Chapter 5

Two days later, Erin has been becoming increasingly well as each day progressed. The doctor told her that she would go home at the end of the week. Tim walked into her room where Gibbs had been sitting with Fornell.

"McGee, what are you doing here? Protection detail is over."

"I know boss but I know Agent Morgan's family went home yesterday so I decided to come by after work to keep her company." Tim explained as he watched both men stand up.

Fornell looked at the bag in Tim's hands and asked "What is all this?"

"Well sir, we made up a game a couple of days ago so I brought the materials. I also have two movies she wanted to see." Tim replied as he sat the bag on her table "Where is Erin?"

"Erin is at PT until 7 then it will be time for dinner." Fornell replied as he glared at the younger agent.

Gibbs sensed Fornell's need to protect her as Tim stated "Oh, I forgot about PT. I knew dinner was around this time. She had been talking about Chinese so I stopped by on the way from headquarters."

Gibbs smiled as he said "Tobias, we'll stop by PT on the way out and speak to your agent."

"Oh…yea right." Fornell nodded as he followed Gibbs out of the room. Fornell looked at Gibbs after they left the room "Jethro, I don't….I, well what's the story with McGee?"

"You read his file when you shut down NCIS for the Frog's murder." Gibbs replied as he turned toward Fornell.

Fornell scoffed as he said "Come on, I know he can hack into anything and he is extremely intelligent but this is my little girl."

"He is a good kid Tobias. He has matured into a fine agent." Gibbs began as he looked at Tobias' reaction "If Kelly were alive, I would hope she would bring a guy like McGee home to meet me."

Fornell chuckled as he said "That good huh Jethro? Well then let's go say goodbye."

Around 7:10, Erin wheeled herself into her room and smiled as she saw Tim reading a book she had sitting on her table. "Reading my Jane Eyre?"

"Oh--uh, sorry." Time replied as he stood up but rolled his eyes as he noticed her grinning.

Erin rolled to Tim as he bent down to give her a hug. He gently put his arms around her to help her into bed. He grabbed the bag as he said "Brought your favorite. Sweet and Sour Chicken."

"Seriously? You are a god among men." Erin replied as Tim began to pull the food out of the bag. Tim blushed as he said "I don't know about that but I don't like hospital food. When I was in the hospital after the accident I told you about, I began to despise hospital food."

"I understand that. So, what do you want to do while we eat?" Erin asked as she situated herself to be more comfortable.

Tim shrugged as he said "Well, I brought Dark Knight and 30 Days of Night as you mention wanting to see."

"Thank you Tim…for all of this. You didn't need too." Erin replied as she continued "I am sure your girlfriend will be upset that you spend so much time here."

Tim smiled as he said "It's no problem and I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh! I am sorry. That really surprised me." Erin stated as she continued "Really it's hard to believe."

Tim chuckled while he said "It's not that hard to believe. I have always had trouble meeting women."

"To tell you the truth, women are stupid when it comes to what they really want in a guy." Erin retorted as she began to eat "Women say they want they sweet and noble guy but go for the losers."

Tim smiled as he watched Erin talk and he remembered a question he wanted to ask "I know this is off topic but where did you go to school?"

"Oh, no problem." Erin began "Um, well I graduated from high school at 14. I went to Georgetown from my Bachelors in Criminal Justice and International Affairs. I went to Brown for my Doctorate in Psychology."

McGee nodded as he said "Ivy League. Impressive."

"Ah, I really just like to learn. What about you?" Erin questioned as she looked at her food.

Tim sighed as he said "I have a BS in Biomedical Engineering from John's Hopkins and a Masters in Computing Forensics from MIT."

"MIT huh? That's cool. So….why NCIS?" Erin questioned as she finished her last bite.

Tim looked up from his food as he said "I have always wanted to be in law enforcement. NCIS gives me the police aspect as well as an investigative aspect. What about you? Why the CIA?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, when I graduated I was going to become a psychologist but I was approached by a member of the CIA. They found my knowledge in criminal justice as well as my vast language skills useful." Erin answered as she watched McGee's mind turning.

