Again, the silence was deafening on the heels of that most painful of observations from Abby. Silently, all eyes turned to the photo - where a four year old Kate Todd smiled back at them in all her beauty and innocence through the eyes of her daughter Kathleen. For a breathless minute, the world stood still.

It was Tim who unfroze time, this time, pivoting on his heel and soundlessly striding out of the room, already at the front door, jacket in hand, before Gibbs even caught up to him, laying a hand on his shoulder to stop him for a moment, no censure in his expression or tone.

"You alright?"

Tim shook his head. "I don't know what I am right now."

"Perfectly understandable, Timothy." Ducky's voice came from behind the Team Leader.

I need some air." The young man spoke to his boss, not to ask for permission, but to offer a sit rep.

Gibbs nodded with complete understanding as he turned, shared a pointed look with his long-time friend and team counselor, and left the two of them alone to talk.

"Timothy, would you like some company on your walk, perhaps?"

"Thank you, Ducky, but no."

"Timothy, I…"

"Ducky, will you please just take care of the others first? We both know they're not going to have an easy time accepting all of this, especially since Kate seems to have made it clear that she didn't want any of her team involved in her child's life except me - and even that was a last resort. You and I both know that when she kept her unborn child a secret, she was just trying to protect her from what she thought to be an unsafe situation – mixing work with home. I'm guessing she expected me to feel honor bound to push Gibbs, Tony, Abby, even you away – not even let you try to help. But I just don't see it that way."

"I do agree with you, Timothy. Just as you and I know that both Anthony and Abigail have matured greatly since the time when Caitlyn knew them and made the decisions she felt she needed to make. Not only is the situation different now – but the people themselves are as well. It is certainly not your fault that people do things in their own time, including accepting the choices of loved ones, even when they don't agree with them. Far too often, families are torn apart over religious beliefs, I'm afraid and apparently Caitlyn's family was one of those unfortunate situations. I would imagine that the Todds will regret their stubbornness and intractability towards Caitlyn and Thomas for the rest of their lives. Because of their thick-headedness, they have lost the chance to know their granddaughter, their own flesh & blood while, you, on the other hand….

"I know. And I think that's another reason she'd be happy to see this team embrace her daughter – and pitch in to help wherever they can – to look after her. I just wish none of you had to get dragged into it quite this way."

"Nonsense, my boy! No matter how it came about, I, for one am glad to be fully aware, as it would have been far more hurtful to have been left out – for all of us."

"Oh, God, Ziva!" Tim worried. "I don't feel right keeping this from her. It's gonna hurt her, too, especially since Kathleen looks…"

"Yes, well, as for the dear child looking just like her mother, Ziva is the one person that will least likely affect. Putting that aside, for the moment, she will not be left out for long; young man. Don't you fret about that for a moment longer. I completely understand – and even agree with Jethro's point in not having her here for this- this initial period of adjustment is not something she should be burdened with after all she's just been through, and given her connection to that most fateful day."

"I know. I just hope she does." Tim offered. "I'll be back in a while. I just need to clear my head."

"Do call one of us, if you should need our assistance – or just a willing ear to listen, won't you?"

"I will." Tim promised as he stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving a pensive Ducky in his wake.

Lost in his own thoughts for the moment, it was Abby's voice from the next room that drew his attention

"I wonder if Kate realized just what she was asking Tim to do, or if she just didn't care, after all her family was more important than her friends – at least it seems that way by all of this." Abby remarked to no one in particular.

"Whattaya mean, Abbs?" Gibbs probed quietly as he shared another glance with the M.E. when he returned to the room.

"She is throwing his life completely off, she just asked him to give up his dream of being an NCIS agent! Let's face it, McGee would give out his own heart, rather than deny his teammate's last request." The young woman - still trying to sort it all out – threw out the reminder of her best friend's character traits.

"It's clear to me that our dearly departed Caitlyn and her husband set this up as a worst case scenario to protect their unborn child. Even though her job was high risk, Thomas did not have any such problem and, in my opinion, she would have anticipated that one or both of them would be raising their daughter." Ducky offered. "This was set up as contingency plan, a guardian for their underage, actually unborn, child. You don't think it's going to happen, you hope it won't, but you cover all the bases just in case. For those who are cautious by nature, it's a safety net, really just common sense. One that allows them to sleep more soundly at night, I'd imagine."

"And Probie being, well, Probie, ….Tony attempted to chime in quietly, trying to focus, at least for the moment, on whatever the others saw fit to think about right now. Obviously, Abby's concern was how to best help Tim through this so they could all help Kathleen, just a young toddler whose entire world had just changed so drastically that none of them were sure how to cushion her from the effects.

