"The way he was able to keep the team calm when emotions were high or how he was able to push the team if they ever get discouraged at not finding clues or running nowhere with the few clues they had. McGee was sort of the silent support of the team." from "Remember Me"" by shadowdweller25

****************NCIS**************************

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs sat relaxed in his seat in the darkened interior of the airplane that had been requisitioned to carry he and his team out to Colorado. The cabin was shadowed, as they had left quite early in the morning and his team was getting a bit more rest before they reached their destination. He silently observed his "family" as they slept. His Senior Field Agent, Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo sprawled out over two seats several rows ahead of him, legs propped up on the back of the seat diagonally in front of him. The newest addition to his team, ex-Mossad officer Ziva David was curled up like a cat in a seat across the aisle from Tony. Dr. Donald Mallard, their Medical Examiner and Team Physician sat sleeping behind Ziva, head leaning on the window beside him and a book in his lap that he was no longer reading. Jimmy Palmer, Ducky's assistant was two seats up from Gibbs, head back and snoring softly. Gibbs smiled a fond smile, Jimmy was going to have quite a "crick" in his neck when he awoke.

Turning his eyes to the seat beside him, he watched in concern as his youngest agent, Junior Field Agent Timothy McGee, slept, long jean clad legs stretched out in the aisle alongside the seat in front of him and arms crossed almost defensively over his chest. His face should have been relaxed in slumber, but looking at him closely Gibbs could see frown lines marring his brow, and his eyes moved restlessly under his lids, making his boss wonder what he was dreaming.

Reaching out a hand, Gibbs gently ran his fingers through Tim's soft dark blond hair, brushing it back from his forehead in an effort to reassure the young man that he was there. Sure enough, that touch was enough to still the movement behind those closed eyes and smooth that furrowed brow.

Gibbs was grateful for this time off so that his team could rest, recuperate, and reform their bonds. The preceeding two weeks had been terribly hard, one of the hardest cases they had worked in years. Two young children of a Marine serving in Afghanistan had been abducted and their nanny brutally murdered. Working with no clues, no evidence, and no apparent motive, even NCIS Washington, DC's premier Major Case Response Team had been unable to make any progress. Finally, after a grueling 32-hour session at his desk on his specially adapted multiscreen powerhouse computer, Tim had been able to find a connection between the Marine's ex-father-in-law (the children's grandfather) and a major crime syndicate that wanted to expand to international gunrunning. Once he had that clue in hand, Tim was able to trace the syndicates electronic signature, breaking through their defenses and powering through their mainframe to find and decrypt not only the address, date, and time for delivery of the weapons, but the names of the major players (including their overseas bank accounts), and also the address where they were holding the children hostage against their grandfather's continued cooperation.

Other teams took over responsibility for taking out the greedy ex-father-in-law, the syndicate family, and recovery of the weapons. Team Gibbs concentrated on the rescue of the abducted children, arriving at the address of their captors barely in time. The children were terrified and half-starved. Ziva and Tim found the children first, Ziva talking to and calming the 8-year-old boy while Timothy took over care of the obviously traumatized and distraught 5-year-old girl. He looked so calm and in control, this 6'1" broad shouldered man, looking like a giant compared to the small girl-child he held so protectively against his sturdy chest, murmuring in her ear a litany of soothing words and sounds, and as he talked, she calmed. As he held her, slowly it seemed that she became a little more responsive, a little more natural. When they finally arrived at Bethesda Naval Hospital with the children, their Medical Examiner having determined that it was quicker and much less stress on the children for the team to bring them rather than have to await the arrival of an ambulance, the little girl seemed to be much improved.

However, just after he had transferred the child to the willing arms of a loving, caring nurse, it became apparent that Timothy had come to the end of his reserve of strength as he collapsed, sliding bonelessly to the floor just outside the emergency room cubicle that the children had disappeared into. For three long days his team hovered around their fallen member. The young man was fed fluids and electrolytes intravenously, slept, and hopefully regained and rebuilt some strength if not stamina. Tim had been released two days ago but still appeared fragile, almost translucent.

NCIS Director Leon Vance had taken one look at Tim and given the MCRT a full 10 days off, suggesting quietly to Gibbs something that he thought might not only be beneficial, but also extremely interesting to the youngest agent. Several federal agencies had gotten together and decided to sponsor a five-day "Meeting of the Minds" so to speak, bringing together what they considered to be the best and the brightest of their cyber/tech people, a convention of "Tech Experts in High Risk Law Enforcement or Military Situations". They were going to have speakers from several branches of both law enforcement and the military, and demonstrations of new programs and apps that were helpful both in the field and at the desk. Given Timothy's fascination with high-tech toys and his passion for constantly improving and/or building on his computer skills, it was immediately agreed upon by the Team Leader and the Team Physician, working in tandem, that this might be just the ticket for their inquisitive charge.

