Dear Member who shall remain nameless - you know who you are,
Do NOT inbox me, demanding I update my stories immediately, there is a polite way to request an update. But to demand it, when I have updated less than twelve hours ago, is a bit rich. I appreciate you're a fan of my work and enjoy my stories. However, this is a hobby for me. I am a busy Mum to an almost three year old child with special needs , I work full time and run a business on the side, plus organise my entire household's activities. What little free time I have to myself, I like to immerse myself in writing and reading fanfiction. This is not a job, I am not paid for my time, nor do I make any money from this.
If you were a big enough fan of my work, the least you could do is leave me a review, mark a story as follow or mark as a favourite. Your profile is completely blank, with no follows or faves either. Wondering if you're a bot account!
To the rest of my loyal followers,
You guys are the best!
Thank you for your continuing support and reviews, especially Momcat and Alix33, who are still on their review crusade!
Very MUCH APPRECIATED!
MummaBear1
xx
"You all set?" Vance asked, sitting in the edge of Tim's desk, keeping his voice low. Only Santiago was in their bullpen and he had a headset on as he was furiously typing away. It was Friday mid-morning and they'd just finished a team briefing. Vance stayed true to his word, as promised, he was shouting his taskforce lunch before sending them home afterwards to catch up on their rest.
"Almost, ordered some flowers to be delivered in the morning. Got some sparkling apple cider chilling at home. Haven't actually worked out exactly how or where I'm going to ask, though."
"They're forecasting a big, freeze snap tonight, that going to damper your plans at all? Supposed to be a one in one hundred year freeze event."
"As long as it's not windy. Snow, cold and frost is fine. After all, we're having dinner at the New River Estuary Cove."
"I love that place," Leon gushed.
"Well so do we. In fact the first time I took her there, we walked around the grounds and watched the lights twinkle over the estuary. Now it's a tradition, so it won't arouse suspicion if I ask there. Don't really want to propose in a crowded room."
"You'll be fine, the moment will just come to you." Leon encouraged his young friend. "You flying out Saturday or Sunday, back to DC?"
"Neither we'll be driving out, stopping in Richmond for the day and staying over, before continuing on to Alexandria. I'll probably drive straight through to come home, as we will have Jackson too." Tim told him. "We are leaving Sunday morning. Planning to get to Gibbs on Monday about lunchtime. He wants me to put in a couple of hours on a cold case Monday afternoon, while Kelly is seeing her friends Natalie and Betsy from Georgetown Med."
"Clock on at the navy yard, so it counts towards your comp time."
"Got so much comp time stored up, HR will be demanding I take it soon." Tim grumbled and Vance laughed.
"They're not even allowed to buy it from you anymore." Leon added. "I use to sell it back to them."
Tim's screen dinged and Leon left Tim to get some work done.
Gibbs was antsy, he couldn't sit still. He had heard about the incoming predicted cold snap, going through the Carolina's later tonight and into tomorrow. Before heading out into the ocean. He was worried, especially as Tim was determined to drive to DC in their SUV. His car would definitely make it, that wasn't the issue, but coming up on Monday, into the office Monday night, thanksgiving dinner Tuesday and home Wednesday didn't leave much relaxing time.
His desk phone rang, breaking his thoughts. "Yeah Gibbs."
"Hey Gibbs, it's Tim." Tim told him into the receiver.
"Hey, was just thinking about you. Worrying about that cold front coming in and you two driving up here over the weekend." Gibbs told him, noticing Tony look up and deliberately eavesdrop on his one sided conversation with Tim.
"We'll be fine. I was just ringing to say, we'll be leaving Sunday morning now, we're planning to stop in Richmond overnight, going to explore a little there, we'll come straight to the yard and meet you at the diner at 12, if you don't catch a case. If you do, Kell will drop me off at the yard, before meeting her friends as planned. I'll catch a ride back to the house with you." Tim reassured the man, a man he was beginning to consider as his father-in-law already.
"Oh Tim, that's great news." Gibbs breathed out his sigh of relief. "That makes me feel much better. With the possibility of early snow, especially for the Carolina's, I'm glad you're taking time to explore on the way here. Slow and steady wins the race, Tim."
"Remember I told you that travelling and living our best life doesn't stop because we're having a baby." Tim reminded Gibbs of the conversation that had taken place in the living room of their North Carolina home, ten weeks ago.
"Yes, and Poppy can babysit, whenever you need him to." Gibbs smiled into the phone, he was beginning to look forward to being a Poppy now. "After all, I have a lot of leave saved up and I can't think of a better way to use it."
"Does that include 0300 hour feedings and changes?" Tim jested at Gibbs. He heard Gibbs laugh a full bodied laugh at that and imagined the priceless look that DiNozzo would definitely be giving Gibbs right now. He could almost picture it as if he was in the bullpen with his old team.
"You're on your own there, Timmo!" Gibbs told him. "Thanks for updating me, though. Can't wait to see you both Monday. Give my love to Kell."
"Watch your six, Gibbs!" Tim told Gibbs with a smile he couldn't see, but could hear.
"You too." Gibbs replaced the phone in the cradle and stared at it a little.
