June 26

Other blessings may be taken away, but if we have acquired a good friend by goodness, we have a blessing which improves in value when others fail. It is even heightened by sufferings. – William Ellery Channing

"Hey, Probie! Over here!"

Tim sighed as he heard Tony's call. This was stupid. They were in the middle of nowhere, on a wooded steep hill, taking photographs of the various pieces of a decomposed body that a bunch of kids had thought it would be amusing to throw over a nearby bridge.

Despite all his experience and expertise, Ducky was struggling to get down to the necessary body parts. He was being forced to take his time, something that had annoyed Gibbs. Thankfully, Gibbs had decided that he and Ziva would be better off interviewing the wife than standing round like lemons.

"Probie!" came the frustrated yell.

"I'm coming," Tim shouted back. Did Tony know what patience was?

He was so deep in thought that he didn't spot a tree root. It took one mis-step for him to tumble halfway down the hill.

"Probie?" This time the shout was more anxious.

Tim forced himself to sit up, gingerly pressing a spot on his forehead. He was going to have a big bump later…

"I'm alive," he bellowed. "I think."

"Thanks goodness for that." Despite the flippant remark, Tim could hear the relief in Tony's voice. "For a moment, I thought I'd have to break in a new agent."

Tim rolled his eyes. Only just starting to realize how much his ankle ached. Had he twisted it or was it sprained? He tried to remember the differences between the two.

Tony crashed into the area around him, taking careful note of his injuries. "Anything really bad?" he asked.

"My ankle," Tim admitted. "Don't think I'm going to be able to walk out of here."

"Nonsense," Tony scorned, hauling him to his feet. "We'll make it together. Lean on me."

Tim groaned, but obeyed.

"Right," Tony guided. "Next stop, Ducky. How do you end up in these scrapes, McClumsy?"

Tim was grinning when he reached the top of the hill. He wanted to kill Tony for all his whining, but he couldn't have made it alone.