Do Not Own NCIS

Tim awoke to a high-screeched chattering sound. He yawned, rubbing his eyes. The chattering was persistent, drawing him out of the small house he had slept in. He looked towards the trees that lined the property. A gray, furry animal jumped from a tree to the grass just a few feet away from Tim, then scurried across the yard.

"Kitty." Tim was excited having seen a cat once before that had walked down their sidewalk while he was playing outside. This cat was certainly smaller, and jumped a lot, but Tim was hoping he could pet the creature just as he had with the last one he saw. He ran towards it, watching it climb back up the tree. Tim hopped in place, calling it. "Kitty! Come 'ere."

The cat quickly, jumped high into the branches as Tim lost sight of it. His shoulders slumped as his thumb entered his mouth. He rubbed the silk edging of his blanket between two fingers weighing out his options. He still refused to go back to his house so he decided to crawl through the bushes that lined the yard to see if he could find more kitties. He dropped to his knees then slowly maneuvered his way through, pushing branches out of his face. Thorns and short, sharp branches scratched his arms, legs, face and sides. He almost turned back then realized he had reached the end. He blinked his eyes adjusting them to the strong sunlight. A few people hurried past him as cars honked on the street startling him. He remembered being here, with his mother many times, shopping in a nearby store.

A big, green bug crawled on the ground in front of him. He stopped to watch it, touching it gently, causing it to fly away. He stood, overwhelmed with the noises, activities and people that occupied the sidewalk, unsure where he should go next.

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Gibbs drove down a street in southeastern Anacostia, an area of DC he did not frequently drive on, but where his barber's shop was located. He took Mike's advice to get a haircut. After looking in the mirror he realized he did look a bit mangy.

It was a cool, brisk, autumn day and Gibbs had the window down enjoying a fresh, invigorating breeze while the sun shone on his arm that was sticking out of the car window. It was early morning so there were not many people on the sidewalks. A pretzel vendor was just opening, preparing his cart on the corner as movement near the vendor's feet caught Gibbs' eye.

A toddler was scuffling down the sidewalk near a small market wearing slippers and pajamas and carrying a blanket and teddy bear. Gibbs scanned the surrounding area near the baby but the closest adult was the pretzel vendor which appeared to have no concern for the little guy. Gibbs slowed down as he became parallel to the little boy, watching him, still expecting a parent to come along and snatch him up.

Unable to drive at such a slow speed on a busy street, Gibbs realized he would have to park his car and investigate. He was able to find a parking spot along the sidewalk within close proximity of the child as he kept him within his line of vision while exiting his car. The toddler would stop every few seconds to inspect something on the sidewalk beneath him.

Gibbs rounded his car, stepping onto the curb. The few people who were on the sidewalk walked past the wandering toddler without a second glance, obviously too caught up in their own little worlds. The little guy seemed content being on his own and was not making any attempt to find his mother or father but happy just inspecting the sidewalk and simple attractions it offered him. Gibbs' heart ached, he couldn't have been no more than two or three years old and he was all alone on a busy street. How could something like this have happened?

He watched the baby as he spotted something in the distance, a smile growing on his small, round face. He scurried towards a big, plate glass window. A few puppies inside a pet store were hopping and leaning against the inside of the glass. The little boy was so happy to see them, he dropped his belongings beside him on the concrete, then placed his hands flat on the glass laughing loudly and pointing at the energetic puppies. Gibbs stood smiling, thankful to be witnessing the simple happiness the puppies created for him.

A man hurried out of the store, near the child, kicking one of his toys and sending it pinwheeling across the sidewalk. It landed on the edge of the road. His expression abruptly changed to seriousness, as he hurried across the sidewalk to retrieve his toy. Gibbs watched in horror as a car slowed to park in the same spot as where the toy had landed.

Gibbs moved quickly, yelling. "Wait!" He waved his hands trying to gain the driver's attention. Gibbs knew the driver would have a difficult time seeing the small boy, as he stepped off the sidewalk, crouching to pick up his toy. "No!"

The boy looked at Gibbs wide-eyed and froze in place. The car didn't slow so Gibbs rushed the child, grabbing him, then diving onto the sidewalk for safety.

Gibbs winced as his head bounced off the sidewalk, landing on his back, the child nestled safely in his arms. The toddler was quietly crying and shaking with fear. Gibbs lay there, looking up at the sky, taking a mental inventory of his injuries, relieved it was just the bump on his head that was causing him minimal pain. The boy wrapped his arms around Gibbs' chest with intensity burying his face into his shirt, wetting it with his tears.

People gathered around them, an older woman crouched close by to speak to Gibbs, directly. "Young man? Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?"

The man driving the car, exited, rushing over to check on them, also. "I'm so sorry! I didn't even see him. Is he okay?" The man leaned over them, placing his hand softly on Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs smiled, appreciating their concern.