'Where the hell had the nickname Timmo come from?' He thought to himself. Tim hadn't objected to it, in fact, Gibbs could hear his amusement, in Tim's voice. Tim had been amused by the new nickname. He knows that Kelly will definitely say yes. He has something else he needs to talk to Tim about, too. Something he'd been putting off, but he needs to deal with it, now. 'Better set aside some basement talk time with Tim this weekend, too.' Gibbs reminded himself too.
"So what did McNoSocialLife want?" Tony asked his boss, trying to be let in on exactly why Tim had called. "Callin' to disrupt our work? Hasn't he got enough work to do down there? Coz I've got some casefiles I'll happily share with him."
"He wanted me to head slap you, if the break-in paperwork isn't on my desk in three minutes flat." Gibbs threatened Tony, before letting a smile grace his face, as he recalled his conversation with Tim and left to get coffee.
Tim sat at his desk, having just hung up from Gibbs. It seemed lunch had arrived while he'd been on the phone with Gibbs, Leon had been by and dumped his beef in black bean sauce on the desk, giving him a thumbs up when he realised that while everyone was eating, he was on a personal call. Tim tipped his head back in thanks at Leon when he caught his eye from across the room.
After lunch the whole taskforce left like little rockets, with the exception of Leon and Tim. Leon got side tracked by the SECNAV's call. A call regarding the future of three of his people, including his own future. At the time, he had hastily discussed it with Jackie before putting his hand up to be considered, thinking he'd be a long shot. He didn't think he'd be actually in with a chance.
Tim on the other hand, he had been tidying up the mess the others left the lunch rubbish in while his hard drive finished up his back ups.
"Tim?" Leon asked, coming back down in to the bullpen. "What are you still doing here? Get out of here."
"Just waiting on my back up to be completed and I'll be gone." Tim told him.
Leon looked at Tim, he didn't look any different than usual, but liked to think he'd known the man long enough now to read him. 'Maybe he's nervous,' Leon thought as he studied the young man. Tim was trying to ooze confidence and it wasn't working. "You need to relax, Tim. Everything will be ok." He reassured him.
"Oh I know," Tim told him. "This is something else. It's like my guts on edge. If this is what Gibbs' gut feels like, then I'm glad I don't get this feeling a lot."
"Ok, talk me through it. Is it Kelly or NCIS?" Leon said taking note. After an incident with Gibbs' gut in '94 he'd never dismiss another gut feeling again from any agent, especially someone who's been trained by Gibbs. Gibbs hones his team's instincts until they're as fine tuned as his own.
"Both, maybe?" Tim answered, truthfully, but he wasn't sure. "I feel like I should be taking Kelly to a hotel after dinner instead of coming home."
"You feel strongly like that?" Leon asked, thinking that Tim was being odd. He knew Tim wasn't referring to going to a hotel for a romantic getaway."
"I feel like our lives depend on it." Tim said strongly. Before shaking his head, frustrated. "Maybe I am just overwrought. It's a big night and I am nervous."
"If it's still there when you get home, pack a bag each and call me. I'll book you two room at the Estuary Inn, under my name for you. I'll have Jacksonville P.D do a couple of drive-by's on your place overnight."
"Maybe it's just the bad Chinese food?" Tim answered. Leon just laughed, he hadn't wanted to alarm the man, but he felt that Tim might be on to something. His gut was beginning to churn too. Especially with what he'd been ordered not to disclose to anyone what he'd learnt in that call.
Leon was pulling into his driveway when his cell rang, looking the caller ID instantly put him on alert. "Yeah Tim, what's the go?" he asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
"After the Jenny and Abby fiasco, Kelly and I setup a codeword for her safety. She just used it." Tim told him. Leon froze, someone was inside his house, too. "She's at the diner with your wife, she was leaving and she's gone back inside to her. Jackie's detail have reported that the ladies are in the diner, still and they've ID'd that it's Abby Sciuto. She's parked in front of a car, they ran the plates and it's registered to a hire car company out of Georgia."
"Let me check in with Samuels and call you back." Vance told him, not wanting to worry his friend. His security detail and he entered his own premises, fully armed, but the intruder fled over the back fence into a waiting get away car. The car was a white, '98 ford focus hatchback, with a dent in the left door. Probably a dime a dozen on the roads. It had South Carolina plates and Leon had got a partial.
After returning to the house, Leon's first call was straight to the SECNAV's personal cell phone, which went to voicemail, before trying to his work cell that also went to voicemail. He knew the man was in a meeting on the hill, calling again, he left a voicemail. His next call was to Samuel's who confirmed Tim's story and confirmed that Abby was no longer there and he had both ladies on board and on-route to NCIS HQ at Camp Lejeune, as their protocol.
"Someone was in my house," Leon told Tim, as soon as Tim answered. "We chased them off and they got into a getaway car. Thank goodness, Jackie is with Kelly and they're both safe."
"Thank goodness, I thought Abby was remanded for the arson attack on Gibbs' home and the attack on us, at Jackson's house." Tim told him, not voicing the question, why.
"Last night a judge let her out on bail, for compassionate leave." Leon told him, "Her father died, apparently the lawyer managed to convince a judge to allow her to leave on compassionate grounds to travel to New Orleans for the funeral."
"Her father died when she was a teen. Abby's an orphan, that's a pretty well known fact at NCIS? Why didn't legal object?" Tim asked, none of this making sense. There was a lot of red flags coming up, the more he heard.
