This is for the "NFA Bone-Chilling Challenge."

I caught a bit of "Reunion, season 7" recently and thought the way McGee sneezed in that episode was so darn cute. So, if you could place this story around that time; season 7. I tried to "write" the sound of his sneeze; just so you have an idea what that word is.

Another part of the inspiration came from a real life story about a young girl that had been sneezing for two weeks straight and doctors could not figure out what was wrong with her. She was being interviewed on some morning program and her brother was sitting by her side. After every few words she would sneeze and he would make sure to loudly tell her, "God bless, you." It was the cutest thing...

xxx

Tim sneezed.

"God Bless you, my friend."
"Thanks, Ziva."

Tony was driving and Ziva was seated in the middle of the the two boys as they bounced and jumped in their seats over the rugged, dirt road on their way to the crime scene.

"Gees, we really are out here in the boondocks. Halloween night and the wind is whipping-"
"Bloooooph!"

"God bless you."
"And probie is... possessed." Finished Tony.
"I just have a cold, Tony, but yeah... I suppose I am pretty close to it." Tim sounded congested and tired. He blew his nose, frustrated.

"You could have called in sick, you know."

"I felt pretty good this morning. Then Gibbs had that... "thing" tonight and I knew he wanted me to help you guys so I couldn't leave early-"
"Did you take the zinc I gave you, Muh-Gee?"
"Yeah, thanks Ziva."

"I think he'd be better off if you had just put a bag over his head-"
"Tony!" Ziva nudged Tony in the ribs with her elbow. "Have some sympathy for the poor man."

Tony shrugged n annoyance. "Well. I just don't want to catch whatever it is that hes got."

"This is it Tony." She pointed to the beginning of a long, dark driveway with a tall, iron-wrought gate protecting its entrance. A nameplate entitled, "Winfred" was affixed to it, midway on the bars of the gate.

"I am Vinz Clortho, key master of Gozer. Are you the Gatekeeper?" Tony spoke through the side of his mouth as he did his best Louis Tully impersonation, but Ziva and Tim just looked at him blankly.

"You know, Ghostbusters? Rick Moranis? He becomes possessed? What...still... nothing? They protect their city from the Stay-Puft Marshmallow man?"

"Ooo, I just tried s'mores the other day-"
"Did you like them Ziva?"
"Very much so, Muh-Gee."

"Come on, it's a classic!" The van was silent as Tony looked at the two agents, questioningly. "Ah, never mind. McGee, get out and see if its open."

Tim opened the door, hopping out of the truck. He looked around the large estate. The full, white moon glimmered, illuminating a good portion of the land surrounding the big house that sat on top of a hill. Tim could make out a small cemetery that sat under a big, oak tree, not far away from the old mansion.

"Well, that's not creepy." He whispered to himself, as he rubbed his hands together, puffing on them.

He walked up to the gate while he kept looking around himself wondering if something was going to jump out at him. He gave it a push and it opened easily. He walked the gate open as it creaked steadily until it reached the stone wall bordering the land. He ran back to the truck and hopped back in.

"You sure got back into the van, real quick, probie." Tim felt 'creeped-out' but didn't want to admit it in front of Tony.

"Just go Tony. I want to to get this over with so I can get home and get to bed."

"You know, they say that place is haunted. The father was a mean, old cuss. They think he killed his wife and daughter then himself. Their bodies were never found."

"So, how could we have been informed about this dead body in this abandoned, old house? Who could have known it was here?" Ziva asked.

"It was an anonymous tip. They believe it was a woman that called it in. Maybe we'll get lucky and find out it was just some kids calling in a lame prank." said, Tony.

Tim frowned, highly doubting Tony's hopeful notion.

They pulled up to the estate, parked then unloaded; gathering the equipment they needed for the investigation. Tim grabbed a few cases then started coughing violently.

"Are you okay, Muh-Gee?" Ziva turned Tim to face her so she could zip up his jacket. Tim smiled at her, appreciating her concern.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks, Zeevs. Go ahead, I'm right behind, ya."

"Okay." She fixed his collar before she started towards the entrance following Tony. Tim watched her ascend the steps then turn to him, one last time before she entered through the door.

Tim placed the items on the ground to retrieve a cough drop from his pocket. He unwrapped it, then popped it into his mouth."Gross. I hate these things," Tim frowned.

Suddenly, a strange, alarming agitation overcame him, something totally unrelated to his cold. A strong, small ball of light appeared out of no where from around the corner of the decrepit property, then whipped towards him. He had no time to move as it hit him with a crippling force, directly into his chest. He was pushed violently back, into the closed back doors of the truck, knocking the wind out of him. The cough drop fell from his open mouth as he tried to scream without success. He was paralyzed, unable to breath.

The next thing he knew he was kneeling on the ground...feeling distant and dazed. He could not recall what had just happened or what he was doing on the ground on all fours.

"Are you all right, Timothy?" A warm sensation that originated in his back, charged through him, eliminating any disconcerting affects he had been previously experiencing; he felt a new, strong energy. He opened his eyes and small, women's shoes filled his vision. He looked up to someone standing in front of him.

