Gibbs didn't answer right away. Tim sighed after a couple minutes passed.

"Forget it boss…if it takes this long to answer…" he said and turned away.

"They will be punished Tim…I am just not sure how severely yet" Gibbs said. "What they did isn't acceptable...Tony..."

"Is your senior agent and I am just the weak probie" Tim muttered and Gibbs head slapped him.

"Do not speak like that again Agent McGee" he growled and Tim nodded. "That was my choice…when I told you that you deserved a promotion, I knew then I wanted you on my team…your a fine agent, you didn't deserve to be left behind" he said.

Gibbs heard a small noise from behind him but didn't acknowledge it.

'You want to snoop DiNozzo? Fine, you should hear the truth then' he thought.

"Tony is my senior that's true, but I am very disappointed in his stupidity" he said. He heard a gasp and smiled inwardly. "I know he can be a handful but that is why I head slap him" he said.

Tim chuckled. "And me too boss...I actually don't care about his other pranks...Tony grew on me but..."

"I understand Tim...I promise you...I will handle this and I know it won't be pleasant on myself either but...I am the boss...pleasantry isn't part of the job" he said and Tim chuckled.

Gibbs stood. "We'll talk more later…" he said as Tim stifled a yawn.

Tim opened his mouth to protest and Gibbs held up a hand.

"Later Timothy…right now Abby will want to see you and she'll be crushed if you fall asleep" he said. "I promise you Tim, I will punish them" he said.

Tim nodded with a yawn. "Okay boss...thanks" he said. Gibbs left and Abby walked in with Ducky and Jimmy. Tony crept deep into a corner as Gibbs left and the others joined.

"Oh Timmy!" She gasped.

"Hey…Abs" Tim said with a small smile. Abby ran to him and gave him a gentle hug.

"Careful Abigail" Ducky warned as she embraced him.

"She is fine Ducky…I already knew I was getting a hug and to be honest, I'll endure any pain for an Abby hug" Tim said.

Abby smiled at that then frowned as she snuggled him. "I am so sorry Tim…I can't believe this...I mean I know Tony likes you and is a prankster and obviously this was just a pranks and he and Ziva... " she said.

"Abby? What are you trying...to say?" Tim asked, cutting her off.

The goth sat up and looked into his broken green eyes. "Because it sounds like you want me to just forgive them" Tim added, a bit sharply too.

It stunned Abby and she got off the bed and sank into Gibbs chair.

"Timmy...how could you ask me something like that?" she asked. Tim sighed. "Because Abby...you've known Tony way longer than me...so what exactly do you think is going to happen?" he asked. "Though i guess it's what do you want to happen?" he added.

Abby shrugged. "They should be punished Timmy..." she said and Tim sighed.

"That's just my point Abs...you're babbling to me about how great Tony is...feels like you don't want them punished...least not severely" he said.

Abby pursed her lips. "Fine then Mr. McGee...I will just leave then" she said angrily.

To her shock, Ducky and Jimmy grabbed her arms.

"Not so fast Abby..." Jimmy said. Ducky let go as Jimmy nodded to him then the assistant lifted Abby like a bride and placed her back on the chair.

"Listen to me Abby...right now Tim needs you and you need to decide whose side your on...you can't be on Tony's and Tim's" Jimmy said.

Abby sighed. "Okay fine...I guess I was trying to get this whole matter dropped" she said. Tim looked away and she jumped up. She sat on his bed and took his chin gently in her hand.

"But...I think I rather lose Tony then lose you" she said. "I mean that...I love both of you but...you're right, Tony and Ziva should be punished severely...I'm sorry"

"Thanks Abs" Tim said and she gave him another hug.

"Look...I really don't want to hate Tony you guys...but...he..."

"He betrayed you Timothy...maybe not on purpose...but he did betray you" Ducky said.

Tim nodded. "I was finally realizing I could trust him too, when I shot that cop, he stayed with me all night...made me realize he was a nice guy and the pranks really were just silly pranks...I know this was just a prank too but...what if I had been bitten by something venomous instead?" he asked.

All three nodded. "We get it Timmy...Tony just took a giant step backward...I still hope you can eventually forgive him though"

Tim only shrugged. "I don't know Abs...I don't know anything anymore" he said.

Tony had heard enough. He crept outside as the others said goodbye.

"Relax Timmy…why don't you sleep for a while and worry about everything later…" Abby suggested.

"We'll be here when you wake up Tim…I am glad you're okay too…" Palmer said.

Tim nodded. "Okay…thanks…everyone" he said and drifted off to sleep. Abby dropped him another kiss and ruffled his hair.

"Glad you're okay Tim…I mean sort of okay…well alive anyway…please be okay and come back to work soon…I'll miss you" she said.

"Come Abby…let's let our friend rest…pleasant dreams Timothy…" Ducky said.

The three exited to let Tim rest.