Tim woke abruptly out of a sound slumber. Just when he was finally sleeping well. Damn. What caused him to wake so sudden, he wondered. Then, he heard it. A voice. In his head. Gibbs? DiNozzo? Were they in trouble? There it was again. But it wasn't Gibbs or DiNozzo.
'TIM.' There it was again. Abby? He didn't believe it. It had to be his imagination. He walked over to the window, taking a deep, calm breath as he stared out toward the waves.
'Tim! I need you! Please I-I'm- I'm afraid. I think someone is watching me outside my window. Please-help!
No way. It couldn't be. This time he heard the voice clearly. Abby was calling out to him telepathically. Using the "private"path only for lifemates. Just like Gabrielle said. There was no denying it, he "heard" it with his own mind. He decided to try something. He concentrated, and followed the path Abby was using. If he could read her mind, he might be able to figure out what was wrong. Another advantage for lifemates. Only true lifemates could read each other's minds.
She was sitting up in bed, hugging Bert the hippo tight against her chest, wishing it was Tim instead, wrapping his strong arms around her. She always felt safe and protected whenever he hugged her. She needed his help. Someone was watching her, she sensed it. She slowly got up and crept toward the left side of the wall by the window, so anyone looking in wouldn't see her. She ducked as she peeked out, taking care to move as slow as she could. Tim-please hurry! She hugged Bert again as she slowly sank to the floor.
There was no doubt Abby was in trouble. She sensed it, and was reaching out to him for help whether she realized it or not. If there was one thing Gibbs had taught him, it was never ignore your gut. And he wouldn't. He had to get there, and fast.
Abby, stay where you are. Don't move. I'll be right there.
He opened his door, and instantly shape shifted into his wolf, running so fast that anyone who saw him would only see a blur. He avoided the roads altogether for that reason,so no one could see him. He chose the dense foliage and trees for cover. Even at night, he didn't want to take any chances of being spotted. Taking his car was out of the question, it would take too long to get there. As a wolf,and because he was a shapeshifter, he also had the gift of preternatural speed. All shapeshifters did. He would arrive at Abby's within minutes.
As he got near Abby's place, he noticed a shadow by the sliding glass doors leading out to the backyard. He crept stealthily, keeping to the bushes as he got nearer to the shadow's position. Abby was right. There was someone watching her. He crept closer, making sure not to make a single noise. Once he was behind him, he crouched, hackles raised, and growled low, never taking his eyes off the threat to Abby.
The man slowly turned when he heard a threatening growl coming from behind him. A dog? Well, he thought, he would take care of that,and he whipped out a handgun. The next thing he saw was a blur, then he felt razor sharp teeth biting his forearm. He screamed as he opened his hand and let the gun drop to the ground. This was no dog- it was a huge wolf! He tried kicking at it, and fighting back but it was no use. He had to find some way to escape, and fast. He was losing a good amount of blood, any more and it could be fatal.
He didn't know how he managed it, but he finally was able to pry his arm from out of the wolf's jaws. He grabbed his gun from the ground and aimed it at the wolf. Big mistake. The wolf attacked again, sinking it's jaws around his wrist. He screamed as he pulled the trigger. How he managed it, he couldn't say. He smirked in satisfaction as the wolf yelped and let go of his wrist. He saw blood forming around its shoulder area. He hoped the bullet penetrated its heart.
The wolf lay still as blood seeped out, dripping down from the shoulder. Good. The more blood it lost, the better. Hell, he hoped he'd killed it. Damn. He needed to leave immediately and get his wounds tended to at Gen Tech. He finally had something to report back to his colleagues. They would find it.. enlightening. There was a chance he had stumbled on and escaped from an actual shapeshifter. Just like Hank, the only difference was Hank managed to kill one. Agent Giles.
If it was true this wolf was a shapeshifting Agent, then it needed to be eliminated too. And he suspected he was right. Because he was damn sure there were no actual wolves around here. Wolves wouldn't live anywhere near people. And they certainly weren't the size of a small pony either. He needed to capture it and have fun torturing it before it died. No fun in just killing it. He loved to see suffering. To inflict torture. He needed to inflict torture, it was better than sex with a woman, and far more satisfying. He had the best orgasms when he looked into his victim's eyes right before they died. That look of shock mixed with fear, knowing they were going to die. He got rock hard just thinking about it.
He would come back for the woman, and if anyone or anything got in his way, he'd take care of that problem too. Permanently.
Tim was in pain, and feeling dizzy and nauseous. But he couldn't chance changing shape yet. He had to make certain the man left Abby's property. He couldn't chance the man spotting him shapeshifting. He remained calm, and took slow, deep breaths. It helped him to tolerate the pain. It also helped to ease the dizziness and nausea. Good. He needed to change and soon, because he was eager to get back to his laptop. He wanted to look at and study the intruder. To see if what he suspected could be true. Was the guy connected to Gen Tech? If that was the case, he would have to inform Director Borden and Gibbs tomorrow. But first things first. He would need his wound tended to. It hurt, yes, and there was blood loss, but not as substantial as the intruder's.
Just as he was changing shape, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Shit! Not the intruder! He looked around for a place to hide and dove inside a nearby bush. He had to bite his lip almost bloody to keep from screaming out at the pain the sudden movement cost him.
