I DO NOT OWN NCIS, just sayin'
Okay, this is the last chapter... really
xxx
"Come on. Whadya say we get outta here?"
The team left the room trailing behind Tim and Ziva as they quickly descended the stairs filled with shear determination to exit the house.
"Probie, you need to tell us what exactly happened in there. We couldn't get in and we were really worried. What was all that noise about?"
"And, please do explain why there was a small boy in there?" Added Ducky.
"He is the missing boy that was abducted in Chevy Chase; his name is Michael. I found him in a crawlspace in the wall. Along with The Winfred families' remains."
"You did Ziva?" Tim turned to Ziva as he held onto the railing while taking his time climbing down the stairs, holding his side.
"Oh my, now that is extraordinary!" Ducky looked at the boy under Ziva's protective arm and smiled at him, receiving a toothy grin in return. "Hello young man."
"Hello."
"I will have to check him out as soon as the backup team arrives-"
"You called for backup?" Ziva eyed Tony.
"Yeah, we were already two men down then when we couldn't get the door open and heard all the ruckus-"
"We'll finish discussing this outside." Announced Ducky. "The sooner we are out of this place, the better."
They exited single file. Just as Tim stepped out, last he was pulled back in and the door shut tight.
"No! Dammit!" Tony pounded on the door then rattled the door knob."What's with this house, it's like it...wants people."
"Someone mind telling me what the hell is going on here?" The group turned to find Gibbs standing on the porch behind them.
"What are you doing here boss?" Tony cringed, waiting for a head slap for not having his probie's six when he needed it the most.
Gibbs stepped closer to the door. "When I heard my team needed backup I raced right over."
"Boss I wouldn't go in there, it's haunted...and stuff."
"Yeah. And Tim's in there." Gibbs glared.
"Shouldn't we first come up with some kind of plan before we go in there, don't ya' think, boss?"
"Well, when you think of something, DiNozzo, come in and let me know what it is." Gibbs made his point, then kicked down the door. As soon as he entered, the door shut behind him.
"I'm going to start to develop a complex with all these doors shutting in my face." said Tony.
"Tony. Ducky. There is more. It's time that I explain everything Tim and I saw to you, now." Ziva pulled the men closer.
xxxx
Jenny stood in front of him, in a dress he remembered well, one that she had worn in Paris, one that he loved her in and told her repeatedly. It brought out the beautiful blue in her eyes.
"Magnifique."
"I remember that night well, Jethro."
"It is good to see you, Jen. I never thought I'd see you again."
"Now why would you think that? I'm never far away."
"Where is he Jen?"
"You would be proud of our youngest agent, Jethro. He endured a lot of pain tonight to accomplish the task I assigned to him. He did not let it stop him; he displayed true courage, throughout."
"I've always been proud of McGee. You act as if I'm not."
"Then tell him. Let him know, Jethro. He doubts your relationship with him. Out of the whole team he is the least you confide in. He needs to hear you care for him, Jethro or it could cost him his life."
Gibbs nodded. "You're right. I will."
"Winfred has him. You are the only one who can release him from this home Winfred has turned into a prison for his chosen."
"What can I do? I know nothing about haunted houses or evil spirits, Jen."
"Use your famous gut, Jethro. What do you think has kept you alive this long?"
"It didn't save you."
"I didn't want to be saved."
Gibbs wiped his eyes. "Jen..."
"Jethro, you don't have time."
"Will I ever see you, again."
Jen flashed him her special smile she saved just for him. "You can count on it."
"Where do I go-"
"What is your gut telling you, Jethro?"
Gibbs shrugged, "I dunno...upstairs?"
Jenny winked at Gibbs, smiling broadly. "You'll be just fine."
"I wish I had your optimism." He smiled but she had faded. "Jen!"
He searched the foyer hoping to catch one last glimpse of her then bolted up the stairs, "McGee! Where are ya' kid?" There was a loud noise in a distant room; a window shutting. Gibbs followed the noise to a room at the end of the hall. "McGee!"
He easily opened a door, slowly pushing it to reveal Tim, holding out his hand as he walked beside a young girl...a ghost. She was the size of an eight-year-old wearing a shredded dress and long, matted hair. They were walking towards a small door in one of the walls.
