Chapter six

Jimmy wasn't that surprised when Tony brought Tim home with him. He'd already called Ducky to come over. He wasn't leaving the older man out. Ducky would be incredibly hurt if he did.

He also called Abby and Director Vance.

Abby had babbled and yelped, 'Ohmygod.' a few times. Jimmy had promised to call her again as soon as he knew anything.

Director Vance told him to have Gibbs call as soon as they had things settled.

Jimmy winced as he put his foot down wrong and jabbed the raw, open wound on his heel. "Shit!"

Ducky, just coming in the door, didn't say anything about the profanity, he just admonished, "Is that covered? If it is not, I'm going to be very displeased."

Jimmy admitted that he'd snitched a pair of Tony's cotton tube socks and just stuck a 4x to the heel.

Ducky insisted on fixing it properly, while Jimmy complained, 'I don't see how it can be so hard to fix your own foot. Heels are hard.' He agreed, patted Jimmy on the leg and got up. Just in time too.

Gibbs opened the door while Dean and Tony supported Tim from both sides. He was grumbling, "I could just as easily driven myself. I'm fine." Then he started coughing.

"No, you are not fine. That cough is awful. And I should know." Tony got out of the way so Tim could sit down.

Tim flopped on the couch but struggled upright at Ducky's motion.

Ducky listened to Tim's chest, had him cough then nodded. "Just a bit of smoke. You'll be fine in the morning. But ... my dear boy ... this is a tragedy."

Tim sighed. "Not that much, actually. I decided to move about three months ago. Just waiting for my lease to be up. I've put most of my collectables and all my valuables into climate-controlled storage. Everything I lost was common stuff. I've got renter's insurance. I'm okay. Just ... shocky. I wonder what happened? I smelled something, but couldn't figure out what it was. I got as many people out as I could. I'm ... tired."

Tony just handed Tim a cup of cocoa. "Here, drink this. Sugar and caffeine. Fix you right up." He dropped an afghan around his shoulders and coaxed him to drink.

Jimmy sighed. "Damn. This is a mess." He shook his head. "Dr. Mallard, you okay?"

Ducky was looking a bit the worse for wear. "I'm fine. Just took a bit of a tumble in the back garden. It needs work that I'm just not up to anymore. I'll have to find a gardener."

Jimmy shook his head. "Don't do that. I'll come over and do it. I don't mind."

"Now, James, you know I hate to impose." Ducky was grateful that Jimmy wanted to come help him, but he wanted to make sure that he didn't feel like it was a requirement.

"Actually, I like to. I love gardening but Mother ... she has her ways and insists that I do it her way, even when I've proven that it's killing all the iris." Jimmy loved the iris that his father had planted when he was eight. But cutting them back while they were still green was killing them off. "Um ... Dr Mallard ... if I were to bring starts, could I plant them at your place?"

"Certainly, my boy. I'd be pleased to have them. I've actually got a bed that is empty. The old owner planted annuals in it but it's gotten beyond my strength to plant and care for them." Ducky was bleakly looking at giving up his independence as he got older. He needed just a bit of help with cleaning, making beds and such, but it was hard to find someone dependable.

Jimmy noticed the sad expression and asked, "Is something wrong? Did I do something?"

"No, no, my dear boy. I was just ... contemplating the loss of my independence. I'm getting too old to care for the house, small as it is, by myself. I can't find help that I trust, so ... I'm going to have to move into an apartment." He sighed.

Jimmy found that his mouth often over-ran his brain, and this was one of those times. "But ... Well ... I could move in with you. That is, Mom and I are always arguing about the dumbest stuff and she won't compromise. I have to give her all my pay, except for an allowance and she ... well. Oh, my gosh. I didn't ... that is ... well, shit." He hid his blush behind a hand.

Ducky, for his part, brightened. "James Palmer. If you meant that, I accept. I'm sure we'll rub along quite well. You're a grown man. I need a companion, helper, and general dogsbody. You'll do admirably."

Jimmy also brightened. "I can pay some rent. And, if you don't want too much, I can get a good start on paying off my school loans. And it's closer. And I can drive you, or you can drive me, or we can take turns."

Ducky silenced this babble-fest by patting Jimmy on the arm. "You'll not pay rent. You'll pay your due by doing all the chores that are beyond me. The gardening, mowing, cleaning gutters. I'll also leave most of the kitchen cleanup to you. Quite selfish on my part but I do so hate it. However, I'll be most displeased if you put Mother's best china in the dish-washing machine."

Jimmy sputtered a bit indignantly. "The damask rose with the gold accents? I'd never. It's too pretty and much too valuable. It has to be hand-washed."

"Exactly. Do you need anything for tonight?" Ducky didn't look forward to driving all the way out to Jimmy's mother's place.