Tim? Are you out here? I heard screams and growly wolf sounds. If You're out here, are you ok?
Abby! Thank god, Tim thought, letting out a huge sigh of relief. He stepped out of his hiding place while gripping the shoulder of his right arm. The bullet grazed his shoulder, thank goodness it hadn't penetrated flesh. He would be fine. All he needed was water, peroxide, and an ace bandage and he would be good as new.
"Abby! What are you doing out here? I thought I told you to stay inside, and not to move."
"You did. Oh my god Tim, You're hurt!" She dropped Bert as she rushed to his side to inspect the wound.
"I'll be fine, Abby. I'll go home and take care of it myself."
"Let me Tim. Please? It's the least I can do. You wouldn't be hurt if it wasn't for me."
"Abby, it's not your fault that a sicko decided to spy on you. I'm just glad I could help. He's gone. I'm going to contact Hugh tomorrow and see if I can get one of the Vikirnov brothers to watch your place."
The Vikirnov brothers were the best Russian bodyguards available. Nothing got past them. Intruders were swiftly dealt with, and they were excellent at cleaning up if necessary. They didn't tolerate threats of any kind. And they despised any form of violence against women or children. All four of them were heavily muscled, and all were handsome.
"Ooh, some eyecandy in my own backyard. Yay for me!" Abby was only teasing, but she regretted the words when she noticed Tim's face. He tried to hide it from her, but she noticed the hurt look in those beautiful green eyes. He was hurt enough, she didn't need to add to his pain.
"Let's go inside, Tim. I'll clean and bandage your shoulder."
Tim nodded and winced when he bent down to pick up Bert for Abby. He silently handed her the stuffed hippo and followed her to the sliding glass doors. She led him to her bed and coaxed him to sit while she headed to her bathroom to gather the necessary supplies. She poured some peroxide on a rag and carefully as she could she cleaned the blood from Tim's wound, then expertly bandaged it up. There, she thought. Good as new.
"Tim? Could you- would you stay with me until I can fall asleep again? I appreciate you coming and chasing that intruder away. And about the Vikirnovs - I was only teasing."
"I know Abby. It's okay. Yes, I'll stay."
He much preferred to go home, but he would stay- for Abby's sake. What if the intruder came back? He'd feel awful if this time he wasn't there for her. But only for her protection. He refused to let it go any further than that. He was no one's playtoy, or booty call, and he wouldn't let Abby think of him that way.
He got up from the bed and headed for the living room and sat down on the big comfy recliner in the corner. He put it in the reclining position, and closed his eyes. In minutes, he was asleep.
Abby was disappointed that Tim chose to stay in the living room instead of in the bed with her. She was also aware that Tim was distant and standoffish around her. Even when she hugged him, he would push her away within seconds. He never did that before, he would hug her back and hold her close to him. Now, he refused to allow even that. She also knew that part of that- no, not part - it was totally her fault. She had been the one to say no to a relationship. Just friends, she'd told him. Now she was starting to regret her rash decision.
What did you expect? Did you think he would come at your beck and call and comply with whatever you say like a good little lapdog? He deserves better than that! Her inner voice chastised.
She would need to talk to him soon. Tell him how she really felt. Because she didn't like it like this. She wanted her Tim. She had to admit to herself that it was the word lifemate that had her scared. She didn't think she was the type that could be a true lifemate to anyone. She thought differently, and she wasn't like other women. And she definitely wasn't the Carol Brady or Susie Homemaker type at all. But she could clean house and cook. She wanted to be more than just a housewife, though. She sighed. She needed to lay down and get some sleep. But first, she would check on Tim.
She grabbed a spare blanket and headed toward the living room. She spotted him lying on the recliner. She smiled. He had managed to turn over and was sprawled out lying on his stomach, his head turned to the side towards her direction. Gently as she could, she draped the blanket over him, and softly touched his cheek, then traced his lower lip with her finger. She loved that lower lip, especially when he pouted. He was the only man she knew that could make a pout look totally adorable. She kissed him softly on the forehead, then headed to her room to sleep.
Sunlight filtered through the window, shining right onto Tim's face. Tim woke up, and immediately covered his eyes, then sat up. He noticed that he was covered with a blanket. Abby must have come to check on him before she slept. Looking around to make sure she wasn't awake, he put the blanket up to his nose, and breathed in the scent. It smelled of apple cider and cinnamon. Abby's scent. She even smelled like that when he was with her in her lab. He loved her scent. He sighed. He got up, and neatly folded the blanket and draped it over the back of the recliner.
He needed to get home. Before Abby realized he was awake. When he got there he would shower and change, then study the events from last night on his laptop. He opened the door, taking care to make no noise. He stepped outside, and headed for the trees to shapeshift without being seen.
Abby woke up, and immediately got out of bed and headed for the living room. It was early morning, and she had planned to make a special breakfast for Tim. As she entered the living room, all she saw was an empty recliner, the blanket she had covered him with neatly folded and draped over the back. Her shoulders slumped. Tim was gone. She knew she should have woken sooner. Then she would have had a chance to convince him to stay with her a little longer. She showered and got ready to head for her lab. She would have a talk with Angela and Gabrielle and ask for some advice. Yes, that's what she'd do, she thought, and smiled. She was feeling a little better already.