Chapter 7

Tim doesn't dream. For the first time in… he honestly doesn't know how long, he doesn't dream. With Dani, alive and real and warm, tucked against his side, in his arms, he doesn't really have anything to dream about.

Dani, he learns, rises with the sun.

"Aren't witches supposed to be creatures of the night?" Tim grumbles when she starts shifting in the predawn light.

Dani laughs and presses a light kiss to his cheek. "Go back to sleep."

He vaguely registers the sound of the shower before he drifts back into oblivion. He wakes again when his alarm goes off at seven and helps himself to a quick shower and dresses in black jeans and a gray button up before making his way downstairs to the smell of bacon and coffee.

He's not surprised to find Gibbs at the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee, talking quietly with Dani as she cooks. Dani, who is barefoot, in a long green skirt and a gray sweater that looks so soft he wants to twist his hands into the fabric. An image of him peeling the sweater off over her head flashes through his mind and he nearly stumbles from where he's leaning against the doorway. Dani's smirk tells him that little image was entirely intentional.

"Morning, Tim," she greets without looking away from the stove. "Coffee?"

Tim takes a deep breath and steps into the kitchen. "I can get it. Cups?"

She nods to a cabinet on the far side of the kitchen. When he returns to the coffee maker at her side, she holds her face up to him expectantly, without ever stopping mixing the eggs in the bowl in front of her.

Tim can't help but smile and oblige, kissing her once, gently, completely forgetting about his boss sitting at the counter behind him.

Gibbs clears his throat.

Tim pulls back and blushes before moving to take a seat next to Gibbs at the bar. "Sorry, boss."

Dani looks unrepentant. "Jethro, if you wouldn't mind manning the eggs, I'll go wake Tony up."

Gibbs stands and moves to the stove without protest as Dani lifts a mug of coffee from the counter and vanishes through the door toward the living room. Gibbs deftly pours the eggs into a hot pan on the stove before turning to Tim, arms crossed across his chest as he leans against the counter.

Tim fidgets nervously under the scrutinizing gaze.

Gibbs heaves a sigh. "I'm gonna have to replace you, aren't I?"

Tim glances through the empty doorway. "I probably never would've joined NCIS if I knew she was still here," he admits.

"You don't have to explain, Tim," Gibbs says, in the softest tone Tim has ever heard from him. "I had someone, once, that I looked at the way you look at her."

Tim blinks. "What did she put in your coffee, Boss? You're… almost being nice."

Gibbs rolls his eyes. "Nothing. She's… Shannon was a witch."

Tim's jaw drops.

Tony stumbles through the door, propelled by Dani, barely avoiding spilling the coffee in his hands, before the conversation can continue. Dani deftly maneuvers Gibbs away from the stove and takes over the spatula. Gibbs grins indulgent and rejoins Tim at the counter.

Tony glares at them all blearily. "How is everyone so awake?"

The front door bangs open, and Allison's voice carries down the hall. "Is he here?"

Dani winks at Tim.

"Kitchen," he calls, standing from his stool.

Allison squeals, and barrels around the corner, immediately wrapping him in a hug. "Finally! We missed you!"

Tim hugs her back. "I missed you too."

"I thought you guys weren't coming back until tomorrow," Dani says from her place at the stove.

"Someone," Max comes around the corner, dropping their bags in a pile in the doorway and looking pointedly at Allison, "was impatient and made us catch a redeye last night." He shoves his wife out of the way and pulls Tim into a back sleeping hug. "Good to see you, man."

Tim beams. "You too."

Tony squints at the scene unfolding in front of him. "Did we jump dimensions? Are we in a world where McGeek is the popular one?" He blinks down at his coffee. "Maybe I'm still dreaming."

"Or maybe you're just an ass," Allison fires back.

"Okay, everyone play nice," Dani admonishes.

Ziva joins them then, showered and dressed, breaking the tension by simple virtue of being another presence.

Dani makes formal introductions all around, then ushers everyone to the table, and passes around eggs and bacon and toast. Breakfast passes companionably enough before everyone gathers on the porch to see the NCIS agents off.

Dani shuffles her feet on the porch, nervous and unsure in a way she hasn't been in a very long time. Allison whistles and tosses her the keys to the truck and trailer they use when they go out to craft shows and history festivals.

Dani looks at the keys blankly. "What do I need these for?"

Allison and Tim exchange a look.

Tim steps into Allison's space and rests his hands on her shoulders. "So you can move me back."

Dani looks up at him sharply.

Tim reaches up and caresses her cheek. "You didn't think I was leaving you again, did you?"

Dani can't stop the tears, and burrows into Tim's chest.

He chuckles and wraps his arms around her.

"Buggering off to witch town, McProbie?" Tony needles. "Knew you weren't gonna hack it."

Dani lifts her head enough to glare at him.

"DiNozzo. Shut up," Gibbs warns.

Tony gasps.

"I'm cursing him before we leave Virginia," Dani promises darkly.