9

Let This Life Begin

1 December

"Heather Kincaid? Hi, I'm Dwayne Wilson...Agents Quinlan and McGee wanted to be here to meet you, but they're bringing a suspect into interrogation right now. They asked me to get you through security."

"No problem...I was beginning to think there was some kind of curse over me ever working here…when my testimony was delayed in Seattle I was worried that it would be weeks before I could move."

"The guy changed his plea?"

"Yeah, finally realised he wasn't worming his way out of the charges…it feels so good to be here again, and to be staying...I've been waiting for months to get a chance here at NCIS."

Armed with her new ID, badge and gun Heather joined Dwayne as they made their way to the observation room.

"We've been having all kinds of problems with communications since the day we fired up the system, but Tim…Agent McGee, he traced the glitch, well, wasn't a glitch, it was sabotage."

"Inside NCIS? How could that happen?"

Dwayne shrugged.

"Usual way, someone looking for more money than they were making the regular way. Here we are, thought you might like to see the rest of the team in action."

They stood together and watched through the glass.

"Do not lie to me Morrissey. We know you tried to put listening devices inside the power cabling. Did you not stop to think that an office of special projects would have cameras in the office?"

The man was staring defiantly at Quinlan.

"Your cameras don't show anything...I know what I did; I fixed the power in that office...that's all I did."

Tim turned his laptop so that Morrissey could see the screen, he opened a picture file.

"We don't just have cameras Dave, we have image enhancing software...and this shows you attempting to sabotage a Federal Agency...now I know you're just the foot soldier here, someone is pulling your strings...just tell me who paid you to do this..."

"You can't keep me here, I know my rights."

Tim leaned in close as he snapped shut the laptop.

"But that's just it Dave, you don't have any. I call this a breach of National Security, and you're gone...or...you give me a name, and we cancel your flight to Gitmo."

Morrissey turned to Quinlan, the panic plain to see in his eyes.

"He…he can't do that…can he?"

"Oh he can, and he will…unless you give us a name."

Morrissey grabbed the pen and scribbled a name and address on the notepad in front of him. Quin picked up the pad, and with Tim by his side, headed out the door; the agent on guard outside stepped in to take charge of Morrissey. As they were passing the door to observation Dwayne stepped out with Heather.

"Hey guys…our new team member is here."

Barely breaking stride Quin asked.

"Have you been assigned a weapon Heather?"

"Yes sir."

"No sirs here…Quin will do fine. Let's move...looks like the full OSP/DC team has our first dirt bag to bring in…are you ready?"

Heather looked at the three men, and gave a broad smile.

"Absolutely!"

She joined them as they made their way to the parking lot, if this is what life on the new team was going to be like…bring it on!

December 10

With one would-be saboteur and his paymaster in custody, and their first undercover operation successfully completed, the OSP team was enjoying some well deserved R & R, alongside some of their NCIS colleagues.

"So Heather, not only walking and talking at the same time, but you play a mean call girl too; or so I hear…"

Tim couldn't help laughing, try as he might, Tony could never really change.

"She was great Tony, that guy never knew what hit him…"

They were having a drink at a favourite after work haunt. Tim had spoken to Quinlan about the importance of the OSP team getting to know the other agents at NCIS Headquarters. After all the plan was to use any available personnel to augment their own rather thin ranks as and when necessary; and it was always easier to work with people when you knew them as people rather than just names on a roster. Quin had been happy to go along, and he completely understood when Tim asked if their first foray into this social plan could be with his old team…

"I think they still feel as if they owe me something because of what happened last year…but I want them to know, it's done…we all need to move on, make new connections…new friendships…"

And looking round at the smiling faces Quin had to agree, new friends were important, and in their line of work, you never knew when one of these new friends would be the difference between living and dying.

Tim handed Tony a fresh beer, and sat down beside him.

"Looks like Owens is working out okay."

They both glanced at the young man sitting beside Ziva, he was hanging on her every word, and she was smiling at his obvious hero worship. Simon Owens had come to them from the Pearl Harbor office, and he'd obviously never seen anyone quite like Ziva out in the midst of the Pacific. Tony nodded slowly.

