As he sat behind his desk, he watched Tony talking to the new Probie, Agent Lee.

"There is one thing you need to know about Ziva David."

"Don't make her angry."

Tonypaused briefly before continuing. "Ok, two things. The second is thatshe can take care of herself." Agent Lee looked as though she was aboutto say something before sighing and walking away. Tim just watched heras she went back to her desk, sat there for about half a minute, beforepicking up Tim's old phone and calling Ziva again.

Tim understoodwhy she did it. There was a reason why you were called a 'probie', andit was because you were on probation, a conditional employment. Thechances that you would screw up so bad that NCIS would fire you weren'tvery high, but if you couldn't gain the acceptance of your team, you'dbe a probie forever. If you weren't useful, they'd never accept you.NCIS had no tolerance for dead weight, which led probies to scrabblefor whatever shreds of usefulness they could contribute.

In thebeginning, when a look from Gibbs could make him feel five years oldagain, he had considered quitting and going back to his old job, wherehe was accepted. Decision made, he went to tell Abby, making his waydown to her lab for the last time.

---------- ---------

She'dbeen sitting at the desk, draining a Caf-Pow as she watched source codescroll by on the screen. When she heard the door open, she turned,grinning.

"Hey McGee, what's up?"

He smiled just a little. "I wanted to let you know that I'm leaving, I'm going back to my old job. I don't fit in here, Abby."

Frowning, Abby bounced up from the chair and stalked over to McGee. Drawing back her hand, she punched him in the arm.

"Oww. What was that for?" His hand covered the spot where Abby'd struck him as he looked at her confused.

She fixed him with a glare. "You're not leaving."

"But, Abby.."

"But Abby nothing. If Gibbs didn't think you could do the job, he never would have hired you."

Abby's words made McGee feel a little better. "What about Tony then?"

Abbypatted Tim's other shoulder in a reassuring fashion."Tony is just Tony.He's like that with everyone. He harrasses you because you're new...andbecause you react. It's the same reason he bugs Kate."

"Really?"

Abby nodded. "Yeah..you don't want to know what he would do if he didn't like you."

"Why, what would he..." But before Abby could answer, Tony entered the lab.

"Abby, did you find anything yet?" He looked over at McGee with a smirk. "I'm not interrupting anything between you two, am I?"

"Not unless you want to know about the twenty bots I fragged in five minutes." Abby smirked back.

"How about you tell me if you found anything on Petty Officer Lawson's computer, then?"

"Now,that I can do.." As Abby led Tony back to the table, McGee took theadvantage to head out of the lab. He was almost to the door when Tonycalled,

"Oh, and Probie?"

Tim froze in his tracks.."Yeah, Tony?"

"Get Gibbs some coffee..."

"Right.."

---------- -------------------------------------

Overtime, he did adjust. Perhaps the hardest concept for him to grasp wasjust how fluid everything was. Kate died, Ziva joined, Gibbsleft...and life went on. It wasn't always easy, but the fact that heknew he could count on them helped a lot. Lee didn't know that yet, butshe would. From what he'd seen, she could do the job. In fact, she wasbetter than he was starting out, not that he'd ever tell her that.

When Tony got called to the Director's office, McGee stood up, and walked over to her desk.

"Hey, Probie.."

She looked up, a little surprised. "Yes?"

"Let's go get some coffee..." Lee hesitated only a moment before nodding and standing up.

"That sounds good.."