"Legal wasn't called by the judge for the hearing. They should of been, but the clerk in the office balls it up." Leon explained. "I am supposed to be keeping that all classified, but with Abby's stalking act of the ladies, I don't care. Where are you?"
"I am home. I cleared the house and put my car in the garage. I'm upstairs packing bags, We aren't staying here. I'm not afraid of Abby, but I am afraid of what she might do to Kelly or the baby."
"Justin and Reeves are packing the kids gear up, Keating and Vera are getting our stuff together. Get yourself back to the yard, the ladies are on-route there now. Waiting to hear back from SECNAV on what he wants us to do." Leon told him.
Tim was finished packing their bags and was heading into the internal garage when a barrage of bullets came flying into the house, he could hear the shattering glass as he dropped his cell phone and the bags and rolled under his SUV.
"TIM! TIM!" Vance screamed into the phone. "DAMN IT MCGEE! ANSWER ME." His security detail, were by his side in a second, bags in hand. "Get to McGee's now! Let's go!" Reeves and Keating grabbed Leon and physically escorted him to the back of their detail car.
Within seven minutes, they arrived at Tim's the house. The front of his house was riddled with bullets. Keating and reeves called it in to dispatch, requesting a team and back up team to come out now. "MCGEE!" Keating called out "MCGEE!"
"TIM!" Leon added, coming out of the car. He was beginning to worry, especially as he hadn't heard Tim answer or call out. the line to his cell phone had gone dead and all new calls were heading straight to voicemail. "TIM!" a small scuffling noise caught his ears from the side of the house, where the back of the garage was. Leon set himself to task, heading in the direction of the noise he'd heard. Keating and Reeves were hot on his heals. "TIM!" he called out again as he reached that side of the house. "Thank god, you're ok."
"I'm ok." Tim said, he was gasping for air, holding his the right side of neck, exactly over where the now healed dog mauling scar was.
"Breathe Tim." Leon instructed, squatting down in front of the man. "Let me look." He ordered, not letting on that he could see the blood pooling between Tim's fingers slightly. "It's not too bad, let's just hold it some more. It's just a scratch."
"My cell phone got destroyed." Tim explained, "Our bags are behind me, I was under my car, managed to get myself out the door after I felt one whiz by my leg. The neck happened as I slid myself out from underneath. My car's totalled."
"Relax Tim." Leon said, lowering him back to the ground when Tim tried to stand, he put his arm around him to comfort him and try to keep him still. He looked up to see Reeves standing over him. He caught Reeves eyes and mouthed. 'Grab the kit and update Gibbs while you're getting it.'
"Yeah Gibbs!" He snapped, they had caught a case and Tony was driving everyone, especially Gibbs nuts with the movie references. Ducky had even lost his temper with the senior agent.
"This is Agent Reeves from Deputy Director Vance's security team. There's been an incident. Vance is fine, but Tim has been injured in his previously injured neck." Reeves explained, he really didn't want to have Gibbs chew him out.
"Hang on!" Gibbs snapped. "DiNozzo ENOUGH!" the grumpy agent bellowed and Reeves flinched at the sound of an already unhappy Gibbs through the phone. "Reeves, tell me everything." Reeves continued to explain the half day that Vance had organised for the taskforce and how when they arrived at the Vance family home, someone was in the house. He then explained that McGee had called, his girlfriend had used a codeword the two of them had set up and how Jackie's detail had whisked the ladies who were lunching together, immediately to NCIS for safety. Then relaying the incident at McGee's house and the firefight that had ensured and how Leon had instructed him to call and update Gibbs. "You should expect to hear from Vance yourself when they get to back to HQ."
"Is McGee ok?" Gibbs asked, worried for both Tim and for Kelly.
"I'm not sure, but Vance asked for a kit and not a bus. So that's some good news." Reeves told him, trying to reassure him.
"If I haven't heard from Vance, himself in thirty minutes, I'll be holding you personally responsible, got it?" Gibbs grumbling as he mentally made plans to speak with Vance sooner.
"Yes Sir." Reeves said as he disconnected the call. After disconnecting the call he flinched, realising he'd called Gibbs 'Sir' and he knew that the senior agent hated being called Sir.
SECNAV finally returned Vance's call only to order Vance to fully brief Tim in the situation and to leave the house as is. He wanted two agents stationed on Kelly's boat to keep watching the front of the house and another two agents watching from the neighbours screened in back porch, watching the back of the porch. He would consult with SECDEF to make a plan, but Tim was to grab the clothes he'd already packed and be taken into protective custody, along with Kelly, Jackie, the Vance children and the Director. They were to check in via MTAC upon arrival to Camp Lejeune. They were to leave the house, leaving no evidence they were even there when the firefight happened. SECNAV didn't want to tip his hand that someone was injured, hoping to lure Abby and her accomplice out into the open.
As soon as they arrived on base they were whisked in to MTAC where Agent Santiago and Dreary were on protective detail of the ladies and children. "Santiago, get the medic." Vance ordered, as they entered, his arm around Tim's non injured side of his neck and leg.
"Baby!" Kelly cried out, running over to Tim as soon as she saw him. "What's happened?"
