Chapter 48
Gibbs knocked politely on the door. When it opened, he managed to avoid smiling at the almost resigned expression on Tamara Carew's face.
"Yes, Agent Gibbs?"
"I'm just here to get my things and get out of your house," Gibbs said.
Tamara's expression was a combination of surprise and relief.
"Oh?"
"Tim is back. The operation is over. No reason for me to be here."
Tamara stood back to let him come in.
"Well, you're welcome to pack up."
Gibbs stepped inside and headed for the spare room. Then, he paused and turned back.
"Thank you," he said. "I know you didn't like that I invaded your home."
Tamara's expression changed slightly and she gave a half smile.
"I understood. Thank you."
"What for?"
"For accepting Levi's debility. He hates it, but he's mostly accepted it... except when he can't, either because he feels he has to do more or because he feels that others expect him to do more. The very fact that he was able to admit when he couldn't manage things means that he trusted you enough to admit it. I don't know how long I'll have him for, but I want it to be as long as possible."
"Where is he?" Gibbs asked. He was sure that Levi wouldn't like the blunt description of his weakness.
Tamara smiled. "Taking a nap."
Gibbs smiled back. "I see. I'll be quiet."
He went into the spare room and packed up his stuff. Then, he headed back out and for the front door.
"Jethro."
Gibbs stopped and turned around. Levi was there. It was actually impressive. He had been sleeping, but you'd never guess it to look at him. He was calm, collected and gave no impression of being tired. No admission of weakness, not even in how he carried himself. And yet, even with all that, his expression was still more open than it used to be. He was inquiring, perhaps wondering if their truce was now over since the immediate need had been satisfied.
Gibbs wasn't sure about that himself at the moment. Did he want to continue his acceptance of Levi Carew?
"Job is done. I'm headed home," Gibbs said.
The eyebrow went up. "Are you? Or just long enough to drop your stuff off?"
Gibbs found himself smiling in response.
"Maybe," he said.
Levi smiled back, but it wasn't the same kind of congenial smile Gibbs had seen before. This was more professional.
"I'll be making a stop at the CIA later on. If anything comes of it, I'll let you know."
"What is it?"
There was a knowing smile that was almost annoying. Levi knew more than Gibbs did and he was proud of that and he wouldn't explain himself if he didn't need to because he could get away with it. He was daring Gibbs to say something, but he did answer. Sort of.
"Just a few matters that I want to check out. If they result in anything significant, I'll pass it on to you and I'll even let you decide what to tell Tim. This time."
And somehow, in that moment, Gibbs saw what Ducky had seen. Tony would probably never be able to be easy around Levi. He would probably never really forgive the CIA for what Tim had gone through, but even if Gibbs wouldn't necessarily seek out Levi's company, he knew that the temporary truce had become a permanent armistice, an agreement to end hostilities. He now knew Levi too well to maintain the previous animosity (even if he could still be infuriating and enjoyed that ability far too much). Things had changed between them. They didn't even have to say it.
But Gibbs smiled and Levi returned the expression, the wariness gone as he seemed to realize the same thing Gibbs had.
"I won't say you're welcome back anytime," Levi said, "but if your visit is short, you can come back without an invitation."
"Levi!" Tamara said from behind him. She sounded scandalized.
And Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle just a little. Then, he set down his bag and held out his hand. Levi looked surprised.
"Thanks," Gibbs said.
A slight hesitation and then Levi shook the proffered hand. Gibbs could feel the weakness in his grip. Levi couldn't hide it completely. It was there and it would never get better, but he was working within his limits. Mostly.
"You're welcome," Levi said.
Then, Gibbs picked up his bag and left the house. He got in his car and drove home.
...just long enough to drop off his stuff and then head to the hospital.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Zahara sat with Ahmed, holding his hand and wondering if she should go and get her family or if she should stay here with her family. How would Ahmed react to Tim? They all knew that it wasn't anything Ahmed had done that led to this. It wasn't anything Tim had done, either, but it was because those people had wanted to get to Tim that they had done this. Would Ahmed be able to make that distinction? She hoped so.
The door behind her opened and Zahara found herself tensing just a little.
