"Games may just be getting started Jethro." Fornell stepped into the room and took in the sight. Gibbs looked like hell, and sure he'd seen him look bad before, but never like this. "I half expected you to be fighting your way out of here by now."

Gibbs took in a long breath. "Sorry to disappoint you."

Tobias approached his bed side with a smile. "Disappoint me? I'm just glad I won't be out that fifty bucks you owe me."

Gibbs cleared his throat and in his usual manner got straight to the point. "Jenny?" He read the look in Fornell's eyes and swallowed hard. "How?"

Fornell wasn't surprised at his deduction; after all, he wasn't hiding his look of defeat very well. "My guess is they'll offer her a chance to resign."

"DiNozzo is on his way."

Fornell shook his head regrettably. "He seems to think he can keep your team quiet."

"He?"

"Assistant Director Vance."

"Leon…" Gibbs affirmed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Unbelievable."

Tobias agreed. "We won't take this lying down Jethro…" He managed a smile. "No pun intended."

"We?" Gibbs eyed him curiously.

"Yes, we. Hell I put my career on the line just helping you. What else do I have to lose?"

Gibbs gave him a trying smile. "Got any thing in mind?"

"We blow this thing wide open."

Gibbs eyed a concerned Ducky before resting his head back onto the pillow. He was quiet for what seemed like hours but was only minutes. "We do and they win."

"They?"

"Kort, Grenioulle, O'Shea, Barclay and her. We ruin our careers, and not just ours. My team. I can't do that to them Tobias."

He slipped his hands into his pockets and shrugged. "Then she walks away. Is that what you want?"

"What I want is to put this behind us."

Fornell did his best to hide the shock on his face. "Alright, what have you done with the real Gibbs?"

"The real Gibbs is tired Tobias…"

"Too tired to see justice served? Too tired to make sure the right people pay?" His voice got substantially louder with each statement. "Just how tired are you Jethro?"

Ducky opened his mouth to ease the tension but Gibbs was never one to let others fight his battles; and used all his strength to sit himself up. "Tired enough to know when to let it go. I screwed up…" He patted himself on the chest painfully but was angry enough to push the pain aside.

"You?" Ducky finally spoke up.

"My job is to protect my team. I screwed up once, I won't do that again." He took in a few breaths. "We let this go Tobias…let her go…I guarantee you she's suffered enough." He continued to clench McGee's badge. "We all have."

Fornell wasn't sure how to respond, but figured he'd done enough damage. "Whatever you say Jethro."

Gibbs could see the look of disappointment on his face and spoke up in his own defense. "Sometimes you gotta learn when to let go."

Franks had been standing behind the door way during the entire conversation and chose then to make his presence known. "You sure about this Probie?"

Gibbs eased himself back down before responding. "I've never been so sure boss."


"This is none of your affair Agent DiNozzo." Leon reached for the papers and placed them back into the manila envelope.

Tony tried not to laugh. "Not my affair? You're kidding me right? In case you've forgotten…I'm the one she sent under cover against my will and almost got killed…now I can see how that wouldn't be your affair, but I can sure as hell see how it's mine."

"You're on dangerous ground."

Tony tried to make eye contact with Jenny but her eyes were fixed on the floor. "Okay, let's try this again. She put my life on the line to serve her interests. Now if anyone is on dangerous ground, it's her."

Leon gestured towards the door. "That's quite enough."

"Boy we are just bumping heads at every turn here…" Tony began, meeting the glare Leon was giving him with his own.

"Gibbs sure has rubbed off on you hasn't he?"

Tony managed a smile. "I'd like to think so. Now, tell me what's in that pretty envelope or you'll get to see just how much of Gibbs has rubbed off."


Timothy McGee had filed his resignation for the second time in one week; and somehow knew that this time it was for good. He'd only accepted the reinstatement to find Tony anyhow; and now that he was home; he could move on. Move on from the belittlement that he didn't deserve. He knew that no one on his team understood and none of them ever would. There was no point in staying because some things just can't be undone. And the scar that Gibbs had left was one of them. But before leaving he had one final thing left to do.


Leon had advised Tony to take their conversation elsewhere and the two continued it in the recording room. That was until a familiar face entered interrogation and placed himself across from the Director. Leon had made a move for the door when Tony placed a hand on his chest.

"Let him say his piece."

Leon was hesitant but agreed. "You people sure have a lot to learn about protocol."

"I was sick that day."


Jenny's stare momentarily lifted itself from the floor as Tim sat down. She hadn't said a word since Franks had visited, and even then; it had only been a simple number. But the look in McGee's eyes called for more than silence. Although Tim wasn't there for answers.

"I'm here because I'm leaving. And for no other reason than to tell you how much I despise what you did. I've seen a lot of murderers, thieves, and liars in my time here. People who have killed for a lot more and a lot less than you were willing to. They willingly destroyed lives; the life of the person they killed, the lives of their victims family. It's been said there's nothing more selfish than taking a life. But I'm now convinced that what you did was worse. You led us to believe Tony was gone; you let us grieve for him, feel pain for him; and cry for him. But more than that; you allowed for a man who I respect more than my own Father, to blame me for that loss. You said nothing. And now I'm saying goodbye to what once was the best thing in my life." He stopped but only to examine the eyes staring back at him. "I don't even know why I had to say these things because I know it can't change the past. But more than anything, I need you to look into my eyes and see what you've done." He let his stare speak for itself and it was minutes before he stood up and left her with these final words. "What you did, didn't just kill Grenioulle, or Barclay, or Kort…it killed me."


Tony was speechless as he moved towards the door.

"We're not finished here DiNozzo."

He shook his head. "We were finished before we began sir. I know enough about her personal wars to not stick around for the conclusion. I get the feeling that nothing she could've done would matter enough to you to do things the right way; so you do what you have to do. And I'll do what I have to do."

"And just what is that?"

He placed his hand on the door. "Be with my team."


Tony was able to catch up with McGee in the parking garage, and though he was breathing heavily he didn't stop to catch his breath before running off at the mouth.

"McGee…first, I'm sorry. Second…I'm really sorry. Third, don't go."

Tim managed a small smile before throwing his jacket into the car. "You listened to what I said?"

He nodded. "Every word of it Probie…I had no idea…"

Tim cut him off gently. "No one does Tony, that's why it's time for me to go."

"But…you have to understand Gibbs, he just…"

He cut him off a second time; this time with more force. "Don't you dare defend him. You weren't there. You can't know. And don't try and excuse it as Gibbs just being Gibbs. Cuz I'm tired of hearing it. No one is above punishment Tony, not even the boss."

"So…you're doing this to punish him?"

Tim shook his head. "I'm doing this for me." He put his hand out for Tony to take it and he did.

Tony saw the look in his eyes and knew right then why Gibbs had ordered him to let him go. "We'll miss you McGeek…"

Their hands remained clasped. "I'll miss you guys too."

"Movie nights once a week?" Tony questioned with a smile.

McGee shrugged. "Only if I get to pick the movie at least once a month."

"Deal."

They reluctantly released their hands and stared at each other in silence before Tony threw his arms around him. "It's not gonna be the same man."

McGee fought away all emotion as he eased away from the embrace. "The moment I woke up on that bridge, I knew nothing would ever be the same again."

"And you were right…you always are." Tony replied solemnly before stepping back and watching him get in his car and drive away. And as he got into his own to head to the hospital he couldn't help but wonder just how right McGee really was.