Thank you to all who have continued to read and review. Your response has been overwhelming! If I have missed responding to anyone personally, I apologize.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the NCIS charcaters, only the ones I've created for my story. (OH! And Season 8 that I just bought!)

The conversation was light all the way to McGee's apartment.. They had taken a company car, since the Porsche would have never fit all four of them, the airmen were following behind. Tim pointed Gibbs to his designated parking space. The airmen parked on the street.

Gibbs waited in the car while the other three went up and watched the two airmen follow. At least they are taking this detail seriously.

He wanted to make some phone calls. He knew Abby would never forgive him if she was left out. Also, there was Ducky and Palmer. Ducky would help him keep his sanity, and Palmer … well he said he wanted to help.

Gibbs felt like he was planning a party instead of security for a safe house, but he knew it would be best for McGee, at least for the first night. After that, he would have to play it by ear. He hoped this case could be wrapped up quickly, as much for McGee's sake, as well as his own. He loved his team like a family, but he had lived so long on his own that it wouldn't bode well for anyone if he had be host for the six of them for any extended period of time.

However, Gibbs would never admit, even to himself, that he was actually looking forward to this.

XXX

The rustling of keys at the door had the one occupant of the apartment wagging his tail in excitement. As soon as McGee stepped through the door, Jethro bounded over to him and jumped up to greet his master.

"Whoa, whoa, easy fella!" Tim laughed out. He gently pushed Jethro back onto the floor and followed him down to give a good scratching behind the ears.

Tony and Ziva followed in and the two airmen stood guard outside the door in the hall.

Jethro could sense that something was off with his master, he let out a small whine.

"I'm okay boy. Come here." Tim tapped his shoulder. Jethro came over and rested his head on the shoulder McGee hand indicated.

Tim hugged his dog and found it very hard to keep his emotions under wraps. He always felt he could let loose around his dog, after all, who was Jethro going to tell. He gave a small laugh at his thoughts, but grabbed onto Jethro more. I have to get it together! I'm acting like such a baby! I already lost it in front of Gibbs, I can't let the whole team seem me like that!

A gentle hand was placed on his other shoulder, "Hey buddy, you okay?" Came DiNozzo's worried voice.

McGee pulled away from Jethro. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just missed my dog, alright." He turned to look up at Tony. "Don't go thinking anything weird about that." He said in a stern 'don't mess with me' voice.

Tony gave a faltering smile. Why is Tim trying so hard to bottle all this up? Tony decided to go with it, for now. "Oh, and what could I be thinking … hum, let me see … oh I know! McGee is in to bestiality! Or wait, you can only relate to dogs, what's why all the pretty girls get away! Or … OW!"

Ziva had heard enough of his rantings and decided to put an end to it with a well placed elbow.

Tim smile. "Yeah, anything like that." He straighten up. "Come on boy, let get an overnight bag back." He headed to his bedroom. Jethro gave a 'wuf' and followed behind.

Once McGee was in his bedroom and closed the door behind him, Tony turned to Ziva. "You didn't have to hit so hard, ya know!"

"I had to make it realistic."

He rubbed his sore ribs, "Too realistic if you ask me." His face dropped. "He going to be okay, Ziva?"

"It will take time. However, he got through it once, I am confident he can again." Although, Ziva didn't sound as sure of herself as she thought.

"I don't know how he did. Especially with no help from his parents. I wonder if they even know."

Ziva sighed. "If what the Staff Sergeant said is true, maybe it is better if they do not."

He looked over at Tim's bedroom door. "Why would he let us believe he had such a perfect childhood? I mean, I was pretty harsh about it sometimes. Jealous is more like it." Tony gave a wry laugh to himself. "If anything, its Tim who should have been jealous."

Ziva was watching the door as well. "Sometimes it is easier to go along with what others believe they know about you. It is like being undercover, you give a small piece of information and let everyone else draw their own conclusions."

"And here I thought Tim could never do undercover jobs."

"You do not think him skilled enough?"

"I never thought he could stand to lie that much."

Now, Ziva looked at Tony. "You feel as though you have been lied to" It was a statement, not a question. She narrowed her eyes at him.

DiNozzo shook his head. "Not really. I can understand why he would never want to talk about this. I mean, how do you even bring it up … 'Hey guys, guess what happened to me when I was nine!' … yeah, that's a real ice breaker there."

"Then what?"

Tony turned fully to face Ziva. "I feel as though I've taken for granted who McGee really is. I wanted so badly for there to be a perfect family out there, that I forced that idea onto him and he just let me. Instead of throwing up in my face, he let me run with my ego."

"Do you think he said nothing to spare your feelings?" Ziva was getting angry. "Maybe it was easier not to relive all that torment just to prove you wrong. Not everything is about you, Tony."

DiNozzo frowned. "Why are you getting upset?"

