Gibbs' mind was mulling over just what he should tell Tim. He sighed, knowing the young man would want the truth, no matter what. It now was a decision of just how much of the truth to tell him.

When the elevator doors opened, Gibbs nodded to the two airmen and Roger paused to speak with his men. Gibbs came to a stop when he walked in the bull-pen. "Abs? Wha'cya doing up here?" He worried something else had happen while the team was gone.

Abby looked up at the sound of Gibbs' voice. "Oh, hey Bossman! I was bored and decided to come keep Timmy company." She pushed off of the desk and skipped up to Gibbs. "Do you guys have anything for me?"

Gibbs looked between Abby and Tim. Everything seemed okay, but he could tell something was up by the way Tim's ears reddened. He was going to push, but decided against it, since they were in the middle of the bull-pen. However, once they got home he would find out exactly what had gone on.

"Yeah, Abby. In fact, Tony and Ziva are heading towards your lab. So ..."

She gave Gibbs a quick hug and turned around in military fashion. "I'm off! See you later McGee!"

Tim shook his head at her. "Later!" He looked at his boss and could tell something had happened. "What did you guys find? Was Mark there? Is he involved?"

"With me McGee." Gibbs jerked his head towards the elevator and started walking.

Tim scrambled to catch up to his boss, while trying to control the unease settling in his stomach. Oh, no! This must be bad if Gibbs wants to talk to me alone.

Once in the elevator, neither said anything until Gibbs flipped the emergency switch. He eyed McGee carefully, then sighed. "We found a body." He held up his hands before McGee could start with more questions. "We don't have a positive ID yet. The body was badly decomposed, Ducky's estimate is at least six to seven month old."

Tim sagged against the wall. "That was before all of this started. So, if it is Mark, then he wouldn't have anything to do with this."

Gibbs rubbed his palms against his pants leg, trying to decided how much to tell his agent. "That's not necessarily true, Tim."

McGee looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

Gibbs sighed again. "We found a flash drive that was very carefully hidden in floor molding."

McGee's eyes actually lit up. "Where is it? I should ..."

"No."

"Boss?"

"I don't want you anywhere near that thing until I know exactly what's on it."

"But ..."

"Don't make me repeat myself McGee."

Tim slumped back against the elevator wall again. "You don't think I can handle it."

Gibbs rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's not that ..."

"It's okay. I understand. I wouldn't have much faith in me right now either."

That made Gibbs angry. He took the one step to cross over to his agent and grabbed his arms. "Look at me McGee. What did I tell you in the park?"

Tim looked at his boss, trying to read the expression on his face. "What?"

"What. Did. I. Tell. You?"

They had talked about so much that day, McGee wasn't sure exactly which part Gibbs was referring to. "I don't ... I mean there was so much ... we talked about a lot."

"I told you that I would protect you and make sure no one hurts you again. Remember?"

Tim nodded. "I remember, but what does ..."

"How would you feel, if on that thing, we find detailed plans of these crimes. Or whatever sick reasoning this person has for doing this. Or, details on how to get to you ... or your friends." Gibbs watched as Tim paled. "Exactly. That is why I want you to wait."

"I just ... I mean ..."

"Tim, listen to me. I know that you've never had this before, but let us watch out for you. Okay?"

Gibbs was holding him, just like his dad had done all those years ago. But this felt different. It wasn't angry or reproachful, instead, it was supportive. Tim could clearly see the worry in the ice blue eyes that were studying him. "Okay Boss."

Gibbs gave a small smile, nodded and released Tim. "Alright. Have you been able to find anything else?"

McGee stood straighter and shook his head. "I'm running into some brick walls. The P.O. box was the only thing I could find on Mark and Nate ... its like he's dropped off the face of the earth." He looked at his boss and tentatively asked, "How about Fornell? Did he find anything else?"

"Not yet."

"You really called in a favor for me?"

Gibbs gave a head-slap as his answer.

"Thanks, Boss."

Gibbs reached over and re-started the elevator. "Get back to work, McGee."

"Yes, Boss." Tim grinned as he rubbed the back of his head. He stepped out of the elevator, but Gibbs didn't. "Boss?"

"Going to see Abby. Stay in the bull-pen. Understand?"

