Tim slept peacefully through most of the day; his body exhausted from the fight it had waged to get him to this point. Ducky finally left to go home; when Dr. Short came back and gave his thumbs up as to how Tim was recovering. Tony hadn't budged from his seat ; his position as Probie's Protector; Jimmy Palmer had finally found enough free time from his classes to sit with Tony as together; they watched over the patient. Jimmy carefully; monitoring his various machine readings; freeing Tony up so he could keep an eye on his person. They made a great pair; neither of them speaking much; both of them dedicated; for the first time in their tenure on the team; soley to the well-being of Tim McGee.
As the afternoon faded into the early hours of visiting in the hospital; Ziva returned with Sara once again in tow. Abby also returned to the hospital; although she didn't know why; she knew that Tim; once his memory had returned; would not want to see her. Sitting restlessly in the waiting area; she was surprised when Sara sought her out. Since Ziva was visiting with Tim at the moment; this had been as good a time as any; to have this conversation; long overdue as it was.
"Abby." Sara approached the goth.
"Sara! How are you doing?" Abby asked the younger girl.
"I'm okay. Abby; I wanna know what's going on with you and Tim?" Sara demanded.
"Sara, there's nothing going on with your brother and I. I promise you." Abby swore.
"I'm gonna find out; because whatever it is; it's got you acting funny." Sara declared before she left the room; headed to her brother's room.
Two hours later found Abby still restlessly sitting in the waiting area; convinced now; more than ever; that Tim wouldn't want to see her. Sara was with Jimmy and Ducky; down in the cafeteria; getting some much needed nurishment. Tony was in the head.
Tim; on the other hand; after enjoying; albeit; in spurts; quiet visits from Sara and Ziva; Jimmy and Tony; and naps; was actually beginning to have patches of memory return; and what patches he was getting; weren't all that pleasant. In a fluke; when Tim's eyes fluttered open after a quick nap; he found himself alone for the first time since he'd woken up that morning; at Gibbs' urging; and with the memories suddenly assailing his mind; he felt totally alone; with an entire room full of people waiting for him; just down the hall.
Gibbs quietly walked through the halls of the hospital; relieved beyond measure that his youngest field agent was on the mend and his team was helping him along the way. Drawing himself up short at the closed door of his agent's room; Gibbs was shaken at the curled up; crying ball of misery that was his recovering agent; and at the fact that his team had left the young man alone; against Gibbs' implicit instructions.
Quietly, Gibbs walked up to the bed; and sat down on the bed; reaching out his hand; laying it on Tim's shaking shoulder.
"Tim?"
"Sorry, Boss." Tim managed to get out while he quickly worked to put his pain away. It had all come back to him; in vivid clarity. Abby's betrayal; all the pain he'd carried when she'd broken his heart all those years ago; Tony's ridicule; the stupid; frightening cd he'd planted in Tim's computer; Gibbs' aloofness; almost like he didn't matter. Even the dog attacking him; and the pain that accompanied that memory had been damn near physical.
"Talk to me." Gibbs encouraged as he watched the young man struggle to put himself back together and sit up. Helping him sit back up against his pillows; Gibbs left his hand on his arm for support.
"I just got overloaded with remembering everything, Boss. I'm fine now." Tim told him; avoiding his eyes.
"Tim McGee; don't lie to me. I know I always act like I don't wanna hear what's wrong with you guys; and you all think I don't care; but I do. Why do you think my door stays unlocked and I never make a secret of that with any of you?"
Tim looked at him in complete shock.
Gibbs just grinned at him. "Yeah, I know. This doesn't sound like me. But; coming this close to losing you; has woken me up; hopefully; woken us all up; to what's important."
Tim silently nodded.
"Talk through it. What did you remember?" Gibbs encouraged.
"Everything; from the time we got to Hansen's house; on up to when you asked me if I was okay in the squad room." Tim admitted.
"And after that?"
"Waking up here."
"So, you don't remember deciding to take the elevator down to sign out and calling the ambulance for yourself?" Gibbs asked.
"Are you serious?" Tim was incredulous.
"Yeah, you figured everyone was too busy to do right by you. After all; I had gone up to the Director's Office. Tony and Ziva had left to chase down leads; and Ducky and Palmer were in the middle of Hansen's autopsy. And I understand from Tony that you and Abby were at pretty bad odds with each other. So; you were right. But it shouldn't have been that way. We screwed up; and you paid the price. In in a way; we did too. We almost lost you." the boss' voice was full of regret and self-recrimination.
"Boss; don't. Please." Tim said quietly. "I have enough to work through without adding your guilt to it. "I know it's hard for you to show you care. You're a Marine. I also know that for the most part; it works; for the team. Just because your youngest field agent can't always handle things your way; doesn't make it your fault." Tim looked away in shame. He couldn't believe he just said that to Gibbs. What the hell was wrong with him. Was he nuts or something?
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Tim quietly offered.
"Don't apologise. There's nothing wrong with being honest. There is something wrong when you have to aplogise for it." Gibbs quietly accepted. Giving him a minute to gather his thoughts; Gibbs didn't say anything. After another moment of silence; he couldn't stand it any longer; Gibbs looked at him and asked him: Okay?"
