Abby and Tony arrived at Ducky's thirty minutes after Gibbs had arrived. When Ducky had heard Gibbs' yelling at Tim, a few moments ago, the M.E.'s heart had leapt into his throat, but all was quiet now and Ducky knew that it had to be a good sign. As he welcomed Abby and Tony into his living room and handed them each a drink, their faces bore evidence of how little peace of mind they were actually experiencing in all of this.

"Timothy is in Jethro's capable hands at the moment. You can relax, both of you." Ducky placated gently to try and ease their troubled minds. He was pleased when he saw them both nod in unison and relax ever so slightly.

"How are you holdin' up, Ducky?" Tony asked in an attempt to cut through the silence and focus on how the M.E. truly was. It was something that had been nagging at him slightly, given Ducky's track record at hiding his emotions.

"I'm fine, Anthony. Thank you for being concerned. I wonder if you'd be so kind as to work out something for dinner for the lot of us, though because I would like to go and lay down for a little while, I will admit to feeling fatigued. Some rest would be most welcome."

"Ducky, are you sure you're all right?" Abby asked him as she stepped up to him and enveloped him in a hug.

"I promise you, I am fine, Abigail. You need not worry. Where is Ziva?" Ducky asked as it hit him that she wasn't with them.

"She'll be here in a few minutes, she said she needed to stop somewhere along the way." Tony answered as he stepped forward and gently nudged Ducky to try and get him moving. Ducky didn't budge though and smiled ruefully at Tony. "We'll take care of dinner, Ducky. Anything you need done?"

"Well, dear boy, you could make a run to the grocery store for whatever drinks you will need to accompany the meal."

"Yeah, we'll take care of it. But, Ducky, I was talking about for you. What do you need?" Tony asked.

"Thank you, Anthony, I simply need an hour or two of rest and I will be fine." Ducky answered as he patted Tony's arm, smiled at Abby and headed off to the stairs.

As he reached the landing, he let his feet automatically guide him in the direction of Tim's room and realized that the need to check on his young patient was almost subconscious now and no matter what, he wanted to know that he was alright. He hadn't gone three steps when he paused and realized exactly what he was doing. He didn't need to right now, after all, Jethro was with him and Tim couldn't have been in better hands. Ducky turned back and started the journey to his own room for that nap.

"You came anyway." Tim acknowledged with a wealth of gratitude in his eyes and his voice. "I'd probably still be in jail if you hadn't. Sure wouldn't be free from the charges already, probably not at all."

"Nothin' was gonna stop any of us from being there for you, McGee. Sure, it took us a little while because we had to see what clues we could find. It was no easy thing finding stuff that would tell us what was going on with you." Gibbs felt a sliver of guilt as he recalled actually thinking for a time, that there was nothing he could do to help Tim.

"Clues? Before you came to New York? Oh, right. You had to treat it like a normal case, didn't you?" Understanding dawned on Tim's face and he felt his face flush. That meant they'd to have gone through his apartment with a fine tooth comb; his computer hard drive with a fine tooth comb.

"Yeah, we did."

"It's okay, Boss. I get it. Guess it's my own fault for not talking to anyone about it." Tim allowed with complete understanding and self appointed guilt.

"McGee, look at me." Gibbs instructed gently. He was relieved when Tim did as he asked without argument and raised his eyes far enough to look him in the eye.

"None of this is your fault. I need you to get that, in here, where it counts." Gibbs told him as he tapped the spot on Tim's chest where his heart was. "And in here." The finger was now tapping Tim on the temple.

"I'll try."

"You do that. Try real hard, you got me?"

"Yeah, Boss. I got it. Can I ask you somethin'?"

"Anything."

"What exactly did the others have to do in this? Who…" Tim's expression was unreadable but somehow Gibbs just knew what question was bothering the kid now.

"You need to know who knows what about what your… what you've had to live through."

"Yeah."

'Fair enough. Ducky asked me to get your journal from your apartment and I read through it. Ducky read it when I got it back to him. Tony told me a little while ago that he read it that same night when he went in to check on Ducky. I''m not about to lie to you about any of it, McGee."

Tim got up and took to pacing as his mind tried to accept what he was being told. He stopped Suddenly and looked at his boss with a look of sheer horror. "And the tapes?"

"Tony's the one that found them. Tim, I had no idea what he'd find when I gave him that room to process."

"It's not your fault, Boss. I just can't get my head around everyone knowing."

"He only saw the one in the player hooked up to the TV."

"What was on it?"

