Chapter 10

Tony slept until almost noon the next morning, secure in the fact that there was no traveling left to do and that Tim wasn't alone with the problems he was having. Ducky was there and there were a lot of others close by. In fact, he might have slept even longer than that, but his sleep was interrupted by a soft knock on the bedroom door.

Pulling himself out of some pleasant dreams, Tony sat up, rubbing his face and wondering who in the world was disturbing him so early.

"Come in?" he said.

The door opened, and Tim stood there uncertainly.

"Oh...I thought you'd be awake by now."

"By now?" Tony asked and looked at the clock. "Whoa. I must have been tired."

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

"Nah. I needed to get up anyway," Tony said with a yawn.

"No. I mean that I'm sorry that you were so tired you slept that long. It's because of me."

"It's still okay. I'll be fine with another night of sleep. What about you?"

"I...talked with Ducky about...stuff."

"And?"

"And he thinks that I could...benefit from..." Tim shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. "...from going to a psychiatric facility for...a few days."

"What?" Tony was now completely awake.

"I think he might be right. I mean...look at what it took for you to deal with all this stuff. The only way you got me to sleep was by staying awake yourself. You had all these problems dealing with my crap."

"What made Ducky think that?"

"I think part of it was when I told him I threw the sleeping pills away."

"What sleeping pills?" That was news to Tony.

"When the doctor let me out...you know, after I passed out. He said I needed to get more sleep and he gave me some pills to help. I didn't want to sleep. It didn't feel safe. So I threw them away."

"That doesn't sound very smart."

Tim shrugged again. "That's kind of what Ducky said. He asked me about what I was thinking. I'd already said it all once to you. It was easier the second time...but he said that it worried him and that I should think about getting some round-the-clock help while I figure things out. No one really has the time to keep me on an even keel."

"I didn't mind doing it, Tim," Tony said. "Really, I didn't."

"Maybe...maybe not, but you don't want to do it, and you shouldn't have to. If I can...get a little more straightened out before I leave, that's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah...but..."

Tony stopped himself. He could see that Tim was uncertain about all this, but if he were honest, Tony could admit that this really might be a good idea. He'd seen for himself that Tim was more messed up than anyone had realized...and that he'd had time to get worse. Maybe he needed the time to get better. There was nothing wrong with trying it out, and it didn't sound like a long period.

"Will you have visitors?"

"I assume so. I've never been in a place like that, Tony. I don't have any experience."

"Well, then you'll have visitors every day."

Tim smiled a little. "Who? You?"

"Absolutely. You'd better believe it."

"You don't have to, Tony. It's not going to be forever...I hope."

"It won't be. You'll have some time and then you'll be okay."

"I don't think it works like that, Tony."

"Okay, maybe it doesn't. But I think you'll start doing great once you're ready to face things down head-on. You'll see. I'm right."

"I'll take your word for it, but, Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say thanks. You sacrificed a lot of time and energy for me, and I don't want you to think I don't appreciate it. I really do."

"I know. Sometimes, I surprise even myself," Tony said with a cheeky grin.

Tim's earnest expression didn't change; so Tony got out of bed and walked over to where Tim was standing in the doorway. He hadn't even come all the way into the room. Tony put his arm around Tim's shoulders and squeezed them.

"Next year, when you're all better, we're going back."

"Back where?"

"To the Badlands so that you can see them as something other than a metaphor for your life. They're just rocks."

Tim laughed a little and let Tony urge him into the hallway.

"So if you're going to go, be ready for visitors. Okay?"

"Only if you really want to, Tony," Tim said. "Don't force yourself to do things you really don't want to do."

"I'll remember that," Tony said, mentally scheduling his next week to fit in a visit every day.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tim did follow Ducky's advice and checked into a psychiatric hospital. They admitted him for a week and during that time, Tim got the sleep he needed...because if he didn't, they essentially forced him to. He ate regular meals, and he spent a significant portion of every day in therapy.

As he had promised, Tony visited him every single day, and the visits weren't just drop-ins. They were at least an hour long. They would have been longer, but Tony couldn't bring any movies.

Tim had other visitors as well. Ducky also came daily, and the rest of the team came to see him, too. He seemed to feel a little embarrassed by the attention...and by the fact that he was getting visits while being treated for what was, basically, a mental breakdown. No matter what Tony said (and he said it a lot), Tim still felt as though it was some inherent weakness in him that had brought him to this point. He was less embarrassed around Tony, seeing as Tony had seen him acting much worse already. That was part of the reason Tony made a point of coming. He had come with the others once and noticed how much more withdrawn and uncertain Tim was around them. It was a strange change. Tony was used to being the one that put Tim most on edge, because he teased him so mercilessly. To have the position of trust that Tim had given him was both surprising and bracing.

That was why, when Tim tentatively mentioned being released after ten days, Tony jumped in and volunteered to pick him up.

Tim sat in the darkness of his apartment. Jethro was sleeping. Tim wished he was, too, but there were so many other things to do. Tony and Ziva were working, and Tim was going to be back himself, but when he'd talked to them, things felt different. They didn't seem nearly so intent on catching Dearing. They left work. They didn't stay late. They just punched the clock. Tim couldn't figure out why they were so willing to take their time, why they didn't feel the same urgency.

He had imagined, over and over, Dearing sitting in a lair, watching all the chaos he'd caused with some kind of sadistic glee...and planning what more damage he could do.

