The return trek to the car in the clearer weather seemed faster than their initial journey. It was doubtful McGee's fitness was memory related, it was possible the couple of days hiking and all the sleep had actually helped McGee keep up better. Or the rest of them were so tired they had been reduced to his level. Either way, Gibbs was rather pleased they had kept together more or less as a group.

There was a great sense of relief when they tossed their packs in the boot and started their return journey to work. Gibbs felt a sense of normality as he took the wheel, slammed the car into drive and floored the pedal: Much better. He looked around. Everyone else seemed to have fallen asleep the moment they sat down. All the better, then they couldn't see how he really drove when no one was looking.

The three agents awoke with a simultaneous start when Gibbs slammed on the brakes in the car park.

"We're home", he announced.

"Yes!" Ziva cheered leaping form the car, "Showers!"

"Come on, Probie", Tony said to McGee, "I'll show you your stuff".

The shower was the first chance McGee had had to see most of his body. It was OK for now. Not as taunt as everyone else's. Then he noticed something on his butt.

"What the..?"

"Found the tat Probie?", Tony's voice echoed through the showers.

Gibbs laughed, "Wondered when he'd see that".

"Hey… how do you guys know?"

They both laughed at him again. He wasn't fond of everyone knowing his business.

After the shower, Tony helped McGee sort through his personal possessions. "Here're your keys, Probie."

McGee looked at the bunch in Tony's hand. "How do I know which is the front door?"

"No problem" said Tony, "You label all your keys with little tiny labels."

"Hey cool", McGee looked over the keys in fascination.

Tony shook his head, "No, no it isn't. Sad: yes. Anal: most definitely. But not cool."

McGee entered his apartment with Tony hesitantly. It seemed rather pokey; a little kitchen, open shelves full of boxes. Then he rounded the corner and his eyes lit upon the dual-headed online gaming consol.

"Whoa! Is that mine?" he ran his fingers delicately along the surface of the keyboard.

"Sadly, yes", said Tony morosely.

"Damn, I can't remember my password", McGee swore, "Hold on, if I label my keys, I would have written it on a piece of paper and put it somewhere obvious. I'm only trying to protect the account from online people, not people who break in. No one would break in just to play computer games. Would they?" he asked Tony.

"No", Tony shook his head sadly, the old McGee was starting to leak back in, "No they wouldn't."

"Ah ha!" McGee cried, "Got it!" and he held up a piece of paper victoriously, "I love being me."

"Before I leave you to the realms of the fantasy world, do you want to check out your bedroom and wardrobe?"

"Not really", said McGee concentrating on booting up his computer.

"Humour me, while it boots up", Tony suggested.

"Oh, OK", McGee relented keeping his eyes on his machine as he followed Tony around to the wardrobe.

"This is your stuff", Tony indicated with a sweep of his hand at McGee's clothes, "We were just scheduled to go shopping for something more….fashionable."

McGee tore his eyes away from the computer to glance in his wardrobe. He stopped short.

"Why do all my shirts have mit written on them? Am I into baseball or something?"

Tony laughed until the tears streamed down his face. "Oh, I have got to tell Abby that one," he managed through the laughs "that's just priceless."

"What?" McGee was annoyed.

"Later", Tony gasped, "Oh and log in as Elf Lord".

McGee regarded him sceptically, "No, really." Tony tried to regain his composure, "It's your gamming secret identity."

Then Tony headed for the door, wiping tears from his face. "I'll be here at 8 am sharp", he warned, "Don't' spend all night playing."

"OK, OK", came McGee's muffled voice from the computer.

Tony let himself out.