Fifteen minutes later found the team, minus Tim, once again settled in for relentless searching for anything that would help track down the woman and hopefully find whoever had taken her. While Tony and Ziva perused the phone records again, Abby sat at the work station next to Tim's and tracked bank and credit card statements, and phone records of Audry's immediate family members one moire time in hopes of finding that one clue that would push this case wide open. The gravity of the situation combined with the knowledge that their computer expert was sick and couldn't do the work he was best at spurred the silent but frenzied atmosphere.

Tim was just beginning to feel the blessed relief from both the eye drops and the pain meds. Taking a deep breath, he took one last drink of the cold bottled water and started to work on the case again. His first thought was that they'd missed something; something important. Picking up the clicker, he looked once more at the plazma tv where the posted photos of the people they'd talked to about their missing mother-to-be were still on display. Tony's absolute belief that it was always the spouse or significant other came back to his mind. The facts of the case replayed themselves through Tim's mind, or at least, the facts that led him to his current train of thought on it. Sgt. Peters was overseas, had been for five months now. The Peters' had only been married for eight months. Audrey Peters was eight months pregnant.

"Tony." Tim called over his shoulder to his teammate across the room at his desk.

"Yeah, Probie?" Tony answered without getting out of his chair.

"What is it you're always saying about domestic cases?"

"Oh, c'mon, McStumped! Everyone knows that Gibbs always suspects the spouse, but I always believe they actually did it." Tony complained. "But, you're wasting time on it this time, Probie. We all know the husband has nothing to do with this."

"Do we? Is he the father of her child? Maybe he's not and he arranged it so …."

"McGee! That's horrible!" Abby cried in objection even as it brought both Tony and Ziva up out of their chairs and over to the plazma to look once again at the lineup of people on the screen and turn the volume down on their discussion.

"Doesn't mean it's not a possibility, Abbs." Gibbs said as he stood up and walked over to Tim as he stood in front of the plazma screen and got there at the same time Tony and Ziva. "What are you thinkin' McGee?"

"I'm thinking whoever fathered her child either doesn't want the child to be born or doesn't want the child raised by a man who isn't him." Tim answered as he looked his boss straight on. "Or…"

"The husband doesn't want the child because he knows it's not his." Tony supplied as his train of thought picked up on where Tim's was. "And hired someone to take care of the situation while he's overseas."

Gibbs looked at his youngest agent for a minute. "That's good thinkin, McGee." Turning around he barked new orders. "Ziva, get her medical records and see if there's anyway we can find out the paternity of the baby. Tony, dig deeper into the people we've talked to. Re-focus on the people she spent time with eight months ago; the men especially. Dig deeper into her family tree. Whoever took her had to have known her and been known well enough so as not to seem suspicious. Somebody's been lying to us, find out who and haul their ass in here!"

As the team got busy on their new assignments, Gibbs gave Tim a new one as well. "Get down to Ducky's and get some sleep. Don't let me have to knock some sense into you again, cause this time it won't be a slap across the back of your head."

"Boss, I'll go see Ducky after we find her. I have to help Tony." Tim answered as he handed the man the clicker for the screen. He turned to go back to his desk but felt a hand on his shoulder and looked back.

"I shouldn't have smacked you like that." Gibbs' tone and comforting gesture was all the apology Tim was gonna get but was more than he'd expected and more than enough to set things to right between them.

"Thanks." Tim replied quietly and gave a small smile.

Gibbs' lips quirked up slightly and he cocked his head towards his senior agent. "Go on, help Tony." the boss instructed gruffly feeling slightly in awe at how easily it was for his youngest to forgive half-baked apologies like the one he just gave.

"I'm just gonna get more coffee first and I'll be right back" Tim smiled a small thin smile that didn't reach his eyes and left the squad room for the break room. He fought hard to try and walk normally on less than steady legs though he didn't manage to fool the one person in the room who was still watching him carefully in case he fell.

"Gibbs, Timmy's gonna be okay, right?" Abby asked with a worried look in her eye as she looked over at the Team Leader.

"Why wouldn't he be, Abbs?" He drew his eyes off his retreating agent and looked over at her.

