A/N: Sorry for another delay. It's finals time. I have loads of work to do. Can't give a timeline on the next chapter. Won't be more than a week though. I spent time thinking about these scenes and character's reactions. I want to be spot on as much as possible. I hope you can take time to let me know your thoughts. I love hearing from you. Sheila

P.S. New episode Tuesday. I'm getting scared of finding out who's dying. Some folks are speculating Dunham or Fornell. Either death would make me very sad. As you've noticed, I really like those guys.

Surviving Winter

Chapter 12

Abby took her time putting on her makeup and doing her hair up in ponytails. Ziva had left her some clothes, and she made sure to pick something neutral, something other than skulls and spiked collars. It had taken her most of the morning to get up the nerve to go up and see them. She had no earthly idea what she would say to these soldiers, but it struck her that Tim would like it if she met them.

She heard the sound of someone's throat clearing, and she looked up to find a Navy commander in her doorway. He was tall with dark eyes and hair. He nodded at her, "May I come in, Abby?"

She nodded, and as he walked toward her, she recognized McGee in his stride. "Commander McGee?"

He sat in the chair next to her bed. "I've waited a long time to meet you, Abby. Been hearing about you for many years."

She felt teary, but managed a smile. "I've been hearing about you as well, sir."

He took her hand gently. "Please call me David. I just met with Director Vance who gave me an update on what's been going on. Tim's mother and I are here for the memorial. She'd be here too right now, but she's…uh, still struggling with everything. She and Sarah are at the hotel with a bereavement counselor."

"Vance told you everything?"

"I think so. I understand that Gibbs and Tony and Ducky are trying to recover Tim's body right now. For that, I will be eternally grateful. I understand that Marine Colonel Winter egregiously disregarded an agreement he made with NCIS, and I have an appointment with Sec Nav tomorrow. It's my intention to file a formal complaint."

"Did he tell you about the Marines upstairs?"

David McGee sighed. "He did. And he told me how you tried to help with that terrible video and had a little short circuit in your head."

She squeezed his hand. "I like how you put that. Sounds a lot less ominous than what I've been hearing around here."

He smiled back. "Well, we can't let it happen again. Tim's gonna' expect people to watch over his favorite girl. The McGee family will always be there for you. You meant so much to him, and made him very happy. We'll always treasure that."

She blushed. Tim had always talked about how special his parents were, and every minute she spent with David McGee reminded her of the kind of man that Tim had been. "I…I'm going up to see the Marines now."

"I was hoping you wouldn't mind some company, Abby."

It just felt natural to reach over and hug him fiercely.

…..

Fornell didn't know all the details, but he quickly confirmed the location of three Marine Lieutenants named Scott Thomas. Dunham heard the news and let out a "Yee-haw!" that left Fornell's ears ringing. Things were clearly heating up over there, but Dunham had no time to give much of an update. Still Fornell felt like something magical was about to happen, and it was all he could do to keep from hopping the next flight to Kabul.

He smiled at Maggie sitting next to him in the car. This was her second week with him. She'd been making his life a whole lot easier. She was really smart, and had organized his work in a matter of a few days. He knew that someone would probably pull the plug on this great idea at any moment, but until then, he was going to enjoy having an agent assist him. And it didn't hurt that, while she was not elegantly beautiful like his ex-wife, Diane, those soft brown eyes were a pleasure to see every morning when she arrived at his house with his coffee and Danish.

….

Gibbs wanted to know where the Marine Sergeants hung out in the evening. Dunham made some inquiries, and then took them down a few dark alleys until they found a small open-air bar. Gibbs stopped short about fifty yards and turned to the group. "Leave me here for a few hours. I'm sure to find a few people I know. You said the man's name is Tilson, right? Okay, come back for me before 2 a.m. Wilson, do you think you can get Ducky here into the hospital tonight?"

"I got a couple of docs I know who aren't keen on procedure. They might help us."

"Good! Duck, find out what records there are on Lieutenant Thomas."

"What about me, Boss?"

