CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Gibbs sat across the table staring at Lt. Owens. The younger man glared back defiantly.
"Why did you try to kill Agent McGee?"
"Who said I did?"
Gibbs's eyes narrowed. "A vial of amoxicillin was found in your pocket. Agent McGee is severely allergic to any form of penicillin. A single injection is enough to kill him."
"The amoxicillin belongs to my grandmother," replied Owens evenly. "She's being treated for Lyme disease. I did not inject any into Agent McGee. You guys are crazy."
There was a soft knock at the door. Gibbs stared at Owens for a long moment then stood to answer it. DiNozzo waited just outside.
"Boss, we cleaned out the medical waste container in McGee's room like you said. Abby found a partial print on the syringe. Looks like it's Owens' all right. She's testing the contents to verify the contents are amoxicillin. There was also some blood on the needle, and she's checking to see if it matches McGee's."
Gibbs nodded and glanced back at Owens who was watching them with a frown. Gibbs pulled the door shut. Suddenly, a loud voice could be heard booming down the hall.
"I don't give a damn if he's in interrogation with God himself, I want to see Lt. Owens now!"
"But sir!" Agent Dornegat's voice rose a notch in his desperation. "No one is allowed in during an interrogation! Especially not with Agent Gibbs! Please..."
But it was no use. Dornegat never had a chance. Admiral McGee strode purposefully down the hallway, his face dark with fury.
"You!" He thrust his finger in Gibbs' face. "You've had it out for Lt. Owens from the start. What the hell is going on here? Why is he under arrest? You better have a damn good reason for detaining him."
Gibbs's jaw tightened. "Admiral McGee, Lt. Owens is accused of attempted murder."
The admiral froze, then his expression grew even more thunderous. "What in god's name are you talking about Gibbs? Just who the hell did Jason allegedly attempt to kill?"
"Your son, Admiral. Agent Timothy McGee."
For a moment, the admiral said nothing, his mouth open, his eyes wide. Then he shook his head as he gathered himself.
"That is the most preposterous thing I've ever heard. What possible reason could Jason have for trying to kill Tim? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I demand you release Lt. Owens immediately."
Gibbs' jaw tightened further. "We have evidence implicating Lt. Owens. He was positively identified by a nurse as being at McGee's room shortly before Tim went into anaphylactic shock. A vial of amoxicillin was found in Lt. Owens' possession when he was picked up and a partial finger print identified as Owens' was found on a syringe in McGee's room. What does that say to you?"
Admiral McGee glowered at Gibbs. "I don't believe it. I think he's being set up. It's the only answer. You've been against Jason all along. I have no idea why, but I do know he wouldn't murder anyone. He is an honorable naval officer."
"Let me ask you a question, Admiral." Gibbs cocked his to head to one side as he studied the man before him. "All I've heard so far is you defend Lt. Owens. Not once have you asked what exactly happened to your son or how he is. Who is more important to you? Your aide or your son?"
The color drained from Admiral McGee's face as he pulled himself erect. "Agent Gibbs, you are completely out of line. I have no more to say to you. If you refuse to release Lt. Owens, then I will be sending over the best defense lawyer I can find." He turned to face the closed door and shouted, "Jason! If you're in there, don't say a word. I'm getting you a lawyer." He gave Gibbs one last hostile look and strode back the way he'd come, a sheepish Dornegat struggled to keep pace.
Gibbs watched after him, Tony by his side. DiNozzo shook his head. "Guess some people never change. Poor McGee. I would have thought after taking a bullet for him, the admiral would have a little more compassion for Tim. Seems Owens is still top dog after all."
xxx
McGee's eyes fluttered open. The light was dim and the air carried the distinctive tang of medicinal alcohol. He lay very still for several moments trying to orient himself. He shifted and winced in pain. His hand reached up to his chest and he was startled to find his torso firmly wrapped in layers of bandages. He frowned as he tried to remember how he might have gotten here. Suddenly he inhaled sharply as he clearly recalled the explosive shock of the bullet smashing into his chest. It was if he'd been stabbed with a spike of red hot iron. A cold sweat broke out across his brow. He raised a shaking hand to wipe it away. But there was more. Something about his father.
The bullet had been meant for the admiral, but Tim had put himself in the path of the deadly projectile saving his father from possible death. But, there was something his father had said. Tim frowned trying hard to remember. Then it hit him.
As far as I'm concerned, I have no son.
Those were the last words he remembered hearing before he collapsed. His father had disowned him; wanted no part of him ever again. Tim felt numb. Why should the fact he was willing to sacrifice his own life to save his father's make any difference?
"Tim?"
Tim turned his head towards the voice. He tried to speak but his throat felt like he'd been gargling with broken glass. He grimaced in pain.
Gibbs rose from the chair and moved closer placing a hand on McGee's shoulder. "It's okay, Tim. I'm here. Don't try to talk. The swelling in your throat finally went down enough to let them remove the respirator tube this morning."
Tim closed his eyes. He had a vague, nightmarish image of a tube down his throat strangling him. He touched his throat. He frowned, trying to remember. How long have I been here?
"You've been here six days, Tim."
McGee's eyes flew open. Six days? How could that be? His frown deepened as something tugged at his brain.
