An Undeniable Bond

"Can you believe this? Friday night and we're stuck here in the middle of Rock Creek Park when we could be home with our significant others on the couch or...you know, elsewhere...in the house-"
McGee turned from the crime scene, glaring at Tony while holding up his hand,"Stop right there, Tony. No further details are necessary. I get it." He waited to make sure his fellow team member had completed his train of thought without adding any more provocative comments before he resumed his work.
"I know, I agree. Jake and I were in the middle of a heated game of Pictionary, and I was winning!" Tony and Tim exchanged a smile as Bishop continued. "Hey. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it would seem we're all in serious relationships right now, now that Tony has been seeing Brianna for a month." She admiringly eyed Tony. "Still going strong, congrats." Tony gave her a wink as she adjusted her cap then knelt to bag a discarded wrapper lying near a small tree.
"At least you two get to see yours, I don't know when Delilah will be coming home to visit from Dubai." Tim peered through the viewfinder of the NCIS issued camera, snapping a series of shots of the dead petty officer lying in front of him.
"Who says she has to come here for you two to get together? Take a vacation, Timmy and go to Dubai. As a matter of fact, surprise her!"
Tim turned to him, sighing impatiently. He shook his head, his eyes squinting as he tried to figure out Tony's sudden enthusiasm towards his personal affairs.

"What?" Tony shrugged with exaggeration.
"That hardly seems feasible. We can't even have a Friday night to ourselves let alone the thought of taking off a whole week."
"No, two weeks McScuses. Me and Bri can accompany you. I was googling Dubai up the other day-"

"Oh, is that what you were so fascinated with the other day on your computer, during company time, may I add, when we were suppose to be solving cold cases?"
"Yeah, yeah, anyways. They have this cool underwater hotel-"
"Who have?" Asked Bishop, on her tiptoes looking over the top of a tree branch that obscured her view from the two male agents.
"You know... Dubai-ers. The hotel is surrounded by water and fishies you can view through the glass-"
"Fishies, Tony? Really?" Asked McGee.
"Yeah... really. There's also an underwater zoo, but I don't really see how that can work out. I mean...I was thinking about it and what if a mischievous shark decides to make a face at a bear... in the zoo and he throws a fit then they start shadowboxing through the glass...sounds scary."
Tim rolled his eyes as a smile broke through his rough demeanor. "By underwater zoo, they mean it's filled with sea creatures, Tony. Besides, who says bears and sharks don't get along?"
Bishop smiled to herself as she witnessed, once again the keen way Tony lured Tim into, yet another one of his absurd conversations.

"They're so different-" Commented Tony. "One's really hairy-"
"Well, that doesn't mean anything." Commented Ellie.

Tim chuckled, causing Ellie to smile. "It does actually sound like fun. But, the only way I'd let you come with me is if you pinkie-promise to eliminate movie references from the entire trip. I know Jaws would come up, way too much." Tim knelt to get a closeup of the officer.

Tony answered Tim's back, hearing the distinct sound of the camera's shutter clicking multiple shots. "I can't make a promise like that Tim-"
The quiet banter was interrupted by a gunshot that cut through the quiet of the park, alerting Tim and Ellie's attention toward Tony, just in time to see him drop, motionless onto his back.

"No! Tony!" Tim was by his side, instantly as Ellie, cautiously joined him drawing her weapon. Tony lay still, his eyes open, staring blankly towards the evening's starlit sky. "Tony! Answer me!" Tim's hands searched his partner's chest, looking and feeling for any visible gunshot wound. "I don't understand, I can't see where the wound is, Ellie!"

Ellie scanned the area then quickly looked over Tim's shoulder, "Tim we have to take cover!" Tim pulled Tony into his arms, dragging him to a boulder close by. "Did you see where the shot came from?"

"No, I only heard it." Ellie crouched, running beside Tim, as she scoured the park.

Tim managed to half carry Tony to cover, as he constantly consoled him, quietly, "It's okay, Tony. Ducky should be here any minute. You'll be okay." He laid him down then cradled his head, looking into his eyes for any signs of life. Ellie momentarily studied Tim in awe, she had no idea Tim would react quite this strongly, and emotionally, pleading like a younger brother might, while showing no inhibitions for his deep concern towards his fallen friend while comforting him with positive affirmations. Since she had joined their team she had watched them bicker and tease each other relentlessly, but that had obviously just been a cover for the love they shared for each other. Ellie did her best to hold it together, feeling a sharp sting behind her eyes while not wanting to comment on the fact that their senior agent looked void of life, his blank, silent stare so unsettling from his usual talkative and energetic manner. Tim felt for a pulse, looking at Ellie with horror in his face, immediately beginning chest compressions. Ellie aimed her weapon when a group of men descended upon them, their automatic weapons pointed in the direction of their chests.

"Tim, we have company-"
Tim refused to take a moment to glimpse towards the men. "I can't stop or he'll die!"

"Stand up!"

They were outnumbered by three, so Ellie dropped her weapon. "Tim." She calmly attempted to coax him away from their fallen comrade. "Gibbs will be here soon,you have to get up."

"I have...to save...him!" She looked over the men, knowing they would not wait so she leaned down, wrapping her arms around his chest to pull him away. He resisted,"No! Let me go, Ellie!"

"Please, he would not want you to sacrifice you life for his." She talked firmly in his ear.

Two of the assailants advanced and yanked Tim from her grasp, pulling him to his feet. "Dammit! Get your hands off me, now!"
Ellie could hear a strain in his voice as he struggled against their hold. A tear ran down her face when one of the men hit Tim over the head with his gun, sending Tim to the ground, unconscious. She easily complied as they restrained her wrists with zip ties then doing the same to Tim. She kept her eyes on Tony, praying for a sign that he was okay and Tim's efforts had been sufficient to revive him. She managed to glance at him one last time just before they loaded her and Tim's lifeless body along with the dead petty officer into a van then left the scene without any of the remaining MCRT team arriving in time to witness any of the incident.

Tony lay there still and alone on the cold ground of the park, a tear running down his cheek.