I'm so glad everyone liked the last chapter. Thank you for all the kind words.

Hope everyone, especially all you mothers, had a happy mother's day. :)

Slightly shorter chapter, but I wanted to get it up before Tuesday's episode. I will post again later in the week.

An hour later Tony had talked through many subjects and circled back around to cars and old TV shows when he noticed McGee was beginning to blink heavily.

"Well I guess I should leave. I'll see you soon Tim. Oh hey, almost forgot, if you get a chance try and get Tracy's number for me."

"Who is Tracy?" McGee asked baffled.

"Your third shift nurse." Tony asked equally confused. "She is so hot! I can't believe you haven't noticed."

McGee rolled his eyes

"Had other things on my mind DiNozzo."

"Yeah whatever McNerd. See you tomorrow."

"Tony, wait."

"What's up?"

"What-What's wrong with Ziva?"

Tony tried to keep a poker face.

"What do you mean?"

"Seriously, you lie worse than I do." McGee paused. "Is she mad at me?"

Tony laughed humorlessly

"Oh, she's mad, but not at you."

"Then who?"

"Herself"

"Why?"

"Umm, what do you remember about the basement?"

"M-most of it." Tim faltered

"She was trying to pick the lock..." He said trying to lead his probie into it.

"She did pick the lock." Tim said confused.

Tony sighed.

"Not the first time."

"I'm still not tracking Tony."

"She dropped the first pick McGee. Do you remember that?"

He nodded.

"She feels responsible for Larson…uh…that last time."

Tim was vigorously shaking his head.

"She shouldn't."

"Yeah well, I tried to tell her that."

Tim was silent

"I could tell her."

"I think that would be helpful, I mean I hope it would be. Honestly at this point I'm not sure she would even listen to you. She still isn't comfortable here. Give her a little time. She'll come when she's ready."

The days passed. Tony and Abby were frequent visitors as were Gibbs, Ducky, and Palmer. Several times Abby had snuck out of the office to visit the hospital. Snuck being the operative word as Gibbs had gone down to her lab at least twice that week to find not the Goth, but a note that said Gone to see Timmy, call if you need me, complete with skulls at the bottom. Gibbs had left smiling and shaking his head.

Ziva, however, would only come with someone else. She didn't think she could face Tim alone. Tony told her that Tim didn't blame her, but she really wasn't sure that would last once what she did sunk in with him. He was too overwhelmed now but eventually he would realize her part in all of this and she didn't know if he would forgive her.

Exactly one week after McGee had opened his eyes. Tony and Gibbs were walking down the hallway to McGee's room. Sean was walking toward them looking exhausted.

"Is everything ok? How is he doing?" Gibbs asked a little concerned at how haggard the man looked.

Sean sighed.

"Physically he progressing as well as can be expected." He said robotically. "Mentally," he shook his head. "I don't know what to do. Last night was bad. Lot of nightmares."

He frowned

"Yesterday a nurse, not one of the regular nurses so she didn't know, but she came in to wash her hands and the water…spooked him. I don't know what I need to…He just fell asleep a little bit ago so I'm going to get some coffee and clear my head."

"You mind if we sit with him for a while?"

"No please go ahead."

Gibbs and Tony arrived to the room, the door was shut, but they could hear something coming from inside.

"What's that sound?" Tony asked

Dread filled Gibbs as he realized what the noise would do to his young agent.

"It's the shower."

He reached the door and yanked it open. He started to open the bathroom door when he glanced over and was shocked to see Tim's bed empty. He quickly reached the bathroom with Tony right on his heels.

When they opened the door a pitiful sight met them. McGee was sitting huddled in the corner while the shower ran full blast. Gibbs turned off the water and quickly knelt in front of his agent.

Tim was trembling, his eyes screwed shut. He was breathing heavily punctuated by whimpers and mumbles. His right knee was pulled up to his chest while his left leg was stiffly stretched out in front of him. The nurses had given him a pair of shorts to preserve his modestly while still allowing access to his injuries and he wore a thin robe. Gibbs couldn't image how he had gotten in here on his own, if that was in fact the case.

Tony was so angry for a moment he couldn't think straight. He quickly regained his composure and joined Gibbs kneeling by Tim's side.

"Shh, Tim it's ok. You're fine. The water's gone. It can't hurt you." Gibbs said trying to sooth him.