Something more had happened. It was more like a dream then a memory. There was pain. He imagined seeing Lt. Owens standing beside his bed. He'd said something. Tim desperately grasped at the fleeting threads of his memories only to have them silently slip away.
He turned to eyes once more to find Gibbs beside his bed watching him carefully. Tim allowed his gaze to sweep the small room. No sign of any of his family. No sign of his father.
Gibbs seemed to understand who Tim was looking for. "No, your father isn't here. He came by the day you were shot, but hasn't been by since. He's been…busy. "
Tim grunted and shook his head. No more than he'd expected. Actually, he should be grateful his father had come by at all.
"Your grandmother, mother, and sister are on their way. They got stuck in Japan by some severe weather and were finally able to leave early this morning. However, I've spoken to your grandmother pretty much every day giving her updates."
Tim smiled softly. Penny must be going nuts. He missed them all a lot.
"Tony, Ziva and the others have all been taking turns staying with you after…well, Tim, there's something I need to tell you."
McGee raised his gaze to meet Gibbs'. The boss was frowning. "Tim, Lt. Owens tried to kill you."
Tim's eyes went wide as the image of Owens standing over him flashed through his mind again. Now he could hear Owens' words: I didn't want to do this, but you understand. I can't let the admiral give up everything he's worked so hard for. You'd just be a distraction. It's better this way. For all of us.
Owens wanted Tim dead. He wanted the admiral to himself. He believed he was the son Admiral McGee deserved, not Tim. It was all starting to make a twisted sort of sense.
"He injected you with amoxicillin," continued Gibbs. "You went into severe anaphylactic shock. It's been a rocky six days. But, you'll be okay."
"I…saw…him," rasped Tim, barely able to get the words past his inflamed throat.
Gibbs leaned forward. "Who?"
"Owens." Tim swallowed painfully. Gibbs reached over, snagging a water bottle and gently squirted some water into McGee's mouth. Tim nodded gratefully. "Said…better for everyone."
"You actually saw Lt. Owens here? In your room?"
McGee nodded again. He closed his eyes. He was suddenly so exhausted. It was all too much. In a moment, he was asleep.
When he next awoke, he had no idea how much time had passed. The room looked exactly as it had before. There were no windows so he didn't know if were day or night. He moved carefully and gasped. The pain was still there. Guess it hasn't been long enough.
"Hey McGeek, you awake?"
Tim smiled and turned to see Tony getting to his feet, a broad grin plastered across his partner's face.
"Been waiting all week for you to quit slacking off, leaving me with all the grunt work." He handed Tim a small electronic tablet. "The boss said you can't talk yet, so Abby sent this. Figured it would be easier for you to type whatever you need to say."
Tim studied the tablet for a moment then switched it on. His fingers flew over the keyboard. "Tell Abby thanks."
"Will do, amigo." Tony's face grew serious. "We were all pretty worried about you, Tim. You gave us quite a scare. How you feeling now?"
Tim shrugged and waggled his hand back and forth. Then he typed a message.
"What's going on with Owens?"
Tony grimaced then took a deep breath. "We have all the evidence we need. A nurse saw him here right before you went into shock, we have a syringe with traces of amoxicillin and Owens' partial fingerprint as well as your blood; he had a vial of amoxicillin in his pocket and then Gibbs said you saw him here. Although, given your condition, I don't imagine your testimony would hold much weight."
"Does my father know?"
Tony's gaze slid away as he ran a hand through his hair. Tim could feel his partner's discomfort. Finally Tony sighed and nodded. "Yeah, he knows. Claims it was all a set-up; that Owens is an upstanding naval officer, would never in a million years commit murder, blah, blah, blah."
No, he wouldn't want to accept his golden boy could possibly do anything wrong, thought Tim in disgust. Despite everything that had happened, it seemed his father was still far more concerned about keeping his aide out of prison than making sure his son was okay.
"I'm really sorry, Tim. You deserve better."
Tim shrugged and gave his partner a half-hearted grin. He tried so hard not to care but it seemed every slight his father committed hurt just as much.
As if to dispel Tim's dark thoughts, Tony began to fill Tim in on all the goings on at NCIS. Tim pretended to listen, grateful for even a small distraction. After awhile, the nurse came in to take his vitals, change his IV, and perform other medical necessities.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," said Tony looking uncomfortable as the nurse began filling a syringe. "Gonna go find some coffee."
Tim nodded and watched him go. He felt oddly abandoned.
"It's good to see you awake, Agent McGee," smiled the nurse, a short middle-aged woman with warm brown eyes. "Pretty soon we'll be able to move you to a regular room. And don't worry, your throat will be feeling better soon."
Tim nodded again. He felt himself begin to drift off again. Would he ever be able to stay awake longer than ten minutes? Gradually the sounds of the nurse faded away.
He wasn't sure was woke him, but Tim found himself startled awake. He didn't really feel as if he'd been asleep very long.
He shifted his gaze to corner. There was a figure there. Tim smiled. Looked like Tony had returned. Tim suddenly stiffened. It wasn't Tony at all.
xxx
A/N: As promised, a more timely update! Thanks for all the reviews. The house is coming along nicely. Hopefully I won't have to leave town again for awhile. Again, I appreciate all you wonderful readers!