Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.
As always I would like to thank Gotta for help and support.
Chapter 14
Abby Sciuto arrived in the baggage claim area just as the carousel started moving, which meant that the suitcases and bags unloaded from the plane would soon be appearing. Smiling to herself as she glanced at her watch, she giggled happily at the fact that she had deliberately left a message giving the person collecting her the wrong flight details, which meant that he would have already been waiting for her for nearly an hour.
She had left specific instructions that he wasn't to inform the others of her return date as she had wanted to surprise them, so having now claimed her three suitcases and found an airport lackey to push her trolley, she strolled purposely to the arrange collection point only to be surprised to find no one waiting for her.
Grabbing her mobile out of her bag, Abby dialled a familiar number only for her call to go through to voicemail.
"McGee, you were supposed to meet me at the Airport an hour ago, where the hell are you?"
NCIS
"What is the meaning of this?" Vance demanded shaking the printout in his hand at the agent that was currently standing on parade in front of his desk. Vance hadn't given the agent permission to sit down, keeping him standing whilst he took his time reading the complaint.
Agent Finley finch slightly before answering "It's an official complaint, sir"
"I can see that, what I want to know is why?" Vance claimed, staring at the agent in front of him, he had thought that there would probably be some backlash once people found out about Gibbs and McGee, he was just amazed that it was happening so quickly; that and the fact that the agent had not only sent it to him but also to Secretary Jarvis, which infuriated Vance because now there would have to be an official investigation.
"Because it's obvious that the only reason McGee is even on the top team is because he's Gibbs' brother!"
NCIS
Tony stopped listening to the conversation that was taking place in the waiting room, the moment he saw Ducky and Ziva heading down the corridor to Tim's room. Deciding now was his best chance, he moved quickly to meet up with them, managing to slip in through the door just before it closed.
NCIS
Jackson Gibbs started walking back to the waiting room area. He had no idea where Ducky had gone but he had no doubt he would find someone from his son's team with whom he could leave a message for his son and then he could be on his way back to Stillwater.
He turned into the corridor that would take him to the waiting room just in time to see Ducky and Ziva entering Tim's room, followed quickly by Tony. Wondering what the sudden rush was, he walked slowly up to the observation window and watched Jethro as he gently cared for the younger man lying in the bed who suddenly seemed overwhelmed with emotion. Jackson's heart went out to the young man.
NCIS
With his consciousness now increasing Tim was becoming more aware of everything that was going on. Brad was continuing to check him over but that wasn't causing him any real concern, though the light being flashed in his eyes wasn't particularly enjoyable with the headache he currently had, no, Tim's concern was focused on the only other man in the room at the moment who was watching him intently. It wasn't that Gibbs had never watched him intently before but this was different, there was a softness that was never normally aimed in his direction and it was making him nervous.
"Boss?"
"How you feeling Tim?" Gibbs asked.
"Confused." Tim confessed, just as the doors to his room opened admitting Ducky and Ziva, with Tony slipping through the door just before it got a chance to close.
"Probie, you're awake!" Tony exclaimed excitedly, taking Tim's attention away from his boss.
"It is good to see you McGee." Ziva stated with a small smile.
"You're all okay?" Tim enquired.
"We are all fine Timothy and all the better now that we have you back with us, young man." Ducky smiled and then turned his attention to the other doctor in the room whilst picking up the clipboard and examining its contents. "How's he doing Brad?"
"Exceptionally well, other than the fact he's not following instructions." Brad stated with a smirk, to which Tim looked a little bashful, which in turn made the others smile.
"What instructions Brad?" Tony questioned.
"I don't want him talking too much right now; a one word at a time answer is plenty right now as he's only just had the ventilator removed." Brad explained.
At the same time Tony asked his question Ducky had spoken directly to Tim. "Timothy, do you remember what happened lad?"
Gibbs glared at Ducky which went unnoticed by Tim as he turned thoughtful for a moment before whispering. "Kai?"
