"Okay. Now that Tim has cleared that hurdle, what do we tell him?"
"Tell me about what, Boss?"
*******************************

"How you feelin'? Gibbs quietly asked his agent while pushing a chair out from the table for him with his foot.

Watching him silently sit down, Gibbs took advantage of the unexpected quiet, using it to scrutinize what he could pick up from the young man's body language. A silent Ducky was apparently doing the same thing. Although the pain was still there in his eyes, it had softened with something slightly unreadable. Apparently, Tim wasn't hurrying to hide anything which was a great sign. Gibbs was relieved to see there wouldn't be any need to even discuss the younger man's right to not bury anything.

"Better." Tim finally admitted after the momentary hesitation. His tired voice held appreciation for his boss and the rest of the team as well as honesty. This rare show of complete honesty in regard to his health and well-being, while throwing Gibbs off a little, also refreshed in his mind, the precarious hold they had on Tim's ability to handle the surplus of pain and tragedy fate had lumped together and dumped in his lap. None of them knew how he'd be able to handle the rest of what life had dealt him, once he was made aware of it.

The fact that Tim had taken the time to think before giving his answer was encouraging. It offered hope and a promise that somehow, someway, things just might get better for him from here. Gibbs wasn't sure how they'd be able to get him through the next set of hurdles lying in wait for Tim, but he did know that none of them would walk away or even think of giving up in doing whatever it took to help their teammate over every one of them.

"What to you need to tell me about?" Tim asked in the silence that had incidentally arisen.

The young man was determined to get the answer out of his boss. He knew Gibbs and the rest of them were worried about him, but he also knew now that there were things Gibbs and Ducky obviously wanted and needed to tell him. Did the others know? Were they all trying to protect him from something? He had to admit there hadn't been a chance for anyone to talk to him about anything lately, but there was no time like the present to get it out in the open.

Ducky had known Jethro's mind was spinning with the burden of how to get Timothy through everything that was coming up as well as how to break any of it to him. He'd remained silent in order to give the man time to think. Now, he wished he'd filled the silence with something that would turn the youngest man's attention away from what he'd obviously overheard.

"Timmy! You're up! Can I get a hug, please?" Abby exclaimed somewhat quietly out as she arrived back in the kitchen with a happy Jethro in tow.

Ziva and Tony had tried to get her to leave Tim alone for a while and stay out back with them, but the lab rat was too desperate for a hug from her best friend who had been locked away in misery and sleep for the last four days. Nevertheless, Tim's fellow-agents remained outside, determined not to smother him in his first moments back with them.

"Hey. Abby. Sure. I'd like that." Tim answered her.

He patted his dog and then got up from his chair and walked over to her with a small slip of a smile as he welcomed her abnormally gentle hug from which she seemed most reluctant to let him go. Apparently she thought he was fragile and for some reason, at this moment he was grateful for her consideration. He wasn't happy at her incredibly bad timing, interrupting his quest for the answer to his question, like it had, but he had no intention of slighting her whatsoever. Tim forced himself to step back from her welcoming comfort before it opened doors he had at long last managed to slam shut on things best left locked away at the moment.

"You wanna go to dinner with me?" Abby asked hopefully as she did her best to hide her surprise at his physical step back from her.

Trying hard not to take it personally, Abby chose to ignore whatever it meant and concentrate on this idea that popped into her head. She knew Tony and Ziva wanted to keep their eyes on Tim, too, but she wanted some time alone with him, wanted the chance to talk to him like they used to talk, about everything, without holding anything back from each other.

"No." Gibbs quickly vetoed Abby's offer. While his quiet no-nonsense tone softened the bite of his rapid-fire response; it did little to stave off Abby's instant rush of disbelief.

As he locked eyes with her, he silently let his displeasure at her attempt to circumvent the team's collective collaboration in looking out for Tim's best interests, be known. This going out on her own, without checking with Ducky or Gibbs, could have consequences for Tim that none of them would be able to deal with. None of them knew what he was capable of handling right now and to push him too soon was a risk neither man was willing to take.

"Gibbs!" Abby cried. "Why not?"

The boss wordlessly nodded in Ducky's direction, letting Abby know that she, in fact, would have to go through the M.E. for such approval after everything Tim had been through and was recovering from. The M.E. was quick to take the reins of the discussion since he wholeheartedly agreed with Gibbs' decision on Timothy's behalf.

"Abigail, Timothy needs time to regain his strength from the difficult ordeal his body has just been through. Not being able to eat properly or get out of bed for days at a time requires a period of adjustment from which to recover. Trying to overdue himself by exerting himself with the pressures and stress of venturing out into a public eating establishment will not help the situation." Ducky tried to be gentle as much for Timothy's state of mind as for Abby's feelings.

"Abby, I have to agree. I'm nowhere near ready to put out that much effort right now. I'm sorry." Tim quietly admitted as he silently sent glances of appreciation to Gibbs and Ducky for being so quick to think of what was best for him.

