Back Again to a Different Land

Saturday September 4th

Tony watched Tim walk through the squad room, he'd been in DC for three days, and Tony had already become accustomed to having him back, just like old times he told himself; but it wasn't…The California sunshine had darkened Tim's skin slightly, and lightened his hair, he stood straight and tall, and walked with a new air of self-confidence. The overall effect was enough to cause several female heads to turn for a second look. Tim didn't even notice, but Tony did.

"Hey kiddo; Melissa Gorman can't take her eyes off you…how about I fix the two of up on a date?"

Tim's eyebrows went up, and for a second Tony got a glimpse of the 'old Tim'.

"No thanks Tony, she already asked me out, but I'm not interested right now…"

"Ah ha, do tell Pr…McGee; is there a little lady pining for you in the City of Angels?"

Tim lowered his head and got back to checking the paperwork on Horton's case.

"No…no one pining for me…how about you Tony, anyone special in your life?"

"Oh, you know me…"

And he was away; Tim let the words wash over him as Tony listed the numerous women who had been honoured with his companionship this year. Tim didn't mind, he'd succeeded again in deflecting Tony's interest away from his own romantic involvement, and that suited him just fine.

It had been strange being back; Tim had been expecting the WELCOME HOME banner from Abby, accompanied by a bone crushing hug, and that had been good. He'd expected Tony to act as if nothing much had happened, as if Tim had been on a long vacation; and that's how it had been. Tony had even called him Probie as he shook his hand that first morning, Tim hadn't said anything, but Tony must have improved his people reading skills because after that he tried to stop himself using that term…didn't always succeed, but he did try.

Ziva and Gibbs had welcomed him, but it had been a cursory greeting; they were focussed on Horton's appeal. They had been first on the scene that day at Horton's home, and Gibbs had held Jemma Horton as she died from the injuries inflicted by her husband…Ziva had found the child; bludgeoned to death by his own father. Tim knew that neither of them would rest until they were certain Vince Horton would never walk free again. They were genuinely worried that this appeal could succeed, that Horton could be released on a technicality; and the main reason they were pleased to see Tim was because they knew he could help prove that every warrant, every search, every interview had been done to the letter of the law, no mistakes, no loopholes.

So he'd got down to work right away, and although in many ways it was like old times; even down to sitting at his old desk, there was something…off.

"So, as you can see Tim, no problems for Anthony DiNozzo in attracting the ladies…"

Tim smiled, and leaned back in his chair to stretch out tired muscles.

"You ever think about settling for one special woman Tony?"

"Haven't met her yet…"

Two days later Tim was sitting at his desk when the phone rang.

"McGee…"

"Timothy, if you have a moment…"

"Ducky, you're back! I'm on my way…"

Tim headed down to Autopsy; he'd been disappointed to learn that Ducky was away on vacation when he got back to DC; he had been looking forward to catching up with his friend, but the moment had been postponed until now.

Tim ran into Autopsy, almost flooring Jimmy, who was making a diplomatic exit.

"Oh, sorry Jimmy."

"No problem Tim, I have samples for Abby to check…again, I'll see you later."

Tim put his arm round Ducky's shoulders and held him close for a moment.

"I missed you Ducky."

"I was sorry to be away when you returned Timothy."

"I don't mean that, and you know it! I missed talking with you, but you were right about letter writing, I enjoyed writing to you, and getting your letters."

"As did I. Let's look at you…good grief, have you grown even taller?"

Tim couldn't help laughing; Abby had asked him more or less the same thing.

"No, but Hetty's a great one for correct posture, I guess I just stand up straighter now."

"Well, it suits you. Now; do you have time for a cup of tea?"

"Sure do, but let me get it, you sit down and relax."

Ducky watched as Tim set about making a pot of tea. Oh yes, Hetty had taught him well, and from the looks of him, he'd learned a lot more during his Californian sojourn.

"So, young man, how is it going, any…difficulties?"

"No, it's been fine, but…it's a bit like...you know, when you buy a new pair of shoes, and they feel okay at first, but then they start to pinch, like maybe they don't fit so well after all."