Tim wasn't sure why, but he felt completely and utterly alone in this. It was like his whole world was just him and Dearing.

"Tim, you ready to go?"

"Yeah. I'm ready."

"How are you sleeping?"

"With help...but I'm using the help," Tim said.

Tony nodded, acknowledging the continuing need for recovery, but Tim was looking a lot better. More stable.

"Well, let's get you out of here."

Tim nodded. "Okay. I'm ready to leave." He picked up his bag and walked with Tony, out of the hospital, ready to face the world once again.

When they got into the car, Tim actually smiled.

"Feels familiar, doesn't it?" he asked.

"What?"

"You driving. Me being the passenger."

"Yeah. Pretty familiar. Next time, it'll be both of us sharing the driving responsibilities."

"Right," Tim said. "Like you'd ever want to put yourself through that again."

"Well, not through that, but a happier trip? Sure."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tim said.

Tony grinned and drove Tim home. When Tim got out of the car, he paused.

"Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm heading out, I think."

"Out?"

Tim suddenly smiled. "Out of the Badlands."

"Wow. That's a declaration I didn't expect to hear so soon."

"I didn't say I was all the way out. I'm just on my way. You were right."

"Excuse me? What was that?" Tony asked, cupping a hand around his ear.

"You were right...about a lot of things. I still feel a bit stupid...a lot stupid, but I'm almost glad that I didn't find Dearing myself."

"Almost?"

"Almost. Not quite. I still wish he was dead."

"But?"

"But I don't wish that I had killed him myself."

"Good...because I'm really glad you didn't."

Tim nodded and got out of the car. He walked into his apartment building. Tony watched him go and smiled. That was something he hadn't expected, but he was happy hear it and he would be even happier to help Tim maintain this progress.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Three months later...

Tim was focused very intently on his computer. Tony couldn't figure out what he was doing. They'd finished submitting their reports, but Tim was still working on something.

"Tim? What's going on?"

"Nothing, Tony," Tim said, but he was smiling which instantly alleviated Tony's worry.

Ziva grinned. "What are you planning, McGee?" she asked.

"Planning? Me? I wouldn't do anything like that," Tim said, all innocence.

"Now, I know you are planning something," she said.

"Never."

Tony looked at Ziva and then, the two of them got up and walked over. Tim had come back to work full-time two weeks before. He'd been there off and on, but not completely. He was still having therapy, but while he would still have his dark moments where Dearing was concerned, he was much much better.

Before they could get to Tim's computer, he pushed a couple of buttons and closed whatever window had been open. He grinned at them both and stood up.

"I think I'll head home."

"What were you doing, Tim?" Tony asked.

Tim just smiled and shrugged. He patted Tony on the shoulder and edged past them.

"Thanks, Tony," he said.

Tim said it quite often, and Tony had long since stopped trying to get him to stop it. He just accepted that Tim was grateful and wanted to show his appreciation. Tony had taken two weeks off once Tim had left the psychiatric hospital. He needed a real vacation, and Vance had agreed, giving him more time than he would normally have had.

"You're welcome," Tony said.

That was all that was needed. Tim got on the elevator and headed home.

Tony walked back and sat at his desk.

"Tim was doing something," Ziva said. "What do you think it was?"

Tony shook his head. "I don't know. I haven't seen him being so...sneaky in a long time."

Ziva smiled. "I am just glad to see him being happy again."

"Yeah. Me, too."

To Tony's surprise, Ziva leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"You did a good job, Tony."

Tony looked at Ziva, almost in shock. Ziva just smiled and walked back to her desk.

"Would you like to get a drink?"

"Nah. Not tonight. Catch me tomorrow when I've recovered from the shock of your compliment."

Ziva chuckled. "Very well. See you tomorrow."

Tony waved at her and then checked his email. He had a new one.

From Tim.

Tony,

How about these?

Hayward, Wisconsin: Giant fiberglass musky (a fish)

Collinsville, Illinois: World's largest catsup bottle

Peoria, Illinois: World's largest solar system model

Jasonville, Indiana: World's largest yo-yo

Alma, Arkansas: World's largest can of spinach

Stanton, Iowa: World's largest coffee pot and coffee cup

Cawker City, Kansas: World's largest ball of twine

Lexington, Kentucky: World's largest Dixie cup

Brainerd, Minnesota: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

Darwin, Minnesota: Another ball of twine. I wonder which is actually bigger.

St. Louis, Missouri: Largest pencil

Wilmington, Ohio: World's largest skateboard

Chester, West Virginia: Largest teapot

Woodruff, Wisconsin: Largest penny

I also read about something called the Cadillac Ranch in northern Texas.

I don't know. Something to think about...and I'll help drive.

Tim

Tony laughed.

"Where did you find these things?" he said aloud.

He hit the reply button.

Tim,

You're nuts, but maybe next summer...if you think we could stand each other's company again...and as long as we stop at the Badlands again.

Tony

He hit send and sat back to think. He was in no rush to leave.

His phone rang about half an hour later.

"Yeah?"

"I'm out of the Badlands, Tony."

"All the more reason to go back...to the real place, I mean."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Tony hung up and felt the last vestiges of worry he'd carried around dissipate. Even if Tim still had further to go, he now had no doubt that Tim would make it.

He was out of the Badlands.

FINIS!