"Okay. I need you to keep a close eye on this guy, Art. He's came in with a severe grade 3 concussion last night so any changes in his vitals, and we stop until he stabilizes." The surgeon that was going to tackle Tim's injuries had been told of what to expect and of the way in which Tim's injuries had been inflicted, by Brad. He let the nurse slip on his gloves. "You okay, Zoe?"

"What? Oh…Um, yes. I'm fine Dr. Croft. I lost a patient today." Dr. Croft nodded with a look of sympathy radiating from his eyes.

"You know this is going to be a long one, don't you?"

"Yes Doctor."

"Okay, let's get started." He walked over to the table and gave a cursory glance at the monitors and was pleased to see them all well within the normal range. "Ready?"

There was a unified 'Yes Doctor' before he reached out his right hand to the person standing next to him. "We're going to start by putting his shoulder back in place. Please be aware that it's been dislocated for some time, so this maybe more difficult."

"How long?" the assisting doctor asked and moved to help support Tim's body while the shoulder was manipulated back. It took about ten minutes for it to finally pop back in with a sickening sound that resonated through the OR.

"Thank heavens. We need to put him in an immobilizing sling, but we need to fit the brace first. Did they manage to…"

"it's right here." Zoe picked up the brace from the trolly and handed it over

"Okay. I'm going to do get this knee fixed first because we need access to the monitors. Keep that brace and sling handy for when we've finished. Scalpel." He was handed his instrument and started making an incision before Tim's heart monitor started to beep frantically. With a frown, he pulled back and looked up only to find all other readings were normal. "Art?"

"I don't understand. There's no sign of distress apart from an increased heart rate. BP's good, O2 levels are holding steady...it's a mystery."

"We'll wait a moment." Dr. Croft said with a frown. "I don't want to do anything that could tip the scales." He tore his eyes away from the monitors when he heard a sniffle behind him and saw tears brimming from Zoe's eyes. "Zoe, as much as I appreciate you being here, you're in no condition to work on this so go on, go take the rest of the night and let me know if your supervisor has an issue with it."

"N..No, I'm fine. I can do this."

"You can't if you're upset and it was obvious when I first saw you. I should have barred you then." He watched as pain and fear flickered through her eyes. "It's not a punishment. You lost a patient and from the scuttlebutt that I heard, he was a friend. Go! That's an order."

Zoe nodded and stepped away from the table before pausing. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Do me a favor when you get out there and arrange for another nurse to step in. Do it quickly because we're gonna get going as soon as his heart rate drops." He watched Zoe leave the room and turned to Art. "Let's try Lanoxin. Get it prepared but…"

"It's slowing down." Art obviously hadn't been listening and had been scrutinizing the monitors. "It slowed down when Zoe left. It's well within normal parameters now."

"Keep your eye on it. If it starts to rise again, give him Lanoxin. Okay then. Shall we get started? Scalpel…."

Jacob winced as he moved and glanced down at his wife with a look of love and affection. She'd been through so much recently that he thought his heart would break if anyone of her family were killed because of some sick psycho engaged in a revenge plot. Angela stirred slightly and he rubbed his hand gently over her shoulder to still her and calm her back into a deep sleep.

"Jacob?" Gibbs said quietly as he entered the room. "You okay with Angela laying there. I can get another bed in here."

Tim's dad huffed out a small laugh. "I'm good. I like the closeness more than anything and miss having a warm body curled up next to me. You know what's funny?"

Gibbs shook his head and took a seat. "Go on."

"Despite everything that happened, I feel lucky that I have the family that I do." Jacob huffed out a chuckle and gazed at Gibbs. "So, you're Gibbs."

"How d'ya know?" the Team leader responded quietly and sat down next to the bed.

"Tim has a picture of the team in his apartment. Last time we were in DC, he had us all over for dinner and I saw it then. You should have seen him light up when he talked about you guys."

Gibbs felt his heat pull at the tidbit of information that he had just been handed and knew from conversations that he'd had with his agent's mother over the past couple of days, that Tim considered the team to be family.

"Sounds like, McGee."

"He's a good kid, Agent Gibbs." Jacob said sadly. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost him….either one of them. Sarah's got a little bit more fire in her heart that tends to get her into trouble where as Tim's a good boy with a heart of pure gold. Is there any news on the surgery?"

"Not yet. I know Brad's gone down to see how it's going so hopefully we'll know soon."

