Timothy McGee Imagines

The Aftermath

Based on S9 E24/S10 E1

My ears were instantly ringing as the smoke settled. I tried to sit up, but my arms gave out. From my position on the ground, I looked around the room. My heart jumped into my throat when I didn't see McGee.

"McGee," I said, my voice barely audible. "McGee? Tim!"

"Y/L/N!"

I felt Gibbs wrap his arms around me the minute I was sitting. Gibbs slowly helped me stand up. My legs gave out causing him to tighten his arms around me. He carefully helped me over to an open chair.

"Y/L/N," he said my name as he knelt in front of me. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," I said slowly. "Can I ask you something, boss?"

"Of course," he said with a soft smile.

"Why is the room spinning?"

Gibbs's smile fell. He gently held my face in his hands and studied me.

"I'm gonna get the EMTs up here," Gibbs said. He jumped up and grabbed his phone. He sighed and hung it up when he realized it was dead. He looked up and saw McGee slowly walking past us.

"You okay?" Gibbs asked McGee.

"Yeah, I think so," McGee said slowly. He paused before adding, "I think I'm going to go get some fresh air. Feels really warm in here."

Gibbs froze when McGee slowly took off his jacket. Gibbs was the first to speak up.

"Hey, stop."

He walked over and looked at the shard of glass in McGee's side. They slowly looked up at each other.

"Tim," I gasped, catching myself on the edge of my desk when I stood up and got woozy. McGee looked down before slowly looking up at me and Gibbs.

"Uh oh."

* * * * *

"Hey, kiddo."

I looked up to see Gibbs walking into the hospital room. I am being treated for a concussion. McGee is in surgery.

"Hi, boss," I said softly.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little woozy," I shrugged. My heart jumped into my throat as I quickly asked, "How's McGee?"

"He just got out of surgery."

"He's okay?" I asked, my voice breaking. Gibbs reached over and gently grabbed my hand.

"He's going to be fine. Just a couple of stitches," he said softly. He paused when he saw the look of relief on my face. "What's wrong?"

"McGee got hurt because of me," I confessed.

"What are you talking about, Y/N?" Gibbs asked softly.

"He was trying to get me to leave," I whispered. "But I wouldn't go with him. I was too focused on backing up all our computer files. He was practically dragging me out when the bomb. . ."

Gibbs wrapped me in his arms when my voice broke.

"He's hurt because of me, Gibbs," I sobbed. He sighed and tightened his arms around me.

"That's not true," Gibbs whispered.

"But. . ." I stuttered as I broke the hug.

"McGee got hurt protecting you, but that doesn't mean it's your fault."

"Yes, it is," I said, my anger at me coming through. "He grabbed me and covered me during the blast. If he hadn't, I'd be the one with stitches."

"Y/L/N, look at me," Gibbs said firmly. "It was not your fault. It's Harper Dearing's fault. He did this to you and McGee."

"But. . ."

"Besides," Gibbs chuckled, "I don't think McGee would have it any other way."

"Y/L/N!"

I cringed when DiNozzo and Ziva ran into the room. DiNozzo wrapped me in his arms, my whole body aching.

"Take it easy, DiNozzo," Gibbs sighed. He grabbed the back of DiNozzo's shirt and pulled him away from me.

"How are you feeling, Y/L/N?" Ziva asked.

"Fine," I shrugged. "I heard you guys were stuck in the elevator."

Ziva chuckled and shook her head, "We survived."

"How's McGee?" Dinozzo asked. Gibbs and I shared a look before he answered.

"He's going to be fine," Gibbs said. "Couple of stitches. Nothing too serious."

By the look on his face, I knew that last remark was for me.

A few hours later, Gibbs and the others were back at the Navy Yard handling the bombing. I was finally released from the hospital but I didn't go back to NCIS. I went to check on McGee first.

I slowly opened the door, my heart jumping into my throat when I saw him asleep. I sat in the chair next to his bed, not entirely sure what to do. I didn't want to leave him.

My breath got stuck in my throat when I looked up and saw McGee slowly waking up.

"Tim?" I whispered when his eyes opened. He looked at me and smiled.

"Hey, Y/N," he said softly. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, my voice breaking. "You're the one the doctors had to pull a piece of glass out of. Even though it should've been me."

"Hey," he cut me off. "Don't say that, Y/N. Please don't say that."

I stood up and walked over to him as I started stuttering. "Be honest, Tim. It's my fault. You were trying to get me to leave the building and I wouldn't. Then, when the bomb exploded, you grabbed me and covered me. You got hurt protecting me."

He watched as I paced back and forth. "Y/N," he said gently, "it's okay."

"No, it's not," I continued to stutter. "I should've left the building when you wanted me to."

"You were trying to back up all our files," McGee chuckled weakly. "It was smart."

"It was dumb," I corrected. "I could've gotten us both killed."

When my voice broke, McGee reached over and grabbed my hand. He made me stop pacing and pulled me over to his bed.

"It wasn't your fault," he said softly. "I'm fine. You're fine. That's what's important."

"But you almost. . ."

"I'm fine, Y/N," he cut me off.

"It should've been me."

"No," McGee said firmly. We stared at each other, the tension thick. McGee softened his voice as he continued, "I'm glad it was me and not you."

"But. . ."

"I'm glad it was me and not you," he interrupted me and repeated what he said. "Our jobs are to always have each other's backs and that's exactly what I did. Protecting you was an instinct, Y/N. The only thing I thought about when the bomb was about to go off was you and making sure you were safe."

"The only thing I thought about after the bomb went off was you and making sure you were okay," I whispered. We sent each other slightly tense smiles.

"I will always protect you, Y/N," McGee said, the look in his eyes slightly changing. "Without hesitation."

"And I'll always protect you, Tim," I whispered. "Without hesitation."