I realize that it's been more than a week, this chapter took longer than I expected it to to write, but I am very satisfied with the end result! So, with out further ado, I give you the final chapter of the story we all know and love! Thanks for reading!
At ten the next morning, Tony and Ziva picked everyone up and they all headed to the hospital to await the time when Tim would be released. After almost an hour and a half, Tim was shaved, showered, medicated, and wrapped up in a soft cast. He walked out into the lobby with a grin on his face into the welcoming arms of his team. "We're finally a family again," Tim said as he and the others walked out of the hospital. "Shotgu-" Tony started to say, only to cut himself off before he finished.
"Actually, I think McGee gets shotgun for this trip." Tony said, opening the door for his partner. Tim scoffed. "I get shotgun for the rest of the month, thank you very much." He said, getting into the car. Gibbs hopped into the driver seat, and Abby, Tony, and Ziva climbed into the back. "Where to, boss?" Tony asked as they pulled out of the hospital parking lot, Jimmy, Ducky, and Breena following them. "Lunch. There's a couple of people that are meeting us down at Monumental's." Gibbs told them. They all got puzzled looks on their faces. "Who is meeting us?" Ziva questioned. Gibbs smirked. "People." he responded.
~~~xxx~~~
Fifteen minuets later, the arrived at the small, bustling restaurant that was a favorite of the team's to go to after work. Gibbs led them into the back room, which seated about fifteen and was only used for parties. Once inside, the whole team was taken aback at their friends who were waiting for them.
"Dad?" three puzzled agents said at the same time. "Luca!" Abby exclaimed, running to hug her brother. The four fathers stood and greeted their kids as they slowly approached them. Admiral Patrick McGee, along with his wife and daughter approached their son with much caution, not knowing what had happened to him. "Tim! Oh my God are you ok?" Sarah asked as she hugged him on his good side. He smiled and looked at his family. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just sliced my arm open. Fractured it in a couple places. I'll be fine in less than two months, according to the doctor. Though I do have a scar." he told them. "It's... It's good to see you, Timothy. Have a seat, we can make room," The Admiral invited. Tim shook his head. "No, its fine. I'll just sit across from you with Tony, Ziva, and Abby." he said, moving to the other side of the table.
Meanwhile, Tony and Ziva were having reunions of their own. "Abba, I missed you so much!" Ziva said, falling into her father's embrace. "I missed you too, Ziva." he said as they pulled away. "I told you that you would get out of this, Ziva. You always do." He said, kissing her on the forehead. She looked at him and smiled. "I love you, Abba." Ziva said, a tear cascading down her cheek. "I love you too, angel. More than you can ever know." Eli told his daughter. After a pause in the conversation where no one knew what to say, the director of Mossad spoke up. "You look beautiful today, Ziva. More than usual." Eli commented as they both took their seats. Ziva smiled again and blushed. "Thank you."
"Well, Dad, I am surprised to see you back in D.C. again." Tony said as he hugged his father. "Oh, Junior. When Gibbs called and told me that you were all ok, I just had to accept his offer to come down for a few days. Plus, Gibbs said he would pay for lunch." Senior said. Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, dad." He said with a laugh. "Listen, dad. I really appreciate you coming. I know you're a busy guy and I'm happy that you're gonna be here for me. And everyone else, for that matter." Tony confessed. "Oh, Junior! You know that you're more important than any meeting, even if it was with the President." Senior assured his son. "It wasn't always like that." Tony said. Senior shook his head sadly. "No, you're right. It wasn't. But it will be now." Tony smiled and hugged his father again. "I love you, dad." He said. "I love you too, Anthony."
After everyone was seated, Ziva, Tony, and Gibbs across from their dads, Tim seated next to Tony and Sarah and their parents across from them, Ducky at the head, Jimmy and Breena next to each other, and Abby and Luca on the other side, the waiters all brought out some water and took their drink orders. Suddenly, Patrick stood and everyone went silent.
"I would like to propose a toast. To one Leroy Jethro Gibbs, for saving the lives of those most important to us. And to my son, Tim. I'm sorry I didn't realize who you were and what you did until it was almost too late. And I hope we can talk more than every ten years from now on." he said, raising his glass of water in the air.
"To Gibbs and Tim!" everyone said.
Tim smiled, blushed, and buried his head in his lap. he didn't mind attention, but what his dad had just said was making him feel a little overwhelmed. "Hey, 's nothing to be embarrassed about. Look up. Come on, you deserve the attention. Relish it while you have it." Sarah told him. He glanced up at her. "Really?" he asked. Sarah scoffed. "I can't believe I'm comforting my big brother. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to work the other way around." She said, nudging him in the arm. Tim sat up and Tony slapped him on back of the head. "That's from Gibbs." he said when Tim looked over at him. Tim glanced at Gibbs, who nodded and winked at him. Tim smiled back as the waiter started to pass out drinks to the fifteen of them. Another waiter began to take lunch orders behind him, which soon turned into chaos. It would only get worse when it came time to pay.
At around one thirty, when everyone was finished with their meals and no one had anything else to say, everyone began to pack up and leave. "Tim." Patrick caught his son's arm before he and Abby left. "Ouch! Jeez, dad." Tim whirled around. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know it hurt all the way up to your shoulder. Listen, son. I was wondering if you wanted to come back to Bethesda with us tonight for dinner. Sarah has a long weekend off work, and we'd love to have you come home. We miss you." he offered.
