Another Dream

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.

Timothy McGee-Just a Dream?

Tim arrived home from a rough few days of work. The last case they caught left them running on fumes as they tried to find out who had killed a Marine Staff Sergeant. Thanks to an idea from Tony, it sent them looking into the background of the Sergeant's wife to find the killer. The man was jilted by the wife, and killed her husband in retaliation. The perp also did not go down without a fight, as Tim's face showed a shiner beginning to outline his left eye. Thankfully, they corralled the killer, and brought him in.

He declined the offer for drinks with the team, saying that he wanted to go home and ice down the bruising to keep it from swelling up around his eye. Truthfully, he wanted to go home and think about the dreams that were beginning to torment him. Oh, they started out innocently enough. The first dream had been about Kate surviving the rooftop incident with Ari, which was a nice dream for him. Since then, however, they'd spiraled out of control.

He dreamed of him and Abby getting back together, something that he knew would never happen in real life. He also dreamed of Tony and Kate starting to find something in one another, and becoming an item. He dreamed of going with Tony to pick out Kate's ring, and helping Tony plan how he'd ask Kate to marry him. He dreamed of Tony and Kate's wedding. He even dreamed of seeing Kate in the hospital after giving birth to her and Tony's daughter, and Tony running in after the birth because he'd been caught up on an undercover gig and couldn't get out in time. He dreamed that he was asked to be little Kelly's godfather, and dreamed of the christening ceremony where it became fact.

He dreamed of him, Abby, and Ducky going over to Gibbs' place to check up on him, since no one had seen him in several weeks. What struck him about the dream was the fact that when he woke up, he could smell sawdust and bourbon, two scents everyone associated with Gibbs. He also remembered the stinging tone Gibbs used in dealing with Abby, who was considered his favorite among the team.

The dreams from last night, however, had Tim on the edge of his own emotions.

*Dream 1*

"Thanks for coming with me, Kate." Tim said as they walked down the sidewalk in D.C. "I really need help in finding the perfect ring for Abby."

"It's not a problem, Tim." Kate said, waving a hand as if dismissing the issue. "We both know Abby is very unique. The ring you want has to be equally as unique."

Tim nodded as they continued, keeping an eye out for the store they would be visiting. "I'm just not sure what would be unique enough, you know?"

Kate agreed. "Oh, I know."

Tim saw the store sign and veered off to his right, Kate following him. The store specialized in vintage and antique jewelry. "We're here."

As they entered, Tim looked back at Kate and saw that she was impressed with his decision. "I'm sure you'll find something to fit Abby here, Tim."

Tim nodded, and dismissed the jeweler, asking to take a look around for themselves. They split up, wandering around the store to see what was available for jewelry and rings, looking for the one that specifically screamed Abby.

Tim looked down and saw it. It was a beautiful ring, created in what Tim though was white gold. It had a black stone with a unique cut as the centerpiece. Small diamonds surrounded the black stone, casting off a fiery brilliance around the black stone. It also had a matching band of the same color stones set in it.

Tim turned to Kate, who was three cases over. "Come take a look at this one, Kate. I think I found it."

Kate joined him in seconds, beckoning the jeweler over. "The black stone ring there, can you tell us more about it?"

"That ring is beautiful." The jeweler said. "It is a fourteen carat white gold ring, with a three-quarter carat Peruzzi cut black diamond as the center stone. The cut is one of the old mine cuts, but does wonders for this black diamond. The diamonds surrounding them are much smaller, but their clarity is astounding. It isn't as old as some of the other rings in here, but it does come with a band set with black and white diamonds. It's a perfect engagement ring for someone who is quite the unique individual."

Tim smiled. Abby would absolutely love the ring. He looked over to Kate, who smiled.

"It's perfect. Abby will love it." She said.

"Glad we agree." Tim said. He looked over to the jeweler. "What size is this ring?"

The jeweler took out a ring measurer and slid the ring on. After a few seconds, he said, "The ring is a size eight, and so is the matching band."

"Great!" Tim said. "It matches the size of the woman I'm going to ask to marry me. I'll take it."

The jeweler smiled, and took out a jeweler's box and set both rings in it. "There you are. I'll take care of the transaction." The jeweler wrote up a slip, and Kate gasped. "That's a lot of money for that ring."

Tim looked at the number, and knew he could afford the ring easily. "I don't have to worry about price. My books have made me a lot of money." He handed over his credit card. "Besides, I know how much Tony spent on your ring. You have no reason to complain."

The jeweler came back and handed Tim his credit card and the box. "I just need you to sign the receipt and the slip, and you're all set."