"Tim!" Jackie exclaimed , simultaneously to Kelly's cries, joining Kelly at Tim's side. "Let me help you." She urged, prying Tim's hand off the wound to get a look at it before replacing it with her own and applying a slight pressure to it.
"I'm ok," Tim reassured them. "It's just a scratch."
"I'll be the judge of that." The medic replied with Mike Santiago in tow. "I'm Nathan."
"Tim." He replied with his own name. "Mike, bottom of my desk draw is an old cell, grab it and the charger beside it."
"On it, pal." Mike ran off and quickly returned with the requested item, taking his smashed phone and putting his SIM card into the old back up phone, booting it up for Tim to put in his passcode.
"Evelyn, bring MTAC-DC online." Vance ordered, so he could check in with both SECDEF and SECNAV, as well as Gibbs. "Ask for Gibbs to join us."
"Bringing DC online now, thirty seconds." Evelyn replied.
"How is he?" Vance asked Nathan, the marine on call in the NCIS infirmary.
"Just a scratch, all of them. The neck just bled more because of its location and the prior trauma to the area." Nathan explained to the Deputy Director. "I need him to check in with the doctor who treated the neck infection. I'm wondering if a preventative course of AB's might be required."
"Evelyn, request Doctor Mallard to join us in MTAC-DC." Vance ordered and she nodded in the affirmative.
"Vance!" Gibbs exclaimed as soon as he saw the man. "Where's Tim?" The MTAC tech moved the camera to show Gibbs how Tim was fairing. "Tim!"
"I'm ok, Gibbs!" Tim told Gibbs taking in the worried look on his face. "It's a few scratches."
"A few? I can see the neck, where else?" Gibbs demanded. He could see for himself that Tim was ok, but when Tim said few, his gut sank. He had been thinking of Tim as a son lately. It seemed that Tim had managed to sneak his way into Gibbs' heart, breaking through the tough exterior of the gruff man.
"Upper thigh and lower calf, as well. The upper thigh is the worst." Tim commented, complaining a little about his upper thigh. "Stings more."
"Tim!" Clay rushed out, as he entered MTAC, joining in the conversation. "You're ok?"
"Fine. What did you find out about why we weren't briefed? Or able to object the petition." Tim asked, trying to shift the attention and the focus back to the unfolding situation.
"The Secretary of State is asking questions to the Attorney General now." Clay explained, frustrated at the whole situation. "Doctor Mallard is unavailable at this moment, I'll pass a message along to contact you ASAP. For the time being SECDEF wants you all back in DC by tomorrow evening He's forming a senate enquiry into every thing that has gone wrong in the Shepard-Sciuto saga. Leon, have you briefed Tim on his change of post, yet?"
"No Sir, I haven't shared any details yet. I was waiting for Monday morning's team meeting." Leon answered SECNAV and Tim's curiosity piqued. Leon turned to Tim and plastered a smile on his face. "Congratulations, Agent McGee." Vance had pulled the file from his briefcase and handed it over to him. He handed Tim a folder with the NCIS insignia printed on the front. "I was planning to tell you on Monday morning, you're officially a senior field agent now, reassigned to MCRT2. You are to report to your new post in fourteen days, at NCIS Navy yard HQ, in Washington DC. Your SSAIC is Agent Matthew Balboa."
"Hey Congrats, Tim!" Gibbs said, genuinely surprised. He hadn't known Tim was being promoted or reassigned, which secretly made him happy that they'd be back in DC permanently. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks Gibbs, guess you'll need a need Probie now!" Tim jested at his now former boss, hopefully soon to be his father in law though.
"And have to use cyber crimes guys now too." Gibbs grumbled and Tim laughed at him.
"That's not all," Clayton added. From January 2, the official role of Director of NCIS will be the current Deputy Director Leon Vance."
"Congratulations!" Tim said patting his back. "Be good to have you guys in DC."
"Agent Michael Santiago, you're also being promoted to SFA at the satellite office in Greenville. I believe that's close enough to your family home, but far enough from your in-laws to satisfy you." Vance explained, handing Mike the packet too. "You boys have done good work, so far, time for someone else to fill your shoes."
"We're getting side tracked," Tim reminded Leon. "Not that I don't appreciate the transfer and promotion, but Kelly and I have plans. Plans, we're really looking forward to."
"I think they should go, with their protection detail. In the meantime, I want boots on the ground Gibbs, have your team airborne in two hours. My jets standing by." Jarvis agreed. "Miss Sciuto is going to need time to regroup. We've got agents in position at the house, we've got local LEO's doing drive bys. Let's book an Air BNB under an alias for you guys, everyone has a detail. Tim, I want you wearing one of the new vests under your shirt."
"I agree," Gibbs said. "Abby was bold enough to shoot up your house, she's bold enough to take a shot at you. Especially if she doesn't know that you know about it yet."
Just then Special Agent Alan Dreary spoke up into the Director's ear. "We have eyes on her and her accomplice. They just tried to access the main gate." Leon announced, "the Marines on the gate, did as promised and sent a team to follow them discreetly. Orders to pick them up?"
"Negative! I want Gibbs and his team apprehending her. It seems she doesn't want to take crime seriously, maybe she'll take Gibbs seriously."
"I doubt it!" Gibbs scoffed, remembering their last showdown in his father's house in Stillwater.