"He's never let us see him when he's not feeling so hot before. Even when he had that bout of poison ivy he was…he was…well he was strong! He just carried on and didn't show us how much he was hurting."

"Probably never had so much going on that he couldn't control in the middle of a case before, Abbs. Nothin' to worry about. His eyes just need rest and so does he. He'll be fine in the morning."

"I hope you're right, Gibbs." She answered as she kept digging, trying to find something that would help find Audrey.

"Probie's tougher than you give him credit for, Abbs. He'll be fine." Tony added quietly as he looked up from his computer screen. "You know what he's like."

"Both of you better be right. If anything happens to him…" she left the unmentionable unsaid and got back to looking for a clue as to who might have taken Audrey.

Between the three of them, it wasn't even half an hour later before Tim was proven right as the barely there phone call pattern was discovered by Abby. Sadly, the culprit behind the horrific kidnapping of poor Audrey was her very own cousin, Arthur and once that had been determined, Tony and Gibbs headed out to join up with Ziva and bring him in for questioning as Abby and Tim zeroed in on family properties where he may have stashed his cousin.

Ducky had gone with Gibbs in the speculative notion that Audrey, when found, would need medical attention and he wanted to double check to make sure that the baby was okay as well. The M.E. was also keen on making sure Audrey herself hadn't suffered as a result of her abduction.

Jimmy had been assigned the task of looking after Tim in case he became worse and making sure that Abby didn't ignore her own need to eat and not overdue it. The three of them huddled around Abby's computer as she ran the scans for his cell phone. Suddenly, Abby leaped up from her chair and bounced on the spot.

"Yes! Yes! We got him! The Idiot just used Audrey's phone! Gotta call Gibbs!"

Tim smiled and handed her his cell phone he already had ringing through to the boss. As she waited for him to answer, she sat back down grinning and tried to calm down so she didn't babble during the call.

"Whattaya got, McGee,?"

"Gibbs! He just used her cell phone. The signal's coming from the 2nd property on the list – not even ten miles from where he snatched her!"

"That's good work, Abby. Take a break." Gibbs rewarded her as he ended the call.

Abby huffed at the abruptly ended call and handed the cell back to her friend. She was never happy when Gibbs did that to her. She pursed her lips slightly and glanced over to Tim and Jimmy before making up her mind and nodding enthusiastically to herself.

"C'mon, guys, we're taking a break." She said and stood up with a flourish. She hooked her arm through Tim's and waited until Palmer was also supporting Tim on the other side before moving out toward the break room. They'd done all they could and now it was time to take care of their troops left behind.

****NCIS****

Two hours later the team was finally able to call it a night. They'd successfully extracted Audrey from the locked windowless room her cousin had thrown her into. It had been a mission made all that much simpler since the guy had gotten pulled over on his way back from the gas station close to the house where he'd stashed her. While he was being escorted to the Navy Yard by the local LEO's, the NCIS Agents were escorting Audrey to the hospital after Ducky had confirmed she was well enough not to need the services of an ambulance.

In her advanced stage of pregnancy, riding in the back of one of those vehicles, lying flat on her back would have been uncomfortable, if not painful and there was no need for her to suffer through that. They had allowed her to ride to the hospital in the sedan with Ducky carefully driving while Ziva rode shotgun and Tony rode back to the Navy Yard with Gibbs. To err on the side of caution, the hospital was keeping Audrey overnight and Ducky was staying there until she was comfortably settled into her room and was going to sit in while Ziva took her statement.

Ziva returned to the squad room with Audrey's statement and told Gibbs that she had left Ducky with the victim because the pregnant woman seemed to find comfort in the kindly Scottish man and the M.E. wasn't averse to giving it. It wasn't long before she was writing up her report so that everyone could finally close the case fully and get the rest that they all so desperately needed but the fact that Tim was missing didn't go amiss.

"Gibbs, where is McGee?" She asked softly.

"Don't know. Abbs isn't here either so he must be with her. Don't worry, he didn't leave." The fact that the boss wasn't concerned soothed the worry but she still stole a quick glance with Tony who was obviously just as worried. The senior agent shrugged and carried on with his report.