They'd probably had plenty of forced responsibility for him just like this over the past four days, although he needed to thank them from the bottom of his heart, he wanted to do it privately. His teammates also deserved to be thanked and that was something he was willing to do now. Determined to keep the peace, Tim wrapped his arm around Abby's shoulders and turned her toward the doorway as he spoke with a tiny smile of encouragement.

"C'mon, Abbs, let's go sit out back in the fresh air with Tony and Ziva."

"Okay. It's nice to have you back with us, Tim." Abby said quietly as she took in the fact that Tim had actually admitted he didn't have the energy to go out to eat. He was at least trying to smile and willing to spend time with them. At least he wasn't trying to hide out. That was something to be encouraged about. Jethro trotted back out to the back porch since his master seemed to be headed that way.

"Timothy, you must eat something. What would you like us to prepare for you?" Ducky asked as the younger man took steps toward the hallway with Abby by his side.

"Duck, I'm really not hungry." Tim quietly vowed as he respectfully stopped to turn and look Ducky in the eye and answer him. "Can we just do as you said earlier, please?"

"For now, Timothy, But, you must attempt to eat more and soon!" the M.E. directed with the tone he used when he wouldn't tolerate being argued with.

"I know, Ducky. Maybe by breakfast time, I'll be hungry enough for a meal." Tim said quietly.

"What do you want us to have ready for you for breakfast, Tim?" Gibbs asked cooperatively.

"Whatever Ducky thinks I should eat is fine with me, Boss. As long as it has flavor, I'm okay with it." Tim answered, looking Gibbs in the eye as he answered, trying to see what Gibbs might be feeling or even thinking that he wasn't saying as well as letting him see that he was really was trying to be okay.

"Okay, go on; go spend some time with the team. The fresh air''ll do you good." Gibbs let him go with a smile of encouragement.

As Tim and Abby headed out back, Gibbs looked expectantly at Ducky, waiting for the man's expert opinion to roll out. He didn't have long to wait.

"Jethro, he's pulled himself together remarkably well, as you can see for yourself. Although, I'm quite sure I don't have to tell you that his current state is, at best, precarious and must be handled carefully. He is not ready to hear any of what you have to tell him."

"Yeah, Duck. I know. We can't wait too long. He has to hear it from us, though. You know that. If he finds out any other way, it'll definitely send him over the edge." Gibbs warned. "There's gotta be a middle ground here, Duck, for his sake."

******************

"Hey, Probie, how are ya?" Tony asked when Tim stepped out onto the back porch with Abby.

"Hey, Tony. I'm okay, I think. Hey, Ziva. You guys okay? I mean I know you've pretty much stuck around here like glue for me this past week. You must be going stir crazy." Tim offered by way of thanks.

"Stir-crazy, McGee?" Ziva asked in confusion.

"Never mind, Ninja." Tony said with a grin. "Probie, don't sweat it. We're fine. Just tell us how you're really doing."

"Really, Tony, I'm trying to be okay. I really appreciate you guys being here for me, even if I wasn't here, if you know what I mean." Tim said in the same grain of honesty he somehow wasn't able to put away.

"McGee, even I understand what you mean and you do not need to thank us. It is what we do for each other, yes?" Ziva asked.

"Yeah, I know, Ziva, it's still only fair that I thank you for it." Tim reminded her.

"Hey, Probie, wanna watch a movie?" Tony quietly threw out the only suggestion he could think of to break up the steadily sobering conversation and get Tim doing something besides explaining how he felt. The fact that Tim admitted he was 'trying to be okay' worried Tony as much as it floored him that Probie was being so brutally honest.

"Actually, Tony, if we can do it a little later, that would be okay. I really would like to just soak up the sun and some fresh air for now." Tim requested gently.

"Yeah, I get it. You've been cooped up for a while. Sun probably feels real good right about now." Tony reasoned in a big brother tone that Tim found refreshing and soothing.

"Yeah. It does." Tim replied. He lay his head back against the back of the chair and closed his eyes to find peace. For all of ten minutes, peace reigned on the back porch as all of them silently relaxed as much for Tim's peace of mind as for their own. Even Jethro curled up in the shade and dozed, content to be around all of them.

Unfortunately, peace wasn't Tim's to be had for very long. In only ten short minutes, the nightmare returned to the screen behind his eyes with a bang, actually bringing with it the pain that led the migraine that had been its' shadow in the last two weeks. At least this time, he wasn't alone. This time, he could ask for help. Without opening his eyes or moving his head he spoke quietly, not even sure he had an audience, but, hoping like hell that he did.

"Guys? Can you get Ducky for me, please?"

Tim's quiet request had a timber of pain in it and had Abby, Tony and Ziva, all snapping open their eyes to look at Tim in alarm before quickly looking to each other with fear. Unwilling to raise his voice, since Tim was obviously in pain, Tony, quickest out of his chair, literally ran in the house after the M.E. Making sure to close the French doors behind him and step most of the way through the living room. Tony raised the alarm.

