I Do Not Own NCIS
I want to thank Marianne (alix 33) filling in for Deb, beta-reading, Thanks so much; appreciate the time it took you.
And Deb, have a great time at the beach, you deserve it!
Thanks, Electric Phantom, Tedi-Ruxe, Earth dragon, Jazzie-G, DS2010, Alkcalien, Amdelodder and guests for your reviews! Love'm!
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Tony pulled up to Gibbs' sidewalk by his house, the car slowing as pebbles crunched under the tires. He turned the ignition off looking over at Tim passed out, his head tilted to one side, softly snoring. Tony found the sound soothing, unwilling to relinquish his peace and quiet, knowing he was going to have to wake him, unsure what to expect next from the man. Tim slept peacefully and soundly; who would ever believe the amount of trouble he had caused him just minutes ago.
"Tim? Timmy."
Tony felt partially embarrassed, confidently convincing Gibbs earlier that he would have no difficulties helping Tim through his recovery.
"Yup. Well, door's always open." Gibbs had assured him.
Tony reminded himself, over and over, Tim was big and he was smart, making him lethal when mixed with mentally altering drugs. But, who would think such a self-composed, self-disciplined guy could get so loopy from simple local anesthesia? Seeking help from Gibbs was humbling but wise. Gibbs may be a "told-you-so" kind of guy but at least it would not be verbal. His communicative preference was his signature glare or a sarcastic eye roll, sometimes followed by an imperceptible mumble.
Tony was surprised to see Gibbs exiting his front door, as if he had been expecting him all along. Tony had envisioned himself walking down Gibbs' basement steps, interrupting his sanding and bourbon; not be greeted by an enthusiastic, step-bouncing Gibbs at his car.
Tony remembered Tim was still in handcuffs as he searched his pocket for the key, not sure what Gibbs' response would be to see him like that. Gibbs leaned against the side of the car looking in as he knocked on the window, then opened the door.
"Hey, boss. How'd you know we'd be here?"
Gibbs responded with a chuckle. "It's those quiet ones you have to watch out for, Tony." Tony's face formed into an expression of understanding, "Aaahhh." he pointed at Gibbs as if he had just discovered the convenience of sliced bread.
"Wow. He's out cold. So, how'd it go?" Tony answered him with an exasperated look, showing him the handcuff key as he gestured towards Tim's arms. "If you had seen him minutes ago, boss you wouldn't believe it was McGoo."
"Really? That bad huh? Well, let's get'm in."
Tony was grateful for the sense of understanding he sensed in his boss's voice.
Tony leaned McGee forwards releasing his wrists as Gibbs adjusted Tim's seat back so his head would stop bobbing on his chest. "Tim? Come on kiddo, wake up." Gibbs cupped Tim's cheek, slightly jostling it to wake him.
"Are you sure you want to wake him? You didn't see him, boss. I thought he was going to get himself killed. He was out of control."
"Well, do you have any better ideas, DiNozzo? We can't leave him here." Gibbs voice volume was increasing as Tony placed a finger in front of his own lips to quiet him.
"No, but maybe we could carry him so he will stay asleep." Tony whispered loudly.
"What? And send all my neighbors into coronaries? They've already been through enough of my disturbing life-threatening neighborhood disruptions. Two men carrying a grown, unconscious man into my home is not going to produce any soft, fuzzy, reassuring vibes, DiNozzo."
"Well, we could, sort of, have him lean on us?" Tony asked questioningly, hoping for an agreeable response.
Gibbs rolled his eyes, "We'd be dragging him, Tony." Tony shrugged. "McGee, come on, son." Gibbs roughly rubbed Tim's sternum causing him to jump up, looking around in a daze.
"Don't... worry, I'm...awake, are we still going to the beach? Because I'm f-f-fine. No earaches." McGee used his hands for affect, his eyes half-closed, sluggishly taking in the scene. He scratched his head unable to determine his whereabouts, wondering where the sand and waves were. His body flopped back down, uninterested, instantly returning to his deep sleep.
"No, you don't, Tim." Gibbs gave him a quick shake, McGee's eyes cracked open responding to his boss's voice, locking onto his.
"Gibbsh, are you my dentist now? Because, that would...be...good.." His arms wrapped around Gibbs' neck as Gibbs looked like a man being pulling under by someone drowning.
Gibbs gently removed Tim's arms from his neck, crossing them over Tim's chest while using soothing, directive tones to grab Tim's attention. "Tim, come on. We gotta get you inside, so how about you help us a bit."
"But I don't want to. We have to leave for the beach." Tim started to lift the edge of his shirt up, over his stomach, looking down towards his waist. "Where's my bathing suit?"
