Rehab took longer than Tim thought or wanted. He didn't realize how much not only had his muscles atrophied, but all his internal systems as well. It was a month before he could eat solid food, several weeks after that before he could walk up a flight of stairs without his heart feeling like it was going to pound out of his chest.
Then there was getting his job back. He had been assured many times by both Gibbs and Vance that his position on Gibbs' team was safe. He just had to re-qualify. He went through FLTEC again once he was strong enough. He was placed in the advance track program, so that it took him only half the time to complete all requirements.
As graduation approached, Tim was ready to get back to living on his own. He decided to let Sarah keep his apartment. The one time he went back to get some of his things, it felt ... odd. It wasn't anything he could put his finger on. It was like trying to fit into an old glove that used to fit perfectly, but after years of not wearing it for, no matter how much you pushed, pulled or tugged, it just never felt the same.
Looking for a new place almost caused a mutiny among the team ... everyone wanted him to move into their building. Abby had actually been the easiest to turn down, reminding her of her building's 'no pets allowed' policy. She didn't give up easily, suggesting the dog should stay with his namesake. However, Tim refused nicely, but firmly, there was just no way he was giving up Jethro.
Tony and Ziva were another story. In the middle of his finale exams, they were waging a war of who had the better apartment complex and why he should chose one over the other. It was so bad that it was becoming a distraction and Tim was worried that he was going to fail.
One night, Gibbs came into Tim's room as he was studying and dropped a paper in front of him while delivering a cup of coffee and a late night snack of Nutter Butters. He didn't say anything, just gave his trademark smirk, then left.
Tim shook his head, not sure how to take this new Gibbs. Tim knew that something had changed with him ... had changed with all of his team ... but he just couldn't figure out what it was. They were all more attentive of him and his needs ... almost to the point of being overbearing. He just didn't know how to tell them without hurting their feelings. He decided for the hundredth time that it was something that could wait until he was back at NCIS.
Gibbs hadn't really added his voice to the squabble over where Tim should live, but he was definitely not in any rush for the young man to leave. Tim sighed, this was probably some well written dissertation on why he should stay with Gibbs. Therefore, he was completely shocked when he saw a map with what appeared to be a spider web scrawled on it.
Around the outer edges of the web, several town were circled in black. Tim recognized these as where Tony, Ziva, Abby and Gibbs lived ... there was also one for the Navy Yard. Then, in the middle, was an area in a big red circle ... but no name. Tim could easily tell that this circle was pretty much equidistant from everyone. He laughed out loud. Figures Gibbs would come up with this ... and I'm supposed to be the genius! He took a break from his studies and started an online search for apartments in the circled area.
XXXX
Outside of the door, Gibbs smiled at Tim's laughter, knowing it meant he accepted and agreed with Gibbs' solution. He knew how much Tim was being pulled apart by the issue. The three of them had discussed Tim's living arrangements ... each with a soul burning need to be close by in case he needed one of them. However, none of them had really taken Tim's feelings into consideration, chalking his stress up to his impending exams. That is until one night, Gibbs had accidentally overheard the tail end of a phone conversation between Tim and Tony. It wasn't so much the words, but the feelings rolling off McGee that finally clued in the older man as to the real reason for the stress.
After that, Gibbs sat down and did his own soul searching, trying very hard to keep Tim's emotions out of the mix. He realized that Tim was an independent person and needed his own space if he was going to be happy and his team needed to find a middle ground. That thought is what spurred him to break out his maps and colored pens. He hadn't spoke to Tony or Ziva yet, but he would make them understand.
With the calm that came over Tim, therefore over him, he knew he had made a good choice. He left Tim to his searches and went down to his basement ... and the new writing desk he was building as a graduation present.
XXXX
It had been eighteen months from when Tim collapsed that he walked back into NCIS headquarters. It seemed as if the entire Yard was crammed into the squad room to welcome him back. Nobody got any real work done that day.
It didn't take long for the team to fall back into their groove ... with one major exception ... Tim was barely ever allowed out into the field. When he was, it was always with all three of his teammates, who kept him in a protective circle.
In fact, his team seemed to be constantly hoovering and tripping over themselves for him.
After three months, Tim reached his limit. The team was out collecting a potential suspect and he was, again, left behind. He took the opportunity to seek out Ducky. He stormed into autopsy, huffing and puffing like a bull.
Ducky looked up from the body he had just started to autopsy. "Well, hello Timothy. What brings you to the bowels of the building?"
"I just can't take it anymore!"
Putting down his scalpel and taking off his gloves, he walked over to the distressed young man. "Dear heavens, my dear boy, what seems to be the matter?" He grabbed Tim by the arm and pulled him over to his desk and pushed him into a chair. He turned and started to get a pot of tea going.
"Three months, Ducky. Three! And they still won't let me out into the field! They just don't trust me any more."
Dr. Mallard smiled to himself, however, when he turned around he had schooled his features. "Of course they trust you ..."
"Really? Then why do I get the feeling that they're just waiting for me to drop again."