"Ducky!"

Instantly Ducky and Gibbs were running from the kitchen, as Tony silently pointed to where Tim sat in his chair. Upon arrival, Duck quickly realized what the problem was just by the pain etched so clearly now on Timothy's face and the way in which the young man had twisted and turned himself away from the sun.

"Come, Timothy, the sun will only cause you more pain." Ducky softly advised as he took one of the young man's arms, while Gibbs took hold of the other one; both men gently leading Tim back inside and helping lie down on the couch in the living room. Tony drew the curtains while Abby gently shifted Tim's now blindingly throbbing head onto a pillow and covered him with a blanket. Ziva quietly closed the doors and stood by waiting to help when she could. As Ducky returned from the kitchen bearing pain reliever, Ziva stepped up along with Abby and together, they helped Tim take the meds while Tony helped him sit up enough to get the task accomplished.

Once he'd taken the pain meds and gotten settled back down under the blanket to hide from the light, they all silently turned to leave him in peace. Tim felt panic suddenly grip him. He had to do something!

"Boss?" he desperately whispered, needing to hear that he wasn't alone and that his rock through the storms that had raged against him not long ago was still available to help him through this one now. Even though he was rolled onto his side with his head turned toward the back of the couch, he could feel Gibbs' presence and it lifted his flagging spirit.

"Right here, Tim" Gibbs said quietly, as he sat down behind Tim where he could see the young man's face and still reach out to him if need be.

"Don't leave me, please." Tim begged heartbrokenly in a whisper.

"I'm not going anywhere, son. I promise." Gibbs solemnly vowed as he placed a reassuring hand on Tim's shoulder in support

Stoically, Tim said nothing more, reluctant to throw anything else at Gibbs after all he'd already done for him. Just having him prepared to stay and keep him company through the migraine was more than Tim had hoped for. He couldn't stop the tears of both physical and emotional pain from rolling down his face. After several minutes spent in misery, holding it all inside; in a desperate attempt to ask for help, as much as he was capable at the moment, Tim reached out and snagged Gibbs' hand resting on his shoulder and hung on to it like the life preserver he needed to stay afloat.

After several long minutes of pained silence, borne both of the obvious physical pain the young man was experiencing, as well whatever it was he was suddenly trying to hide from Gibbs, the older man couldn't take it any longer. Watching his surrogate son silently cry without asking for help, beyond the hand on his shoulder, was too much.

"Talk to me. Is it easing up?"

"Yeah," Tim quietly answered without moving a muscle beyond what it took to use his mouth.

"Can you tell me what brought it on? What's going on in your head, Tim?" Gibbs' soothing request to be let in was all it took for Tim's resolve to crumble and let the door to his storm open wide.

"They won't leave me alone." Tim whispered tearfully.

"The memories?" Gibbs asked understandingly.

"Make 'em stop, Boss. I can't take it." The young man softly begged.

"I wish I could, Tim. Try thinking of good ones to replace the bad ones." The older man soothed.

"Don't think I can." Tim admitted in a whisper.

"You need to try." Gibbs persisted. "It may be the only way to get past this, Tim. Talk to me about the good times you had with your family."

Tim gingerly rolled to his back, hating to talk to Gibbs with his back turned to the man. "You sure you wanna hear this stuff?" Tim asked as his voice rose slightly above the whisper he'd been using. The pain behind his eyes had eased up some but not enough to make the effort to open them worth the gamble.

"Anything you wanna tell me, I'll listen to, gladly. Your parents, your sister, they were good people, Tim and I want you to be able to remember that, remember everything that was good about them, not this pain that's haunting you now." Gibbs directed him sympathetically.

"Thanks, Boss." The younger man somberly offered in return.

"Talk me through some of your good memories." Gibbs pushed him to keep going.

"I'm sorry." Tim said with guilt.

"What for?" Gibbs asked carefully.

"This had to be tough for you, staying with me because of what happened to my family, After..." Tim broke off and turned his head to the side. He felt fresh pain for how Gibbs must have felt haivng Tim's family tragedy shoved under his nose when he'd barely learned how to deal with his own.

"Tim. you need to listen to me.

"K" Tim said quietly

"You have nothing to apologise for. I appreciate that you're concerned about me. But, this isn't about me. It's about you. It's about helping you get through this."

"Boss, I..." Tim tried to get him to understand that how his boss was affected was affecting how he got through this.

"Tim. I'm fine with it. Please, trust me on this." Gibbs said.

"Didn't mean to make it worse for you, Boss." Tim said apologetically.

"We're good. Okay?" Gibbs promised

"Yeah. Thanks, Boss." Tim replied with gratitude.

"No problem. Now, still need to refresh what's hanging around in your head, so let me hear some memories." Gibbs directed calmly.

"Ok. I guess the one that stands out the most…"

Fifteen short minutes later, Gibbs had managed to coax enough good memories from Tim to relax the younger man away from the physical pain of his migraine and into peaceful slumber.