Reluctant Hero!
It starts out as just a normal day for Special Agent Timothy McGee but things happen.
Disclaimer 1: I rarely, if ever, write cannon. I write how the story takes me.
Disclaimer 3: I do not own NCIS or their characters. To clarify, I OWN NOTHING.
Tim had decided to take public transportation to work today. He just did not feel like putting up with the normal bumper to bumper DC rush hour traffic. He was able to sit on the bus and then the train and then the bus again and just let his mind wonder. He had a cup of coffee the way he liked it and was enjoying just riding to work without a care in the world.
Tim was currently riding on the metro rail. He was looking around the train and marveling at the diversity of cultures represented by the people riding with him. Tim loved being out amongst the people in the DMV (for those of you who are not from these parts, DMV refers to the D.C, Maryland and Virginia area). America has a reputation as being the great mixing bowl because of all the different people and cultures that reside here in the land of the free. The nation's capital is one of America's greatest ambassadors of that reputation.
Tim was a little disappointed when he reached his stop. He was really enjoying his people watching session. Tim departed the train and as he rode the escalator up to catch his final bus, he heard an explosion that sounded very loud and very close. Tim looked to his left and saw a tall building with black smoke coming out of it. Without a second thought, Tim took off running toward the building to see if he could help.
***NCIS HQ***
"Where the hell is McGee," Gibbs snapped for the fourth time.
"He is still not answering his phone," Ziva reported worriedly.
"Maybe we should go check his apartment Boss. We all know it's not like McGee to be late and not check in" Tony volunteered.
"We'll give him another 30 minutes before we start searching for him" Gibbs stated.
Gibbs looked over at Ziva and saw the anxious look on her face.
"Ziva, go down and let Ducky check you over" Gibbs ordered.
"I am fine!" Ziva snapped back.
Gibbs walked over to Ziva's desk and leaned down to her.
"Agent David, that was not a request. Go down to autopsy and let Ducky check you out or we call an ambulance to take you to the hospital. Choose." Gibbs stated quietly
Ziva glared at Gibbs for several moments. Intelligently, she knew Gibbs was just worried about her and the baby but emotionally that did not matter as the father of said baby was currently missing. There was no way she was leaving this building until he had been found so if letting Ducky check her over kept her here then so be it. Ziva got up and waddled over to the elevators.
***Downtown DC***
Tim was carrying out the third person he had found unconscious in the burning building. He delivered this one to the paramedics as he had the two previous ones. Tim wasted no time in running back into the building to look for anyone else who needed help. The firefighters who had responded to the emergency tried to stop him when they first arrived but Tim showed them his badge and explained to them very forcibly that he was returning to the building to help either with them or through them. Seeing his determination, knowing he had special training since he was a federal agent, and knowing they really had no time to argue, the firefighters allowed Tim to continue helping.
***NCIS HQ***
"Dammit; where the hell is McGee," Gibbs exclaimed again. "Ok, that's it Dinozzo; get over to McGee's place and check it out. Put a BOLO out for his car before you go. I'll have Abby track his phone."
"Boss" Tony said slowly not taking his eyes off the big screen television. "I think you had better take a look at this."
Gibbs noticed that the whole bullpen seemed to have their eyes glued to the televisions. As he looked up at the TV, he felt fear clutch at his heart. They were showing over and over a man coming out of the blazing building carrying one person over his shoulder and a child on his hip. He went over to the paramedics who met him halfway and took the injured off his hands. The fire Chief had pulled his men out of the building as they had determined it was ready to collapse. In a flash, before the firefighters could stop him, the man turned and ran back into the burning building. The news folks were able to get a closeup shot of the man as he turned to go back into the building.
Gibbs had finally found his missing agent. The man was none other than one Timothy McGee, NCIS Special Agent.
"Don't go back in there Probie" Tony shouted at the TV to no avail. The bullpen all held their breath as they saw flames shoot out of the door Tim had just used to enter the building.
"No, please no Timmy" Abby mumbled between tears.
The bullpen continued to watch the TV standing as still as statues. The quiet was finally shattered as they witnessed the heroic leap of one person out of a window of the burning building with a bundle clutched in his arms. It showed the person landing feet first on the top of a car before tucking and rolling down the windshield onto the hood. He immediately got off the car and ran over to the paramedics delivering the baby into their waiting arms.
The bullpen cheered when they saw that their co-worker and friend was OK.
Tim turned and looked for any police in the area. When he found one, he told him to take him to the officer in charge. Tim was finally in front of Captain Lewis Ford. Tim showed him his badge and explained what he wanted him to do. The bullpen didn't know what Tim was saying but they saw him gesturing to the crowd and the surrounding areas. Captain Ford told Tim he was in charge and he would give the orders.
"Oh Ooohhh" Abby said.
Everyone in the bullpen looked at her.
Abby pointed to the TV and said "that's Timmy's 'I've had enough' face. Somebody is getting ready to get it."
No one understood what Abby was talking about until they turned back to the TV and watched their mild-mannered agent hit Captain Ford with a vicious left cross sending the man to the ground unconscious. Tim then jumped up on the nearest car and turned to the rest of the police officers holding up his badge. He advised them he was a federal agent and was taking charge of this scene as this could have possibly been a terrorist attack. He started shouting out orders to the officers, which they followed without hesitation. None of them liked Captain Ford anyway; he was an ass.