"His driven, protective and perfectionist nature means that he will dedicate himself wholeheartedly to raising Caitlyn's child to the best of his ability, just as she's asked him to do." Ducky finished for him.

Now it was Gibbs who spoke to the group – thankful that Tim had left to get some air. Looking at each of his remaining team members present now, he spoke his mind. "He may be able to pull off the life of a single father as a federal agent, but, he won't be able to do it without help."

"Well, yeah, Boss. I mean even Tom and Kate stipulated that, right?" Tony supplied the already understood reminder. "Of course, we'll help him. Though I have to say, I'm still tryin' to wrap my head around all this; I mean Kate choosing McGee to raise her kid? Giving him their fortune? Hell, I can't wrap my head around the fact that she married into that money and never said a word!"

"Anthony, I believe what Jethro is referring to is help for Timothy beyond his team, beyond our family." Ducky suggested quietly as Gibbs nodded in agreement.

"We won't be able to help when he's working since we all work the same long hours together so it will have to be someone else. But, then again all of that might already be set up, too, since a lot of things changed and got better in Thomas' life after that letter was written." Gibbs reminded them.

"Oh, absolutely, the success he'd made of the family business would have allowed him the unlimited funds to have a housekeeper, a nanny and a business manager - in addition to the board of directors for the family businesses." Ducky agreed.

"Guys! We're not even sure Timmy will want to keep his job now that he has a daughter to raise!" Abby's shrill statement brought the discussion to a standstill. "Think about the danger of your jobs - the risk of leaving her an orphan again if he gets hurt or worse – killed on the job, not to mention the late and unpredictable hours that comes with our work?

"Yes, Timothy will more than likely give up being a Field Agent." Ducky agreed somberly.

"No!" Gibbs threw down his own edict on that idea. He was not losing Tim off the team and the young man was not sacrificing his career! Other agents successfully combined their careers with parenthood and Tim could do that, woulddo that, too.

"Hate to say it, Boss. But I think Abby and Ducky are right. Probie's probably gonna want to give it up now that he has a daughter to raise." Tony added.

"We must remember Timothy was less than a year into his position on the team when Caitlyn wrote that letter. Additionally, his giving up that position doesn't mean we won't be there to pitch in to help, to give the little girl a sense of family whenever we can, especially on holidays, etc," Ducky kept his litany of sound reasoning going, needing them all to understand his point. "Besides, I'm certain Director Vance will make sure Timothy will still be around since he is quite a valuable member of the agency.

"Timmy won't like it, but he'll do it – for Kathleen – and for Kate." Abby announced with conviction. "You could talk to Vance, Gibbs! Make him keep him on your team – just on permanent desk duty. He'll eventually learn to be happy with it."

Gibbs frowned. That wasn't anything he wanted to see happen – but they did have valid points.

"Aren't you excited, Ducky? And you too, Gibbs?" Abby gushed – suddenly excited herself at the prospect of being an Aunt – to Kate's daughter, no less! She knew that Kate had known her well enough to realize Abby wasn't anywhere near ready to have been a viable guardian for any child. At that time in her life, when Kate had been with them, Abby was still heavily into heavy metal concerts and wild parties, not even remotely interested in committing to anything or anyone. The fact that she hadn't been chosen to raise Kathleen did not bother her, but rather left her feeling buoyant and excited at the position that put her in – of the Aunt who could get to know and love her and spoil her to her heart's content.

Although Ducky's answering expression showed more understanding than that of Gibbs', neither verbally offered a response. With a huff of impatient breath, Abby pushed them to get what she was saying. "Guys! C'mon! Think about it! Two grandpas! I mean both of you are bound to retire at some point in her young life, right? She'll have plenty of your time to learn from you and hear your stories, Ducky!"

"Let's get back to talking about the fortune, alright? Cause, I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this. So, McGee will probably get a large amount of money, some of their belongings (like books, records, maybe a car or yacht and numerous other little things), stocks or options in the main companies and maybe a spot on the board, along with some smaller property and businesses that would be his own, right?" Tony interrupted, verbally seeking their help in processing it all.

"Not exactly on the top of his list of concerns right now, Tony." Gibbs quietly admonished his Senior Field Agent.

"Yeah, well, all of this is just a bit much for my inferior self to take in right about now." Tony snarked as he stood up and strode through the house. He nearly yanked the front door off its hinges as he wrenched it open and then rather firmly closed it behind himself as he stepped out.

"Oh, dear!" Ducky remarked soulfully.