"It was labeled 'first time'"

Tim's face drained of color as he imagined Tony seeing him as a scared, spineless 8 year old getting the crap whipped out of him and standing there taking it.

"McGee? What is it?"

Tim shook his head, unable to put what he was thinking into words. Things were never gonna be the same between him and Tony again. This had ruined that for sure, hell they all knew about it now so how the hell would any of them be able to see the capable and trustworthy Special Agent in him now?

"Tim. I can see those brain waves cracklin'. You're letting the fact that Tony saw the tape of what happened to you as an innocent child convince you that this changes things for the two of you. Right?"

"Yeah." Tim admitted quietly with a shame laced tone.

**Thwack**

Tim slid a glance to his boss and was surprised that given the fact of what had happened and what Gibbs had seen, he could still keep that semblance of normality to his actions.

"Stop doing that! No one – I repeat – no one – thinks any less of you because of what you've had to live through. You got me?"

"Boss, I …"

"it's hard for you to believe that. I get that. Try. Try real hard before you tear yourself down any further, all right?"

Tim nodded silently. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming need to see them…all of them. Granted, the idea of facing Tony right now scared the hell out of him, even more so than seeing Gibbs initially had, thankfully Tim was now no longer afraid of talking to Gibbs. Now he relished it and truth be told, he would have relished it a long time ago had it been available to him. No! stop looking back! Only way to get through this is to go from here!

But, that meant he shouldn't have any worry about facing Tony, right? Then why did the very idea strike fear through his heart? Maybe it's because Tony's spent years ridiculing you and keeping you convinced you weren't good enough to be on the team? You think he's gonna be thinkin' that this just proves he's been right all along, don'tcha?

Tim couldn't get his mind to stop going down that tremulous road of negative thoughts about Tony. He didn't want to believe that things would be that way between them, but what else did he have to go on? What was it that was making him think that his brain wasn't telling him the truth?

C'mon, man! You remember the Tony who came to see you when you'd killed that cop and he knew you were really kickin' yourself for it! He was sympathetic, he understood and wasn't afraid to tell you so! And what about the time he teased you about taking the bus until you told him about your accident? Didn't he immediately drop the crap he'd been feeding you and even hug you in sympathy? You know he's not such a bad guy! Look at how the two of you bonded and worked together while Ziva was missing/presumed dead! Remember the Tony that took the brunt of what that bastard who had Ziva dished out? Remember the Tony who had to shoulder Team Leader responsibility at the drop of the hat when Gibbs abandoned the team? Yeah, it was just as huge an adjustment for you; but Tony treated you right in those four months, didn't he? You're not giving him enough credit and you know it!

Gibbs watched Tim's eyes as they flickered with the wealth of emotions that his thoughts were stirring up as they ran the gambit.

You're forgetting the Tony who thought it funny to watch you suffer every chance he could. You're forgetting the Tony who asked Gibbs why Ari didn't shoot you. Remember the Tony who tricked you with glee, out of volunteering to go to Iraq; which in turn, made you look really bad to Vance, when he was brand new in the chair. You're forgetting the Tony who thoughtlessly set you up with a computer romance – with him – through trickery – and thought it was so funny to ignore how much it hurt you that he'd used the very things he'd always teased you about – to lure you in! You're forgetting the Tony who…. STOP IT! HERE AND NOW! HERE AND NOW! NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

Mentally exhausted and confused, Tim plopped down in the nearest chair and closed his eyes.

"Talk to me, Tim. What's going on in that head of yours?"

When Tim remained silent, Gibbs pushed harder. He'd seen and heard too much from this young man in the short time they'd been talking to let him stew in whatever was going on in that head of his for very long. It had gotten Tim nowhere, but had mired him in pain and misery before and the Team Leader wasn't about to sit idly by and let it happen again. "C'mon, let it out. Maybe I can help."

Tim looked over at his boss with uncertainty strewn across his face.

"Trust me. I wanna help you."

"I think I'm going crazy." Tim admitted and broke the eye contact he had with Gibbs. The fact that he looked away was more telling that he'd ever know.

"Why? What's goin' on up there?"

"Just two different Tony's fighting to be heard." Tim admitted with a huff of frustration.

"Meaning what?"

"The Tony that's always gotten off on harassing me and taking joy in my misery is currently at war against the Tony that's been the rock, temporary Team Leader and friend." Tim explained as he got up and went to the window. "I don't know which Tony I'll find the next time I talk to him."

"You can trust me on this, Tim. It'll be the second one." Gibbs told him with a sure tone that made it a done deal.

