Joint Investigations
Chapter 5: Evening of Surprises
After stopping at Tasha's apartment and the nearest Chinese restaurant for take out, Tim drove around aimlessly to make sure they weren't being followed before heading home.
"There's only one bedroom so I'll sleep in the living room." He said as he sat the brown paper bag of food down on the kitchen table.
"Tim you don't have to do that it's your house."
"No I insist."
"Then how about we share it" she compromised with a slight smirk. "I trust you."
"T-that could work." He stuttered out of surprise. "Now let's eat."
Not two minutes into their meal Tim's phone rang. It was Ziva letting them know that the killer had beaten them to Petty Officer Wayne.
They both lost their appetites as Tim hung up.
"If someone had made the connection sooner we could have saved him." Tasha said as she sat on the couch, her face in her hands.
"You can't blame yourself; there's no way you could have known." He reasoned as he sat beside her.
"I know but I can't help it."
"I know." He said softly while wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She leaned into him and they stayed like that for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.
Half an hour later she was snuggled against him on the bed thumbing through a copy of his first book.
"You base your characters on your team at NCIS don't you?"
"How'd you know that?" he asked surprised that she figured that out.
"Lets just say you work with some people with very recognizable personalities." She explained. "And the names helped too."
"You picked up fast." Tim complemented looking down to meeting her eyes.
"Well I hang around some pretty smart people." She replied smiling back up at him. "You know this would be almost romantic if we weren't hiding from a crazed serial killer."
"That is a bit of a mood killer." He said smiling.
"Yeah" she laughed in agreement.
"But then again it may be some what save-able." He said before leaning down to gently press his lips to hers.
She froze in shock for a moment before kissing him back.
"Thank you for everything." She said after the realized that oxygen was necessary.
"Anytime, I just hope next time you stay over isn't for your own safety."
They continued to sit in companionable silence until he noticed that she had fallen asleep.
Tim carefully moved her to the space next to him a kissed her forehead before turning out the lights. Sure this wasn't the way he had thought their relationship would go but if she liked him enough to kiss him back he wasn't complaining.
They awoke the next morning to the ringing of Tim's cell. He reached for it while seriously considering throwing it against the wall; it seemed to be the bearer of bad news in mechanical form.
"McGee." He answered unenthusiastically.
"Me, Tony, and Ziva are going to be there in half an hour to discuss our next move." Gibbs explained before hanging up without another word.
Not even fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door.
"Sorry we're early Probie." Tony said as they filed through the door. "The Boss let Ziva drive and well you should be able to figure it out from there."
"So how are we going to catch this guy?" Agent Gibbs asked after they were all seated in the living room.
"We need to lure him out." Tasha replied confidently.
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?"
"That's were I come in handy."
"We're not using you as bait." Tim interrupted.
"It sounds like you've put some thought into this." Gibbs said ignoring McGee. "What's your plan?"
"By what we've seen this guy is patient. He waits till his victims are alone which probably means he's not interested in hurting anyone but his intended target." She explained. "So I just need to go about my daily life, with the exception of a protection team, until he strikes."
They room was silent for a moment.
"I'll give you five days." Gibbs said "Under the agreement that you follow every order I give."
"Agreed."
"Well that was quickly settled." Tony said happily "Can I go get some sleep now boss?"
"Yeah you and Ziva can go home; I want everyone in the office by 08:00 tomorrow. Gibbs ordered as he also stood to leave.
"What were you up to all night?" Tasha asked.
"Keeping an eye out for trouble, we wouldn't want McGee to get to have all the fun would we?" Tony answered with a smile.
"Thanks." She said as they left.
"I really wish you hadn't agreed with that." Tim said with a sigh as the door closed.
"It'll be just fine." She assured wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I guess I'm just going to have to trust you." He replied pulling her closer.
