JF19
AUTHORS NOTES
The name of the rose that Tim gave Kelly is named Anna's promise. It's a real rose and it's called Anna's Promise. It was named after Downton Abby's head housemaid, Anna Bates. Played by Joanne Froggatt. This rose is stunning and smells absolutely divine. I have it in my front garden and when the wind blows just right, the smell travels through my whole house.
There probably won't be any updates on any stories for the next week. My husband is having a much-deserved break from his work, before Christmas arrives and we are both inundated with work as well as family and merriment. We have been planning a little getaway, just the three of us to our holiday home, but we're not sure if we can get there yet. If we go, there is no reception so there will be no new updates. However, if I get some spare time, I will have lots to post on the 5th of Dec.
Hopefully, the final chapters for MIT and Heal Thyself will be completed while I am away as well as another chapter for Just friends and Truth. I have also decided that from here on, all new stories will be completely finished (Or at least the majority of it written) before I start posting them. Many of you have expressed your frustration that I have so many stories on the go at once. (And it's probably the reason why I get so much writer's block). YES, there is a new story or two in the works. One is a oneshot and the other is a case fic with romantic undertones.
Happy Thanksgiving to my Thanksgiving celebrating readers. :)
The rest of the weekend was spent in each other's company, they cooked dinner together at Tim's apartment that night, before spending the night watching a movie. On Sunday, they hit up the Farmer's market buying up some fresh meat, eggs and produce, before Tim hit the grocery store for a few staples. They went for a run together with Sharni and Tim suggested to her, that they buy the beautiful girl a bed to keep at Tim's place, so they don't have to keep lugging her bedding between apartments. Sunday night, at Tim's insistence, he packed an overnight bag, and they spent the night at Kelly's apartment.
Well, most of the night. At 0410, the shrill sound of Tim's cell phone blasted through the bedroom, waking both occupants as Tim answered it. His voice rough and thick with sleep. "Agent McGee." Tim answered groggily as he extricated himself from being wrapped around Kelly's body. His movements were slow and careful as he tried not to wake Kelly. He knew he was a light sleeper, used to sleeping with one ear open. Kelly wasn't used to the phone ringing in the middle of the night.
"Rise and shine, Probie." Tony's voice carried over the phone line. "Ellie's on her way in and you're running the case from your desk. Gibbs, Ellie and me, my Probalicious buddy, are heading to the USS Kittyhawk in the Atlantic, Boss wants background on the five deceased by the time we arrive onboard, plus the three injured. Possible bomb blast, list of deceased and survivors will be on your desk. Palmer's collecting the bodies as the scene has already been processed and Gibbs said to remind you about getting Ducky to verify your doctor's report."
"On my way." Tim snapped, closing the phone on Tony. Seeing Kelly move to get up too, Tim lay back down and rolled over to face her, putting his arm over her to stop her getting up. "Stay in bed, sweetheart." Tim whispered to her, kissing her lips and holding her close to him. He was savouring the moment, not knowing when they would be back in bed together or what the case would bring. "It's very early and cold, stay in bed and get some more sleep."
"Be careful, Tim." Kelly replied, kissing him deeply, before snuggling back down under the duvet where it was still warm.
"I'll be in the office, no danger there, except from maybe a papercut." Tim quipped and moved into the bathroom to get ready to go into work. Out in the living room, Sharni looked up from her bed, a look of confusion on the dog's face. "Go get into bed with Kell, girl. Keep her safe and warm for me." Tim muttered to her, and she took off down the hall and into the bedroom. He retrieved his weapon and his creds, slipping out of the apartment and locking up behind him.
Within six minutes, he was at the base gate and handing over his creds, before being let onto the Navy Yard. Parking the car, he climbed out, shouldering his go bag and Tim grinned as the yellow muscle car that belonged to Gibbs pulled up beside him. "Gee Tim, you weren't kidding when you said you'd be the first one here, from now on." Gibbs quipped as the two of them headed in past the security desk, signed in and onto the elevators. Tim just grinned at him, there was no way he was telling Gibbs that he had spent the night at his daughter's apartment. "As soon as you're cleared by your doctor and Ducky this afternoon and you've had your session with Doc Cranston, call the sat phone, depending where we are at, you'll either fly out to join us on board or we'll be joining you, back here."
"Of course, Gibbs." Tim answered him, he knew both Gibbs and Tony were looking forward to him being back in the field, full time, as was Ellie. It had been a very long five months since the drone attack on the gala. He would have been back two months ago if he didn't re-fracture his ribs, taking down Ethan and Sherry trying to break into Kelly's apartment.
