THE DISTANCE BETWEEN- CHAPTER SIX
I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW
Everyone walked quietly into McGee's room anxious to see for themselves that he was in fact okay. The nurse should have told them to limit visitors but she didn't have the heart to stop any one from going inside. They looked so afraid and while the patient looked battered just seeing him alive was sure to help this rag-tag family.
Sarah and Abby had started crying the moment they saw the damage done to him; he had lost so much weight he looked frail lying in the bed.
Sarah leaned forward and kissed Tim on his left cheek; his whole left side looked beaten, cast and bandages covering a majority of his body. Her tears fell across his face as she said a prayer of thanks to still have her big brother alive. She and Tim may argue and tease but she knew she could turn to him and trust him as she could no one else. He was her rock and he kept her steady. Sarah pulled a chair from against the wall and settled in next to the bed grasping Tim's hand gently. He was alive and nothing else mattered.
Abby waited a moment for Sarah to settle before she approached Tim on the right. Leaning forward she also pressed a kiss to his bruised face and whispered "I'm here Timmy" in his ear. In her heart she knew he would hear her and smiled when he turned his head slightly in her direction. She would have liked nothing more than to pull a chair next to this side of the bed but one glance at the still waiting figures around the room stopped her. Today was for McGee and she would not be selfish; they all loved him. She hoped that he would finally have a chance to see how much.
When Abby moved away from the bed it seemed as if everyone was frozen waiting to see who would move to McGee next. Jimmy could easily read the hurt, worried looks in the eyes of Tim's teammates and felt like he was intruding on something so personal and special. He moved to the bed so that he could touch McGee's arm and tell him, "Hang in there Tim." After just a moment he moved away looking discreetly at Ducky and seeing the understanding in his eyes. The team needed this time more than he or Ducky. Jimmy stole one last glance at McGee before he walked to the door and waited for Ducky to take a turn and follow.
Ducky too felt the need in the air so when Jimmy walked away from Timothy he quickly took his place. Ducky patted the young man on the shoulder so very grateful to still have him with them. "Rest well, Timothy," he spoke softly before stepping back to allow someone else to take his place. He walked to the door meeting Jimmy before they both turned for one last look at McGee then both left the room.
With tears in her eyes, Ziva stood stoic at the foot of Tim's bed. She waited while Abby, Jimmy and Ducky each took a turn speaking to McGee. As Ducky turned away from the bed, Ziva walked to Tim's side; she placed her hand across his cheek, bending to whisper a prayer of thanks and blessing in his ear. "You are a strong man, Timothy McGee, and I am forever grateful to have you in my life," she whispered before kissing his cheek. Blinking back tears, Ziva raised back up stroking her hand across his forehead and into his soft hair. Turning from the bed she walked to Abby, placing her arm around the other woman to lead her from the room. Ziva saw Abby open her mouth to protest but a quick glance to Tony and Gibbs had Abby nodding her agreement and both ladies left the room together.
Tony felt choked up when he saw his Probie, bruised and battered; it was his job to protect McGee and he felt like he had failed. In his head he knew he couldn't have prevented the accident but he couldn't stop the pang in his heart when he saw the damage done to his best friend. Taking the steps that placed him next to McGee's bedside, Tony took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak. No words would come. Tony put his hand on Tim's shoulder and swallowed hard to get past the lump in his throat.
"Probie….." Tony spoke then swallowed again. Closing his eyes, he patted Tim's shoulder; clearing his throat he turned to Gibbs and pointed to the door letting Gibbs know he would be outside.
Gibbs watched the emotions cross Tony's face before the young man walked toward the door leaving Gibbs alone with Tim and Sarah. Sarah hadn't looked at anyone since she took the seat next to Tim so Gibbs didn't mind speaking in front of her.
Crossing the floor to McGee's side, Gibbs understood the emotions that had prevented Tony from speaking. A mirror of Ziva's movements, Gibbs ran his hand across Tim's forehead, stroking his hair.
"Ah, Tim…. I'm sorry I was so hard on you this week. We never could have solved the case without you and I should have told you at the time instead of waiting until you couldn't hear me. I can't promise you that I won't forget again but I will make this right when you wake up. You're still mine, Tim, you always will be. You rest and I'll be outside waiting," Gibbs turned to leave.
"I believe he did hear you Gibbs," Sarah spoke from Tim's bedside, "Tim always listens to you."
"Good, because I have a lot to tell him when he wakes up," Gibbs said with a sad smile.
Gibbs had just shut the door when Sarah heard a soft moan from the bed. Everyone else was forgotten as she turned with a smile anxious to see Tim's green eyes open.
She was not disappointed.