Ziva opened her mouth to respond, but close it instead. Why, indeed. She would have to go into her feelings about what had happened to her years ago. She thought she was past it, even her psychologist said so, but occasionally would those feelings come back to haunt her, like now. She knew DiNozzo was waiting for an answer.

"I am sorry, Tony. I am just being over-protective." She hoped he would drop it at that.

He studied her for a moment. He knew there was more to it, but again, let the issue drop "Sure, Ziva." If Ziva wanted to talk, she could have at any point once we brought her back. Like I said to Abby, it's all about Tim right now. He turned back to the bedroom door. "You almost done in there McGoo?"

A shaky "Sure Tony" wafted out of the closed door. Tony started to walk to the bedroom, but Ziva placed a hand on his arm to stop him. When he looked at her, she just shook her head.

He turned back to the door. Don't go through this alone, Tim. We are here, just reach out to us. He knew that it was going to be very difficult for McGee to do. As Abby said, Tim was not very needy, he always seemed to pull himself together. DiNozzo now wished he had taken more time to show McGee it was okay to reach out to him.

What would you have done if he had? Tony chastised himself. Laughed at him, made fun of him, told everyone at work! Tony just stared at the door. Please Tim, give me a chance to … just give me a chance.

Tony and Ziva waited in silence for their partner.

XXX

When McGee had gone into his bedroom, he unconsciously closed the door behind him. He pulled out his over night bag and started packing items for a few days. "I hope we don't have to put the Boss out for more than that. He might end up firing me just to get me out of his house." Tim laughed, but it sounded hollow even to him.

Jethro stared at him. His tail was twitching and he let out a low whine.

Tim grabbed a couple of the dog toys and held them out to Jethro. "Ok, which one do you want to take. You can only pick one."

Jethro walked up to him, but instead of choosing a toy, he licked Tim's left hand, looked up at him sadly, and whined again.

Tim's control was wavering. He knew it was dumb, but he could be completely himself around Jethro. How many nights had he come home and vented to the dog and was glad he could get all of it out without having any judgments or repercussions. He plopped down on his bed and patted the space next to him.

Jethro was by his side immediately, looking at him with an expectant gaze.

McGee starting scratching behind Jethro's ears. "I wish all of this would have stayed buried. I haven't thought about any of it for a very, very long time." He moved his hand down to Jethro's back. "Now, my whole team gets to find out about the real me … the me I've tried so hard to change." He went from scratching, to petting.

"You know, Gibbs said I'm amazing. Yeah, an amazing fool." Tears were starting to cascade down his face. He used his free hand to angrily wipe them away. "This is the third time today that I've cried, god, I'm such a wuss."

Jethro leaned his body against his master's chest, giving support the only way a dog could.

Tim wrapped his other arm around his dog and buried his head in Jethro's neck, and cried. Cried in anger and in frustration and in shame. He made sure to keep his crying quiet, it was bad enough Gibbs had seen him break down, he didn't need Tony and Ziva to see it too.

They'll never trust me to have their six again. Gibbs won't want me out in the field anymore, I'll be too much of a liability. He has barely tolerated me up to this point what does he feel about me now? Will any of them even want me on the team anymore? I'm worthless if I can't go out into the field. I'm worthless … worthless. Guess Dad was right all along.

He let all of his terrible thoughts run rampant through his mind and was getting overwhelmed. In his effort to stay quiet, his breathing was low and shallow, which was making him lightheaded and his hands were going numb. Great! A panic attack! Just what a geek nobody would do at a time like this!

A small voice started breaking through his thoughts. 'I know these memories have power right now, but just remember they are your memories. You control them, make them do what you want, even if that is to just go away.' McGee started to calm down at Ziva's remembered words.

As he focused on her words, more from his team broke through his cloud of self-doubt. Tony, saying he wouldn't let anyone hurt him and Gibbs saying that he would protect him this time around. All of them letting him know that this time, he wasn't alone. His breathing regulated, his hand regained their feeling, and his head cleared.

He lifted his head from Jethro, who looked up at him and licked away the tears. McGee gave a small laugh. "Thanks boy, you really know how to cheer me up." Jethro wagged his tail "Maybe I should have a little more faith in my team, they are most definitely not my parents." He looked at Jethro. "What do you think?"

Jethro's tail wagged even faster. He gave a soft "woof" as his answer.

He smiled and once again scratched behind Jethro's ears. "I knew you would say that." He heard DiNozzo call for him, "You almost done in there McGoo?"

McGee looked at his closed door, dried his eyes and cleared his throat. "Sure Tony", he replied, trying to sound normal, but even to himself, his voice was shaky.

He looked down at Jethro. "Do you think they bought it?" Jethro just titled his head to the side. "Nah, neither do I. Let's finish packing before Tony and Ziva come busting in here and get all touchy feely. What do you say?"

Jethro gave a full bark this time. Tim gave his dog one last quick squeeze of a hug, got up and finished packing.