"He'll be fine when he stops thinking we all walk on water because we're on the MCRT, and starts to remember he's on the team too."

"You helping him with that Tony?"

Tony looked into Tim's eyes with total understanding.

"I'm doing better with him than I did with you Tim. I guess I'm not such an insecure jerk…look Tim…"

"No Tony, we made a deal…no more what could have been. He looks as if he's settling in just fine, and I know you have to be helping him, even if you try to say different…"

Tony smiled, and called over to Simon.

"Hey Hula Boy…tell Tim here how I'm looking out for you."

Simon raised his eyebrows, and Ziva put her hand on his shoulder with a smile.

"We are all looking out for him McGee, he is our Probie, and we all have a responsibility to guide him."

Tony nodded his agreement.

"You got that right Ziva…come on Simon, what do I tell you about your predecessor?"

Simon looked over at Tim, and for a moment he was completely serious.

"Tony tells me…I'm good; I'm not Tim, but I'll do…"

Tim glanced at Tony in mock amazement.

"Was there a compliment in there somewhere Tony?"

"Hey, don't let it go to your head, McSpecialOps."

"As if!"

December 17

Tim was first in as usual, he liked getting in before anyone else; gave him chance to get his head together for the day without distractions, but this morning he had another reason for getting in early. He picked up the two cups of coffee he had got on the way in, and headed to the bull pen. As he had hoped Gibbs was sitting alone at his desk.

"Gibbs; thought you could use a coffee."

"Always Tim; what brings you here?"

Tim took a sip from his own cup, and sat down at Ziva's desk.

"I...this is going to sound weird."

"Don't see how, I work with Tony…and Abby, they have their own new definitions of weird every day."

Tim gave a quick smile, but then he scooted the chair a little closer to Gibbs' desk.

"I've been thinking a lot about…last year, the accident…seems like so much has happened since that night…My life is so different now, new job, new apartment…"

"When did that happen?"

Tim blushed a little.

"My place wasn't really ideal…too small, well I hope it's too small…Verity's moving out here, she starts work in DC next semester."

"I didn't know, that's good news Tim."

This time Tim's smile was one of genuine warmth.

"It's great news…and maybe one day…I'll need that bigger apartment."

Gibbs was genuinely pleased for Tim, he hadn't met Verity as yet, but she'd impressed Abby, and she was a pretty hard judge where Tim's girlfriends were concerned. But he knew Tim hadn't come down here just to tell him about his apartment.

"So, what's on your mind?"

"This is the weird part…I've been thinking about going back…to Northwest Branch Park."

"Where we found you…"

"Told you it was weird, it's…I feel I need to go back there before I can finally break free from those memories, start fresh…do you understand?"

"I've never been in that situation Tim, but I think I do, you need to see where you were that night, maybe understand how close you came to not moving on…"

December 18

The Porsche was parked at the end of Bluff Terrace as Gibbs had directed, and Tim and Verity were waiting for him to arrive. He'd offered to come and show Tim exactly where they had found him on that wintry morning last December, Tim was staring out at the woodland, but he had no recollection of this place, none at all…

"Is this Gibbs, Tim?"

He was startled out of his reverie by Verity's question.

"Yeah…you wait in the car, I'll talk to him."

"But I thought we were both going to see…"

He silenced her with a kiss.

"We are, let me get directions…then I'll come get you, okay?"

"Okay, hurry back."

Tim stepped out into the cold air, and waited for Gibbs to join him at the roadside.

"Hey Gibbs, thanks for taking time out of your Saturday."

"Least I could do Tim; if you need to come here, then you should know the exact spot where we found you. See that clump of shrubs? There's a stream running by them, that's where you were lying."

Gibbs scanned the sparse woodland; and for a moment the sunlight of a bright December afternoon was obliterated by the memories of a headlong dash through the rain-drenched trees…

"Gibbs; are you okay?"

"Fine Tim, it's this place…we thought we'd lost you that day…turned out we were right."