Gibbs clapped his hands to get Tim's attention. Tim walked as if he were sleepwalking."Tim? Are you okay? Come on buddy, we gotta get outta here." A lamp flew at Gibbs head, but he ducked, just missing his shoulder as it shattered against the wall behind him. The noise caught Tim's attention, his eyes fixed on Gibbs.
"Boss? I, uh...you need to leave, you are not welcome here."
"No, Tim. That's not true, Jenny sent me. You belong with me, not with Winfred. You are part of my team, and no one gets left behind."
"But, I'm just...McGee. You'll all be fine without me-"
"No, Timothy! We will not! Tony, Ziva, Ducky and Abs need you! I...need you, Tim!"
"But...Winfred really wants me to stay here-"
"And what? Become his prisoner like his family has become?" Gibbs was suddenly thrown back, his body pinned to a far wall as his eyes locked onto Tim.
"Tim, don't listen to him. He's controlling your thoughts, he wants you against me!" Tim ignored his boss's pleas. Gibbs struggled against the invisible force that held him in place.
"Timmy come back." He whispered.
The small apparition tugged on Tim's wrist as he continued behind her. She opened the door in the wall when his body jerked as he sneezed with a full body spasm.
"God bless you, Tim." Gibbs automatically whispered, watching him suddenly stop to look around the room.
Tim blinked, groggily then turned to Gibbs as he swayed, teetering on the verge of collapse. "Boss? What are you doing here? Are you okay?" Tim rubbed his eyes, then gained his footing, quickly running to Gibbs. He grabbed his arm and shoulder to help peel him off the wall. "Here, let me see if I can-"
Furniture began to fly through the room once Tim had managed to pull Gibbs away from the wall. They both dropped to the floor as Gibbs grasped Tim's wrist. "Stay with me. I'm going to get you out of here."
"But, he wants just me, so you should leave. If you stay you're only endangering your life."
"McGee! If that's what it takes so be it. I'm not leaving here without you!"
Tim looked at Gibbs, puzzled. "But, boss-"
"I love you like a son and I refuse to let anything happen to you, you got that, McGee?"
Tim slowly nodded with a sad look. A smile grew on his face as a chair landed next to them hitting him in the leg.
"Are you okay?"
Tim nodded.
"Come on, then! Let's get out of here!" Gibbs crawled to the door with Tim by his side, refusing to let go of his wrist.
A dark, angry revenant appeared in front of them, towering. Winfred. His face snarled as he fisted his long, bony fingers,thrusting them downwards. Wind whipped around him as the lights flickered. "Timothy McGee has been summoned. He is to stay! He is mine!"
"Like hell he is!" Gibbs yelled.
The door to the room opened, banging off the closest wall. Tony stood there, tall and fierce, spraying the contents of a fire extinguisher into the room with determination and accuracy. Gibbs got to his feet dragging Tim with him as they ran through the white cloud Tony produced.
Gibbs and Tim ran past Tony as Tony dropped the empty tank following them. Gibbs laughed as they ran down the hall towards the stairs to lead them outside.
"What the hell was that DiNozzo?"
"Ghostbusters, boss!"
"A movie reference?"
"You do realize, Tony that a fire exstinguisher is very different from a particle accelerator system used to create a charged particle beam-"
"So, you DID see Ghostbusters!"
Tim giggled as he ran, trying to keep up.
"So, this was the big plan you came up with DiNozzo?"
"Yeah, that and run really fast boss! But, I think I should add, that so far it seems to be working!"
They trampled down the stairs towards Ziva and Ducky standing just outside the door, waving for them to hurry. None of the boys looked back as they flew through the door. Ducky discharged his fire extinguisher for good measure, as Gibbs exited, the last one out. Tony shut the door as soon as Gibbs crossed the threshold.
They stood panting, trying to catch their breaths. Tim jumped when Gibbs slapped him in the back of the head.
"Boss?"
"Tim! What makes you think I would leave you in there with that schizo ghost?"
Tim shrugged as he rubbed his head.
"You really think I don't care about you?"
Tim looked down as he still tried to catch his breath, coughing. "It's just that...I dunno."
Ducky tenderly placed a hand on Tim's shoulder. "Ziva told us what you did. You did good, my boy."
"Yeah. You did, Tim." Gibbs chuckled as he wrapped an arm around Tim's neck giving him a noogie on the top of his head. Tim couldn't help but laugh, letting all the tension he just went through release, tears streaming down his face.
Tony looked puzzled. "A noogie boss? Give me one!"