"I actually agree with that assessment." Tim spoke up. "She knows that you mean business now after, especially after her Stillwater stunt. Don't forget, you've always had a way of getting through to her when no one else could. You're the key here."
"Well, you're the expert Tim." Gibbs conceded his scoff. 'I had promised myself to take more of what Tim suggests on board.' Gibbs thought proudly. 'This is a chance to let Tim use that fancy doctorate to our advantage.'
"One hour Gibbs, the plane is standing by at AB." SECNAV ordered.
"You and Kelly might still make those plans, yet." Leon teased Tim as Evelyn disconnected from MTAC-DC.
"What's so important for us to go tonight, babe?" Kelly asked Tim. "We can go another night."
"Sweetheart, we haven't been out together, alone just the two of us in over a month. Is it a crime to want to spend some time alone with you?" Tim explained to her sweetly. "There is always some kind of crisis happening, that is the life of an agent. I don't want it to stand in the way of us, being us. Ok?"
"I see your point. I can't complain then, since I am the one who complained to you, just this morning." Kelly conceded.
That wasn't exactly how it had gone down this morning. Kelly had complained, that part was true, but she'd picked a fight with Tim over it. Words were said and things escalated into an argument. Tempers had flared and Tim had known she'd had a valid point, that he'd been putting work before her for a while now. But he knew most of Kelly's irrational demands were pregnancy or hormone related, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself. Tim had been frustrated that morning, he'd had the proposal all planned out, the ring burning a hole in his pocket, just waiting to be pulled out. He carried it everywhere, not wanting to risk Kelly finding it when he wasn't home. When he'd arrived at his desk that morning, he'd ordered flowers for her, to apologise with for that morning's fight, that had been delivered on schedule ... and another bunch for after she said yes tonight to be delivered in the morning.
"I am sorry about this morning." Kelly whispered in a low voice to Tim. "I was frustrated with everything. I was missing my family. My friends and my life in DC. I took it all out on you. Most of all, I've missed you, missed us ... missed being an 'us' together"
"Hey, it's ok. Now, soon enough we'll be back in DC." Tim told her, pulling her onto his lap and cuddling her. "Then we'll be complaining about missing Teen and missing the Carolina's lifestyle."
"Maybe we can sail home." Kelly suggested and Tim gave her a filthy look. Clearly that wasn't happening.
"Absolutely not!" Tim glared at her, mimicking her father's glare, with a scary level of accuracy. "Not only are you pregnant, I get awfully seasick. Especially sailing for that long."
"Guess we'll need to load her up and drive her home." Kelly begrudgingly agreed, with a kiss.
"First, we're going to have to buy a new car to tow it home with." Tim told her gently. "Ours is riddled with bullet holes in our garage."
"I loved that car." Kelly whined. "We fell in love in that car, we planned our future in that car. Tell me you weren't in the car when the shooting started."
"Of course not." Tim answered quickly, hoping to distract her and change the subject before she could question him any further.
"No, he was beside it when the shooting started and he took cover under it, before being hit and heading off on foot." Leon murmured without thinking. It wasn't very loud, but it was loud enough for Jackie, Kelly and Tim to hear.
"Leon!" Jackie exclaimed. "You don't need tell her that, she doesn't need to know!" She chastised him and he felt rightly so. He hadn't been thinking when he had began answering. He was responding to her plea, as a friend in jest, not as the Director of a federal agency speaking to the Spouse of one of his field agents.
"Kelly, you know I've promised you this before, that I don't take uncalculated risks. That still stands, it always has and it always will. I love you, I have too much to live for. I'd never intentionally set out to get myself shot, I don't intend to start now." Tim vowed, kissing her chastely and holding her tighter.
"Grab your gear!" Gibbs barked coming down the stairs from MTAC, in a hurry. "We're off to the North Carolina. Grab your overnight bags too! Briefing on the way." As he grabbed his weapon and his own belongings, he noticed DiNozzo looking at him strangely. "Classified case DiNozzo, I'll brief you on the way. Let's go! Let's go!" He hurried them, causing Tony to hurry double time to catch up with Ziva and Gibbs before they left without him.
With the short ride to Joint Base AB, there wasn't much time to brief them. Their driver was directed by security at the gate to head straight for the tarmac where SECNAV's plane was fuelled up, ready to leave. "Welcome aboard, buckle up, we have orders to take off in a hurry." The pilot announced as he met the MCRT as they boarded. As soon as Gibbs was through the door, one of the stewards were readying the cockpit for take off. Ziva was barely settled when they began to taxi down the run way for take off. It was the sharpest take off Tony had experienced in a while and when they were finally at a cruising altitude, The seatbelt sign came off and Gibbs began briefing them on what to expect when they landed at Camp Lejeune.
Santiago and Dreary escorted Tim, Kelly and the Vance family to an Air BnB, with no connection to anyone at NCIS. It was booked out using a fake ID, linked to a prepaid credit card. Jackie and Leon encouraged Tim and Kelly to take one of the upstairs bedrooms. They had agents on the perimeter of the home and planned to have MCRT stay with them overnight, as not to stretch the Carolina Office personnel so thin.
"Go lie down and get some rest, Kelly," Leon instructed her softly. "With any chance by the time you two start getting ready for your dinner date, Miss Scuito will be apprehended and you can have a stress-free evening together."
