AS MANY KNOW I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE.
I HAVE UPLOADED A FEW OF MY OTHER STORIES AND I DO APOLIGIZZE FOR LEAVING THIS ONE HANGING.
I WILL UPDATE IT SOONER.
ANYWAYS THIS CHAPTER IS JUST A FILL IN. THE REAL STIFF BEGINS IN THE NEST ONE. I AM ALMOST DONE WRITING IT, SO YOU WON'T NEED TO WAIT LONG.
ANYWAYS...ON WITH THE STORY.
Arriving at the hospital, Gibbs began freaking out at the sight of everyone in the waiting room.
"Why are you all out here? Who is with Tim?" Gibbs began asking.
Ducky placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jethro calm down. Timothy pulled his stiches, causing his wounds to re-open. The surgeon took him back into the OR."
Ziva frowned. "How did he pull them? When we left he was okay and asleep."
Sarah glanced at them. "He was; it was about an hour after you two left. He began mumbling and thrashing on the bed. He was having a nightmare."
Gibbs cursed, he knew this would happened. It was rare for Tim to sleep without his terrors invading his mind. When he did It was usually because either he or Ziva were in the house. "How long has he been in there?"
"About two hours, nurse told us they had to start from the beginning." Ducky answered.
Taking a seat on one of the chairs he waited. Not once taking his eyes off the door to the OR. Ziva took a seat beside him, looking from the door to the clock over and over again. She hated this kind of wait, no matter how much you try and stay positive the bad thoughts would always pop in.
One of the nurses walked out within a few moments. "Family of McGee?"
Gibbs was on his feet and in front of her within second. "I'm his father, how is he?"
"Timothy is fine sir. Doctors re-stitched him up and cleaned him up. He should be in his room soon." Giving them a smile she walked away.
Gibbs let out a long drawn sigh. "Thank you."
It was about an hour before they were escorted back into Tim's room. Gibbs was at his side, checking his wounds. They were bright red and the flesh looked burned. It was irate and he was sure that will case him great pain.
Ziva and the others stood outside, Gibbs was a private person. She knew he wouldn't care, but it would be uncomfortable for both of them. Once she got a nod from Gibbs, they walked in. Sarah and her mother rushed to his side, talking softly to him.
"He's going to be out of it for a while." Gibbs said.
Ziva sighed. "You think he'll dream again?"
"Most likely. Which is why I need to stay here."
"I know. I was just going to propose that." Ziva reassured.
Sarah looked over at him. "What difference does it make if you stay or don't? The nightmares will come anyways. What we need to worry about is make sure he doesn't hurt himself again."
"It makes a huge different Sarah." Ziva snapped.
Gibbs sensed a fight argument coming on, grabbing his woman by the arm he pulled her back a little. "Ziva, why don't you accompany Ducky back to the office. Also find out what else Tony has found out. I'll stay here for a while." Giving him a small kiss, she followed Ducky out.
Ignoring the two woman left in the room, Gibbs took a seat on the chair. He stayed like that for the past two hours, only moving to answer the phone or change positions. Sarah and her mother were also in the room; they took up the couch. Not once have they asked for the Admiral or an update on the case. It was around 5pm when Gibbs saw McGee flinch in his sleep. He was quick to take the younger man's hand in his. It then escalated to thrashing and whimpers, now here Gibbs would normally pull him in for a hug, but he couldn't. So he did the next best thing.
Wrapping a hand under his neck, he pulled Tim closer. His face in the crock of Gibbs neck. Gibbs hand running thru his hair smoothly. "shh…I'm here Tim…your safe." Tim stopped thrashing within seconds. "Your safe…No one will ever hurt you again…I'm here son." He kept repeating the words over and over, Tim settled down as if nothing had happened, in fact his hand was wrapped around Gibbs arm.
Sarah had woken up at the whimpering sounds, she was astonished at the way Gibbs handled it. She felt bad for Tim at that moment, not once did she ever see her father treat him like that. She witnesses the way Tim was punished when he failed and put down when he did something right. Nothing was ever good enough for her father, not him graduating collage early, graduating MIT, nor getting a spot in agent Gibbs team.
