a/n - Wow, thanks guys. Your feedback has been amazing. Here's this morning's chapter, if I have time this afternoon (I have to fix some formatting in earlier chapters) I hope to post another chapter since I am so far ahead.

The attack on the recruiter's office was beginning to look like a lover's spat gone wrong, much to Gibbs' disgust. "DiNozzo!" The agent came running, his collar up to keep the water from running down his neck.

"Yeah Boss?"

"Ride back with the tow truck to maintain the chain of evidence." The once beautiful sports car was now a smoldering wreck thanks to the pipe bomb that had been underneath it. Gibbs was curious how a Staff Sergeant could afford a Lexus convertible, but that would be part of the investigation, too.

---NCIS---

Tim had to shout to be heard over the music when he walked into the lab. "Abby?"

She looked up from loading the Mass Spec and he could tell she was still upset with him. "What do you want, McGee?" He pointed to the bottle DiNozzo had brought down earlier.

"Have you finished testing that? I need it back."

"My lab wasn't good enough and now you want me to drop everything for you? I don't think so, mister." Dismissing him, Abby turned back to her tests. "Go away, McGee."

His hurt was quickly replaced with anger. "I'm not the one asking for the tests; that would be Gibbs. I'd suggest you remember that little fact before he gets back." Instead of answering, she just turned the music up even louder.

---NCIS---

A quick phone call told Fornell what he needed to know. The Major Crime Response Team, minus McGee was still at the location of a bombing. In the meantime he needed to talk to McGee. The man in question was sitting at his desk, nose buried in a computer program.

"McGee?" It wasn't his voice, but the sharp rap on the desk that got his attention. He looked around quickly before acknowledging the other man.

"Fornell, what are you doing here?"

"There're still at the scene, I checked. Come on, let's take a walk." He didn't wait to see if he was being followed. McGee quickly set up his desk phone to forward to his cell and rushed to catch up.

They stopped in the covered area right outside the evidence garage. No one was close and the technicians working in the garage were wearing ear protection and couldn't possibly hear them. "We may have a problem."

"What's happened?"

Tobias quickly looked over the younger man. He knew this was going to be hard to hear. "The exhumation of your father may have attracted some attention."

"What? It was supposed to be done in secret. What in the hell happened?"

'We're not quite sure." He winced at the glare, but knew that McGee had the right to be angry. "One of the groundskeepers showed up when he wasn't scheduled. It may be nothing, but we have to be careful."

McGee started pacing. "My mother lives near there. If Moore suspects anything, she could be a target."

"I know, kid." Fornell rushed to reassure him. "We've got a team of Marshals in place to keep an eye out for her. The first suggestion of a problem, they'll have her in the witness protection program before you can even blink. There's another team watching your sister and they'll follow her back when she returns to college."

"You trust these teams?"

"I trust the man running that part of the task force." He snagged a sleeve as it went by. "Tim, I know you're worried, but we're going to take care of them. I give you my word."

McGee searched his face for a long time before he answered. "They're all I've got left."

"I know." Fornell repeated his words while he tried to give a reassuring smile. "Now we've got to talk about your protection."

"No." McGee shook his head as he put his foot down. "I'm not going into hiding and walk away from this. Besides, if they're only suspicious, it would be worse if I vanish."

Sacks had warned him, almost word for word, what McGee would say. As much as it had annoyed him, at least he'd been able to think though a counter proposal. "If you don't go into hiding, then I'm setting some ground rules." In response he got the raised eyebrow he knew the kid had learned from Gibbs. Knowing it was all he was going to get, he continued. "First, I want you to move into the safe house. It's in an upscale complex, so if someone is trying to track you, it will just look like you got a new apartment. Second, you will be followed to and from the yard by one of the members of the task force every day. Third, I'm going to get you one of the new vests we're testing. It's thinner and less noticeable under clothing. You will wear it everyday, no arguments."

McGee looked at him a long time before finally giving a short nod in agreement. Relieved, Fornell pulled out the key and papers he'd been carrying around. "All right, here's the keys, address and security codes for the apartment we're using. I want you to go straight there when you leave here for the day. Call me before you leave," he ignored the eye roll, "and I'll have Sacks waiting for you at the main gate."

Once McGee took the papers and keys Fornell continued to hold his hand out. "Give me the key to your place and I'll pack you some clothes and take Jethro back to my place. He can go to the safe house after he's met the rest of the task force. I don't want him to eat one of them before you get there."

McGee couldn't help but laugh at that as he took his key off the ring. "He was a drug dog, not a guard dog, but yeah, he should meet everyone before they start walking in and out. You sure you don't mind having him at your place?"

"Are you kidding, Emily will be thrilled." Once he had the key in his pocket, Tobias stepped closer and grasped Tim's arms. "It's going to be okay, kid. We're going to take care of your family; I'm not going to let you lose anyone else to these monsters." He could see the momentary fear in those expressive green eyes before McGee forced it back down.

---NCIS---

DiNozzo hated to ride in a tow truck, but he hated crawling through wet, dirty alleys even more. What he hated worst of all was the fact that McGee was warm and dry, sitting at his desk. He flashed his ID at the gate and directed the driver to the entrance of the evidence garage.

Standing under the awning, much to his surprise was the object of his thoughts. McGee and Fornell were deep in a conversation and didn't notice the approaching truck. He watched, openmouthed, as the two men exchanged keys before Fornell walked away. McGee still didn't pay attention to the truck as he watched Fornell move down the sidewalk. Once Fornell was out of sight, McGee's shoulders slumped and he walked back inside.

Tony could barely conceal his impatience as the remains of the car was unloaded. Once the truck pulled away, he was texting Ziva.

~Probie n G-man xchng keys~

He settled in to wait for her response.