"Shannon." Amy couldn't help but hug the distraught woman sitting in the waiting room once she'd arrived. Gibbs had walked in a moment before after going for coffee and wasn't surprised when he'd bumped into the Social Worker in the hall. After a sullen shake of his head, he'd led her into the waiting room where Amy had gone straight to Shannon. "Any news?"

"None. They…Ames, they won't tell us anything. They said we're not listed as his proxies, but I know we are. They must have it wrong."

"What? You are! I filed the paperwork myself and made doubly sure that it was correct because of Tim's allergies and possible asthma. It's got to be a computer glitch. Let me go and talk to them." She stood up and left the room to go and talk to the nurses so she could figure out the error that had been made. It was the one thing that she'd been damn sure to do when Tim entered the Gibbs' lives, because there was no way in hell that the sweet little boy that she'd grown to love was ever going to be alone again; especially when he was hurt and needed them the most.

"Here honey." Gibbs handed Shannon the coffee that he'd bought for her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Mike had taken Kelly home with him as soon as he'd arrived, so right now it was just the two of them waiting on news.

"Why, Gibbs." Shannon sobbed. "Why do that to your child?"

"I don't know baby. I just don't know. He's with us now though, and that's all that matters." They sat in silence for a moment before Gibbs finally asked the question that had been playing on his mind since arriving. "Shan, I don't want him going back to that bastard and I sure as hell don't want him to go back into fostercare…."

"What?" she sat up and looked into the gorgeous eyes that she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. They were the same eyes then as they were now and, sure, there were a few more lines and the face was older than the 18 year old face on the train station platform, but they were the same. They were safe, familiar, loving, and comforting.

"I want us to adopt him, Shan. What do you say?" Gibbs looked at her with hope and prayed that she'd agree. If not, he'd still argue the point until she finally said yes because there was no way in hell, that they boy would be sent back to a life of misery and pain. But he knew the love of his life well enough to know she'd be the last one to deny this little boy a new life.

"It's only been a month. What if…." Shannon cut herself off when she realized what she was about to say. Even if Callum McGee wanted that boy back, there was no way in hell he was going to get him after this little stunt.

"He tried to kill him. He won't cause us any problems. Hey, Mike had the lab analyze the food. There was a high trace of pineapple juice in the food, but none of the fruit. He poured it on there knowing that Tim was deathly allergic."

"He tried to kill his son. That's just inhuman. Why? Why do that to your child? You're supposed to love and cherish them, not hurt them." She sobbed and felt herself being pulled down so that her head rested on his shoulder. Gibbs rubbed her back gently and couldn't help the runaway thought that ran through his head. He took a chance and decided to take the plunge.

"Ours now. Shan? Come on, please?"

"I'd like nothing more, Gibbs." She muttered and reached her arm over so that her hand rested just over his heart. Amy walked in at that moment with a face like thunder, but grinned when she saw them.

"It's all been sorted out. I had to do battle with Atilla first though, but she made a call to Admin and got them to update his records. You're both down as his medical proxies as well as Ducky."

"Ducky?" Gibbs questioned and shook his head. How the hell did she know?

"Sure. He's Kelly's so I thought you might want the same for Tim. The doc just came out and said you can go in and see him now. Don't be alarmed though, he said they've got him hooked up to a few things and he's on oxygen because he's still wheezy. He did wake up and ask after you both though." She added with a smile.

"He did? Oh the sweet boy." Shannon replied and stood up. "Ames, how do we go about adopting him?"

"Adop….Really? Already? Wow! That's fantastic news. I can get the paperwork for you to fill in together first thing. His dad tried to rescind the order for fostering and wanted him back, but after today's little show and tell, there's no way a court would allow that. You sure you really want that? It's only been a month."

"We do." Gibbs replied and watched as Amy's eyes filled with tears. "Come on Ames, don't okay? You can come and see him anytime. The kid loves you, so why would we ever stop your visits? We haven't forgotten that you're the first adult Tim allowed himself to trust since the accident. You've been a lifeline for him and no one is going to take that bond away from either of you."