Just as the last of the reports had been handed in and everyone had picked up their bags to leave, Gibbs' phone rang and the sound of groaning and thuds from the dropped bags, rang through the squad room.

"Go! Both of you!" Gibbs ordered when he saw who was calling. He opened his phone but didn't answer straight away. "Get some sleep and I don't wanna see any of you until Monday!" Three relived faces smiled tiredly at him and he watched the all file out before turning back to his cell. "How is she, Duck?" The Team Leader asked.

"Monday? I was under the impression that we were all on call this weekend, Jethro."

"Vance bumped us off the rota. Whattaya got for an update for me, Duck?"

"Honestly, Jethro…" Ducky huffed out. "At least we have the weekend off, that is if myself and Mr. Palmer are included in that."

"Duck!"

"Our mother-to-be is resting comfortably and both she and the baby will be just fine. I'm told that her husband will be landing state-side tomorrow and will be able to stay with her until the child is safely born as well. Thankfully, he managed to get compassionate leave but couldn't leave sooner."

"That's good to know. Alright Duck, go home and get some sleep. Palmer's already on his way to get you."

"I won't pass that opportunity up, Jethro. I heard you dismiss the team; they are all well?"

"They're fine Duck."

"Does that 'they' include Timothy as well?"

"Haven't seen him. He wasn't up here when we got back."

"Oh, dear! You will at least inquire as to his whereabouts with Abigail and send him on his way, won't you?"

"Relax, Ducky. I'll take care of it." Gibbs assured and shook his head slightly at his old friend.

"Thank you. That boy is badly in need of at least 24 hours away from computer work, Jethro."

"Yeah, I figured. I'll make sure he gets home. Night Duck." Gibbs closed his phone and stowed it in his pocket. He sat back and thought back to when he'd arrived back to an empty squad room earlier. Of course, Tony had asked questions but knowing Abby he knew she'd probably whisked his young agent away for a break. He had been a bit concerned about his youngest agent since there was no sign of any written report, even though Abby had been called and notified as soon as they'd successfully retrieved their missing Marine wife. In ordinary circumstance, McGee's report would have been sitting on the desk already completed or he'd have been diligently working on it by now.

Without another thought, he headed down to Abby's lab and was brought up short at the sight of both Abby and Tim sleeping on her futon mattress on the floor of her inner office. Knowing it was late and they needed to get a full night of decent sleep in their own beds trumped the desire to leave them alone because knowing these two, Tim would wake up and do his report and Abby would stay with him. Gibbs crouched down and winced at the cracking in his knees before gently shaking Abby awake.

"C'mon, time for you to get home and get some real sleep."

Abby sleepily let Gibbs help her to her feet and together they stepped away from the futon, stopping at the inner office door before she offered an objection, louder than she'd intended it to be.

"Gibbs! I was sleeping! With Timmy! It doesn't get any more real than that!"

"Cute, Abbs. Real cute! Go on, wake him up. He needs to get home and sleep in his own bed. Ducky's already worried about him and wants to keep him away from computers for the next 24 hours."

"Good. He needs the break, Gibbs."

"I'm aware of that, Abbs. Go on, get him up." Gibbs replied succinctly feeling slightly amused at Abby's bossy tone.

"M.. up." Tim spoke up quietly from behind them. They turned to look and found him sitting up, wiping his hands across his face several times to try to clear his spotty vision and residual pain behind his eyes. Frowning when that failed to work, he drew in a ragged breath and let with a rush of frustration and slowly got to his feet. He rolled his head slowly to relieve the stiffness in his neck and slipped by his Boss and friend quietly before stopping and turning back to kiss Abby on the cheek. "Thanks for the use of your futon, Abs and for forcing me to stop and get a little sleep. I'm gonna go finish my report now. It's almost done, Boss. Sorry for sleeping on the job."

