Chapter 9

"You do have two broken ribs, Agent DiNozzo, and a concussion. Quite a bad-luck day for you, I think," the doctor said.

"Yeah," Tony said, leaning back in the hospital bed. "You have no idea."

"Well, you'll definitely be feeling some pain for a while, but if you give yourself the time, you should make a full recovery. I'm giving you a prescription for some pain medication, but if you're not finding any relief after a couple of days, come back and we can try something else. You need to be able to breathe deeply to help avoid pneumonia, but mostly, you just need to rest. Ice the sore areas as needed, but healing will take about six weeks."

"I was afraid of that."

The doctor smiled. "As for the concussion, if you find any intense headaches developing, make sure you come back in. We don't see any sign of bleeding, but a slow bleed can change all that. So don't stay by yourself for the next couple of days."

"All right."

"Good. You should have either myself or another doctor here to check you out in about an hour. Will there be someone here to get you?"

"Yeah. They had to go to work, but I'll call."

"Let me reiterate that you are not to go to work yourself, and you should not be alone for the first couple of days."

Tony nodded. "I hear you."

"Good. Just relax as much as you can."

Tony nodded and the doctor left. He lay back and thought about what had happened. It shouldn't have been possible. It shouldn't have been real.

But it was.

How was it that Tim had described it? Layers. Layers of the world with different realities. And somewhere there was a reality that allowed the Egyptian gods to exist just as the Egyptians had depicted them. And yet, as foreign as that was to Tony, those realities could genuinely affect them here. He had taken a little bit of history in college, and he seemed to remember that there was at least one Egyptian myth that involved the sun being rolled across the sky by some kind of dung beetle. So was that real, too, in some way?

But the hardest thing had been seeing Tim. When every step he had taken seemed to cause him intense pain, it was hard to dismiss everything as an illusion. Tim's pain had been far too real.

...and there was the whole being attacked by a snake thing. That had hurt him. He had not enjoyed the very real feeling of a huge snake hitting him that hard.

But at the end of it all was the reality that in some way the mythology was real. He still wasn't sure how to take it, but he knew that he was taking it better than Ellie was.

As long as things really did settle back into what was normal, he could accept that there was an undercurrent of insanity. A lot of life was like that anyway. This was just a new brand of insanity.

So, with that determined, he tried to get as comfortable as possible and wait until he could be released.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Ducky hung up his phone. Gibbs had managed to talk around Tim's disappearance at work so that no one was wondering what had happened, and he would be bringing Tony back here to recuperate. While that would mean two injured men here, it would be better than to move Tim anywhere else for now. With Tony taken care of, he could turn his worry back onto Tim.

And he was worried. Tim's trauma was not all physical, but he didn't know how to describe the other damage that he could see. Psychological? Emotional? Spiritual? He didn't know, but there was more damage than just Tim's pain.

Electric shock was not something he had much experience with, but Tim's description of the feeling he'd had as being continually struck by lightning was telling. He had been able to smell the energy crackling from Tim. It was the distinctive scent of ozone, similar to what was produced by a lightning strike. No wonder Tim had told them not to touch him. The fact that he was still alive after that was a miracle. And the way he had moved had demonstrated the typical reaction of the body to an electric current. That kind of stimulation, especially of long duration as Tim's had been, could easily lead to the lethargy Ducky had seen. Since Tim had survived at all, being worn out that way made sense.

...as long as that was all it was.

They were in new territory and he didn't know if carrying a god around could have other side effects just as strange.

Tim began to mumble again in his sleep. Nothing coherent, but he seemed to be distressed. He probably needed the sleep, though. So Ducky sat down beside him and gently rubbed Tim's back, speaking softly to him.

"You're safe, Timothy. It's all over. You're fine. Just relax."

Tim wasn't moving much but he seemed to be getting more and more distressed. He was breathing heavily.

"It's all right. Don't worry. You're safe. It's over."

After a few minutes, Tim seemed to relax back into sleep and his mumbling ceased. Ducky hoped that boded well for the future.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tim spent most of the first day back sleeping on the couch. ...and that meant sleeping through a regular span of daylight.

Everyone was relieved to note that the time the sun was above the horizon seemed to be back to normal. Without quite admitting to it, they all spent some time staring at the sun, wondering if they'd see any sign of the barque on which they'd fought.

They didn't.

It was a relief, but at the same time, it seemed a little anticlimactic to have things back to normal, no sign that there was ever any problem.

What Tim thought of it, no one really knew because he didn't seem to want to discuss it much, but life did seem to be headed back toward normal.

...with just a few little glitches.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Ducky sat in his office, staring at a form. He'd been staring at it for about an hour and still was none the wiser about how to fill it out.

"Dr. Mallard?" Jimmy asked, sounding tentative.

"Yes, Mr. Palmer?"

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to decide on how to categorize the death of poor Lt. Eaton. No one will ever know what he was attempting to do, just as no one will know what Timothy did. Both suffered, but Lt. Eaton paid the ultimate price, and yet, because of the nature of the world, I cannot give him the accolades he deserves."

