McGee sat staring into space. Sarah covertly watched him as she studied, worrying about her brother. He'd barely spoken since his colleagues had visited him the night before, and his responses to her and the nursing staff seemed mechanical somehow. They'd given him bad news, that much was obvious. She wished she knew what it was, but he'd clammed up when she'd asked him what they'd said.
The knock on the door was a welcome change from the silence. Sarah noticed how much Tim's eyes brightened when he saw Abby enter and hid a smile.
"I'm going to go get something to eat" she informed them. "Do you want me to bring you back something, Tim?"
He shook his head. "No, thanks."
She left the room; if she wasn't around, at least maybe he'd talk to Abby.
...
Abby sat in the visitor's chair.
"How's your arm?" she asked.
"A little sore. Worse when whatever it is they're giving me wears off."
She gave him a knowing look. "I bet it's more than a little sore, Timmy."
He tilted his head, letting her know she was right but unwilling to admit it. He changed the subject, wanting to know how his last case was going.
"Have you simulated the blast yet?"
"Yesterday" she told him.
"So you know Tony wasn't there?"
"Yes" she snapped. She got up and started pacing. "He should have been there, Tim! He was your partner; partners don't just leave each other behind like that."
"Abs" he interrupted. "Can I see it?"
"What?"
"Can I see the simulation?"
"McGee-"
"Come on, Abs."
"Fine." She pulled her phone out of her pocket and flipped it open. "I knew you'd want to see it, so I filmed it on this."
She held the phone so he could see it, watching his reaction to the short clip.
"Rerun it" he told her.
When the second run through had finished, he nodded.
"Abs, it wasn't Tony's fault. If he'd been there, we probably would have both been killed."
She looked at him quizzically.
"Look." He took the phone, replaying the clip and pausing it where he wanted it. "Tony's about my height. If the door hadn't been in the way, these pieces of shrapnel would have gone through whichever of us was in front and hit the other in the chest. As it was, if Tony hadn't made a noise from across the street, I would've had the door the whole way open when the bomb went off. He saved my life, Abby."
"But your arm, Tim..."
"Will heal. Better than the alternative" he pointed out.
He could see Abby reassessing her opinion of Tony's conduct. He gave her a moment, knowing she'd have to think things over.
"So what'd Gibbs do when he saw this?" he asked.
"Banned Tony from the field." Abby told him.
He grimaced. "That leaves the team two short."
She ducked her head.
"Or does it?" he asked. She was refusing to meet his eyes. He knew the answer before he asked.
"Abby, did they bring someone else in to replace me?"
"Temporarily, McGee" she admitted. "Just until we figure out who did this."
"Who?"
"You're not going to like it, Tim" she warned him. "They brought in Agent Keating."
"Keating? From Cybercrimes?"
He made a face when she nodded. He'd never worked with Keating, but he'd had to deal with the aftermath of Keating's temporary possession of his desk and computer. Some of the things he'd put on McGee's computer in particular had seemed a little self-serving, like having it greet him by name when the computer was rebooted.
"How's he doing?" he asked.
"Well, he managed to piss Tony and Gibbs off in the first half an hour, so I don't think he's going to last very long."
Trying to be fair, McGee told her "It takes time to get used to the team. I used to piss Gibbs and Tony off all the time."
"You were never that green, McGee. I'd better go. The sisters will be waiting for me. But I'll come by and see you again tomorrow."
He smiled. "See ya, Abs."
He watched her leave. Of all the people at NCIS, Abby would be the one he'd miss the most. Sure, he'd still get to see her occasionally— she was his best friend, after all— but it wouldn't be the same.
He was still smiling faintly when Sarah came back into the room. She looked at him suspiciously.
"You look a little happier. Was it the visit or the visitor?"
"Abby's good at cheering people up" he replied noncommittally.
"I'm sure she is. What's going on between you two, anyway?" she asked.
"Sarah, Abby and I are just friends. You know that."
"Oh come on, Tim, she's been here almost as much as I have. And that's the first time I've seen you smile since you woke up."
"Leave it alone, Sarah" he warned.
...
Unheeded by both of them, Gibbs stood in the open doorway and studied his youngest agent. Even in the midst of his spat with his younger sister, McGee's eyes were dull. Last night he'd tried to tell himself that it was the after effects of the anaesthesia, but he'd seen that look before. It was the look of someone who'd had everything taken from them. He knew that the only way to get past it was to have something to work towards. Abby was right. McGee needed to know that there was still a place for him at the Agency.
He took a step into the room, attracting McGee's attention.
"Hey Gibbs."
He nodded in reply, turning his head to talk to Sarah.
"Could you give us a minute?"
Sarah looked at her brother, picking up her bag off the floor.
"I'm going to go to the library and study. Midterms are coming up. I'll be by later."
Gibbs closed the door behind her and took a seat in the chair at the side of the bed.
"Can't stay long, McGee."
"How's the case, Boss?" the younger man asked.
"Got a possible suspect. Ziva and Keating are bringing him in now."
"How's Keating doing?"
"It's a good thing he's temporary."
"Any idea who's going to take my place permanently, Boss?" His question was hesitant, like he needed but didn't want the answer.
"No-one, McGee. That's why I'm here. Talked to Vance this afternoon. He says there's a chance you can return to the team."
He watched McGee's face, gauging his reaction. A look of incredulous surprise crossed the young agent's face.
"But-but how?"
"If you can pass the normal Agency tests, you can return to field agent status."
"Which tests?"
"Psychological, physical and firearms proficiency."
McGee was silent a moment, contemplating the amount of work he was going to have to do to pass those tests. When he looked back at Gibbs, determination burned in his previously dull eyes. Gibbs nodded and stood up. Pausing at the door, he said "Get some rest, Tim. You're going to need it." Then he flicked the lights off and closed the door.