a/n 1 - I usually don't post on the weekends, but I'm not working today and for whatever reason I was up at 0530 this morning. Ugh! My lack of sleep is your gain of a chapter.

Tony met up with Vance and Balboa in the hallway outside of interrogation. The Director didn't seem all that surprised to see him.

"You want to know why she did it?"

"Hell, wouldn't you?"

"You might not like what she has to say."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like what she has to say. Still need to hear it, though."

After a long moment, Vance seemed to accept that and left Tony in the observation room while he and Balboa left to start the interrogation. Jimmy slipped in before the door closed, Ziva silently behind him. "Hey, I heard you were here."

He appreciated all that Jimmy had done for Tim, he really did, but he wasn't ready to talk about it – not when he was also going to be hearing Janice's twisted version of their 'relationship'. "Now's not a good time, Palmer."

Jimmy held up a tray of medical supplies, syringes and assorted empty test tubes. "Can't wait. We need a blood sample from you."

Tony was still watching through the two-way mirror. Balboa showed her a picture of McGee in his current condition and she smiled. The pain of nails digging into his palms drew Tony back to the observation room and he forced his fingers to straighten before he turned to face Jimmy. "I'm not the one she was poisoning."

"No, but we think she did drug you." That got Tony's attention and he listened a little more closely as Jimmy continued to explain. "When they searched her place, they found bottles of both Viagra and Cialis. That's used for..."

"I know what it is, Palmer. Wouldn't I have noticed it?"

"Not necessarily. Low dose pills, you been having any backaches?"

"Yeah, a few." In fact, he'd gotten a couple of massages from Janice because of them, which had led to other things. "Why?"

"Most common side effect."

Resigning himself to the inevitable, Tony sat down and rolled up his sleeve. Things were beginning to make more sense in a sick sort of way as he remembered New Year's Eve and Janice showing up with a bottle of champagne and a sob story about her boyfriend dumping her that night. Most of the evening was a blur, but he did remember waking up with Janice Parker naked in his bed. "Crap."

"Yeah." Jimmy had the needle ready and started swabbing Tony's arm. "Sorry, I know how much you hate needles, but I'll be as quick as I can. Ducky would do it, but he's already at the hospital for McGee."

"It's fine, taking care of Tim right now is more important."

"And Abby is still pretty mad at you."

She hadn't said anything to him about it yet, but anyone that knew Abby, knew that she was angry. Most people would assume it was because of what Parker had done to McGee, but Tony knew it was more than that. Something else to deal with, but in all honesty, a part of him welcomed her anger.

"Okay, I'm done."

Tony looked down at his arm to see Jimmy pressing a cotton ball against the puncture as Ziva sealed the test tubes in an evidence bag and signed it. He'd been so lost in thought, he hadn't even noticed the poke. "Thanks, and... thanks for what you did for Tim. You might have saved his life."

Jimmy looked like he was debating with himself, but finally he answered. "She was increasing the dosage. Even ignoring the cumulative damage, the next dose would have been fatal."

"Shit." Tony closed his eyes as he bit his lip. He didn't open them back up until Jimmy patted his arm and left him to watch the interrogation. Ziva stayed behind, but she was also watching Vance and Balboa question Parker.

-NCIS-

Vance was losing patience. "We have enough evidence to charge you, enough evidence to convict you, without you ever saying a word, Harper. I just want to know why you targeted Agent McGee. Were you that desperate to get on Gibbs' team that you'd kill for it?"

Balboa disagreed. "No, she wanted more than that. She wanted him to suffer – a lot."

That finally got a reaction and she leaned forward. "He had what I wanted. Everything I've ever wanted, that little prick already had and he didn't deserve it."

"But you did?" The only reason Vance hadn't gone to see McGee was the fear he'd lose control during her interrogation, but the pictures and her attitude were rapidly pushing him toward the edge.

"Yes." Her eyes flickered toward the two-way mirror, revealing that she suspected that Tony was on the other side. "Even more, Tony deserved it. Deserved someone he wasn't ashamed of."

"He wasn't ashamed, he was careful, they both were. They protected each other."

"McGee was, that's why he was so easy to manipulate, but deep down, Tony wasn't happy. That's what really made it so easy."

Vance expected DiNozzo to storm in after that and a few seconds later he wasn't surprised when the door slammed open. Tony didn't slow down until he was leaning against the table, his face only inches from hers. "Who the hell gave you the right to decide if I was happy or not? You were poisoning him before you knew anything about me."

"I knew enough." She tried to touch him, but he pulled back in disgust. "I knew you weren't really gay. Men like you aren't gay, you just needed a real woman to remind you of what you really want."

