Gibbs completely stood up after hearing the terrible news' details, this time, feeling his legs ready to give up with life, although he knew he would have given anything to walk away from the fake McGee's body, from these immobile eyes still staring at him, looking so much like someone he had known. And there was another one in that other room...oh, God. He made a first step forward, hesitant like a child who would start learning moving by himself.

''Wait a second, let me help'' Tony immediately said, raising an arm.

''I'm alright, DiNozzo'' Jethro reflexively retorted, trying to get rid of his agent's hand. ''I just want to see him.''

''Okay, boss, but then you're gonna have to get a check-up, as much as this probable fake bomb, that's quite a blow that you got on your face.'' Gibbs didn't commented and simply stared at both his agents. They had received quite a lot, as well. He finally accepted the physical support and walked away from the first body with them, secretly exhausted, meeting the man in uniform promptly inviting the trio to evacuate that first space. "Ziva just went up and asked for help before she freed you, while I was staying with...now a few of these guys are in the other room, and a few others are coming'' Tony continued as they left the first part of the building, hesitating.

Gibbs didn't express his thoughts, although he couldn't help but feel guilty for not staying where that bomb was getting analyzed, as if he had given up not one, but two similar agents. He only slightly shook his head in the end, as if to make that unbelievable idea disappear from his tired brain.

''When you called Kurt and told him to deactivate the alarm, he did so, and the secret entrance leading to here closed after some time behind us. It was only a matter of minutes, place was big, and...''

''Any survivors on Pierce's side, Ziva ?'' Jethro asked without truly caring about her previous explanation, before noticing Tony's facial expression. ''What ? Can't anyone give me a basic answer to my question ?''

Tony sighed and kept walking in that large area, now thinking aloud.

''There's a long way to go, boss, we'll have to identify all the people under these masks.''

''They're just starting the work with special suits, you know, in case there...and of course, Ducky and Jimmy are joining us ASAP." ziva immediately added, watching Gibbs turning mad.

''Boss, we know how Mark Pierce looked because we had his ID, but we don't know yet if he is dead and then under one of these masks, or if he is still somewhere in 'high places' and then...''

''...commanding from outside" Gibbs finished Tony's sentence, exhaling.

"Yeah, that's the idea.''

Jethro kept walking until he finally saw him, lying on that stretcher, inert. He instantly got rid of Tony's supportive grip and managed moving his legs on his own. ''McGee'' he nervously pronounced, scared to face these same eyes he had already confronted before. The blood had half dried along his chest, staining the dirty, smelly clothes. Gibbs painfully sighed and swallowed, grabbing the cold hand.

''Sir, I really have to go, and you'd better head upstairs, too'' the man from the medical staff respectfully pronounced, looking at him.

''Boss...'' Tony added, quickly joining him, unable to end the sentence he had just started.

But maybe there was nothing to say, after all...

''You shot him ?'' Gibbs asked, calm.

''I did'' Ziva answered, breaking the terrible silence. ''He was about to kill Tony, he...had his gun, pointed at his neck.''

A second man from the medical staff suddenly joined the first one, and they both slowly started leaving, taking advantage of the conversation coming.

''Why, Ziva ?'' he questioned her, briefly staring at the leaving body.

''Why what ?'' she questioned him, too, turning cold again.

''Why did you shoot his shoulder, if you knew he was about to kill Tony ?''

Heavy silence filled the place another time, each agent staring at the others for an eternal handful of seconds.

''Is that a thanks or a reproach ?'' Ziva finally said with suspicion, walking away from the duet.

''I'll check on Ducky and Palmer'' Tony reacted automatically, giving them some space.

Gibbs took a quick look at all the mess around, staring at the numerous dead people supposed to have represented them, being put in dark bags...then at the woman.

"Ziva..."

''I did what I had to do, Gibbs'' she brusquely retorted, turning back. ''I had to shoot him somewhere, but not here'' she started speaking, pointing a finger at her heart. ''If I was fast enough, he was under control before Tony had a chance to die. If I wasn't, Tony was dead and Tim immobilized, but at least I wouldn't have taken the risk to be responsible for the death of both my friends. What ?'' she added, blaming him for remaining silent. ''You want to tell me you're surprised, because in Mossad I would have killed my own neighbor with no hesitation ?''