Tim looked at Abby, smiled and looked back at his dad. "I would love to dad. But I have plans. Sorry. Maybe next weekend?" Tim asked. "What are you doing tonight?" the Admiral asked. Abby linked arms with Tim and kissed him on the cheek. "Timmy is taking me on a date." Abby said with a grim. "And the team is going to a basketball game as well." Tim added in, so his father wouldn't be suspicious. It was kind of obvious at this point what was going on between the two of them, and Tony and Ziva for that matter, but no one really wanted to say anything yet. The Admiral nodded, seemingly satisfied with his son's answer. "Ok. Next weekend." he said. Tim nodded and smiled. "Yes sir."
~~~xxx~~~
"Tony!" Ziva screamed. Tony heaved and exasperated sigh. It was the fourth time she had called his name. "What, Ziva?" he responded, more than slightly annoyed. "Are you going to be ready anytime soon? Because if not, then we are not going tot he game." She said as she gathered her things. She and Tony had spent the afternoon and early evening together, and they had a real good time. Ziva had been in many a relationship before, but this one felt... right. Like it was meant to happen.
"I'm coming! Calm down sweetcheeks!" Tony yelled. Ziva smiled at the use of her nickname. "Well I would advise you come faster, Tony, or we will not make it downtown before the game starts. McGee and Abby are already on their way." Ziva said as he stepped out into his living room, where Ziva sat on the couch. He was wearing a white undershirt that was visible under the Wizards uniform he was sporting, along with jeans. Ziva looked at him unimpressed. "It took you a half an hour to put this on? You amaze me, Tony." Ziva rolled her eyes as he opened the door for her. Tony grinned. "What can I say? I am a pretty awesome person." He said as he locked his door and they went on their way.
When Tony and Ziva got to the arena, they started to try and locate their seats. "Are McGee and Abby here yet?" Tony asked. Ziva shrugged. "I do not know. Probably, unless they got stuck in traffic or something." She suggested. Tony nodded as he scanned the crowds. Finally, he found their section. "Here we are! Straight up ahead. Come on, Ziva." Tony said, holding her hand.
She walked with him until they arrived at their row and were greeted by Gibbs, Tim, Abby, Jimmy, and Breena. "Hey gang! What's new? Tony said as he took a seat between Tim and Ziva. Abby was next to Tim, Breena and Jimmy sat next to her. Gibbs was on the other side of Ziva. As they watched the players warm up, something darted across Tony's mind. He leaned forward. "Hey, Boss." Gibbs turned to look at the agent.
"What about rule 12?" He asked. Tim heard the question and turned away from Abby to hear the answer. He was curious as well, but Tim figured he would let Tony ask. Gibbs sighed. He knew the question would come up, and, honestly, he had no clue. What about rule 12? What was he going to do?
He looked at Tim and Tony, saw all they had been through. Gibbs saw Tim and Abby going out to lunch and talking for hours. He saw Tony and Ziva staying up late on a Saturday night, watching some romantic comedy together. He also saw Tony getting a bigger bed and actually keeping food in his house, which was just as strange as everything else. He saw the four of them go out to dinner with each other. He saw Tony and Ziva getting married, he saw himself walking Abby down the aisle, Tim waiting at the end. He saw little kids, his grandkids, running around the living room, playing tag in the backyard. Gibbs saw the possibilities, the future. And he looked at Tim and Tony, saw that they were anxiously gripping their girl's hand, waiting for a response.
"Rule 12... You mean 'Always have your partner's back'? What about it, DiNozzo?" Gibbs said with a smile. It took them a nanosecond to process it. "Thanks, Boss. Thanks a lot." Tony said. Tim nodded in agreement. "It means the world to us." He said. Gibbs nodded as a boy's excited voice reached their ears. "Dad, I found them! Look, I see Tony and Ziva!" Jared Vance said, running up the stairs to greet his favorite babysitters. "Jared! How nice to see you here! Are you excited for the game?" Ziva asked as he and Tony did their secret handshake. Jared nodded as his dad moved him along. Vance and his son sat next to Gibbs, on the end.
"Gibbs." Vance greeted the agent as the game began. "Leon." Gibbs did the same. Tony turned to Ziva.
"Ok, what about now? If we could stop time, would you?" Ziva looked around at Jimmy, who was explaining basketball for what seemed like the hundredth time, Abby, who kissed Tim on the cheek and put her head on his good shoulder, Jared and his father, who were talking stats about the game, Gibbs, who was desperately trying to remember the basics of the game, and Tony, who was staring at her like he always did. Ziva smiled.
"If we could stop time, I would stop it here forever." Tony nodded, satisfied with her answer. "Seems like the right time, don't you think? The bad guys are behind bars, we're watching a great game of basketball, Timmy McGee finally has a real girlfriend, the team's all here, and you and I are together at least. I'd take this deal over anything." Tony told her. Ziva smiled at her boyfriend.
As tip off happened and the Wizards put three points on the board, Tony raised his beer out for all to see. "To NCIS!" he shouted over the noise of the crowd. Everyone else held up their bottle, with the exception of Jared of course, who raised his Pepsi to the sky.
"To NCIS!"
Yay! Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and/or favorited this story! It means the world to me and I'm so excited that this got such a huge response! Pretty pleas drop a review on what you thought about the ending, last chapter, or the story overall because I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks a million for all your support and (hopefully!) until next time, this is Agent Owl, signing off for the last time.