First thing in the morning, Abby reported to Gibbs with a heavy heart. "The tests confirmed it, Gibbs. The pills were some sort of hallucinogenic. There were some elements that I couldn't identify, but over 75% was a mix of LSD and PCP with a binder." She had her suspicions as to why Tony took them, so she had to know. "Did you feel anything odd when he took them?"

Gibbs had heard details from Ziva. "You mean other than think a damn moth was a helicopter that was going to land on my head?"

"That was because you were out there without your Guide, Gibbs. Did you have any..." Abby knew she had to tread lightly, but she needed answers. "Any desires to bond with Tony?"

"With DiNozzo?" Gibbs shook his head and closed his eyes. "No, if anything, when my senses act up I can barely stand to be around him. Something about his scent really set my teeth on edge. Why?"

He'd opened his eyes and given her an intense look as he'd asked, but she still hated to tell him. "I found a second set of fingerprints on the bottle. They belong to Dr. Hamel."

"Dr. Hamel?" It took Gibbs a minute to place the name. "The Sentinel doctor from Walter Reed? How did he get involved with what happened to Tony?"

Abby had been researching everything she could get her hands on about Sentinels and Guides since Gibbs had come on line, but after finding the fingerprints, she'd spent the rest of the night focused on Hamel and his research. "He's been trying to create Guides. At least until he lost his research position. He got moved to a figurehead position at Walter Reed because he's got friends in high places."

Gibbs hadn't said anything, but he'd been more than aware of Tony's jealously. "You think he used Tony to try and continue his research, even though I have a Guide already?"

"Hamel thinks Guides created with drugs are better than natural Guides and with the way you've been treating McGee..."

"What's wrong with the way I treat McGee? I treat him like I always do."

"Exactly! That's the problem, Gibbs. He's not just one of your agents anymore. He's your Guide, he's supposed to be the other half of your soul."

Gibbs could tell she was about to start in on that subject, so he cut her off before she could. "We'll talk about McGee later. For now, let's figure out what the hell DiNozzo was thinking."

Through the window they saw Ziva sit up straight, a good indication that DiNozzo was waking up. Gibbs walked in, Abby at his heels. Gibbs waited while Tony slowly blinked, looking around. It didn't take long for embarrassment to color the younger man's face.

"I'm an idiot."

"Ya think, DiNozzo? Where'd you get the pills?"

For a moment, Gibbs thought he wasn't going to speak. The words started coming slowly, then tumbled out faster and faster as he confessed his fears of being replaced and how he'd reacted to Tim every time Gibbs was away from the pair. Next came the visits to the bonding suite and how he'd come to have the pills. Finally, he looked up at Gibbs. "I really messed up, didn't I, Boss?"

-NCIS-

Ducky and Simon had arrived at the beginning of Tony's confession and chose to listen through the open door. Not knowing if Gibbs was aware of their arrival or not, they continued to listen from out in the hallway until Tony asked his question. At that point, Simon Banks stormed in.

"Yes, you did, big time. You do realize that interfering with a bond is a class 3 felony?"

"No, I wasn't interfering, I was just giving McGee a hard time because..."

"You were jealous."

"NO, well... yeah, but anyone could see that things weren't right. Colonel Hamel was right; McGee isn't cut out to be Gibbs' Guide."

"And you decided that you were."

"Yeah, well..." All bravado gone, Tony dropped his head in shame. "I wanted to be, but I can't, can I?"

Abby cut in, hoping to get through to both Gibbs and Tony. "Gibbs, when you're starting to zone, what does Timmy smell like?"

"Warm spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon, mixed with a perfectly prepared cup of coffee." Gibbs was slightly surprised by his own answer. He'd never really analyzed the smell, just enjoyed it.

"What about Ziva?"

Gibbs seemed almost embarrassed to answer Abby's second question, but Ziva refused to be upset. "It is all right, Gibbs, I will not be offended. As I understand it, only a Guide will smell pleasant to a Sentinel in distress."

Recognizing the truth, Gibbs had to admit it to himself and the others. "Everyone other than McGee, unless he's right there with me... it's like a mix between rancid meat and a week old corpse."

