Rule Number 12
Chapter 7
*one week later*
Kate quietly watched the silent, still figure on the bed, happy with the small improvements he had made over the course of the past few days, yet sadly aware of how far he had to go. Three days ago the doctors had administered a spontaneous breathing test which Tim had passed, much to everyone's relief, and they had been able to take him off the ventilator. The swelling in his face had gone down to the point where he finally started to resemble how he had appeared before he was shot, and his cranial pressure was also at normal levels. His vital signs were getting stronger every day, as were his GCS scores, indicating increased awareness. The doctors were hopeful but Kate guarded her optimism. She wasn't sure she was lucky enough to have something go right and she hated that feeling, although not as much as she hated to see Tim in his current state.
"How is he?"
She turned to find Gibbs standing a few feet away and managed a weak smile.
"They tell me he's getting better. Sometimes I think he's waking up and he knows I'm here…" She sighed, closer to a sob than she wanted to admit. "And sometimes he seems to be regressing." She studied the older man for a few moments, noting that his arm was still in a sling. "How are you doing?"
"Managing. Stuck on desk duty, thanks to Director Shepard. Working cold cases. Keeping DiNozzo out of trouble."
"That's a full time job right there."
"Yep." Gibbs moved closer to Tim's bed and let his gaze pass slowly over the young man's still form. "He looks better."
"Yes, he does, but…"
"You just want him to wake up and be McGee again."
"Yes. I do. More than anything."
"Why did you pick him?"
"What?"
"To date. What made you pick McGee?"
She paused, considering her answer to the unexpected question. "I picked Tim because he is the most…decent man I have ever met. He's kind. He's so smart. He…makes me feel like I'm discovering so many things for the first time, every time we talk. He…doesn't have that cynicism that the rest of us do…and he still believes people can be good… Something I'm having hard time accepting right now."
"Do you know why I picked him?"
"No."
"Because he doesn't give up. Remember that, Kate. He doesn't give up, and neither should you."
Kate laughed softly. "I never realized you were such a romantic, Gibbs."
"I have my moments."
"Yes, you certainly do."
They watched Tim for several minutes, both looking for evidence that he was rejoining the waking world. Nothing changed, but Kate started to feel a faint glimmer of hope. She wasn't yet sure how justified that feeling would be in the coming days, but for the first time since Ari's call, the tension in her chest started to loosen.
"They tell me he's stable enough to transfer to Bethesda, and they've arranged to move him there tomorrow. He'll be closer to home, at least."
"That's something." He titled his head and studied her. "What about you? Are you ready to come back home?"
Kate sighed. "No, Gibbs. I'm not going back to NCIS. I can't. I need…"
"A fresh start?"
"Something like that."
"OK. I hear you. But if you ever change your mind…"
"I'll know where to find you."
He nodded, but his smile was sad. "Good luck, Kate."
"Thanks, Gibbs."
He left, and she returned her attention to Tim, surprised to find that his eyes were open. She leaned in close, hoping to draw a response.
"Tim? Can you hear me?"
Tim continued to stare straight ahead, his gaze fixed on a spot somewhere across the room. She squeezed his hand, trying to draw him out more, but he did not return the gesture. Finally his eyes closed again without him ever acknowledging her pleas. She released his hand and let it rest on the bed. He didn't move.
"I know you're getting there, Tim. Gibbs says you don't give up, and he's right. So you keep working on it. OK?" She wiped her eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The next day, after her first full day at her new job, she made the trip to Bethesda to make sure Tim was settled in. He remained generally unresponsive, even though his eyes were open again for a few moments while she was there, but Kate thought she saw the faintest change in his focus when she leaned into his line of sight.
Kate visited him every night and each time she thought she detected changes in his awareness although he still remained silent. Kate had realized just how much she missed listening to him, but nothing she did seemed to bring him out of his isolation.
After a full week on the job Kate was exhausted. She briefly considered foregoing her visit but a flash of guilt at the thought convinced her to make her usual trip, although she did decide to keep it brief. She made her way to Tim's room and noticed that his eyes were open again. Now used to that occurrence, she settled in next to him, her hand around his and started to tell him about her day.
As she neared the end of her tale she realized that Tim was gripping her fingers, albeit weakly. She smiled, understanding that the action was another indication of improved awareness, and accepted it as another small step in Tim's slow progress toward full consciousness. She allowed herself to look directly into his eyes, expecting to see the now familiar vacant gaze and was startled to find that he was staring back.
