Chapter Ten

Nope still don't own NCIS. There is just the epilog left and then this story is done. Yay. Is anyone interested in a wedding fic for Tim or Tony or both if so let me know.

The drive out of the city was beautiful. It was mid-March and there was warmth to the air that felt good. They had gotten on the road later then Tim had intended but the extra sleep had been needed. With the anemia finely under control, he had been allowed to have to have some wine the other night at the Ball. Problem was he hadn't had anything to drink in months and the two glasses he had went straight to his head, adding in the late night he slept in. It was a good thing that the Bread and Breakfast was close. Sophie had spent a good deal of time laughing at him as they packed everything into the car between the yawning and chattering about Jethro she was entertained. He just couldn't help it, that fact that he was well enough to claim his dog on Monday was exciting and as for the yawning well he was tired from the partying.

"Close your eyes Sof," Tim told her just before they turned onto the road to the B and B.

"Closed," she replied smiling at the playfulness, he was showing.

"No peeking," he chirped as they drove up to the building.

"How much longer Tim?"

"Almost there. One more minute… Ah here we are. Well what do you think?"

"Oh Tim it gorgeous. How did you find it?" She gasped in delight.

"Well there's this funny little thing called the internet not sure if you've heard of if it, but the thing's great for finding stuff," he smirked.

"Tim you're such a brat," Sophie giggled swatting his arm playfully.

"And you love me for it, here let me," he shot back before grabbing the suitcases.

Laughing Sophia skipped up the walkway and made it to the porch before the door opened, apparently, they were expected. Tim managed to fumble his way too the porch so he could make the introductions. The old man who introduced himself as Roger smiled at the young couple before showing them to their room. He tried to take the bags from Tim, but the younger man couldn't bring himself to allow their host to take them. When the door was shut Sophia laughed at him saying he was an over grown Boy Scout. He retaliated by blowing a raspberry out at her.

After they were settled, the pair went for a walk in the grounds enjoying the day. Looking at the snow that was still lingering on the ground Tim couldn't resist the thought that popped into his head. Scooping up a hand full, he threw it at his girlfriend, laughing at the squeal he danced away from her. Retaliating she threw a snowball of her own, soon it was war the two of them tossing snow at each other as the elderly couple looked on from the kitchen window in amusement. Trudging back inside they continued to laugh and play up to their room. After changing out of their wet cloths the pair went down for supper, the start had been late enough that they had to grab lunch while driving. Looking around Sophia couldn't help wondering about the barely suppressed glee that Roger and his wife had as they served the meal. Tim was planning something and she couldn't quite figure out what it was. The meal was a simple affair, but was elegant in it's own way. Tim had insisted that they both put on something nice and with the candlelight and well-cooked meal it fit.

"Sof I'm not sure if I can put into words how much theses past few months have meant too me. I don't know how I could have gotten through Livvie's death without you or anything else for that matter. I love you so much it hurts," Tim smiled shyly.

"Oh Tim I love you too," she replied giggling at the mans sudden bashfulness.

"Wait there's more," he whispered nervously before slipping out of his chair and on too one knee. "Sophia Fornell will you marry me?"

"Yes, yes, yes," she sobbed before allowing him to place the ring on her finger. Sliding out of the chair she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck

"Sofia what's wrong?"

"It's just I never thought that someone would want to marry me."

"How could I not want to marry you? You're beautiful smart funny and I can't see myself with out you."

"You know that this is my second bout with cancer, well the first time around three years ago I was dating someone when I was first diagnosed with it and he left saying he couldn't deal with it."

"Tobias told me about it when I first approached him with this weekend. He threatened to shoot me multiple times if I hurt you while we were planning this. Hey, I'm going to do the same thing to the guy who thinks he can marry my baby sister," he said smirking at the peeved look on her face. "It's what us big brothers do, so don't be yelling at him when we get back. What I'm saying is I love you and you did say yes so you're officially stuck with me. As for Abby at one time it would have mattered to me that she's pouting but I out grew the game we played, and found someone better. She's a little sister to me but nothing more."

"When did you get so smart Tim?" She asked drying her eyes wondering how he could read her so well.

"Well didn't Tony tell you I am a McGenius?" Tim asked hoping to listen the mood.

"Brat," Sophia laughed before admiring the ring on her finger.

Helping each other off the floor, Sophie gleefully showed off her engagement ring to Roger and Sally as they came in to offer their congratulations and dessert.

The rest of the weekend was a blur to Tim. He couldn't began to explain how deliriously happy he was with life. The two days were spent roaming the grounds and the nights well those were left to other things. When they got back Tobias was there to greet them, he threatened to shoot Tim one more time all the while smiling at his sisters bright smile. It had been too long since she was this happy and he was glad that she found someone to love her the way she deserved, but it was just too fun tormenting the kid to stop.

