Aiming Straight for the Heart

April 4th

Tim's pen was flying across the page; he had so much that he wanted to tell Ducky. He'd had such a good day with the team yesterday; they'd won their softball game, and had a celebration lunch that had gone on for hours. He'd gone back to his apartment and actually written some pages of the new book he was working on, and he hadn't written anything usable in months. Yes, it had been a good day. A day he wanted to write about. So he'd taken advantage of another blue-sky day and headed out to the park. By instinct he'd made for the dog-park. He had discovered this place within days of moving into his apartment, and it had been a haven for him amidst the pressures of moving to a new city and starting a new job with a new team. Sitting here, watching the people out exercising their dogs, the families playing together; it had helped him deal with the loss of Jethro, a loss he still felt keenly, even now.

For the moment he wasn't listening to the sounds of the park, he was lost in concentration, and was smiling as he gave Ducky a blow by blow account of yesterday's game.

"Caesar! Stop!"

The last word entered Tim's consciousness just as 85 pounds of German Shepherd crashed into him, sending his papers and pen spilling to the grass, and knocking over his coffee in the process. He started to pick himself up, and was reaching for his writing paper.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry…here, let me help you."

She bent down to pick up his pen just as Caesar arrived, complete with Frisbee.

"I try to throw away from people, but I sneezed at just the wrong moment, braking is not one of Caesar's strong suits; and…"

"It's not a problem, nothing broken, and believe me, I know how unreliable a big dog's brakes can be."

She handed him his pen with a smile, and Tim found himself looking into a pair of red-rimmed eyes, maybe she had a cold…she said she'd sneezed…but looking past the redness around those eyes, he found himself staring into the bluest eyes he had ever seen, dark blue, like sapphires.

"Erm…your pen."

"Oh! Sorry…thanks."

Really smooth there Tim, she probably thinks you're a total idiot. He'd completely forgotten the pen, had he been staring? Caesar decided he'd been neglected long enough, dropped the Frisbee at Tim's feet and gave a loud bark. Tim gathered up the disc, took a good long look around the field, and threw it as far as he could, Caesar raced after it, his tail wagging as he went.

"As you may have gathered, that hunk of canine is Caesar; I'm Verity."

She held out her hand, and Tim shook it.

"Tim; you have a great dog there."

"Oh, he's not mine, I couldn't cope with him full-time, I'm house-sitting for some friends, they're on vacation. Caesar comes with the house...oh no, here comes another one..."

She hurried to grab a tissue from her bag and had it to her nose just as another sneeze erupted.

"Bless you! That's quite a cold you have."

Verity wiped her nose, and smiled up at Tim.

"It's not a cold...wish it was, then it would be over in a few days. I have allergies, and all the pollen round here isn't exactly helping."

She looked so forlorn, but Tim couldn't help smiling.

"I hope your friends appreciate the way you're suffering to give their dog his exercise."

Verity giggled.

"If you saw their place, you would know there are compensations. I can put up with the sore eyes and the sneezing, and the raspy throat. Hey you know...Tim; maybe their place isn't all that good!"

She smiled up at him, and Tim was about to ask her to have coffee with him, but the words wouldn't come...after Amanda/Julia, he never knew what to call her, even in his own mind...after her, could he ever trust another woman again?

"Look Tim, Caesar spilled your coffee all over the grass, let me get you a fresh cup."

No one was more surprised than Tim when he heard himself say.

"Sounds great."

With Caesar now on his leash they walked over to one of the vendors on the edge of the park. Verity took out a bowl and bottle of water from her voluminous handbag, and poured it out for Caesar. Tim felt a slight pang as he thought back to the many times he'd done exactly the same thing with Jethro.

"Now, I'll get the coffee, how do you take yours?"

"You have your hands full with Caesar, why don't I get the coffee?"

"Wouldn't hear of it, we owe you a coffee at least, and Caesar's taken a real shine to you, just wait here, make sure he doesn't knock anyone else over...now, coffee?"

Tim could see that this was a debate he wasn't going to win, so he sat down beside Caesar.

"Black, no sugar please."

"Ha! That's how I take it too...that's what I like, an easy order."

In a blur of colour she was headed toward the vendors, and Tim had his first opportunity to get a really good look at Verity. She was about 5' 5", slim, dark brown curls cascading down her back. Her eyes had already left a lasting impression, framed as they were by long, long lashes; her skin was fair with a trail of freckles across her slightly red, but delightful button nose; and her mouth, what was that phrase his Grandma used? That was it, cupid's bow lips...Verity was dressed like something left over from the Flower Power days, cerise cheesecloth blouse, a long flowing skirt that looked like Joseph's coat of many colours, and 'gladiator' sandals. On many women it would have looked a mess, but on her...Tim tickled behind Caesar's ears and whispered.