"Tim?"
He blinked.
"Tim, can you hear me?"
He blinked again and slowly a faint, puzzled expression appeared in his eyes.
"…Kate?"
His voice was so soft and raspy she almost missed the response. Her eyes started to sting with unshed tears as she leaned closer.
"I'm here, Tim."
He continued to stare at her, and for a moment Kate worried that he had slipped back into unconsciousness again.
And then he smiled.
"Tim?" She brushed her other hand over his cheek. "Are you with me?" The response was music to her ears.
"Always…"
XXX
*four months later*
"Are you ready to go?"
"Just a minute."
Kate waited patiently for Tim to join her so she could give him a ride to the Yard. He had finally been cleared for desk duty, and Kate had been overjoyed to bring him to his first official day back at work. She would be leaving on a business trip the following day for a month-long project, the longest stretch of time that they would be apart since Tim had awoken from his coma, so Kate wanted to make sure she spent as much time with him as she could before then.
Finally he emerged from his bedroom, carrying a notepad that he set on his writing desk. He walked over to embrace her and she hugged him tightly, enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her as she rested her head on his chest.
"You ready for this?"
"As I'll ever be."
Tim had worked hard to recover from his injuries and get himself back into shape to rejoin the MCRT. The new director had agreed with Gibbs' request to keep Tim's spot on the team open for his eventual return, much to Tim's relief, although she had made one change to the team that Tim had not yet encountered.
"Tell me again, why did Director Shepard assign a Mossad officer to a criminal investigation team?"
"I have yet to figure that out, but apparently the director believes she will be useful. I guess you'll have to wait and see."
"I guess."
"Are you going to be able to work with her, considering her connection to Ari?"
Tim considered the question carefully. "I think so. From what everyone told me, she was just as deceived by Ari as the rest of us. Everyone makes mistakes."
"Yeah." She reached up and brushed her fingers over the scar on Tim's temple. "And mistakes can have far-reaching consequences. If I had just-"
"Kate, you know I don't blame you for any of this. Please stop blaming yourself. I'm OK."
"I know. But don't ask me to forget how close I came losing you."
"I won't. But don't forget you still have me."
She smiled. "I won't."
"Come on, we're going to be late. I don't imagine Gibbs will forgive that, no matter the reason."
"No, probably not."
Tim followed her out to her car and they headed for the Yard. Once on the road, Kate turned to Tim.
"What were you working on? When I got there?"
Tim started to turn pink. "Oh, uh, nothing much. Just a…crazy idea I had."
"Well, what was it?"
"You, uh, remember that I was thinking about starting a novel? Before…all this happened?"
"I do."
"Well, I was thinking…since you like to draw, and I like to write…maybe we could work together on a graphic novel. Just for, you know, a hobby. What do you think?"
"I think…that could be a lot of fun, Tim."
He grinned, an expression that smoothed out some of the lines on his face he had gained since the shooting, making him look much more like his old self.
Kate reached over and squeezed his hand, smiling when he returned the gesture. "So, what will this 'graphic novel' be about?"
"I, uh, I'm not sure yet."
"So what about the characters? What are they going to be like?"
"Well, you know we'll have to have a hero…or a superhero…but I have an idea for that."
"Oh really? What are they going to be like?"
"I was thinking…it would be really cool to have a female lead." He gave her a shy smile. "Someone like you."
"Me? You think I could be the inspiration for a…superhero?"
"You've always been my superhero, Kate."
It was Kate's turn to blush. "You are such a flatterer, Tim."
His expression grew serious. "It's the truth, Kate. I really don't know what I would have done without you these past few months…and before. You saved me. In more ways than one." A flash of anguish crossed his face. "I'm not looking forward to not having you around for the next few weeks. I'm really going to miss you, Kate."
"I'll miss you, too. But you know, a month isn't that long. I'll be back before you know it. And then we'll have plenty of time to spend together."
"It's long enough." Suddenly his eyebrows shot up as he realized there was a plus side. "You know what? It does mean I could give you a great welcome-back party."
"A party?" Kate sounded skeptical as she guided the car into a parking space and turned to face him.
"OK, maybe not." He grinned. "We make it a date. Just the two of us. How does it that sound? Next month, when you get back: you, me, romantic dinner? What do you say?"
Kate smiled as she leaned towards him to show her appreciation of the idea. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
The End