8

Home and Love

Gibbs dropped to his knees beside the boy. "Let me have him Caleb, you go to your brother." He tried to find a pulse, but there was nothing, this couldn't be, they hadn't come so far to lose him now.

"Gibbs, is he...?" Ziva's voice was low, her eyes bright with tears.

"Can't get a pulse. Kate, what can we do? There has to be something."

For the briefest moment Kate had been relieved that the Scelestus were gone, the only sign they'd been here three jet black crosses burned into the ground. Then she'd heard Caleb's heart-rending cry and her long frozen emotions thawed in an instant. Tim had given his all to save Caleb, he didn't deserve to die. She knelt beside Gibbs and brushed her hand across Tim's bloodied chest. "There's one thing..."

"What? Tell me!"

"If we take Tim back to your world...his injuries, they're of this world, maybe if we get him home the injuries can heal."

"Let's do it! Tony, Jacob, help me carry him."

Kate put her hand on Gibbs' arm and held him back. "That wouldn't work Gibbs; we don't have time to go back the way we came. We have to link the power of our worlds, get him home right away."

"Anything, we'll do whatever it takes; do you need blood?"

Langer shook his head. "Not this time DiNozzo, we need to join hands, then try to join our minds, it's going to be tough, inside our heads...not the easiest place to be."

"Bring it on Langer, if it helps Tim I'll do it!"

"I too will help." Ziva took Tony's hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. "We will get him home Tony, and he will wake."

Kate and Gibbs got to their feet and she reached for his hand. "Join in a circle around Tim. Caleb, you hold my right hand, and Jacob, you hold Brent's; we need Caleb standing at Tim's head." They arranged themselves as directed, each of them casting quick glances at Tim, praying he would open his eyes, praying this would work.

"It's time, think about home, about the people you love, the places that hold a special place in your heart, and whatever you see or feel, don't let go."

They held tight to each other, breathed deep and concentrated hard. Within moments their minds filled with a kaleidoscope of images and sounds. For each of them it was a chaotic and confusing experience. The NCIS team was subsumed in feelings they struggled to comprehend. The agonising pain as Ari's bullet ripped into Kate's brain, Langer's incomprehension as Michelle Lee aimed her gun at him; they saw some of the evil souls Evenfall had sent on their way, and shuddered at the cruelty and wickedness they'd inflicted in both the earthly and ethereal planes.

For Langer and Kate the strongest emotions were of grief and sadness, lost loves, lost parents, missed opportunities...from Tony's boyhood loss of a deeply loved mother, through Gibbs' all-consuming grief when his wife and daughter were killed to Ziva's loss of her entire family, one of them at her own hand. They saw Matt Stowe side by side with Jacob as they tried to fight off their attackers, they felt his guilt and Caleb's fear every time his brother was posted overseas...the raw pain and fear almost drove the Evenfall operatives to their knees.

As suddenly as they started the images stopped, they stood for a second or two waiting for their heads to stop spinning, the experience had been overwhelming.

"Timmy!" Abby's cry startled them from their trance; Abby...if she was here...Gibbs dropped to his knees and once again put trembling fingers to Tim's neck.

"Jethro, let me..." He moved aside as Ducky felt for a pulse. "He's alive, his pulse is weak, but it's steady. What on earth happened to him?"

"Nothing on earth Duck...he...he saved Caleb, but he's hurt bad."

Still lightheaded from their journey the seven who had formed the bridge that brought Tim home, stood silently and watched as Abby fussed worriedly round Tim, she planted a gentle kiss on his bruised temple and took his cold hand in hers. "You're home Tim, can you hear me? We came back like Kate said; two days...the longest two days of my life...Tim, wake up please."

Ducky glanced up at Gibbs. "We have to get him to a hospital."

Kate sat on the ground beside him. "Not right away, you need to wait...see, it's happening."

Sure enough the wounds on Tim's chest started to close, the bruises on his face faded, as did the marks on his wrists where he'd fought to free himself from his chains.

"How...? How is this possible?" In his long lifetime Ducky thought he'd seen just about every medical phenomenon known to man, but this...he gave himself a mental head slap, this perhaps was a phenomenon known only to those who were no longer men...or women. Kate kissed his cheek, and he felt the chill of her skin, she gave an understanding smile. "He's going to be okay Ducky, but he could use a blanket, he must be cold."

"And hungry." Caleb found his voice at last. "They wouldn't let him have any food, not much water either. Is he really going to be okay?" Caleb started to shiver; Jacob took off his jacket and wrapped it round his brother's shoulders. "Looks like you need the hospital too."

"No...I...I want to say thanks to Tim...then, can we go home?"

"You bet."

They were all watching Tim, marvelling at the healing process taking place before their eyes. "See...he's waking up, do you see?"

Abby was first to spot the slight movement of his eyelids, she gripped his hand a little tighter. "Take your time, we're waiting..."

"Abs..." His throat felt so dry and his head...someone was drumming so loud inside his head, but he was sure he'd heard..."Thought I was...dead...heard...Kate..."

"Course you heard her Probie, she's here!" Tony hugged Ziva and hurried to his friend's side. "Wait 'til I tell you."

Tim tried to focus on Tony's voice...there was so much in his head..."Tell...what...?"

"It can wait; we'll have time, let's get you warm first." Ducky handed Tony a blanket and held up a Thermos. "I have soup, there's more in the car, help yourselves."