"Yes." Tim watched as the doors closed on his smirking boss. Gibbs is doing so much for me, maybe I should ... No! This is my responsibility, Rule 45: Clean up your own mess. I can't have any of them getting hurt because of me.

He went back to his desk, and now that he was alone, he pulled the floor plan for the building and started planning his escape route.

XXXX

As Gibbs traveled down to Abby, he thought back over the encounter with McGee. When he grabbed Tim, he could see fear flash in those expressive green eyes. Did his father do something similar? Did I just remind him of that miserable excuse of a parent? Gibbs was kicking himself, until he realized that McGee had relaxed in his grip and really listened.

Gibbs smiled to himself. Now that's more like it! He walked into a music filled lab. "Abby!"

She turned down the music. "Hey, El Magnifico! I haven't even gotten started on the flash drive."

"I know." He looked around. "Where are Tony and Ziva?"

"Went to talk to Ducky and to get samples for me so that I can start running DNA."

"Good. Abs, when you get the information off that thing, call me immediately."

"I will, once I get past this password. Ugh, I should have Timmy ..."

"No, Abby."

"But ..."

"I just had this conversation with McGee. I get to know first. Period."

"That's not possible."

"Abby ..."

"I mean I'll get into the file and read it and then I'll let you know that I'm into the file and reading it. So you'd be the second to know."

Gibbs smiled and placed a kiss on the Goth's temple. "Guess you're right."

She smiled back at her silver fox. "Although, I hate to admit it, but I might need a little help with this. Is it okay if I used someone from Cyber-crimes?"

"Sure. Just keep its exposure limited. We don't know what's on it and I don't want the whole building to know before we do."

"You got it, El Jefe!"

Gibbs shook his head as he went to join the rest of his team in autopsy.

XXXX

Gibbs walked into autopsy coming to a stop between Tony and Ziva. "What do you have for me Duck?"

Before Ducky could start, Tony had a question. "How'd he take it boss?"

Gibbs looked at all of the expectant faces. "How do you think?"

"That good, hun?" Tony sighed and looked back at the ME.

"Ah, yes, when it comes to a case, Timothy doesn't like to sit on the sidelines. I can ..."

"Duck, what did you find?"

"Well, as you can imagine, it is hard to get much from a six month old corpse. At least not without many tests and I have not had much time with our friend. However, from what I can tell, it looks as though our boy here has been stabbed in the back several times, from the markings on the ribs."

"Any indication of sexual assault?"

"Not so far."

DiNozzo looked at Ducky quizzically. "So far?"

"With a body this decomposed, those type of tests will take longer and I cannot guarantee a result, one way or the other."

Gibbs nodded. "Understood, what does you're profiling suggest?"

"Well, I would say that he would not have been assaulted."

"Why?" Ziva questioned.

"If this is indeed Mark Siebel, then he would be unworthy of such treatment."

"Unworthy?" Tony said with disgust.

"Remember, this assailant is reliving a memory, trying to recapture a feeling. Mr. Siebel would not be a substitute for Timothy, rather he would be a hindrance. A threat that needed removed before the perpetrator's ultimate plan could begin."

They all paused for a moment of silence for the victims of the 'ultimate plan'. Ziva was the first to break the silence. "Now what?"

Ducky gave Jimmy several sample jars. "Now I shoo you out of here while I conduct my formal autopsy and Mr. Palmer delivers those samples to Abigail." Jimmy nodded and quickly left. "By tomorrow morning, we should know everything about our John Doe."

"Tomorrow?" Gibbs grumbled.

"I'm afraid so, Jethro. As good as the technology is now a days, it still requires time."

"Time for another victim to be placed on Tim's shoulders."

Ducky sighed. "I understand, but rushing will get us nothing but false leads and shoddy information. None of us wants that. We just need to make sure that Timothy knows we will support him."

Tony spoke for the group. "No problem there."

Ducky gave the senior field agent a smiled. "Good, Anthony. Now if you will excuse us, I have a cadaver with whom I need to get to acquainted."

The team nodded and left.

Ducky turned to the remains. "Alright sir, let us find out what secrets you may be hiding."

XXXX

The day wore on and on, with none thing coming of it. Finally at 1330 hours, Gibbs hit his frustration point. He slammed the phone down on Fornell and yell to his team. "Does anybody have anything?"

