Tim was used to Gibbs knowing more than he let on so simply waited for him to explain.

"He doesn't take that bribe…we're not where we are today."

Jenny set her glass down and started to approach him; only to find Timothy McGee standing in her way. She tried to step around him but Tim moved along with her.

Watching McGee come to his defense was something that shocked Gibbs into silence. And it remained that way for almost a minute.

"My Father was killed Jethro…"

Gibbs was solemn as he stared back at her. "You don't know that. You never have. And because of that you put my team at risk." He shook his head and placed a hand over his wound. "I didn't come here to argue Jen."

"Then why?" Her tone was laced in anger and she once again made a move towards him; which Tim prevented.

"To put this to rest."

Tim turned to face him in that moment and couldn't help but read the look of pity on his face. He then turned back to see Jenny backing down and wasn't exactly sure what had just occurred. He knew the two had been close in the past; but how close he didn't know; until that moment. Something had happened between a single glance that he couldn't put to words. But he didn't have to.

Gibbs shifted his weight and watched as Jen started to back away. "McGee…" He gestured towards the door and noticed the hesitation in his eyes. "We'll be fine."

Tim nodded and slowly but surely made his way out of the study and into the hallway. Abby appeared moments later.

"McGee?"

"Hey…" His voice was quiet and he looked a bit awe struck.

"Gibbs told me to wait five minutes…but I got anxious…are he and the Director, um, Jenny in there?" She watched him nod. "You left them in there alone? They could kill each other…" She placed a hand on the door knob but was stopped when Tim placed his hand over hers.

"They're fine."

Abby began to rifle through her purse and pulled out her stapler. "Gibbs only has one good arm McGee…she could have the advantage. We cant trust her."

"But you can trust me. They're fine."

Abby couldn't help but notice the look of awe on his face. "What did I miss?"

"I can't explain it in words at the moment. But if I had to…I'd call it a miracle."

"You shouldn't have come here Jethro."

He shook his head. "You're right. But you know better than anyone that normal rules don't apply to me." He tried to meet her eyes and noticed her evading them. "Are you gonna be alright?"

"You came here to check on me? I find that hard to believe."

He sighed outwardly. "Yeah. There's a lot of that going around."

"I don't deserve your pity Jethro. You should go."

He shook his head. "You didn't answer my question…are you gonna be alright?"

She nodded. "I have lived alone my whole life. Be fitting that I die alone."

"No one should die alone." He stated simply; waiting for her response.

"You should go." She repeated. "Let me go…let all of this go."

"Not my style."

"Well it should be." She stormed towards him only this time McGee wasn't there to stop her. She reached him and stopped dead in her tracks. "Just hate me Jethro; it will make it easier."

"No it won't."

She placed two hands on his chest and suddenly began to weep. Gibbs wasn't sure whether to console or move away; but he didn't have to make a choice. She quickly pulled herself together and pointed to the door. "Just go…you should go…"

He nodded slowly. "When I walk out that door, there is no coming back for me Jen."

"I know."

He sent her one final stare. One that seemed to encompass everything they had meant to each other and everything they had lost. "Goodbye Jen."

"Goodbye Jethro…"

Abby and McGee had decided to wait outside by the car and Gibbs approached them quietly.

"You okay Gibbs? She didn't hurt you did she?"

He shook his head and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go home." He then turned to McGee and swallowed hard. "Ready to put this behind you Tim?"

He nodded slowly. "I'm one step closer boss…"

"Not your boss anymore."

McGee shook his head. "Whether I'm a ten thousand miles away or ten feet away, you won't ever stop being my boss…boss."

"You know, for a second there I thought you might change your mind."

Tim cleared his throat. "Yeah, so did I."

"Why didn't you?"

"I honestly don't know." He shrugged. "Guess I'm…I don't know, I guess I'm…"

"Scared?" Gibbs finished for him. "Scared that tomorrow it could happen all over again…"

Tim nodded. "I just can't get over how quickly things changed. One minute we're a team…the next we're enemies."

"Life," Gibbs began. "It's something else McGee. One minute I had a family; the next they were taken away."

McGee's gaze fell to the ground as if he couldn't take the sadness in Gibbs eyes. But soon found his chin being lifted upward and was forced to lock onto them.

"Listen Tim, I know I may not have the right to ask you this…but if you're ever willing to give me a second chance. I'll be here."

Tim swallowed hard. "I'll try and remember that." And once again watched as the hand he put out was shrugged away and he was pulled into an embrace by a man who had scarred him…but also a man who showed him more respect than anyone he'd ever known. "I wish I didn't have to go."

Gibbs one arm remained draped around his back as he replied in a whisper. "I know. But I'm proud of you."

Tim eased away from the embrace and quickly wiped away a tear that had begun to run down his face. The two stared at each other in silence for almost a minute before McGee walked around the car and met Abby.

"You're really leaving huh?"

McGee nodded slowly. "You gonna be okay?"

"No," she replied simply. "But I want you to be okay." She reached back into her purse and handed him the stapler. "Take it."

He examined it with a smile. "I'll call."

"I want at least a text every day….a phone call every two days…and an email every week with a recent picture."

He continued to smile as another tear managed its way down his face. Only this time she brushed it away. "I'll miss you the most."

Abby nodded as she threw her arms around him. "I'll miss you more."

Tim eased away from the embrace and lifted the stapler in the air. "I'll keep it close by, I promise." And with that he slowly stepped backwards to his car, taking in the sight of both of them as he opened the door and sat inside. The lump in throat was constricting his air way and he forced himself to take a few deep breaths as he gave a final wave and drove past them. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead to avoid looking in his rear view mirror and before he knew it, he was passing over the state line.