"Okay, Baby Girl, you ready to go home?" Tony carefully dressed Eva, working the clothing around the bulky bandage still on her leg. "Of course, it won't be home, home – not yet – but we're going to spend the nights at Grandpa's house and during the day you're going to be with Director Vance's nanny and his kids. You remember them, right? Grandpa and I are going to take you over there as soon as Grandpa Ducky brings in your papers."

Timing it perfectly, Ducky appeared at the door. "The papers are done, but we will need to wait a bit for her medications. I'm afraid the pharmacy is a bit backed up at the moment." Tony was disappointed, but Ducky was smiling as he continued. "Now, it appears that Timothy is showing signs of waking up, so why don't you pop over there while I stay with our little lass?"

"He's waking up?"

"I believe so." Ducky came closer and took Eva, bouncing her on his hip as he started to walk around. "Now go on, Jethro will be here in a few minutes and I'll send him up there, too."

Tony didn't need to be told a third time and so with a kiss to the top of Eva's head he was out the door.

Arriving at the ICU, he found several nurses closely watching Tim, but they backed away and let him sit next to the bed. "Hey, Tim, it's time to wake up now. Let me see those green eyes of yours."

It took a few more minutes of coaxing, but eventually Tim's eyes did open and Tony felt like he could finally breathe. Instead of trying to find the words right away, he leaned closer and kissed Tim's face as close to his mouth as the vent would allow. "I thought we had all the time in the world, then I thought you were going to die before I could tell you how I feel."

He wanted to say more, but several doctors arrived and he had to step back to allow them to examine McGee. Tim's eyes tracked him and Tony never looked away, scooting back to the bed the moment the doctors were done.

"He probably won't stay awake for very long. We've given him more pain meds and they will probably keep him out of it for the rest of the day, but with any luck we'll be able to remove the breathing tube tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay." Tony could see that they were right and Tim was already exhausted. He could also see the worry on Tim's face as he leaned closer. "It's okay, Tim. You saved her. Eva's fine, just a scratch on her leg. They won't let me bring her in here, but as soon as you're in a regular room, I will."

Tim shuddered and Tony could see the relief on his face along with the exhaustion and the struggle to stay awake. Tony wrapped his fingers around Tim's and gently squeezed. "It's okay, go to sleep. The more you rest, the faster you'll heal and the sooner we can take you home."

-NCIS-

Over all, it had been a good day. Tim had been asleep again by the time that Gibbs arrived, but hearing from Tony that he'd seemed aware and alert for those few minutes was quite a relief. Now Eva was here, with he and Tony. She was fussy, Tony was jumpy, but it was a start.

Tony had managed to get about half of her dinner down her before he lifted her out of her high chair. Once she was snuggled up against him, she settled down with several fingers in her mouth and her other hand wrapped tightly around the fabric of Tony's shirt. It looked like Tony was in no hurry to take her upstairs and put her to bed, but Gibbs certainly couldn't argue about that.

While Gibbs cleaned up, Tony walked back and forth through the kitchen, talking to Eva. "I know you're missing him, too. You'll get to see him soon, I promise."

By the time the kitchen was clean, Eva was almost asleep and Tony stopped next to Gibbs, rocking gently as she slowly relaxed against him. They kept their voices low.

"The crime scene will be officially released tomorrow and his insurance company has authorized me to handle the repairs. I'll do everything I can to get the house done before he's released from the hospital, Tony. I've already talked to Randy from the flooring company and Seth from the company that did the master bathroom."

"They're the ones that also gave him the estimate on the elevator, right?"

"Yeah. They know McGee, know the house, know how important this place is to him."

"That's good. That's real good. He's already lost enough to this mess." Tony was obviously chewing on something so Gibbs didn't bother to answer, just waited. Eventually, it came. "Did I do the right thing, Boss?"

"The plea bargains?"

"Yeah."