"They're tears of joy Gibbs. I'm just so damn happy." Gibbs grinned at her and moved to pull her into a hug with him and Shannon.

"Sort the paperwork. Come round tomorrow for dinner and we'll talk then. Right now, I wanna see my boy."

Shannon and Amy laughed as they were led out of the room to see Tim. It was as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders and the fact that Tim would now be safe and sound with a wonderful family behind him, made their hearts soar. Amy thought back to the first time that she had met Tim and mentally compared the differences in him. Right now, for the first time in months, he was happy and secure in the knowledge that he had people there that loved him.

***NCIS***

Tim woke up feeling itchy, hot and so exhausted that he felt as though he could sleep for a year. It reminded him of the time when he woke up after the accident and he couldn't help the little feeling of panic that shot through him. His breath hitched slightly as the steadily rising tempo of the heart monitor fed his panic.

"Tim. It's okay. Easy, it's alright. Slow deep breaths." He knew that voice! It was one that he'd come to adore over the past months and in his dazed, drugged state he couldn't help what tumbled out of his mouth.

"Mom…"

Shannon heard him and glanced at Gibbs. Had he really just said that? Was he confused? It didn't matter, what mattered now was that he knew they were there for him.

"It's alright sweetie. The medicine is doing what it's supposed too, so just relax. The doctors said you can come home tomorrow as long as you don't have another reaction."

"Dad?" Tim's eyes threatened to close as exhaustion started to weight down on him. Shannon reached forward and brushed her hand down his cheek to calm him and smiled warmly.

"He's gone sweetie." Tim's face crumpled when he heard the news and Gibbs stepped forward to try and sooth him.

"He was arrested Tim. He can't get to you now."

"Dad." Tim's voice was muffled behind the mask and he pointed at Gibbs with a resolute look in his eyes. "Dad…."

"Me?" Gibbs asked gently and helped shuffle Tim over so he could climb up on the bed with him. Tim snuggled into his side and rested his head on Gibbs stomach. "You were talking about me?"

Tim nodded and snuggled in further as sleep threatened to pull him under. Gibbs could still feel the heat rolling off this loving little boy and wondered exactly when he had actually inherited a son that seemed to accept him wholly.

"Looks like that's a definite yes, then." Shannon grinned leaned over to kiss Gibbs. "You want to stay with him tonight?"

"You mind?" Gibbs asked knowing that she would also want to stay. One of them had to be there with Kelly though and it was a tough decision to make.

"As much as I want to stay, he looks comfortable and I need to go and rescue Mike. I'll come by first thing though."

Gibbs nodded and started to card his fingers through Tim's sweaty hair. "He's really hot."

"Shannon frowned and laid her hand on his forehead. "He really is. Press the button, honey. I want to know what's going on. I know the doctor said it was normal but still…"

"We're in new territory here." her husband replied as he pushed the nurse's call button. They didn't have to wait long until a nurse came in and smiled at the scene in front of her.

"Hi. Is anything wrong?" She asked and made her way over to check on the machinery and Tim's IV.

"I don't know. Should he be this hot?" Gibbs asked with a worried frown. "I mean, the kid's burning up."

The nurse pulled out a thermometer and stuck the end in Tim's ear. It wasn't long before it beeped and she frowned at the digits there. "Okay, that's a little bit high. I'll call the doctor but I wouldn't worry."

"What is it?" Shannon asked.

"101.6. We've had higher with these reactions so that's not too bad." She gave them a comforting smile before leaving the room to get the doctor. Shannon watched her leave and turned to her husband and son. The sight before her warmed her heart and she couldn't help the small smile as she watched Gibbs sitting there gazing at the fragile little boy in his lap. It was that moment; that little bit of tenderness that told her that from now on Tim was his and nothing anyone did could tear them away from each other.