"Is that how you feel? That you don't fit…so you're not going to stay?"

"Not for me to say Ducky, my six months is well and truly up; what happens next is up to Director Vance."

Friday September 10th

Gibbs gave one of his rare smiles, and handed out fresh cups of coffee.

"Good work people, that scum bag is back where he belongs...I'm going to tell Ducky the good news."

Ducky was waiting for him when he got down to Autopsy.

"Congratulations on a successful conclusion to the Horton case, I believe the judge dismissed the appeal?"

"News sure travels fast round here...Tony?

"Who else? But I am pleased to hear about the appeal."

"Yeah, thanks Duck. I knew we had a watertight case, but these things can surprise you sometimes."

He sat down at Ducky's desk.

"You seen McGee since you got back?"

"Yes indeed, several times, Jordan and I took him out to dinner last night. He's looking very well…is there a problem Jethro?"

"No…not a problem…he…I thought when he came back, saw Abby, the team…"

"You want him to stay?"

"Never wanted him to go in the first place…but that was my fault."

"Not entirely Jethro…"

But Gibbs wasn't listening.

"He hasn't called me Boss once since he got back, did you know that? Not once…Gibbs every time…I knew things would be different, but he…he's…Callen told me how well he was doing out there, going undercover…you know he saved a family, and prevented catastrophic sabotage on vital technology?"

"Abby told me…Timothy doesn't seem to think he did all that well during that operation…"

Gibbs shook his head.

"Maybe he hasn't changed all that much, always second guessing himself. Callen said Tim was sick, but kept pushing himself to get the job done."

"Now that sounds familiar, I think Timothy may have picked up a little of your stubborn nature. He admires you greatly you know Jethro, but what happened last year…I think the foundations of his world crumbled, and he was at a total loss…"

"I thought it was horseplay Duck, I never imagined how bad he was feeling…that he'd feel like we let him down. I figure I'm so good at reading people, but I couldn't read Tim...if he was hurting, he didn't show it...not until that last stupid prank, no not stupid, cruel. Tony thought he was being funny, he had no idea…none of us did, how bad Tim was feeling over that woman."

"I was equally blind Jethro; we talked often Timothy and I, but perhaps never about what was really important to him."

"That's part of the problem, every time he tried to talk about his family, his interests, whatever mattered to him; I cut him off...always had to be about the job. You know, Callen found out more about Tim's personal life in eight months than I did in seven years. He said they met his girlfriend...I never knew when he had a girlfriend, let alone met one. I don't think he really opened up to any of us, not even Abby, not after they stopped going out together; he keeps his personal feelings pretty close to his chest."

Ducky watched his friend's face; he had rarely heard Jethro examine his relationships with his team so closely. As a general rule he tried to keep his work and personal lives totally separate, but he seemed to feel a need to understand why he had misread the situation between Tony and Tim so badly.

"Jethro…Timothy is not gregarious in the way Tony is, flitting from one person to the next; he is a social animal of a very different kind. A man who makes friends slowly, but once a friendship is forged, it is made of strong stuff, and that was one of the many reasons we lost him. He cared deeply for every one of us, and at the end of his time here, he felt his friendship had been betrayed, for a man like him that would be a bitter pill indeed."

Gibbs stared at his empty coffee cup, and nodded slowly.

"And I never saw it…now we may not get him back; Callen wants him in LA, if Vance agrees…Did we hold him back Duck, did I?"

"You taught him well Jethro, and perhaps…if you will excuse the analogy; perhaps he had to leave the nest to learn how to fly."

Vance arranged for Tim to stay with the team until the end of the month.

"I had a new TAD lined up, but he has to testify out in Honolulu, the case should be over in two weeks."

Tim didn't mind too much; his working relationship with the team was going along pretty smoothly, and it was good to spend time with Abby and Ducky, he'd had dinner with Jimmy and his girlfriend Brie, and she was a stunner. Best of all he'd been able to reconnect with Sarah, no life back in DC wasn't so bad.