"Even me?" Abby stepped back and tucked her arms tightly against her side and Gibbs shrugged.

"Sorry, Abs."

"Then why..." Tony faltered a bit and then decided he already was in so much trouble with Gibbs, that it really didn't matter at this point. "If not having him around made us all smell like that to you, then why in the hell don't you want him surgically attached to your side? I thought that was the way it was supposed to be."

"It is, once the bond is completed."

Tony looked between Gibbs and Ducky, not really understanding. "Their bond is complete. I mean that's why Gibbs was able to return to work, right?

Simon decided not to pull any punches. Their theory hadn't been proven, but he knew it was close. "Gibbs bonded McGee to him, but instead of bonding himself to McGee, it looks like he used McGee as a conduit to resurrect the bond he had with his first Guide – Shannon."

Once Gibbs and the other had a moment to digest that, Simon opted to tell them the rest. "The bond, what little there is, will soon be broken. I've brought some pretty heavy duty drugs with me that will suppress your senses, Agent Gibbs, until you can have surgery to destroy them permanently."

Gibbs didn't react, while Ducky and Abby had sad expressions, so Ziva decided it was her responsibility to be his advocate in McGee's place. "Just because this bond did not work, why would he not be allowed to try again?"

"He won't be allowed a third Guide, especially after he killed his second one."

Tony stared at him in horror. "What? McGee is dead?"

"He will be, soon. Since the bond is so uneven and damaged, it will be a slow, painful death for him, but Gibbs should survive relatively unscathed. Too bad you realized so late that you can't be his replacement." Annoyed, Simon stared at the group. "What? You thought there was some sort of return policy on Guides? 'Til death do you part' is a real part of the bond."

"I'm the one that screwed up, why is McGee the one that's being punished?" Gibbs paced back and forth, instinct warring with his commitment to his first wife. "You can take me to him. We can finish the bond, right?"

Ducky shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not that simple, Jethro. You have to let go of Shannon first."

Gibbs stared over Ducky's shoulder as he admitted the truth. "I don't know how to do that. All these years, all the ex-wives, and I still don't have a clue, Duck."

Abby had been listening quietly, everything she'd learned about Sentinels, Guides and the bond they share running through her mind. She'd been hurt and angry when Gibbs had first come on-line and wanted to prove the restrictions weren't necessary. She'd found the exact opposite and learned even more as she'd tried to find a way to help her friend.

"I might know of a way."

She turned to Simon. "He needs to accept the spiritual side of being a Sentinel, doesn't he? He needs to join with his spirit animal."

Simon hesitated, and then spoke slowly. "The churches put a lot of pressure on the government to not include the spiritual side in the official documents, but the majority of successful pairs grow stronger when the Sentinel goes on a spirit walk and accepts that side of his abilities."

"A spirit walk?"

Gibbs sounded doubtful instead of revolted, so Simon continued to explain. "Most meditate, open themselves to the possibilities. The result is something very private; few Sentinels ever discuss it and those that do only refer to it in the most general of terms. If you and Tim had come to Cascade, this is something that you would have been taught by the Senior Pair. Oh, and you should probably know, they've identified Shuhab's cousin as the mystery man that broke Kincaid out of prison."

"If Kincaid hadn't escaped..."

"Ellison and Sandburg would have stayed right next to you and McGee until the two of you were successfully bonded and fully trained."

Gibbs resumed pacing, obviously at war with himself. Decision reached, he stopped in front of Banks. "If I do this spirit walk thing, if I'm able to find a way to let go of Shannon, will you take me to McGee?"

Simon had his doubts, but eventually agreed with a warning. "You better be sure before you get there because if you screw it up again, I won't protect you from Jim."

Knowing what was at stake, Gibbs gave a silent nod of agreement while the rest of the remaining DC team looked worried.

-NCIS-

Exhausted, but wide awake, Jim looked at his Guide, seeing the same on the other man's face. In between them, the new Guide from DC was pale and trembling, drenched in sweat. Jim knew Tim's shields were failing and that he was terrified of hurting his Sentinel. Jim drew as much energy around them as he could, feeling Blair do the same.

