A/N: A special "Thank You" goes out to my Beta, shelbylou and my faithful muse, chelsea1234 my cheering squad: all the reviewers who have steadfastly stood by my stories and enjoyed them for the fiction they are.


Tony sat in the arm chair in Ducky's master bedroom, watching Probie sleep. Whatever Ducky had given the kid to sleep through the transition from NCIS to Ducky's bed, had to be a miracle drug, because he hadn't so much as stirred in the last four hours. Tony was worried and every part of his brain was wrapped up in guilt.

He'd never been good at wearing this particular type of emotion before. Shrugging it off or passing it to someone else had always come easy. But this time, it fit him like a glove. He'd lost those letters from Abby while he'd been stationed on the U.S.S. Seahawk; letters that Christine found and kept; used to her advantage and almost to Tim's demise. Tony had been the reason she'd fallen under the investigative wheels of justice. It had been the thorough job of Tony and Gibbs and Ziva that Christine had witnessed firsthand. Tim and Abby's contributions had been behind the scenes, until the court hearing that officially sentenced her and cost her her military career.

So, she'd gotten Tim's name and information about him from Abby's letters, which were always full of titbits of what was going on while he was on 'Agent Afloat' duty. And since Abby had steadfastly kept her friendship with Tim in good standing, her letters had been full of info on him. Tony had started this ball rolling some two years ago and had never even realized it.

He'd almost cost Tim his life! Belittling him and make his life miserable because as the Senior Field Agent, he could, was one thing; damn near costing the man his life and causing him to get his heart seriously and completely crushed in the process, was another and it was unacceptable. The most painful kick of it was, there was no way to every make this right or fix it or even to help Tim get back on his feet.

Shaking his head in misery and concern, Tony took out his cell and hit a speed dial.

"Anthony?"

"Duck, he hasn't so much as twitched in the four hours he's been here. How do we know he's okay?" Tony asked quietly in absolute worry.

"Timothy's body simply needs the rest, Anthony; there is nothing to be worried about. However, if it will set your mind at ease, I will come check his vital signs again." Ducky offered.

"Thanks, Ducky." Tony replied in his still quiet tone, with relief.

Ducky soon arrived and proceeded to check Tim's vital signs, Tony used the opportunity to step out for the chance to breathe. His head was so full of guilt, remorse and self-recriminations, he almost didn't have room for normal thoughts.

Ducky noticed Anthony's distress and made a decision to offer a suggestion up to Jethro as soon as he was done checking on Timothy. Once he'd completed what he'd needed to do, Ducky stepped back out into the hallway and into Ziva.

"Hello, Ziva. Have you come to sit with Timothy?" Ducky asked.

"Yes, Ducky. Tony said he needed to get some fresh air so I have volunteered to sit with McGee in his place." Ziva replied.

"Wonderful. He may very well continue to sleep through the evening and on through the night." Ducky warned.

"That is what his body needs, yes?" Ziva questioned.

"It would be the best thing for him, yes." Ducky answered. "Call me if he wakes, will you please?"

"Yes, Ducky. I will." Ziva answered as she headed into the room.

Ducky watched Ziva walk into the room before heading downstairs to talk to his dear friend.

"Jethro, I fear we have another problem on our hands."

"Something else wrong with McGee?" Gibbs asked worriedly.

"No. His condition remains the same. Unfortunately, this time Jethro, the problem is Anthony."

"What about him, Duck?" Gibbs asked in concern.

"He has taken on a world of troubles on his shoulders and is seriously in need of someone to listen to whatever that trouble is. I would hazard to say that it has to do with Timothy's case. I would suggest that you get them both to talk things through with a psychologist and soon, Jethro."

"Yeah, Duck. You're right. Can you call someone in? No one tied with the Agency, but maybe someone willing to make house calls, or at least one?" Gibbs asked.

"I will see what I can come up with, Jethro."

"Thanks, Duck. I'm gonna go talk to Tony. You got this?" Gibbs asked as he pointed up the stairs.

"Of course.. Ziva's with Timothy now, they'll be good company for each other when he awakens." Ducky reassured him.


Gibbs found Tony a mile from his house, leaning against the fencing that overlooked the kids' playground at the local park.

"Somethin' on your mind?" Gibbs asked when he reached him and settled against the fence next to the younger man.

"That easy to read, huh?" Tony asked with a smirk.

"What's goin' on, Tony?" Gibbs pushed.

"This is my fault. Who stops to think, 'Gee, what I do now will affect everyone in my life two years and four months from now?' " Tony admitted with self-recrimination.

"What exactly is it that makes this your fault, DiNozzo?" the boss pushed quietly.

"I gave her the ammo to find and use McGee. Letters I got from Abby while I was on the Seahawk; letters that were full of her details of how Tim was doing and how their friendship seemed to be the only thing that kept Probie going, how he felt isolated and well, details she could have only gotten from those letters. And the fact that I misplaced a couple of them, adds up to my fault, Boss." Tony admitted remorsefully.

"You didn't pull the trigger, DiNozzo. You didn't plant the bugs in his stuff. You didn't follow him around and take pictures of him for six months. You damn sure didn't hire her or her crazy boyfriend to do any of it, so, again, how is any of this your fault?"

Tony was silent for a long contemplative minute.

"You know what I mean, Boss." Came his surprising answer. He didn't have the energy to argue the point.

"Yeah, Tony, I do. Let me ask you something. You think McGee blames you?"

"No. but then again, Probie's too heartbroken and physically wounded to think about blame right now." Tony answered.

"You think he'll blame you when he does get around to thinking about who's to blame? Cause we both know he will reach that question sooner than later." Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, I know. No, I don't think he'll blame me. I think he'll blame himself. And if he does that, he'll never date again." Tony said regretfully.

"That's the least of our worries, DiNozzo." Gibbs warned.

"Boss? How is Probie blamin' himself the least of our worries?"

"Not what I meant, DiNozzo. Him not dating is the least of our worries, right now."

"Oh, right. "

"This one doesn't belong to any of us, Tony. And if we're gonna help McGee realize it's not his, we damn sure can't hang onto it ourselves. We all have to let this one go." The older man reasoned.

"I see your point, Boss. It's just…"

"Hard to let go when you feel responsible, I get it, Tony. But, you're not, so let it go. Concentrate on getting McGee to move on." Gibbs pushed.

"You sure that's possible this time?" Tony asked sceptically.

Gibbs didn't answer. There was no reason to share his doubts on the subject. No, it was better to stay focused on trying to achieve this, even if none of them thought it a possible result. They owed it to Tim, as their team mate and friend, to not give up on him, even if he did what they all feared he would and gave up on himself.