McGee

There was no way that Tony DiNozzo would miss this event. Best-selling author Thom E. Gemcity, aka NCIS Special Agent Tim McGee, was having a mega book signing at Baltimore's largest independent bookseller. McGee hadn't said a word, but Tony found an ad in his morning newspaper and made a promise to himself to come watch.

He constantly teased the younger man, but the reality was that Tony was very proud of McGee. The stuttering, shy, insecure young man with mad computer skills had grown into a strong, capable investigator who had now had even more options available to him if he ever decided to leave NCIS.

He was impressed by the turnout. There were people of all ages and types walking around the bookstore with the newest Gemcity book in their arms. Some were carrying both the first and second book as well. On the second level was a podium with a poster of the book's cover on it. On the first level, directly below was a red cloth covered table with a decorative stack of books framing him on the first and second levels. A photo of Tim's alter ego was on the table, dressed in an expensive tweed jacket. There were a few pens on the table as well as a pitcher of water and empty glass.

Tony saw a group of women arguing with each other. A couple were wearing t-shirts with a heart on them, inside of which were the letters T-I-S-A. Puzzled by the proliferation of these shirts and, in some cases, pins, he finally stopped one of the women. "Excuse me, could you explain what that means?" He pointed at her chest.

"Excuse me?" Her frizzy brown hair flaring from her head, she glared at him.

"That T-I-S-A logo."

"Oh," she smiled at him. "Tisa is short for Tommy and Lisa. From the book?"

"Tim, uh, Thom Gemcity's book?"

"Yes, that's right. There are those of us who believe that they belong together. They're sooooo hot!"

"They're just flirting. If he puts them together, it's just another romance book." Another woman, sharply dressed in a sunny yellow pantsuit, joined into the conversation. "If I wanted that type of story, I wouldn't be in the mystery section!"

"Oh, come on, people. It's obvious that Tommy has the hots for L. J. Tibbs. All you have to do is read the subtext of their conversations."

The argument resumed again, leaving Tony even more confused. Tommy and Lisa maybe, but Tibbs and Tommy? He needed time to process that bit of information. He resumed wandering through the store, listening in on the comments being made about the book. He knew that Tim was in the back offices of the store, waiting for the start of his event.

"I'm telling you, this is all garbage. I don't think there is such an agency."

Tony heard an arrogant male voice from the next aisle, stopping to listen.

"NCIS exists. Geez, Eddie, all you had to do was Google it." The answer came from a female with a nasally tone.

There was some grumbling before the man spoke. "Fine, maybe there is such an agency, but the cases are too ridiculous. I mean, talk about fiction." The unseen man snorted. "It just isn't realistic. The guy's a hack and a bad one at that. And just look at him. Nobody like him could be any kind of cop, federal or otherwise."

Tony stepped around the bookcase to confront the man. "Excuse me. I heard what you said. You might not like the books, that's your call, but the cases are all based on actual NCIS investigations."

The man was small-boned of medium height, his jaw thrust forward. "How the hell would you know that?"

Tony took perverse delight in flashing his identification. "Because I worked most of those cases."

The woman with him was willowy, her oval face framed by a mass of bonze-gold hair. She was exquisite until she opened her mouth and spoke, the tone grating on the ears. "You know Thom E. Gemcity?"

"I do have that honor. He is one of the most intelligent men that I've ever had the pleasure of working with." Tony nodded at the couple and went to find a place to watch Tim read a bit from his book before a question and answer period was opened.

Tim McGee darted deep into the alcove leading to the public restrooms, not wanting to be seen by Tony. When he had spotted the older man lurking about on the security cameras in the store manager's office, Tim had stormed out, prepared to throw his work nemesis out of the store. He didn't need the added stress of a smart-ass Tony during his appearance.

Tim had been under considerable stress for months, both personal and professional. Being unwillingly ripped from the team by the new Director, then working for him off the grid. Dealing with the sudden change in his status from respected field agent to barely tolerated computer wizard in Cyber Crimes. Added to that were the difficulties with the publication of his new book due to the recession and some severe writer's block with number three in the series, mostly thanks to the upheavals in his life. He had been in no mood to deal with Tony's craziness.

He waited out of sight until Tony has moved far across the room. He smiled. Who would've thought that Tony felt that way about him. Shaking himself mentally, Tim quickly went to where the events coordinator waited to introduce him.

The Q&A went well, despite some arguing about the relationship between Agents Tommy and Lisa from some of the more rabid fans. Tim had struggled not to blush, knowing that Tony was listening from somewhere close by. Now Tim walked to the first floor to the waiting table to begin his guilty pleasure, autographing books for the people who paid good money for the hardback. He could hear the argument beginning again and sighed. He himself wasn't sure that the characters would ever wind up together.

The autographing was a resounding success. The lines were long and enthusiastic, the compliments warm and sincere. Tim couldn't have picked a better result if he had tried. He had tried to spot Tony during the event, but never actually laid eyes on him. When he wanted to be hidden, Tony was the best at it. Tim wondered if that was due to avoiding Gibbs. He snickered at the thought that his teammate had developed his skills through dealing with the team's leader.

He heard angry voices from the second level and sighed, wondering if the Tommy/Lisa fans were fighting with those who didn't want the two together again. It was definitely getting heated. Tim turned halfway in his chair as he looked up, just in time to hear a scream and see the large book display collapse over the railing, coming straight for him. He tried to move, but the heavy avalanche hit him heavily, knocking him down onto the table. The sheer weight of the hardback books caused the table to collapse, Tim disappearing under the onslaught.

Tony heard the screams and turned from where he was reading a book on the films of Charlie Chaplin. He saw Tim disappear under a pile of brightly covered books. He ran for the site, digging his way through the pile before the last book had finished falling. The corner of one book slammed into his forehead, just above his eye, slicing the skin open.

"McGee! Tim!!" Tony flung books left and right, not even realizing that he was hitting other people who were trying to help.

Tony uncovered a hand and took it in his, unable to keep his own from trembling. "Tim?" There was no pulse. He continued clearing his way through the books, finally uncovering the younger man. He soon discovered that there was no hope for a miracle. When the table had broken, the weight of the books had forced McGee down onto a spike of broken wood, stabbing him through the throat.

Tears welling in his eyes, Tony dropped onto the damaged books, his hand resting on Tim's blood-soaked chest. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I never told you how much I admired you, envied you."

He remained there while the EMTs worked around him. Once they realized there was no hope, they slowly packed up their equipment and prepared to take the two friends to the local hospital.