Hello readers. Sorry for taking so long to update. Life always finds a way to keep me from writing and working on these. I'm gonna try to power through as best as I can to get them down in a timely manner without sacrificing quality but as you know, life tends to not want to play along.

I had this chapter mostly done for awhile but after some thinking and discussions, I decided to change a few things I originally had planned for this story. It won't affect the overall story im trying to tell but some of the minor things I am changing and hopefully I can integrate them into the story smoothly.

As always, I don't own anything except any original characters and I'm do this purely for fun.

Chapter 6

Tim opened his eyes and looked at nothing in particular in a dim room. He guessed it was early in the morning from how much light came through the curtained window. He looked over to his side to see Delilah asleep, facing him. Her face peaceful as if easy for her to be asleep.

He on the other hand; his body felt heavy, and he felt exhausted. His nightmare was a jumble in his mind at this point, and the demeaning voices sounded distant but still hurt, though at least it was a minor pain at this point.

"How are you feeling hun?"

Tim looked over at Delilah who was now awake and looking at him with concern.

"Bleh," was all Tim could think of, "but not as bad, I think."

"As long as you're getting better. You will feel better soon."

"I hope so. Fever dreams do not mix well with whatever is going on with this other world dream stuff going on."

"What did you dream about?"

"At first it was just me alternating between here and that other world with Kelly."

"Is she taking care of you over there," Delilah asked as she pushed herself to her elbows, "You called me Kelly at one point."

"Yeah, she is," Tim told her, "Apparently I texted her and she came over with medicine."

"Good, I'm glad she's taking care of you too over there."

"Also I guess I didn't realize when I fell asleep which is why I think I thought you were her. I would be talking to her and mid-sentence she'd suddenly stop, then I look up and it's you looking at me."

"I hate when I fall asleep and start dreaming without knowing. I can only imagine how confusing it would be with your thing."

"It wasn't just the two of you either. I woke up to Ziva at one point.

"Oh? Really, Ziva?"

"I accidentally told her that I love her and she said it back as if it was natural to say."

"And you don't believe you are a ladies man?"

Tim raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a look that said "really?" Delilah replied by giving him a smirk in return.

"I also…"Tim hesitated, "dreamed of Tony and Abby."

A dark look flashed across Delilah's face at the mention of their names.

"I don't think they were real though," Tim quickly said, "Not like Kelly. I think they were just dreams, or nightmares I should say."

"Is that what had you tossing and turning last night? You kept saying 'Stop it. Stop it.' What did they do?"

"They were…. being Tony and Abby except worse. Tony was being demeaning, saying how I was lucky to be able to get with you and Kelly and how I could never get with Ziva because I'm not a real man and they need a real man, like him. Abby accused me of saying her opinion doesn't matter and that I cheated on her. They were just non-stop."

"Even with them gone, they are still causing problems for you. At least they were just in your dreams this time. They can't do anything anymore."

Tim nodded his head. He believed her but also wouldn't be surprised if the two did show up in their lives again. Tony was demoted and transferred for his conduct but was not terminated so he is still with NCIS. Although Tim was told about rumors that Tony started acting up again and may not be with NCIS soon. Abby on the other hand was fired and still has an upcoming trial facing criminal charges. He was surprised and grateful that Gibbs eventually left her side and defended Tim and Delilah against her but he knew there was a chance both will have to deal with her again until the trials were over.

"Gibbs was there too," Tim added now that he was thinking of him, "he took their side."

"What did he say?"

"He believed Tony's lie about me not obeying an order from him and took Abby's side when she told him that I said that she doesn't matter. He called me incompetent and said I was insubordinate. That he was going to replace me. He then ordered me to break up with Kelly.

I tried to explain but I couldn't talk, they just kept repeating 'Incompetent, loser, bad McGee' over and over again. I swear I almost hear it again right now."

"It was just a nightmare and they can't hurt you Tim. They are all very wrong and you know it."

