Chapter 1: Leave the Past to the Past
The alarm clock resounded against the barren walls. McGee yawned and rubbed his eyes. He had no idea why he had taken on such a stupid task. However, here he was waking up in a house with nothing but a computer and a sofa bed. Nothing else…well, except the obnoxious alarm clock that was blaring in his ear.
He yawned again before picking up the phone to dial his sister's number. The phone rang multiple times. However, McGee knew not to hang up. She'd get the phone eventually.
"Hello." Tim McGee could hear in his sister's voice that she was still sleepy. "Is this you, Tim?"
"Yes." Tim groggily crawled out of bed. He shuffled through his duffle bag looking for clean clothes. He was sure that Tony would be teasing him over the wrinkles in his dress shirt and pants. "I stayed. I've stayed for a week here. This house isn't haunted. Sarah, there is no reason this place won't sell."
Sarah plopped back against her pillow. "Grandma….I…I just…Are you sure you didn't hear anything?"
"Listen, Sis." Tim pulled out a towel from his bag. "I need to shower. I have work. I know you want to hold on to this place. But we need to sell it. You keep wanting to find things wrong to tell any buyer that you see. First, you tried to say the place may have termites or any other bug you could think of. Then you said you could swear you smelled mold. Now you claim it is haunted. Neither one of us needs this big house. It is time to sell it."
"Grandpa built that house with his own hands." Sarah bit her bottom lip. "That tree house in the back yard was where I got my first kiss. You built that thing a ma-bob in the attic that we swore we'd find alien life with. It was our place to be loud and carefree as kids and a place to get away from the parents when we were teens."
"I know, Sis." McGee did understand. He loved the place too. But it was going to rot down before either him or her would ever need a place this big. "Sometimes, we just need to put the past in the past. Someone else may need this place. It can be their new beginning."
Rachel huffed out in exasperation. "Fine!" She flipped over in bed to her belly. "But please pick an owner that has kids and not some spoilt rich person looking to make this into their showplace."
"It does have that potential…" McGee smiled baiting his sister.
"Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim." She whined. "Promise that we both agree on buyers."
"As long as you actually pick a buyer." Tim smiled through the phone.
Sarah smiled back as she sat up. "Deal." She ran her hand through her brown locks. "Thanks for waking me up this early. I don't even have classes. It is Saturday. Doesn't Gibbs believe in giving you a weekend off?"
"Sometimes." McGee chuckled. "He actually said we get this weekend but Tony insisted on leaving early yesterday. Ziva agreed with Tony. I, of course, followed the pack. Until this morning, I realized I had never finished the last report."
Sarah laughed a little in a teasing voice. "So McGoofy got stuck working on a Saturday."
"You're a McGee too." Tim raised his eyebrows at that. Even if Sarah couldn't see him.
"Yeah. I know." She pulled her feet under her. "I just love that Tony teases you. He seems like your older brother."
"I guess Ziva seems like a sister." Tim stood holding up his shirt. He peered at it thinking Tony wouldn't tease him because Sarah was right. He wouldn't even come in today.
"No. Gross." Sarah hopped out of bed. "That would make Ziva and Tony siblings. That's gross…Maybe she's like your sister in law."
"That would make Tony and her married." McGee still stared at his shirt wondering why he hadn't hung it up the night before.
"Duh. I still agree with you on Tommy and Lisa." Sarah yawned as she stretched. She then proceeded. "I got to go, Tim. You've woke me up and now I'm craving some breakfast."
"Hey." Tim put his shirt down giving up hope for it. "You want to meet somewhere or I pick you up?"
"Sure." Sarah beamed. "I'd love to have breakfast with my big brother before he heads to work."
"Cool." Tim missed his sister sometimes. He rarely seen her due to work and her school. "I'll pick you up in about an hour."
"I'll be ready." Sarah started to hang up. She paused. "I love ya, Tim."
"Love you too, Sis." Tim grinned as he hung up the phone. They had started saying I love you to each other and their parents when their grandmother passed away only two short months after their grandfather. They wish they had told them more.
"That was hilarious!" Sarah laughed as she took her last bite of pancakes. "Mom was ready to flaw you."
"Yeah. But Grandpa saved me with his explanation of me being unique." Tim took a sip of his coffee. "Just don't tell Tony any of those stories."
"No problem." She shrugged. "He'd definitely torture you with that one."
Tim nodded half smiling. "Yeah. Ziva would help him."
Sarah placed her hand under her chin as she leaned on her elbow. "Do you think they have anything going on?"
"What? Who?" Tim sat back. "You mean Tony and Ziva?"
"Yeah. Tiva!" Sarah grinned.
"Great. You've mixed their name like Brangelina." Tim sighed. "No. I think they care a lot about each other. I know they get very jealous of one another. I also know that Tony would die for her. She'd do the same for him. But they would also die for me." Tim grinned at his little sister. "But they stick with the rules. Rule 12 to be exact."
"Well. I think they would make a great couple." Sarah semi pouted. "Rules are made to be broken."
"Maybe by you. Besides, Ziva has a boyfriend named Ray. Tony had been seeing E.J. They broke up though. Tony being Tony didn't let that last long. " Tim was interrupted by his phone vibrating. "Work."
Sarah nodded.
"Yes, boss. But I need to run my sister home." Tim placed the money on his table to pay for the breakfast. "No sir. I can bring her. Yes, I'll hurry. No. I haven't heard from Tony." Tim rubbed his neck. "Yes, sir. I'll be there. Yes. Now, Boss."
Tim shut his phone. "Hurry. Come on."
Sarah grabbed up her purse and followed him. "Where are we going?"
"Don't touch anything at the crime scene. Don't get in the way." Tim said as he sprinted towards his car. "As a matter of fact, you can catch a cab from there. I just don't have time to worry about you being here waiting on a cab. So you can catch one there."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "Where are we going?"
Tim thrust his phone to his sister. "Here. Keep dialing Tony's number. Gibbs said he can't reach him."
Sarah nodded her head again. "IF I reach Tony, where do I tell him we are going? "
Sarah noticed the worried look on Tim's face. "TIM!:
McGee turned quickly to glance at her before answering. "Ziva's apartment."
Author's NOTE: This is a Tiva fanfic. Because that is all I care to write about concerning NCIS. Love the show concerning all characters. Wouldn't want a one to go. Also love the drama. But TIVA keeps me tuning in each week. Please READ and REVIEW..that makes it fun to write. It also makes me want to add the next chapter when I read reviews.