In the early evening of New Year's Eve Gibbs unexpectedly called the team into work. Ellie was already dressed in an evening gown, ready to attend a party with Jake. Tony grumbled with his head in his hands, while Ziva sat, perched on his desk. The only person who seemed to actually enjoy being in the bright orange bullpen was McGee, who was quietly tapping away at his Computer.

"Does anyone know why we're here? Or for how long?" Bishop asked, "Jake is wondering?"

"Not, a clue," Tim sighed, "But it beats staying home alone."

"We invited you to come out with us," Ziva smirked.

McGee looked up from his computer, "Thanks. But no thanks. I'd really rather not third wheel."

"You know she's got an extra ticket to some party tonight," Tony huffed, "I was going to use it, I'm sure she'd be happy if you showed up."

Tim rolled his eyes, "Tony, I can't just spring that on her. We're…we're taking it slow."

"You know, I've got to agree with Tony here," Ellie looked over from her phone, "You've got to chase her a little."

McGee sighed, "Don't you think I want to? It's not that easy, or cheap to get a flight to New York last minute."

A small packet of papers landed on to the young agent's desk.

"Don't say I didn't do anything nice for you," Gibbs walked over to his chair.

"Boss, what is this?!" Tim furrowed his brow.

"Hotel reservations and a plane ticket, go," the grey haired man looked at his agent dumbfounded, "Go get her. Case opened back up. Abby found a potential new lead and the director thought it sounded credible."

"What about Cass, and the director of the FBI?" Ziva chimed in to the conversation.

"Already taken care of," the boss shrugged, "Just need someone to convince Tori, to come on back."

Ellie looked over at her co-worker, "What are you still doing here, go!"

"But…but boss," he stammered, "Does she even know I'm coming?"

"Nope, but you've got 48 hours to figure it out," Gibbs waved him forward, "Don't worry, we'll take care of everything here."

McGee quickly gathered his belongings, still shocked that this was actually happening. He slung his bag over his shoulder and ran into the elevator, thinking about what he needed to pack before heading to the airport.

"God speed, Probie!" Tony stood, shouting from his desk.

Just as the elevator doors were closing, Tim shot him an affirmative nod.

"Alright, let's get to work," Gibbs commanded, "We're ringing in the New Year by bringing this bastard into custody."

Tim could barely concentrate as he packed his small suitcase for his trip. The only thought he could focus on was a way to convince Tori to come back to D.C. with him. Sure, she had said she wanted to finish what she had started. But now, she was home and it was no secret that New York is where she felt like she belonged. Tori had uprooted her life once before, and it was unlikely that she would be willing to do it all over again. And all McGee had for backup were 48 hours, and a prayer.

He boarded the plane to New York City and spent the short hour long flight trying to come up with the best solution for all involved. He failed miserably, finding flaws in every one. Once the plane landed and a cab was finally hailed, Tim McGee began his journey to the bustling streets of the City that Never Sleep, on the evening when everyone is up past midnight.

Back in the bullpen, Jake had brought Ellie a change of clothes, and enough Thai food for all involved. Gibbs had gone for late night coffee, graciously declining the take out cuisine. He was on a mission. The team worked quickly trying to identify the partial print Abby had pulled from the letter in the car. It didn't belong to anyone in Tori's family, but it currently didn't belong to anyone else. Everyone seemed busy and focused except for Tony, whose mind seemed to be preoccupied.

"What are you thinking about?" Ziva asked, turning her attention from McGee's work station to DiNozzo's desk.

"Nothing, I'm just worried," he shrugged, going back to his computer.

"About what?" Bishop joined Ziva's confusion.

"That he won't be able to convince her to come home," Tony sighed, "I know it's hard on Tim, but not having Tori here, is killing Senior. And as selfish as it sounds, I kind of liked having a sister just across town."

"Why do you think McGee will fail?" a now interested Jake spoke up from his box of take out.

"It's not that he'll fail," the Senior Agent shook his head, "It's the fact that she's a DiNozzo, which means she's stubborn as hell."

"Yes, that is true," Ziva began, "But that also means she'll never give up on something that she knows is worth completing."

"And that she's got a big heart," Ellie added.

The dark haired beauty smiled coyly at the man she loved, "I have faith in McGee."

Just then, Abby ran up the stairs in her festive gear, grabbing the remote to the plasma, and turning on local television.

"Abs? What's up?" Bishop furrowed her brow.

"I thought that even though we aren't spending the holiday the way we thought, we could at least watch the one person who is celebrating," the Goth bubble, "I had it turned on down stairs. The dancers are coming on soon, and I want a good glimpse of Tori."

"Not gonna happen," Gibbs came through elevator doors, "We need to stay focused."

"Gibbs, please!" the pigtailed cutie pouted, "Don't you think this would be the best way to cheer on McGee and his pursuit to end this case! We'll work extra hard, and only stop when Tori's dancing and at the count down."

"Abby…" the grey haired man pressed on.

"I brought party hats and horns…." She sighed pulling out the party horn and tooting it sadly.

"Fine," The boss sighed, unable to say no to his favorite person.

"Thank you, thank you," she hugged him with a squealed as she ran back to her lab, "I'll be up before midnight."

