I own nothing from NCIS and make no money from this story! If I did own them there would be some wicked story lines! LOL! But for now I shall merely play with them and return them very sated!

A huge thanks goes to my most excellent Beta-Amy- without whom this would not be as polished! Kudos to her for her great work and wanting to work with a nut like me! Trust me! And I lover her all the more for it! She is the best!

Come by my facebook page- always a riot! Sometimes great eye candy as well! Facebook./gibbsandtonysbabe Always happy to have you drop by!

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I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's response and continued support! It means the world to me! All you guest reviewers I send love to since I can't respond! This has been a story of a great deal of soul searching on my part as well. We all have degrees of betrayals in our lives and it's how we rise above that that begins to define who we are. I chose to take myself above the level of betrayal that was shown to me at great cost to myself and that damn near destroyed me. In the end it was still the best thing to do for myself and my own mental health. I have opened myself up to Tony's pain here and hope that I have done it justice and continue to do so.. Thank you for going along on this journey with me.

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Tony stood facing the elevator doors and tried not to let his nerves get the best of him. He knew that he had nothing to be nervous about, but this was the first time that he had set foot in NCIS since the incident and he was finding it a bit more nerve wracking than he had anticipated. He regretted the decision to do this on his own.

The minute those doors opened there was no going back, not that he wanted to, but this was it. As he waited, he thought about how far he had come since he had last set foot in the building. He was definitely stronger both physically and mentally, so he could do this. He had closed the door on what happened and was ready to start this new chapter of his life with a clean slate so to speak.

The doors opened, the familiar orange greeting him before he stepped out and gazed upon a sea of Agents giving him a standing ovation and welcoming him home. Never had he imagined this sort of homecoming and to say that he was touched by their support was nowhere near what he felt.

Balboa walked up to Tony and clasped his shoulder. "Good to have you back where you belong Tony. It hasn't been the same without you."

"Thanks Rick, It feels really good to be here." Tony looked out at the gathered agents and wished he had the words to thank them all, not for being here right now, but for everything. He had memorized every face that he had seen on that DVD and in part, those faces were what tilted the favor in returning to NCIS.

Taking a deep breath, he addressed the group. "I don't think I will ever be able to thank you all enough for your support...I was shocked when I watched the DVD...but more than that I was moved. All of you helped with my choosing to come back to NCIS." Lowering his head for a moment, he worked to put his words together.

"For a while I wasn't sure whether I wanted to or even could return" Looking up again his eyes filled with the emotion that he was trying desperately to control. "But I kept seeing all of your faces...the look of total support and also the anger that you showed." Gesturing towards the desk where Thing 1 & 2 once resided.

"Thank you...for everything." Smiling as he spotted a whirling dervish headed for his arms. All of a sudden, he found that he was wrapped in her arms receiving the hug of a lifetime.

"Abs….need to breathe." The groups surrounding them laughed and quietly made their way back to their respective desks and offices. Those passing by him squeezing his shoulder in support.

"You're home." She loosened her grip giving him a chance to breathe. "Finally."

Tony chuckled as he kissed her temple. "You had dinner with Jethro and me last night Abs. Remember? Ducky told that- Ow!" Rubbing his arm where she had promptly punched him.

"You know what I mean." Her green eyes narrowed dangerously.

Tony pulled her tight. "I know. It took some time…but I'm ready. Time to start fresh."

Abby smiled brightly. "You got that right. Now go….shoo…let's get this party started."

He shook his head and winked as he headed up the stairs to Vance's office more than ready to do just that.

Cynthia stood and gave him a tentative hug. "It is wonderful to have you back Agent DiNozzo. Place hasn't been the same."

Tony smiled shyly. "Thank you. I am glad to be back." And as the words left his mouth, he knew that no truer words had been spoken.

"Go on in, he's expecting you."

Taking a deep breath, he turned and knocked on the door before opening it.

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Tim sighed quietly at the back of the cafeteria. Since he had been processed and he still shuddered at that memory, he had strived to make himself as invisible as possible. That was never something that he had ever considered he would wish for; invisibility, having always sought out being noticed, to let his talents and intelligence shine, but not here.