"Can't sleep?" Gibbs asked.
Sarah jumped at the sudden voice. "Tim woke me up." Gibbs nodded, turning his attention back to Tim. "Agent Gibbs?"
"Hmm?"
"When did Tim start calling you dad?"
Gibbs smiled. "It was a weekend with team at my house. Tim and Ziva were currently arguing about something. They were going at for about an hour…"
FLASHBACK:
Gibbs flipped the meat on the grill, rolling his eyes at the bickering two. Tony sat back looking between the two, apparently he was the one to start the whole damn thing.
"You cannot kill someone with a piece of paper!" Tim yelled.
Ziva groaned. "You can and I can prove it!"
"Prove it!" Tim challenged.
"Alright I will! Tony grab me a paper!" Ziva ordered.
Tony all too happy to comply, jumped up. Gibbs grabbed him by the back of his shirt. "No one is going to kill anyone with a paper. Tim, Ziva knock it off already."
"But dad she started it!" Tim yelled, only then realizing what he said. At three set of eyes started at him.
Tony laughed. "Way to make things awkward McGee!"
Tim blushed. "Excuse me, I-I have to-" Rushing past them he ran into the house.
Ziva ran after him, but was stopped by Gibbs. "I'll go." Slapping tony on the back of the head he walked in. He found Tim sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. "McGee?"
"I'm sorry boss, it-it just slipped out." Tim mumbled.
"Tim?"
"I mean I know you're not my dad and much less want me to call you dad. I was too into what Ziva and I were talking-"
"Tim."
"That I didn't know what came out of my mouth. It won't happen again boss I promise." Taking a deep breath, Tim stood up and smiled. "It was just a slip up, that's all." Patting his boss on the shoulder he walked past him. For most of the day, Tim kept his mouth shut, just talking when talked too.
Gibbs hated seeing him so shut off, for the past 6 months they had been around each other for some time. McGee had confessed about his time with the army and the haunting dreams. After that Gibbs had been helping him out, causing both to become closer…attached even. He became seeing Tim as more than just an adoptive son, he became his and only his. The love he felt was of a father to his son, one unbreakable by man. Hearing him call him dad filled him with pride and love.
After everyone left Gibbs tried talking to Tim, but the younger man curled into himself.
"Damit McGee I'm talking to you!" Gibbs snapped.
Tim frowned. "Boss?"
"Can I talk or are you going to keep ignoring me?" Tim shrugged. "I don't mind you calling me 'dad' McGee. It's fine, after all this time we have lived it means a lot Tim." Taking a seat he sighed. "You know the kind of man I am Tim, I don't let anyone in and much less show my emotions." Tim nodded. "You…you are my son tim. Yes, I know Tony and Abby are too, but with you I feel like you are truly mine. What I am trying to say son is I love you and nothing will make me happier than you calling me dad."
Tim was shocked. "Son?"
"What?"
"You called me son?" Tim whispered.
Gibbs smiled, standing up he pulled the younger boy into a hug. "I have always called you son, but never had the guts to say it out loud. Tim I might not be your father by blood, but I can still look out for you."
Tighten the hug, Tim tried holding back the tears. "Thank you, you would be the first to ever do that. You are the only one that I can call dad and mean it at the fullest."
END OF FLASHBACK:
"Tim has been calling me that ever since. Beside at work of course." Gibbs finished.
"I heard him calling someone dad a couple of times, but the way he would say it and smile. I knew it was not our dad." Sarah whispered. "He never smiled when talking with or about our dad, not after he turned 12."
"The day his father beat him?" Gibbs growled.
Sarah nodded. "Yes, I mean he had hit Tim before, but that night. If I weren't because of our neighbor Tim would most likely be dead."
"Tim never told me why he got attacked." Glancing at the boy, he sighed. "Do you know why?"
"No…"
"But I do." All eyes turned towards McGee's mother. "And I will never forget myself for letting it happen."