"I mean it, Tim. But just so you know; there is no pressure. If they say you're not yet ready, don't sweat it. No one's going to take your spot on our team, that's your spot, you earned it." Gibbs reminded him and honestly, he felt torn about flying out to the scene and leaving Tim behind. He had been there for Tim every step of the way in Tim's recovery, now he felt like he was letting Tim down.
Gibbs headed upstairs to the mezzanine level to speak to the XO on the USS Kittyhawk, in MTAC to get an update, as Tim organised for them to fly out of JB-AB within the next ninety minutes, directly to the ships position in the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile, Tony and Ellie both arrived. Tony bearing the tray of coffee and a paper bag loaded with the essentials - breakfast. "You're all flying out of JB-AB at first light, final check in is at 0600 hours." Tim told Gibbs as he made his way back into the bullpen.
"Good, thanks Tim." Gibbs said, taking the offered coffee cup with a nod to Tony of thanks. Tony and Tim exchanged glances. It was definitely unlike the boss to thank them for something like doing their job or stopping for coffee and breakfast. Thank you were reserved for saving his life or dealing with one of his exes. This was new territory for them both and both men made a mental note to tread carefully.
With the team leaving the bullpen, Tim breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to be alone. Tony always had an uncanny ability to know if he had left a woman in bed to come to a call out or not and it was better for him, if Gibbs didn't know that Kelly and he had been sleeping at each other's houses since taking their friendship to the next level. He really didn't want Tony to announce it, the way he usually did either. Tony knew it was wrong and couldn't help himself, it was like a compulsion, but he had really been working on it and improving himself since Ziva left for good.
Speaking of Ziva, Tim had been surprised to find an email that she had sent him over the weekend waiting for him in his inbox. His heart skipped a beat at hearing from her. To his knowledge, she didn't keep in contact with anyone from the US. Not since she and Tony had said their goodbyes in Israel, and she had called Gibbs to say goodbye. Sporadically he would hear from her, he always kept it to himself, figuring if she wanted the others to know what she was up to, she would contact them and freely share that information with them. He was sure that Leon knew of their communication because not long after she had reached out to Gibbs to say goodbye, he made a cryptic comment to Tim one day when they were alone. Tim couldn't remember the Director's exact words, but it had been along the lines of Ziva needed to cut contact with Tony and Gibbs for her sanity, but for her sanity; she needed Tim as her link to her humanity.
He hadn't heard from her since just after the gala attack, she reached out, having heard from a contact at the DOD that Delilah had passed. She had met Delilah, just before her father was killed, one day when she and Tim bumped into Ziva in the market. It was only the couple's third date and Tim was cooking dinner for them. The following date day Eli had arrived in DC, and everything had gone to hell in a handbasket.
Tim took advantage of the moment to reply to her, telling her he was doing better now. That he was due to be cleared for field duty today. He explained that he had been in the attack too and sustained some injuries. But he was doing better. He didn't mention he was moving on, because in a way, he wasn't ready to jinx it yet. It was fine that Kelly knew, and, in many ways, he and Kelly were closer than he and Ziva ever were. But he and Ziva shared the trauma of having to work with Tony and they shared the job. Any day of the week he would prefer the relationship he and Kelly had over what he had with Ziva. He would tell her when he was ready, hopefully before she came here and discovered it for herself. But deep down he knew, she was never and would never set foot, back on US soil again. He signed off as he always did, that he missed her terribly; to stay safe and write soon, signing it love your brother, Tim.
At 0800, Tim nodded good morning to Director Vance as he cut through the bullpen on the way to his office, nodding to him as he went past Tim's desk, before backtracking and standing before Tim. "Don't you have an appointment to go to?" he asked the JFA. Leon Vance was unsure why Tim was seated at his desk, he had specifically requested that he come in after his appointments, that there was no need to come in beforehand.
"Not until 1000 hours." Tim replied, as he ran another search for the background information on the five victims. He had been working on backgrounding all five of them since before the rest of the team left for JB-AB. "Meanwhile, any minute now, Tony, Gibbs or Ellie will be coming online in MTAC wanting their background info, hopefully with some more work for me to do from here. As soon as I'm cleared, Gibbs wants me to check in; the plan is either I fly out, or they'll be on their way back."
"They could have done that on the flight out, you could have gotten some more rest. You're still technically on desk duty." Vance verbally admonished his team and Tim in one fell swoop.
"This actually makes me feel like I am part of the team." Tim reasoned. "Haven't really felt like that in a long time."