"Come on, Tim." She urged, leading Tim off by the hand.
"Apparently, I'm resting too." Tim quipped, as he allowed himself to be lead into the bedroom Jackie insisted that she and Tim take. Jackie was allocating rooms, with a notepad, pen and some tape. Her and Leon claimed the master downstairs, with Kayla and Jared each having their own room in the bottom floor. Leaving Kelly and Tim the master upstairs and other two upstairs bedrooms for Gibbs and Tony to share and Ziva to have other room.
Kelly kicked her shoes off and crawled under the covers, encouraging Tim to do the same and before her head hit the pillow she was out like a light. Tim gave it a good five minutes longer before, sock-clad, he was heading back downstairs.
Time in the Air BnB was going slow, too slow. It was clear that Tim and Leon weren't used to sitting idly by while everyone else worked the case. Jackie tried distracting them with by suggesting a game of chess, which was quickly abandoned after four moves. "I know!" she exclaimed suddenly. "My favourite author released his new book today. Why don't we read it out loud together?" She suggested handing Leon over the new book.
"Hmm, 'Betrayal' by Thom E Gemcity, sounds interesting." Leon said, scanning the cover. "Oh look, it's book three in the Deep Six series. Should be good, we loved the first two books. Are you a fan of Gemcity's work, Tim?"
"You could say that." Tim said cryptically. "He's not good enough to recite aloud for entertainment purposes, though."
"Of course he is, don't be ridiculous and this book's up for an award. Gemcity's publisher has been spruiking this one up, apparently it's up for some fancy crime-writers award." Jackie explained. "She's been on nearly every talk show about it. Guess that Gemcity's pretty camera shy, there's not even a photo of him on any of his books, just a bio."
"It's probably a ghost writer. He likes the anonymity." Vance surmised. "It'd be like if Tim wrote the book. Tim's always working behind the scenes, never taking credit for what he does. He doesn't like the focus on him."
"Tim, did you write this?" Jackie asked in jest, taking the book from Leon and waving it back in front of the two of them. "Did you?" She asked again, playfully.
Tim's eyes shot to the ground. He put his head in between his knees and took deep breathes, just like his childhood therapist had taught him. "Tim?" Vance asked, looking at him. "Are you ok? Jackie was just teasing, right honey?"
"Sorry Tim, I was just ..."
"Do you really want that book autographed?" Tim asked looking up at Jackie, with a smile on his face, his cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
"Really?!" Leon exclaimed. "You?!" He was shocked. 'Is there anything that Tim couldn't do?!' He thought to himself.
"Surprised?" Tim asked and Jackie was sitting there aghast, before rushing off to look for a pen.
"You've never mentioned ... the books before." Leon commented as he signed the book for Jackie. "That was a well kept secret."
"No one's ever asked before." Tim answered truthfully. "Kelly knows, Ducky and Gibbs probably know, that's about it. Oh and the DoD, they have to clear every book, but they sign NDA's and it's never the same person reviewing my work. My publisher and publicist Lyndi Crenshaw does an amazing job at dealing with the DoD and doing the media rounds. Which is especially helpful since quite often I have to report to the DoD for work, so they haven't put two and two together yet."
"Now we know, we won't tell anyone, right Leon?" Jackie gushed, she was excited, she never knew Tim was her favourite author.
"Of course, this book." He brandished the copy from his wife's hands. "Was written here, while you've been living here. 'Rock Hollow' was released just as you transferred here. Where the hell do you find the time?"
"Writing relaxes me. Helps me switch my brain off. A little bit every night and all of a sudden, you have yourself a novel." Tim explained. "Wonder how Gibbs is going in his pursuit of Abby?"
SECNAV had briefed Gibbs and passed on the intel, as to Abby's reported whereabouts from Colonel Henderson's team, who had been tracking her since she tried to access the Navy Yard. "You two, take the front." Gibbs instructed Tony and Ziva. "The Colonel and I will cover the back." Gibbs had learnt his lesson from the dog attack on McGee that resulted in Tim being mauled. Always have two people cover the back.
"In position," Colonel Henderson called through the mic. This wasn't his first rodeo working with NCIS, but it was his first rodeo answering to Gibbs. He knew of Gibbs, mostly by reputation. He had been surprised to learn from Agent DiNozzo that his friend Tim was seriously involved with Agent Gibbs' daughter and was the father of Agent Gibbs' grandchild. His thoughts turned to the father of his own Grandchildren and couldn't imagine ever stepping in and helping out his son in law like this. His Son in law was an ok person, but he definitely wouldn't protect him so fiercely. Tim had earned his loyalty in a way that his son in law had not yet, through respect.
Inside, Tony and Ziva busted through the unit door and found Abby in the arms of a man, he was heavily tattooed and wearing a spiked collar, just like Abby's. Jenny Shepard came out of the kitchen holding a paring knife and apple, asking Abby a question. As soon as she spied Ziva and Tony, she turned to run, but was confronted by Gibbs and one of the biggest Marine's she'd ever seen in her life. "Not so fast!" Gibbs snapped, roughly grabbing Jenny. The man who'd been laying on Abby bolted and Ziva had pounced on him, launching herself at him. The Colonel had been impressed by Ziva's prowess and the rough tackle she had manoeuvred herself into, taking down a suspect in one fluid motion.
