A/N: A while back, in October of 2007, I posted a story called Thom. Shortly after that, I started on a sequel to it...and then came season 6 wherein Michelle Lee was made into a villain. Since she was playing a fairly large role in the sequel, I found myself stymied by the sudden change and so I stopped writing on it for quite some time. Finally, due to the NFA Finish that WIP challenge, I got it done. If you haven't read Thom, I'd recommend you do so before reading this one, but if you don't want to, I've attempted to summarize it below.

Background: In a nutshell, Timothy McGee really was Thom E. Gemcity, a homeless twenty-year-old, who was kidnaped by a secret agency. Timothy McGee was created by this agency, in particular by a man named Dr. Tanner, under the direction of the leader of the agency, Blaser. It came out when it was discovered that Tim had been secretly leaking information to this secret group in a form of post-hypnotic suggestion. Much of the background for Thom's life and Tim's creation are found in Chapters 15-17. Sarah is a member of the agency, put in place to keep Tim under control. However, she became genuinely attached to Tim after living for 10 years as his sister. At the end of Thom, Sarah agrees to testify against Blaser. Please, please, just read Thom. :)

This story begins about two months after the last chapter of Thom, but before the epilogue.

Thom 2: A Face from his Past
by Enthusiastic Fish

Chapter 1: Only a Dream

Two eight-year-old boys played together in the sandbox. From behind, they looked different. One was dressed in overalls, the other in jeans and a t-shirt. Both boys were having fun. Two women, from opposite sides of the sandbox called to them.

"Thom!"

"Timothy! Time to go!"

The two boys looked up, mirror images of each other as they looked toward their mothers. The women seemed to be unaware of each other.

"Oh, Mom!" Thom whined. "I don't want to stop now. We're almost done!"

"Yeah, we're making the best car city in the world!" Tim protested. "We have to finish it!"

"We have things to do, Thom. We'll be late!"

Tim and Thom pretended not to hear.

"Thomas Elton Gemcity, if you continue to ignore me, you'll be in huge trouble!"

"Timothy McGee, I have no problems with grounding you for the weekend if you don't get out of that sandbox this instant!"

"Ah, Mom!" the two boys whined.

"Now!" the women commanded.

The boys looked at each other and sighed.

"Gotta go."

"Yep."

They stood and stepped out of the sandbox. Both boys disappeared as did the women. Suddenly, instead of running away, the boys were running right at each other. They were going to collide! When they reached each other, instead of crashing, they ran right into each other, leaving one full grown man lying motionless on the ground. His eyes flickered.

"Tim... Tim... are you okay?"

"Please, Mom, can't I play for five minutes? Thom can stay..." Tim mumbled.

"Tim! Wake up!"

Tim opened his eyes and stared up at a gray sky, streaked with the soft pinks that heralded a new day. That was not the view he'd been expecting...of course, he'd been playing in a sandbox with his alter ego. What was he expecting really?

"Tim!"

Tim blinked and looked over at Abby who was now looking quite frightened. He wondered what he should say.

"Good morning, Abby."

Abby sighed with relief and then in exasperation slugged him on the shoulder. "What are you doing out here, Tim?"

"Out where?" Tim sat up and looked around at the familiar setting. He was in the park in front of NCIS headquarters. "How did I get here?" In his head, he added, Thom? There was no response. There never was.

"This wasn't intentional? Your car is still here, Tim. I know you didn't walk."

"I don't remember wanting to sleep out in the park, Abby," Tim said as he stood up, still a little confused. "I must have walked in my sleep. I had the weirdest dream."

"Another dream?" Abby said worriedly.

Tim looked at her. "It wasn't like that, Abby. It was just a dream."

"How can you be sure?"

Tim sighed. "Because I dreamed that two little boys were playing in a sandbox. Their names were Tim and Thom. Their mothers called them away and then they jumped up ran into each other and left me behind. It was just a dream."

Abby leaned away from Tim and stood up. "Could you please stand up, Tim? I don't like seeing you that way."

Tim did so easily and looked around again. "I wonder how long I was out here. I don't feel really cold. It must be fairly recent." He didn't mention the fact that he'd stayed at NCIS instead of going back to his apartment...again.

"Tim."

"Don't worry, Abby. I'm still me."

"But Thom is still in there, too, isn't he."

"Yes. He always will be, Abby," Tim said. "I made that choice months ago." He looked at himself. "I'd better change. I don't want anyone to think I'm crazy, now do I?"

Abby just looked at him with concern as they walked back to NCIS.