Just a quick update. I'm going to put this story on hold and hope to come back to it as soon as I can. Maybe after the holidays...or maybe, sooner. Thanks so much for reading, and thank you for the reviews, follows, faves...
I Do Not Own NCIS
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"Goo."
"Tony, you're gonna hafta translate Timmy talk for me."
"You want to play with glue and construction paper, Tim? Ya' wanna do art?"
Tim nodded, at both Tony and Mike, holding in his excitement, hoping they would approve his idea.
"Can we Uncle Mike?"
"Can we Ungo Mike?" Tim barely whispered as he echoed Tony, fidgeting, his fists pressing into his armpits.
Mike nudged Tim in the shoulder. "You got it comrade. Anyone who can play cops and robbers that good at such a young, inexperienced age as yourself has won the right to choose our next activity."
Tim smiled big, still too cautious to yell. "Yeah." he said quietly as his hands rose above his head, triumphantly.
They were gathered in the kitchen sitting around the table after finishing a dinner of macaroni and cheese, Jethro had made earlier, for them.
Mike liked the idea of sitting around coloring and talking for the next hour and was looking forward to undertaking a relaxing activity with the boys.
Tony was already on his way to the shelf across the room where Gibbs kept all their art supplies. Tim was still climbing off his booster chair by the time Tony returned with an armful of materials for Mike to situate on the table.
"Mike, dares still some more stuff dats real heavy and I can't reach. And, can you get the markers?" Tony asked.
"Okay, okay. I'll help." Mike walked over to the shelf, spotting the box of crayons then pulling them down. "How about the markers?"
"Dare wite dare, see Ungo Mike?" Tim was on his tippy-toes, pointing to the highest shelf."
"I have a feeling there is a good reason why they are up so high. Care to fill me in on what that reason might be, Tony?"
"Yeah...Tim likes to draw on himself."
Mike looked down at Tim. "You into Henna little probie?"
"What's dat Uncle Mike?" asked Tony.
"What dat Ungo Mike?" copied Tim.
"Um, just something I saw on the Discovery channel...so would you say it's okay if I let Tim use'm Tony?"
"Oh yeah, sure. We just have to watch him. P'esides, dare washable." Mike took them off the shelf along with a jar of glitter.
Tim followed Mike, jumping while he clapped his hands, admiring the items Mike carried. He grabbed Mike's pant leg and tugged. "Can, can...will-ed you colored doo?"
Mike thought for a second then exclaimed, "Oh you want me to color to? I'd love to. What would you like me to draw?" Mike sat at the table with a crayon in his hand as he watched Tim struggle to climb back up on his booster seat. Tony also noticed, running over to give him a budge.
"A fer-og, Ungo Mike." Tim turned his attention behind him to Tony, "I do it myshelf." Tony shrugged then walked back to his seat.
"Do you want him swimming, Timmy?"
Tim nodded, enthusiastically. "Cause fer-ogs sim."
"Yes. Frogs are good swimmers. I suppose you've got no choice when you own a pair of flippers for feet." Mike chuckled.
It got quiet as everyone became deeply absorbed with their work; the time passed quickly as the finished art work developed into large piles.
"Tim!" Mike looked up to find Tony staring at Tim across the table; caught in the act of running the tip of a blue marker down the length of his arm. His shirt was hiked up a bit, and Mike could see some purple scribbles, also on his stomach.
Tim's chin touched his chest as his bottom lip poked out. His upper body dropped onto the table, as he buried his face into the crooks of his elbows.
Mike nudged Tim. "It's okay amigos. It's just better to draw on paper. All right?"
Tim peeked up from his arms then nodded. "Okay."
Mike exhaled, relieved that Tim had recovered nicely.
Tony grabbed the bottle of glue, turning it upside down to let it pour over his paper. Mike grimaced at the excessive amount that was rapidly accumulating into an immense, white glob.
"Timmy, pass me the glitter, would ya?"
"Okay, Dony."
Tim leaned across the table reaching a hand into the open jar grabbing a fist full of glitter.
Tony shook his head, waving his hands in protest. "No, no-"
Within the next second, the air was full of glittering, sparkles raining down over the table, Tony and Mike. Tim wiggled happily, stuck in an extreme belly laugh as the last of the glitter floated to its surface.
The first thought through Mike's head was the amount of time it would most likely take, to clean the mess. Then he noticed the carefreeness exuding from Tim and smiled. A puff of air escaped his lips, growing into unbridled laughter.
Tony had been waiting for Mike's response, relieved when the man's cheerful hooting filled the room. Tony spun his head to release the sparkle that caught in his hair, generating more laughs from the two.
"Now, that was kinda neat, but, it's time to clean up. Tim, you get the broom. Tony, you can help me get this table back to normal. Tim was already running towards the broom closet. Mike sat there, piling up the papers and getting all the items back into their appropriate containers. Tim carried the broom over to start on the glitter but all Mike could see was the broom handle dancing along near the edge of the table's suface and the top of Tim's head.
