DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!
MASK OF INNOCENCE
CH 4
Tim took his car home to shower and change. His clothes he bagged and put in garage bag. He grabbed some cleaning supplies and took them down to his car. He washed the surprising minimal evidence that he'd transferred to his car and threw the cloths into the bag with his clothes which he tossed into a dumpster behind his building. He smiled briefly seeing the collection truck arriving to empty it.
He checked his watch and saw he only had a few minutes to get on his way. No sense being late when there was bound to be a lot of questions about their missing team member. They'd all be looking at Tim since they had been working so closely together on the case. He had to get a story prepared.
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Johns Hopkins taught him more than he could have hoped to learn. He was confident he could land the job he wanted. He couldn't help but smile at the irony that he was drawn to the organization that investigated his father's murder. He even hoped that fact might play in his favor in getting hired. It also would be beneficial to have access to the case and know if it was ever re-opened in the future.
His interview went without a hitch and the job offer was extended within a week. He gladly accepted and settled himself into his cramped work space. Using all his computer skills he managed to learn about all the different teams throughout NCIS and found the one he wanted to become a part of.
He was drawn to the D. C. MCRT because of their reputation and their need for his abilities. It was also the most likely to handle his father's cold case. He needed to be there to dissuade any possible leads that angled in his direction, even if the likelihood was minimal.
Norfolk was his stepping stone, an important one, so Tim took his duties there seriously. He continued to check in at home, though the need had become less frequent. His mother had married Admiral DeCore and he provided a stable and loving environment that eased Tim's mind.
He was glad to see the happiness return to his mother's face. She was different with Roger. Maybe due in part to his caring nature or perhaps it was the changes she made during the years on her own as a widow.
Whatever the reasons, what they had worked and Tim had given them his blessings. Sarah was happy to have someone that she could count on at home when she needed, too.
Knowing his mother and sister were in good hands allowed Tim to concentrate on his career. Never much of a socializer he took to spending his time improving the computer network while keeping an ear open for a position in D. C.
Of course he noticed all the people around base; both civilian and in uniform. His first observation of one particular officer reminded him of his father. Not the one he'd grown up admiring and trying to please, but the one who looked disdainfully down on his family at the end.
He tried to fight the urge to reach out and smack the smug face whenever they passed each other. He'd nod a greeting and grit his teeth until he could calm himself. Years of practice during his bullied days and of course the times spent covering his anger at those he put an end to helped him to conform himself quickly.
One night while he was locking up after working late, he heard the lieutenant he despised talking drunkenly on his cell phone as he left the officer's club.
"Listen, Angela. You're a lousy wife and if I want to find me a decent lover tonight than you can't stop me," Tim watched the man fumble for his keys almost dropping the phone in the process. "I don't care if you cry all night. I'll be home when I feel like coming home." With that he flipped the phone shut.
Tim was outraged. It didn't matter that he didn't know who Angela was or really even who the officer was. He wasn't going to allow such insufferable arrogance destroy the woman on the other end of the phone.
"Excuse me," he called out gaining the drunken man's attention.
"What? Who are you?" Tim watched the man's narrowed eyes gloss over him.
"I don't think you should be driving in your condition," Tim offered moving himself into a better position to find an angle of attack.
"I don't give a flying fig what you think," the man turned deciding the conversation was over.
Tim reached out taking the man by surprise. He got the lieutenant in a head lock that brought him to his knees. The man struggled and tried to grab at the offending arm putting pressure on his windpipe, but could gain no purchase on the tough leather sleeve.
In moments the body went limp. Tim managed to get him into his car. He got in on the passenger side, started the car and maneuvered the vehicle until it was facing a nearby pier. Looking around no one was visible, so he exited the car and watched as it at first rolled slowly before gaining a little speed and falling over the side of the pier into the murky water.
He gathered his things and put them in his vehicle before risking a stroll to see if any part of the car was visible. Satisfied it would be at least a day or two before the car was discovered he went back to his car to return home.
Tonight had been risky and Tim ran his hands through his hair worried that he made a mistake somewhere. He hoped that there were at least a few witnesses in the club that would attest to the drunken state of the lieutenant and the incident once discovered would be ruled accidental.
Concluding there was nothing to be done until the car and body were found; Tim took a deep breath, showered and went to bed praying that his sleep would be free from any nightmares of his father.