''No.''

''So you think I am weaker now ?''

''No. I think you never hesitate to shoot, you just think of the consequences when it comes to a twisted situation implicating someone you care about. I bet this is certainly the best reaction I can expect from my agents.'' He noticed Ziva ready to say something in order to contradict him, but he spoke faster than her. ''I expect my agents to be confident with their actions, but capable to not make justice by themselves.''

''But...''

''That's all, Ziva. Now go back upstairs with DiNozzo and accept to be checked by someone'' he added, neutral, raising a hand.

"And what about you ?''

''I'm coming.''

— — — — — — — — — —

...Gibbs approached the hospital room with a part of the team behind him, his almost smile of relief disappearing at the sight of the cuffs. He immediately left it, the agent lying on the bed not even noticing him, and ran in the doctor in charge of Tim's direction. The man in white gown suddenly froze and interrupted his current conversation with a colleague, bewildered. He quickly stared at the numerous faces, half of them basically colored by the blows they had received hours ago, if not scratches.

''NCIS, I guess...'' he heavily exhaled, wishing he could be home.

''You're guessing right'' Tony said straight away, ironically.

''Why is Tim handcuffed to his bed, he's...'' Abby started, followed by Tony again.

''You'd better tell us now wh...''

''This is absolutely unaccept...''

Doctor Fleggers brusquely raised a palm in front of him, serious.

''Can you just all calm down and tell me who is charge of the team, please ?''

''I am'' Gibbs answered instantly. ''Now tell me why my agent is treated like a murderer in one of your hospital rooms ?''

''Hello, Agent Gibbs, I am Doctor Fle...'' he started speaking again, ready to shake his interlocutor's hand. ''Alright'' he continued, facing the terrible eyes. ''First let me tell you this is not one of my orders. I received this one from Director Vance, telling me...''

''I am the one in charge of Agent McGee. Two men will now be designated to look after that room.'' Gibbs showed his badge and sighed, wishing he could kill Leon for what he'd done...he'd take care of him later, now he needed to do anything possible in order to free McGee from these silver bracelets.

''Security is already aware of that, but I'll make a few phone calls and do what I can do about the handcuffs, but I'm truly sorry to say I can't let you in anyway at the very moment. I was told as well that Agent McGee should be rehydrated properly and sent to sleep before he could be interrogated.''

''Interrogated ? Now ?'' Tony asked, shocked.

''Not 'now' exactly, but the sooner the better. I bet you think this is extremely precipitated, and as a doctor, I perfectly do agree with you, but for the rest of it, I am sure you know better than I do about this case going on and the responsibilities, and there is nothing else I am habilitated to do... Now if you will excuse me, I am gonna help your friend face darkness and build up some of his energy.''

''He isn't sleeping on his own, after all that exhaustion ?'' Tony asked. ''He was missing for weeks.''

''Tiredness, if I can explain it that way, is like anything else. Even if you're damaging your body and brain by your extreme actions, until you don't get to some irremediable point, you give yourself a new habit and are, therefore, able to change the old ones...you have no idea how many limits a human can push before he breaks down.''

''Well, now we have an idea...'' Tony said and sighed, watching Tim's inert silhouette from afar.

''Your friend is now perfectly immobile, like a sleeper, but still, his body won't be able to let him go, unless we're helping him a bit. I'll have someone telling you when you'll get the authorization to talk to him, or at least see him'' the doctor finally promised before heading to his patient room, alone.

''What's the plan, Gibbs ?'' Abby exclaimed as soon as he left, her eyes turning wet. But Jethro simply left without a word, involuntarily avoiding the so expected coming hug. ''Tony !'' she continued, extremely frustrated. ''What is that supposed to mean ? What's the plan if we can't see him...!''

The agent turned back and completely faced the woman in front of him, thinking...

''I might be wrong, Abbs, although I'm pretty sure Gibbs is about to kill Vance.''