Burnout
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS, PERIOD.
Chapter 5: The Family Matter
Tony and Ziva drives towards Silver Springs as they ponder what just happened in the hospital. "Is it just me or is Abby acting a demented Princess"? Ziva asks Tony. Tony looks at Ziva. "I am curious about that as well, and I am more curious about Tim. He is brave like a lion on the field, but he look like a scared mouse right in front of Abby". Tony said to Ziva.
Ziva nods to Tony as she is getting angry. "Abby is bound to get out of line the way. From the way I saw, she was acting in there like Tim doesn't deserve to be in the hospital resting, and she doesn't care about his well being like we do". Ziva said to Tony.
Tony looks at Ziva. "Come to think to think of it, Palmer got a lot of guts to make a stand to Abby, and yet he was angry for some reason". Tony said to Ziva. Ziva nods in agreement. "I agree. I don't like what's going on". Ziva said to Tony as they drive towards McGee's apartment.
As they arrived at the apartment complex in Silver Springs, Tony and Ziva look at the apartments where Tim lives. As they went up to their apartment, Ziva knocks on the door. "I will be right there". A older female said to them. Tony and Ziva look at each other wondering who is at Tim's apartment.
The door opens to reveal Penny in Tim's apartment. "Ms. Langston, what brings you to Tim's apartment"? Tony asks Penny. Penny looks at them and realizes that something is wrong. "What happened"? Penny asks them. "Tim collapsed after he arrested a suspect. He is in the hospital in West Virginia". Ziva said to Penny.
Penny sighs as she realizes that it was bound to happen. "Oh no, please come in, I will explain everything". Penny said to them. Tony and Ziva walk in the apartment. Tony notices a sleeping bag on the couch as the apartment has a small mess.
They take a seat on the couch. "I knew this was going to happen". Penny said to them. "What's going on"? Ziva asks Penny. Penny sighs as Tim still has not said a word about it. "It's Sarah, she has stage 4 brain cancer. I take care of Sarah in the day and take her to doctor's appointments. Tim takes care of her at night. He slept on the couch while Sarah sleeps in his bed. However Scutio does come by a few times in the middle of the night to crash after a night of partying or if a boyfriend of hers breaks her precious heart". Penny said to them.
Tony and Ziva are shocked to hear the news. "How long has Tim known about this and does Abby know"? Tony asks Penny. Penny sighs to them. "Tim and I have known about it for four months, and Scutio does not know. One time she did came over to crash for the night and she actually demanded that Sarah to be moved to the couch while Tim slept on the floor in that very sleeping bag". Penny said to them as she is showing her disgust to Abby in front of them.
Ziva looks at Penny. "When was this"? Ziva asks Penny. "A few weeks ago actually. Sarah told me what happened". Penny said to Ziva.
"Can we see Sarah"? Tony asks Penny. Penny looks at them. "She maybe tired from the chemo, but don't push her". Penny said to them as they went to Tim's bedroom.
Tony and Ziva walk in the bedroom, and they are shocked to see Sarah bald headed and in bed. Sarah looks at them. "Hello", Sarah weakly said to them. "Sarah, the last time we saw you, you look different and not". Tony said to Sarah. "Sickly yeah, I take it something happened to Tim". Sarah said to them.
Ziva nods to Sarah. "He is in the hosptial for exhaustion and dehydration, and he sprained his ankle as well". Ziva said to Sarah. Sarah sighs as she looks at them. "He has been working too hard on the job and taking care of me". Sarah admits to them.
Tony looks at Sarah as he feels really bad for Tim. "Penny told us about an incident a few weeks ago that Abby demanded you out of bed". Tony said to Sarah. Sarah looks at Tony. "Yes, she did, and she called my illness nothing more than a mundane cold". Sarah said to them.
Flash back a few weeks ago
Sarah is sleeping comfortable as an unexpected knocks and rings at Tim's apartment. She wakes up as she hears Tim opening the door. "Abby what are you doing here"? Tim asks Abby. "Timmy, I need to crash for the night. I took a cab after a night at the club. I need to sleep in your bed". Abby said to Tim. "Abby, my sister is not well, and she is sleeping in my bed". Tim said to Abby. Abby walks in the apartment as she looks at Tim. "Not well, she probably has something mundane like a cold. Kick her out of bed and have her sleep on the couch". Abby said to Tim as she walks in the bedroom.