"Yes McGee." Ziva acknowledged; when Tim went to speak again she held up her hand, having heard Brad's answer to Tony. "No Tim, let us tell you."
"We had been looking for Kai and you'd gone to meet up with….." Tony picked up the commentary, but his voice trailed off as he saw recognition on Tim's face and realised that the younger man was remembering on his own and really didn't need any more details.
It was then Tim remembered what had transpired and he gasped, as overwhelming emotions swept over him. "Amanda."
"It's okay Tim, it's over, you're safe, it's okay." Gibbs stated as soothingly as he could, while Tim's eyes filled with tears he leaned close, cupping Tim's face in his hands whilst turning it so his brother was facing and could only see him. All the while he continued with words of reassurance.
NCIS
"Arrgh." Ron grunted as Balboa pressed down heavily on his left thigh.
"Sorry" Balbo muttered completely unsympathetically, causing both Ron and Tobias to roll their eyes, before Tobias turned to take in the scene.
Thankfully the fire fight had been brief and Ron's leg the only casualty on the side of justice; the man in Tim's apartment hadn't been quite so lucky, three bullet wounds, though none of them had been fatal and the first set of EMT's that had arrived were now working on the unconscious man.
Continuing his look around Tim's apartment, Tobias shook his head in disbelief; not only could he not understand how his long term friend could let one of his team live in such an area, but also the size of the living space: it was a studio flat with one main room that wasn't very big and a small shower room off to one side.
There was an ottoman under the window which drew Tobias' attention, less than five paces and Tobias was in front of the ottoman and he lifted the lid, noting it was filled with bedding and a blow up bed. The rest of the room was taken up with a desk, a tall narrow shelving unit and the kitchen, if it could really be called that.
Tobias was pulled out of his musings by Agent Taylor, who had been using the fingerprint scanner on the suspect. "Just got a hit, it's Everett."
"Good, that's another problem sorted out." Tobias replied.
"Which hospital?" The senior EMT asked.
"Anywhere but Bethesda." Agent Balboa growled.
"Take him to the George Washington for now, we will arrange to get him transferred to Davidson prison hospital soon enough." Tobias ordered "How long to the next ambulance?"
"Should be here within the next five minutes." The EMT replied.
"You okay to wait Ron?" Tobias asked.
"Yeah." Ron replied through gritted teeth.
NCIS
Thirty minutes of waiting and Abby was losing her patience, she had called Tim's phone multiple time, each time getting more wound up by the fact he wasn't answering. Not only that but no one on Gibbs' team was answering, not even Gibbs and that had her extremely concerned that something had happened to either Gibbs Tony or Ziva whilst they'd been out in the field and Tim was just too scared to face her.
Now worried, she forked out money for a cab, something that didn't sit particularly well with her, instructing the driver to take her directly to NCIS headquarters. Once there she would find out what had happened and then deal with Tim's inability to do her bidding, whilst making sure Gibbs was made aware of Tim's shortcomings.
NCIS
The emotional storm passed and the tears dissipated for the most part, but Gibbs continued muttering words of reassurance and encouragement to Tim, leaving the younger man confused.
"What aren't you telling me?" Tim queried.
"Tim." Brad warned.
"Timothy lad, this isn't the time for you to be worrying." Ducky jumped in quickly.
"You need to rest Tim." Gibbs informed.
"And there's that." Tim responded as he pointed with his free hand at Gibbs, whilst Brad just shook his head as Tim continued to ignore his advice.
"What?" Gibbs questioned taken aback, whilst the others smirked at his shock.
"You're being nice." Tim replied.
"I can be nice." Gibbs retorted.
"Sure." Tim countered sleepily, the tone of his voice speaking the level of his disbelief, just before his eyes drifted to a close.
Gibbs looked at Ducky in a panic "It's just the next round of meds kicking in Jethro, nothing to worry about." Ducky reassured his friend, as he saw movement out of the corner of his eye; looking up he noticed Jackson watching through the window.