Jacob's eyes narrowed slightly and Gibbs felt a little of what it would be like to the victim of his own glare. "Who's Brad?"

"Easy there , Commander. Dr. Brad Pitt is an old friend to our team and stayed with Tim last night so Angela could get some shuteye. He's a good man."

"Brad Pitt?" Jacob looked as though he was torn between laughter and disbelieve at the name.

"Jake, play nice, honey." Angela's sleep heavy voice trailed up from where she was pillowed against his chest. "He helped Tim a lot last night and for that, I owe him."

She finally raised her head and looked over her shoulder at Gibbs. "Any news?"

"Not yet. Guess you missed that part." He answered with a smile. "Brad'll be here any minute."

"You feel better now, Angela?" Jacob asked and kissed the top of her head. "That's not the way I'd like to see my wife trying to sleep you know." Angela flushed at the gentle chastisement and disentangled herself from her husband.

"Sorry." At Gibbs' confusion, she explained how she had gotten to Jacob's room and pretty much broke down there and then. Jake had simply pulled his wife into his arms and let her cry herself out until she finally crawled up beside him and fell asleep. "I didn't want to worry, Jacob but think I just about managed to scare the life out of him with my breakdown."

"He's made of sterner stuff than that."Gibbs smiled warmly at her. "I can see where Tim gets it from." He turned at the sound of footsteps behind him and saw Brad padding into the room.

"Brad! How is he." Angela cried and stood up so that she could better take in what he had to say.

"He's doing okay. There was a slight…His heart rate shot up just before surgery with no explanation but it calmed down just before they started. They've got his shoulder back in place and have fitted him with a back brace. They're just finishing up on his knee now."

Angela's hand flew to her mouth when Brad mentioned Tim's heart, but something nagged desperately at the back of her mind. "His heart?"

"Yeah, I spoke to Zoe…the nurse that should have been there…and she said his heart rate shot up but the other vitals were more than stable. It's strange, because with palpitations, the BP shoots up too but there was nothing." Brad must have looked confused because everyone frowned at him.

"It's…Brad, last time my son had surgery was after he crashed his car when he was 16. He had to have surgery to repair a bad break in his leg. Half way through fixing him, the doctors said his heart rate skyrocketed but there were no symptoms of distress at all. Turned out to be a case of his telempathy kicking in when he was unconscious because when he came round, he asked how the doctor was doing."

"The doctor?" Gibbs jumped in.

"Yeah, apparently he'd lost another child that morning and had taken it hard. He went into that operation feeling angry and grief ridden and there was something in that surgery that mirrored what he had done earlier on in the day. Anesthesia apparently makes Tim more sensitive and he picked up on that emotion despite being completely out.

"How did you know about what happened? Did Tim know?" Brad asked incredulously. "I mean, how could he know what had happened?"

"We found out from a nurse friend of mine that worked alongside the surgeon. She told us what had happened. I'm willing to bet that there was one person in that room grieving." Angela responded knowingly and watched as Brads eyes widened with amazement.

"Zoe." He whispered. "The nurse that was sent out of the surgery had lost a patient an hour before. Turned out to be one of her best friends."

"There's your reason." Jake offered from his bed. "It's also one of the reasons my son steers clear of sleeping pills or sedatives. Jacob McGee, nice to meet you, Doctor."

Brad crossed the room and shook the older McGee's hand. "Dr. Brad Pitt. How are you doing now?" he asked as he picked up the chart and started to read.

"Better. Knee's gonna be sore for a while but it's better than the alternative." Jake frowned heavily. "You got them, right?"

"Yeah. They're at NCIS being grilled as we speak by Director Vance. Apparently he didn't wanna give it to the other team." Gibbs' eyes took on a manic quality at the thought of the two people who had caused so much pain and suffering. "Don't know what he's gonna get outta them. We already know what happened."

The room went silent as every person there started pondering the situation.

"You keep saying that Agent McGee wrecked your career. I don't see how that is possible considering you made your own choices in life." Vance sat in the interview room with his back to the large two way mirror on the wall. "What I have trouble understanding right about now, is how you thought you could get away with this."

Jason balked at that statement and saw red. "I didn't plan to get away with it! I wanted them dead! You hear that D E A D! DEAD! He took my life so why shouldn't he suffer as much as I have. He's…."

"Currently in surgery, fighting for his life. Don't you think it's wasted if he doesn't get to feel that pain? If he doesn't get to find out what it's like to feel that loss? You failed Jason!"