Sarah looks at Abby. "It's the middle of the night, Abby". Sarah said to Abby. Abby looks at Sarah. "You have to get out of bed, so I can sleep in Tim's bed". Abby said to Sarah. Sarah has a dismayed look on her face. "I am sick, Abby. I am not moving out from this bed". Sarah said Abby.
Abby looks at Sarah as rolls her eyes. "I don't care even if you have a mundane cold". Abby said to Sarah. Sarah has a hurt look on her face as she is about to cry. Tim looks at Abby. "Abby that's really mean besides it is not a cold". Tim said to Abby.
Abby glares at Tim as she slaps him in the face. "You move her to the couch. Don't make me tell Gibbs that you were mean to me". Abby said to Tim. Sarah is disgusted by it by Abby's actions. Tim gets Sarah out of bed as Abby takes over.
Tim puts Sarah on the couch. "I am sorry about her, Sarah". Tim said to Sarah. Sarah looks at Tim. "It's not your fault Tim. Why are you letting Abby walk over you? She even hit you right in front of me". Sarah asks Tim. Tim looks at Sarah. "It's Abby, she gets what she want. I will put you back into bed in the morning". Tim said to Sarah as he grabs the sleeping bag and went to bed.
That morning, Abby already left for NCIS as Tim wakes up. He gets Sarah back into bed as Penny walks in. Sarah explained to Penny what happened. "I am disgusted that Scutio did this to the both of you". Penny said to them. "It's fine, Penny". Tim said to Penny. Penny is dismayed by it.
End flashback
Tony and Ziva are shocked to listen about it. Sarah nods to them. "I don't blame you guys and Agent Gibbs. Tim is devoted to his job and taking care of me. Dad doesn't know about it, and mom is too busy with her new family in Dallas. Dad is on the Borealis, and Tim didn't want to pull him from the ship to help. It's just Tim and Penny taking care of me". Sarah weakly said to them.
Tony and Ziva are shocked as they learn about it. "I had no idea that Tim is dealing with something like this". Tony said to Sarah. Sarah nods to them. "Tim is a private person, Agent DiNozzo". Sarah said to to Tony.
Ziva nods to Sarah. "I will call Gibbs". Ziva said to Tony as she steps out of the room. She pulls out her cell phone to call Gibbs.
Back at the hosptial, Gibbs sees his phone ringing. He steps out from the room. "Yeah Gibbs", Gibbs said to Ziva. "Gibbs we got a problem". Ziva said to Gibbs. "What kind of problem"? Gibbs asks Ziva. "It's Sarah, she has stage 4 brain cancer. Tim has known about it for four months. Gibbs, they need us". Ziva said to Gibbs.
Gibbs has a shocked look on his face. "I know thanks for telling me this. I will call you soon with new instructions". Gibbs said to Ziva as he hangs up the phone. He walks in the room. Tim is fallen back asleep. Ducky looks at Gibbs. "Jethro what's wrong"? Ducky asks Gibbs.
Gibbs looks at Jenny, Ducky, and Palmer. "Sarah McGee has stage 4 brain cancer". Gibbs said to them. They are stunned to learn about McGee's family matter. "Oh dear poor Timothy, no wonder the lad has worked himself to hard". Ducky said to Gibbs. Jen is shocked that a federal agent is handling this. "He is devoted to work and family isn't he". Jen said to Gibbs.
Gibbs nods to them. "He is Jen. I can't believe that he has been handling this on his own. He should have come to me from the beginning". Gibbs said to Jen. "What can we do, Agent Gibbs"? Palmer asks Gibbs.
Gibbs looks at them. "We are giving them our support, Palmer. I will be damned if he thinks he is going another day without support". Gibbs said to them. They nod in agreement. Little did they know that they will find out that Tim is handling more than a family crisis.
End chapter