The rest of the group, realizing that this was a bit private, ignored them with all the aplomb of people used to living in close quarters. The only privacy to be had in barracks was provided by fellow enlisted ignoring what was going on.

Tim smiled a bit, even upset as he was; Jimmy really needed to get away from his Mother. She loved him, no one would deny that, but she also smothered him. Ducky needed help to live alone. When his mother had been alive there had been various caregivers in and out, but now that she was gone, he had to manage alone. Jimmy was perfect. They got along well together. Jimmy was used to Ducky's odd ways. And he was perfectly capable of managing the small house, or calling someone to help him. Something that Ducky didn't seem to be able to bring himself to do.

So after a bit of wrangling on Remy's part, Jimmy agreed to go to Ducky's house for the night. Remy detailed Dean to get him in the morning, take him to his mother's house and help him pack up his things. The SUV would hold everything he owned.

Tim was listening to all this a bit muzzily. He was still shocky and cold. But, while Ducky and Jimmy had been getting organized, Remy and Cosmo had been fixing soup. Tony and Gibbs had gotten Tim wrapped in blankets and tucked in on the couch with a hot water bottle at his feet.

Ducky eyed Tim, smiled at the rest of the room and announced, "Well, he seems well enough. We need to get sorted."

Remy nodded. "Fine, Doc. I see it this way. Tim, here at AJ's. Jimmy, with you at your place. Me, Dean, Cosmo and Gibbs at his. I've got to find someplace to live, off base. Housing is making me nuts."

Gibbs just shrugged. "Get your shit and move in with us." He glanced at Cosmo and Dean. They both nodded so it was a done deal. Remy was now a resident at Gibbs' place. Gibbs smiled in a way that Tony had never seen. He, Gibbs, was realizing that a house full of people just made him feel better.

Tim couldn't help the look he gave Tony. Tony just looked back for a moment then said, "You're welcome here, Tim. As long as you need. For good, if that's what you want."

Tim nodded. "Thanks, Tony. I really appreciate it. Why don't we just see how it works for a bit. I think ..." he sighed. "I'm really tired."

Tony walked over to tuck the throw around Tim better. "Go to sleep. We'll worry about stuff later. I'll bring up the last of your things from your car, make sure it's locked up. Sleep." He looked at the other men. "Tomorrow, we run."

Gibbs gathered his roomies with a glance. "We need to get out of here. Soup's on the stove, AJ. See Tim eats?"

Tony nodded. "I can smell it. Canned stuff but still. You guys go on. I need you, I'll call."

Jimmy nodded. "See Dean in the morning? At 0600 for a run." Tony nodded and Jimmy began explaining as he escorted Ducky out the door.

Ducky, for his part, was delighted. He really did need a bit of help and it was lonely in that house after dark. Jimmy could be annoying but so could he. It beat living with his mother, or alone, to flinders.

Jimmy was also delighted. He'd been wanting to move out again for ages but finding compatible roommates was hard. And rent was through the roof, or the housing was in a neighborhood that was more hood than neighbor. He wasn't looking forward to speaking to his mother tomorrow afternoon, but that was for tomorrow.

Ducky went to the passenger side of the Morgan. "You drive."

"But ... Dr Mallard ... you never ... I mean ..." Jimmy accepted the keys but stood by the rear fender.

"I know. But you'll be driving her more often than not. Especially at night. I need to see how you do with a clutch."

"Oh, okay. I'm fairly good with a clutch. I learned from ... um ... one of Mom's boyfriends. He had a VW. German clutch but ..." he shut up at Ducky's glare and got in.

After starting up, he let the engine idle for a few minutes, Ducky didn't say anything about that. Then he carefully eased the car into reverse and slid the clutch in. It engaged without a jerk and the car eased into the lane smoothly. Ducky settled back and relaxed. "Very good, my boy. Excellent. Let's go home."

.

Tim looked up when Tony nudged his feet. "Um ... yeah?" he sat up with a groan.

"Soup. You need to eat." Tony waited until Tim was upright and awake then handed him the soup in a mug. "Watch the spoon."

Tim nodded. "Thanks, Tony." He sipped the hot broth then sat and stared into the mug for a moment. "Why am I cold? I mean, I know I'm sorta shocky, but why cold?"

Tony settled in the recliner. "Don't know. Even in the desert, you get cold. Something to do with blood pressure, I guess. Drink the soup and get some rest. You'll feel better."

"Okay." Tim finished the soup, which was mostly broth and put the mug on the coffee table. "I'll get my stuff ... later."

Tony just waited until Tim was asleep and went down to carry his boxes up. It didn't take him long to bring up the box and suitcase. He, too, carried them at one time. He realized that this was all that had been saved from his apartment.

