"You ready to do this?" Smiling, Gibbs looked over at McGee, thrilled to see him looking so healthy and strong, so different than the last time they'd been here.
Tim stepped closer and returned the smile. "Sure am, Jethro. Let's show them what we can do." With Gibbs' hand resting on the small of his back, Tim stood tall as they walked into the building and signed in. They were sure a call went up even before the elevator started moving and the audience waiting for them proved that theory right. Abby was vibrating with excitement, while the others were a bit more cautious.
Not surprisingly, Abby was the first of the group to break away to greet them, running up and hugging them both at the same time. "Oh, my God, Oh, my God, I am so happy you're home and that everything is all right." She pulled back to look at them, the first hint of worry on her face. "It is, right? I mean, things are okay between you now and the bond?"
To answer that and any other question the others might have on the status of their relationship, Gibbs pulled Tim's face against his and kissed him hard, stopping just short of grinding against him. Finally, when they pulled back, Gibbs turned back to her and the others. "My Guide and I have a very strong and well balanced bond and are ready to return to work."
For a group that was expecting a smirk or a one-word answer, Gibbs' full answer was a surprise. Vance recovered first, not knowing how his response would be taken. "We're glad to hear that, but we need you to re-certify first."
"Planning on it. Paper targets first, then the Gauntlet?"
Vance had not been expecting such easy compliance and certainly hadn't expected them to offer to undergo the more advanced testing and stumbled over his words for a moment. "Yes, sure, that's... that's perfect."
As Vance made the call to set up the Gauntlet, Gibbs and McGee stepped over to their desk to drop their coats and gear, aware that they were being closely scrutinized. Gibbs knew that he looked more relaxed, more comfortable in his own skin, but the big change was in McGee. Gone were the shy geek and the emotionally battered, partially bonded Guide. In his place was a man confident and strong, ready to face the future.
-NCIS-
"You okay, Chief?"
Blair shrugged and accepted the hug. "Yeah."
"That was convincing." Jim brushed his lips across Blair's forehead as they stood outside the loft, paperwork finally finished. "We've trained other pairs before and sent them on their way."
"This time was different."
Jim smiled, remembering the plane tickets in his pocket. "Yeah, it was. Which is why we're going back to DC this afternoon. Well, that and the testifying that we never got around to doing."
"Really?" Smiling now, Blair leaned back enough to look Jim in the eye.
"Really. And after the dog and pony show is over we can stick around and help them go after Shuhab. Figured it was the least we could do after Shuhab and Kincaid teamed up to cause them all that trouble. So let's go pack, we have to be at the airport in an hour."
-NCIS-
If there was any doubt about the rumors on a new Sentinel and Guide pair, the fact that even the Director of NCIS was going to observe two agents' re-certifications seemed to confirm them. The Quartermaster himself set up the targets and handed out the ear protection.
McGee was first up. As they watched, Gibbs snuggled up behind him and whispered something in his ear before backing up. Tony looked at Ziva, who shrugged, and they both settled in to watch. Tony had seen some pretty good shooting from McGee over the years and he hoped that the changes hadn't hurt him too much in that regard.
The traditional target they used was the outline of a body with two bulls-eyes, one small one on the head and a larger one the covered the core of the body. On the body target the 10x was about the size of a human heart, the regular 10 was several inches larger. A score of 9 was still a kill shot and 8 was the minimum that Gibbs considered acceptable for his team at this distance.
Gibbs' promise of what he would do for every 10x he scored had Tim smiling as he loaded his weapon. Tim centered himself, feeling the bond supporting and strengthening him as he sighted down the barrel to the target 25 meters away. Certification required ten shots fired for a total of 85 points at 25 meters or 95 points at 10 meters. When Tim set his pistol down and the target was brought back, even Vance gave a whistle. Every shot was either in or touching the 10 ring and three shots were within the 10x.
Usually several rounds needed to be done to satisfy the Quartermaster, but he laughed and shook his head. "Boy, you can come shoot on my team anytime."
McGee and Gibbs switched places, Tim giving his own advice. "Use my scent as your anchor, Jethro and show them what a trained Sentinel is capable of."
Dismissing the body target, Gibbs let his sight zoom in on the head target. The 10 ring was the size of a quarter, the 10x the size of a dime. Tony noticed how high his gun was and started to ask. "Umm, Boss?"
Ziva hushed him as Gibbs started firing. Ten rounds later and they were staring at the target, the 10 ring completely demolished and the rest of the target untouched. Gibbs and McGee just smiled at each other and started walking to the interactive range while the rest continued to stare at the target.
"Wow."
"Yeah."
"I am impressed."
"Impressed? I've been running ranges for twenty-five years and I've never seen anything even close. Not with a pistol and not at that range."
As they walked, Tim looked at the smile on his Sentinel's face. "They surprised?"
"Oh, yeah."
The interactive range, or the Gauntlet as it was called, was designed to test personnel in the most realistic circumstances possible with different targets popping up under varying conditions every time it was run. Civilians, hostiles, hostiles with hostages, undercover operatives, every possible combination could be found as one carefully made their way through the buildings waiting to be cleared. Smoke bombs and sirens made it even more realistic and several human shooters added an element of surprise. Scoring with the laser guns was based on both accuracy and time and the best score for a two person team had been held for the last five years by two members of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team based at Quantico.