Watching Tim try to adjust to being awake, Gibbs hadn't missed the unusual behavior the young man had exhibited. If he didn't know any better, the boss would think something was still wrong with Tim; something that was scaring the young man if the look on his face just now was anything to go by. Following Tim's lead, he kissed Abby on the cheek and gave her one last instruction for the night. "Let me know when you're ready to go, I'll drive you home."

"It's okay, Gibbs. I can drive myself. I'm a big girl." She quipped. "I'm more worried about Timmy trying to drive. He doesn't look like he's feeling any better."

"Abbs. It wasn't a suggestion or a request. I'll be waiting upstairs and don't worry about McGee. He's not driving himself anywhere either." Gibbs told her and headed out determined to stop his youngest agent from working on his report or leaving on his own.

Tim fought to hold himself upright as he made it past Abby and the boss, and sighed with relief when he was safely on the elevator. He leaned back against the wall, allowing it to hold him up as he steadied himself and tried to rein in his breathing and get it under control. He'd feared this day was coming when the pain, the burning sensation behind his eyes and his god-awful headache wouldn't go away no matter what he tried. His eyes had been giving him hell for weeks now, but he'd masked it well by never looking anyone straight on unless he absolutely had to and by spending most of his spare time using the eye drops that he'd dropped into his backpack earlier that morning and hadn't found the time to dig them out. He knew that while the water he'd been using had helped temporarily, it wasn't half as effective as the drops and he probably wouldn't feel this bad if he'd taken the time to get them out and use them

The headaches that had begun as dull throbbing and advanced on into unrelenting vibrating jackhammers had become common-place now, as had the irritation of his eyes themselves. The trouble was that, although the problems had been getting progressively worse with his eyes over the last few weeks, this was the worst things had gotten and it had caught him off guard. What was worse was the fact that he'd been ill-prepared to hide it and everyone had seen exactly how weak he'd been.

Being able to do his job turned away from people was a life-saver and he'd been able to close his eyes often enough that it had enabled him to keep going. Oddly enough, the only difference in his behavior had been more frequent trips to the head, so he could keep his eyes hydrated, which had led to being harassed by Tony for his 'weak plumbing'.

After that round of teasing and eyebrow raising had died down, Tim had changed his game plan. He'd taken to disappearing to the back of the building and going down or up a floor before hitting the head. Since the entire problem he was trying to forestall was how competent he was seen doing his job, the fewer comments and observations made about him, the better. Tim had barely been able to keep the grin off his face when Tony had remarked on Tim's 'amazing recovery from his plumbing how it had suddenly morphed into the unquenchable thirst for coffee that rivaled the boss'.

"Damn McGoo, we're gonna have to start calling you McCaffeine if you keep this up." Tim forced a smile at Tony's gibe. It pissed him off no end but even he had to admit that it was a good one.

As the elevator reached the squad room level, Tim pushed himself away from the wall and walked back to his desk, somewhat more steadily now that he'd had time to regain his balance and actually give his eyes more of a break. The sleep had done them good but it didn't help his head as the crew of jackhammers were once again working overtime to bore into his brain. The volume and intensity had dropped significantly enough that he wasn't wincing with every word, sound or step he made but they were still there, laughing at him as the cacophony continued.

Tim knew he needed to do something about this problem, but he rarely had the time off work and he feared the worst diagnosis since it would end his usefulness on the team and with his notoriously bad luck, the agency

They depended on his ability to crack the electronic trails and get it done faster than the rest of the team could do it. If his eyesight was failing him and was only going to get worse, as he feared, then he would no longer be needed and his career would be over. It wasn't the same thing as Gibbs wearing reading glasses. The boss didn't rely solely on his eyes to do his job. Tim did. It was a fear so acute that it kept him silent about his trouble and the physical pain it brought with it. Even now, a good three weeks after he'd first started having trouble with his eyes, there was a part of him that was in denial and it warred constantly with the logical side of him that told him to get it checked. It was the part of him that decided everything was alright and he still had the twenty- twenty vision that he'd always had.

Tim had convinced himself that if he didn't talk about it and he didn't let a doctor give him an official diagnosis, it would go away. He was sure of it. All he had to do was baby his eyes when he was off the clock and do the best he could at keeping them hydrated and rested every spare chance he got while at work. That was why he'd been so silent in the car rides during the last few weeks, spending every minute of them with his eyes closed so they could have that chance to rest.