Ducky pulled a chair over to Tim, sat down and took his hands. "You must understand, to you, you just went to sleep and woke up with missing time. For us, you collapsed right in front of us with no warning signs. The doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. We had no idea if we'd ever get you back and your team ... your second family ... had no where to place their aggression. There was no bad guy to hunt down, no plot to stop, no direction."
Tim sighed. "I guess you guys were pretty scared."
"And then some."
"I guess I should be a little more patient."
"Your team now has a direction for all of the pent up energy, to watch over you."
"Yeah, I guess. It's just ..."
"Tiring."
They both laughed.
Ducky released Tim's hands, he stood to tend to the tea. "They are still trying to find their equilibrium. It will come. For now, I would suggest letting them get it out of their system."
Tim started to say something but his phone rang. Recognizing the ring tone, he smiled and answered. "Hey, Tony. What's up? Me? I down here with Ducky. What, no, no, I'm fine. Why am I here? Well, I was getting his lunch order. It's my turn to buy. What? No, Tony ... well if you're sure. How about you surprise us, okay. You have something you need me to work on? Alright, bye." He was smiling ear to ear.
"Why, Timothy, that was down right crafty." Ducky smiled as he administered his admonishment.
Tim stood and started towards the door. "Crafty? Nah, I'm just letting him work it out of his system." He winked, then turned and left autopsy.
Ducky shook his head and chuckled to himself. He decided tea could wait and went back to his cadaver. As he leaned over the body, its eyes opened. Ducky blinked in surprise. "Well, hello old friend."
Baby blue eyes smiled at him. "It seems they've finally realized what is important."
"Indeed, it was a very severe lesson."
The baby blues turned serious. "The lessons most remembered are the most severe."
The good doctor grabbed his stool and sat down on it heavily. "Was it really worth putting them through all that?"
"With what is brewing, yes, they had to be prepared."
Ducky became concerned. "What are you talking about?"
"Things have been put into motion ... what is coming is something that has not happened since before the dawn of humanity. Sides will need to be taken, loyalties decided."
"With all that you have at your disposal, why don't you just step in and prevent it before anything can happen?"
Death laughed a mirthless laugh. "You know why. After the war, we needed a leader. By rights, being the eldest, it should have been me. However, my younger brother was the hero, the one that freed us, the one who lead us, and the one who liberated us. I was so tired of fighting, I just didn't have it in me to fight another battle."
"Myth says you were tricked into becoming the ruler of the underworld."
"Myth is half right, half wrong, and all perception. I knew what I was getting into. In the end, I am the ultimate winner. Good, bad, indifferent ... they all come to me. However, because of that, I had to agree, that if there was ever another time of conflict, a time of war, I could not choose a side."
Ducky let out a long, sad sigh. "So you can only be a spectator."
"At the time, for someone like me, someone tired of fighting, it was the perfect answer."
"And now?"
The baby blue eyes, smiled again. "Oh, I have found ways to still ... influence."
"You old rascal. You found a loop hole."
This time, Death gave a hardy laugh. "It is the reason that I have tested mortals throughout the ages. However, this is the first time that someone actually passed." He turned very serious again. "This world will be turned on its ear and everything mortals believe to be true will come into question."
"My god, has it gotten that far already?"
"Further. This world is going to need its heros, its lights to guide them through the pending darkness ... and you know as well as I do, that boy is the strongest light to have graced this world in a very long time."
"Yes, I know. I knew it the moment I met him ... its just ..."
"You were close with the last light of this world, you saw how much he was persecuted, and had hope not to ever witness something like that again."
"Am I that transparent?"
"You and I have known each other for many life times, I think I know how your mind works at this point."
Ducky let out a long breath. "How long do we have?"
"Not nearly enough, my old friend." Death locked sad eyes with Ducky. "It will be up to you to keep them on track, to make sure he doesn't lose his light before his destiny can be fulfilled."
"I don't think I can go through this again."
"You don't have a choice." With that, the baby blue eyes faded from sight, leaving Ducky alone in autopsy.
Feeling every day of his thousands of years-old, the doctor decided it was time for that drink, except he now needed something stronger than tea. He found his 'medicinal' brandy, poured himself almost a full glass, and downed it in one gulp.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts and emotions. Then he stood straighter and squared his shoulders. "Well then, if a fight is coming, I am going to have to be prepared." He walked over to his desk and opened a secret door, pulling out an ancient scroll. "And so will Timothy, if he is to be our guiding light. I think I will invite the boy over for dinner, yes, that will be a good way to subtly introduce him to these." He gripped the scroll tightly.
Suddenly, his desk phone rang, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin. After getting his heart rate under control, he walked over and answered it. "Autopsy, Dr. Mallard speaking." He smiled at the voice on the other end. "Why yes, Timothy, I will be right up for lunch. Thank you."
Ducky replaced the phone in it cradle and with a renewed purpose, walked out of autopsy, ready for the challenge of teaching the newest child of light.
FINS!
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and read and came along with me on this roller coaster ride! You guys are what really makes writing fun! See you in the next story!