He got a resounding, "No, Boss.", from all. He stood and walked over to McGee, placing a hand on the back of his chair and leaning over his shoulder. "You have got to have found something McGee! You've been typing away all day!"

Tim had quickly hidden the widow he actually had up when he saw Gibbs stand. He knew the man too well and knew he was always the first one Gibbs looked to when answers were slim to none. He sighed. "I've been trying to find out how many people just 'disappeared' and also people who just mysteriously appeared around the same time frame as Mark, er ah, the John Doe."

Gibbs looked at him questioningly.

"Mark disappeared and Charlie showed up. I'm trying to see if there is anyone else that seems to fit the same pattern. I'm starting from the local area and expanding out ward."

Gibbs gave a small smile. "That's good thinking. Have you found anything?"

McGee have a long sigh. "Yeah, too many." He pulled up the long list of names he had found and scrolled through it for Gibbs.

"I think you can eliminate some of these, they're women."

However, McGee shook his head. "What if its something like Lt. Commander Voss?"

"Who?" Ziva asked.

"Before your time." Gibbs stood straight. "Maybe we should give DiNozzo the list of women while you and David take the men."

McGee snickered and Tony lost all color to his face. "Um, Boss?"

"Yes, DiNozzo?"

Tony looked panicked. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Oh. Why not."

Tim let out a muffled laugh, trying very hard not to guffaw out loud.

Ziva looked from McGee to DiNoozo. "Yes, please explain. You are usually the first one to take the lead on questioning any female."

Tony was desperately trying to see if his boss was joking. Gibbs? Joke? No way! Oh, man. "Not this time Ziva."

Ziva opened her mouth to ask if Tony was undercover again, when Tim's laughter filled the bullpen. She looked at him and Gibbs. Tim was laughing so hard, he was actually crying and Gibbs, well, he would never out right laugh, be he was smiling wide with a rarely seen light in his eyes. She smiled at them and turned back to DiNozzo, her smile became predatory. "If Gibbs thinks you would be the best to handle questioning these women, then I do not see the issue."

"The issue? The issue is ... well ... you see ..."

"Yes, DiNozzo."

"Boss, I just ... I ..."

Tim wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "It was the one time Tony had just as bad luck in picking a woman as I do."

Ziva became a little sad at McGee putting himself down. "McGee ..."

Tim however, was still fully enjoying himself. "Turns out she was a he."

"What?" Ziva looked at Gibbs then at Tony. "How ... when did you find out?"

Tony tried to respond to defend himself as Tim fell into a fit of renewed laughter. It was Gibbs who finished the story. "After he had kissed her, him, her."

Ziva was stunned for a moment and then started snorting and then laughing right along with McGee.

"Hey! I had to take one for the case ... for the team ..." Tony was trying to keep some semblance of dignity as he straighten out his suit jacket, but was failing. "I knew all along ... she/he/it didn't fool me at all ..." He was muttering to himself as he went back to his computer pretending to be following a lead of his own.

Gibbs just shook his head and went back to his desk. As he sat down, he realized how rare it was to hear Tim laugh, a true heart-felt laugh. He was usually the butt of the joke, and the very few times the situation was reversed, Tim always kept himself controlled. As if, he always had to be careful of how he presented himself to others. I wonder if that is something else that sorry excuse of a father taught him.

"Alright you three back to work. McGee keep working on that list, you might just find something."

"Yes Boss" was now the answer all around.

XXXX

Two hours later, Gibbs took a look around at his team. They were desperately trying to find ... something. He also noticed another one of the nutritional shakes sitting on McGee's desk and realized he never call lunch. He was kicking himself and took a breath to remedy that situation when his phone rang. "Gibbs. Alright, we'll be right down."

He stood. "Abby has gotten into the flash drive. DiNozzo, David, and Staff Sergeant Ferris with me. McGee, keep working on that list."

They all nodded, but Tim felt strange to be left behind. He sighed as he watched the four of them leave and looked at his list. This is hopeless! I need more parameters to narrow this down. He huffed and sat back in his chair and thought over what he knew. He realized what was wanted of him. The only thing I haven't figured out is where it will all go down. I know I just have to wait for the next cell phone call, but that will mean another victim. Come on, think McGee! Okay, the 'substitute' took place while I was stuck in a locker, but it wasn't a school locker, so where was it?

He decided to pull a map from his old home town to see if anything would trigger a memory.