"You mean a woman like you?" Tony backed away from the table and started pacing. "Hate to burst your bubble, but Tim and I were perfectly happy until you tore up apart. The fact that you had to drug me to get what you wanted should have been your first clue, lady."

"Then why'd you have to hide your relationship? Have a commitment ceremony instead of a wedding? You know how much it means to your father to see you married."

That stopped Tony cold. "You've talked to my father?"

"Quite often." She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, the handcuffs clanking as she moved. "He's so looking forward to being a grandfather."

"You're not..."

"And what if I am? Are you really going to send a pregnant woman to prison? A woman carrying your child? What will people think when of you when I give birth in handcuffs, raise our child in jail?"

"You think any judge in his right mind would give you custody?" Tony looked her up and down before stepping away again. "If there is a kid, I'll call in every favor I have to make sure you never even have visitation rights. Tim and I will be the only parents that child will ever have. Think about that while you're sitting in your cell for the next twenty-five to life."

"You can't do that."

"Just watch me, lady." Tony stormed out and back into the observation room before he started shaking and his knees buckled. Ziva was there and guided him down. When he was sitting on the floor, back against the wall, she joined him.

"Does this mean you have decided to forgive McGee?"

"I guess I have." Tony shook his head as he looked up at the ceiling. "I just had to see, you know, just to understand. I mean, of all the sick, depraved psychos we put away every year, and the worst of the bunch managed to weasel her way right onto the team. How in the hell did I miss that? How did I let her trick me like that?"

"We were all fooled by Janice Parker, Tony. Even Director Morrow only had good things to say about her. He was convinced it was a mistake until we showed him the evidence." Ziva paused, chewing on her lip, before the question bubbled out. "What are you really going to do if she is pregnant?"

He wouldn't look at her. "I don't know. How can I ask Tim to help raise the kid when we don't even know if he's going to get any better? But... how do I live with the idea of my kid in foster care someplace?" Wishing for a headslap, he banged his head against the wall before climbing to his feet.

"Where are you going?"

"Where I belong."

-NCIS-

Tim didn't say a word, but Gibbs bit back a smile at how tightly his good hand was clenched on Gibbs' shirt as he was carried down the stairs. It reminded him of Kelly, hanging onto him as they'd run through the park, and her utter faith in him that he'd never let her fall. Gibbs forcefully blocked the memories and concentrated on Tim as he navigated the last few stairs and laid him on the sofa.

Both Abby and Ziva were aboard the Yard, making sure the case against Janice Harper was airtight, but Ziva had left a breakfast smoothie in the refrigerator for McGee, a mocha concoction that was a far cry from the raspberry ones that Janice had poisoned him with. Gibbs retrieved it, stirring it briskly, and poured another cup of coffee for himself, his first cup still upstairs. Dropping a straw in the glass, he took McGee's breakfast in and helped him drink it, his smile finally breaking through at the sounds of pleasure as Tim enjoyed his breakfast. "I think Ziva said it was hazelnut and chocolate."

Gibbs didn't remember that the combination was actually Tony's favorite until he saw the pain flash across Tim's face. "That was really nice of Ziva. She didn't have to go to this much work."

"Maybe not, but she wanted to, and I don't think any of us are going to tell Ziva no when she's got something in mind."

"Guess not." Tim gave what could have been a shrug before concentrating on eating. Gibbs watched him closely, worried, but not wanting to interrupt his eating. He knew that Tim would tire quickly and wanted as much healthy food down him as possible, so he waited until Tim stopped trying to eat.

"You ready?"

Tim was silent, but slowly nodded and Gibbs patted his shoulder as he stood.

"I'm going to open the car door and then I'll be back for you. Okay?" Another nod and Gibbs hurried. Not because they were late, but because this downward spiral worried him. He didn't say anything until he had McGee bucked into the car, then he pointed out another house in the neighborhood.

"You see that house?" He carried on as if Tim had answered him and not bringing attention to the arrival of DiNozzo. "They're retiring in a few months, going to be moving to Colorado to be closer to their grandkids. Imagine yourself healthy and strong again, living there with Tony and all this behind you. That's the kind of positive thinking you need right now."

-NCIS-

Tony had been edging closer and Gibbs stepped back, allowing McGee to see him. "Tony?"

"Hey." Coming up to the open door, Tony's hands hovered around Tim's face before finally touching his cheek.

"Tony?" This time Tim's voice broke and he pressed his face against Tony's hand. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I thought I was doing the right thing. Please..."

"No, Gibbs was right, she messed with both of us. I'm sorry you thought I'd dump you if you were sick."