Jimmy came in and sat down across from Ducky.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. There is no known cause of death that matches what we found. We have no evidence to show what happened to him. It seems a travesty to relegate him to the cold case files."

"But do we have any other choice?" Jimmy asked.

"I don't think so, lad. That is the problem."

"Well... as long as there's nothing to speak against him, then, since he was a good Marine, that will speak for him, no matter how he died."

"That will likely have to suffice, although I don't like it."

"I don't either, but I just don't think death by evil Egyptian god is going to fly," Jimmy said.

Ducky had to laugh a little. "You're absolutely right. Thank you, Mr. Palmer."

Jimmy smiled and stood up. "Anytime, Dr. Mallard. Do you need anything else?"

"No. You go right along and get back to work."

Jimmy left the office and Ducky stared at the form for a few more seconds before sighing and beginning to fill it out. As Jimmy pointed out, there really was no other option.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

There was a heavy tread and Tim woke up. He didn't move, though. He didn't want to. He was still on the couch, and he knew he'd awakened a couple of times. Ducky had made him eat something. He'd been thirsty once or twice, but generally, he had moved as little as possible and he had spoken as little as possible. It was just an easier way to approach things. But he was feeling a little hungry. ...but he had no desire to move at all. For a while, he just lay there, wondering if his hunger would overcome his desire never to move again.

Not yet.

The heavy tread came closer, and Tim kept his eyes closed. Part of him was worried about who it was, but most of him just wanted to ignore the rest of the world and he could if he pretended he was sleeping.

There was a long silence and then...

"Tim, I can tell you're awake."

Tim thought about opening his eyes but decided it wasn't worth it.

"Come on, McGee. You're too tense to be sleeping right now, especially when I saw how limp you were when Gibbs brought me here yesterday. The fact that you're tense at all means that you're awake. I'm not going to make you get up."

Reluctantly, Tim opened his eyes a crack. Yep, Tony was sitting on a chair, looking at him. He opened his eyes all the way.

"Feeling any better?"

Tim sighed. "Maybe. A little. I still don't want to do anything. How about you?"

"Doc said it would take six weeks. I've got two broken ribs."

"Sorry you had to get involved," Tim said.

"We had to once we knew you were."

"I'm sorry I got involved."

"Yeah, me, too." Tony took a breath and winced. "You think you're going to be okay, eventually?"

"Yeah."

"Just not now," Tony said.

"Yeah."

"Well, for now, are you hungry?"

Tim smiled a little. "Yeah. ...but I don't want to move."

"Well, if you want to eat, you'll have to. I'm definitely in no shape to feed you."

"I know. I'm deciding if it's worth it. I'm not sure it is."

"Well, I know that Ducky made sure there was food in the house that you and I could handle by ourselves. So how about this? I'll walk like an old man and get some food from the kitchen, and you'll make yourself sit up. Then, we can both be wimps and sit around eating in here."

Tim considered it. Seemed too difficult.

"Come on, Tim. What do you say?" Tony wheedled.

Tim got the feeling that Tony wasn't going to back down on this one. So he sighed and nodded.

"Okay," he said.

"Great. I really am moving like an old man, so you have plenty of time."

Tim watched as Tony slowly pushed himself upright. It was obvious that he was hurting. Well, if he could make himself walk, Tim could make himself sit up.

So while Tony got them both some lunch, Tim struggled to get into a sitting position. He was moderately surprised that he made it. That was a little better. Not enough, but a little bit.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

The full Ennead gathered, plus a few others. It had been millennia since they were all together. But this was important, given recent events.

There was understandable tension in the gathering, since one member was far from welcome. However, it was known to be necessary, so none complained. Not aloud, anyway.

Ra took command of the proceedings, rather than make things that much more difficult by having Heru lead as was actually his right. However, Heru was sitting beside him, just a bit lower. Set sat on the other side, but much further away, indicating his outcast status. He wasn't happy to be there, either.

"What will we do?" Hathor asked. "Set has done nothing to indicate he has changed. Nothing to indicate he will allow Heru his position. I feel trusting him now would be wrong."

Set growled a little but said nothing.

Nephthys put out a conciliatory hand but he glared at her as well.

"Apep is regenerating," Heru said. "Set is the only one who is able to fight him off consistently. We must make a decision."

"Why?" Isis asked, looking at her brother with distaste. "He made his choice years ago when he killed Osiris and tried to take your place."

Set insolently met her gaze.

"Because we cannot put the kind of weight on mortals that Set put on the one who carried his ka. It was far beyond what he could tolerate. He would have died if not for Neith. Is that not true? My uncle?" Heru asked, mildly.

Set looked away from Isis and back at Heru. His dislike was obvious.

"Yes. The mortal could not contain my power. It was the fault of the Ennead that it was done that way. If I was to return to do what you could not, it could not be in my own body." His smile was sly. "I would be willing to allow one of you to carry my ka to fight against Apep, but perhaps my strength would be too much for you as well."

There was some stirring among the others, but Ra stood.

