Same friend ask for "Tim versus a bear" and I was like, huh? This is what my brain thought of, so bare with me. (ha ha!) There is a slight hint of McGibbs towards the end. I know this one is a lot shorter then the first chapter, I'm not too worried about their length. If you have any suggestions for future letters, let me know. I'll do my best with them, yeah? :)

NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE

They had been trooping through the woods for hours looking for anything that would indicate their missing sailor had been there. His credit card had shown he rented a room four days ago for a week but nobody has seen him since. His cell phone GPS was showing somewhere in the woods but had yet to be found.

They were in the middle of nowhere Maryland. The motel was a dingy rundown building with two floors, open balcony, ten rooms on each floor totaling twenty rooms. A cabin like "house" was to the left that was the office and home to the owner, a kids playground to the right, set against the woods. Across the street were a diner, gas station, and mechanics garage. There was more to the small town, but most of it was more normal, another ten minute drive. It was an hour and a half west back to real civilization (according to Tony).

Gibbs was getting frustrated and his team was showing fatigue. "Pack it up, we'll start again tomorrow."

The three younger agents were quick to comply, not saying a word as they all hitched their packs onto their shoulders and headed back towards the motel. They had rented two rooms for the weekend while they searched for the sailor, hoping to find him safe and sound while back in DC Abby was doing what she could with Balboa's team in case the sailor turned up back there within that time.

"Man I'm starving." Tony finally voiced as they reached the edge of the wood, they could clearly hear gaggles of children playing.

"You're always starving, even after you've just eaten." Tim laughed.

"Haha." Tony couldn't help it as he too started laughing.

Ahead of them, Gibbs smirked as his agents started bantering about nonsense. It felt nice to hear them laughing. It had been a struggle after Somalia. Even Ziva was joining in. As they reached the motel, they dropped their things inside their rooms before convening back outside.

"Who wants burgers and fries!" Tony started the march across he street just as the first scream filled the air.

All four agents ran for the playground. Rounding the corner they skid to a halt, guns drawn. The kids and the few parents there were scattering. A large black bear stood on hind legs near the slid. Gibbs could see two children huddled underneath, scooting as farm back into the play structure as they could as the bear tried to paw at them.

"David get the children and parents over to the diner, DiNozzo with me. We need to get the bear away from the slide. McGee as soon as the bear is far enough away grab the children."

"Yes Boss."

"Got it Boss."

"Yes Gibbs."

Ziva gave a wide birth of the bear as she circled around to the other children with their parents still huddled near the playground, carefully ushering them across the street where others were gathering. Gibbs and DiNozzo followed but kept moving, trying to get the bears attention with noise but it wasn't working. McGee was the only one who hadn't moved, waiting to be able to run in for the two kids still left. When it looked like the bear was ignoring his boss and teammate, McGee grabbed a handful of gravel and without thinking chucked it as hard as he could at the bear's back. Not paying attention he reached down to grab another handful and when he stood up straight to throw again, the bear had turned on him. Eyes wide he dropped the gravel the moment the bear charged.

"McGee!"

"Probie!"

"Tim!"

In his haste to turn and run, Tim slipped on the gravel and dropped his gun. Not caring at the moment as he heard the growl of the bear getting closer, he ran back towards the motel. Knowing he wouldn't make it to their room or unlock it before the bear would catch up he did the only thing he could think of - he ran up the stairs to the balcony. He stumbled and yelled when he heard the bear close. It was still following him.

As he reached the top of the stairs and turned the corner something sharp caught the inside of his right leg. Stumbling into the brick wall he quickly pushed off it and ran around the corner and down the balcony. He could feel cold air on his leg, and warm blood seeping into his shoe, soaking his sock. He didn't dare look as he limped his way into running the length of the second floor. He was honestly surprised the bear's weight wasn't causing the balcony to collapse, but was also slightly thankful as he didn't feel like falling either. He was also really surprised the bear hadn't actually caught him yet.

"DiNozzo!"

"I can't get a clear shot!"

"Don't stop moving McGee!"