"What? No, I knew you wouldn't leave me." Tim started to shake his head, but he stilled, probably not wanting to risk losing the contact with Tony's hand.

Tony had been sure his own failings had driven McGee away. "Then why didn't you trust me?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Tony could see Gibbs, could see that he wanted to step in, but he stayed back, letting them work this out on their own.

Tim's voice was so weak that it hurt Tony to listen. "I knew you'd stay and I knew taking care of me would just suck the life out of you. I couldn't save me, but..."

"Aw, hell." Remembering the conversation about his mother and really getting it now, Tony leaned into the car and wrapped himself around Tim. "I'm here now and we're going to figure it out. Okay?"

Tim was in Gibbs' personal car instead of an agency sedan, so Tony pulled back and kissed his forehead before circling around to get in the back seat from the other side. Sitting down, he scooted over to sit behind Tim, resting his hand on Tim's shoulder and praying that Janice was bluffing when she suggested that she was pregnant.

-NCIS-

Abby and Ziva were waiting for them at the hospital, Abby with a wheelchair and ready to fuss over McGee, while Ziva carefully pulled Tony off to the side while the others were distracted. Tony was pretty sure what she wanted to tell him.

"Well?"

The Cialis was in your blood, which Jimmy expected, but Abby also found traces of the Viagra, which means you were dosed with that sometime in the last twenty-four hours."

"Shit." It made his skin crawl and explained why Abby was glaring at him over Tim's shoulder. While the rest of them were saving Tim, he was in bed with the monster that was poisoning Tim to get to him. It would make him puke if he thought about that too closely, so he tried to focus on what needed to be a more immediate concern, keeping his voice low. "Is she pregnant?"

"We do not know. She has refused to take a pregnancy test and Director Vance said we cannot force it without a court order."

It was probably a good thing that Vance was using his head, because the rest of them were acting on emotions right now, and Tony knew he was at the top of the pack. Desperate, he tried to think of another way they could get answers without having this hanging over their heads for weeks or months. "Don't suppose they found a used pregnancy test in her bathroom trash?"

"No, and the dumpster at her apartment was emptied yesterday morning."

If it hadn't, Tony had no doubt that Ziva would have gone through every bag of trash for them. Knowing that, he couldn't shoot the messenger, no matter how bad the news was. "So we wait."

"I am sorry." Ziva hugged him before moving over to greet McGee, now that he was out of the car and into the hospital's wheelchair. She and Abby pushed the wheelchair, with Gibbs and Tony following behind. Gibbs gave him a funny look, but didn't ask any questions.

-NCIS-

Ducky was waiting for them and twenty minutes later McGee was officially admitted into the hospital. Ten minutes after that, they were in a room and chasing the girls out so McGee could get undressed.

Tony looked lost, so Gibbs helped McGee, their routine already becoming established. It was tempting to snap at DiNozzo, but as the clothes came off McGee, showing his twisted and emaciated form, Tony whimpered and was blinking back tears and Gibbs understood. He pulled Tim up against him to tie the back of his gown and used the opportunity to whisper in Tim's ear. "I won't let DiNozzo drown in his guilt, so give him space when he needs it, okay? He's really struggling with all of this."

"Take care of him for me."

It sounded so final and Gibbs instinctively tapped the back of his head, even though it was the lightest head slap he'd ever given. "Only until you're able to do it yourself."

Before he could get an agreement form McGee, a nurse and several orderlies arrived to take him for the first round of tests. Instead, McGee gave him an apologetic look. "This might take a while."

As if he could ever get the team to budge at the moment. "We'll be here, McGee."

Tim was rolled out and with a tilt of his head, Gibbs got Ziva to take Abby and follow them, leaving Gibbs alone with Tony. He gave him a few minutes to start talking, but when that didn't happen, he gave him a push. "Whatever you've got stuck in your craw, DiNozzo, just spit it out."

Tony's mouth opened and closed a few times without any words coming out but just as Gibbs was ready to jump start him with a head slap, he finally blurted it out. "She might be pregnant."

Gibbs stared at him for a few seconds. "How in the hell could you have been that stupid?"

"I was drinking, all right? I was missing McGee so damn much and I was lonely and drinking way more that I should most nights and she was slipping me all sorts of versions of the little blue pills and half the time I woke up with her in my bed... I wouldn't remember the night before." Confession over, Tony rubbed his hands over his face. "When I was sober enough to know what I was doing, I used protection, but..."

"But that wasn't every night and it only takes one time." Gibbs shook his head, reigning in his temper. Killing him wouldn't help anything. "What are you going to do?"