"Do you really want to outrun me and the Colonel?" Tony quipped to Abby and Abby gave in, allowing herself to be cuffed.
"It's so precious you think you've captured us. Eric will have us out of custody by dinnertime." Abby quipped, feeling cocky.
"Your dirty lawyer can't help you this time Abs." Gibbs snapped, getting up in her face, as Henderson took over custody of the former director from Gibbs. "He is going down for conspiracy."
"I'll talk." the man spoke up. "I ain't going down for shit!" he snapped.
The colonel called for the trio to be taken into the holding cells at NCIS by his special forces team, while Gibbs had Tony update the BOLO looking for Eric Nelson, the lawyer.
Gibbs updated their security detail of the latest developments and confirmed with Vance, that Tim and Kelly were still planning on going out for dinner. Vance, had taken the call in the basement away from prying ears and any agents that may listen in, as he relayed the fact that Tim and Kelly had fought that morning. He wasn't sure if the father was aware or not, but if it was his daughter fighting with her boyfriend, as a father, he'd want to know about it. Gibbs just laughed out loud at Vance's warning of their fight. "Well yeah," He quipped, "my daughter loves wholly and fiercely, she doesn't take shit from anyone, including me. After all, I raised her, I am not worried. How'd Tim fare against her?"
"I'd say it shook both of them to their core. They've probably never had a fight like that before." Vance added. "Remember the first fight you had with your wife? It can be pretty scary."
"Shannon was kind-natured and gentle like Tim. It took a lot to rile her up. Kelly used to be like that too, before we lost her." Gibbs supplied, letting Leon in on a rare glimpse into what their life used to be like. "Kelly was angry a lot, unfortunately, she followed in my footsteps with her attitude."
"I don't know much about Tim's life, but it seemed as if he has always been gentle. He doesn't like fighting with women, you can tell that much." Leon added, summarising his observation's of the young man he had become close friends with.
"The last thing on earth Tim would ever do is hurt Kelly." Gibbs stated. "He doesn't have it in him. Don't worry about it, sounds like it was just a tiff."
"Well yeah, there wasn't anything in it, just updating you." Leon explained to Gibbs. "I believe Tim is upstairs with Kelly, waking her from her nap to get ready for dinner."
Kelly found that Tim had packed her black spaghetti strapped, asymmetrical dress, the one she wore the first time they went out for dinner at their favourite restaurant, which hadn't surprised her. After all, it was one of his favourite dresses to see her wear. He had a different suit on than the time before, as he came out of the downstairs bathroom and heading into the kitchen. "Don't you look handsome, Tim?" Jackie gushed as she looked up from the various take out menus that were in a folder on the bench. "Come here." She beckoned him, as she reached up and straightened out his tie.
"Jackie, leave the poor man alone." Leon chastised from the sofa where he was reading Tim's novel. "Got everything?" he asked, letting Jackie think he was referring to his weapons. The front door was unlocked and opened by Santiago and the MCRT was ushered in.
"Whoa McGeek! Why so dressed up?" Tony asked as he saw Tim, not bothering with the usual pleasantries.
"Can it, DiNozzo." Gibbs and Vance snapped, simultaneously. That was it, Ziva and Jackie lost it and began laughing at DiNozzo. The kids came out of their respective rooms to find out what was so funny and when their mother relayed the story, they too joined in laughing.
"Gee, lucky for me I'm awake." Kelly added, making her way down stairs, stilettos in hand. "Too bad if I was asleep."
"You look beautiful." Tim said, kissing her cheek and his palm splaying across her small, now visible baby bump. "You do need to pop your shoes on, though."
"I know." Kelly smiled at him. "Slipping on those stairs would put a damper on our evening, wouldn't it have?" winking at him. She sat on the coffee table and slid them onto her feet over a small baby bump that was visible in this dress. "Hey Dad," She greeted him, not looking at her father, her eyes only on Tim as they said good night and left without looking back.
"I can not believe that." Tony stated, breaking the silence as they left. "No hello, nothing."
"She clearly had eyes only for Timothy, Tony. She didn't even give Gibbs a glance." Ziva answered Tony's whines. Gibbs hid his smile at Ziva's summation of what had gone down. He caught Vance's eyes and they exchanged cheeky grins.
"It's their first date after a huge fight, Agent DiNozzo. Unless you've been there, you wouldn't understand." Jackie explained gently to the womanising agent. "A fight, that was just resolved this afternoon, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see them for the rest of the evening." She caught Leon's eyes as they remembered their first fight and all the time they'd spent making up afterwards.
"Well ok, what's for dinner then?" He asked, changing tact, before Gibbs head slapped the man. "What Probie and Kelly get to eat and we don't? That's not fair."
When they arrived at the restaurant, flanked by their security detail that Vance had insisted they take with them, they were ushered to their favourite table, overlooking the lights on the water and skyline. This was the table they sat on their first date. Tim hadn't requested this table, but had laughed at the irony of how it just fell into line. They placed their orders and Tim ordered a bottle of sparkling apple cider for them to share, before escorting her onto the makeshift dance floor where quite a few couples were already dancing to a soft jazz melody from the house band. "One dance, before it gets too crowded and someone accidentally bumps into you, knocking your belly in the process." he whispered into her ear. He knew Kelly liked to dance and although Tim disliked it so much, he took pleasure having Kelly in his arms and swaying along to the sweet melody the band was playing.