"Huh? Director Shepard?"

"Tim, sweetheart." She smiled at him comfortingly. "I haven't been the Director for years." She kneeled in front of him putting a hand on his shoulder. Tim felt a tingly feeling where her hand rested on him, filling him with a sense of strength and ease, almost forgetting he was looking at his former, deceased Director.

"I'm sorry about that recent run in, you just met Sebastian-"

"Winfred the third?" Tim mumbled.

"He was the owner of this estate."

Tim was staring at Jenny answering her with a slow, blank nod."You must have been the one who called in the tip on the dead Officer."
"Yes, that would be me. Honey, I know you are confused but we don't have time-"

"You seem different...not like how I remember you...Director."

"Well...I am different. I'm just... Jenny. I no longer have to be that hard-as-nails Director everyone knew me as. I'm in a good place and don't have to prove myself to anyone anymore."

Tim thought of Kate and Ziva and knew what she meant. It had to be difficult being a woman, a minority; working with all that masculinity in such a demanding and competitive field.

"Well...it's nice to see you again, Jenny." Tim finished his sentence out of breath, ending it with a sneeze.
"God bless you, Tim. I hate to say I'm not here on a social call, I am here because I need your help. This is a matter of life and death and time is of the essence. There is a spirit that resides in that old home and it is very evil-"
"Winifred?"
"You catch on quick, Tim. I am not allowed to reveal too much information to you but the one thing that will keep you alive is to not let yourself be afraid of him. He will still be able to do..."ghostly things" but it may help to get you out of there alive to keep that bit of information in mind. The spirit will try to feed off of your fear."
"Huh?"

"A more positive response would have been better received, sweetie." Jenny patted his cheek.

"Sorry, but I'm still not sure this is happening. I have a cold and for all I know, I may be hallucinating...I mean why are you asking for my help? Why not Tony or...Ziva? And...this is kind of a lot to take in all at once, I mean, what exactly is this mission that you want me to accomplish?"

Jenny's ghost placed her hand on his arm, again creating the warm sensation that he was beginning to welcome as it helped calm him down. "Tim. I always had confidence in you. Don't worry, Ziva will be there for you, she will play a big part in this, too. But, only you will see the spirits that reside in there and be susceptible to them. And believe it or not, your cold will prove beneficial in your purpose. "

"Director, or...uh.."
"Call me Jenny, Tim."

"How will I be able to beat this...dead lunatic? And how could this cold possibly help? When that beam of light hit me a few minutes ago I thought I was a goner-"

"I'm sorry but this is all I can tell you. You have to trust me Tim." She touched his chin. "Tim? Do you trust me?"
"Well...up until that time Tony's car blew up." Tim reddened, worried he had angered Jenny, remembering her hot temper when she had been alive.
Jenny hesitated then chuckled. "You would remember that, wouldn't you? Not one of my finer moments."

A corner of Tim's mouth tightened, as he slightly shrugged and raised his eyebrows.

"I could always count on your honesty. And...I can understand why that would fill you with doubt but that was a time in my life that I wish I had handled differently. But, Tim? You are going to have to trust me."

A bright light consumed the area around him, blinding him as he blinked.

"Timothy, my dear boy, are you okay?" Tim heard a car door slam as Ducky arrived, the truck parked next to him, while he still kneeled on the ground. Tim looked around to find that Jenny was gone.

"Uh...Ducky. I dunno. I guess I was just kinda... dizzy."

Ducky leaned down to help Tim to a standing position. Tim wobbled a bit then straightened. "Thanks, Duck but I think I'm good. Just a bit out of it from my...uh, cold, I think."

"You need to be checked-"

"No really, I'm fine-"
"Timothy-" Tim looked at the evil infested home, hoping Tony and Ziva were okay, wanting to go in and get the mission over and done with.
"How about after we complete the crime scene. I was hoping to get home, soon, Duck." Ducky relented, smiling at him as he patted his arm.

"Are you a little nervous about going in there, Timothy?"
"Well-"
"It's true that no one has lived there for over twenty years but people in the town claim to hear noises and can see movement within the house at night."

Tim gulped. "Oh, yeah?"

"The owner, Sebastian Winfred, the III was said to be crazed and suffered from agoraphobia, refusing to leave his home for the last ten years of his life. He would not even allow his wife and daughter the chance, bringing the town to the assumption that he had killed them so they would remain there for eternity. Their bodies were never found and laid to rest in the cemetery out back. So, the town erected gravestones in their honor on the estate's burial site."
"Yeah, Tony said something."

"Are you sure you're okay, Tim? You look very... white. I'm sorry, my boy if the history of the mansion frightens you but, it didn't seem right leaving you in the dark, so to say."

Tim and Ducky headed up the stairs to its entrance. Tim hesitated, turning to Duck.

"Ducky?
"Yes, Tim?"

"I just want you to know, I've always loved your stories and quick wit. You own a special place-"
"Timothy, why are you telling me this right now? There is nothing to be frightened of."

"Uh, I dunno. Never mind. Let's just get to work, right?"
"Of course." Ducky watched Tim enter as he looked at Tim, concerned.