Tim had hoped to fall asleep after Vance left, but he was too wound up. He wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and wake up with all this having been a dream. Barring that being possible, Tim wanted nothing more than to keep from seeing any of his teammates again. He couldn't believe that he'd done all those things on a PCP trip. He couldn't believe that there was that inside him...even crazy...
Tim closed his eyes tightly and curled up into a fetal position, blanket and hands over his head in an attempt to shield himself from knowing that he had that insanity inside him somewhere. Who was it that had said he'd erased the line between genius and insanity? Tim couldn't remember.
Whoever it was, he was wrong. I did that.
Tim groaned.
"Hey! The Probie's awake and unchained!"
Tim winced and didn't come out from under the covers.
Tony. I hit Tony in the face.
"Hey, McGee, you in there?"
Tim still didn't reply.
Maybe if I don't say anything he'll leave.
"McGee?" Tony's voice didn't sound quite so jocular.
"You said he was awake?"
Ziva. I didn't do anything to her...did I? Vance didn't say I did.
"Well, I thought he was. He's not moving, but..."
"If he is sleeping, perhaps we should leave him be. He was rather frightening when he woke up yesterday."
Tim winced again.
"No way. He'll be happy to see us! Where's the boss?"
"He is probably listening to Abby talk his ear off, looking for reassurance that she really does not lisp."
Another wince.
Lisping because I knocked her tooth out.
"Hey, guys, can you tell which tooth?"
Tim heard Abby's voice. He couldn't hear a lisp. ...not that it made him feel any better. In fact, he wanted to cry...which was stupid. Part of him knew that Vance hadn't been lying to him...but that didn't matter right now. All that mattered was...
"I can't tell," Tony said. "I'd never know you broke a tooth."
I broke it for her.
"Ha, they can't tell, Gibbs!" Abby said delightedly.
I kicked Gibbs.
Tim let out a whimper.
"Tim?"
"McGee?"
Tim curled into a tighter ball and didn't respond.
"McGee?"
Tim shook his head, even though he knew no one could see him. He was humiliated. He was mortified. He was horrified at what he had done. He didn't want to see these people. Ever again.
Then, he felt a draft as someone lifted the blanket off him.
"McGee, are you all right?"
"Go away," Tim whimpered...feeling both stupid for saying that, and embarrassed at being seen.
There was a brief silence and then someone sat beside him on the bed. Who that might be was instantly revealed when he felt the arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.