"Pretty soon, Winter's people are going to be looking for us. Once, they have us, we're essentially under their control. They let us see only what they want. Like Dunham here, we need to stay off the grid if we're going to find McGee. We have to figure out a way to move around this country. Go with the cowboy. Figure out how we start getting around this country."

Tony nodded and took after Dunham.

…..

Wilson got Ducky into the hospital with no problem. A doctor met them at the ward door and brought them back to a room where doctors and nurses were logging case notes on computers. The doc brought them to the back of the room where no one was seated. "What are you after tonight, Wilson? Finally willing to spend a few days in the Mental Health ward?"

"Still having too much fun, Doc."

The doc chuckled and nodded. "Okay."

Ducky stepped forward. "My name is Dr. Donald Mallard. I have many years experience as a battlefield surgeon. Currently, I am a medical examiner for NCIS."

"What can I do for you, Dr. Mallard?"

Ducky narrowed his eyes. "I'm looking for a Lieutenant Scott Thomas. I have reason to believe that he has accessed medical care at least once in the last three weeks at some aid station in country. I believe that he is very ill, and that he might still be in the battlefield. I need to find him."

"Lieutenant Thomas you say? I think I can help you. Got a transmission from a colleague out of Kandahar earlier. Give me a few minutes, and I'll see if she's still on duty."

Ducky sighed and relaxed into a folding chair. Wilson leaned against the counter. "Sorry for our foolishness earlier, Dr. Mallard. Chad and I care about what happens to McGee. I didn't really know him but Dunham claims he's good people."

"No apologies, lad. The two of you have been very effective in expressing the ridiculousness of war in general. The fact that you're able to hide in plain sight is quite brilliant. And please Mr. Smallberries, call me Ducky."

Wilson chuckled and looked up to see the doctor return. He sat down, pulled up a computer screen, hit a video feed, and there was a female doctor staring back. He gestured to Ducky, and vacated the seat at the computer. "This is Dr. Mallard. Do I understand correctly that you recently treated a Lieutenant Thomas?"

"Thank God!" She replied. "Do you know where he is? That idiot of a Sergeant removed him from the clinic last night."

"I do not know where he is currently. Please apprise me of his condition when you last saw him."

She shook her head. "Serious case of pneumonia. Possible tear in the lower right lobe of his right lung. We were evaluating him for surgery. Really quite sick and very much in pain."

Ducky sighed. "How long did you have him?"

"He was hooked up to IV antibiotics for only 15 hours. Not enough to make much of a difference. I've complained to everyone on Colonel Winter's staff I could reach. Haven't heard back. Are you on the Colonel's staff?"

"No, but I am a personal friend of the Lieutenant's. It's very important that I find him as soon as possible."

"If there is anything we can do to help, let me know. It was criminal to remove that man from medical care."

"I am in complete agreement. Can you fax me a copy of his records immediately?"

"Certainly. And Dr. Mallard, please let me know when you find him."

Ducky turned to Wilson. "How far could they have travelled from Kandahar in a day?"

…

Gibbs shook hands and slapped back with several men he knew, but it was only when he saw Reynolds that he knew he would find the loyalty that came with men who fought together. He walked up behind him and slapped him on the back. Reynolds turned his head in irritation, but when he recognized Gibbs, he let out a holler and hugged him fiercely. Gibbs gave him five minutes for all the questions two lifelong friends have for one another after ten years.

Then Gibbs leaned over and whispered something in Reynolds' ear. The man nodded and the two of them headed for a small table at the end of the bar.

…..

Abby squeezed David McGee's hand when they entered the unit. He squeezed back and they walked into the community room where the Marines were draped over couches and chairs working on journals or sleeping. Commander McGee cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but my friend, Abby, and I wanted to meet you."

All of the Marines got to their feet, taking note of the Navy officer uniform. McGee nodded. "At ease, Soldiers. I merely want a few minutes to talk with you. May we sit?"

"Of course, sir." Miller gestured at a couch.

McGee looked down at his hands for a moment. "My name is David McGee. I've been told you spent my son's last days with him."

