Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.
Chapter 19
Abby Sciuto was getting increasingly frustrated, she had rung Gibbs phone so many times she had lost count. It wasn't just Gibbs though, none of the team were answering their phones, it was like there was a conspiracy in progress. The letter detailing her new position in the forensics department was screwed up like a ball in her hand and she threw it across the room in sheer anger, being ignored was something she just wasn't used to.
It was time for action, Gibbs needed a reminder as to where his priorities should be, after all she was the favourite, something when this was all over she would make sure McGee would never forget again. Leaving the results that her so called new boss had requested, in an unsecured folder on the desk, Abby collected up her things and left the lab.
NCIS
Tim's head snapped round in surprise at the dual announcement to see Vance and Gibbs standing just inside the doorway, with Tony, Jack and Ducky just behind.
"Director?" Tim questioned, for the moment ignoring the very fact that Gibbs jet alone anyone else was even in the room.
"You really thought you'd be jobless? An agent of your skill and quality? Did you really think I'd let go of one of the best agents, our agency has ever had?" Vance questioned back in disbelief, he had known that Tim doubted himself continuously however, he had had no idea that the young man thought that he was expendable.
"I….." Tim stopped unable to find the words, everything that had happened in the last couple of days was finally catching up with him and it was all too much.
"You Agent McGee are going to follow Dr Pitt's orders to the letter" Vance sternly informed "Then when you're well enough you and I are going to have a long chat about your future at NCIS. For now I will tell you this, your position in our agency is going to get a lot stronger and I need you back at work as soon as you're cleared for desk duty." Holding his hand up he forestalled any argument that may have been heading his way from the other members of the team and Brad "I said desk duty, I know field duty clearance will require much more time, but be assured Tim you're not going anywhere and as for homeless I think your brother and father have something to say about that!"
Tim starred at the man for several moments absolutely speechless, before swallowing hard, finally regaining his voice and acknowledging what he had been told "Thank you, sir"
"Don't thank me McGee, you've earned it, now I have to get back, after all the agency doesn't run itself." Vance stated as he headed for the door throwing out one last piece of information before the door closed behind him. "Gibbs you're on leave for as long as you need, Agent DiNozzo I expect you back in the office tomorrow."
"Wow" Tim whispered as he starred at the closed door
"Honestly Timothy did you really think any of us would let you go through this alone?" Ducky probed, when Tim looked at him Ducky could see how close Tim's emotions were to the surface "It's time to share the burden you've carried alone for so long Timothy."
Whilst Ducky had been talking Jack had made his way closer to the bed nearer the bed, he could tell Tim was reaching his emotional breaking point and didn't wait to get his son wrapped up in a hug that he obviously badly needed. The moment strong arms wrapped around him, Tim felt a deeply buried memory of a similar hug triggering the sensation of being loved a feeling he hadn't felt for so long. The recollection was so strong it broke the barrier he had built up over the years to protect himself and Tim was unable to stop the tears from flowing.
"That's it Tim, let it out." Jack encouraged, sitting himself on the edge of bed, pulling his newly found son closer "We're here, you're not alone, not anymore."
Gibbs watched, as his father broke down the barrier his brother had hide behind secretly for so long, whilst he walked to the other side of the bed gently sitting down opposite his father, ready to be there when Tim needed him. Tony and Ducky exchanged glances, smiling at the scene before them, as they watched Tim finally allow himself to be swept up in the support that he had from his newly family, before continuing watch until the emotional rollercoaster came to an end and an emotionally spent Tim fell asleep in the arms of his father and brother.
NCIS
Delilah and Ziva return to headquarters with renewed determination to get to the bottom of everything, in order to help their friend/colleague, meeting up with Balboa Team along with the combined HR and legal department, they were quickly brought up to date with what had been discovered so far.
"Its' the money side of things that has us most baffled" Balboa informed as he finished his update.
"How?" Ziva questioned
"Well, we can't find any record of the court order in the system, it's simply not there." Carl Brent informed
"I don't understand" Delilah commented
"Right now neither do we. I've requested search warrants covering a month each side of when the court order was issued, we're currently waiting for it to be signed off. In the meantime we've left messages for Jim Ward on his house and mobile phone" Balboa stated
"Have you a copy of the letter sent from the legal office?" Delilah
"Better DiNozzo gave me the original as we were leaving Tim's studio flat" Tobias replied holding up and flapping a white envelope
"Great, let me work my magic." Delilah suggested
"Sorry but that letters nearly seven years old, what's that going to give us?" Carl asked
"Oh, you'll be surprised." Delilah smile.
NCIS
Tim stirred before opening his eyes to the sight of Gibbs watching him. "Hey"
"Hey, how you feeling?" Gibbs questioned
"I'm okay" Tim replied, Gibbs raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything so Tim asked a question of his own "Where's Jackson?"
"Getting Coffee with Ducky. Think we've got some talking to do" Gibbs responded
"Not really" Tim said as he tried to sit up but winced and stilled.
"Here" Gibbs said as he pass Tim the controls to rise the bed as he light chastised him "Brad told you to use this remember, you're not supposed to be straining your abdomen at the moment."
Tim just looked at Gibbs wondering why the man even cared about what he did, he never had in the past, but the sympathetic look he was getting was not helping his nerves. "What?"
"Why didn't you tell me, Tim?" Gibbs asked, as he shift in the uncomfortable plastic chair, his back to the door.
"Tell you what?"
"I think you know what Tim." Gibbs replied simply
"Really? Since when did you care?"
"I've always cared Tim"
"Yeah right" Tim scoffed, as he fiddle with the control unit to raise the bed
"Tim" Gibbs started but Tim cut him off bitterly
"You've never care about me, not like the others."
"You didn't seem to need me like the others Tim, didn't mean that I didn't care."
"Really? Wanna try that again." Tim challenged
"Look I was proud of you Tim, you seem so much more together than the others and I'll admit it Tim, I screwed up, should have taken the time to talk to you, I get that now, Tony's chats have been very enlightening." Gibbs admitted, neither of them taking any notice of the noisy footsteps that could be heard in the hallway
"So what you think you think that by admitting it solves everything?" Tim questioned
"No of course not, I'm just asking you to give me a chance, not just as your boss, though I don't think I'm that anymore from what Vance said earlier, but as your brother let me help"
"Why so you can make yourself feel better about all the crap you dished out?" Tim countered pointedly, just as the door to his room opened
"How dare you challenge Gibbs!" Abby ranted as she stormed into the room.
NCIS
"You know none of you needed to come down here for this" Delilah stated as she and the rest of the group walked into the lab, only to find it eerily quiet.
"Where's Abby?" Ziva questioned
"No idea, certainly didn't remember her asking for permission to skip out" Delilah replied, shaking her head as she spotted the unsecured folder on the desk.
"What wrong?"
"She left results from the evidence test I requested unattended." Delilah held up the folder and sighed "Never mind, I'll deal with that later, let's get started shall we?"
Don't worry I haven't forgotten Mexico Liberation from Hell, just been having some ideas, which will mean doing a complete re-write, so I'll go back to it once I finish this one. I also hope to get a new chapter of my other profiles story up before the New Year, mock up's written just needs bulking up.
Hope you all have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. GBTA-Geek