After a quick rummage, Tony took the suitcase into the spare bedroom and left the box by his entertainment center. They'd either buy new stuff or integrate Tim's stuff with his. He wondered if he should put Tim's clothing into the laundry but decided to ask first. He went back to the living room to see if Tim was awake, but he was snoring softly and Tony didn't have the heart to wake him up. He'd wake on his own and feel better for the rest.

An hour later, Tim was beginning to stir restlessly. Tony, treating Tim like a man who'd just come from overseas, patted him on the foot until he grunted, "Huh?"

"Tim, you with me?" Tony gave Tim time to get with it.

"Mmmm, yeah. What time is it?"

"Just 1530. You wanna go back to sleep or deal with your stuff?" Tony didn't really care what Tim wanted to do, he just needed to know. They had to decide if they were going out to eat or having carry-in.

"I ... give me a sec to unscramble my brains." Tim sat, with the throw still wrapped around his shoulders. He rubbed his face to wake himself up and realized that he hurt. "Ow! Man, I hurt."

Tony, feeling the effects of the new exercise program, agreed. "Me, too. But, give it a week. You'll either feel better or feel like you're gonna die."

Tim eyed him sourly. "Well, gee, sunshine, thanks a whole big bunch."

"Sorry. Now, I brought your stuff in. There's this box.," he pointed to the box of equipment by the entertainment center. "And a suitcase. I put that in the guest room. Your room, if you want. At least until you find something you like. Or until one of us kills the other. Your choice."

Tim stood. "I'll stay, thanks. I'm sick of living alone and it's not good for you either. We'll see how it goes. Shower." He sniffed his pits. "Ugh! Seriously."

Tony laughed. "Okay. I'm going to fix something to eat. I'm starved. You want?"

"Please. I better eat something. I really don't feel so good. Just shock and ... not sure what." Tim headed for the bathroom.

Tony muttered, "I bet, shock. Don't see how you're doin' as well as you are. Get burned out and just take it like a man? Serious balls there." He headed into the kitchen to make something to eat.

Tony decided on some of the fresh vegetable soup and a loaf of fresh-baked bread. The soup had been easy; a couple of cartons of stock, frozen peas, corn, carrots and green beans, fresh onion, garlic, and potato, a spoon of thick tomato paste from a tube and ... soup. The bread was a pre-made loaf that he just took out of the wrapper and popped into the oven. The whole thing was on the make in less than ten minutes, the soup would be done as soon as it was hot, the package said the bread took 30 min.

Tim got into the shower and scrubbed himself. He could smell smoke. He was sure it was just an illusion, until he got a whiff of his clothing as he got out of the shower, they stank of sour smoke. "Ok, I'm not crazy. Ugh." He wadded his things up and shoved them into a trash sack he dug out from under the sink. This would contain the smell until he could wash them.

He wandered back to the kitchen, drying his hair on a towel. He'd found a terry robe on the back of the bathroom door and put it on. It was warm and fell to below his knees. "Tony. Hey, I borrowed your robe. I hope you don't mind, but it's really warm."

Tony looked over his shoulder then chuckled. "I don't mind. Father sent it to me. You can have it. I don't like it. He told me how much he paid for it and ... well, it just pissed me off. He always thinks he can buy me. Not happening. Now ... bread. Veggie soup. Coffee or tea?"

Tim settled at the table. "I don't care. Whatever you're having. Then, I need to get myself ... settled. You tell me where I can put my stuff."

Tony interrupted him, "I don't really care. You deal with the electronics any way you want. As long as I've still got internet and cable TV, it's all good. Here. Eat." Tony put a bowl of soup and a slice of hot, buttered bread in front of Tim. "And don't over-do. You're still a bit out of it."

Tim thought about that for a moment then said, "Low blood sugar. Once I eat, I'll be fine." He took a sip of the soup. "Mmmm, good. Scratch?"

Tony shrugged, "Sort of. Stock from a box, some herbs and frozen stuff. Bread is half baked from a bakery and finished off here."

"It's good." Tim finished his first bowl and held it out. "Please, sir, might I have some more?" He managed a hopeful look.

Tony cracked up. "Oliver Twist? Good ref. Here." He took the bowl and refilled it. "Eat all you want. And we need to set up a chore list and house rules. Gibbs did it with Cosmo and Dean. It's a good idea."

"You're right. And first rule is, it's your house. Your name is the only one on the lease." Tim wasn't about to take advantage.

Tony shook his head. "No, you're paying half so you get a say. We need to divide up chores and make a list of ... stuff."

Tim eyed Tony for a moment then nodded. "Ok. Um ... how are you with laundry?"

"Fair. And I don't mind washing and folding. But you ask me to iron and we'll have words." He grinned.

Tim laughed softly. "Uniforms. Mom hated ironing them. Father would find some fault to pick. She finally told him he was high enough in the ranks to pay it done. I don't mind. As long as you don't get picky on me."

