wondered what it might have been like if Kelly had got to this age, "But we got a name?"
"Yep Sir." The Commander answered.
Present Bullpen
"All your fault Probie, you hesitated again," Tony whispered
"Certainly did Tim….said I would have your badge next time."
"I didn't want to hit Gibbs," Tim replied.
"No you didn't, did you, Steady Eddie did." Ziva snapped.
"Now team, as Senior Field Agent I will, in my capacity as team leader take…."
"Control…..or power, Tony?" Ziva continued, not seeing Vance creep up behind.
"Neither," Director Vance shouted, "I will be taking command here, since Agent Gibbs would have done what any Marine would have done for his unit, he protected…..and yes McGee," now turning and looking at Tim, "He took the bullet for you…..yes from what witnesses say he pushed you out of the way….but that split second Agent McGee, was enough for Edwards to shoot. I don't think," Vance continued, now looking at the team, "To be honest, I don't think anyone of you would have had the selfishness to do that."
"This I got to see, never seen you as an Agent, Leon."
"How is the Boss?" Tim asked.
"He is stable, holding his own, Dr Mallard and Ms Scuito are sitting talking to him. I don't think he should be left too long in their company."
"Too right Leon, I wish Abby would stop twittering on, and if Ducky tells me one more story about his family or being left on a bus I'll…..scream."
"So if you would care to take turns, in between your usual duties, I would be very grateful." Vance finished saying.
"I don't have much to say to him really, I mean it would be a bit like talking to my dad" Tony began to say.
"So true Tony, and I don't think I could like to have a runny commentary of flat liners, or one liners come to that."
"I don't really have much in common. I could sit and talk of my travels with the late Director Shepard, but…"
"But I loved Jen, she hurt me, so yes I don't think so either."
"So McGee you started this, you finish." Vance now ordered.
-oOo-
"Sorry Boss," Tim said sitting looking at the inert form of his boss. The gentle hum of the vibrating be keeping the sores at bay.
"So you should Tim"
"I should maybe resign…again. I mean the last time, you said you would have my badge, if it happened again."
"Like hell McGee you're a good agent."
"I look at you…" Tim continued, now racked with remorse.
"You hesitated, Tim."
"Boss, I look up to you," Tim began to stammer; "I look up to you as the father figure I didn't have….you care. I thought he didn't. I was always doing wrong."
"Did this time….you hesitated."
"I wanted to make sure….." Tim continued looking at Jethro.
"McGee, in our game you are either the quick or the dead. You have to judge in that split second."
"…..make sure I didn't hit you." as Tim looked at the floor.
"Hit ME? Edwards was going to shoot you…I pushed you out the way."
"He was looking at you…."
"Yeh, he was looking at me but his gun was pointed at you, I saw him start to pull the trigger."
"His eyes were on you and then you moved."
"He was going to kill you."
"I'm sorry…." Tim replied, giving Gibbs a water smile.
"Hey Tim, never say you're….."
"Sorry….shouldn't have said that. Sorry being a sign of weakness…..which…..I am,…Sorry and weak."
"Which?"
"Which, I'm not really….weak I mean."
"Good."
"Hey Boss you listening, because I thought I saw you begin to smile."
"Nope, not smiling, must be your imagination."
"Hey Boss, you crying?" as Tim saw the tear, begin to run down Gibbs cheek, "Nurse," as Tim pressed the panic button.
"See there you go again over emotional."
-oOo-