"I guess."

"Nope, say it," Delilah said as she placed a hand on his chest, "They are wrong."

"They are wrong," Tim repeated, earning a smile on Delilah's face and a light pat on his chest.

"Good Tim."

Tim let out a chuckle at her words and was smiling back, "Don't do that."

Delilah grinned as she let out a small chuckle herself, "As you wish, hun."

Xxx

Sometime later Tim snorted awake from his afternoon nap. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and saw that it was just after two, meaning he slept an hour.

He wanted to stay awake but his heavy body was telling him to sleep more. At least he didn't have another nightmare.

He heard a door open and close in the distance. Looking around, he saw that he was back in his old apartment and figured it was Kelly outside his bedroom.

He closed his eyes and laid his head back as he felt his head getting stuffy again.

There was a knock at the door followed by it opening. Tim cracked an eye to see a familiar feminine person walking toward him.

"Hey Kelly," he said as he closed his eyes again.

"Kelly?" said an unfamiliar voice, causing Tim to raise his head up and look at his visitor, "I guess I should take that as a compliment that I look similar to my daughter."

Standing in front of him was an older slim woman with red hair that had slight streaks of gray showing in them that went past her shoulders . Her face looked similar to Kelly but older and a couple more lines on them. Taking her in, he could see some of both the similarities and differences of mother and daughter.

"Though I don't think I can pull off blonde hair," she said as she went to Tim's nightstand and grabbed the thermometer resting on it, "how she can withstand destroying her hair like that is beyond me."

"Sh-Shannon?" Tim was finally able to say.

"That's correct," Shannon replied as she held out the thermometer for Tim who accepted it into his mouth, "I'm sorry I didn't call Tim. Kelly said you've been sleeping a lot and I didn't want to risk waking you. She called me a while ago saying that she wouldn't be able to come during her lunch and asked me to check up on you.

She explained how you texted her yesterday asking for her help since you couldn't drive anywhere yourself and didn't want to bother the team."

The thermometer beeped and she pulled it out of Tim's mouth and read it.

"99. That's good, you're getting better," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed, "Kelly and Ducky were worried you may have to go to the hospital. Kelly was especially worried, saying she came by while you were having a bad nightmare."

"Oh, yeah, Tim replied softly, looking away.

"Want to talk about it hun?"

Tim looked at her briefly, surprised how her "hun" sounded similar to Delilah's. He then shook his head carefully at her.

"Just…people who were supposed to be friends, not being friends," he simply told her.

Shannon nodded her head, giving him a motherly look.

"Speaking of friends," she said after a moment, "You and Kelly have gotten close."

"She's a great friend," Tim said, trying to not give anything away.

Shannon gave him a look that Tim recognized as the one Gibbs used that looked like he was looking right through you.

"I'm happy that you have become such good friends. She needed some good friendship after the debacle with her exes. I swear, she knows how to pick the worse ones. So it's good she finally found a good one."

"Oh, we're not– we are just friends Shannon. That's all," Tim quickly said. He then realized he called her Shannon instead of Mrs. Gibbs but somehow it also felt natural.

"Mm-hmm," Shannon replied with a smirk, "Well nonetheless I'm glad you and her have become such good friends. I brought you a home cooked meal if you're hungry by the way."

"That would be great. Thank you."

Tim stayed quiet as he contemplated asking what was on his mind then decided to just ask it.

"Is… Gibbs ok?" he asked tentatively.

"Jethro? Yeah, he's fine," Shannon told him, "Nobody else on the team seemed to have caught what you have. It seems like you're the unlucky one unfortunately."

"Yeah, unlucky me."

"I will admit I am a bit thankful since Jethro and I have a special dinner tonight. We are celebrating the anniversary of our first date."

"Oh? Happy anniversary."

"Thanks, we used to do it before we got married but we just kept it going after too."