"Very well." Vance nodded and made his way upstairs. Internally he was furious, it was happening again. He got that Tony was the senior agent, but Tim was always the one that was left behind and it wasn't fair on the JFA or his career. He didn't have the chance to further his career, because he was always stuck behind a desk. Especially in those early days when Ziva first came along. He vowed to talk to both Gibbs and Tim. It was time for Tim to get serious about his career. Especially since it seemed to Leon, that history was repeating itself.
Tim hadn't managed to catch his team in MTAC before he had to leave for his appointment. He had managed to send all the information he had gathered, to Ellie before he left though. They had been forced to make an emergency landing on a UN patrol boat, due to the inclement weather.
Tim received a text from the sat phone that they had finally landed on the Kittyhawk just as his name was called at the clinic at the hospital.
The doctor immediately remarked how well he thought Tim was looking. "Thanks Doc, been feeling good too. Ribs have recovered after the sojourn on my road to recovery."
"Let me be the judge of that. Shirt off and hop up on the table." A thorough examination of poking and prodding had Tim getting a clean bill of physical health. "What about your mental and emotional health, Tim?"
"I am doing OK... Actually, better than OK. I'm good." Tim told him with a smile.
"Sleeping?" The doctor enquired, remembering Tim hadn't been sleeping very well.
"Mostly through the night, especially if I have someone beside me." Tim smiled at thought of all the times he and Kelly had spent the night together.
"That's good to hear." The doctor beamed at him. "Be sure to keep checking in with Doctor Cranston and I'll sign off on your Return to Duty form."
Tim left the hospital with a huge smile on his face. He couldn't help himself, but smile. But he couldn't get too excited yet, he still needed Rachel's OK too. He looked at his phone, checking his messages. Seeing nothing, he frowned, before seeing the time and realised that he had rush off to meet Rachel. He held high hopes he would be fit for field duty again, by close of business, today.
Meeting with Rachel at the diner had its perks. He could get coffee and he knew that Elaine would encourage him to make sure that he ate something before returning to the office. "Sorry I am late, Tim. I had some car trouble, and my previous appointment ran over." Rachel apologised, taking her seat opposite Tim in the far booth if the diner. "What's good here? I'm starved. If I don't eat now, I won't get to eat until I get home late tonight. Today has already been more chaotic than I expected."
"Everything is good, here." Tim quipped at her with a genuine smile. "Relax, take a minute to catch your breath."
"What can I get you?" Elaine asked, coming over. Rachel indicated that Tim should order first, taking advantage of the opportunity to scan the menu she had just picked up. "Oh honey, I already know what Tim will have. We all know the team's favourites."
"We're regulars here." Tim blushed and dropped his head a little. "Elaine sees quite a bit of us."
"Well, I will have the club sandwich with no egg on it." Rachel ordered, and Elaine smiled at her and walking away to place their orders.
"Elaine is a beautiful woman and I don't know what our team would do without her." Tim told her in a stage whisper. "When we've been running on a case for two or three days, with little to no sleep, she always sends her son, Steve to the yard with warm nutritious dinners for us, or hearty breakfast burrito and hot coffee."
"At least someone is looking out for you all." Rachel agreed, glad that they had the extra support. She knew how serious they all took their jobs. "But our time is limited, last time we spoke you said you and Kelly were spending some time together."
Tim told her what had been happening with Kelly, before segueing to the case that took him out of town. Tim told her the basics of the case and what had gone down in interrogation, before confessing about his book and where it was at.
"That's great, Tim." she boasted. "You're doing really well. I think if you're comfortable with it, this can be your final session and I'll sign your return to fitness report."
"Thanks, Doc." Tim said, sincerely. "For everything you did for me. I know I wasn't an easy patient."
"Easy patients are boring, Tim." She smiled at him. "It was a pleasure. Keep in touch."
Tim raced back to the yard, eager to get caught up with the team and where they were at with this case. Eager to get Ducky to verify the doctor's clearance and hopefully, give Gibbs and Vance the good news.
A quick trip to autopsy and in under ten minutes, Tim had all the appropriate paperwork, ready for both Gibbs and Vance. Tim called the sat phone, with no answer. He called Ms Cooke, Vance's PA, only to find out that the Director was out of the office and wouldn't be back until later this evening.
Tim continued to work with what he knew about the case at hand. Hearing a noise, he looked up and saw Director Vance sitting at Gibbs' desk, working away, before Leon looked up and saw that Tim had realised, he too was working in the bullpen. "Took you long enough to realise I was here." the Director chuckled. "Gibbs definitely can't say you don't focus on the task at hand."