Here his goal was to survive. He didn't want to be noticed or pointed out so he stayed silent with his back against any available wall. Though he had been incarcerated in an area away from the more violent offenders, he was not confident in the supposed safety of that section of the prison.

He longed to make some sort of friend to at least have conversation and not spend his time in silence, but as he studied the men around him surreptitiously, he couldn't figure out how to judge whether they were friend or foe.

He had no idea how he was going to get through this...looking at the food in front of him he sighed. He wished he could go back and do things differently, acted like he belonged to a team, that he would have remembered how Tony always had his back and really to do it right. But that wasn't going to happen and he was not going to get that second chance. And really...he shouldn't be given it. He had known better, when he turned off the mic, but he did it anyway.

Lost in his musings he didn't hear the inmate approach him until the hard voice was at his ear.

"Been quiet Newbie. Never seem to wanna join in the group. What's the matter you too good for us?"

Tim wasn't sure how to respond that wouldn't end up with him in trouble. He looked for the guards hoping to see that they were paying attention, but now they were looking elsewhere and it wasn't as if the man was actually doing anything to cause trouble.

"No...just quiet. Still new here."

"I know. Saw you come in...Been watching you." The man's eyes narrowed as he took in Tim's expression. "Looks like you think you're too good for me to come make conversation." He moved a little closer to Tim. "I know all about you."

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Ziva pushed the woman out of her personal space exasperated that she wouldn't take the hint. Every time she turned around Meghan was there. She had asked to be moved to a different cell and had been met with disdain. All the while Meghan had laughed.

"No special treatment here. You are one of us."

"I am not one of you. You have no idea who I am or what I am capable of. If you did I assure you, you would leave me alone." Ziva said through gritted teeth.

"What would be the fun in that? Us being BFFs and all that."

Ziva stood in front of Meghan and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "We are not as you say BFFs. I am here until my father comes to his senses and then I shall leave this foul place."

The other woman just sneered and shook her head.

"You know nothing!" Ziva shouted.

Meghan grabbed the Israeli around the neck and pushed her into the wall. "You're wrong Miss Mossad, I know everything."

Ziva's eyes widened at the women's words as she struggled to get free. She was stronger than she was prepared for and she was quickly losing air. She saw the guard standing near and called to her hoping to catch her attention. "Help." She was loathe to ask for help but she was quickly running out of options.

The guard looked her way and simply put her hands over her ears and walked away.

Meghan loosened her grip to let Ziva grab a lungful of air. "Guess she couldn't hear you." She whispered in her ear before rearing her fist back and knocking Ziva out.

Ziva startled awake to find that she had been returned to her cell and looked around cautiously to determine if anything looked disturbed. She failed to understand why this Meghan had taken such a dislike to her and insisted on irritating her. Nor did she grasp why the guards were seemingly turning a blind eye.

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Tim was exhausted. Lorne, since sitting down to lunch that day would not leave him alone. It was nothing overt or sexual, but he was always in his space; tripping him, pushing him a bit too hard and always in his face. He seemed to know him, but for the life of him, Tim could not remember having ever seen the man prior. The taunts were never ending and always with a cruel edge.

Tim heard the reverberating sound of the locks and took his place near his cell door waiting to head to dinner. He could only hope that Lorne was becoming bored with him by now as he tried barely to acknowledge the man's actions.

However, that was not to be the case as he heard the man begin behind him. That was another thing he wondered about; their cells were not even near one another- how was it the guards never noticed his slipping up the line.

"Ahhh...there he is." Stepping up closer he pushed Tim slightly causing him to stumble into the wall.

"McGee! Stay in the line" The guard voice boomed through the hall.

What the fuck? Tim was really starting to think that the guards were blind. "Yes, Sir."

Lorne moved closer to Tim. "Blind aren't they? Guess they can't see you. I wonder if they can hear you." Before Tim had a chance to wonder what Lorne meant by that he felt a punch to his ribs. It was hard enough to knock the breath out of him and cause him to yelp and stumble slightly.

Tim looked expectantly at the guard only to find that he hadn't noticed. Taking a deep breath to gain back his equilibrium he accepted that the guard was simply blind, deaf and dumb.

Lorne smirked as he watched the realization fall on Tim's face. "Shame the guard couldn't hear you."