"I'm seeping Mike, k?"
"Ahh...yes! Sweeping! Good job, Timmy." Tim looked like he was having difficulty with the awkwardness of the long handle but Mike knew he desired to accomplish tasks on his own so let him be. After a diligent twenty minutes of cleaning, the kitchen looked back to normal. There were a few traces of glitter left behind but Mike knew it'd be impossible to get it all.
"It's now time for a bath then we can watch a movie for a little while before it's off to bed."
The boys ran towards the bathroom as Mike followed.
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Tony and Tim were huddled on the couch in their pajamas. Tim was fading fast, his head resting on Tony's shoulder as he hugged his teddy bear. It was dark and the only light was the gentle-flashing illuminating from the television set.
Mike stood in front of them, "Are you boys in the mood for some popcorn?"
Tony hopped in his seat, excited; startling Tim as his eyes popped open with a blank look.
"Do you want some popcorn, Tim? Uncle Mike wants to know."
Tim clearly had no idea what popcorn was and shrugged. Tim blinked his sleepy eyes, trying to concentrate on the movie, reminding Mike of a mini-drunk, fighting the urge to pass out.
"Well, I'll make some, then let you decide if you like it."
Mike walked into the kitchen. He began to skim through Jethro's cabinets, moving cans and jars. "I know he has some, somewhere."
Mike heard a bang from outside, stopping suddenly to listen for any further noises. He stepped over to the window above the sink to scan the dark backyard; misty from the evening's dew. He inhaled sharply, when he saw two figures run behind a tree. He moved to the side of the window, peering from the edge. They must not have known he was there as he watched them for a moment, studying their silhouettes each time they moved from behind their hiding spot.
"Why, I do believe it's dumb and dumber paying us a visit." Mike pictured himself grabbing the two numb-nuts then banging their heads together.
He quietly called Gibbs on his cellphone. "Probie, I think we've got some company. I see two men hiding out in your backyard. One looks hefty...and kinda short. The other seems to be tall and thin...with a beard. I'm gonna make sure the boys are safe and make a call to the local LEO's if I don't hear from you within the next few minutes. So, call me ASAP."
Mike cursed to himself, wishing Jethro had answered. He stood there for another minute thinking how he should handle this as he watched the two men. He figured it was that Steve guy, back to cause more trouble for Tim. But, would he really go to this extreme? Showing up at his foster home at night? What was this man capable of? He knew from Tobias that he had a rap sheet a mile long. Drug possession with intent to sell, assault and battery and one convicted robbery. Mike had found a minor consolation considering the fact he hadn't been armed during the robbery.
For all he knew, it might not even be him but a couple of other bozos goofing around in the neighborhood. He'd check it out himself, but he didn't want to leave the boys alone in case something happened.
He switched the ringer to vibrate on his phone. He decided that the most important thing to do was to make sure Tim and Tony remained safe. He walked into the living room, "Where's the popcorn Uncle Mike?" asked Tony, earnestly. Tim was out cold, his head still resting on Tony's shoulder as it jostled about from Tony's fidgeting.
Mike kneeled in front of them, resting a hand on Tim's leg to wake him, softly. Mike felt bad, since the kid looked so wiped out. "We have a new set of plans. I want you boys to play a new kind of hide and go seek for me. Come on." Tim rubbed his eyes, yawning.
He grasped their hands then guided them to Jethro's bedroom. He opened the closet in the far corner of the room then crouched down to rearrange some items on the floor of the inside of the tiny room so they would be comfortable.
"Okay, Tony you first. Have a seat." Tony sat, then moved back till he was able to lean against the wall. "Now, you Timmy." He picked Tim up then sat him in Tony's lap as the boy wrapped his arms around his waist, hugging him close. Mike knew Tony was beginning to detect the fear in his conduct.
"Now this is very important. I need you to be very quiet. Do you know what important means guys?" They both nodded silently, their faces twisting into worry. Mike placed his hand on both their legs to relay some comfort.
"It's okay. I'm just gonna go check out something. It should be no problem. I just want to play it safe okay?" They nodded, solemnly.
"That's good. You're both doing a good job, already." Mike calmly winked at them then closed the door, softly.
The small room became completely dark as Tony could feel Tim shiver in his arms.
"Dony?"
Tony put his lips directly on Tim's ear, giving him a soft squeeze. "Sssshhh."
Tim leaned his head back on Tony's shoulder, succumbing to Mike and Tony's request.
A few minutes passed and Tim began to squirm. Tony hadn't hear any noises coming from the house since Mike had left them there to hide. He started to think, maybe it would be okay to go find him, when there was a sharp sound that made them both jump.
"Dony?" Tony could feel the fear overcoming Tim as he held him close.
"I gotchya, Tim. Don't be scared." Tony could feel Tim nod.