Leon thought it quite interesting that when he called to make reservations for his MCRT, the representative heard Timothy McGee's name and broached the subject of Tim being one of the keynote speakers, perhaps sharing some of his programming expertise with other agencies. While secretly delighted that the agency's computer whiz's reputation was so widely recognized, Vance regretfully declined the honor on his agent's behalf, knowing that if he was approached about the subject Tim would push himself to prepare as a speaker. He quietly explained that the man in question was recovering from injuries, and while able to attend and share, should not be stressed by having to make a presentation.

*******************NCIS*********************

Passing through the gates after disembarking from the plane, Gibbs stopped to looked carefully around the airport as his team gathered around him. Seeing nothing out of order, he dismissed the unsettled feeling he had, putting it down to the combination of the stress from the past few weeks combined with entering unfamiliar territory.

Interested eyes observed the arrival of the NCIS contingent. Silently they noted their caution, an unusual alertness, and the way they seemed to gather protectively around the member of their group that caught his interest.

Tim was looking around the airport with a quiet air of expectation.

"Tim! Hey, Tim, over here!" came the voice he was expecting to hear.

The NCIS team turned as one at the call and observed the man who was excitedly making his way through the crowd, all the while waving to catch the attention of their young colleague. Gibbs guessed his age at being closer to Tony's than Tim's, but the air of enthusiasm as well as the smile that lit up his face definitely reminded him of his Junior Agent.

"Daniel!" Tim softly exclaimed, grasping the hand that was extended and pulling the other man in to a quick "man-hug", his smile threatening to split his face as he was being hugged in return. "Man, it's GREAT to see you! Did Jack and Sam come with you?" he asked, looking around them.

"Jack's waiting with the cars, Sam won't arrive until tomorrow. I wanted to be here when you got in. Man, It is sooooo good to see you, Little Brother!" Daniel replied, giving the younger man an assessing look and deciding that he definitely didn't like what he was seeing.

Five heads snapped to attention at those words, "Little Brother?" Tony DiNozzo repeated, "Is there something that you perhaps forgot to tell us, McGeek?"

Daniel stopped abruptly at that comment. He had seen Tim's team with him, but hadn't really given them much thought as of yet, his attention and his eyes only for his brother. Hearing his brothers teammate utter "the detested" nickname, he turned to him, eyes flashing with a light that Tim knew only too well. Quickly he interposed himself between the two older men and placed a calming hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Danny," he started in a low tone that he knew would get through to his brother. "Stop. I'm a big boy now, remember? I'm quite capable of protecting myself now."

Daniel looked at his younger brother for a full minute, sapphire blue eyes gazing searchingly into wide seafoam green ones, then gave a quirky little half-smile and turned. "Tim, you have told me so much about your team, let me guess." Turning to the team leader he stuck out his hand and said, "You must be Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Tim's boss?" Seeing the affirmation in the older man's face he said, "Thank you for looking after my brother for me, you'll never know how much I appreciate it! He can be quite a trouble magnet at times, but I have grown used to him over the years and would hate to lose him!"

Turning then to the beautiful Israeli woman watching him, Daniel said in perfect Hebrew, "Shalom, Ziva. You are even more beautiful than my brother led me to believe."

Tim smiled when Ziva's face registered a rare moment of shock. "Show off!" He accused softly.

"You speak Hebrew?" Ziva asked him in amazement.

"Yes, he does. Daniel speaks twenty-one languages quite fluidly." Tim stated with a laugh.

"Twenty-three!" Daniel quickly corrected him.

"Yes, but two of them are dead languages, so you really can't count them." Tim replied, continuing what was obviously an old and oft covered argument between them.

"I had to learn them, so I can count them if I wish!" came back Daniel's quick answer.

Tim just smiled softly and shook his head.

Daniel then turned to Jimmy, extended his hand and said, "Glad to meet you, Mr. Palmer. I hear that it will soon be Dr. Palmer. Tim has told me how proud he is of your progress. Congratulations."

"Er, just call me Jimmy, please?" came the reply from the red-faced young man, secretly pleased that his teammate had spoken so highly of him to his brother.