Friday September 24th

It was the third week of his return, and he was walking round the Montgomery Mall in Bethesda with Ziva. Tony and Gibbs were in the security control centre, watching the monitors. They'd been tracking the movements of two naval intelligence officers suspected of passing on classified information; intel suggested that they would be meeting potential buyers here today.

Tim leaned close to Ziva and whispered.

"Someone's watching us...your 10 o clock...I think he's a look out for Morgan and Hussain."

Ziva flicked a quick glance in that direction; Tim was right, and she hadn't even noticed.

"If he sees Balboa's team move in, the operation could be ruined."

Tim hesitated for a moment, and noticed that they were outside a jewellery store.

"You're right Ziva, we could use a diversion."

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Tim took Ziva in his arms and gave her a lingering kiss full on the lips. He then dropped to his knees and took her hand in his.

"Ziva, my dearest, would you make me the happiest man in the world...please would you marry me?"

A small crowd gathered around the 'couple', some of them recording the impromptu proposal on their cell phones. Now that she had caught her breath after the kiss Ziva saw exactly what Tim was doing. Balboa's team was moving in and the lookout now had no chance of maintaining contact with his comrades. It was a matter of minutes before the arrests were made; Tony having the pleasure of arresting and cuffing the lookout.

Gibbs joined them in the Mall as the men were being led away; he couldn't help grinning at McGee.

"That was quite a risk you took there; it was lucky for you Ziva didn't have a paperclip in her pocket...that was really good work Tim."

"And she let him?"

Abby couldn't keep the tone of astonishment out of her voice. Tony grinned.

"Oh yeah! You know, I think our Ninja liked it a little...come on Ziva, admit it."

Ziva was sitting next to Tim at the team's favourite table; they were enjoying an end of day drink to celebrate the successful operation. She took Tim's hand in hers, and with a playful smile she answered.

"I will admit that it was a very fine diversionary tactic, and I liked it more than a little Tony...McGee is an excellent kisser."

Tim laughed.

"Knock it off guys, come on Tony; it's your turn to get a drink."

The story of Tim's 'proposal' had spread like wildfire around headquarters, the passion and romance had increased in the telling, and they got used to endless requests for a repeat performance. But after a few days things quietened down and got back into a routine.

Thursday September 30th

They were finishing their first coffee of the morning, and preparing for another new day when Andy Fox wheeled the post cart into the squad room.

"Hi people...Agent McGee; Frank said I was to tell you there's a woman asking for you at the security desk."

Tony was all ears.

"So McSecret, thought you never told any of your dates where you work?"

Tim was about to give his customary reply, when he remembered.

"Only ever told one…"

Could it be, here in DC? He tried to still the hope that had already flickered into existence; he raced down the stairs two at a time, pushed open the door into the security area, and there she was...

"Tim...I'm so sorry..."

Her next words were silenced by Tim's kiss. She threw her arms around him tight as she returned his kiss with a passion that matched his own. When they finally separated, he looked down into those amazing, beautiful, wonderful eyes.

"Verity, I'm the one who should be sorry...I shouldn't have kept you in the dark."

She leaned against his chest and shook her head.

"You were right not to tell me, I see that now...I was hurt, and I do stupid things when I'm hurt."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I called Nate; he said you'd been called back to headquarters."

"What brings you to DC Verity? You're a long way from home."

"Teacher's conference, we don't have to register until 11 this morning, so I took a chance...came to see if you were here...Tim, is...could we meet for dinner, or drinks, coffee?"

Tim leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Dinner sounds perfect, are you free tonight?"

"There's a welcome reception, but I'm more than happy to miss that."

"Great, where are you staying?"

"The Embassy Suites."

"Then I'll pick you up at 7.30, is that okay?"

"Totally!"

Dinner was better than Tim could have hoped; it was as if they had never been apart. But there was an unspoken question hanging over them throughout the evening, and as they were finishing the last of the wine Verity was the one who asked.

"Are you staying here Tim, or are you coming back to LA?"

"Honest answer?"

He gave a wry smile.

"Of course you want the honest answer...I don't know Verity...wish I did. I have an appointment with the Director on Monday; maybe then I'll find out what he has planned for me."