"Nothing until I know for sure. This is all some sort of sick game for her and she refused a pregnancy test to confirm what she said." Dropping onto the edge of the bed, Tony held his head in his hands. "Tim and I talked about adopting someday, but not like this. Does he, does he know that I got involved with her?"

Gibbs and Palmer hadn't been able to talk about everything, but enough. "What do you think, DiNozzo?"

"Great. Just great." Tony sighed and told him the rest. "She was in contact with my father, apparently. She was hinting that he was happy about being a grandfather."

"That means he'll have to be interviewed at the very least."

"Yeah, I know. I'll go up there and..."

"Like hell you will." Gibbs stared at him for a few seconds before shaking his head. "How would a defense attorney look at it? Your current, possibly pregnant lover is being charged with the attempted murder of your former lover. A lover that you kept hidden from your father, who could possibly be an accessory to the attempted murder charges, so you go to his home to speak to him in private. Are you trying to give her a way to get the case thrown out?"

"Shit." Back on his feet, Tony scrubbed at his head in frustration.

"We do it by the book. He'll be brought here and officially questioned. There's no other way." Gibbs watched closely for Tony's reaction. "If he's not involved, he's going to get suspicious about Parker's obsession with getting rid of Tim to have you all to herself."

"I don't trust my dad when it comes to the important stuff, that's why I insisted we were never out." Tony's voice trailed off, but it was obvious he was thinking hard about something, so Gibbs waited. Decision apparently made, Tony nodded to himself and started speaking again. "That probably made Tim question my commitment, made it easier for her to manipulate him when he thought he was sick. I'm not going to hide anymore."

"You're going to tell your dad that you're gay?"

Tony looked proud and terrified at the same time as he rocked on his heels. "Yep. No more secrets. If he doesn't want a gay son, then we don't need him. We've got you, right?"

"Absolutely." Gibbs pulled him into a fierce hug, thumping his back. "You and Tim belong to me. Senior and the Admiral are never going to change that."

The stress of the last few days was catching up with Tony, and Gibbs smirked as he pushed him into a chair. Patting his back again, Gibbs went out to find coffee and give the other man some privacy. He arrived back just as Tim was being wheeled back into the room. Gibbs stopped in the hall, giving the two men some needed privacy to talk.

-NCIS-

Once the last nurse cleared out, Tony moved closer to sit on the edge of the bed. "Have they told you anything?"

Tim looked exhausted. "Nah, just ran a bunch of tests. Guess the doctor and Ducky will be here after they get the new results."

Reaching out, Tony took his hand and held it close. "I'll be here, every step of the way. Not going to let her destroy what we had. Okay?"

Tony was choking back tears and now Tim was, too, as he held on tightly, trying to pull Tony closer. "Okay." Once Tony was pressed against him, Tim confessed the rest. "I was ready to die, the only thing I had to hold onto was remembering how much I love you."

That broke the dam and Tony felt the hot tears on his cheeks as he peppered Tim's face with kisses. "We're going to get it back. No matter what, we're going to get through this."

-NCIS-

"Jethro." If Gibbs was standing outside the room, then he must be giving the boys some privacy. Under normal circumstances, he would have waited also, but some decisions had to be made.

Gibbs turned and Ducky knew that his face was telling the other man a great deal. "How bad?"

Before Ducky could answer, the elevator chimed and Tim's doctor stepped out. Ducky sighed, wishing he'd been able to discuss the situation before his arrival. "I'm afraid Dr. Walden and I have differing opinions as to how best to proceed."

"Different, how?"

There wasn't time to answer before they were passed at the door and had no choice but to follow him in.

"Agent McGee, I've reviewed your test results, not only the tests we ran this morning, but the previous tests run by Dr. Mallard, and I believe we are ready to start treatment."

Dr. Walden was an excellent doctor, but Duck wasn't ready to commit to the suggested treatment. "Before anything is done, Timothy, you should be aware of the risks and the options." Ducky pressed on, making sure that Tim and Tony knew how dangerous this could be. "So far, the tests have shown only a very minor decrease in the levels of toxins in your blood and none in the tissues. It's very possible that we need a longer time post-exposure to get an accurate estimation as to how well your body will excrete the poisons."

"How long are we talking, Ducky?"

"I'm afraid we don't know that yet, Timothy. However, considering how much your body has been through these last seven months, I suggest a very conservative approach until we have no other choice."

"Unfortunately, the longer the poisons and toxins are in your system, Agent McGee, the greater the chances of permanent damage."

Ducky knew that Dr. Walden had a valid point and if the patient were a stranger, he'd probably be agreeing with him. However, McGee wasn't a stranger, and what had been done to him had hurt the entire family. "The alternative is very risky."