"Hey probie were you going?" Tony asked as he watched his friend shut down his computer.

"I have my medical too day, remember?" Tim reminded him.

"Oh yeah. It sucks that you have too requal on everything not just your firearm," he replied.

"Yeah it does, but you had too do it as well after you got the plague remember? Besides, it allows me to ignore wedding questions. We've been engaged two days and are already making plans," Tim told him with a smirk.

"I'm here for you buddy. Like you said I've been there," Tony said seriously. Tim's illness had brought them closer in more was then one. He knew what it was like to face a life threatening illness, what it was like to wonder if you weren't going to make it, what it was like to make it and have too recover from it. "Oh and congrat's agien I'm glad for the two of you."

"Thanks Tony," Tim smiled before heading out the door.

After the medical was done, Tim excitedly headed out to Gibbs's house. He had booked the exam for the afternoon so it would coincide with getting off work. He had passed with flying colors, but that was just icing on the cake compared to getting Jethro back. With his boss watching with barely contained laughter Tim launched himself at the dog playing and wrestling with him in a way he couldn't just a few months ago. After supper with the dog under foot, Tim packed up all of Jethro's thing and with a huge smile on his face took the German Sheppard home.

Gibbs couldn't help smiling at the pair Tim had been devastated when he couldn't take care of his pooch anymore. Even leaving him here had been hard, but what had made matters worse was that Jethro missed him too. He would howl in misery when Tim left and never seemed to eat properly unless his human was around. Gibbs would miss having a dog around and was seriously considering getting one of his own, but it was clear that McMutt had claimed Tim as his person and no one else.

The next day was the firearm quals in the morning and the fitness exam in the afternoon. He passed his firearms test with flying colors. There was no doubt of that his boss had been a Marine Sniper after all. It was the running component of the fitness test that had Tim worried. He had lost a lot of the muscle tone and stamina that several years on the team had given him and was worried that even with all the training he wouldn't pass. It felt like he was jumping through the hoops for FLETAC all over again.

Gradually slowing down Tim was a bit suspired at how easy the run had been. All the running he had done with Gibbs and Jethro apparently paid off. It has become an almost daily thing when he went over to his Bosses house to spend time with McMutt. With Dr. Sommer's approval, they had started running almost six weeks ago. Aware that his patient would try to push himself he had a chat with Gibbs about what his capabilities. No matter how much Tim had pouted the first day Gibbs insisted on the limits that Dr. Sommers had imposed and afterwards he reluctantly agreed that he needed to stick to the running schedule.

Tim was still embarrassed that he would still fall asleep on his Boss's couch after. However, it been comforting to wake up tucked in with Jethro on his feet. Big gestures were rare with his boss. It was little things like knowing your coffee of choice that he used to show his people he cared.

Seeing the smile on his examiners face Tim knew he had passed. He let out a whoop before shaking the mans hand. All that was left was have the run time filed and he would be back in the field. The shower took longer then he had intended, while he did pass it took a lot more out of him then he was willing to admit. Like Boss said it would take time.

Stepping out of the open elevator doors, he jumped as people yelled congratulations at him. The news that he passed the last of his quals had spread fast. His team was there along with his mom, sister, fiancée and the rest of the office to show how glad they were to finally have him back full time. Seeing the tiredness behind the bright smile Gibbs gently lead him to the nearest chair, people patting his back and offering their personal congratulations along the way.

"Thank you," Tim managed to get out. "I couldn't have done this without any of you."

Most of the people would not realize how true it was but he wouldn't have pulled through with out the supported of his friends and family. After work the team and the rest of his family found their way to Gibbs house for a small celebration.

Tim smiled glad it was finally the weekend he was getting stronger every day and was grateful, but he wasn't totally up to par yet, and there was one last thing he needed to do. Now that his anemia was in remission along with the cancer, Dr. Sommers had given him the ok to honor Livvie in his own way. Therefore, he dragged himself away from the computer and out the door. No one could quite understand the odd little smile he got when the subject of his tattoo came up. He had been planning on getting it long before Abby and the only thing that the conversation with Tony had done was change the placement of it. He did web design on the side and a friend of his had just opened up her own tattoo parlor and wanted a webpage. The tat had been part of payment for services rendered.

Greeting the artist like the old friend that she was Tim looked at the picture and nodded before taking off his shirt. Smiling he sat down in the chair this was the first of two sessions. Tonight the outline would be done and when that healed, he would have it colored in. Mac had done a great job on what he wanted. It was of a rose and a sunflower with the stems entwined, his, and Livvie's names in script inside the stems.