Gibbs thought about it for a moment. They weren't a done deal, that would be up to various district attorneys and JAG, but as the father of one of the victims Tony had given his verbal agreement. "Eva will be an adult before Ziva has a chance to get out of prison and she won't have the stigma of having a terrorist for a mother. No matter how much we protect her, there was always a possibility of that becoming public.

"I'd loved to have stuck it to the Admiral, but drumming him out of the Navy was the best we were going to get, no matter what."

"Yeah." He could tell that Tony was still pissed about that, but when Mossad decided to protect their own ass by killing Ziva's mark, they'd destroyed any chance of proving the link between the Admiral and the attack on McGee. Circumstantial evidence and expired statute of limitations were all they had left. "Besides, Tim doesn't need the stress of that kind of trial. It's going to be hard enough on him to know that Vance and the SecNav read that letter."

"You're going to tell him?"

"Not going to lie to him and he's smart enough to know that something's up."

Gibbs wasn't thrilled, but he knew Tony was right. "What about your dad? Are you going to try and fix things with him?"

Tony's arms tightened ever so slightly around Eva. "If I had a dollar for every time I've forgiven him, I'd be the richest man you know, Boss, but this time... I know it wasn't what he was trying to do, but his refusal to let me live the life I want almost cost my daughter her life. Almost cost Tim his life, might cost him his career. That's not something you do to your own son, at least it shouldn't be. I think this time might be a bridge too far, you know?"

Glad to hear that, Gibbs saluted him with his cup. "Not going to argue with you on that one."

Eva was sleeping soundly and Tony turned toward the front of the house, preparing to take her upstairs. "For both Tim and I, you're more of a dad that both of our fathers put together and right now we're better off without either of them."

Proud of hearing those words, Gibbs watched Tony creep up the stairs to put Eva to bed, tracking his footsteps across the hall to Kelly's old bedroom which was once again filled with toys and love. He waited, and after not hearing any additional movement for almost ten minutes, he crept up the stairs to check on them. Eva was in the crib and Tony was standing there watching her. When Gibbs moved closer he could see the white-knuckled grip he had on the rail.

"Ah, Tony." Gibbs moved closer, rubbing his hand over Tony's until he finally got him to let go. Then he led him back downstairs. He had a suspicion what was going through the other man's mind as they sat down on the sofa. "Talk to me, Tony."

"Sometimes it just hits me, you know? I mean, don't take it personally, but I don't want to be like you, not on this. And I almost was. I'm not strong enough to bury my family and not eat my gun." A sob broke through and Tony buried his face in his hands. "I'm not."

Some days Gibbs could still taste the gun oil in his mouth, but Tony didn't need to know that right now. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Tony's shoulders and pulled him close. "It didn't happen. Eva's fine and Tim's going to make it. It's going to be okay – and for the record, I pray to God you never, ever, have to be like me."

Tony nodded as he took a shaky breath, trying to pull himself back together so Gibbs kept talking. "Tonight you're finally going to get a decent night's sleep and the tomorrow you're going to spend the day with Tim. When he gets that tube out of his throat you can finally tell him how you feel. No more hiding your feelings from him, okay?"

Sitting up straight, Tony looked Gibbs directly in the eye. "I'm done hiding from everybody. If he'll have me, we're going to be as out as he can handle. I love him and he's not Eva's uncle, he's her other daddy."

Despite his determination, there was still a flicker of fear on Tony's face, so Gibbs clapped him on the back as he reassured him. "Good."

-NCIS-

Twenty minutes before visiting hours started found Tony arriving with breakfast for Penny only to find that Ducky had beaten him there. Adding his tray of coffee and bag of pastries to the pile already on the table, he sat down next to Penny and across from Ducky. "How is he?"

"They tell me that he had a peaceful night. I saw him a few minutes ago, but he was still asleep." Penny patted his arm as she stood. "Why don't you go see him? I'm sure Ducky can get you in for a quick visit before they take him off the ventilator. While you're doing that, I'm going to give Sarah an update."