When that was done, Blair tightened his grip on the younger man and leaned close. "Shh, it's all right. Let it go, we've got you."

Tim struggled for a few more minutes before he gave in and let what was left of his personal shields go. The agony battered at the Senior Pair, but they held on to him and to each other and rode it out.

-NCIS-

Returning to the Yard, Abby quickly prepared her office for a spirit walk. She wasn't fully aware of everything involved, but she had a pretty good idea. What she'd learned was that it was similar to a deep meditation and that she knew how to do. She remembered the first time she'd done this, it had been to help McGee. Now, in a way, it was again.

Lightly scented candles that reminded her of McGee perfumed the air. She swapped out her heavy metal music for something that Gibbs would probably call "jungle music". She'd brought the CD back from a holistic healing seminar years ago and tucked it away, never dreaming it would become important. The desk had been shoved aside as much as possible, giving room for a large pillow on the floor. The only thing missing from duplicating the spiritual awakening demo she'd witnessed at the seminar was the peyote, but she was pretty sure Gibbs would draw the line at that. Right on time the lab door opened, admitting Gibbs.

Gibbs grumbled and rolled his eyes, but when she pointed, he settled cross-legged on the pillow. "So, what do I do?"

"Clear your mind and reach out."

"That's it?"

"It's harder than it sounds, Gibbs."

He gave her an unbelieving look, but closed his eyes. Several ex-wives had complained that he mentally checked out when working on one of his boats and that's what he tried to duplicate. It took a few minutes, but the familiar sounds of the building faded away and then he heard a childish giggle.

Gibbs opened his eyes and found himself outside his familiar world, in a beautiful meadow surrounded by massive trees. He heard Kelly's voice again and started searching. Running toward the edge of the forest, Gibbs worried that he wouldn't be able to find her, but as he continued to run the trees spread out, allowing sunlight to filter in. Something told Gibbs to stay silent as he slowed down to a walk. Eventually he found Kelly kneeling next to Shannon. Cradled in Shannon's lap was a very sick fox, exhausted from the simple act of breathing. Tears running down her face, Kelly looked up at him.

"Please, Daddy, you have to make him better."

Instinctively, Gibbs realized that he was looking at Tim's spirit animal. Dropping to his knees in front of his girls, he stroked the small creature's head. "I don't know if I can, sweetheart."

"You have to, Daddy. He's my friend. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him."

Shannon finally looked up at him. Like Kelly, there were tears running down her face. "I've helped him all I can, Jethro. It's up to you now." Giving a soft whine, the fox rubbed its head in Gibbs' hand, desperate for any sign of affection. Gibbs was torn.

"I don't know what to do."

"You have to let me go, Jethro. Tim is your Guide now, as he was always destined to be."

"Shannon... We were supposed to have a lifetime together."

"We did. My lifetime. Now, it's time for your lifetime with Tim."

"But..."

She reached out and pressed her fingers against his lips. "No buts, Jethro. I've been waiting for years to see you have the life I want you to have. The life you're destined to have with Tim. If you wait much longer, you'll lose your last chance. It's time to become the man, the Sentinel, I know you are destined to be. Accept it, Jethro. Embrace it."

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't. Tim is your Guide in the physical world and I'm your Guide in the spirit world. All you have to do is accept us both."

He touched the side of her face as he stood. "What do I do?"

Shannon pointed. "Face North, it's time to take your spirit animal and make him part of you."

Standing, he had to ask one last time. "Are you sure?"

She picked up the limp animal and held him against her chest. "I am. He's the one I want you to have."

Kelly nodded beside her. "You'll be happy with him, Daddy, I know you will. Please, Daddy, for us?"

Doing what he was told, Gibbs saw the lumbering animal in the distance. It was limping and refused to look at him while a panther looked on from the distance. Gibbs couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. "A bear? A bear with a sore paw? I should have known."

Laughing along with him, Shannon had a piece of advice. "Ask your mentor about Incacha and his sense of humor."

Not sure what that meant, Gibbs turned and faced the beast. There was a moment of fear as it charged at him, and then he closed his eyes as the light became unbearably bright.