Of course, it hadn't occurred to him that they all thought he was sleeping and there were more than a few times when the boss had slammed on the breaks to wake him up which of course, gave Tony ammunition for the barbs about late nights. He let them bounce off him like water off a duck's back, but the fact that Gibbs just smirked at him every time he'd hit the brakes made Tim feel better because there wasn't displeasure there, just amusement.

Tim just hoped that being given the weekend off would help greatly and put things back on track. He was counting on it. As quickly as he could, he dove back into his case report, having nearly finished it before Abby had dragged him off for that nap, insisting his need to rest his body as well as his eyes was more important than a case report that could wait.

"McGee." Gibbs called out to him as he walked quietly into the squad room. Tim jumped slightly and glanced up to see Gibbs standing by his desk watching him.

"Boss?" Tim asked nervously and felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Gibbs had caught him off guard and now, Tim thought he was in for it and turned back to the report. "I'll have this done soon, Boss."

"C'mon, you're comin' home with me. I'm not letting you get behind the wheel. Soon as Abby gets up here, we're leavin'. How much of that report have you got done?"

The last thing Tim wanted was for the boss to look to closely at him and he was too tired to argue about the Gibbs' order. He resigned himself for a stay at Chez Gibbs and sighed. "Just need another two minutes, Boss."

Gibbs frowned. Tim hadn't argued with him about coming to his house; in fact, the kid was being complacent and letting himself be led. What the hell was going on? He watched Tim carry on typing, oblivious to the concerned look Gibbs was giving him.

The remaining three members of the NCIS family left ten minutes later and Gibbs couldn't hold back the smile at the sight of Abby sidling up to Tim as soon as she had entered the squad room, and hooking her arm through his with the pretense that she needed the security he could offer. The team leader knew differently though and could see the worry shining deep in her eyes and was glad that she was there to give Tim the silent support he needed because his youngest agent wasn't one to boast or complain and he sure as hell wouldn't tell any of them what was wrong unless they dragged it out of him. One shake of the head from Gibbs and she knew tonight was not the time to dig for the answers. It was time to let everyone quietly recouperate and regroup.

"Gibbs, you don't have to drive me home, you know." Abby suggested from the front passenger seat after they'd gotten in the car and he'd pulled away from the Navy Yard. "I could just crash on your couch. That way Tim and I could have a slumber party, watch movies, pig out on popcorn…"

"Abby, I'm too tired, really." Tim interrupted. "I just want to sleep."

The last thing he wanted was to have to strain his eyes any more tonight. He'd felt a moment of relief when Abby had told him that she'd let him have the space of the backseat while she rode up front. She hadn't wanted him to feel squished up after the day he'd had and with the discomfort he was already feeling. He'd smiled at her gratefully and stretched himself out across the seat as much as he could while still being seatbelted in. Even now, as he gave Abby a straight insight into what he couldn't handle, his eyes remained closed, his head back against the seat and he wasn't moving an inch, except his hands as they attempted to ease the pain in his head.

"Kinda forgetting the 'medically ordered break from straining his eyes', Abbs." Gibbs remarked as he watched in the rearview mirror while Tim continued to massage his own temples while keeping his eyes closed.

'Oops, Sorry. Still I hate for you to have to go through the trouble." She insisted.

"If you wanna crash on my couch, you're welcome to. You know that." The boss reminded her. "Although, I've cleaned out the spare bedroom since the last time Dad was here, so you're welcome to use it."

"I know, Gibbs. Tony reminds me every time he tells me that he got through the week okay because he was able to crash on your couch." Abby told him as she settled back into her seat, her own exhaustion settling in. "He never fails to brag about the awesome steaks you grill in your fireplace, either. The guy's got a penchant for carrying on about things that make him feel better about himself, I'll tell you. I mean I know Tony's had a rotten childhood and all, so I'm happy when I see him happy like that, but…" Abby trailed off, suddenly too tired to even finish the conversation, her own exhaustion settling in and taking over.

