Chapter 3

Tim fidgeted in the elevator as it ascended to squad room. He had conflicting feelings about coming back to the office. He hated to leave Penny and Sarah alone at the hospital, but at the same time, he felt relieved not to be there. The fact that he felt relieved was making him feel guilty as hell.

The doors opened at the squad room, and Tim shakily stepped out. Gibbs was alone in the bullpen. He looked up when Tim entered.

"How are you?" he asked.

Tim didn't respond. He dropped his bag next to his desk and sat down. Gibbs got up and made his way to Tim's desk. He leaned against the side and looked down at Tim as he booted his computer.

"You're not all right, are you?"

Tim gave him no response.

"If you want to go back up—"

"Just tell me what you need done, Gibbs. I'm ready to work," Tim blurted out abrasively. He regretted it a millisecond later, when he realized who he'd just snapped at. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right."

Gibbs went to his desk and came back with a file.

"Can you get background on this guy?"

Tim took the file and read it quickly.

"I'll see what I can do."

Gibbs went silently back to his desk as Tim set to work. He sat back in his chair and observed Tim as he silently worked. Gibbs could tell he was obviously not all right, but Tim wasn't about to talk about it.

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Penny sat alone next to her son's bed. The few hours Tim had promised had gone by several hours ago. She'd sent Sarah home to rest around six o'clock, hoping Tim would be back soon after. He hadn't returned, and she was feeling very alone. She looked down at her son and shook her head.

"That boy is as stubborn as you, John. You let this get so out of hand, that your own son doesn't even want to be by your death bed!"

Penny rested her head in her hand, trembling, and started to cry.

From the door to the Admiral's room, Sarah stood quietly, watching her Grandmother. She turned on her heel and left, determined to knock some sense into her hard-headed brother.

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Tim stretched in his chair and picked up the coffee Gibbs had brought him. He hadn't moved from his desk all afternoon. He'd finally broken into the dead Commander's e-mail account, to Gibbs' elation, and he was alone in the bullpen for the moment. He looked at his watch, and his eyes went wide when he saw that it was almost nine in the evening. He'd promised Penny he'd be back hours ago.

As he gathered his things to leave, the elevator dinged.

"Tim!"

Tim knew the shrill voice of his sister anywhere. He kept packing up his things. He suddenly felt the surprisingly strong grip of his sister clamp down on his arm, and yank him around to face her.

"How could you leave Penny alone all day! Do you have any idea how hard this is on her?"

"Are you kidding me right now? Of course I know how hard it is on her!"

Sarah slapped him across the face, hard. Tim stood in shocked silence.

"You don't care at all, do you? All you care about is your god damned job, and that's all you'll ever care about!"

"Sarah—"

"Shut the hell up! I'm not done with you yet!"

"Sarah, Listen!"

"No, you listen, Tim! Every time something important happens in our family, you're always stuck at work. I can't even count how many things you've missed because of this place. Birthdays, graduation parties, those things I can forgive. But this is too much. Dad is dying, and you're at the office like nothing's wrong. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Tim glanced around the squad room. A couple of people had stopped and looked on at the altercation.

"Sarah, listen to me. I've missed a lot of stuff over the years because of work. I lost track of time this afternoon, and I'm sorry."

"I'm sick of your excuses," Sarah said shakily. "Just, be there for your family. For once."

Sarah turned and left, tears in her eyes. Tim grabbed his bag and hurried after her.

"Sarah, wait!"

She rushed into the elevator, past a confused Tony stepping out. The doors closed before Tim could get to them.

"Is everything all right?" Tony asked, concerned.

"Fine, Tony," Tim said quickly, and headed for the stairs. Tony went after him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. I have to go."

Tim tried again to get by Tony, but he blocked the door.

"Talk to me."

"Get out of my way!" Tim shouted, taking a swing at Tony. The punch landed on Tony's right cheek. He stumbled backward, caught off guard, and Tim took off into the stairwell.

"That son of a—"

"DiNozzo!"

Tony turned to see Gibbs standing behind him.

"You OK?"

"I'll live."

"Good. Get to your damn desk and find me a killer."

"But he just—"

"I don't care. Get to your desk. Now."

"Yes, Boss."

Tony trudged to his desk and sat down silently.

Gibbs regarded the situation he'd just witnessed, and was starting to regret calling McGee into work that day. He turned and walked back into the squad room.

"DiNozzo, take point on this case. I'm leaving for a while."

"You need backup?"

"Not this time."

"Understood."

Gibbs grabbed his coat and headed for the elevator.

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Tim stood outside his father's hospital room, leaning against the wall. He dreaded seeing his father lying in that bed, so close to death. He also dreaded what would happen to him if he left Penny alone any longer. He took a deep breath, pulled himself away from the wall and stepped into the room. Penny was alone, half asleep in a big chair next to the Admiral's bed. Sarah was not there. She had no doubt gone home to rest. As he slowly made his way into the room, Penny stirred.

"Timothy?"

"It's me," Tim said softly, pulling up a chair to sit next to her. "Any change?"

"No."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Tim could tell she was upset with him. He hated trying to talk to Penny when she was upset.

"Penny…"

"Where have you been?" she said angrily.

"I'm sorry for coming back so late. I lost all track of time and—"

He was cut off when she slapped him across the face.

"Don't you ever lie to me again. You said you would be back in a couple of hours, and you were gone for nearly twelve!"

"I can't always call you from work, Penny—"

"You're telling me that facist Gibbs can't even let you make one phone call to check on your dying father?"

"It's not that—"

"Then what is the reason, Timothy?"

"I'm scared, okay?" Tim shouted, jumping out of his chair. "I wasn't ready to deal with this so soon… I-I don't' want him to die."

Penny saw the slight quiver in her grandson's lip, the quiver that she knew would lead to tears. She stood up and held out her arms. Tim let his grandmother envelope him in her arms as he felt tears threaten to fall.

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Gibbs arrived at the Admiral's hospital room just in time to see Penny embracing her grandson. Tim looked about ready to collapse. Gibbs had wanted to talk to him, but decided it could wait. He turned and started back down the hall toward the elevator.

TBC…