"But if you hadn't come looking for me…I would have died out here. I don't think I ever thanked you for that…you saved my life, I owe you."

"It was because of the stupid way we behaved that you were even out here…makes us even I guess…and now you've got a new team, you're really leaving us behind."

"Oh, you don't get rid of me so easy…I'll be around the Navy Yard, and who knows, we may even need a guy with a Marine background and military haircut on an undercover op."

"Stranger things have happened Tim, if you need anything, or anyone…."

"You can be sure I'll call, thanks for everything...Boss."

They both smiled at Tim's use of that term.

"You taught me so much…I know I've still got a lot to learn..."

"You never stop learning Tim, I thought I knew everything about my team, I was wrong. That's a lesson I've had to learn, it's tougher for me I guess, old dog – new tricks. But I will do better, and I will try my best not to make the same mistakes I did with you."

"It seems like you're all doing great with Owens."

"He's greener than you were when you joined the team."

Tim laughed aloud.

"I wouldn't have thought that was possible."

"Oh believe me, it is…but he's getting there…"

Gibbs glanced at Tim's car.

"Is that Verity?"

Gibbs noticed the way Tim's expression softened as he looked at her.

"Yes…oh, you should meet her."

"Not right now; you need to do this together. I'll meet her at Abby's Christmas party."

"But you never come to those."

"I will this year…Now, get over there Tim, we're your past, she's your future. You're a lucky man, Verity has given up her job, her friends; she's moved away from her family, all to be with you."

Tim turned to Gibbs with a bemused smile on his face.

"I still can't believe she did all that...for me."

"What have I told you?"

"Don't sell myself short...I know...I love her so much, it frightens me sometimes that I may lose her again."

Gibbs put his arm round Tim's shoulders.

"You can't worry about that...take it from someone who knows, make the most of every minute you have together. And now is a pretty good time to get started; go on Tim."

Gibbs got back in his car and waved as he watched Tim and Verity begin their walk to the place that could have claimed his life. He was smiling as he pulled away and headed home; maybe Abby was right, and they'd be getting wedding invitations before next year was done.

They made their way carefully to the spot that Gibbs had indicated, even after several days of dry weather the uneven ground was still slippery. Tim tried hard to remember this place, but he could only remember fragments of that night, and as he surveyed the area again he realised how lucky he had been. Had he slipped into the ice cold stream he wouldn't have lasted until morning...as it was, he'd barely been hanging on to life when Gibbs and the others found him.

"It was right here Gibbs said…I don't really remember getting here…Jethro…I'd been with Jethro when he…died. I remember walking, and walking…it was raining…"

Verity linked her arm through his, and couldn't stop the tears falling.

"If they hadn't found you…oh Tim…"

He pulled her closer, and wiped the tears from her face.

"Hey, don't cry; we're together now, and nothing's going to come between us ever again."

She gave a tearful giggle into his coat.

"Not even my stubborn pig-headedness."

She leaned against him, and he revelled in their closeness.

"Not even that…you know, that's one of the two things I regret about the last twelve months…being away from you because I lied to you, that was …"

"My fault Tim, not yours…I realise that now, when you're undercover you have to be another person, and I have to deal with that. I can do that now…I've grown up a little…You said two things…"

"Losing Jethro…I still miss him, crazy I know…I didn't want him at the start. But we got along and…I wish he was still here."

"So do I, I'd have enjoyed meeting him."

He kissed the top of her head, and gazed wistfully out at the dipping sun.

"But that's just it, if I hadn't been so upset…and angry that night, I wouldn't have gone on that crazy walk and ended up here…or LA…I wouldn't have my new team…"

"And we wouldn't have met."

"Now that's something I don't want to think about…I can't imagine my life without you."

"Good job you don't have to…I'm here to stay Tim."

"And I couldn't be happier."

Tim took her in his arms and held her as close as he could...he took one last look at the bare trees, and the cold stream, and led her back to the car.

"I think we're done here; this place...it belongs to who I was; not who I am. Come on Verity, let's go home."

THE END

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