"How is he, Zahara?"
She turned around, surprised. Sure enough, Gibbs was standing at the door.
"I had not expected to see you right now," Zahara said.
Gibbs smiled. "Thought I'd check in. How is he?"
"He will heal, inshallah," she said. "But I do not know how long it will take. He was hurt...more than just his body." She looked back at Ahmed. "Like Tim."
For a moment there was nothing but silence. Then, Zahara took a breath and turned back to Gibbs.
"Will they come after us again?" she asked. "I cannot ask Ahmed. He doesn't know. I cannot ask Tim. It will cause him pain. Please, will they come after us again?"
"These specific people?" Gibbs asked. "No, probably not."
"Are you sure?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow and appeared to be thinking for a moment.
"Not completely," he said, "but I'm mostly sure."
Zahara tried to read any sign of prevarication, not that Gibbs was given to that anyway, but she could see none.
"Could I ask something from you?" she asked.
"Of course."
"Could you ask Tim to come and work in your basement? Not tonight. Not tomorrow night, but the weekend? Could you give him something else to think about just for now?"
Gibbs smiled gently and nodded.
"I can do that. I have a project he can work on."
"Thank you. I don't know where I should be now. My brother needs me, but my family needs me, too."
Gibbs walked over to her and crouched down in front of her.
"We're watching out as long as you need us to. We'll be here. If you need us to be with your brother, we will. If you need us to be with your husband and your kids, we will. No one will be alone. Not you, not Tim, not Ahmed."
Zahara felt tears in her eyes but she smiled and nodded and took hold of Gibbs' hand with her own free hand.
"Thank you," she said. Then, finally, she asked the question she'd wanted to ask for years, ever since she'd first met him but had never had the courage to ask. "What do you want me to call you?"
Gibbs' eyebrow went up in a silent question.
"I have never dared ask before, but when I speak to you, I don't know what name to use. Tim calls you Gibbs, but it seems strange to do that even though many do. Ducky calls you Jethro, but few others do that even though it's your name. You don't seem to want to be called Mister and you're no longer an agent. Levi said that I could call him whatever I chose when I asked him, but even those who are your friends refer to you so differently. I don't know if you ever noticed that I have rarely used a name when speaking to you, but I have always felt...strange."
Gibbs smiled at that.
"You can call me whatever you want to. Jethro is fine."
"Thank you. I'm sorry I waited so long to ask."
Then, Zahara felt Ahmed's hand tighten its grip and she turned back to him.
"Do you want me to bring your family back here?" Gibbs asked softly.
Zahara looked at Ahmed as his eyes opened and found her.
"No," she murmured. "I will come out when he is ready."
Gibbs didn't respond, but she heard him leave the room.
"Ahmed, do you understand me?" she asked, trying English now that the look in his eyes was more aware.
For a long moment, she was afraid that he really was still too wounded to understand, but then, he squeezed her hand and nodded.
"I understand," he whispered. "We are safe?"
"Yes," Zahara said. "We are safe and far away from them."
"Are you sure?" Ahmed asked. "They seemed... strong."
"Yes, I am sure," Zahara said, although she wasn't. For now, reality didn't fully matter. It was enough that they were safe for the moment. The details could wait until Ahmed wasn't still in a hospital bed, recuperating from his torture.
"Good," Ahmed said and closed his eyes again, although he was still holding tightly to her hands.
"Ahmed, I wish to see how Jonathan and Salma are doing. Can you wait here alone?"
There was a flash of fear in his eyes but then it was gone and he nodded.
"May I bring them back to see you? They have been asking about you."
"Will they wish to see me?" he asked softly.
"Would you have wished to see our father if he had survived the accident, even if he had been injured?"
"He was our father."
Zahara leaned forward and hugged Ahmed.
"You are family, Ahmed. You are their uncle. Jonathan has asked about you. He loves you."
For a long moment, there was no reply. Zahara knew that Ahmed still felt pain and fear that he didn't wish to express. She also knew that there would be awkwardness if Tim came as well. But the healing had to start somewhere and if it could start now, that was the best thing for all of them. She feared losing any of her family and she wouldn't let it happen if she could possibly avoid it.