His breathing finally slowed and he slowly opened his eyes. They were unfocused at first but finally began to look at Gibbs with some recognition. When he was sure the young man would understand he asked his question.

"Who did this?" Gibbs asked trying very hard to keep his voice calm and even, at a loss to understand how anyone could be so cruel.

Tim looked at him.

"I did."

Gibbs did a double take and Tony was speechless.

"Why?"

Tim looked at him so desperately it tore at his heart.

"I-I c-can't be afraid of water." He said simply. "I can't be afraid of water." He repeated as he buried his face in his knee and Gibbs heard a soft sob. Gibbs sat silent for a minute then put his hand on Tim's shoulder.

"Tim, do you want to do this? We, me and Tony, we will help you if you want to do this."

"Y-y-yes."

"Are you sure?"

McGee nodded slowly.

"Ok, listen, you say stop and it's over. Got it?"

Another nod.

"Tony, turn the water back on and help me get him up."

"Boss…"

Tony did not think this was a good idea. A large part of his apprehension was due to the fact he didn't think McGee could handle it and his stomach turned at the thought of having to watch him struggle yet again. However another part of him was afraid that once the water started McGee would not be able to distinguish friend from foe. He didn't want his partner to start to associate him with the torture he had come to dread so much.

"T-Tony, pl-please." McGee looked up at him. "I-I can do it."

Tony mustered up a weak smile.

"Ok, McTim. You're on."

Tony turned on the water and started towards McGee. Tim let out a small whimper that made Tony flinch.

"Tim, when you're done just say stop." Gibbs reminded.

He nodded. Gibbs wasn't really sure of the best way to get McGee up. He certainly couldn't put any weight on his injured knee, but he didn't want to put too much pressure on his still healing ribs. The burns and bruises had mostly healed so at least they didn't have to worry about that. Somehow he and Tony hoisted McGee up and supported him as he slowly made his way toward the shower.

Several times he started to stop before they got there, but finally they were standing inches away from the water pouring down. Tony looked over at his friend and was upset to see the terror and uncertainty in his eyes. Gibbs gently took his arm and brought his hand to the edge of the water. Tim started to close his eyes.

"Tim open your eyes, you're not going back there. You need to see that you're here, not there."

He forced them back open as Gibbs guided his hand under the shower spray. McGee flinched then shuddered as it came in contact and began breathing heavily.

"Relax Tim, just breath. See, it's ok, it's just water."

Tim's breathing slowed but only slightly. His knees started to buckle.

"Stop, p-please stop." Gibbs reached out at the sound of the first syllable and shut off the water as he and Tony struggled to keep McGee upright.

"Come on son let's get you back into bed." He leaned heavily on Gibbs and Tony and when they finally reached it he collapsed on the bed. Tony pressed the call button as he and Gibbs attempted to make McGee more comfortable.

"Aquaphobia."

"What?" Gibbs leaned in closer to hear the softly spoken word.

"Aquaphobia is the fear of w-water Boss." McGee was struggling to keep his eyes open. Gibbs nodded.

"Try to go to sleep Tim." He said gently.

"It's called a p-phobia because it ir-irrational and debilitating. T-that's what separates it from just a regular fear." His words were getting softer and more slurred.

"Uh huh, go to sleep Tim." Gibbs said a little more commandingly. Secretly he was pleased his agent had reverted back, at least partially, to giving lectures on semantics to his boss and co-worker.

"Yes Boss." Gibbs wasn't sure he was even awake to say those last words.

The nurse arrived and was more than a little upset at seeing her patient so pale and having apparently removed his IVs in an attempt to make it to the bathroom. She cornered Gibbs and Tony to get the story of how he ended up this way and thankfully they were able to make a discreet exit as she started to do a quick checking of his vital and reinsert the IV's.

Tony weaved his way through the cafeteria table and found Tim's parents sitting quietly talking.

Olivia looked up and smiled.

Tony, how are you? Do you want to join us?

"Oh, no thank you. I actually have to get back to work." He turned to Sean. "I just wanted to let you know you were right."

Sean looked at him quizzically.

"About what?"

"About Tim. You said he was tougher than he lets on and that he was going to be ok. You were right."

Ok I have never actually been tortured, not even close so I don't know if what I wrote Tim doing was even remotely possible for someone in that state. I think the character of Timothy McGee is braver than he is given credit for so I wanted to do that justice.

Thanks again for reading. :)