"Haha," Tim mocked him. He knew he tended to zone out when he was focused. Hearing his cell vibrate, Tim picked it up and looked at the text offering to bring dinner by for him. Quickly replying, Tim grinned at Vance. "Pepperoni pizza OK for dinner, Director?"
"Delivery?" Leon asked, surprised with a small chuckle. Most people he knew contacted the pizza shop, not the shop texting them. "I could go pizza for dinner. The kids are at school camp and my assistant has gone home."
"Kind of. Kelly just texted to find out what pizza we wanted for dinner. She said she will be here with it in twenty." Tim explained, before smiling wider at his latest incoming text message.
True to her word, twenty minutes later, Kelly was being bought up by Keith from the security desk, visitor badge clipped to her jacket. A hot pizza box and three steaming hot coffees balanced on top of it. "Hey." she called out softy when she reached the MCRT bull pen. "Where can I set these down?"
"Agent DiNozzo's desk will be fine." Vance answered, looking up at the team leader's daughter. "Thanks for picking us up some dinner, Miss Gibbs."
"No worries. I couldn't exactly let Tim starve now." Kelly said, smiling wide at her boyfriend. She had been antsy all day to see how he was doing, if he was ok and how his meetings with the various doctors went.
Tim smiled at her from his desk, before locking his workstation and coming over to his girlfriend. He kissed her lips softly and she happily sank into the kiss. Vance's eyebrows just about flew off his face, seeing Tim kiss Kelly. He hadn't had a chance to observe them together since before Tim went on assignment in New Orleans. He had heard about the argument from Gibbs and hadn't heard much else, since.
It wasn't a deep kiss, just enough to convey what he couldn't say while they were in his workplace. But it still told Kelly that he had thought of her through the day, he regretted being pulled away from her and he couldn't wait to spend more time with her. Pulling back from the kiss, Tim winked at her with a wicked grin on his face. "Hey yourself." he whispered, taking the coffee cup with his name on it, handing Vance his designated cup.
"I have a surprise for you." She said, as Leon Vance joined them by Tony's desk taking the coffee cup and opening the pizza box. Rummaging around in her shoulder bag, she told Tim to close his eyes. "Surprise." She said excitedly, pulling out the advanced copy of his next book, complete with the cover artwork, Rock Hollow, The Continuing Adventures of LJ Tibbs.
"It came up even better than I imagined it." Tim marvelled, taking the book from her, before pulling her into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around in a circle. "It's perfect, Sweetheart."
"New book?" Vance asked, curiously. He couldn't wait any longer. He had been trying to stay an uninterested observer but found he couldn't contain his excitement, either. He had been a huge fan of the first book and his wife Jackie had asked Tim to sign it, the first time they had met.
"Yes, Tim finally got his rear in gear." Kelly said, as she opened the pizza box, determined to eat a slice, she wasn't overly hungry, she had eaten at her late afternoon meeting at Frattali's with another writer. That's when she thought Tim must be starving, he had been at work since the very early hours that morning. "I'm so proud of you."
"I couldn't have done it without you." he nudged her. "Tell Lyndi I'll look over it and email her the final approval as soon as this case is closed."
"Do you think you'll be home tonight?" She whispered and Vance pretended to be focused on his phone, as he ate. The more he heard and saw, the more he wondered if he had stepped into a parallel universe, now. To his knowledge they didn't live together, and they weren't dating. He knew on occasion they did kiss, after all, a month ago he had seen Kelly kiss Tim in the NCIS parking lot, late after a night of food delivery, just like this.
"Very late, if at all." Tim sighed. He saw the look on Kelly's face and hated the feeling it gave him, knowing he was the one that put it there. "I know it's frustrating, it's the nature of the job."
"Tell you what Tim, if we don't hear from the team in an hour, you can pack it in for the night on my orders, and we will start fresh at 0700." Leon offered his subordinate. He knew that look Kelly had given Tim; most men who had ever been in a committed relationship knew that look. "Be sure you're prepared to take your spot for field duty from 0700 tomorrow morning. Glad to have you fully back on board, Tim."
"You got your clearance? Yes." She asked, happy. "I'm so happy for you, Tim. I am sorry again that helping me, caused you to have a setback."
"Sweetheart, there's nothing to apologise for. I wasn't going to lay in bed safe, while someone tried to break into your apartment." Tim replied, comforting her. He was rubbing her arms, trying to soothe her worries away. Before he chastely kissed her cheeks softly.
