Oh good, I've got you all curious. Guess that means you'll have to keep reading! LOL!
Anyway, Thanks again to everyone. I'm so honored.
Disclaimer: Just borrowing, do not own anything - not making any money - etc.
Once everyone had left, Tim let his attitude slip. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He walked over to the drawer and slowly opened it. There was his faithful companion, eyes glassy and milky, fur matted with blood.
Tim closed his eyes and took another deep breath. When he opened them, he reached out and started petting his friend. "I'm sorry, Jethro. Abby gave you to me thinking you'd be safe, so don't be mad at her okay. None of this is her fault."
Surprisingly, there were no tears. Even Tim wasn't sure why he hadn't cried yet. He knew he needed too, but so much had to be done first. At the start, he thought it was just going to be about making funeral arrangements, then it became an investigation to find their killer, now it was a manhunt for an evil that should have never seen the light of day again.
"When you see Kate in heaven, tell her I said 'Hi'. Although, make sure you give her a better greeting than when we first met."
He heard the door swish open and he let his hand drop, but he didn't turn around to face whoever came in.
"Oh, Timmy, um, hi. I didn't know you were here yet." Abby came to stand behind McGee. She wanted to show him, he wasn't alone, but she didn't want to do anything that would accidentally make him feel worse. She looked at Jethro. "Come to say goodbye, huh?"
"No."
"What?"
"Gibbs is making me do this. I don't really care. I never wanted the stupid dog. He attacked me, remember. But you didn't care. You were more worried about him than you ever were about me."
Abby was stung by his words, but remembering what Franks said, she tried not to react to them.
"Nothing to say? Never thought I'd see the day when Abby Sciuto ran out of words." His tone becoming harsher.
Abby closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before responding. "It happens sometimes."
McGee scoffed at that. "Whatever."
An awkward silence fell between them. Not sure what to say, Abby said the first thing that came to mind. "It's okay to miss him."
"I don't. I told you, I don't care. In fact ..." He finally turned around to look at her, a cold and sneering look on his face. "In fact, I'm glad he's dead."
"What? You don't mean that." Abby was having a hard time not reacting to McGee. He never lies, but ... this has to be a lie, right? When Mike said he would say anything to push us away, I didn't think he would lie, I just thought ... Her thoughts were cut short by Tim's next statement.
"Do I ever lie?" He looked at her with such disdain, that she could hardly recognize her friend. "I was getting ready to put him down, he was such a pain in the ass. Glad my old man did it for me."
"What?" Abby couldn't stop herself, she started crying. "Timmy, please, don't ..."
"I'M NOT A CHILD! Don't call me by that stupid name!" He knew if he did this just right, it would be a two for one. Get Abby upset enough and Gibbs was sure to kick him to the curb.
She reached out for him, but he swatted her hand away. "Why are you even here? Oh, that's right the dog." He slapped himself on the forehead. "Because, he's always been sooo much more important than a dumb geek."
"T-that's not true! I ..."
McGee wagged his finger at her. "Bad Abby, no lying."
Abby brought her hands to her mouth, realizing what he was referring to.
"Doesn't feel good, does it?" He leered at her.
She couldn't take any more, she turned around and ran out of autopsy.
Tim had a momentary flash of regret and would have let his pretense fall, but he heard footsteps behind him. He wouldn't face any of them.
Gibbs had left Ducky's office as soon as he heard McGee's raised voice. He stood back to see how it would play out. When Abby left in tears, he sighed. Mike gave him a hard 'I told you so' look. Gibbs gestured for him to go after her while he took care of Tim. He shooed Hal, Ducky and Jimmy back to the office.
Tim watched Franks walk out the door and felt Gibbs come up beside him. He waited for the yelling or the head slap, or something, but Gibbs remained silent.
Gibbs knew, if he waited long enough, Tim would say something. After about five minutes, he got what he had been waiting for.
"Why are you here?"
"I figured you could use the support."