Daniel moved over to the medical examiner, looked at him with an air of expectation, and said "Dr. Mallard, or as my brother has insisted that you will wish to be called, Ducky, I cannot thank you enough for your care and continued support of Tim. He thinks very highly of you, and I am sure that if we spend much time together, I will find you as fascinating as my brother does. I would love to have you share a pot of tea and some of your stories with me at a later date."

"Well, young man, it is quite easy for me to care for and support your brother, actually I believe that honor goes both ways. I always find him trying to take care of me if I'm not careful. And I would be delighted to share a pot of tea with you and we could share some stories, I am sure that you have many to share also!" was Ducky's reply.

Turning to Tony DiNozzo, Daniel gave him a searching look, then said, "And that leaves Anthony DiNozzo, Jr., very Special Senior Agent, Second-in-command, Tim's mentor and current daily tormentor."

Tony started to smile in answer and then realized exactly what Daniel had said. "Tormentor? MCGEE!"

Tim stepped forward quickly and told his team, "Guys, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson, renownedEgyptologist, archaeologist, linguist and expert in ancient writing systems, languages and cultures, published author, civilian consultant to the Air Force currently based at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, and my ornery elder brother."

Gibbs looked at the other man appraisingly and stated, "Glad to meet you, Dr. Jackson. It just took us by surprise. Tim has never mentioned that he has a brother. Of course," he added dryly, giving a pointed look in his youngest agents direction, "we never knew he had a sister until she showed up as a suspect in a murder investigation."

"Well, Little Brother always did play his cards close to his vest. I guess you could say it's a family trait." Daniel stated simply. "Please, no formality, just call me Daniel, and don't feel too badly. My team only knows about Tim and Sarah vaguely, and then only because of my background check for security clearance. Tim told me that the SecNav knows about me, and probably your Director because of Tim's security clearance. I don't think any of the three of us, Sarah, Tim or I, talk about family life very much . . ." he looked down in thought as his voice trailed off softly. Then, as if catching himself, he looked up as Gibbs questioned softly, "Jackson?"

Daniel looked at Tim's boss, "Yes, our mother's first marriage ended when my father was killed in an accident during an excavation in Egypt. I was 5 when she married Commander Sean McGee, and 8 years old when Tim was born. Then 7 years later, Sarah came along and made our happy little family complete." He turned and looked at Tim, "Now, let's go collect your luggage, meet Jack at the car, and we can get you settled in at the hotel."

At this point, the interested observer turned and left, not bothering with collecting any luggage, and went to the taxi terminal in front of the building.

Ziva had been watching Tim during Daniel's explanation of their family connection and saw an unfocused look come over his face. As the group started toward the luggage carousel, Tim seemed to shake off his thoughts of the past and was once again enthusiastically talking with his older brother. Ziva promised herself she would try to talk with Daniel at a later date, perhaps finding a reason for the unsettling look that had come over the face of her teammate. For some reason, Ziva was troubled by the feeling that pensive, almost sad, look had evoked in her.

Luggage collected, the seven of them moved out to the drive, where they quickly found an impatient Air Force Colonel waiting for them with a dark blue SUV bearing military issue plates and a dark Dodge Charger with federal issue plates. Daniel quickly introduced Jack all around and they quickly sorted out which person to which vehicle. Jimmy chose to ride in the SUV with the Air Force Personnel. Ducky took the front seat beside Gibbs and the same casual watcher from earlier might perhaps have wondered why the tall young agent choose the middle of the backseat of the agency sedan instead of the smaller female agent. It wasn't discussed, it was just as if this was natural for them.

********************************NCIS************** ***************************

Senior Sentinel Prime James Joseph Ellison stood beside his friend and captain, Simon Banks and watched amusedly as Blair Sandburg, Senior Guide Prime and shaman to Jim Ellison, flirted shamelessly with the cute young redhead at the desk. Finishing his business with her, Blair turned and caught his sentinel watching him and approached with an impish grin on his face. "I have our room keys, and yes, before you ask, I got her phone number!"

Simon chuckled and looked at his Detective, "Think it is safe to have him running around here by himself, Jim? Somehow, I get the feeling that we should keep him with us and not let him out of our sight, it might be safer for all of us!"

"Aw, come on, Simon. It's not like I plan on these things happening to me!" Blair complained with a laugh. He stopped playing suddenly as a funny feeling started building up in his "gut". Turning toward the door, he waited as if he was expecting something to happen or someone to come through those doors.

"Chief," Jim said, suddenly feeling a tension in the air, "I need you to connect, now!"

