It took Gibbs a few minutes to sort out the unfamiliar menu at the juice bar Ziva had recommended to him, and even longer to find a smoothie that didn't have banana in it, but soon he was back on his way to their building. Mission accomplished, he arrived in the lab with both a smoothie and a Caf-Pow! just as McGee broke through the last layer of the encryption. Abby let out a cheer and immediately called down to Ducky and Dr. Hughes while Gibbs gently tugged McGee away from the computer.

"Come on, time to take a break."

Truth be told, Tim really didn't want to read the clinical details of what had been done to him, especially all the weeks he'd been unconscious, so he willingly let Gibbs lead him outside. The two men walked a short distance, Gibbs carefully watching and when McGee seemed to tire, he found them a nearby bench. Tim gratefully sat down and leaned back, basking in the late autumn sunshine.

Gibbs let him rest for a moment before handing over the Styrofoam cup. "Here, it's strawberries, mango and peach with..." his words slowed as he remembered what he'd read on their menu, "twenty-two added vitamins and minerals."

Tim sucked on the straw, then smiled. "Mmm, that's good. Thank you."

Smiling, Gibbs rubbed Tim's neck. "We need to build up your strength and stamina after being locked up like that, make it easier for you to carry the baby, but we gotta be careful that you don't start losing weight at the same time."

"Yeah, I know. This is the furthest I've walked since the kidnapping, didn't take long to get out of shape."

"And it won't take that long to get your strength back." Gibbs wrapped his arm around Tim's shoulders and pulled him closer, speaking softly. "You went through something the rest of us can't even comprehend, and you're still going through it. Just take it one day at a time. Today you stood up to your dad and the judge, cracked the encryption on the files and walked further. That's a pretty good day, and tonight you're going to gross DiNozzo out with your pizza."

Gibbs snickered and Tim looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "What about you?"

"I'm a Marine, I can take it."

"Unless I start craving anchovies."

"Yep."

-NCIS-

"Tony." The hiss of his name caused him to look up to see Ziva staring at the couple being escorted over to their corner of the bullpen. Glad Tim was nowhere around, he stood to great them.

"Admiral McGee, Mrs. McGee, we weren't expecting to see you again today." Tony nodded to the agent that was escorting them and he gratefully made his escape.

Standing ramrod straight in his dress uniform, Edward came straight to the point. "We would like to speak to our son."

"Your son?" Tony could see Vance's arrival on the catwalk, but decided he was better suited for the upcoming confrontation. "You mean the man that you dragged to court, tried to declare incompetent, so a monster of a doctor could cut into him against his will, because, after all, once wasn't enough for that fun event. Umm, gee, let me think. Yeah, that would be a big no. But I'll be sure to let him know you were here, oh, in five or six years."

Admiral McGee was ready to let loose on the civilian that dared to stand up to him, but a sharp tug on his uniform jacket kept him on track. "Fine, but he needs to know that Dr. Anderson isn't giving up, and he called me several times before Timothy was even found to tell me that it would be kinder if Tim died rather than endure what he was going through."

"Well, it would have been nice to know that a little earlier, Eddy. Like maybe before the man conveniently got himself put in charge of your son's medical care."

"Listen, are you going to let me see my son or not?"

Tony looked past them to Ziva, who had pulled out her knife and was twirling it as she listened. "All those years on those big ships, maybe you're going deaf, Eddy, because I'm pretty sure I already said no. Ziva, did you hear me say no?"

Vance had sent off a quick text and gotten one in reply, so he decided it was time to join the conversation. "If Agent David didn't, I certainly did. Let me get an agent to escort you down to your car, sir."

As Vance waved an agent over, Melissa tried. "Please, just for a moment." Leon felt just a little sorry for her.

"Give him a few days. We'll set up a meeting for the first of the week, but only if Tim agrees to that."

Recognizing a losing battle, Edward stormed off, his wife at his heels as the agent scrambled to keep up with them.

Tony turned to Vance, not knowing how much he'd heard. "You're probably going to get a formal complaint from him about me."

"Yep, and probably in triplicate." He let Tony stew for just a few seconds before smiling. "The kid's hamster needs new paper in its cage." After Tony returned the grin, Vance jerked his head towards the window.