"What is the alternative?" McGee was asking Walden, not Ducky.

"I'm suggesting a modification of what we refer to as a rapid detox. You would be kept under sedation for approximately twenty-four hours while we infuse your body with massive amounts of chelating agents that will bond with the toxins and render them inert. We'll do this in our hyperbaric chamber to increase the effectiveness."

"When all the poison's gone, he'll be okay, right?"

Poor Tony, he wanted everything better and Ducky hated to destroy that dream. "If we are able to rid McGee of all the various toxins and heavy metals that he's been poisoned with, then we can start rehab and physical therapy."

"The risks, Ducky?"

"There is a chance that Timothy's heart won't be able to take the strain of such an intensive treatment, Jethro."

Tony stared at him in shock. "The treatment could kill him?"

"It is a possibility that we must take into account. The more aggressively we treat this, the higher the risks will be."

"But the more conservative the treatment, the greater the chances that I won't recover at all? That I'll be like this for the rest of my life?"

Part of Ducky almost wanted to lie to McGee, to convince him not to risk his life, but he couldn't. "Even with the most conservative treatment, you will have some improvement, we just don't know how much, I'm afraid."

Tony's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "I just got you back, Tim. I can't lose you again."

"Look at me, Tony. I can't even feed myself."

"There's got to be something in between risking your life and doing nothing." Tony turned to Dr. Walden. "You were talking about using massive amounts of the chelating agents. What about if he was just given a normal amount?"

That had been the heart of the discussion between himself and Dr. Walden and Ducky was glad Tony brought it up. "My suggestion to the team was exactly that. At least one round of normal chelation, then determine how successful that was before we proceed with anything riskier."

"Dr. Mallard's suggestion is a valid one. We've never had a patient present with this intensive level of poison, and this wide of a variety of poisons. The final decision is yours, Agent McGee. We can start with the more conservative approach and increase the treatment as necessary."

Anybody that knew them, knew what Tony and Gibbs wanted him to do. Ducky was just worried that McGee's overriding fear of becoming a burden would destroy his usual common sense.

"One, I'll agree to one round of the normal treatment, but if that doesn't work-"

Tony jumped in before McGee could demand the more dangerous treatment. "Then we'll reevaluate."

-NCIS-

They'd been chased out into the waiting room while Tim was prepared for the first round of chelation therapy and Tony was staring at his phone when Ziva walked up. "Have you called your father yet?"

"Not sure what to say." That wasn't quite true. Gibbs had told him exactly what to say, and was watching him, but working up the nerve was an entirely different matter.

"Would you like me to call him?"

Tempting, but DiNozzo's weren't chickens. At least not in public. At least not this one. Suddenly angry, Tony jabbed at the buttons. "No, I can do this."

It rang twice.

Junior? Everything all right? You usually don't call in the middle of the week.

Tony took a deep breath. "No, Dad, everything's not all right. Can you come to DC?"

Right now?

"Umm, yeah. I can have a ticket waiting for you when you get to the airport."

All right. I'll pack a bag and leave for the airport within the hour – and Tony?

"Yeah, Dad?"

Whatever is going on, I love you.

Tony felt his throat closing up. "Thanks, Dad. I love you, too."

Ziva watched him carefully as he ended the call. "He will have questions after Gibbs interviews him."

"I know."

"What are you going to tell him?"

He looked over at Gibbs, soaking up the support the other man was providing. "I don't know."

a/n 2 - I've had several people ask about when individual stories will be updated, so I thought I'd answer here so everyone will know. Every year I commit to the 'Get Your Words Out' challenge. Last year, I had a family emergency in January/February which put me way behind for the year. Between editing the Eva Chronicles and worrying about my son, I never was able to get caught up. This year, I'm trying to get a little padding in my word count for the month of January so I'm writing for both the h/c bingo and the Trope bingo. Short stories, some connected, some not. Some will even be rearranged slightly to fit into some of my longer stories.

I'm also working on Catalyst (1 chapter ready to post and another almost) and roughing out the rest of Laboring. I'm also sorting out the plot threads for the rest of the series that I need to drop into the Admiral. It's been a productive month, even with having my son home and recovering.

I'm not going to start posting on my bigger WIP's again until the rough draft is either totally done or I have at least 5 or 6 finished and polished chapters ready to go. I don't think it's fair to you guys to just pop in with one chapter and then not post anything on that story for months again.

So, I'm going to have a flurry of shorter stories posting in the next few weeks, but I'll be working on some bigger pieces in the background. You ready?