Their dinner was not short on conversation, despite staying away from the topics of work, protection details and the baby. After dinner and a shared dessert of Eaton Mess, Tim suggested they walk along the esplanade a little, rugging up in their warm overcoats and their security detail watching from a safe distance. As they approached the lookout that overlooked the estuary, they could see the navigational beacons twinkling against the darkened night sky. Slowly small flurries began falling down from the night sky. Tim looked up and couldn't help but smile at one more thing falling into place to make tonight even more special. "Kell?" He whispered in her ear, standing behind her. His arms wrapped up him. "Remember the first time we came here?" he asked, as she turned to face him with a questioning look.
"Yeah." She answered, not really sure with where he was going, especially given the misunderstanding that night and the fight they'd just had that morning.
"I love you, you've changed my world. Never thought I'd find the love of my life at my boss' home, in one of the lowest points of my life. I have never just clicked with someone, the way I clicked with you. Three months ago, I stood in this spot and promised you one day I'd marry you. I remember explaining how we were ready, but no one else was." He pulled the ring box from his coat pocket. "Not sure if they're ready or not, but I can't wait. Will you marry me?" he asked, opening the ring box with one hand.
"Yes!" she screamed, launching herself into his arms and kissing him senseless. Before pulling back and taking in the ring and all it's beauty. "Oh Tim, it's just like my Mum's." She gushed, as he slid it onto the ring finger on her left hand.
"That's because it is your Mum's ring, Kell" Tim told her, relaying how he'd had a frank conversation with Gibbs and he'd given Tim the ring and his blessings. "Apparently, your Grandfather on your Mum's side, took it off her hand at the funeral. He gave them to your Dad, he wanted you to have them. Your Dad, told me that before he gave them to your mum, this one was Grandma Anne Gibbs and before that, it was your great grandmothers" Kelly attached herself to Tim as they continued to cuddle, taking in the light snow falling and the beautiful lights. "I promise to love you always." Tim added, kissing her again.
"The winds picking up." Kelly commented, wrapping herself up tighter in her overcoat.
"Well, lets get back and get you warmed up." Tim told her with a wink as they returned to the car. "I'm trusting you two to keep quiet about what you saw tonight." Tim warned Justin and Reeves, who worked on Vance's personal security team. "We want to tell them when we're ready. Not tonight."
"Secrets safe with us." Reeves replied for the duo, slightly worrying about how Gibbs would react tot he news.
Back at the Air BnB, Leon and Jackie were snuggled in a recliner together, while Ziva and Tony occupied opposite ends of the sofa and Gibbs was lounged back in the other recliner as they were watching a movie they'd agreed upon. The teenagers were holed up in their rooms, like typical teens. Gibbs wasn't really paying attention to the movie, he was on a trip down memory lane. He remembered everything from the day Shannon told him she was pregnant, to the day she was born. He replayed every major moment in his head, including the day Tim bought her to the diner to meet him. He ended his trip down memory lane with a smile on his face at the memory of the two of them leaving tonight, his gut knew that tonight was the night. "Gibbs!" Tony hissed, shocked. "You're not suppose to smile like that. The main guy just got blown up."
"I know that look, DiNozzo. Papa bear Gibbs isn't really paying attention to the movie. He's thinking of something else, someone else, perhaps?" Vance jested, trying to throw Tony off course a little.
"Really, Gibbs? Now you're thinking about a date?" He asked his boss.
"I was thinking about my wife, DiNozzo." Gibbs told him, as he thought 'Ok, rule seven was in play again.' But it wasn't a total lie, Shannon had been apart of that trip down memory lane.
"Sorry Gibbs." Tony muttered and he watched as Gibbs ignored him, getting up and going into the kitchen for more coffee. Leon followed him silently pouring his own cup.
"She's grown up Gibbs," he told the senior agent. "You get to be the spectator now."
"I'll remember those words when you're where I am with Kayla and a boy is proposing to your daughter." Gibbs vowed, as he took a large gulp of coffee.
The agent that was on patrol on the back porch just reported in, coming through the door leading to the back door. "McGee is on route back to the house." Vance thanked him, as the two men went back into the living room.
Not five minutes later, Tim and Kelly let themselves back inside and slipped upstairs together, not muttering a word to anyone. Gibbs heard the bedroom door close and he and Vance exchanged a small smile behind their coffee mugs.
Gibbs phone had vibrated and he bid the rest of them a good night shortly afterwards. He read his text message on the way up the stairs, smiling when he saw it was from Tim, inviting him to come to their room. He knocked quietly on their door, Kelly was changed in to her leopard print PJ pants and Tim's MIT tee and Tim was in his sweat pants and an old NCIS training tee. "Come in," Kelly called from behind the door. He tentatively entered the room his daughter was sharing with her partner, he took a seat on the ottoman at the end of their king size bed.
"Well?" he asked impatiently, grinning at the two of them widely. "Don't keep me in suspense."
"I said yes, Dad. We're getting married." Kelly announced, hugging her dad.
"Congratulations!" Gibbs said, pulling Tim into their embrace too. He pulled back and looked at the deliriously happy couple. "I can't tell you both how happy this makes me."