Tim's head remained back against the seat, eyes still closed and so, although he watched for Tim's reaction to Abby's words, Gibbs saw none. His agent was already closed off; his mind and focus most likely solely on the current state of discomfort he couldn't shake.

With the moment gone where he could have said something to anchor Tim's reaction to the announcement of Tony's seemingly special treatment by the boss, Gibbs frowned as he returned his attention to the road, suddenly anxious to have both his passengers safely tucked up in his house sleeping soundly since they both needed it.

Once parked in his driveway, Gibbs proceeded to help Abby inside and comfortably stretched out on the guest bed, already sleeping before he headed back outside to help Tim out of the car and inside as well.

He was surprised to find Tim actually already stumbling his way to his door, having already gotten out of the car on his own. Taking in the unsteady gait of the young man, the boss attributed it to the man's exhaustion and let it slide, simply showing Tim where he could sleep for the night.

"No, I won't take your bed, Boss." Tim objected firmly.

"McGee. Take the bed. We're not on call this weekend and I want you to sleep without any disturbances. I usually crash on the couch anyway and in this house, the only way you're gonna get a decent night sleep is if you take my bed. I like to get up and make coffee pretty early and I don't wanna wake you up. Trust me you need to be away from the rest of the house anyway because it's a pretty safe bet that the others will be here at some point in the morning. Not gonna let them mess with your need for sleep. Now, quit arguing and take the damn bed." Gibbs ordered in a surprisingly conversational tone.

Tim stood there momentarily stunned before nodding. "Okay. Thanks Boss."

"No sweat, McGee. See ya in the morning. I'll be in to check on ya. Don't even think of leaving the bed until I do." Gibbs answered and tossed an extra blanket and pillow on the bed. He turned on the bedside lamp and made sure the drapes were firmly shut before moving to turn on the overhead light..

"Yes, Boss." Tim gave in. he knew the man wasn't including necessary trips to the bathroom in that order. He also knew that this was Gibbs' way of showing that he did give a damn about him and he wasn't about to thumb his nose up at it.

With a smile and a nod, the boss picked up the spare blanket and pillow for himself, tucked them under his arm and said goodnight before closing the door, leaving Tim to settle in for what would hopefully be a restful night. The trouble was, Tim had none of his things here beyond his backpack, which was, oh, no, it was still out in the car! When he'd gotten out of the car earlier, he'd been in too much pain and feeling too much exhaustion to remember it and now he didn't have any of the meds or drops that helped him!

With a frustrated sigh, Tim headed back down the stairs, slowly and still on unsteady feet, in pursuit of his backpack. He hadn't taken more than a couple of steps down the staircase before Gibbs was standing before him at the bottom, eyebrows raised in silent question alongside the glare that demanded an explanation.

"I forgot my backpack out in the car. Need it to…"

"Go on to bed. I'll get it for you. All you had to do was ask, McGee."

"Didn't want to be a bother, Boss." Tim murmured, looking suitably abashed.

Gibbs couldn't help the fleeting thought that his agent looked so young and innocent standing there like that, but soon shook that thought away because he wasn't talking to a child, this was a valued member of his team no matter how he looked. Even so, he found himself turning on his heel, muttering under his breath "unbelievable…stubborn…good thing head slaps are off limits….pigheaded…"

Tim smiled softly as the older man's words reached his ears. Turning around he retraced his steps back to the bedroom and got ready for bed as best he could without a change of clothes.

As he came out of the bathroom, it was to find a fresh change of clothes, obviously the boss' with the NIS sweathshirt and a pair of sweatpants in a color Tim had never owned. On the bedside table was a new bottle of water, presumably so Tim could take whatever meds he needed to. Tim had to smile. The boss was more thoughtful and personable than anyone ever gave him credit for.

Suddenly, the smile was gone. That was not going to be the story if and when Tim's problem with his vision came to light. Shaking his head at the unintentional pun his brain had just concocted, he finished getting ready for bed and was soon comfortably stretched out and already heading toward dreamland without even thinking on anything else as the meds finally kicked in.