"Then it's really fortunate that he didn't get sick or anything…"

Shannon nodded, smiling while Tim's mind came alive with activity and several thoughts entered it.

Xxx

Later that night, Tim took advantage that he was back in his world to take a trip to Gibbs house. Delilah protested, saying he should be recovering but Tim was insistent though Delilah still didn't understand his explanation.

So now Tim was entering Gibbs house as Delilah waited in the car. Even though he knew he didn't need to knock, he knocked anyways before stepping in when there was no answer.

"Gibbs," he called out but received no response.

Following his gut, he went to the basement door to find it open.

"Gibbs," he called again down the stairs.

"Down here," called out a gruff voice.

Tim went down the stairs and found Gibbs standing by his boat and sanding the wood. The first thing Tim noticed was the bottle of bourbon and a half empty glass sitting nearby. Looking at Gibbs, Tim could see he looked disheveled and tired.

"Everything alright Tim," Gibbs asked, his words moderately slurred.

"Yeah, yeah," Tim replied as he stood awkwardly by the stairs and watched Gibbs as he continued sanding, "I just… I wanted to check up on you."

"Shouldn't it be the other way around? I'm okay. How are you feeling?"

"Better. I should be fine by Monday at this rate."

"Good, Good."

A silence fell between the two, with the only sound being the whoosh whoosh of Gibbs sanding. Looking around the basement again, something else caught Tim's eyes that had him concerned. Sitting on a counter behind Gibbs was a pistol. Gibbs service weapon from the looks of it.

The sanding suddenly stopped, and Tim saw Gibbs put down the sander and pick up his glass of bourbon and take a sip.

"You and Delilah still celebrate when you first started dating?" Gibbs asked.

"Not since we got married," Tim told him.

"Me and Shannon did, even after we got married. She insisted we kept celebrating it, so we basically had two anniversaries every year."

"That's sweet."

A silence fell between the two as Gibbs took another sip and Tim didn't know what to say.

"I should knock out soon," Gibbs said, finishing his glass, "You sure you don't need anything?"

Tim tried again to voice his thoughts but he couldn't think of anything that made sense. Instead he shook his head and stood straight.

"It's not important," Tim told him, "Get some rest, boss."

"You too Tim. Hopefully see you Monday."

On the car ride back, Tim told Delilah what took place in the basement, leaving out the discovery of the gun and instead telling her that he seemed really depressed. He didn't want to worry her anymore then was needed.

"I'm not sure what I'm doing here Dee " he told her, "I just feel so guilty that I'm seeing his dead family and he's here drinking to their memories."

"This is definitely a difficult thing to figure out," she replied, "I wouldn't know where to even start."

"I just… really wanted to help him somehow but I can barely believe any of this myself. If I try to tell him and he doesn't have me committed right away, he'll be pissed thinking I was playing a joke. So what do I do? I mean, at least you're willing to play along even though you don't believe it either."

"Who says I don't believe you?"

"Dee, it's ok. I know you're just being supportive."

"Tim, I've been with you long enough to know when you are intentionally lying and right now you're not. I mean, maybe it's just a matter of you believing what is happening to you is real and some may say I should actually be concerned for your mental wellbeing but I'm not concerned. I guess I'm hoping too that it's all real. Either way, I want to be here for you. "

"Thanks Dee."

"Of course. As for Gibbs, I guess just be a friend and be there for him. You got an insight on what was taken from him so maybe you'll be better equipped to be able to emotionally support him. Also with that other Gibbs, you'll be able to make sure he doesn't take his family for granted. You're in a unique position."

"Yeah. I'm probably the only person in this position. How'd I get so lucky."

"Magical insomnia."

The married couple both chuckled at Delilah's joke before falling into a comfortable silence for the rest of the trip.

As they stepped into the elevator of their apartment, Tim spoke up again.

"I love you, Delilah," he said, trying to convey his emotions at best he could.

"I love you too Tim," Delilah replied, looking at him with a warm smile.