Tim chuckled. "I'm fine. Everyone thinks I can't handle this. 'Poor McGee, to soft for this line of work, ready to fall apart at the drop of a hat.' Well, I hate to break it to everyone, I'm stronger than that."
"I know you are Tim."
McGee chanced a glance to Gibbs, wondering why he was getting this instead of being reamed out. Maybe Gibbs doesn't know what I've done. "I made Abby cry."
"I know."
McGee rounded on him. "Then why are you standing here!"
Gibbs was going to respond, but Tim didn't give him the chance.
"She's your favorite, right? Abby, who-can-do-no-wrong, replacement-for-your-dead-daughter, Sciuto is out there crying, but you're in here with me! I'm always responsible for her actions and the one time I actually do something, you don't go after her! I don't understand! When Mikel broke into my apartment, that was my fault because she opened the door! When she got stuck in that car, it was my fault because I was doing my job! When Landon went after her, it was my fault because he couldn't tell the difference between fact and fiction! When ..."
Gibbs had hear enough. "McGee ..."
Tim knew that tone, he had pushed Gibbs to his limit. He now was waiting for a slap, a punch, some form of violence. When Gibbs pulled him into a hug, Tim was completely thrown. "What ... what are ..." He struggled against Gibbs.
"Tim, all those times, Abby needed me more than you. I might have taken my frustration out on you, but it was never meant to be directed to you personally. I should have told you before." Gibbs, usually quick to anger, found himself feeling more sad than anything. "I know you think you have to push us away to protect us, but you don't. I promise that I will not let Talbot hurt you anymore."
Tim sagged for a moment needing the verbal and physical reassurance, feeling for a brief moment safe, just like when Dan would hold him. Then he realized what he was allowing to happen and he pushed Gibbs away. "You can't make that promise! I know him! I'm his son for christ's sake!"
Gibbs just shook his head at McGee.
He knew he needed another approach, so he tried for logic. "Okay, so you're going to protect me from him?"
"Damn right."
"So am I worth Abby's life?"
"What?"
"Because, that's what it's going to come down to. A choice, either me or her. So choose, Gibbs. Right now. Who would you rather have alive. Me or her?"
"Tim ..."
"No! I'm serious. Right now, he has a gun on both me and Abby. He gives you the choice to save just one of us, who would you pick?"
"I could never ..."
"YES YOU CAN! You're a Marine! You've had to make decisions like that all the time! So which is it! Who would you rather still be breathing tomorrow?"
"A father could never choose between his children. I would find a way to save you both, or die trying."
Gibb's soft words echoed through Tim's head. Dan had said something similar once, a long time ago. He could feel his anger and resolve slipping. He felt drained. He looked at Gibbs, now pleadingly. "You always chose Abby. She's your favorite. Why aren't you choosing her now?"
Gibbs stepped close and again pulled McGee into a hug.
"Choose Abby. Please, I would. I'm not worth her life. Please."
Gibbs felt all of the fight leave McGee's body. "I refuse to trade one life for another. Never have, never will."
"Please Boss, choose Abby."
Gibbs rubbed Tim's back as he kept pleading. "No, Tim. I will protect you all. Tony, Ziva, Abby, and you."
Tim couldn't take anymore and his legs buckled. Gibbs' hold tightened. "Easy, Tim, easy."
Ducky, who had not returned to his office, came from the corner which he was standing, pulling a chair with him. He placed it right under McGee.
Gibbs saw what Ducky had done and lowered Tim into the chair. By the time he was sitting, he was back to being silent and withdrawn, a shell-shocked look on his face.
Ducky gave him a once over, then beckoned Gibbs to the corner.
Gibbs shook his head, he still had a hand on McGee's shoulder and didn't want to leave him.
Ducky waved Palmer into the room, who came in blushing from ear to ear. "Will you keep an eye on Timothy while I talk to Jethro?"
"Yes, of course Dr. Mallard." He walked over to Gibbs and gave a slight nod.
Reluctantly, Gibbs left Tim's side. "What is it Duck?"
"Did he eat much the morning?"
"No, about one pancake an half a piece of toast. Why?"
