No! No, no, no...the voice echoed around Gibbs' head. This isn't Tim, but as he finally gathered up his courage and stood beside the bed Gibbs saw what Ducky had seen, the bruised, bloody individual, that was unmistakably, unbelievably Timothy McGee…
"What do I tell his Mom?"
Gibbs head was still spinning, not only from the realisation that this really was Tim lying here so still, so…hurt, but also from their conversation with Tim's doctor. He'd come to speak to them as soon as they made the identification. He knew he had to call Tim's mom, but he found himself unable to leave the room...Tim looked so hurt, and Ducky...he looked lost sitting there beside Tim's bed.
Ducky was carefully watching the rise and fall of Tim's chest, checking the monitors. He was trying to digest everything that Doctor Patel had told them. Tim had a lacerated liver which had caused internal bleeding, broken ribs, a fractured cheekbone, multiple lacerations and contusions, particularly severe bruising around his groin area, and most worrying of all, some swelling on the brain. They would be keeping a close watch on that, and if it got any worse they may have to operate to relieve the pressure. His body temperature was still a little low, but the cold could have helped to save him, slowed down his heart rate, and reduced the blood loss.
Ducky forced himself to look at Tim's face, it was small wonder that the State Police were unable to make a positive ID from the picture on the BOLO, if you didn't know him well, it would be difficult to imagine they could be one and the same person. He spoke without taking his eyes away from Tim.
"What do you tell his mother? You tell her that her son needs her, that will be enough for now."
He rested his hand gently on Tim's arm
"Fight Timothy, please…we can't lose you."
Gibbs closed the door quietly; he couldn't put this off any longer.
He dialled the number, and the phone was answered on the first ring.
"Agent Gibbs, have you found Tim?"
"Yes...he's been hurt Mrs McGee, it...it's bad...I think you should come."
There was a long silence on the line, and the next voice he heard was not Theresa McGee's.
"Which hospital Agent Gibbs? Where is my son?"
"Rockingham Memorial; Harrisonburg."
"I...I'm not sure we can get a flight tonight, but we'll be there as soon as we can."
"If you call when you have plans Commander, I'll have someone meet you at the airport."
"Thank you...Agent Gibbs, just how bad?"
Gibbs could hear the tremor in his own voice.
"The official word is critical. Tim, he's unconscious, has multiple injuries, but he's strong, I don't have to tell you that."
"No, you don't. Tell him we're on our way."
The call was disconnected, and for a brief moment Gibbs stared at his phone, the worst was done; but he still had to let the team know...
"No you will not drive here tonight. Listen Tony, I need you all sharp tomorrow. Even if you set out now you wouldn't get here until after midnight. Go home, try and get some rest, then come over in the morning."
He heard the protests down the line.
"Hey! I'm staying with Tim tonight, so is Ducky. You can all see him tomorrow, but then I need you to focus on finding the scum who did this to him. Can you do that? Or do I have to ask Vance to put another team on this?"
"No!"
He had to hold the phone away from his ear as the combined voices threatened to deafen him. Gibbs allowed himself the tiniest of smiles, as if they would let anyone else take on this case.
"Good, I want you come in two cars, Abs can travel back with me when we've collected whatever evidence the State Police have. Ziva and Tony you can question the Park Police, take a look where…where they found Tim. Jimmy, can you help Abby with the forensics?"
"Of course Agent Gibbs, but…could I come with the others in the morning?"
"I said you could all come Jimmy…now go get some sleep; I'll see you in the morning."
One more call, and then Gibbs could go back to Tim, try to persuade Ducky to get some shut-eye. He glanced at his watch, 22.45, Vance would still be up.
Gibbs slipped quietly back into the room, and handed Ducky a cup of tea, Ducky gave him a wan smile.
"Thank you, no change Jethro, except that his temperature is close to normal, and that's a good sign."
Gibbs sat down beside Ducky and took a long swig of much needed coffee.
"Abby is going to freak out when she sees him…Duck, do you think I should get someone else to work the evidence?"
Ducky tore his glance away from Tim for a moment.
"Do you know of anyone who can do a better job? Or who wants to find these…bastards more?"
"No."
"Then let Abigail do it, let her get through her tears, then let the avenging angel take over."
Gibbs smiled at that, she would do it, he knew that. They all had vengeance on their minds; but Gibbs had something else too, guilt. If this had been done to Tim because of those charges…if Tim had been beaten almost to death because some misguided idiot thought he was a danger to children…misguided idiot; take a look in the mirror Gibbs, how could he have listened to them? He saw the 'evidence', but he should have seen Tim…Ziva saw him, his innocence; she had shouted from the rooftops what they should all have known…
The consequences of his pig-headed stupidity had been haunting Gibbs since the day he saw Tim in lock-up, how could he have looked into those eyes and even for one second thought he was looking into the eyes of a pervert? Because he had been blinded, blinded by his trust in Fornell, and by the hideous images that he had witnessed. It was those images that were in his mind when he went to see Tim that day; and so he missed the chance to see the man standing in front of him, because he couldn't stop seeing the men abusing little girls…and who had paid the price for that blindness?
Gibbs had been watching Tim closely since his return to work, watching in awe as Tim started to pick up the pieces of his life, faced those who had doubted him and stood strong, unbowed by the blows he had suffered. But this...if he recovered from this, no...when he recovered, could he fight back again, or would the savagery of this attack be the final straw? He couldn't let that happen, he would help Tim through this, if he wanted his help.
Ducky was dozing in the chair, and Gibbs felt his own eyelids drooping, the soft rhythmic sounds of the machines blending with Ducky's deep breathing. He fought to stay awake, sleeping felt like a betrayal, Tim needed someone to watch over him, and Gibbs had to look at Tim's face, as his penance, to see the price that this fine young man had paid for Gibbs' own stubbornness and stupidity.