Both Tony and Ziva looked to see Gibbs and McGee sitting on one of the benches, Tim tucked very closely against Gibbs.

"Make sure that his parents don't wander down there and find him."

-NCIS-

Gibbs bit back a smile as he felt McGee leaning heavier and heavier against him. He rescued the almost empty cup and set it aside just as McGee went down for the count. When the text from Vance came in he answered it simply, Tim asleep. He was prepared to face off against Tim's parents, but when their visitors arrived, it was Tony and Ziva, instead.

The temperature was starting to drop and Tony pulled off his coat to drape over the sleeping man before he and Ziva settled in to wait.

-NCIS-

"You waking up?" Tim felt a finger trail down his face as he opened his eyes. Amused blue eyes were watching him. "Have a nice nap?"

Embarrassed, Tim straightened and wiped at his face. "Yeah, sorry about that." He recognized the coat that was covering him and looked over at Tony, but there was no ridicule or glee on the other man's face.

"Shouldn't push yourself so hard, Probie."

"I didn't, not really."

Gibbs could see the frustration growing on his face and tapped the back of his head. "Hey, Shannon needed an afternoon nap almost every day for the first six months she was pregnant. Your body wasn't made for this and you're still recovering from the kidnapping."

"Yeah, man," Tony leaned forward and tapped Tim's knee. "Cut yourself some slack."

Ziva smiled. "Absolutely. Now, would you like me to pull my car close so you don't have to walk all the way back?" She seemed surprised when all three men turned to stare at her. "What? I can fit it through the barricade."

"That's okay, I can walk, Ziva." To prove his point, Tim stood and handed Tony back his coat. "Thanks, Tony. What are you guys doing out here, anyways?"

Tony hesitated until he saw Gibbs nod. "Your parents were here, but Vance told them to wait."

Only if you were looking for it, would you have seen the break in Tim's gait as he walked along the path. "I bet my dad loved to be told that."

"He wasn't real happy when he left, but Vance didn't give him much choice."

"I'm sure he was thrilled by that."

"Sorry, Tim, but if it helps, I think they're beginning to understand that Dr. Anderson didn't have your best interest at heart when he went to him."

Tim frowned as he thought back to his time in the emergency room. "Yeah, it was like he took it personally that I didn't want to terminate the pregnancy."

Gibbs had no reason for them to back inside before they left, so he steered Tim towards the parking lot. "We're going to be looking at him a little closer tomorrow, just to be safe. Tony, we'll see you and Ziva at the house with pizza?"

"Yep. Still want sausage and artichoke, McGee?"

The idea of sausage made him feel a little queasy. "No sausage... pineapple."

"Pineapple? With artichoke?"

"Yeah."

Tim had a dreamy look on his face that had Gibbs chuckling. "It could be worse, DiNozzo."

Tony did not look convinced. "I'll take your word for it, Boss."

"It could be pickles and ice cream, is that not the traditional pregnancy craving?" Ziva smiled at Tony, who did not seem amused.

"No, because Probie doesn't like pickles, remember? A fact that I am so ever grateful for, right now." They had reached Gibbs' car and Tony waited until Tim was settled in. "What about you, Boss? Pineapple and artichoke?" Tony struggled not to laugh at the expression. "Pepperoni it is."

-NCIS-

"You're really going to eat that?"

"Well, yeah." Tim gave him a strange look before taking a bite and rolling his eyes in pure pleasure. Gibbs just grinned and set a glass of cranberry juice in front of the younger man and Tony's lip curled.

"Okay, that makes it even worse, guys." Tony laughed and shook his head, but he was carefully watching how Gibbs and McGee interacted. Tim was strong, but it was apparent how much additional strength he drew from the older man, while Gibbs seemed to revel in the opportunity to take care of Tim and his unborn child.

Ziva noticed Tony's increasing melancholy, but he subtly shook his head, not wanting to talk about it.


a/n - Thanks for all the well wishes, guys. Yeah, I'm pretty proud of him and he's got quite a career ahead of him. I'm so glad I get a four day weekend coming up because I'm sick again. Every time the grandkids bring a bug home from preschool, I manage to catch it from them. Anyway, here's the next chapter before I go back to bed. I should have two hours before they get up for the day.