Later that night, Gibbs stood in the middle of the bullpen, right where he used to work. Everyone else was gone. McGee had sent the team home about an hour ago. To anyone looking around now, things didn't look much different than they did five years ago. Gibbs, however, knew that they were much different. He knew when Jenny called him that things wouldn't be exactly the same when he walked back in, but he didn't expect it to be this different. He figured the only difference would be that Tony would be the team leader.

Gibbs didn't know why he believed that. People moved on, just like he did. It should've occurred to him that one or more of his former agents moved on with their careers. It should've occurred to him that one of them, like McGee, had taken a step up. It should've also occurred to him that they wouldn't be the same people he left behind. He supposed he didn't realize that one because he'd never believed people changed that much.

They had changed though. At least McGee had. He was not the same unsure agent he'd been when Gibbs left. He was a capable agent and team leader. That fact had pretty much knocked him over the head when he saw him in action in interrogation.

"Jethro?" a voice called, interrupting Gibbs thoughts.

Gibbs turned to see Jenny at the bottom of the stairs. She looked like she was leaving for the night. "Jen."

"I didn't expect you to be here. I thought McGee sent everyone home," Jenny said.

"He did. Not a call I would've made," Gibbs said. He would've kept his team longer during an active case, especially one like this one.

Jenny sighed as she made her way over to him. "McGee is a good agent, Jethro. I have complete faith in any calls he makes."

"I didn't mean it that way. Just saying I would've done it differently," Gibbs said.

Jenny nodded. "Everyone has different styles. The fact that his are different than yours doesn't…

"Why am I here, Jen? It's not the case. You and I both know McGee doesn't need me for that. I haven't done anything to help solve this case," Gibbs said.

"Whose fault is that? If you spent less time questioning McGee's every decision, you might actually be of some use," Jenny told him.

Gibbs didn't dispute her point. She wasn't wrong. He hadn't made a big effort to help, and he did regret that. However, his point was still valid. "He doesn't need me. He's handled it just fine. And if input from the old case was needed, bringing Tony in would've sufficed. You didn't need me here. You didn't bring me here for to solve this case."

"I didn't," Jenny admitted. Despite what she told Gibbs and McGee, she knew McGee didn't need Gibbs or Tony to solve this case. She saw an opportunity for Gibbs to at least try to mend what he'd broken with his former team. "Clean up your mess, Jethro."

Gibbs nodded curtly and watched her leave.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Tim opened his front door to see Gibbs there. Needless to say, he was less than happy. It was late, and the last thing he wanted was to go another round with Gibbs. "Gibbs, I really don't want to go at it with you right now."

"I'm not here about the case. Please, just give me a few minutes, Tim," Gibbs said softly.

Tim took note of his former boss' tone before opening the door wider to let him in. "I'd ask how you got my address, but I'm sure even off the job you still have your ways."

"Yeah," Gibbs said as he walked inside.

Tim closed the door and turned back to Gibbs. "What is it? It couldn't wait until the morning?"

"I figure five years is already too long," Gibbs said as he looked Tim directly in eye.

Tim didn't say anything, and managed to keep his face passive.

"You know, Jenny did not call me here to help with the case," Gibbs said. It wasn't a question. He knew McGee knew that. McGee was a good agent, and a very intelligent person. He would've figured it out by now.

"Yeah, I know," Tim said. He might not have figured it out when the director first told him she was calling Gibbs and Tony, but he did later. He knew she'd called as some way of fixing the damage they'd done.

"She brought me here to fix things, if that's even possible," Gibbs said.

Again, Tim didn't speak. He was not going to make this any easier on Gibbs. Gibbs had done a lot of damage when he completely disappeared from their lives. If he wanted to make things right, he was going to have to work for it.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I'm sorry for a lot, but right now I mean for the way I've acted since I got here," Gibbs said sincerely. That interrogation he saw really did knock him over the head, and make him think about the last few days. McGee had made decisions he wouldn't have made, but he got results. His team made more headway than Gibbs ever had.

Tim looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He wasn't expecting an apology. Gibbs didn't give those. "I actually get an apology. That's shocking."

"Sometimes rules have to be broken. I treated you badly since I got back. I just had how you were stuck in my head," Gibbs said. Even when he saw how different McGee was, it was hard accept him that way. It was almost like a dream he was sure he'd wake up from.

"I know change isn't an easy concept for you, Gibbs, but it happens. I had to change. We all had to change," Tim said.

"I know, and you did. I've seen you work. You're a great agent. I know you don't need me to tell you that though," Gibbs said.

"No, I don't, but I do appreciate it," Tim said. As much as he tried to claim otherwise, Gibbs' opinion did matter to him. He didn't need validation, but it was nice to know that the first agent he looked up to believed he was a good agent.

"Despite the fact that we both know I wasn't brought here for the case, I should've been more helpful. Just so you know, it wasn't just because it was you that had the case that made me want it so bad. It would've been like that with anyone. It pissed me off that I couldn't solve this the first time," Gibbs said.

"I get that, but you could've helped us with solving it instead of getting in my face," Tim said.

"I know. Like I said, that was a mistake. I will do whatever I can to help from now on, and I will follow your lead," Gibbs promised.

"Thank you, but that's not the only reason you came here, is it?" Tim asked.

Gibbs shook his head. "I talked to Abby. She was really upset. I don't think I realized the damage I did to you all until I spoke to her. She told me you pretty much shoved down her throat that I wasn't coming back."

"I had no choice. She was waiting for you to call or come back on a daily basis. She needed to understand that wasn't going to happen," Tim said defensively.

"I know. I'm not trying to criticize you. You did what you had to. I would've done the same. It's just that it wasn't until she told me that that I understood what people have been saying. You all weren't angry that I retired," Gibbs said.

Tim shook his head. "Of course not. We were hurt by it some, but you were a great agent for many years, and you'd had enough, especially considering what you'd just been through. No one begrudged you for walking away. Hell, we weren't even angry at Tony for doing the same. We were angry at the way you did it, and the way you cut everyone out of your life."

"I know. I shouldn't have done that. I wanna make it right, as much as I can anyway," he said. He knew he couldn't completely make it right. He couldn't undo what happened, and he couldn't make the people he cared about forget the pain he caused them, but he hoped he could try to fix some of the damage. "I know I have no business asking, but will you help me?"

Tim hesitated. Gibbs seemed sorry, and Tim believed people deserved second chances, but he feared more damage to his people. He couldn't allow that. They barely survived it the first time. "I won't help you for you just to hurt them again."

"I don't want that. I won't disappear again, Tim. I may or may not go back to Mexico, but I'll be around if any of you need me or want to talk," Gibbs promised.

"Alright, I'll get them to listen, but that's all I can do. But not until the case is finished," Tim said. The case still came first. He needed everyone at their best to finish it.

"Will you listen too?" Gibbs asked. McGee wasn't going to say it, but Gibbs knew he hurt him too. McGee was just holding it together for his people, just like Gibbs would've done.

Tim nodded after a second.

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow," Gibbs said before heading for the door.