"On that note, I have a mess of work to get through tonight, I'll leave you to it." Kelly said gathering her bag as Tim handed her cash for their pizza and coffees. "I'm not taking it; I am happy to help out. Besides you paid for lunch on Saturday."
"Didn't know we were keeping score." Tim muttered in his low voice, as he tidied up the pizza rubbish and Kelly gathered her belongings. Tim could have easily said much more, but he was wary of Leon Vance being witness to what he had to say to her.
"Lovely to see you again, Director." Kelly said, waving him off before turning to Tim, as he took her hand and led her over to the elevator. "I'll see you at home tonight? Yours or mine?"
"Mine." Tim said softly, but he knew when the bullpen was this empty, this late at night that even the smallest whisper carries to every corner of the room. "Your bed is too small. I need to stretch out, my back has been on the tender side all day."
"If I fall asleep, wake me up when you come in, Tim." Kelly instructed him. "I want a proper kiss hello."
"You can count on it." Tim grinned and kissed her lips again, as the ding of elevator signalled it had arrived. He didn't let his self-control stumble, keeping the kiss respectable, considering they were in his place of employment. But he too, wanted more. "See you soon, Sweetheart."
Settling back behind his desk and picking up the next file, Leon looked over at his subordinate and smiled to himself. He hadn't seen Tim look this relaxed in a long while. "What's going on with the two of you, McGee?" he asked him, seeing Tim unable to wipe the smile off his face. "If it's my word you need me to keep; that I won't tell anyone, you can count on me to be the sole of discretion."
"We've only had two dates, so far." Tim admitted as a small blush graced his face. "We kind of realised we were already dating, just without the label. I think I might be ready, to try to move on and we decided to try it and see how it goes, before we tell anyone. Gibbs doesn't even know, officially. I suspect he thinks he knows, though."
"Is he going to be upset about this? I know you guys had a fight before you left for your assignment last week." Leon wondered out loud. It had been fairly obvious, even if Tony hadn't of acted as the go between for the two ridiculously stubborn men.
"Gibbs pretty much gave me the go ahead, the moment we met. Told me I didn't need his permission to ask her on a date. He didn't know about Delilah, back then. But the night we had the argument, he basically told us to get our heads out of our ass and get it together already." Tim confided in the agency director. "We argued because Gibbs was pushing, and I wasn't ready."
"Which led to you and Kelly having a fight, too?" he asked, already knowing they fought, but not what about. He had joined them that night for dinner. "Tim, can I give you a piece of advice? About being ready and moving on, something perhaps Gibbs hasn't realised yet, given the string of failed relationships that follow him."
"Of course, I'll take all the advice I can get." Tim said, eager to learn from one of his mentor's wisdom and heartache. Tim had always been eager to learn, Penny one referred to him as a sponge. ready to take everything in at a moment's notice.
Leon came over and sat on the edge of Tim's desk. Even though there was only one other person on the floor besides them, he still wanted what he said, to stay between the two of them. The advice was personal to him, and something he had learnt the hard way. "When you decide to start dating again, you need to understand that it is possible to be happy in a new relationship even though you will probably still have thoughts and feelings for Delilah. Expect the relationship to be different to what you had with Delilah. Your relationship with your her was unique, it can't be replicated. Open yourself to the uniqueness of who Kelly is as a person. Also, I know it's easier said than done, but remember, that loving Kelly, and grieving Delilah can happen at the same time. The guilt you feel, deep in the pit of your stomach, it will lessen in time. Keep in mind too, that when you are in a new relationship, friends and family members will offer their opinions, almost always unwanted, as to whether you should or should not continue in the new relationship. But remember that, ultimately, it is your life and your relationship with Kelly. Only do what your comfortable doing."
Tim soaked in the Director's knowledge. "Thank you, Director." Tim replied sincerely. Tim turned his monitor and showed Vance the email he had received while they had been having dinner from Gibbs, by way of Ellie, telling them that he will be stateside at 0800 tomorrow morning with Palmer, and Tim had to have the update ready. That Tony and Ellie would continue to work the scene on board, that the Kittyhawk would dock in Norfolk in two days' time and the ship would go into lockdown.
"Pack it in, Tim." The Director told him. "Meet me in here at 0700, I'll bring coffee and we will go over everything before Gibbs arrives at 0800. Night." Tim bid the Director a good evening, packing everything away, setting some searches to run overnight before locking his workstation and collecting his sig, creds and go bag, excited to get home.