Finch gasped. "I'm so sorry, sir. About your son, I mean. He was a very good man."

McGee nodded. He worked his mouth a bit, and it was clear to Abby that he was struggling for words. She patted his arm and looked at the Marines. "I'm Abby Scuito. I was…Tim was my best friend."

The Marines looked at one another. "Are you the forensic scientist?"

Abby cocked her head, her eyes starting to tear. "Did Tim mention me?"

The Marines didn't meet her eyes for a moment. Finally Finch nodded. "He talked about you a lot."

Abby's chin quivered. "What did he say?"

Finch smiled at her softly. "He talked to us about true love the last night we were together. He wondered if anyone had found it. He told us that he had, and then he talked about you."

"Oh," was all Abby could manage. Commander McGee put his arm around her and she leaned in against his chest.

"We've wondered about you," Miller said. "McGee said you were amazing."

Abby bit her lip but could say nothing.

McGee swallowed hard. "Abby and I came here because Special Agent Gibbs wanted you to know that he's gone to Afghanistan to look for Tim's body."

Miller leaned forward. "We're so glad to hear that, sir. We're still here for the rest of the week. We would really like it if you could keep us updated. We sure thought a lot about him."

"Do you have any questions about our time with your son?" Thompson asked.

Commander McGee looked down for a moment. "I thought I would, but I think I already know everything I need to know. My son was an extraordinary person. People underestimated him a lot because he was quiet and unassuming, but he was one of the bravest men I knew."

Finch smiled at him, tears running down her cheeks. "That was certainly our experience with him, sir, although he wasn't quiet. He led us and kept us focused. He told us stories to keep us hopeful. I don't know that we would be here if not for him."

McGee nodded. "That sounds like my Tim."

A unit therapist walked into the room. "Sorry to interrupt but it's time for group therapy."

The Marines got up slowly. Miller stepped forward and shook McGee's hand. "Please come again. We would be happy to talk more with you. We'd love to know more about your son. You too, Abby."

Commander McGee and Abby stayed for a few minutes after they'd all left. McGee sighed, "I'm not sure if this helps or if this makes everything harder."

Abby lifted her head from his chest. "One day we'll be happy we know these things, but right now, it just makes my heart ache."

…..

Dunham was arguing hard with a cargo pilot in the background when Tony reached Gibbs. "Boss! Listen, I think Dunham can get us on a transport to Kandahar. Ducky says he was in that area in the last day."

"How soon is it leaving, DiNozzo?"

"That's the thing. It's leaving in 15 minutes. Only has room for two, but I think it's worth it just to get me and Dunham in the area, you know."

There was silence on the other end. "Alright, Tony, but you stay in touch me every two hours. You and that cowboy running off on your own is not a comforting thought."

"We're focused, Boss."

"He put you in a t-shirt with a weird slogan, didn't he?"

Tony cleared his throat. "Well, I am carrying Wilson's ID now. Made sense that I look as loony as Dunham."

"Paint me a picture."

"Ah…well, they were out of lime green so I am wearing a pink..ish t-shirt that says Dunham for President on the front. On the back, it says Winter for Dog Catcher. That was my contribution. I'm telling you, I protested about the pink, but it was literally all they had left. Plus, it's been quite a deterrent. No one even looks at my ID. It's not that crazy. A lot of guys wear pink these days, Boss. Really!"

For a moment, there was a muffled sound on the other end of the phone. Finally Gibbs said, "It's perfect. I got a birthday coming up, and all I want is a picture of you in that t-shirt for my cubicle. Got it?"

"Yeah, I heard you."

"Tony, I know we're close to finding him, but I need you to be careful. It's dangerous country out there. Losing both you and McGee would put all of us in a very bad place for a very long time. You hear me, boy?"

"I hear you, Boss."

"Alright then. Let's bring our probie home."

