Tim hadn't felt so energized in a long time. Ideas for the database were constantly popping into his head, and while he worked on the Haskell investigation he kept open a window on his computer to jot down his stray thoughts. Tim knew that his first priority was to solve this case, and he was working tirelessly at that, but he didn't want to lose the momentum on his secret project. Gibbs had him mostly working the case from the office – running computer data and making phone calls – while Tony and Ziva were on the base, so it was easy to fit in the extra-curricular activity whenever he was waiting for someone to get back to him or there was a lull in his official duties. He stayed at his desk until 9 P.M. and then took his laptop to a late-night coffee shop to make a bit more progress with the aid of some espresso. It was 3 A.M. when Tim finally made it to bed for a couple of hours of sleep, and he set an alarm for 5:30 to take advantage of the extra time he'd have before going in to the office.

Tim was tired when he set out for work, but with a couple of lattes he knew he'd be fine. Gibbs was already at his desk when Tim arrived, demanding to see one of the files McGee had retrieved on the previous day. He easily found what Gibbs wanted in a stack of papers, and was pleased that his boss took the folder from him without a rebuke of any kind.

Tim spent the rest of the morning looking at surveillance footage with Abby.

"You OK?" Abby asked McGee as she brought him a second Caf-Pow.

Tim hadn't realized that he was starting to drift off. He shook his head to wake himself up and accepted the drink.

"Yeah – this stuff is just so boring. I don't think we're going to find anything on it. Haskell, or whoever it was, probably waited for the cashier outside. There's no reason to believe he was ever even in the store."

"Agreed. But we'll never hear the end of it from Gibbs if we don't watch the whole thing." She put her feet up and pressed play to resume the video. Tim resolved himself to concentrate on the screen. It would not do well to have Gibbs walk in just as he was falling asleep.

It was easier to stay awake in the afternoon, when Gibbs had him running in and out of the office following evidence trails. When he was finally off duty, his second wind kicked in and he eagerly set himself up on the couch at home with his laptop, some Chinese food and a fresh pot of coffee. Tim knew that he should be going to bed, but the challenge of having a project to work on, and a clandestine one at that, was invigorating. Plus the harder he worked on it now, the sooner it would be done. And once he'd presented the finished product to Gibbs he'd be able to relax.

Tim wasn't entirely sure when he'd dozed off, but his computer was still humming on his lap when he awoke fully dressed on his couch. He knew he'd seen 4:00 come and go on the screen before falling asleep. He hoped that a shower and some caffeine would get him functioning.

Upon arriving at work Tim was relieved to find out that Gibbs would be conducting interviews on the base for most of the day, and that Ziva and Tony would be in the field as well. He'd be alone, and that meant that he could concentrate on his official and unofficial tasks without interruption. Tim found that he was actually excited for the quiet and the solitude, and he threw himself back into his work.


Tim lost all sense of time when he was obsessed like this. He knew the late afternoon cleaning crew had done their rounds, but otherwise he had no awareness of the hours passing. Five tall paper coffee cups stood on his desk, the one nearest his hand still half full. He was staring intently at a line in his program when the senior agent entered the room unnoticed.

"What the hell…" Gibbs' voice startled McGee and his whole body jerked.

"Boss! I didn't hear you come in. I'm just working on this thing, this project, but it can wait, are we going now?" The words just streamed uncontrollably out of Tim's mouth.

"What project, McGee?"

"Just a side project, nothing that can't wait. How did the interviews go? Are Tony and Ziva still on the base? I finished running that simulation you asked me to try; I've got the printout here somewhere..." McGee pulled open his desk drawer, but Gibbs reached over and slammed it shut. His eyes darkened as he stared down at Tim.

"Are you working on the database project that you proposed to me the other day?"

McGee didn't reply.

"Agent McGee, I asked you a question."

"Boss, I was just fooling around with some stuff. It's not really exactly what I would call a database, it's more of a, well, a compilation of facts, just sort of a compendium of information that could be useful if looked at in a certain way…" Tim was both exhausted and highly caffeinated, but implications of the look on Gibbs' face were sinking in enough for him to realize that he was digging himself a very deep hole.

Gibbs cut him off. "If you think that a semantic argument is going to hide the fact that you defied my direct orders, then you are sadly mistaken. Frankly, I'm shocked and disappointed that you and I even need to have such a conversation. I should have thought that the importance of trust and honesty had been firmly impressed upon you recently. I guess I was wrong."