Gibbs and Tony helped get Tim in a more comfortable position, as his vision cleared a little, Tim saw Kate. "What...? Oh...I remember...there was blood..." He pulled open the blanket and looked down at his chest. "I could have sworn..."

Kate knelt beside him with a smile. "When you're stronger I'm sure Tony will enjoy filling in the details...Tim, you made me so proud, watching you protect Caleb."

"Caleb! Is he...?"

"I'm here Tim; I'm fine thanks to you." Caleb couldn't stop the tears falling, but he couldn't stop smiling either. "You...I'll never be able to thank you, without you...I'd never have made it..." He dropped to his knees and enveloped Tim in a hug.

Nothing was said, and the others stepped away to offer them some privacy; they'd shared things that would bind them together forever. "You ever need any help again; you call me Caleb, promise?"

Caleb nodded. "I...I'm going to try not to have any more days like the last two, but if I do..."

"I don't just mean the big stuff, if you get stuck with your homework...need a friendly ear..."

"Thanks Tim, for everything...I even got my big brother back..."

"That's a pretty good result Caleb; Jacob must be a good guy, if Gibbs let him help..." Tim's eyelids started to close. Jacob helped his brother to his feet. "Come on, I guess Tim needs to sleep, and we need to get you home, Mom and Dad must be out of their minds."

"Sounds good, thank you...all of you, we'd have been sunk without you."

"It's what we do Caleb." Tony patted the boy on the shoulder. "Listen kid, Tim's great for lots of advice, science, computers, geeky stuff, but if you ever need help with the ladies, you just give Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo a call."

"Tony! I am sure his brother is perfectly capable of helping Caleb with any relationship counselling he may require." Ziva linked her arm through Tony's and guided him back to Ducky's car. "Let us get more soup, I am sure we could all use some."

Gibbs shook Jacob's hand. "You did the Corps proud son, I was glad to have you on my team."

"Least I could do, for Caleb, and for Matt..."

"About that, Jacob...his murder will never be solved you know that? It's going to go in the cold case files eventually."

"I know Gibbs, but we got the bastards who killed him, I can live with other people not knowing, we got them and I can live with myself, I'll settle for that."

"Good man, now go, look after your brother. He's a good kid." Gibbs saluted and turned back to the group sitting under the trees just as Kate sat beside a still shivering Tim; he opened his eyes as he felt her presence.

"You should get inside Tim, and we should be going back, we are only allowed a limited time on this plane."

He reached out to her. "Please...don't go...I only just got to...see you..."

"We have to, it's only a matter of time before some passing motorist decides to stop and see why so many people are sitting by the side of the road. Who knows, we may meet again, but not for a very, very long time I hope." She leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "You're my Superhero Tim."

His eyes opened a little wider at that; if only he wasn't so tired he'd make her stay...she kissed his cheek. "Goodbye Tim."

He smiled and let go of her hand. "'Bye Kate...I'm sorry you never got to be a mom...you'd have been great..." His eyes closed once more, he really was so tired...

Kate reeled back as if she'd been scalded, how did he know...? It was her deepest, innermost secret regret, how did he...? Of course, how could she forget? When their minds were joined, Tim would have been a conduit for all their thoughts, even the ones they'd tried to keep hidden from the others...a good man would know all things...

"You ready Kate?" Langer steadied her as she jumped to her feet. "I'm ready, it's been wonderful seeing you all again, even if the circumstances were...difficult."

Abby threw her arms round Kate. "Please stay Kate, we miss you so much."

"I can't stay Abby, I...we, have important work to do in our world, just like you all have in yours. I love my job, and I know Brent does too, until we join Paula in eternal rest, we're going to keep on doing whatever Evenfall asks us to do." Gibbs held on to Abby as Kate and Langer seemed to be fading from sight. "Look out for each other; you're still the best people I ever knew..."

The air shivered slightly and they were gone; all was quiet until Ducky gave a small cough. "I am sorry to interrupt, it must be very difficult to watch them go, however, we have a more pressing concern at hand."

Tim was trembling, and the shadows under his eyes hadn't faded. "Our Timothy requires nourishment and rest Jethro."

"I...I'm good...Ducky..."

"In comparison with how you felt a few hours ago I'm quite sure you are my boy, but I will not be happy until you've been examined in a hospital."

"'Kay...then can...can I go home...?" Tim's eyes were closed before he'd framed the question. Gibbs cast a questioning glance at Ducky. "Can he?"

"To his own home, no. I would suggest he will need a night on IV fluids, after that, I'd like him to have some company, after his experiences there are bound to be some after effects."

"No problema Ducky, he can stay with me 'til he's better..."

"Why you Tony, I am sure McGee would prefer some home cooking to constant take-out."

"Hey! He's my Geek, if anyone takes care of him it's..."

Gibbs' shrill whistle split the air. "He needs rest and quiet, he comes home with me, Doctor's orders, right Duck?"

Ducky grinned. "Indeed Jethro, I thing we can guarantee Timothy will get as much peace and quiet as anyone could possibly need, how he will manage without his computer, now that is another matter."

Tim lay quiet, right now moving was too much effort, and he liked the idea that someone would be looking out for him, he'd felt the weight of responsibility for Caleb for what seemed like an age...he let the chatter and laughter flow over him, it felt good, it felt like home.

THE END