…

Tim sat on a cot nestled into the corner of the canvas wall. Tilson kept him propped up with blankets. Antibiotics and fever reducers were no longer breaking his fever, and he struggled with occasional delirium. Tilson couldn't get him all the way to the next site because he'd gotten so sick. The Lieutenant in the MRAP tried to take them back to the hospital, but Tilson convinced them to let them off at the nearest outpost. So they ended up in a tent in a Marine encampment about an hour outside of Kandahar.

McGee stayed as still as possible. Any movement could set off a coughing spasm, and the pain in his chest had become electric. Tilson had eyed him with dissatisfaction for most of the day. Clearly, he considered McGee's condition to be a personal failing. McGee ignored the angry Sergeant most of the time, calling for him only when the pain got to be too much and he needed more pills.

15 minutes earlier, Tilson had received a phone call from Winter. McGee had begged to speak to the Colonel, but Tilson looked at him strangely and took the call outside. When Tilson came back inside the tent, he was wild-eyed. He strode toward McGee. "You little bastard! What did you do?"

McGee looked at him with rheumy eyes. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Tilson's face was red. "I've never had to do something like this before. Never! What the fuck did you do?"

McGee went silent, hoping this was delirium from the fever.

Tilson pointed a finger. "He would never give me an order like that without just cause. The Colonel is a good man!"

McGee shook his head. "I don't understand."

"He wouldn't give me details, but he says you betrayed your country. And before I kill you, I want the fucking details. I want to know what you did."

McGee struggled to organize this information. It included betrayal and more killing. It seemed almost like a sick re-enactment of what happened to him with the Taliban. "I'm confused, Sergeant. Who betrayed their country?"

"You did, you little punk. The Colonel says so. He says that I have to deal with it now."

McGee shook his head. "I never betrayed…never betrayed my country. Never happened, never will."

"Then why have I been ordered to kill you?"

McGee's breath quickened and he tightened his arms around his torso. "I'm an American, Tilson. You don't just shoot me. If I'm accused of something, I have a right to due process."

"So you admit—"

"I admit nothing, Sergeant!" McGee glared at him. "I have done nothing."

"Colonel wouldn't lie."

McGee's breath became short and hard. He winced at the pain radiating from his chest. "Then someone lied to the Colonel."

"I don't disobey orders, Lieutenant."

"I am not a Marine! You know this! I'm some poor civilian that's been dropped down a frickin' rabbit hole. The craziness never stops. How many times am I going to get killed in this godforsaken country?"

Tilson stopped and looked at McGee, his chest heaving and his face flushed. "You need more pain medication."

McGee shook his head. "Don't come near me, you ignorant bastard! You're just a dumb Sergeant who will follow any order without a second thought. What if the Colonel told you to open fire on a busy market place? You'd probably just do it. No questions asked."

"I'm a good soldier!" Tilson barked.

"I've obeyed every order given me too, Tilson. But if my boss ordered me to kill without just cause, I wouldn't do it. And the truth is he would never put me in that position."

"You've never killed before." Tilson growled.

McGee snorted. "I have killed. I've even killed an innocent man before, but I was in a position where I acted correctly. It was the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. I live with it every day."

Tilson sat down.

McGee saw his opportunity. "The Colonel got bad information. He wouldn't give that kind of order. It's crazy. The Colonel wants me alive. I do good work. I make a difference. He says so. You've heard him. Maybe he's tired or confused."

"He didn't sound confused."

McGee sighed, his breathing slowing. "I'm not going to argue with you all night. Haven't got the energy. I'll probably die from the pneumonia anyway the way you're pushing me. If you can't figure out the difference between right and wrong at your age, then there's nothing that I can do."

"A good soldier doesn't question orders. When my commander tells me to go into battle, I'm the first one in the field and I only move forward."

"I'm the enemy, huh? Who am I a danger to, Tilson? I can't even concentrate long enough to find targets right now. I can't even hurt the Taliban. Does killing me feel like something a good soldier does?"

Tilson looked away.

"Forget it," McGee whispered. "I need to sleep. I need some rest. The pain is too much."

Tilson didn't respond.

"Do whatever the hell you're going to do. I just need some peace." He closed his eyes and let his head loll onto his shoulder.

…..

TBC