He hadn't really planned on it. He was surprised to hear Tony's voice yelling from behind him. He could see out of the corner of his eye Gibbs and Ziva running below. A police officer with them, and what looked like a rifle in hand. Trying to pick up speed as he neared the end of the line Tim threw himself around the corner, literally tripping down a few stairs as he tried hopping over the railing to the second set of stairs to reach the ground.

Gibbs and Ziva were already there and the officer had the gun trained, ready to fire. Tim's bloodied foot caught on the railing and he looked up just in time to see the bear's paw reach for his face. He recoiled back and fell backwards down the steps, the claws catching his upper arm as he did. His head hit a wooden step and he saw stars as he landed on something soft and felt himself get dragged away from the danger.

"Now!"

Tim was only slightly aware of his boss and Ziva attending to his wounds as he spaced out. The headache and nausea keeping his eyes and mouth shut. He would not throw up. He would not throw up. He would not throw up.

His eyes popped open. "I'm going to be sick."

Gibbs had just enough time to sit him up and lean him sideways before McGee started puking. Gibbs held his shoulder, running a hand up and down his good arm. Ziva continued wrapping her jacket around his lower leg to try and stop the bleeding. And then Tony was within view, handing back the rifle he also had to the officer before kneeling down at his friend's side, pulling off his jacket to do the same to his arm as Ziva had done to his leg. Once he was certain he was done puking Tim closed his eyes again and leaned back into his boss' chest. Gibbs wrapped a protective arm around the younger man's shoulders.

"Are the kids okay?"

Gibbs started laughing. Here his agent was bleeding after taking on a grizzly and of course his first concern were the kids.

"They are just fine McGee." Ziva lightly patted his knee. "You saved them."

Tim nodded but then thought differently about it and stilled his head, his stomach doing summersalts again.

"I could kill you right now." Gibbs murmured into Tim's hair, his lips moving against Tim's scalp. "That was so stupid."

"I know."

"It almost killed you."

"I know."

"I'd kiss you right now if your breath didn't smell like puke."

Tim laughed despite his stomach. "I know."

"Ambulance is on its way but it'll be an hour. We can get him to Doc Natalie in town faster." The officer stepped up.

"What about the bear?" Tim asked trying to look around Ziva's shoulder.

"Sleeping peacefully Probie." Tony replied, his hand holding his jacket to Tim's arm.

"You tranqued it?"

"Yeah once you were clear. I didn't want to miss and hit you, give the bear an unmoving target."

"Thanks."

"No problem Probie."

"DiNozzo get the car. We'll get him to the doctor in town to check him while we wait for the ambulance."

"On it Boss." Tony stood and headed down the length of the motel for the car, only to stop and turn to voice he didn't have the keys, catching them just in time as Gibbs tossed them over his shoulder.

Tim huffed. "I hate bears."

"Yeah don't think they're too fond of you either Timmy."

"I didn't really think if would turn and charge when I threw the rocks."

"What did you expect?"

Tim shrugged. "Not that."

"At least you can say you're faster then a bear McGee." Tony was back with the car, the backdoor open and ready.

"Almost." Tim frowned as he looked at his arm and leg. "Stupid stairs was what slowed me down."

"Why didn't you just jump?"

"I was going too but I would have had to stop enough to actually hop the railing and that thing didn't look too sturdy."

"Alright. Time to get up. Tony get his good arm."

Tim tried to help as much as possible but his adrenaline kick was dying and the pain was becoming worse. With Gibbs and Tony at his sides he was able to limp to the car only a few feet away and carefully climb in. Gibbs got in with him, Tony and Ziva in the front with Tony driving and they were off. It wasn't long before he was sitting on a hospital bed in the small town doctor's office and his wounds were being cleaned and bandaged properly. He was given a pain killer and was asleep before the ambulance arrived to take him to a real hospital. He slept the whole way. When he finally woke it was to find himself in a hospital room, Gibbs sleeping uncomfortably in a chair at his side. Tony and Ziva were nowhere to be seen. Letting the pain meds they still had him on, Tim sank back into sleep.