"It is not for this that we meet. My strength has returned, but Apep's strength also will return and to keep the day coming as it should, we must find a way to fight Apep. That will not be found if we continually return to the past."

"The past may also be the future, O Ra-Atum," Set said. "In the past, you supported my rule."

"Until you plunged the world into chaos," Ra said. "You are not to take the throne from Heru. You have lost that opportunity forever. We meet to discuss Apep. If you do not wish to be a part of it, you may return to your place of banishment and we will continue without you and your power."

"You will fail without me," Set said darkly. "As you always fail without me. I am the balance to your order. You cannot hope to hold the world together without my presence. All know it. Neith herself knows it and has spoken. The need for balance does not change."

"But you cannot be trusted," Isis said. "Time and again, you have betrayed that trust."

"I am chaos. That is my nature," Set said. "You should not trust me, but you should know of my power and that you need it. All the denials do not change reality."

Isis stood and skewered Ra with a fierce look.

"I will not stay. I have not forgotten that it was you who supported Set against my son." She turned.

Heru stood as well. "Mother, please remain with us. My throne is secure enough." He looked at Set with a hard expression. "I am prepared to fight and to beat my uncle again should it be necessary. He has the strength to beat Apep, but he cannot win against me."

"Are you sure of that, Heru?" Set asked, almost in a whisper. The air crackled around him. "Would you like to lose your eye again?"

Heru turned to him with a harsh falcon cry. "You cannot lose your manhood again, Set. What else are you willing to give up to me?"

"Stop!" Ra said, standing also. He began to glow brightly, nearly blinding them all. "This does nothing to solve our problem. It merely reinforces it. Answer the question I asked before. Do you wish to assist in fighting Apep? Speak no other thing."

The air crackled once more but then, Set subsided in the face of the sun disc.

"I will assist, Ra-Atum," he said.

The glow faded and the others were able to look at him once more.

"Would you return from your place of banishment or would you remain there?"

"I would be free to return, should I wish it."

"And you will not fight to take the throne from Heru," Ra said. "I warn you that all would be arrayed against you and while your strength may be fit for fighting Apep, it will not control us all. I will not defend you, although I am grateful for your aid."

"I will not," Set said. "For now."

"For always," Isis said.

"You would not believe if I said for always," Set said, smiling insolently at her again. "Why would you have me lie, dearest sister?"

Isis began to chant softly, and after a moment, Set stormed over to her.

"You will not use your magic upon me, sister," he said, clouds gathering over his head.

"Stop!" Ra said once again. "You have spoken, Set. Speak no more."

"What of the human?" Heru asked.

"What of him?" Set asked in return. "He is healing, is he not."

"He brought you an offering which you accepted... but then, you took a second offering without returning the first," Heru said.

"Is this true, Set?" the goddess Ma'at asked, her voice soft but commanding.

"He never requested its return," Set said. With a brief flash of lightning, he conjured the badge.

"What was the second offering?" she asked.

"It was more a taking," Heru said. "Set took control of the human's body. He accepted the offering of the human's pain. That is an offering of all, not a mere trinket as he possesses now."

Set tossed the badge up in the air a few times. "What does it matter? It was offered."

"It should have been returned, as well you know. Once you accepted the other," Ma'at said, her voice as soft yet piercing as Set's was booming. Both commanded attention.

Ra walked over to Set and snatched the badge out of the air before Set could catch it again.

"This is not yours," Ra said, firmly. "The human world has been thrown out of balance enough. A return of this offering will help, even in a small way."

Then, he looked around at the gods assembled.

"Will you accept the removal of Set's banishment until such time as he betrays our trust?"

There was a long silence. Isis actually shook her head slightly. However, after a moment, Heru stepped forward.

"Yes, I will accept it."

Given that he stood to lose the most should Set betray them, Heru's agreement led to the others also agreeing. But there was one who had not answered and her agreement was vital in removing the banishment because she had done it before.

"Please, Mother," Heru said, reaching out to Isis.

She looked at her son and then at her brother.

"I will accept," she said, finally. "And I will kill if you betray us, my brother."

Set merely smiled.

"I thought you were against killing your family."

She said nothing.

Ra spoke once more.

"Very well. The banishment will be removed. Let us prepare. Apep will attack far too soon."

The gods vanished one by one. Heru comforted his mother but stayed even when she left. Then, all that remained was Set, Ra and Heru. Set on one side and Heru on the other. Ra held the badge between them. One who created chaos in whatever way he could. One who created order in whatever way he could. For now, they were working for the same goal.

"The barque will soon make its nightly journey," he said.

"We will all be ready," Heru said.

"Yes. All of us," Set said.

Then, with a boom of thunder, Set vanished.

"What will you do now, Ra?" Heru asked.

"I will prepare for the journey."

Heru nodded and vanished.

Ra contemplated the badge. Mortals were weak but they often showed great strength when it was asked of them. He was grateful.

And that should be known.

He waved his hand and the sun's passage slowed and then stopped.

Now there was time.

He vanished.