Gibbs pulled his shirt back down. "How about if you're good we go to the beach later." Gibbs looked outside the car at the sky." It looks like it's going to storm..."
"Sunderstorms?"
Gibbs nodded, smiling to hear the slur in his words.
"Oh, I don't like doze." McGee frowned but then perked up. "Okay. But ash long ash I get an Italian ice-sh when we go, grape but, cherry ish good if dares no grape.."
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Tim leaned on Gibbs' and Tony's shoulders, one on each side as they made it into Gibbs' house without incident. McGee rambled on about the solar system and the benefits of gravity; maintaining the planets in the solar system away from the planes...
They sat him on Gibbs' couch, Gibbs producing an ice pack from his back pocket cracking the materials inside, then handing it to McGee guiding his hands to his face to hold it against his cheek, as he sat, unmoving, in a daze, staring at a vase on Gibbs' coffee table. Tony thought it reminded him of young kid on acid. Gibbs ruffled his hair chuckling to himself.
Tony was surprised as he admired Gibbs' bedside manner thus far. He was prepared; knowing what to expect with all the bases covered. Could he have researched the side effects McGee might encounter?
Tony's attention was diverted when he remembered the doctor telling him he needed to change Tim's gauze every fifteen minutes after the surgery. "Okay, Tim, you need to spit out those gauze...Tim!"
Tim spit out all the gauze on command, a heap of wet, bloody gauze landing on Gibbs' floor with a plop, a string of bloody split still connecting from McGee's mouth to the pile on the floor. Tim smiled with relief, his mouth now open and free wearing a big, goofy grin as he sluggishly wiped the back of his hands over his lips.
"That's disgusting!" Tony ran from the arm of the couch he had been sitting on next to Tim's side with a disgusted look on his face. Tim covered his face with open palms then crossed his elbows, leaning them on his knees to bury his face in the crook of his arm.
"Tim?" Gibbs sat on the coffee table across from Tim. He had to grasp Tim's chin to get his attention. "Are you okay?"
Tim pointed at Tony holding back a weak sob as he covered his face into the protection of his hands.
"Come here, little fella..." Gibbs sat down next to Tim pulling him into a hug as he cried on his shoulder like a little boy.
Tony stared at the two men, perplexed. "Boss? Little fella? I've never seen this side of you before. Maybe you shouldn't feed into this.."
Gibbs sternly glared at Tony with patient eyes. "Could you hand me a paper towel, DiNozzo then get some new gauze? His gums are still bleeding."
Tony sighed, then went into the kitchen getting a paper towel, returning to the living room, handing it to Gibbs as Gibbs leaned over to wipe up the small mess at McGee's feet then place it on the coffee table to throw away later. Tony then handed him the unwrapped gauze. "Have you done this before, boss?"
"Yeah. Fornell. But, you didn't hear it from me; cried like a baby the whole time. Broke my heart."
Tony smirked and giggled, hiding his vengeful amusement behind his hands as his shoulders rose to his ears.
"You ready to put more gauze in your mouth, now, McGee?" Tim nodded with his eyes closed against Gibbs' chest. Tim, obediently sat up straight as Gibbs turned towards him, cradling Tim's chin to work the gauze into the sides of his mouth. "Is that good?" Tim nodded with a weak, lumpy grin.
"Come here, big guy, you can go to sleep now." Tim snuggled into Gibbs' shoulder, a big yawn covering his mouth as his eyes fell closed, snoring within seconds. Gibbs gently brushed his hair to the side then carefully lay him on his back, placing Tim's head on a couch pillow. He laid a hand over his forehead, as if to check for a fever then fixed a blanket over him pulling it up to his chest. "We gotta check him every once in a while to make sure he doesn't choke on those gauze." He walked towards the kitchen.
Tony watched the whole scene, astonished.
Gibbs returned waving Tony towards him. "Come on, let's start dinner."
Tony jumped up. "On your six, boss."
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Tony walked into the living room to find Tim sitting up and coherent, with a weak smile to offer him.
"Hey, if it ain't Tim, back from the land of Woodstock; you were tripping like there was no tomorrow, Timothy McLeary." McGee blushed as Gibbs walked by Tony with a head slap.
"I mean welcome back, Timmy."
Gibbs continued by DiNozzo offering Tim a grape Italian ice.
"Hey, Boss, my favorite flavor."
"I know."
"But, how?"
Tony licked his lips eyeing Tim's dessert.
"Oh, you'd be surprised how much I know about you boys." Gibbs ruffled Tim's hair then handed DiNozzo one of his own.
"Hey, thanks boss."
Gibbs sat in a cushioned chair next to Tony, sitting back with a sigh. "Any time." He whispered to himself watching them dig in to their ices. "Any time."