McGee started to feel panicky. Everything was going awry. He'd wanted Gibbs to be proud of this project when it was finally done, and instead he was being accused of deceit. "Boss, please, let me explain…"

"Believe me, you'll be explaining yourself later. But right now I need to get down to the base before Haskell gets off duty."

"Right. OK. Let's do that." Tim reached to get his gun from the desk drawer.

"You're not going anywhere, McGee. You'll stay here until I get back, and you will not spend the time working on your computer program."

"Please, Gibbs, let me help you take down this guy." McGee knew he sounded pathetic, but he thought that if Gibbs would just see him in action at work, he could redeem himself and maybe later the fact that he'd been working on the database project wouldn't seem like such a big deal.

"Hold out your hand."

Tim's eyes got big at the thought that Gibbs was going to strap him, as he'd done once before. Gibbs wasn't reaching for his belt, though, or for any other likely instrument. As scared as he was, McGee didn't want to anger Gibbs any further, and he tentatively held out his hand.

Gibbs picked up one of the empty coffee cups and placed it on Tim's upturned palm. The cup trembled visibly, and try as he might, Tim could not steady his hand enough to stop the cup's shaking. It toppled to the desk.

"You're no good to me like this, Tim. You're completely wired on caffeine and adrenaline, and I'm betting that you haven't slept in days. I don't know what you were thinking, but you're useless as a field agent right now. I can't have you carrying a weapon in this state. You're delirious and so jittery that you can barely see straight. The best thing you can do right now is to go settle yourself down in the conference room, and maybe you'll be in a better frame of mind when I return." Gibbs headed for the door.

Tim suddenly felt a wave of angry frustration come over him.

"Whatever."

Only when Gibbs stopped in his tracks did it register with Tim that his emotional reaction had been uttered out loud. His boss returned and leaned menacingly over McGee's desk.

"I beg your pardon?"

Tim looked away. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

"Only the fact that I know you haven't slept in three days and don't really know what you're saying is keeping me from kicking your ass right now."

"I don't need any favors," Tim muttered.

"Oh yes you do, McGee. And clearly you're in no state to be left alone, either. So get on your feet, and if you're smart you'll keep your mouth shut too. Let's go."

Gibbs didn't speak as he led them outside to his parked car, and Tim followed behind miserably. Getting in the car, Tim had not even managed to buckle his seatbelt before Gibbs gunned the engine and they were roaring off towards the base.

Since Gibbs had just made it clear that he didn't think McGee was in any shape to be working the case, Tim wasn't sure why his supervisor had brought him along, but he knew better than to ask. And even though Gibbs was driving like they were in a NASCAR race, Tim was starting to feel the effects of his exhaustion. The coffee was wearing off, and the adrenaline rush was gone. His eyelids were drifting shut and his head felt so heavy. He laid his head back against the seat and swallowed the bile in his mouth. How had he gotten himself here? It had been such a good plan. Tim tried to identify where he'd gone wrong, what he should have done differently, but he couldn't make the thoughts come. He closed his eyes and let the pounding in his head take over.

Tim was only vaguely aware that they had arrived at the base. "Out of the car," Gibbs ordered. Tim fumbled to undo the seatbelt and open the car door. By the time he was on his feet Gibbs was 20 feet ahead of him, and Tim had no choice but to assume he should follow. His boss strode ahead past numerous buildings until stopping in front of a door and indicating that McGee should enter. Opening the door, Tim found himself in the infirmary. All the cots were empty, and a medical officer looked surprised at the unexpected late visitors.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS." His boss flashed his badge and continued. "This is Special Agent Timothy McGee, and he's here to take a nap." Even in his fatigued state Tim was alert enough to cringe at this humiliating introduction. "I'll be back for him in the morning, and if he gives you any trouble you have my permission to forcibly restrain and sedate him."

The officer appeared a bit bewildered but nodded in response to Gibbs' commanding tone. Tim looked back and forth between the men, but when he saw his supervisor's eyes narrow, he knew it was a lost cause and lay down on the nearest cot. Gibbs exited the room, and despite a hazy sense that he should stay awake and analyze the situation, Tim swiftly drifted into unconsciousness.