"This is a bad idea," Gibbs said as he watched his daughter and Tim get ready to leave, both with bags in their hands. They had the bright idea to go camping for the weekend. They'd be alone in the woods while people were out there looking to kill them.

"I'm uneasy about this too," Shannon said from next to her husband.

"Guys, we'll be fine. We can protect ourselves if something happens, which it probably won't. Its been months. We're as safe as we ever can be. Tim and I need to be alone here for a couple of days," Kelly said.

"Be alone here. You have a bedroom," Gibbs said.

Kelly rolled her eyes. "You know that is not really being alone. Look, you and Mom could use a few days here by yourselves. You guys haven't been alone for more than a few hours since you found out we were alive. We will be as safe as possible. We booked the campsite under false names, and by that I mean false names from our other false names."

"Kelly's right. We'll be okay. Although, I'd rather we were going to a hotel," Tim said. Camping was not his thing, but he did agree that he and Kelly needed time alone. He would go anywhere for that.

"That would be even less safe," Shannon said. The Cartel would check hotels before they would check campgrounds. "Jethro, they're right. They're both trained to protect themselves, and we could use time to ourselves."

Gibbs smiled slightly when she took his hand. "Fine, but you two make sure to call if something happens."

"Actually, you'll call either way. We want to hear from you every day. We will come after you if we don't," Shannon told them. Most would think she was being overprotective, but she knew very well how dangerous their world was. Their sense of security was never going to be very high.

"We promise, and we'll be armed at all times," Kelly said as she pointed to the gun strapped to her belt.

"Well, that should go without saying," Shannon said.

Kelly chuckled before she and Tim continued getting ready to leave.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

After setting up camp, Tim and Kelly sat by the fire looking up at the stars. "I love it out here," Kelly said.

"It is nice," Tim conceded. He wasn't big on camping, but he was enjoying himself sitting out with his wife in front of a fire. He hadn't been this content since before Kelly left him. Given that they were in constant danger, most would think he was crazy for feeling so peaceful, but being with Kelly would always be when he was the happiest. If she had told him the truth years ago and asked him to go with her, he wouldn't have hesitated. That was why it had been so upsetting when he found out the truth. But he was starting to move past that.

"I'm glad we came out here alone, but I think we should come back with Mom and Dad soon. We used to go camping all the time when I was a kid," Kelly said.

"I can picture that. Gibbs is definitely the outdoor type," Tim said.

"But about you? I know you're not big on camping, but did you and your family ever go on vacations you liked?" Kelly asked.

Tim couldn't help but stiffen at the mention of his family. "Not really. My father was always busy with the Navy. We traveled a lot, but not often for fun. Dad was always too busy for that. We did go camping once or twice, but like you said, camping isn't my thing, especially back then. My allergies were horrible as a kid, so it wasn't fun for me." Of course, his allergies were not the only reason it wasn't fun. When they went camping, his father used it as an excuse to go off on him for being so weak

Kelly felt it when her husband stiffened. A part of her said that it was because it was hard to talk about them knowing he'd never see them again, but another part of her thought it was more than that. "You rarely mention your family, except for your sister. Even before we were married you didn't really talk about them. I mean, I definitely know they loved you after what your father said in the paper."

Tim laughed bitterly. "My father made that quote to protect his image. He doesn't care that I'm 'dead'."

Kelly was shocked by her husband's response. She had started to wonder if things might be a little strained with Tim's response every time his parents came up in conversation, but she never thought it was so bad for her husband to believe his family hated him. "Tim, I'm sure that's not true. Why do you think that?"

"Oh, it is true, Kelly. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I was afraid you'd look at me in a different way, the way they do. My father was always disappointed in my. So was my mother, but to a lesser extent," Tim told her.

"I know sometimes people think that about their parents, but…"

"It's not like with everyone else. This isn't something I've convinced myself of. It's something that my father told me on almost a daily basis," Tim said.

"He really told you that?" Kelly asked in disbelief. She couldn't understand how anyone could treat Tim that way, especially his own father. Tim was an exceptional person. He was someone to be proud of.

"A lot. He wanted me to be like him. For half my childhood, he did all he could to make that happen. When he realized it wasn't going to, he settled for making me feel as worthless as possible. When I was eighteen, he told me that I was either to join the Navy or he'd disown me," Tim explained.

Kelly rage build deeper and deeper inside her as her husband spoke. "Your mother didn't do anything about it?"

Tim shook his head. "She would never go against him. In fact, she told me I should change myself so he'd like me more. When he threatened to disown me, she told me to do what he wanted. All she ever cared about was making him happy."

"They are both horribly wrong! You don't need to change for anybody. Who you are is wonderful. You're brilliant, and I'm sure you were an exceptional agent. My dad would never have had you working for him if you weren't. Don't ever let those bastards make you feel like you're somehow inadequate."

"Your mother has said the same. She's known since right before we were married. Don't be mad at her for not telling you. She found out because my father called me came at me how he always did. I made her promise not to tell you," Tim told her.

"I don't blame her. It was important for her to keep your confidence. I'm glad you're the one that told me. I wish you'd felt comfortable enough to tell me sooner, but I'm not upset about it," Kelly assured him.

"I never planned to tell anyone. I especially didn't want you to know. I felt so small anytime I thought about what they'd say to me. They were my parents. I figured if they felt that way, it must be true. I was afraid you'd think so too, and if you didn't, you'd pity me," Tim said while looking away.

"No. Nothing they said to you was true. I know you. I know how strong you are. I know what a great person you are. What you just told me doesn't change that. Nothing could. And I don't pity you either. I have no reason to. You are better off without those bastards in your life! You have people who love you. You have me, and mom and Dad. And I know you've lost your sister and friends, but you know they love you. If anyone should be pitied, it's your so called parents. They've thrown something wonderful away. They gave up the chance to know you. I don't know if they'll regret it one day, but they should. I hope they do, and I hope they hate themselves for it. Nothing they've done is on you," Kelly said firmly.

Tim turned back to look at her. "Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too. I always will," Kelly said before leaning further into her husband's arms.

Tim sighed in relief. He felt a lot better now. Telling Kelly all of this had always been a huge weight on him. He always feared her reaction, but Shannon was right. It was good that he told her. Now that he had, maybe he could truly move on from what his parents put him though. Maybe he could finally forget about them.