"You're one lucky son of a gun being around her all day."

Caesar's only response was a wag of his tail as he saw Verity walking back to them.

"Here you go, as requested, black no sugar."

She flopped down on the grass beside him, and pointed to his writing pad.

"You know Tim, it's so refreshing to see someone sitting with pen and paper, actually writing, instead of tapping away on a keyboard; it's all laptops, PDAs, iphones. I get so sick of it, people seem to have forgotten how to talk to each other, how to connect on a personal level instead of through cyber-space."

Tim felt himself blush, and took a sudden interest in his shoes, and Verity realised she had made a terrible mistake.

"Oh no! You're into computers aren't you?"

He nodded, shamefaced.

"You have no idea…"

Three Weeks Later

"Hey Tim, you haven't been to see me in a while. I'm hoping that means things are going well."

"Going great thanks Nate...I'm...well, I'm seeing someone, and she's amazing; I didn't want to say anything before, I mean, my track record with women, you know..."

Nate did know, Tim had opened his heart to him in their sessions, quite honestly Nate was impressed that Tim had come far enough in his recovery from the 'Amanda' situation and its subsequent fallout, that he was even prepared to let another woman get close.

"So what's the name of this amazing woman, and when do we get to meet her?"

"Verity; and I thought, if the others don't mind, she could come to the next softball game."

"Who's coming to the next game?"

Sam had come into the room completely unnoticed, for a man of his size, he sure could move quietly when he wanted.

Nate gave Tim a hearty pat on the back.

"Seems our Tim is 'seeing someone'."

"Way to go Tim! And she's coming to the next game?"

"If it's okay with you guys."

Callen joined the group.

"'Course it's 'okay', family and friend always welcome, you know that."

"Gentlemen! I would have thought, knowing you all have reports outstanding, that you would have been better served working rather than standing around with all the appearance of gentlemen of leisure."

They all jumped like children caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. Hetty had that effect on them; even when they weren't doing anything wrong, she could make them feel guilty.

"Your colleagues are already at work…I trust you will be joining them immediately. Timothy, you may stay for another coffee if you wish, after all your report is done. Has Doctor Mallard arrived yet?"

"Yes, he called from his hotel; he's really looking forward to meeting you tomorrow."

"The feeling is entirely mutual; and Verity, she's coming?"

The others looked up in surprise; they'd only just heard about Verity, how did Hetty know? But she always knew, why should they be surprised?

"Oh yeah, she can't wait to meet you both."

Sam put his arm round Tim's shoulders.

"So why have you been holding out on us about...Verity? And how come you told Hetty first?"

"Timothy did not tell me Agent Hannah, I asked him why he had that extra twinkle in his eye, which my team of 'top-notch' investigators didn't appear to notice by the way; and he told me. Now, reports please!"

Tim was smiling broadly as the others grudgingly headed out to get their reports finished. He found it hard not to smile these days...The last few weeks, getting to know Verity, getting closer, had been the happiest he had known in...if he was honest, in years.

Verity was like no woman he had ever dated before. She had no idea what an eight level sorceress was, and absolutely no ambition to be one, she loathed computer games, thought they were a waste of time, that they stopped people living a real life…He barely played any longer, and he didn't miss it one bit. Instead they drove out into the hills and walked together for hours, Verity's allergies were much better out there, so they joined hands and walked, sometimes enjoying the silence, sometimes talking, but always happy to be together.

They went to the ocean and walked at the water's edge, ate ice-cream, watched the sun set and got to know each other. He told her about his job, not right away, he was still too cautious for that, but she was so candid, so open about herself, as she said herself.

"My parents gave me a name that means truth, and all my life I've tried to be honest...hasn't always made me popular, but that's the way I am, and I always appreciate it when people are honest with me."

So, for the first time in a long time, he found himself telling someone the truth about Timothy McGee, and even the truth about Thom E. Gemcity. And tomorrow night she was going to meet Ducky and Hetty; he couldn't wait.

One day later

Tim held open the door and ushered his guests into the restaurant. Callen had been right, the place didn't look much from outside, but the interior was very different. He hoped G was also right about the quality of the food, first class he had said.