"Poor Tony." Abby genuinely sympathized. "He hates it when other people he knows become rich without even trying and yet he can't seem to ever do it."

"Yeah, we noticed." The Team Leader remarked. "Again, not something McGee asked for. Not like it's his money either. We're not gonna see McGee spending a dime of any set aside for expenses on himself."

"Oh, I know – and Tony will calm down about that in time. But, this time it's more than that, Gibbs." She reminded him sadly. "I mean think about it, Kate didn't even tell him any of this, and they were partners!"

"She had her reasons, Abby. You read her journal?"

"No. Not yet."

"Yeah, well, I think you should. Matter of fact, before any of you says anything outta the way to McGee about this – which he didn't ask for, by the way – you need to read that; all of it!"

"I'm guessing you've read it already?" Abby came back compassionately. "Was it hard?"

"Just read it."

"Sure, okay. I'd love to know what she was thinking." Abby remarked quietly as she took the book from him, kissing him on the cheek.

"You're takin' this awfully well, Abbs." Gibbs noticed.

"Well, now that the initial shock is wearing off, all I can think – is that poor little girl! I mean, we really need to get over ourselves here and get movin' on thinking about what she's going through!"

Gibbs smiled as he kissed her cheek. "Proud of ya, Abbs."

"Yes, I too, am most proud of where your heart seems to be, Abigail. I do believe Timothy will be most relieved as well." Ducky offered with honest pride in his tone.

"Relieved about what?" Tim's voice came from the doorway behind them.

"Timmy! Are you ready to go get your new daughter yet?" Abby chortled.

Tim frowned. "Not even close to ready." His quietly firm, yet almost sad reply brought a matching frown to Abby's face.

"Why not?"

"I don't even know where to start getting ready."

"Slow down, McGee." Gibbs advised. Take a minute to relax."

"Where's Tony?" Tim worried as he took the Team Leader's advice and sat down.

Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Gibbs glanced out his back porch doors and answered the younger man. "Outside, trying to do his own thinking."

As Tim immediately got back to his feet, the Team Leader shook his head. "I got him. You just worry about you right now."

Ducky followed Gibbs outside in pursuit of a moment's conversation with the restlessly pacing Senior Field Agent.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs called to him in something less than an angry bark.

Stopping in his pacing, Tony looked over at the boss; not missing the fact that Ducky was with him as they both headed in his direction; he supposed to keep the conversation away from the ears of those inside the house.

"Talk to me, Tony." Gibbs quietly encouraged his Senior Field Agent who had been right there next to Kate, alongside him, when she was murdered from over 600 meters away.

"I just can't understand how or why she would do this without saying a word – not a word, Boss!"

"You read the journal, DiNozzo. No other way to explain what she was thinkin'."

"I know. I just… Probie? She asked Probie? The guy can't even handle himself around women, Boss! How's he supposed to manage play dates and sleep overs and…"

"That what's really botherin' you about this, Tony?"

Tony shook his head. "Nah. No, I just can't believe that Kate had this life – this entire private life! A kid, even! "

"Anthony, you might do well to remember that while Caitlyn had this life hidden from us – she did not get to enjoy it for more than a few short months and she never got to see her daughter born into this world. I believe those are much deeper things to consider. Wouldn't you agree?" Ducky tried to rein the younger man in.

"What? Well, yeah, of course, Ducky. But… all that money! And it goes to Probie? How unfair can you get?"

"Anthony, you have lost sight of what is happening here. The money is NOT Timothy's per se, it is for his use to raise Kathleen and it is her inheritance. Think of him as the manager of the estate, managing it for Kathleen until she reaches whatever age, they have chosen – be it 18, 21 or 35! Everything is to be held in trust until that time. That is the way these things work." Ducky firmly corrected Tony.

"You think Tim asked for this? Are you even wondering how your partner's holding up from the strain of it all." Gibbs asked,

"What strain?"

"The heavy burden of survivor's guilt gets even heavier when the departed ask you to take care of loved ones left behind, Anthony." Ducky reminded him sorrowfully. "Not to mention the strain of having this unexpected burden of raising a small child that is not his own, placed on him, putting his entire life into chaos & upheaval. In what will be a good way eventually, but nevertheless…."

"Survivor's guilt?" Tony asked incredulously. "What, you don't think that maybe some of the things I do… maybe it's my way to escape the hounds of hell that are after me for the way she died while she stood right next to me? Survivor's guilt is not a stranger to me either, Ducky!"

"No, I know it isn't, young man. And I by no means meant to belittle what you've been through – especially when Caitlyn was taken from us so brutally."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, Ducky." Tony wiped a hand over his face. "What is wrong with me?"