"Has he grieved any?"
"No. Ducky, please, what's wrong?"
"Jethro, I don't how much more of this that young man can take. His vitals are all over the place."
Gibbs rubbed his hand over his face. "What are you saying?"
"That if he doesn't find a release soon, he could end up in the hospital."
Gibbs closed his eyes and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "What do I do?"
Ducky sighed. "See if you can get him talking, really talking. I think you, more than anyone, can."
"I'll try, but I can't force him if he's not ready."
"I know, but ..." Ducky shook his head. "We are just going to need to keep a close eye on him."
"As opposed to what?"
Ducky allowed himself a ghost of a smile and a slight chuckle. "Quiet right. What is your plan?"
"For now? I'm just going to get him to the bull-pen and see if I can give him a normal day."
"What about the case? I know that you haven't yet received our update from the findings at Timothy's apartment."
Now, Gibbs gave a smirk. "That's why there's two floors to the bull-pen."
"Very well. And Abigail?"
"Mike's taking care of her."
"Jethro ..."
"No, Ducky. What I said to Tim was the truth. He needs me now more than she does. I get that she's upset, but he's just had his life torn apart. I will get to her later."
Dr. Mallard knew there would be no more to say on the subject. He also knew that he would be speaking to Abby very soon, to offer her the support that she was used to getting from Gibbs. He nodded. "Alright then."
The two men walked back into the main room. Jimmy had pulled up a chair next to Tim. He was talking a mile a minute about his latest classes, his mom, his family, anywhere that his thoughts took him.
Gibbs walked over and once again, pulled Tim up by his elbow. "Come on McGee, let's get to work."
"Sure, Boss." Tim's voice was barely above a whisper, but it brought a small smile to Gibbs. He knew from that simple statement, that he was actually getting through to McGee ... slowly, but surely.
XXXX
Mike strode out of autopsy, expecting to find Abby bawling, instead she was trying to calm herself and dry her eyes.
"Hey, girly."
She jumped at his voice and turned to Mike. "Oh, hey there." She turned back to the elevator.
They waited in silence. Once inside, surprisingly it was Mike who started the conversation. "What was that all about?"
"I ..." She paused as tears came back to her eyes. "I've been so mean to him."
"What?" That wasn't anything close to what he was expecting.
"He's such a good guy. Always puts other's needs ahead of his own, even ... even a dog's." She wiped at her eyes.
Franks felt bad for her, knowing how hard she was trying not to break down. He reached out an pulled her into a hug. "Go ahead darln' let it out."
She didn't need to be told twice. Once she got started the tears and the words came fast. "I ... I remembered what you said ... how he would say anything ... to push us away ... I just ... never thought he would lie ... because Timmy ... Tim never lies ... but this time he did ... said he was glad Jethro was dead ... he looked so mean ... if it weren't for the look ... in his eyes ... I might have ... fallen for it ... but then ... then he said I cared ... more ... more about Jethro than ... I did him ... called me 'Bad Abby' ... just like I did ... to him." She cried into Mike's shoulder.
Mike stroked her back while she cried and babbled. He realized she was more upset with herself, for how she had treated McGee in the past. "Aw, hell. He'll lie, mix in the truth, take something he felt for a moment and blow it out of proportion, anything to make sure we stay safe. Even if he ends up alone in the end."
Abby was finally calming down. "That's no good. He deserves better." She pulled back from Mike. "He may have lost one family, but he still has us, no matter what. Bad attitude or not, we won't let him face this alone."
"Good girl." He gave her an encouraging smile, which she returned.
Abby gave him a hug. "You're almost as good as Gibbs."
"Almost?" He gave with a half smirk.
Her smiled faded. "He stayed with Tim, didn't he?"
"Abby ..."
"No, it's fine. He needs Gibbs." She pulled back and wiped her eyes, again.
The elevator opened on Abby's lab level. She sighed and squared her shoulders. "Work. Yup, work. They all deserve everything that I can find with my 'babies'."
Mike nodded at her and let the elevator doors close.
