"So you just beat it out of him? What sort of marine are you?" Gibbs' voice was furious as he slammed his fist down onto the table and glared at the suspect

Tim stood beside Tony in Observation as they watched Gibbs interview Michael Clarke. As he moved to the side to allow Ziva some more room he accidentally brushed up against Tony's hand.

A boy

Tim shook his head to clear it of the image. What was that? A boy? What boy? It didn't have anything to do with the current case so where had it come from? Tim reached towards Dante and felt nothing only a mild sleepy enquiry.

Tim turned to Tony who was staring intently at the man behind the glass.

"What were you thinking just then Tony?"

"What?" Tony tore his glance away and looked at McGee with a frown "Nothing"

Tim cocked his head to the side and studied the man across from him who was trying to look relaxed and wasn't.

Tony was lying to him. Why would Tony do that? Was he hiding something from him?

A young boy huddled in fear, his tear streaked face hidden behind his raised arms.

Tim continued to look at Tony who started to get anxious, his eyes darting around the room wondering what Tim was trying to get at.

"What's up with you McGee? Gibbs is supposed to be asking the questions not you"

"Hey Tony. It's ok. It was just a simple question….are you ok?"

Suddenly the familiar Tony was back and he grinned and shrugged it off before returning to study the man behind the glass.

"Sure. Why?"

Tim shook his head not actually knowing what he had seen.

"It doesn't matter." Tim frowned and fell back into silence as Ziva quietly maneuvered her way to Tony's side.

Tim didn't know what to make of the occasional flashes of information he seemed to be getting. They weren't premonitions as nothing he had seen had come true or been repeated in any way.

A woman sliding her hand over a stereo speaker to sense the vibrations

A hot, dusty and crowded busy marketplace

And now the image of the young boy.

It didn't make any sense. He didn't even know any 9 or 10 year old dark haired boys. He wasn't sure how the images related to him in any way. They were so short they gave him almost no information at all. It was more a feeling that they left him with and generally he didn't know quite what to do with those either. They seemed to leave him feeling sad or afraid or sometimes even sick. Generally it was all very unsettling and he wasn't sure who to talk to about it.

Dante was actually very little help as he was so implacable. Accept it or fight it was all Dante could tell him. It seemed to be something that affected him as the mortal companion side of their bond but Dante had not heard of anything like this being mentioned in the Companion lore.

After Tim had told Dante of these 'flashes' he had felt Dante watching him speculatively as if he was puzzle of surprising complexity.

Could he talk to Abby? Could he confess what he had been doing to Abby? She was one of the few people Tim could think of who may not immediately think he was crazy if he said he was currently a mortal companion to one of the eternal undead.

It would be a relief to talk to someone about what was happening. Everything seemed to be so intense and strange. It was all light and dark, death and murder during the day and gentle conversations and spilling of blood at night. Tim had found himself standing in a brightly lit supermarket isle the other evening staring at the Count Chocula breakfast cereal wondering if he should be eating that instead of his favorite breakfast burritos?

It was all so confusing and exhilarating at the same time.

He was changing as Dante had told him he would, the longer he spent with him. But what was changing and how much would he change and what if he wanted it to stop? Was it just superficial or ultimately was he going to end up changing what made him Timothy McGee?

Abby already seemed to have some sort of link to him and she seemed to have sensed when he was in trouble and feeling distressed.

How had she been able to do that anyway? Perhaps Abby had some secrets of her own?

Tim decided perhaps it was time to have a chat with their own Mistress of the night.

The next time he saw Abby he would ask her to come over for? A movie night? Dinner? It would need to be at his apartment as this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have surrounded by strangers.

Yes. Abby would give him a hug and tell him he would be fine. Perhaps he should ask Dante first though to make sure? Reassured of his plan Tim returned to watching the interrogation and tried to forget about the unknown boy.

*******************************************************************

Tony looked at McGee. Something was up. Maybe the Probie was sick and trying to hide it? He seemed jumpy around Tony like he was trying to hide something and he kept catching him watching him.

Also McGee seemed tired and pale. He would also get distracted easily and several times Tony had watched his face go blank and he would zone out for a moment before snapping back to the task at hand. It had happened several times, mostly at night and this was strange because McGee had always been supremely focused on the task in front of him. And then there was Gibbs. Gibbs had asked him some rather strange questions which were making Tony curious.

Did Tony know if McGee had accepted the offer to join the team after work for a drink Friday night? Did Tony think McGee was particularly happy or sad lately?

So even Gibbs was suspicious something was up. But what?

McGee was so boring and Leave it to Beaver his nights when he wasn't at work were filled with his writing or maybe some online gaming. Weren't they?

Tony grinned as a new project entered his mind. Operation Probie Secret. Sure the guy liked his privacy but hey maybe he was up to something? Maybe he was in too deep to ask for help? Hell he had been undercover for months and no one picked it. And as Senior Agent he deserved to know what was going on with his team.

And since Tim liked his privacy so much what would it hurt if he followed him home on occasion. If he was living the life of a monk as expected then no harm done. But if he was up to something well maybe he could help him out?

Tony grinned and rubbed his hands together thinking of the weekend ahead.

****************************************************************

Tim sat at his desk and found himself considering a very daring idea. Ever since Dante had told him of how he had forgotten how the sun felt as it warmed his skin he hadn't been able to shake the idea away.

Dante had given him so much and this was something precious and rare that Tim alone could give to him. He could send him the sensation of the sun soaking into his flesh and warming him into lax relaxation, without the sensation of searing flesh and imminent death to his Vampire companion. A glimpse into what it was like to be mortal and live again under the suns rays.

Tim bit his lip nervously. Could he do it? If he was going to do it then simply taking his shirt off wasn't going to do the trick although Tim had never been that comfortable even doing that. So somewhere VERY private. The roof of his building was banned and sealed up. But it was very secluded. Could he break through the door, strip naked and sun bathe in private?

Tim considered further as the idea wouldn't leave his mind. Ok so maybe with the assistance of some alcohol he might be daring enough? He could take a nice thick towel, book, sunscreen, sunglasses and a cushion and sneak onto his roof and get nice and comfortable before reaching for Dante.

He could project to him the taste of the salty sweat on his skin and the warm languid heat as it soaked into his pale tender flesh……

It wasn't a book voucher but then what sort of gift could he get someone like Dante? He already had wealth and knowledge aplenty and he was willingly sharing all he had with him.

Tim sighed. He would do it. This weekend. He would probably need to pick up some alcohol though on his way home. And make sure the Super for his building was away. Hell, make sure the rest of his building was away.

It would be fine. It might even be good for him. Abby was always telling him he was a little uptight so it might be good for him to do something a little wild.

As long as no one saw him.