Tim quickly scrawled out his signature on both slips of paper, and slid them back to the jeweler.

"Thank you. I hope your soon to be fiancée enjoys the ring."

"I believe she will."

*End Dream 1*

Tim shook his head to clear the memory of that dream from his mind. The dream came off as eerie to him, because he remembered seeing that exact ring last week in the store front of a jewelry shop in D.C.

The second dream, while a major blow to the psyche, he attributed to the fact that he has always had a plan in mind for when he planned to propose to a woman he wanted to share his life with. He figured his subconscious filled in the little details to make it his proposal to Abby.

*Dream 2*

It had been a week since Tim had given Abby a baker's dozen bouquet of black roses, and telling her that he'd love her until the last rose died. What he didn't tell her was that there was one fake black rose in the bouquet. He smiled, remembering the email he had received from her at work, telling him she needed to talk to him after work. While he had gotten off work at a decent time, for a change, one of the other teams needed Abby to run some fingerprints. She'd finally called an hour ago, telling him she was on her way.

He played with the ring, anxious for her to get her and get this well-planned proposal out of the way. He heard boots clomping their way down the hall outside his apartment, and smiled. As he heard the door open, he quickly closed a hand over the ring and looked up into the doorway. Seeing her there made his smile just a bit brighter. He noticed that she was carrying the fake rose from the bouquet.

Abby looked at him and smiled. "Until the last rose dies, huh?" She said, lifting the rose just a bit. "Kind of melodramatic for you, right?"

"What can I say, Abbs? I like my symbolism." Tim replied.

"What is the symbolism behind this?" She asked.

"My love for you has and always will be a forever kind of thing." Tim said. "Even when I met you years ago, I was taken with you. I don't normally do something like get a tattoo to impress someone, but I did it for you. That's how I knew it was a forever kind of thing." He stood up and made his way over to her. "I do have something to ask you, though."

"Okay." Abby said, not sure what he was going to do.

She gasped as Tim went down on one knee and opened the hand that was closed. "Abby, will you marry me?" He asked.

She felt the tears start flowing as she saw that he was offering her him, for the rest of their lives. She knew that there was only one answer.

"Yes." She said, smiling. "Oh yes, I'll marry you!"

Tim fluidly stood up and slid the ring on her finger. He kissed her then, the kiss being tender and full of promise.

*End Dream 2*

He sighed as he leaned over the coffee table for the remote to the TV. Was it too much to ask that the dreams stop? He was being shown something that he would never be able to have, and he knew it. Just knowing that the most likely dream to come next was his and Abby's wedding was enough to send his thoughts spinning out of control.

He stopped as he saw the shine of metal sitting out on the coffee table. Seeing a ring and a piece of paper sent him into the "Someone is out to kill me because I am a Federal Agent" mode, and he was off checking his apartment to see if his place was broken into or if someone was hiding in the apartment. After several minutes of working to clear the apartment, he sighed and holstered his gun. He picked up the ring, and if Tim had to guess, it looked like it would fit his finger perfectly. The ring was either made of titanium or gunmetal, and had an interesting insert. At first glance it looked to be carbon fiber, but it had a circuitry type pattern to it in cobalt blue.

"This would be the type of wedding band I would want." He said aloud, knowing no one else was in the apartment with him. It seemed cruel to tempt him with what he couldn't have, but then he looked at the piece of paper and stared in shock at his own handwriting.

Tim,

I can assure you that what you've seen in your dreams is real. Abby and I are quite happily married, and she's also told me that we're also expecting our first child. I know you're wondering about the 'how' and the 'why' of this letter and ring. I sent the ring along because Abby chose the ring when she decided to purchase it for us. It is a titanium band with a carbon fiber insert. Your eyes aren't kidding you, you do see the cobalt blue circuitry pattern. I bought another one and sent it with this letter. I wanted you to have this, and when the time comes, explain that this band is what you want.

I leave it up to you as to whether or not you want to wear it or leave it until it is time. If you wear it, though, I can almost guarantee that Tony will do everything he can to find out where you got it. Tell him what you like.

Things happen for a reason, Tim. Maybe that's why you didn't take the position in Okinawa?

Timothy McGee, February 14, 2012

P.S.-To prove to you who I am, your confirmation name is Xavier, and you've been toying with making it your middle name, except for the fact that it messes up the "Thom E. Gemcity" penname.

Tim stared dumbfounded at the letter. How is it that he gets a letter from himself three days from now, but a letter that describes the life he wishes he had?