"I let you down again Tim, I should have figured that word could get out about your arrest, but I never in my worst nightmares imagined this..."
"I should hope not Jethro; those would have been terrible nightmares indeed."
"Hey Duck...you should try to get some proper sleep, maybe they have a spare bed here somewhere..."
"I am not leaving, I may doze now and then, but I have to stay...Timothy won't wake up tonight, I know that, but I do believe that he knows we are here, so I'm staying."
Gibbs gave Ducky a playful punch on his arm.
"Stubborn old man."
"Less of the old Jethro..."
Ducky stood up and walked to the other side of the bed, checked on the monitors and Tim's IV, he gave a deep sigh.
"Why did this have to happen to him? Timothy has been through so much recently, too much..."
They sat with him all through the night, taking turns to sleep, get drinks, visit the bathroom, but never leaving him alone. Tim had not stirred, but the medical staff, and Ducky were pleased with the small signs of progress, his blood pressure was improving, and an early morning MRI scan had revealed that the inter cranial swelling had reduced slightly, and so long as his condition did not deteriorate, they would attempt to remove the ventilator later today. Tim wasn't out of the woods yet, but things were looking much more hopeful in the light of a new day.
The team would be here soon, and Tim's parents had managed to get a flight from San Diego, it would be lunchtime before they got here, but Gibbs had been sure to tell Tim that his Mom and Dad were due in today. Ducky had asked Jimmy to bring him a change of clothes; he would be staying with Tim until his parents came, and longer if they would allow…
Gibbs had been spending more time on his phone, co-ordinating the evidence collection with the State Police, arranging transportation for the McGee's…that had been easy, Vance would put his car at their disposal; his driver would be waiting at Reagan National and would bring them directly to the hospital. Vance had been outraged when Gibbs called him last night; he admired Tim, and respected the way he had dealt with what could have been a crushing blow. He had promised Gibbs all the resources he needed to catch Tim's attackers, but he had left him with a warning.
"By the book Gibbs, I do not want the people who did this to have the smallest chance of getting away with it."
"They won't…"
And as Gibbs returned to take his place by the bedside he repeated those words to Tim.
"They won't get away with this, we are going to find them, I promise you."
It was 8.30 when one of the ICU nurses came in to the room.
"The other members of your team have arrived; Doctor Patel has told me he gave permission for them all to visit for a few minutes."
She opened the door wider and Gibbs stood quickly to stave off the inevitable dash from Abby. But it was Tony who was first into the room; he rushed to the bedside, and stared at Tim.
"No Boss….this can't…"
He turned and raced out of the room; Gibbs followed and saw Tony disappear into the nearest men's room. He could hear the sound of violent retching in one of the stalls, it was no surprise, Tony had been dealing with his own issues since taking sides with Gibbs over the allegations against Tim, and knowing that Tim was here because of those false charges…that would be tearing Tony up inside.
Abby stood side by side with Ziva, their eyes bright with tears, tears they were determined not to shed. Tim needed their strength now, not their weakness. Ducky ushered Jimmy to the other side of the bed, and they both concentrated on the monitors, giving the two women a little space to come to terms with the reality of Tim's injuries. Abby leaned in a little closer.
"I can't even kiss his cheek…oh Ducky, he looks so…will he be okay?"
"With careful nursing, and the love and support of his family and friends; there is every chance my dear."
She stroked his hair, very gently.
"Tim…we are going to find the people who did this to you, and when we do, I am going to boil them from the inside out."
"Abigail!"
"I won't take it back Ducky."
Ziva took hold of Abby's hand.
"I would be happy to assist you Abby, but Tim…he would not agree I think; he would wish to see justice done, and this we will do, you have my solemn word Tim. You must get better…"
An hour later Tony and Ziva pulled up alongside a parked patrol car. Tony had gone back in to see Tim, but he had barely spoken a word since, he had even let Ziva drive. They stepped out into the cold morning air.
"I'm Cal Vaughan; this is my partner, Emma Lees."
"Ziva David, and Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS…is this where you found him?"
Cal led them to the tree, the crime scene tape fluttering in the slight breeze.
"He was…they'd tied him here."
Tony and Ziva walked slowly round the tree, but there was nothing to see, the rain last night had washed away any evidence. Tony knew he should be asking questions, but right now he was struggling to control his emotions…Not content with kicking and beating Tim, they'd left him out here in the freezing cold, an object of derision and contempt. He heard Ziva ask the question he should have asked.
"Could you describe how he was bound? We have the ropes, but without…photographs; it would help us to get a better understanding of how they were used."
Cal closed his eyes for a moment, this was not an image he wanted to remember, but he knew he had to tell them.
"He looked…I thought he was dead, sorry…the rope…he was bound at the ankles, his waist…they'd tied his hands behind the tree and…there was a rope round his neck, I think I touched it when I felt for a pulse…I wasn't wearing gloves…"
"That does not matter now, you saved his life; that is all that matters, we thank you both. Tim's doctor has told us that without your prompt actions he would not have survived."
"Just doing our job."
"Then you did a wonderful job, I have one more question. Was there any sign of a struggle?"
Cal and Emma shook their heads.
"No, the ground wasn't disturbed. I don't think he was attacked here."
Ziva shook hands with Cal and Emma, and gestured to Tony to follow suit. He finally seemed to be coming out of his daze.
"Yes, thanks for all you did for Tim, and for bagging the evidence…it's going to help us get the bas…."
"Tony, I think it is time we got back to DC."
Tony squared his shoulders, Ziva was right; it was time to get back to DC, time to stop feeling sorry for himself, and start thinking like an investigator.
"Let's go Ziva, we have work to do."