About two weeks later, Gibbs was finally given the okay to be released. It couldn't happen quick enough, in his opinion. He was ready to leave pretty much the moment he woke up, and the only thing that stopped him once he became mobile again was Tim. Tim had enough stress right now without him adding to it, so he reluctantly agreed to stay until the doctor declared him fit to go. It wasn't easy to do, especially with lack of movement in the search for Jenny. Tony and Ziva were, of course, doing the best they could, but they weren't making any headway.
Gibbs was waiting impatiently in his bed for his discharge papers. These docs were taking their sweet time releasing him. He wanted the hell out of the hospital. He was sick of looking at the place. He knew he wouldn't be able to get to work right away, at least not officially, but at least he could go home.
Just then, the door opened, and Ziva and Tony walked in. "Hey, Boss. We came to take you home when they discharge you."
Gibbs nodded curtly. "Any news?"
Tony shook his head. "No. This bastard's good. Plus, we're at a disadvantage with having to be so discrete while investigating."
"Keeping this a damned secret isn't helping anyone!" Gibbs fumed. He could understand not wanting to start a panic inside NCIS, but it was impeding the investigation. There had been no movement in weeks. Besides, at this point, he very much doubted the other agents were buying the cover story. At least none of the good agents would be at this point.
"It's helping Tim. He's safer with no one knowing, and I think that's what Director Shepard would want," Tony said.
"He's not safer. This son of a bitch already knows he's alive," Gibbs said. He was absolutely sure of that. Jenny would be dead otherwise. This wasn't about her. It was about Tim. He was screwing with him.
"We do not know that, Gibbs. Jenny was investigating Acosta. That may be why he came after her," Ziva said.
"Ziva, she'd be dead by now if that's all it was. He's playing games to get to Tim. If anything, he's in more danger keeping this damned thing a secret. We can't put a protection detail on him because no one outside of our team knows about it," Gibbs said. If it was keeping Tim at all safe, he'd agree that hiding the truth was worth it, but it wasn't.
"I don't think he'd accept one anyway," Tony said. "I tried to get him to come stay with me until Acosta was stopped, but he refused. He didn't want to put me in further danger."
Soon, the door opened again, and Tim walked in. "Hey, guys."
Gibbs took in the younger man's appearance. He looked extremely run down. "You still haven't slept much, have you?"
"I slept three hours last night, actually," Tim said. Granted, it wasn't three hours straight, but it still counted. It was more than he'd gotten in a given night in a while.
"You say that like it's an accomplishment," Tony commented.
"It is. I told you, I would usually only get about four before all of this started," Tim said.
Gibbs sighed. He wished he thought any part of the man's words were a joke, but he knew they weren't. Actually, he probably should've realized a while ago that Tim had terrible sleep patterns. Nine times out of ten, he was in the office before anyone, including Gibbs himself. "You gotta sleep, Tim. You're gonna burn out soon if you don't."
"It's not that easy. Anyway, Gibbs, I spoke with SecNav today. We've come to a decision once you return to work, which I hope you'll agree with," Tim said. He was fairly certain Gibbs would agree. He didn't see Gibbs being happy with the alternative.
"I'm not taking the director's chair," Gibbs said before Tim had a chance to say anything else.
Tim smiled. "And that's the consensus we came to. SecNav and I both agree that your needed in the field. As much as I would like to be out there trying to find Jenny, I know that you are the one that should be doing that. You're the best."
Gibbs nodded. "You're a good agent, Tim, don't doubt that. You'd get it done if you had to, but you're better where you are. NCIS is better with you where you are. Certainly better than it would be with me there."
Tim chuckled. "Thanks. So, the cover story for NCIS will be that you were injured during your assignment, so you had to be pulled out. Jenny, however, is still maintaining the operation. If anyone asked you about the mission…"
"Classified," Gibbs finished. He still didn't like the secrecy at this point, but none of them could do anything about it. It had come straight from SecNav. "When can I go back to work?"
"Well, you know that you'd normally need a psychiatrist to clear you for field duty after an attack," Tim started. He immediately continued when he saw the irritated look on Gibbs' face. "But given the circumstance, we don't have time for that. I'm waving that step."
"You have that power as director? I didn't know the director could do that," Tony said surprised.
"That's because no director has. Too afraid of liability," Gibbs said.
"And I would be liable if something happens," Tim said.
"Nothing's gonna happen, Tim. We're good," Gibbs assured him.
"You do have to be cleared by a medical doctor though, and I don't see any doctor doing that for at least another week," Tim said.
Gibbs wasn't thrilled to hear that, but he accepted it. It was less time than he'd have to wait if he was forced to attend a bunch of therapy sessions.
"I don't suppose I could convince you to let me put you in a safe house when you leave here," Tim said. That was about the only thing he could do to protect Gibbs. He couldn't give him protection detail because agents would have to be brought up to speed, and the Metro protection detail he'd had had to pull out days ago due to other cases. However, he could get a safe house without telling anyone. As the director, he wouldn't have to explain himself on that matter.
"Nope. I'm going home. If you're worried about safety, come stay with me. We're both safer together," Gibbs said. He wasn't worried about himself, but he did want to keep Tim close to protect him. If it made Tim feel like he was doing something to protect him, it was a bonus.
"No. I'd be putting you more at risk. I won't do that," Tim said firmly.
"How so? They want me dead for the same reason they want you dead. Because they failed to kill us. It won't make a difference whether we're together or apart," Gibbs said.
"He's right, Tim. In fact, it might make it harder on them since there will be two of you ready if they come," Tony said.
Tim was hesitant, but it would make him feel better if he could do something to minimize the danger to Gibbs. "I'd have a condition."
Gibbs nodded, indicating for him to tell him.
"I won't stay anywhere with open access. I know you're fine with unlocked doors at your house, but I'm not. We had locks on our doors, and they got through, and I know they probably would again, but I won't make it easy for them," Tim said firmly. He always made sure he had safety measures in place wherever he lived. He would not be a sitting duck. If Acosta wanted to kill him, Tim was going to make it difficult.
Gibbs nodded. He could definitely understand that. Tim had already survived one home invasion. Gibbs wouldn't put him through another one if you could stop it. "I got you, Tim. We'll lock the doors. Hell, you can change the locks if you want. You do what you have to to feel safe."
Tim snorted a little. "The day I feel safe is the day I see Acosta's body on Ducky's table, but I appreciate what you're saying. We have a deal."
Silently, Gibbs vowed to make that scenario happen. When this was all over, providing he survived it, he was not putting Sebastian Acosta in a cell. He was putting a bullet in his head. He was going to get Tim his life back. He was going to make sure he felt safe again. "Good. You should go pack."
"I will in a while. I have to head back to NCIS for a few hours," Tim said.
"No," the other occupants of the room said at once.
"Tony, get him back to his place and help him pack. Don't let him go back to the Navy Yard," Gibbs said.
"Got it, Boss," Tony said.
"Hey, aren't I the director here?" Tim asked. There was mostly humor in his voice though.
"Yeah, and I'd be doing the same with Jenny if she were running herself into the ground," Gibbs said.
"Yeah, come on. No more work today." Tony said as he led his friend out of the room. "You need to rest anyway. Starting in about a week, you have to manage Gibbs."
Tim froze at the last comment. That thought had honestly not occurred to him until now. He'd just become his boss' boss. Forget running the agency. That had just become his biggest challenge. "How is that supposed to help me rest."
Tony laughed and led the way through the hospital.