Tim; in total miserable honesty; silently shook his head.
Gibbs waited. He knew that Tim was on the verge of opening up. Hearing a comotion at the door; Gibbs turned to see Ducky coming back and quickly shook his head in a silent message.
Tim didn't have the strength to hold it all in any longer. His body and mind were weak and exhausted and his soul was too trampled and worn. Suddenly, he let go of the desire to hold it in. "Boss, you know; I get that Tony is the Senior Field Agent and all; and he's earned the right to pick and make fun; but sometimes he just goes too far. And when he does; it really hurts that you let him get away with it. "Like the stupid cd he put in my computer; to scare the hell outta me with? It worked. It was as if nobody realized I'd already had more than enough to deal with for one day. And if that wasn't enough; Abby turned on me; took the stupid dog's side; called me "bad McGee; like I was the dog! Ruined my expensive jacket. It just all got to be too much. And that ws before the physical pain got worse."
"Jeez; McGee; why the hell don't you ever speak up for yourself? I see what you're saying. And while I'll work on reigning things in better; you better start standing up for yourself! Do you understand me?" Gibbs quietly demanded.
"Yeah, Boss." Tim offered with a half-smile. The pain in his eyes dwindled but didn't disappear completely. Something was still wrong.
"What else? I can see there's more. Are you ready to tell me?" Gibbs asked.
"Only if you keep it just between us." the young man requested; hope in his eyes.
"You have my word. What's bugging you?'
"I need you to do something for me." Tim explained cryptically.
"Out with it."
"I need you to get Tony to lay off our personal lives." Tim admitted with the world of pain in his voice and in his eyes.
"Is that it?" Gibbs asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Believe me; that covers a hell of a lot." Tim admitted with feeling.
"Okay. I can do that. Now; how are you feeling?" Gibbs asked; pointing to Tim's wounds.
"Sore; but okay." Tim admitted.
"Good. Okay. Ducky is here to see you; and I'm gonna go get some coffee." Gibbs patted Tim's shoulder and walked to the door; opening it to admit Ducky; "Thanks, Duck." he said; as they passed each other. "Don't let anyone tire him out."
Walking down the hall; Gibbs heard footsteps behind him; following him. Turning; he found DiNozzo steadily catching up to him. "Hey, Boss." Tony said; suspisciously quiet in tone.
"Tony; hiding out in Tim's bathroom were ya?" Gibbs asked in aggravation.
"Well; kinda; I mean I was in there before he woke up that last time; and once the two of you started talking; there was no way..." Tony admitted.
"Yeah; Tony, I hear ya. You just make sure you keep it between us that you were there!" Gibbs ordered as raised voices were heard from the waiting room they were approaching.
"Just because you dated all those years ago; you think you can still manipulate him; act like he's your plaything. Take him out and show him off when it's convient for you; show him some love when it's convient for you!
But you know what, Abby? You broke his heart! And the sad part is; you still hold every single broken piece of it in your hands! That's why he doesn't date! That's why he doesn't even think of dating! You've made him Tony's laughing stock! And while you sit there and help Tony make fun of him; while you twist the knife: his heart breaks even more; right there in your greedy little hands.
And now? Now, I find out that you reamed him out for shooting the dog in self defense? How dare you? You don't deserve to even call yourself his friend!
So; yeah; you're right; he probably doesn't want to see you right now. And until you get your act together and start treating my brother like the kind; decent; loving person he is; I don't want you to see him! You need to just leave him the hell alone!"
Sara McGee was spitting; fuming pissed; and as she rounded the corner; and once again; ran into the brick wall that was Gibbs; she lost her spine; her fight; and her strength; folding in on herself; nearly collapsing on the floor; as Gibbs and Tony caught her and got her to a chair. Seeing Ziva coming out of the ladies room; Gibbs directed her to get Ducky; exhange places with him at Tim's side.
While they waited for the M.E. to arrive; Gibbs got Sarah some water; and handed off watching over her to Tony. Quickly walking into the waiting room; Gibbs was relieved to note that it was empty; except for Abby; who sat in the corner; crying damn near hysterically.
Upset at seeing her so upset; but fully understanding where both McGee kids were coming from; Gibbs could only pull Abby to her feet; and hold her through her tears. She created this mess; she would have to clean it up; herself. He would make damn sure none of his kids hurt each other worse; from now on; but enough damage had been done to all. Whoever had dealt out the pain; would have to make amends. No bones about it.
Ducky checked Sara out; and escorted her back to the cafeteria for a drink and some food; as well as a chance to gather her wits back about her. Gibbs; having handed Abby off to Tony; came in search of Sara; knowing McGee would start worrying about her soon. Tony had not argued about looking after Abby, After he'd gotten over the shock of Sara's outburst and the words within it; he'd actually needed to make sure his surrogate little sister was okay. Having one's head handed to oneself on a silver platter; was never easy; and Tony should know; he'd just had that experience himself; while he'd been hiding out in Tim's bathroom. Tony set aside his anger at her; over the way she'd treated Probie; after all; hadn't he just been brutally reminded that his halo wasn't shining either?
Finding Sara dry-eyed and calm; Gibbs breathed in a sigh of relief. At least the skirmish was over; even if the war wasn't.