"She's still in Europe, isn't she?"

"Yes. Since by the time my message caught up with her, he'd stabilized, I've suggested she wait and come back next week as scheduled. By the time she would have broken her contract and gotten in a replacement, it would have been almost her end date anyway."

"Makes sense." Tony didn't remember exactly what she'd been hired to do over there, but Tim had been proud of her for getting the job. Honestly, he hadn't been paying too much attention and right now he just wanted to get in and see Tim this morning for himself.

The nurses let him in and he went straight to Tim's bedside, watching him closely, alert the moment Tim started to wake up. A raised eyebrow got the nurse to give them a moment of privacy and he bent down to kiss Tim's cheek, as close to his mouth as the vent would allow.

"I love you, Tim. All those hours you were in surgery, I swore to myself that I wouldn't miss another chance to tell you how I feel. It's not about being straight or gay, it's just pure love and I'm beginning to realize that the best kind. I love you and I want us to be a family – a real family. Eva and her two dads."

Tony could see the joy in Tim's eyes and reveled in it for a moment before reluctantly pulling away, knowing the doctors were behind him, waiting. "That's what I want you to think about while they're pulling that tube out of your throat, okay?"

Tim's eyes were bright as he gave the slightest nod, the tape on his face crinkling slightly as he tried to smile. Dr. Cruz stepped closer. "You'll have to step out for a few moments, Agent DiNozzo, but one of the nurses will come get you as soon as we're done."

"Yeah, okay." Reluctantly, Tony walked out the door, watching over his shoulder as the medical team prepared for the vent removal, one of the nurses giving him an apologetic smile as she closed the door behind him.

From his side of the door, Tony could hear the soft murmur of voices, then some coughing. He was ready and when the door opened back up, he scooted back in the second the nurse gave him the okay.

"Hey." Edging closer to the bed, he reached out and touched Tim's arm. Tim looked beyond tired, but he smiled and croaked out one word.

"Yes."

Tony knew he was grinning like a fool, but he didn't care. He bent down and kissed Tim's forehead, then his cheek before finally pressing his lips against Tim's. Eventually, he pulled back enough to look Tim in the eye. "Sleep, babe. I'll be here when you wake up."

Dr. Cruz and several other doctors were quietly slipping out the door and one of the nurses stepped closer. "Actually, we're going to move him to the step-down unit later today."

That was even better news and Tony's smile widened to the point it almost hurt. "Really? So, our daughter can see him?" He gave her his best puppy dog eyes and she laughed softly and nodded.

"For a few minutes."

He had to step out while they prepared Tim for the move, so Tony happily called Gibbs, asking him to bring Eva to the hospital that afternoon.

-NCIS-

"Dada, Papa. Daaaddaa, Paappaa." Drawing out the sounds, Gibbs finished getting Eva dressed and a diaper bag packed. She'd be spending most of the day at the Vance's while he started the battle with the insurance company, but they'd also be stopping at the hospital.

Gibbs would never tell another living soul how much Tony's breathless call had panicked him, until the younger man had finally gotten all the words out. Bring Eva, he'll be out of intensive care in a few hours. The relief had almost made him giddy, but that was a secret between him and his granddaughter.

At the hospital, he had to get directions to a new waiting room, where he found Tony practically vibrating, much to Ducky and Penny's amusement.

"I told him how I feel and he said yes."

That little flash of fear was still there, even though it was not as pronounced as yesterday. Gibbs hugged him tightly, reinforcing his support while glancing over at Penny. She seemed happy at the announcement and Gibbs relaxed, slapping Tony on the back. "Happy for you, Tony. Happy for you both."

Even though the restrictions were lifted, Ducky had suggested that they still take turns, as to not overwhelm Tim. That said, he and Penny slipped down to the cafeteria as Tony led Gibbs down the hall. Arriving at the room, Gibbs took a deep breath as they stepped in. Without the vent, Tim finally looked like he just might survive all of this.