Tim was soaking in the information as he asked "How many languages do you speak?"

"Eight fluently, but I have parts to two more." Erin explained further "I speak Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Kurdish, Russian, German, French, and English. As well as pieces of Japanese and Chinese."

Tim expression was one of astonishment. "How did you learn them all?"

"I took French and German in high school. In college I took four years of Hebrew and Italian. I learned Arabic and Kurdish from four years in the Middle East." Erin explained as she sighed and asked "Would you want to stay and watch a movie?"

Tim looked at his watch as he said "Uh well I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Erin responded with a look of confusion "I don't have a boyfriend."

Tim thought for a moment "Fornell seems…"

"As my boyfriend?" Erin stated loudly "Oh, wow, no. Not at all. I just work with him as help to the FBI. Oh, uh no that's…I can't express how wrong that is."

Tim blushed as he said "I-I am sorry. I got the wrong idea."

"Well since you got the wrong idea and all, would you like to stay for a movie?" Erin replied with a smirk.

Tim chuckled as he said "Sure, it's the least I can do. What movie?"

"Let's watch 30 Days of Night." Erin stated as she moved to get her portable DVD player. She scooted over in bed so Tim had room to lie beside her. The screen was so small she figured they could both see it if they laid in bed besides the fact it was hard for her to sit too much with her injuries.

An hour later, the movie was almost over as the two laid comfortably in bed. Tim was holding the DVD play in his lap as Erin laid her head on his chest. Tim's right arm was tucked behind his head. Both were interrupted by a man clearing his throat. Erin lazily looks up and saw a familiar face. "Scott?"

"Good to see your comfortable Er." the man, who was extremely handsome with short brown hair and a strong chiseled face with the right amount of scruff.

Erin chuckled as she tried to sit up but winced at the pain as Scott walked closer to her "Hell Er, your not suppose to get shot and beaten."

"Your one to talk there." Erin scoffed as she looked at Tim "Tim, this is Scott Hopkins. He is the CIA agent who approached me out of college."

"Not to mention her mentor." Scott added as he shook Tim's hand "Who the hell are you?"

Before Tim could answer Erin replied "Oh Scott, be nice. This is Timothy McGee. He is with NCIS."

"So this is the shumck who ruined four years of undercover work?" Scott stated harshly as he glared at Tim.

Tim's eyes narrowed as he felt Erin move beside him. "NCIS caught the clan."

"Almost at the cost of your life Erin!" Scott hollered as he moved closer.

Erin shook her head "Not true. I was sloppy."

"They still could have gotten you killed!" Scott yelled harshly.

Erin began to retort but wince as she could feel pain shooting in her chest. Tim quickly realized this and pushed the call button. "Erin, what's wrong?"

Erin shook her head as she felt tears running down her face.

"What's going on in here?" The nurse stated as she saw Tim in bed with Erin and Erin doubled over in pain. "Everyone out!"

Scott glared at the nurse then began to walk out as McGee began to get out of the hospital bed. Erin felt this and panicked as she quickly grabbed his arm. "Not…..you."

Tim nodded as he looked at the nurse "NCIS. I am her protection detail."

The nurse glared as she said "No more protection detail. Now get out!"

"He……can…..stay. I need….him…to stay." Erin stated as she couldn't breathe.

The nurse nodded as she said "You need to lay back and breathe sweetie."

Erin lay back as the nurse put on an oxygen mask. "You need to remain calm. Your lungs are really damaged from the bullet and commotion like this doesn't help. The nurse said as she glared at Tim.

Erin nodded as she watched the nurse check her vitals. She saw the glare the nurse gave Tim, who moved off the bed as she continued to check the vitals.

Erin began to chuckle as she stared to cough again. After the nurse left with one more glare at Tim, Erin took the mask off as she said "Looks like she is your number one fan."

"Oh yea." Tim said as he rolled his eyes and walked back to her bed "I probably need to head home anyway. You need your rest."

Erin nodded as she watched Tim move the DVD player from the bed and quickly give her a kiss on the cheek before walking out of the room.