Shot To Hell by ceilidh
A/N:- Well, folks, here we are – almost the end of another story! I must admit, it's rather longer than I first expected, but I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
These final two chapters have gone through several re-writes, simply because I couldn't see how Tim could keep Jethro after what happened to him. But then, of course, you see that lovely photo of them together at the start of In The Zone. So to keep to the show's canon, and for any sequels for this story that I might want to do in the future, I had to think of some way to keep Jethro in. Eventually, I came up with this.
And since Joe Spano was one of my favourite characters in Hill Street Blues, there's a quick and hopefully fitting reference to my other favourite character from that classic series here.
There's one more chapter to come after this – as always, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Fourteen - Victims And Heroes
Big brothers. Real or otherwise, they were supposed to protect you, support you – take the rap for you.
And yes, they had the whole 'I'm older than you, and bigger than you, so I'm allowed to make your life hell' thing going for them, too, but – no, as he blinked at Tony's reaction to what he'd just said, Tim McGee had to admit, this was different.
"What? Are you nuts?"
Subtly brushing granola crumbs from his shirt, Tim met Tony's eyes with his best baby brother smile.
"Mmm, peanuts, if I'm not mistaken-"
Faced with that smile, and such sarcasm, what could Tony DiNozzo possibly do in response? Well, he could double that last part. Easily.
"Oh, sure, McLoony, it's a great idea! Adopt the dog that almost mauled you to death – brilliant!"
Reading the genuine concern beyond the sarcasm, Tim then sighed, growing patiently more serious.
"Tony, I know this sounds crazy, but… well, have you seen his service record? It's incredible!"
A pause, followed by the quiet determination which Tony DiNozzo already knew was coming.
"I really want to do this, Tony, okay? 'sides, if they go ahead and destroy him, Abby's gonna be devastated-"
'Yep, shoulda known…' Tony thought dryly, smiling at the real, inevitable reason for Tim's decision. Abby had spoken – and her smitten, chivalrous Timmy was, as usual, complete putty in her hands.
He wasn't a total pushover, though, Tony proudly corrected himself, grinning now at Tim's expression.
When Tim McGee had that look on his face, no-one, not even Gibbs, could make him change it. Trying to persuade him to change his mind would be like asking Gibbs to survive an hour without coffee.
So, still grinning at his friend, but with genuine pride now, Tony finally nodded and patted Tim's shoulder – slipping easily into the role that suited him so well, and which he silently loved this kid for giving him.
"Want me to go with you?"
He may just have smiled and shrugged in reply, but there was no hiding the relief on Tim McGee's face. Beyond these gestures of apparent indifference, Tony could almost hear the grateful 'I thought you'd never ask'
When they arrived at the kennels where Jethro was being kept, Tim needed that support even more – his apprehension not helped, at all, by row upon row of jumping, barking German Shepherds.
Rarely, if ever, had Tony's protective hand on his shoulder been more needed, or more appreciated – the concerned glance that came with it met with a faint smile now as Tim took a deep, steadying breath.
"No, Tony, I can do this. I - I mean, what am I gonna do when we find dogs at another crime scene? Pass out? Throw up over Gibbs? Run away, screaming like a-…?"
If he finished that sentence, Tim McGee knew he'd regret it for the rest of his frequently endangered life. So instead, he glared, as best he could, at his wickedly smirking friend, and menacingly growled – rolling his eyes as this show of defiance was met as only his movie and TV mad friend could meet it.
"Oh, so you're turning into Belker now, McMutt?"
"Grrrrrrr…"
Still grinning, Tony then moved smartly aside before his friend could answer him the painful way – watching, in genuine and anxious pride, as Tim physically braced himself, and kept on walking.
By the time they reached Jethro's block, Tony's hand was back, in all seriousness, on Tim's shoulder. Jethro's handler had joined them too now, studying Tim with the same mix of admiration and concern.
"Agent McGee? I'm Lieutenant Day, I've been assigned to Jethro until he's… well, until they come for him-"
Tim just nodded, in truth only half listening to the handler's words as they came to Jethro's pen – all doubts that he might have silently had melting away now, as he studied the dog in front of him.
In so many ways, Tim realized that Jethro was as much an innocent, traumatized victim as he'd been. High on the drugs he'd been trained to find, he'd turned on the handler he must have loved, and killed him.
He was going to die because of it, and – yes, even in his different, canine world, Jethro knew it.
Ears down, lying in silent lethargy beside his untouched food bowl, he was a completely different dog – the degree of that difference causing Tim's head to rise again now, by what Lieutenant Day was saying.
"…yeah, it's a real shame. Before Perelli messed him up, he was one of the best, he'd do anything for you. Yeah, he's one hell of a dog, Agent McGee. If you can bond with him, he'll protect you for life."
If proverbial light bulbs had been real, then a crown of them would have lit up over Tim McGee's head – the broad grin which now spread across his face causing one of equal size to copy itself over Tony's.
Any time you saw a grin like that – yes, you just knew that the work of true genius was behind it.
Lieutenant Day could only stand and watch, in hopeful puzzlement, as Tim drew out his cellphone. Even Jethro's ears pricked up, with new interest, as the plan to save him swung into action.
"Mom? Yeah, hi… um, you know that burglary you had, when - yeah, when dad lost his golf clubs? Well, if you still want a guard dog, and if you can get to me this weekend, I think I've found one-"