Gibbs finally understood what his agent was doing and watched with pride as Tim used NCIS protocol procedures to secure the scene with the police officers. When the bomb squad arrived, Tim briefed them and then took them over to the fire chief so they could coordinate their efforts.
The paramedics, who knew they were watching a true hero in action, were worried about McGee's health. They knew he had to have inhaled a lot of smoke when he ran in the building and wanted to get him on oxygen. The height from which he jumped out of the window unto the car also had them worried about internal injuries.
They came over and insisted that he let them check him over. Tim was in no mood for anyone interfering with him while he was trying to secure a possible crime scene. He told them he was fine and they needed to tend to the people who were actually hurt. The paramedics were adamant that they check him out until Tim pointed to the unconscious police captain and explained to them what he had done to him when he had gotten in his way. Tim then reminded them that he was armed while moving his coat back so they could see his gun. The bullpen started laughing as the paramedics finally got the message and hurried back to the safe zone.
"That's my Probie" Dinozzo shouted out with a big grin on his face causing the bullpen to laugh again.
The paramedics continued to treat everyone with injuries in the safe zone, but they were not leaving until they gave a thorough check up to the agent. There was no way they were going to let this courageous man possibly die because of unseen injuries on their watch.
By the time Tim had made it to work he looked halfway decent. He had stopped in at a McDonald's and was able to wash up as best as possible. Tim walked past security and spoke as usual and they waved him in with a slap on the back. Tim continued into the building wondering what that was for. Tim spoke to everyone he saw as usual, but everyone had big smiles on their faces as they returned the greeting. He got a couple more slaps on the back and some of the women actually gave him a kiss on the cheek. What the hell was going on around here Tim thought?
Tim got the same treatment when he reached the bullpen. He finally reached his desk and as he started putting his gear down, he addressed Gibbs.
"Sorry I'm late boss, traffic was worse than usual."
Gibbs sat at his desk with a smirk on his face as he watched McGee get situated.
"Anything else you need to tell me McGee?" Gibbs asked quietly.
"No boss" Tim said not even looking up as he started to power up his computer.
Vance was watching from up top and was unable to comprehend how humble this guy was. He just said a little prayer of thanks that he had the honor of meeting and working with him. Gibbs was thinking along the same lines as Vance and was about to burst with pride. After everything he had accomplished this morning, this unassuming special agent just wanted to go about his job with no fanfare.
Everyone was able to play along except for the three people closest to him. Tim had gotten up to go get a cup of coffee. When he turned to go to the break room, he was embraced in a huge bear hug by Tony.
"Uh Tony, are you OK?"
When Tony released him, Tim saw Tony quickly wipe away something from his face.
"Just don't scare me like that again McGoo." Tony stated
The elevator pinged and Abby came running out yelling "Timmy, Timmy, Timmy" all the way over until she had him wrapped in a suffocating bear hug.
"Abby" Tim wheezed out "can't breathe."
Abby let him go saying she was sorry before grabbing him again and hugging him lightly this time before releasing him. Tim looked around confused.
"Honestly guys, what's going on? I know I was late, but I wasn't that late."
That statement allowed the whole bullpen to laugh and get McGee some more hugs and pats on the back.
The elevator pinged and it suddenly got quiet as the agents parted to allow Ziva to waddle up to Tim. Tim saw the tear streaks on her face and was immediately worried as he rushed over to her.
"What's wrong Zee" Tim asked softly?
Ziva grabbed Tim and kissed him as though she would never see him again. When Ziva finally let him up for air, she wrapped her arms around his waist and put her head on his chest so she could hear his beating heart. Tim could feel her trembling as he put his arms around her.
Tim had had just about enough.
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on around here" Tim shouted?
"Look at the TV Probie" Tony stated quietly.
Tim looked up and saw himself running back into the burning building and then jumping out of a window with a baby in his arms. He quit watching as he knew what happened next. Tim whispered something into Ziva's ear and she nodded her head. Ziva whispered back to Tim and he nodded his head. Tim walked over to Gibbs desk with Ziva still wrapped around him. He leaned over to whisper something to Gibbs who also nodded. Gibbs looked up and gave a signal to Tony and Ducky and they both came and walked with Tim and Ziva to the elevator. The four of them along with Palmer got on the elevator and went down to autopsy. Gibbs ran upstairs to brief Vance.
"Ducky is going to do a quick exam on McGee and Ziva and then McGee will be up to see you." Gibbs explained.
Vance had a confused look on his face.
"I understand why he wants to check agent McGee but why does he want to check agent David?"
"With Ziva's pregnancy Tim wanted her to be checked out because of the stress she was under watching him be a hero" Gibbs answered.
"I see" Vance said. "The other thing I don't understand is McGee agreeing so quickly to an exam. We saw him refuse the paramedics at the scene of the bombing quite effectively" Vance said with a smirk. "How was Ducky able to get him to consent so quickly?"
"It wasn't Ducky who convinced him. Ziva agreed to the exam only if McGee would also agree to be checked out" Gibbs smirked.
Vance also had a smirk on his face as he had the same problem as McGee. His wife could also get him to do anything she wanted him to do.
"Tell agent McGee the brief can wait until tomorrow. If Dr. Mallard gives them both a clean bill of health, go ahead and send them home for the day. It's not even lunchtime yet and Agent McGee has already put in a full day's work. I'm sure agent David wants nothing more than to have her husband all to herself after seeing him running into a burning building and jumping out of that window" Vance directed.
"Appreciate that Leon" Gibbs stated as turned to head down to autopsy to check on his reluctant hero agent.