Tony shrugged. "All my uniforms are permanent press. They're cotton but don't wrinkle. My dress, I have dry cleaned. Whites? Don't even go there." He made a face.

"Yeah. Whites. Holy hell. Who's the moron who thought white was a good idea?"

Tony shook his head. "No idea. I look good in 'em but they're hell to keep clean. And one smudge and you're on KP forever. So. House rules."

Tim thought for a minute. "No women. You date, you fuck her at her place. And we don't eat each other's treats. I hate it when I come home wanting something and someone else has eaten it."

"You had a roommate before?" Tony didn't remember Tim ever talking about a roommate.

"Sarah. She'd eat up something she knew I liked, just for spite. She's my sister and I do love her. But I'm not blind to her faults."

"Ok. I'm not that sort but we do need to make some sort of arrangement. I keep all my snacks in the pantry. It's not big, barely four shelves in a module beside the oven. We can move stuff around a bit and each of us have one shelf. The other's for ingredients." Tony gave Tim an inquiring look.

"That's good. And each of us have a crisper drawer and half a shelf in the fridge. The other shelves for condiments and things we share."

Tony nodded his agreement. "Good. As to chores. We each do our own laundry, but if I've only got part of a load, or you do, we combine loads. Laundry detergent and all that comes out of the house budget. I hate to dust, but I'll run the vacuum."

Tim drank the broth out of his bowl before answering, "I don't mind dusting. I'll keep the computers up and running and all the TV stuff squared away. We each keep our own room clean and take turns cooking."

Tony thought about that for a moment then asked, "You gonna dust my room?"

Tim shook his head. "No. We're each responsible for keeping our bedrooms clean. And picking up after ourselves. Turns on the bath?"

"We can make up a dry board and check-off list so we don't mess up. I think we've got it. More soup?" Tony got up to get himself a third bowl.

"No. I'm full. Thanks, Tony. Um ... we need to go to my place ... old place. See if we can salvage anything. I didn't have much left in the apartment as I was looking for a new, bigger place. But I'd like to see if I can find a few things."

"Okay. Tomorrow?" Tony really didn't want to try to get back to the apartment complex today.

"Yeah. Tomorrow. After we go to the gym. I think I'll really need the exercise. I'm gonna lay down again. Okay?" Tim stretched and sighed.

"Sure. There's a double feature coming on on ... some channel. Creature From the Black Lagoon and Creature From the Black Lagoon Returns. Love old horror stuff." Tony ambled into the living room and turned on the TV.

"That's good. I kinda like 'em too. Mindless entertainment is good right now."

.

Gibbs woke to the smell of bacon, eggs and… "Biscuits. Man, I'm gonna get fat at this rate." He got out of bed, didn't bother to shower, as he was going to be very sweaty soon, and went down to grab his share before Remy got down.

Dean greeted him with a smile and a cup of coffee. "Here. Gym first, then we have to go to McGee's old place and sift through the mess. See if we can rescue anything.."

"Right. Good. We're not due in until noon, Vance OK'ed the time" Gibbs gulped coffee and grabbed a plate. Cosmo just moved out of the way.

The same thing was going on at Tony's place.

Tim woke up a bit confused as to where he was, then flopped back in his bed with a groan.

Tony stuck his head in the door. "Okay there?"

"Yeah. Just ... ugh. I'm really not looking forward to this. I hate going into a gym."

Tony blinked at that for a moment then asked, "Why?"

"Musclebound knuckleheads. They all seem to think that I'm ... weak. Then ... I just leave. I don't intend to have to fight just to prove I belong." Tim dragged himself out of bed.

Tony shook his head. "You've been going to the wrong gym then. But ... you won't have that problem anymore." He stretched, displaying a flat abdomen and rather impressive six-pack.

Tim scowled at that. "Showoff."

"Damn right. Food." Tony led the way to the kitchen. "I made sausage egg casserole."

Tim thought for a second, while he helped himself to a big spoonful. "Shouldn't we wait until after we work out?"

"No. We gonna have time to rest in the field? Answer, no. You might puke the first time or two, but your body will get used to it." He eyed Tim's plate. "But you might want to keep to one spoon." He took a good sized serving himself. "And it heats up nice for the second day. Makes great breakfast burritos."

Tim sighed. "I love burritos. You always bring the best ones in. I've asked you for the restaurant before." He chewed for a minute. "They're all home-made, aren't they?"

"They are." Tony acknowledged. He looked at his watch. "We better scarf this down. The gym is thirty minutes away, if traffic is good."

Tim looked at his phone for a moment. "It's not. Two accidents between here and there. Traffic is at a crawl."

They grabbed their bags and hustled out.

They took Tony's huge SUV. It didn't make that much difference in the long run, but they both felt a bit safer in it than they would have in Tim's diminutive Boxter.