Tim turned to look at his boss but didn't have anything to say. From everything Gibbs had already told him, it sounded as though Tony had really had a rough time of it while helping with Tim's case. This only served to ramp up Tim's guilt in the matter.

"Tim. I can't force you to talk to him. But I am gonna tell you that unless you do, he's gonna think you're angry at him for what he's found out. I don't think you want that and I doubt that you want this to rip away at the relationships you've built on this team, even the imperfect ones." The boss advised sagely.

"Boss, I'm not ready to talk to him. Not until I can sort through it. Couldn't you…"

"Let him know it's not because you're pissed at him? Yeah, I can do that. But, McGee? The rest is gonna be up to you." Gibbs directed as he set the sandwich and milk down next to the younger man. "Now, eat. I'm gonna go make sure the others haven't torn Ducky's house apart."

"They're here?" Tim asked with a note of panic vibrating through his voice.

"Yeah. They're here to help Ducky, though, not to force their way up to see you. Remember, your choices, your pace. But, I won't let you let it turn into anyone feeling guilty over any of it. That includes you! I'll be back in a bit."

Tony and Abby had headed out to do the grocery shopping after scouring Ducky's cupboards, refrigerator and freezer to see what he had in stock. Satisfied that they knew what it was that was needed, they wrote out a list for both dinner and the stuff that Ducky had been running low of in lieu of him neglecting his own needs, they would be shopping for what he needed. They left a note as to where they were going and walked out looking forward to doing something for their beloved 'uncle', they only hoped that by the time they got back, things would be in a better place with Tim.

Ziva arrived at Ducky's to find Abby and Tony heading out. After a quick chat, they parted ways and Ziva parked her car before heading into the house. When she reached the kitchen, she set about making fresh coffee and refreshing the water in Ducky's tea kettle so that it was ready for everyone when they needed it. As she watched the coffee brew, she heard steps behind her and turned to find Gibbs walking into the room.

"Hey. Where is everyone?" the boss asked.

"Tony and Abby just left to go to the store. They told me that Ducky is 'napping'. Ziva answered him carefully.

"They told you? Did you just get here or somethin'?"

"Yes. I left after the others because I wanted to give Jethro a bowl of water and make sure everything was in order at your house."

"What's wrong, Ziva?" Gibbs gently demanded of her.

"Why would you ask that? What makes you think something is wrong, Gibbs?"

"I can see it in your eyes. Talk to me."

Ziva dug out the piece of paper she found at his house and handed it to him. Gibbs recognized it instantly and his eyes snapped up to Ziva's face.

"Why is this bothering you so much? You had nothing to do with this."

"Yes, Gibbs I have."

As she explained what Tim's mother had told her, she let the bounty of guilt spill over and admitted everything that she felt responsible for. While he was less than happy that she too, had violated Tim's privacy by reading his private writings, he felt a stab of understanding at the extreme emotional toll they'd all been under in the last four days. This wasn't typical for Ziva and the fact that this situation had driven her to this point didn't escape the Team Leader's notice.

Gibbs nodded his understanding when she'd finished letting him in and pulled her into a quick but meaningful hug. As he pulled back from her, he held onto her shoulders gently and looked her in the eye as he spoke: "McGee forgave you a long time ago. You know that. Feeling guilty about it now, won't help either of you, Ziva. Let it go."

"But, Gibbs…" Ziva began to object.

"He's right, Zee." Tim's quiet voice came from behind them and startled them both into turning around to face him.

"McGee!" Ziva cried softly as she instinctively took a step in his direction.

Tim pinned a small smile on his face and opened his arms, hoping against all hope that she'd step into them and let him hug her. He so needed her right now. She needed to know he wasn't anywhere near upset with her. No, he was thankful for her. Thankful for all of them, but right now he was most especially thankful for Ziva. With everything she'd lived through and learned, she now knew how to stop it ruling her life. She was the one he most needed to talk to. Would she be willing to talk to him, from her heart?

Ziva willingly stepped into Tim's waiting embrace for a moment and then pulled herself back to look him in the eye. "You are all right, yes?"

"I'm working on it, Zee. Thank you."

"There is no need to thank me, McGee. That is what friends do, is it not?"

"Yeah, it is. Can we talk?" Tim asked her shyly.

"Yes, McGee, we can talk."

"Let's go out back. I'd really like some fresh air." Tim suggested as he slid a glance in Gibbs' direction. "Boss? Thank you. For everything."

"Covered that already, McGee. Go on. You and Ziva go talk." Gibbs answered gruffly.

Tim nodded with a small smile and followed Ziva out to the back yard.