Gibbs sat up, looking closely at the small boy in his arms, softly rubbing his head, whispering soothing words in his ear. "Are you okay little guy? Are you hurt?" The small boy was unable to catch his breath, the intensity of his sobbing, increasing. Gibbs noticed dried blood on his forehead, but it must have been a result from an earlier incident. He also, noticed small scratches and bruises covering his body. Gibbs became concerned with his welfare, getting an idea why the child hadn't minded being on his own.

"Can you tell me your name?" The boy was too upset to answer him, still trying to catch his breath from crying so hard. The toddler's fingers dug into his arms, holding tight. Gibbs clutched him to his chest, slowly rocking him.

Gibbs addressed the small crowd around him. "I'm a federal agent. Are any of you familiar with the identity of this child? I have to locate his parents." Gibbs flashed them his badge then clipped it back onto his belt.

"He's not yours?" asked the woman.

"Oh, no." Gibbs smiled, sadly. "I spotted him wandering down the sidewalk. I haven't seen an adult in his presence the whole time."

"Oh my. Now, that is terrible. I wonder where he wandered from."

"Well, I'll make sure to find out. I will bring him to the emergency room myself. I have a car seat in my car." Gibbs was happy that the boy seemed to have calmed down, his big, green eyes now focused on Gibbs' face. Gibbs wiped the tears and smudged dirt off his cheeks as he nestled his head into his chest, his eyes, solely locked onto Gibbs.

He stood, cradling the toddler, then walked to the area the boy had left his blanket and teddy bear, scooping them off the sidewalk. The youngster quickly grabbed them. "Danks." Gibbs smiled at him, warmly.

Gibbs waved to the small group. "Thank you for all your help-"

"Take good care of the little guy!"

"I will be praying for his safe return to his home!"

Gibbs neared his car then leaned against it pulling the boy away from his chest to get a better look at him. "Can you tell me your name?"

"Dim, Dimmy..boy."

"Tim? Timmy boy? Is that what your mom calls you?" Tim nodded as he began to rub the silk on his blanket, his thumb still in his mouth.

"Do you know where your mom is?"

Tim nodded. "She's home...wid Shteve."
"Can you show me-" Tim shook his head frantically, his calm composure threatening to crumble.

Gibbs nestled him back to his chest kissing the top of his head. "It's okay. You don't have to. It's okay Timmy boy." Tim clung to him bringing tears to his own eyes. "We're going to take a trip to the hospital. Do you know what that is?"

Gibbs could feel Tim shake his head no against his chest. "Can I stay wid you?"

He looked into Tim's eyes. "I will stay with you the whole time, okay?" Gibbs was happy to see Tim smile. "That's my big boy."

"Danks." Gibbs smiled when Tim's arm wrapped around his neck, holding tight. "Okay. Now are you ready to get in my car to drive there?"

"Yus."

"That's a good boy. Remember I will stay with you so you will have no reason to be scared."
Tim nodded, assured. "Yus."

"You can call me Gibbs."
"Gibb?"

"Yes."

"K."

Gibbs opened his car, maneuvering Tim into the car seat then buckling it. Gibbs entered the car pulling away from the sidewalk heading towards Bethesda Hospital. Since he became part of the incident he felt it was appropriate to handle it as an NCIS case.

Tim babbled the whole way there even though it was tough for Gibbs to understand what he was saying. He talked about bugs and kitties; Gibbs could make that out, at least. Tim, also did a lot of pointing while he observed the places they passed, offering his own two cents.

"We're here little guy. The ride is over."

"Ride is...ofer?"

"Yup." Gibbs could tell Tim was getting nervous as he clung to him desperately, squeezing his teddy bear as he pulled him from his car seat. Gibbs and Tim entered the building, the doors sliding open with a 'whoosh' sound. Tim began to shake in his arms. "Gibb stayin'?"

"I promise."

Tim still appeared worried, unsure with Gibbs' answer. "Gibb stayin' wid me?"

Apparently, Tim had not learned anything about promises yet in his short life. "Yes, Tim. I will stay with you."

Gibbs reached the receptionist's desk explaining the situation, flashing her his credentials.

"Oh my goodness. The poor boy. Well, he sure has taking a liking to you. I don't think he is ever going to let you go."

"Well, that's okay because I promised I wouldn't leave him."

The woman smiled, compassionately then directed them through the main doors. "You may proceed to exam room two and a nurse will be right with you."

Gibbs settled themselves onto a chair, sitting Tim on his lap. "Timmy, have you fallen down lately? You have a lot of scratches and bruises-"

"I falled down cause, Shteve frew me."

Gibbs kept a docile expression on his face as his heart hammered against his chest. He could feel his face warm with anger.

"But, I'm okay. Mama hit'm. I wush scared. I left."

"Well, I would have been scared, too."

Tim looked surprised with Gibbs' answer. "But, you're...big." Tim's arms spread wide.

"And...I still get scared." Tim's cute, little bottom lip poked out as his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"And who do we have here?"

Both Tim and Gibbs looked to the doorway at the sound of a new voice.

Gibbs' breath caught when he looked up to see the most beautiful blue eyes and red hair he had ever seen in his life.