Blair backed up until he was standing with his shoulder up against Jim's chest and Jim settled his hand on Blair's shoulder. Jim, too, was watching the door.

Simon just sighed and quietly murmured, "Another trip through the Sandburg zone, God help us all."

First through the door was an athletic, muscular Air Force Colonel accompanied by a smaller, shorter, bookish-looking man with bright blue eyes shining with intelligence and curiosity. But it was the group that followed that held the attention of the Guide Prime.

A man in his mid-50s, silver haired, with a definite military bearing entered first, quickly assessing the lobby, looking for any threats, obviously ready for trouble if it occurred. He was closely followed by three others, obviously all four traveling together. To the silver-haired man's right and a few paces back was a tall dark-haired, capable looking man who looked to be somewhere in his early-30s. To the silver-haired man's left walking beside the dark-haired man was a beautiful 5'9" dark-eyed woman with an alert bearing and eyes that assessed with almost lethal intensity. But it was the tall fragile looking young man in the middle of the triangle who Blair and Jim were focusing on with such intensity that had Simon concerned.

From a far corner of the room, that same interested observer from the airport watched with interest. He noticed several significant things, the watchfulness of the group, the way they protectively surrounded the vulnerable member of their entourage, and, most importantly, that same vulnerable member! The eyes took in the details of the appearance of all the members, noticing strengths and weaknesses. They particularly took note that despite the fragile appearance of the youngest member, he was quite attractive, almost beautiful, with large green luminous eyes and a breathtaking look of innocence on his youthful face.

As the strange group walked across the lobby floor toward the registration desk, the young man in the middle started slowing down. A look of awareness or perhaps recognition appeared on his face and his eyes were obviously searching the room, looking for something. He looked across the room and his eyes were caught by the wide blue eyes of a slightly older but equally good looking man leaning up against the shoulder of a tall stern-looking military type standing near the desk. As their eyes locked, the tall young blond stopped completely, turning slightly so he faced the sentinel and guide directly. The two following him stopped in obvious confusion, and without a word the older man in the lead turned, as if instinctively knowing that the others had stopped.

Looking at his tall blond companion in concern, "Silver-Hair" approached him and asked with concern, "Tim?"

The younger man remained silent, still meeting the gaze of the man across the room.

Silver-Hair whipped his head around, glaring at the Sentinel and Guide, then stepped between them, blocking the younger man's direct sight, and asked again, "Tim, what's wrong?"

"Boss, I . . . I need to . . ." his voice trailed off uncertainly, his brow furrowed in concentration, and then to the obvious surprise of his guardians he sidestepped the older man and approached the sentinel and guide. He stopped in front of the pair, eyes again locked with the young long-haired man, reading a message that passed silently between them. Searching as if in desperate need of an answer. Quietly he spoke to them, "I need . . . Do you . . ." he sighed and said softly in frustration, "Hell, I don't even know what questions to ask!"

He tried again, "I think . . . I might need your help."

The observer watched, eyes lighting up in realization as he saw the connection between the two. Both extremely attractive men, they were perfect opposites. The tall, long-legged golden-haired man had alabaster skin, startling green eyes, a subtle pout to his bottom lip, with a lithe waist, broad chest and shoulders-he contrasted nicely with the dark complexion, wide cerulean blue eyes, long curly auburn hair and short-almost stocky-frame with narrow hips and broad shoulders of the other man. Oh yes! He needed to make a phone call. This was going to be a VERY profitable weekend, indeed!

As the young man's three guardians, along with the four other people following them, again surrounded the young man, the Guide Prime, with the Sentinel Prime in attendance, looked into the large green eyes that were staring at him with such intensity and quietly said, "We need to talk privately. We are going to our suite. Simon, would you please bring them all up in about 10 minutes?" With no further comment, Sentinel and Guide left.

Neither Jim nor Blair spoke in the elevator as it rose to their floor. Stepping out and walking to their door, they entered the room and Blair sat down on one of the couches in the main room. He was practically bouncing with excitement. " Wow! Jim, do you have any idea what we just saw? There have been stories, but this . . . this looks like the real thing! This is incredible, man!"

"Blair, I'm not sure I am following you here. That young man is obviously a pretty powerful empath and also a guide, but I'm not getting any real "sentinel vibes" here. The older man with the deep blue eyes, he gives off a "buzz" when I am around him, but not like any other sentinel I have ever met. They all obviously know something is up with him and are trying to protect him, but they don't really seem know what is going on, so . . . do you have any answers, Chief? Or just more questions?"

****************************NCIS****************** **