Apparently his exhale was noticeable as Tony looked back over his shoulder and smiled. "Yeah, I know."

Eva squealed and reached for Tim the moment she saw him. "Dapa, Dapa!" To anyone else, it sounded like more of her normal babbling, but Tony did a double-take before smiling at Gibbs.

Gibbs gave a nod as he watched the reunion from the foot of the bed. Tony set Eva down next to Tim, carefully holding her so that she couldn't do any damage. She stared at Tim for a moment before patting his face.

"There's my girl." Tim was obviously exhausted, but they could both watch the tension fading away as he finally got to see that she was alive and relatively unharmed.

-NCIS-

With one arm around Eva and one around Tim, Tony felt a contentment that he'd never known before. He could have stayed like that all day, but he knew that Eva would be getting restless soon and that every wiggle was causing Tim pain, even if he'd never admit it. Finally, he brushed his lips across Tim's forehead and straightened up with Eva. "I think it's time for somebody to go remind Vance's nanny of how easy she has it."

Lifting Eva up, Tony saw the expression on Gibbs' face. "Come on, Baby Girl, let's go change your diaper before Grandpa puts you in your car seat." Diapers were quick, but it would give the other two men a few minutes.

-NCIS-

Gibbs was twitchy. He'd never interfere with the time the new family had together, but every fiber of his being wanted to move closer. Just as he understood what Tony needed, Tony knew the same for him and Gibbs knew exactly what Tony was going to do the moment they made eye contact. "Come on, Baby Girl, let's go change your diaper before Grandpa puts you in your car seat." As soon as Tony stepped away, Gibbs moved up to the head of the bed.

"Hey, Tim."

Too exhausted to answer, Tim just gave a wan smile so Gibbs bent down and cupped Tim's face with his hand. "So proud of you, Son, and I'm so happy for you and Tony, that you have each other now."

Tim's smile widened slightly, but Gibbs could see the joy in his eyes, even as they started to droop. Knowing that he'd be asleep again in just a few moments, Gibbs kissed his forehead. "Now rest. You've got the rest of your life ahead of you."

Tony had finished the slowest diaper change since their first week with Eva, but Gibbs appreciated what Tony had done. With a last glance over to see that Tim had indeed fallen back asleep, He took Eva and the diaper bag. "Stay as long as you want. I've got her, so spend the night here if you'd like."

"You sure?" Tony looked torn, which Gibbs totally understood.

"We'll be fine. He needs you here tonight." That got a nod and Tony kissed Eva before returning to Tim's bedside. Gibbs watched them for a moment, waiting until Tony was settled in the chair next to the bed, bending enough that he could lay his head next to Tim's. Only then did Gibbs slip out the door with Eva.

In the hall he spotted Abby bursting out of the elevator, a woman on a mission. She slowed down to hug Gibbs and he used her own momentum to turn her back around.

Finding herself returning to the elevator, Abby let out a squawk. "Gibbs?"

"Nope. This is Tony's day. You can have breakfast with them in the morning."

A slow smile spread over Abby's face. "They've really figured it out, haven't they?"

"Yep." Gibbs wrapped his free arm around Abby. "Come on, you can have an early dinner with us. I've got an extra steak in the fridge."

A/N - No post on Saturday. My work day starts at about 4:30 am. Sunday will be decided by when I actually get up, so there might be a chapter, but it won't be super bright and early. Since the site gets really wonky if you don't have a full 24 hours between posts, if Sunday's post is really going to foul up my schedule, I'll just wait until Monday. Two more chapters after this. I've got a chapter done of Catalyst, so I'll be updating on that one next and hope to have it finished pretty soon. Right now I'm writing my Secret Santa story and as soon as that's done, I'll be focusing on Catalyst.

Surgery is still scheduled on the 23, which is Monday. It should actually start Sunday night my time (he's in Germany, I'm on the West Coast of the US), so I should know how he is by my Monday morning.