Dreaming of Caitlin

Tim looked around. "This has to be a dream," he said to himself. He breathed deeply, drinking in the heavy scent of flowers that hung in the air like a veil of fragrance. He looked up, and smiled at the azure sky. "Now, this reminds me of a certain day," he said softly, glancing down at his left hand.

Before long, the curious investigator in him managed to pull rank on the sensitive, poetic soul in him. He started walking, carefully navigating his way along the path, past the flowers and other ornamental foliage.

He came to a clearing, and he cocked his head curiously as he saw a woman, and a little girl, in the distance.

"Okay, that looks an awful lot like…" he trailed off, walking towards them.

Abby looked up. "Hey McGee," she said brightly. Tim looked at her, then down at the young girl. "Do I know her?" he asked Abby, clearly confused.

The young child giggled. "Silly Daddy," she said softly. Tim barely caught her words, but heard enough of them that it made him start.

He crouched down, taking a closer look at the tiny stranger. She smiled brightly at him, and he blinked as he recognised a few of her features.

"Uhhhh," he stammered. Caitlin giggled again, then turned to Abby. "Is Daddy always this nervous, Mommy?"

Without even thinking, Tim suddenly extended his hands, and Caitlin ran straight to him. He caught her under her arms, then stood, sweeping her up, settling her on his arm. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes.

"You're…?" he said, sounding a little less unsure but still a little unbelieving.

"I don't know why you'd think so, McGee, I mean, she looks nothing at all like you," Abby teased, giggling. Tim held his daughter's gaze, feeling eerily like he was looking into a mirror. She smiled brightly at him again.

"Caitlin Abigail McGee," she said proudly, nodding her head with each word, then giggled softly as she whispered to him, "But you always call me Princess, Daddy." Tim chuckled softly, pride suddenly seeping into his expression, as Caitlin nuzzled her head against him with a happy little sigh.

Abby sat on the grass, watching, and thinking to herself that little Caitlin was clearly going to be a daddy's girl. Then, her expression changed to one of alarm, as it suddenly occurred to her that Tim was there. Why was Tim there? He wasn't hurt, was he?

Caitlin lifted her head as she seemed to sense her mother's concerns. "Daddy's just sleeping, Mommy. No worries." She turned her sweet face back to Tim. "Mommy's just sleeping, too. She doesn't want to wake up yet, but she promised she will," she told him, reassuringly.

"Really?" Tim asked, turning to Abby. Abby smiled. "I'm in a world of hurt right now, Hon. I just can't bring myself to wake up to that. But I will wake up, I promise. Just give me some time… before you know it, I'll be back, good as new. Anyway, we have a baby to make, it would seem," she said, winking.

Caitlin rolled her green eyes, and Tim blushed as he chuckled. He softly kissed her cheek, then set her down gently. He and Abby watched, delighted, as she scampered off to play.

"Like our daughter said, Tim. No worries." Tim reached out a hand to her, and she went to him, allowing him to envelop her in his strong embrace.

"But if you break anything in my lab, I promise you, you will be in the same boat as I am right now." She grinned up at him. He gazed down at her, relief flooding his heart and mind, and he just had time to kiss her, before the scene around him faded out as he woke up.