After they were suited up with the vests that would record if they were hit, Gibbs turned to McGee. "Suggestions?"
"Sight will be your most useful sense, but use sound to get a location on the humans before we start. Anchor on me and be ready to dial down quickly if you need to. Remember what Ellison said about the sirens?"
"The click."
"Yep. You hear that and crank hearing down in a hurry. Then you can bring it back up slowly as you filter out the siren."
"Okay, stay close to me. If we're doing good, they'll try to separate us." Gibbs looked over at the Quartermaster and raised his voice. "You're recording this, right?"
"Cameras are all over the range."
Ten minutes later, they were staring at the screens, wondering just how an over-the-hill former Marine and a Geek managed to shatter the time record and pull a perfect score at the same time.
-NCIS-
"Pull in there."
Jim made the turn automatically, and then realized what parking lot he was in. "A sex shop? I know you packed lube."
"I did."
"Then what did you forget?"
Blair didn't roll his eyes, but it was a near thing. "Nothing was forgotten."
"You're up to something." The only answer was a grin and Blair bounced out of the rental car.
"Stay here, I'll be back in a minute."
Jim thought about using his senses to track his Guide, but decided to play along instead.
-NCIS-
Vance secured a copy of the video before mentioning that he would see the rest of them back aboard the Yard after lunch. Plans were made, but Gibbs could tell that DiNozzo wanted to speak to McGee without an audience. He sent Ziva ahead to get them a table at a nearby pizza joint.
Tony gave a nervous laugh and rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants. "I guess you can hear it too, Boss."
Gibbs just gave him the look. "Tony, I'd be able to hear you from on the other side of the parking lot, but if Tim doesn't want me to listen, I won't."
"Really?" Tony had to squint to see that far and just shook his head. "That's going to take some getting used to. I understand that you probably don't trust me yet."
Tim looked at Gibbs and a silent conversation seemed to take place. Tony didn't quite understand it as there were no gestures or lip reading taking place. Eventually, Gibbs nodded at McGee and stepped away, pulling his phone out as he did.
"Wow, you can read each other's minds?"
"Not that, exactly. He can feel my emotions and my reactions. Even if he's not consciously listening, he's aware of my heartbeat. He'll know if something is wrong." Tim took a closer look at Tony. The image of DiNozzo in the ICU was still very clear in his mind. "How are you?"
Tony knew exactly what Tim was referring to. "Fine. Embarrassed as hell, but I'm fine. Doctors said there's no permanent damage." He shuffled his feet and shrugged. "I'm sorry I made things even harder for you."
Aware that this was going to be a difficult conversation for Tony, Tim pointed out a nearby bench. Nothing else was said until they sat down. "Relationships aren't one or the other, Tony. My being his Guide was never a threat to you. You're his senior agent. You're the son he never had. The only way that is going to change is if you push him away."
"I almost did, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did. It was stupid and could have killed all three of us."
"I know." Tony leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "A couple of hours of that and I just about lost my sanity. I can't imagine living through it for days. Were you really ready to..."
McGee understood the question even if Tony couldn't verbalize it. "I went to Cascade to die, Tony. Jim and Blair helped shield me so that Jethro wouldn't suffer too as I..."
"Killed yourself?"
"No, it wouldn't have been a suicide, not exactly." Tim hesitated, not sure the best way to explain how a damaged bond could suck the life out of a person.
Gibbs rejoined them, sitting on McGee's other side. "It would have been murder, Tony. I was literally killing him. Me and my stubborn refusal to face our new reality."
Tony frowned as he tried to make sense of what he was being told. "Because you hadn't fully completed the bond? I don't understand how that would have killed him."
"The connection was one way." Gibbs snaked an arm around Tim and pulled him close, needing to feel that his Guide was alive and well. "I was basically sucking the life right out of him and he was getting nothing back from me."
Thinking back, Tony remembered how Gibbs had seemed to be getting stronger, but McGee appeared to be weaker every day. The pamphlets Abby had made him read about symbiosis suddenly made sense. "Damn. But you guys are okay now, right?"
"Better than okay." Gibbs nuzzled the side of Tim's face. "Let's go have lunch then get our medical clearance out of the way, all right?"
"Sounds good. Have you heard from them?"
"Landed a little while ago. We're going to meet them for dinner."
-NCIS-
Jim watched as Blair hung up their suits and got out their favorite 'date' outfits. "I know we talked about getting a cabin the next time we were here, but I don't think we're going to have time to play."
Blair understood that neither Sentinel would fully relax until Shuhab and his men were either captured or dead. "Maybe after everything is done, we can rent one before we go back to Cascade."
"That sounds good. Maybe even ask Jethro and Tim to join us for a few days." Jim waited until Blair was slightly distracted. "So, when do I get to see the new plug?"
"Who says that's what I bought?"
"Please. I can smell the silicone from here."
In truth, Blair was excited about his plan. "Actually, there's two. One for me and one for Tim, so don't be surprised when we slip off together during dinner."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." With that answer, Jim started looking for a restaurant that had not only good food, but fast service.