Gibbs paced the floor of his holding cell anxiously. He couldn't believe this was happening. He was in a jail cell, Abby was being interrogated, and Tony was inches of being arrested for some crime he still didn't know about.

Abby had approached him about weeks ago to tell him that Tony had gone missing. He'd tried to search for him himself, but he didn't really have the resources, so he didn't find much. Then she came to him again just the other day saying that he was in real trouble. She wouldn't tell him what Tony had done, no matter how hard he pushed, but it was obviously something big. If he didn't know that by Abby's demeanor, he definitely knew when McGee and his partner showed up shortly afterwards.

Things definitely got more complicated when they showed up. Gibbs knew after he stupidly told them that Abby had destroyed Tony's apartment that he'd had to hide her. He'd beckoned her over as soon as McGee and Agent Blye stormed out of the apartment. He knew if they talked to her, they would get a hold of Tony before he could figure out what was going on and find a way to fix it. And they wouldn't be interested in helping Tony. Agent Blye couldn't care less about him and McGee pretty much hated him.

Gibbs was pulled from his thoughts when he heard someone come in. He looked over to see Ducky heading his way. "Hey, Duck."

"Jethro. I must say, this isn't where I wanted to see you next after so long," Ducky said.

"Well, you can thank McGee for that," Gibbs said bitterly. Okay, so he knew that wasn't technically accurate, but he just couldn't believe McGee actually arrested him. Even though the younger man had threated to do it several times, he never thought he'd actually go through with it.

"It's my understanding that you were arrested because you defied a court order," Ducky said.

"I was trying to protect Abby and Tony!" Gibbs explained.

"And how did defying a court order do that? Abigail has been arrested and Anthony is well on his way to being the same. Actually, the way I hear it, your actions led to Abigail's arrest," Ducky said. He'd heard all about how Gibbs had hidden Abigail from Timothy and his partner. He had no doubt that that not happened, Timothy would not have taken it this far. He did so only because he was left with no alternative.

"I didn't think he'd actually do it," Gibbs said.

Ducky sighed. "Exactly what have you witnessed of Timothy in the last two years gave that impression? He's not the same person who left two years ago. I thought you would've realized that by now."

"I have. I know he's not the same. I don't know, I guess I just hoped he wouldn't go that far," Gibbs said.

"You underestimated him, Jethro. Again," Ducky said.

"I…I just wanted time. Time to figure out what was going on so that I could help Tony," Gibbs said.

"You mean bail him out. Have you learned nothing in the last two years?" Ducky asked.

"Of course I have. I know I treated McGee horribly. What does that have to do with…?"

"I'm not talking about Timothy. He was not the only one you did a disservice to. Anthony and Abigail have suffered because of the way you favored them as well," Ducky said.

"Yeah, I know that. That's why I left. I wanted to send them a message that the way I let them treat McGee was wrong," Gibbs said.

"Again, I'm not talking about Timothy or the way you allowed him to be treated. I'm talking about the fact that you allow Anthony and Abigail to muck up their lives and the lives of others and then clean up after them as though it never happened. You have made it so that they never have to take responsibility for themselves. It's always someone else's fault. It's come to the point where they believe it now."

"That's not true," Gibbs said.

"Yes, it is and you know it. Abigail has shouted loudly and quite smugly for many years that she was your favorite and can do what she wishes. And you never said one word to contradict her. The closest you've ever come to chastising Anthony was to slap him upside the head, an act which seems to have been fruitless. You've never once brought them to task," Ducky said.

"What would you have me do, Duck? Let them fend for themselves?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes," Ducky said bluntly. "You certainly had no problem doing that with Timothy."

"Okay, you can say a lot about me when it comes to McGee, and almost all of it would be true, but don't say I never helped him. When he was truly in trouble, I did help him. You remember when he was accused of killing that cop?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes, I do. And yes, you did help clear him. But I believe you later told him, after he understandably had an issue using his gun, you'd take his badge if he ever hesitated again," Ducky said.

Gibbs looked away, not knowing what to say.

"Look, the way you treated Timothy was deplorable, but you already know that. What you don't seem to understand is that your treatment of the others was just as damaging, maybe even more so. They think they can do whatever they want and that you'll bail them out of trouble. Well, it's time for you to stop doing that. This business with Anthony is of his own making. You can't save him from it and it is time you stop trying. He needs to figure out how to sink or swim all on his own. The same with Abby. They are not children. Stop treating them like they are. Just think about it," Ducky said before walking away without waiting for a response.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Tim and Kensi made it to Abby's apartment and took out their guns. "You ready?" Kensi asked.

Tim took a deep breath and nodded. He then took a step back and kicked the door open. They'd decided in the car to barge in. They didn't want to give Tony a chance to run by knocking.

Tony was on the couch watching TV when he heard the loud crash of the door. Startled, he was out of his seat in seconds with his gun drawn.

"Put it down, Tony! Put it down now!" Tim ordered. He didn't think Tony would shoot them, but he was trained not to get a suspect to disarm or if need be, disarm them himself. He hoped it wouldn't come down to the latter.

"What the hell are you doing?" Tony asked without moving to lower his weapon. He knew people would be looking for him, but he never thought it would be McGee.

"Put the weapon down, DiNozzo!" Kensi reiterated with her gun trained on the rogue agent.

"Oh, please, I'm not gonna shoot you," Tony said before lowering his weapon.

"Put it on the ground," Tim ordered.

Tony scoffed. "You think you can treat me like a suspect, Probie? You? How'd you even find me?"

"Put the gun on the ground," Tim told him again.

Tony rolled his eyes and began to lower his gun to the ground. "Fine, McJumpy, you win. This time. Enjoy it while it lasts."

"Turn around and put your hands behind you head. You're under arrest," Tim told him.

Tony glared at his former teammate, but complied. He didn't feel like being charged with resisting arrest as well, so he'd let the amateur have his fun this time.

Tim holstered his weapon and went over to Tony. He took out a pair of handcuffs and started cuffing Tony's hands behind his back.

"I bet your loving this, huh?" Tony asked.

Tim ignored the comment. "Anthony DiNozzo Jr., You're under arrest for aiding in a prison escape and murder."