Vance sat back and felt a sick sense of satisfaction at the look of shock and disappointment that ran over Jason's face. "Hurt's, don't it?"

The silence that hung between the two men glared at each other with enough contempt and hatred that it permeated through the room and into the observation room where they were being watched by a small handful of NCIS staff.

"Nothing to say? I thought a man like you would at least try to defend his actions. Guess I was wrong. You really are as weak and pathetic as I originally thought." Vance was pulling out all the punches and wanted to goad this sick, twisted, troubled young man into doing something stupid. It wasn't logical and it sure as hell wasn't something that would be easily agreed to, but at the end of the day, this bastard had placed not only one of his Agent's in danger, but his entire family as well. That was simply unacceptable and if the Director had any say in the matter, then this guy would be spending the rest of his life in prison.

"And what kind of man do you think I am?" Jason responded with a cold, calculated tone. "It would seem that we all have our opinions on each other. NCIS seem hell bent on ruining my life, after all, getting rid of my chances to actually succeed in the career paths I wanted to go down wasn't enough for you and now you want to put me in prison."

"NCIS? You can't possibly think that what you did is the fault of NCIS. Not only did you kidnap Agent Timothy McGee's family, but you have injured and maimed two of my best Agents. How is that their fault?"

"HE STOPPED ME FROM GETTING ANYWHERE IN LIFE! I can't do anything with that permanent mark on my record." Jason screamed but collapsed back in the chair as the fight seemed to drain out of him. "I'm no body. I can't do a thing because everyone refers back to what happened and my father…." He trailed off. "My father hates me."

Was it a ruse? Was he sincere? Whichever route he was taking, the sympathy just wasn't there in lieu of what he'd done and the Director found himself glaring at the monster sitting in front of him. "And what exactly makes you think that I actually care?"

"You should care! It's one of your agent's that made me this way!"

"Hmm. I'm sure you really believe that don't you." Vance said snidely and sat back in the chair. "So, tell me about Andy. How did you two meet?"

"You know how we met so I'll tell you what. You write it up, I'll read it and will sign whatever you come up with." Jason knew that he had Vance by the balls and smirked at the Director.

"Not gonna happen. Tell ya what, here's a pad and pencil." He slid a notebook and retractable pencil over to Jason. "You write the statement and I'll sit here and wait."

"What if I don't?" Jason spat out at being held up further in the room that harbored memories of that fateful day. "You can't keep me here for long."

"Yeah. I can." That was it, Jason's patience pretty much just snapped all of a sudden leaving him red faced with sheer, unadulterated rage. He shot up out of his seat and jumped across the table so that he could launch at Vance. He just about managed to get his hands around Vance's throat when he was pulled back by two Agent's who had been in the observation room and seen what he was doing.

"That was probably one of the most stupid things you could do right about now. It'll give the Jury something else to think about." Vance grabbed the file he had been looking through and walked out of the room. Just as he closed the door, his cell phone rang.

"Vance!" He answered gruffly.

"Leon."

"Gibbs. How're your men doing?" Vance asked worriedly as he walked down the corridor towards the elevator.

"DiNozzo's good. He's being released this morning. Ducky's gonna take him to his place and keep an eye on him."

There was an undertone of sadness that laced Gibbs' voice. "And what about, McGee?"

"Still in surgery. Brad said they took care of his shoulder first and they're just finishing up on his knee. They put the brace on and once the sling is fitted, he'll be moved to recovery." Vance waited for Gibbs to start speaking again knowing the Agent sometimes liked to think about what he said. "How'd it go with…."

"Damn fool tried to attack me. I'm gonna send in another team to interview him once he's calmed down. I've had Andy's chief giving me grief over the whole thing, but he soon backed down once I laid down the facts for him. I think our LEO friends are feeling a big shamefaced over it."

"The damn well should!" Gibbs huffed out. "They must have known, Leon."

"Not necessarily, Gibbs. Good at covering up what he was doing. Regardless, Internal Affairs are crawling over their station house as we speak and are going through every file with a fine tooth comb. They won't get away with this, Gibbs."

"I kno…Hang on….Yeah, Okay thanks. Leon, McGee's outta surgery."

"Okay. Gibbs, go make sure he's alright and keep me informed." Vance hung up the phone and punched the button to the elevator to go back to his office. Once there, he stopped at Pam's desk and leaned in to talk to her.

"Pam, I need you to do something for me….."