Tony reached into his pocket as he watched McGee frantically yell for help.
"Easy Tony, help is coming."
He shook his head and smiled up at him.
"Why are you smiling at me like that Tony?"
"You're gonna be a hell of an agent Probie…just learn from the boss."
He gave him a scared look. "Don't think he's gonna be much good if you leave him too Tony. He hasn't been the same since Kate…and…"
"He is tough McGee…he'll be fine. Just do your thing, and you'll be fine." He lifted up his badge and handed it to him. "Take care of this for me."
"Tony I can't…"
"Shut up Probie…take it." He coughed slightly and grimaced in pain. "Hey, you know all those rotten things I've done to you, and all those mean things I've said to you?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to get better and do them all over again."
They shared a short laugh, before Tony insisted he take the badge once more. "You're a good kid Probie…real good kid…"
McGee smiled. "Thanks Tony."
He doesn't recall the next few minutes that occurred, but remembers hearing them pronounce him dead and the look on Gibbs face when he told him. It wasn't until the first case he used Tony's badge that he was able to remember how truly painful their goodbye had been.