Back in New York, the cab had gotten Tim as close to Time Square as possible. The area was more congested than ever. McGee looked down at his watch, only an hour until midnight, there was a slim chance of him making it close to the stage before then. It would be even more impossible to find her after the crowds began to disperse. Suddenly, as jazzy song blasted through the air, his attention turning to one of the several large screens illuminating the night sky. It displayed the stage, and standing front and center was none other than Miss Tori DiNozzo, clad in a tight gold and silver sparkly ensemble. Tim sighed to himself, although he wanted to watch, he knew he had to make to that stage before the New Year rolled around. He pressed forward, finding it extremely difficult to push through the dense crowd of people.

"Are we getting any closer?" a frustrated Gibbs slammed his fists against the desks.

"Boss, this print is nowhere!" Tony shouted in his own frustration.

"I don't know how they did it," Ziva commented, "But Tori's family has out smarted us all so far."

"It's like we're dealing with the squeakiest clean mobster…ever," Bishop placed her head on her desk, as Jake rubbed circles on her back.

"I wouldn't bet on that," the director entered the bullpen, concern riddled his face, "Agent Gibbs, I found this on the windshield of my car as I was leaving a party to pick up my daughter."

Gibbs snatched the letter from his hand, and read the familiar cut out clippings, "We asked you nicely to stop. But you chose to play with fire. So now we will play with fire."

The boss angrily crumpled the letter throwing to the ground and grabbing his empty cup of coffee, "This ends tonight. Someone get that to Abby. Now!"

After discovering he could use his badge to get most of the people to move. McGee found himself a few feet away from where the entertainers stood. And not a moment too soon, they were in the home stretch, it had almost taken the entire hour. But still, he wasn't close enough for anyone on or off stage to see him. Finding a bench behind him, Tim stood tall, scouting out the performance area, his eyes finally landing on Tori. She stood giddily, waiting for the countdown to begin.

"Tori!" McGee cupped his hands around his mouth, hoping to get her attention, "Hey, TORI!"

"Sir, I'm going to need to ask you to step down. You're blocking the view of the others behind you," an officer, with a thick Brooklyn accent scolded.

"I'll be down in just a second," he nervously fumbling from his badge, "I'm NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, and I am on official business."

"Sir, official or not, you need to step down," the officer commanded.

Then there it was. The count down. The minute mark.

Ignoring what the officer had said McGee continued to shout and wave in Tori's direction, as she absentmindedly stared up into the glittered sky. Soon enough, they were down to 30 seconds, and other officers were now joining the commotion.

Finally, in one last ditch effort, Tim just screamed, "HEY, TORI ANN, TURN AROUND!"

And if by the grace of God she did. She saw him. And the pair took off running.

25…24…23…

As promised, Gibbs allowed his team to watch the ball drop. Abby had already come upstairs and adorned every person in New Year's accessories. The group gather around the plasma and began their own count down.

15…14…13…

Badge out, suitcase behind him, fanatically running in to a crowd of unmovable people, McGee tried his hardest to find an opening in the mob, without losing Tori. Finally, he found a small open area, and tried to scout her out.

10…9...8…

Other end of the crowd, Tori found herself rudely pushing through people. It couldn't be Tim. There was no way he could be in New York. After finally being pushed back by the over populated space, the little DiNozzo found herself in a clear area. Giving herself a moment to catch her breath, she finally looked up and saw him standing there, looking for her. And Tori took off like a bat out of hell.

7…6…5…

In an instant they made eye contact and McGee took off too; dropping his bag, in just enough time for Tori to jump into his arms. Her eyes, surprised and excited, as her hands tenderly touched his face in disbelief. He gently set her on the ground, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek. The pair listened to the crowd as they continued their chant, however, in that moment the world almost stopped.

McGee sighed peacefully looking up at the clock, as he counted down to his own New Year, "3…2…1."

And in that instant, Tim pulled Tori into a long awaited kiss. One hand on the back of her head, the other around her waist, holding her as close as possible. The little DiNozzo did not back down, tightly gripping the collar of his coat.

Cheers went out in the hideous orange room back in D.C.! Gibbs kissed Abby's forehead, as she pulled the director into a hug. Jake and Ellie shared a sweet peck before turning their attention to the television. Tony looked deeply into Ziva's eyes as the couple shared a few tender, yet passionate, kisses, as she slung her arms around his neck. They too could not be bothered by the world around them, until Abby squealed.

"LOOK!"

There on the plasma, caught by one of the several camera's filming the celebration, were Tori and McGee.

"That's one hell of a kiss," the director snorted, as everyone laughed.

All but DiNozzo, who stared at the large television in amazement, "I can't believe he did it."

"I told you not to worry," Ziva gave him a sultry stare before giving him another kiss, "Tonight. When we get home. I will talk. I have something important to tell you."

"Sounds perfect," a shocked Tony nuzzled her nose.

As the confetti fell around them and the cheers blared, Tim and Tori finally parted, resting their foreheads together. McGee quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around his shivering girlfriend. He gave her forehead a kiss, as her hands once again found his face.

"It's you! You're here! Actually here!" she crumpled into his embrace, with tear glistening in the corners of her eyes, "I'm so confused. But so happy!"

"I've got a lot to tell you," Tim sighed breathlessly, burying his face into the top of her head, "You've got no idea."

"We can talk on the way back to my place," Tori kissed him again, "But after that, we've got somewhere to be."