"Please, Ahmed?"
Then, she felt him nod.
"Gracias, manito," she whispered. "There is someone watching the room and he will keep you safe. I'll be right back."
Zahara let Ahmed go and left the room. She hurried to the waiting room and saw Tim doing origami with Salma and Jonathan watching. There were already a number of folded objects scattered around, but Tim seemed all right which was good. Not great but all right.
"Mama!" Salma said, seeing her first. She jumped off the chair and ran over to hug her. Zahara knelt down and hugged her daughter.
"Hello, did you sleep at all?"
"Some," Tim said as Jonathan also ran over to hug Zahara. "Enough for now."
"Mama, Uncle Ahmed better?" Jonathan asked eagerly.
"Not yet, Jonathan, but he is awake. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes!" Jonathan said and clapped his hands.
"All right, but you cannot be loud right now. And he is still hurt so no jumping on the bed, all right?" Zahara asked.
"Yes, Mama."
"Come, then."
Zahara stood up and held out her hands. Salma and Jonathan each took one and then Zahara looked at Tim. He was obviously conflicted about joining them and she knew why.
"Come, Tim," she said. That was all.
Tim hesitated and then nodded. They all walked back to Ahmed's room. When they got there, Ahmed's eyes were closed, but there was enough tension in his body that Zahara knew he was awake and he might be afraid of who was approaching.
"Ahmed, we're here," she said.
"Khālī!" Jonathan said happily.
Ahmed's eyes opened and he managed to smile slightly at Jonathan's joy. Zahara could see the same connection the two of them had made during the visit. Jonathan truly loved his uncle and his unabashed demonstration of it touched Ahmed in a way that Zahara would never have guessed before going to Egypt.
"Hello, ibn ukht," Ahmed said, his voice a little weak but clear. "Are you well?"
"Yes, Khālī," Jonathan said. "I have magic paper. See?" He held up one of the folded papers Tim had made.
"How is it magic?" Ahmed asked.
Jonathan walked over to the bed and climbed on a chair. Then, he showed Ahmed how to pick the numbers and gradually unfold the paper until a "fortune" was revealed in the center. And Jonathan, being Jonathan, wanted to show Ahmed every possible permutation so he went through the process multiple times. Ahmed didn't protest, nor did anyone else. It was something beautifully simple in the midst of difficult complications.
When Jonathan finished the last time through, Ahmed leaned back and closed his eyes.
"You tired, Uncle?" Jonathan asked.
"Na'am, Jonathan," Ahmed said softly. There was more than tiredness in his voice, but he said nothing more.
"It's time for you to sleep, too, Jonathan," Zahara said.
Jonathan whined a little but mostly on principle. His sleep schedule hadn't yet got back to normal after the trip and their time on the run. So she urged him to get off the chair and go back to Tim who hadn't said a word and was mostly hanging back by the door. As she did, she was surprised when Ahmed reached out and caught her arm. She turned back to him quickly.
"Go home with your family," he said.
"I do not want to leave you alone, hermano," Zahara said, equally softly.
"They will be watching me?"
"Yes."
"Then, I will not be alone. You must be with your family."
Zahara covered Ahmed's hand with her own.
"Tu eres mi familia tambien," she said, feeling a little teary, knowing that Ahmed wanted her there and feeling the conflict about where she should be.
"I will be here," he said. "You can come back. Go with your family."
Zahara hugged her brother as tightly as she thought she could without hurting him. Then, she straightened and walked over to Tim.
"Ahmed wishes me to come home with you for now," she murmured as quietly as she could.
"Are you sure?" Tim asked. "We can manage."
"No, I will come home and we will help our children feel safe again. I will come back when I can."
"All right."
Salma grabbed hold of Tim's hand again and Tim lifted up Jonathan with his free hand and then left the room.
Gibbs was out in the hall.
"Boss, could you stay here?" Tim asked. "Keep an eye on things while we're getting our kids to bed?"
Gibbs looked at Zahara and then at Tim and nodded. He sat down on a chair by the door and said nothing.
"All right," Tim said. "Let's go home."
And finally, the McGee family was all together again, back at home.