The maitre d' showed them to their table. People were staring at them, or more likely at Hetty, Tim often forgot about her diminutive stature because her air of authority was such that she seemed much taller than she actually was.

They took their seats and within minutes it seemed as if they had all know each other for years, Ducky endeared himself to Hetty by complimenting her on her name, her full name.

"Henrietta, what a delightful name, there was a Henrietta who was married to that most tragic of monarchs; Henrietta Maria, princess of France, and wife of Charles I. I understand that she was small of stature too, but had a will of iron."

"Yep, that's Hetty alright, a will of iron!"

"That will do Timothy. Young people today Donald, no respect for history."

"How right you are dear lady, whenever I try to enlighten the youngsters in Washington about their heritage, and mine…well, let's say they always seem to have something better to do."

Tim's mouth was about to open in denial, but Verity beat him to it.

"I can't believe that Dr Mallard."

"Ducky, please my dear."

"Tim must have been listening because he's told me lots of your stories, Ducky, and yours too Hetty. I mean, the two of you, you've seen and done so much, met so many amazing people, who wouldn't want to listen, and learn from you?"

Ducky blushed a little.

"You flatter me Verity."

"Oh no Ducky, believe me, I don't flatter you, I'm telling you the truth."

Tim smiled broadly

"She is Ducky; it's the way she is."

The rest of the evening passed so quickly that it surprised them all when Tim reminded Verity.

"It's 10.30; you said you needed to be home by 11."

"I do, we're taking 12 youngsters to a wilderness camp, I'm going to need to be well rested for that!"

She stood to go and gave Hetty a big hug.

"I have had the best time, thank you so much for sharing some of your experiences; I'll never look at the Rat Pack in quite the same way again!"

Ducky was waiting to wish her good night.

"My dear, the children in your charge are lucky indeed to have you as their teacher."

"Could I get that in writing Ducky? I don't think they always feel lucky."

"They will, it may take them some time, but they will."

She held him tight and whispered.

"Thank you for everything you did for Tim, he cares for you a lot you know."

"As I do for him, and I think, as he does for you…"

"The cab's outside Verity, are you sure you don't want me to tale you home?"

"Tim, I'm a grown-up you know, quite capable of taking a cab home…"

"Then I'll walk you to the door, won't be long."

He gave a casual wave to Hetty and Ducky, and led Verity out of the restaurant.

Ducky leaned over and refilled Hetty's wine glass.

"While we have a few minutes alone Hetty, I wanted to thank you."

"Me? What for?"

"For looking after Timothy. Looking at him tonight…it's like a different person, when I saw him last, he was, well, you know

"I do indeed Donald; he's come a long way."

"He's a fine young man, I feared for a while that we would lose him forever, not physically, although that was touch and go for a while; but mentally…he had gone through so much. Much as it pains me to say this, I think Timothy was right, he needed to get away from all of us, start anew, you've been good for him."

"Not just us Donald, I think that young lady may have more than a little to do with his current contentment. I sense that there just might be a match there."

Ducky couldn't help but agree, there was something about Timothy this evening, almost intangible, but definitely there, he looked like a man in love.

"There is a forensic scientist of my acquaintance who may be a little saddened by this…"

"Ah yes, the very stylish Ms Sciuto…was she with Timothy in DC?"

"Some time ago now, but I always wondered…and I think perhaps she did too, whether they would get together again."

"I fear that ship has well and truly sailed Donald."

Tim was returning to the table, and pleased as he was that Tim was looking so healthy and happy Ducky couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness; we're losing him.

Two Days Later

Tim picked up his car keys and his back pack and was about to head out of the door when his phone rang. Ducky wasn't home already surely? They had been out for a farewell dinner last night, just the two of them, and Ducky had promised that he'd call Tim as soon as he got back to DC, but his flight had only left two hours ago. He checked caller ID, Callen, they must have a case, after all he'd be at the office in 30 minutes.

"Tim, could you meet me in Hetty's office as soon as you get in? It's urgent."

"Sure thing G, I'm on my way right now."

He gave a brief wave to Eric on his way through to Hetty's office, she was waiting with Callen. On the desk in front of her was a safe-deposit box.

"Good morning Timothy, no time to lose, we have a lot to do today, there is much to prepare."

Tim looked for a single uncomprehending moment at Callen, and then it dawned on him. It was happening at last, he was going undercover. Callen smiled, and handed Tim a dossier.

"Get reading Tim, time to soak up your new identity, this is who you are going to be for the foreseeable future, Travis McGann."