Chapter 17

That night, Tim started having nightmares. It was always black with an air of menace, the feeling of someone standing near him ready to strike at any moment. He would wake up terrified and there was always someone there, usually Gibbs or Abby. Once, he thought he saw Ducky, but didn't stay awake long enough to pay attention.

Ducky looked up from Tim to Gibbs. "He's not getting better, Jethro."

"I know, Duck. But I have to keep him alive."

"He won't be any good to you or himself if his mind breaks first."

"He's stronger than that."

"Are you sure of that? Stronger men than Timothy have been destroyed by torture."

"I'm sure, Ducky. He's stronger than even he knows. He just needs to realize it."

"How?"

"I don't know. I'm working on it."

"Boss, I hate to see him like this," Tony said quietly. "McGee shouldn't be so afraid."

"We have to accept that McGee's changed."

"He's changed, Ziva. He hasn't become a different person."

"Sometimes people do, Gibbs. Torture is not something everyone can handle."

"Not McGee. He'll fight back and win. We just need to give him time."

"We're giving him time, but we can't hide forever. Sometime Robertson will figure it out, boss."

"We don't need forever. McGee will do it. Just leave him alone and let him figure himself out. We can give him help, but he has to do this himself."

Tim opened his eyes after they left. Gibbs had more faith in him than he thought he deserved. He would earn that faith. He stayed still waiting for everyone to settle in for the night. Then, he sat up and turned on his computer. The dreaded files loomed up in front of him again. This time, he didn't try to start from the same point he remembered. He started at the beginning, questioning his own initial assumptions. There was something he'd discovered during his kidnaping that had helped him figure it out. It was something simple, he knew that. Sleep was forgotten; he kept waking up anyway. He might as well get something accomplished.

"McGee? What are you doing up so late?" Abby asked sleepily.

"I couldn't sleep. Just go back to sleep, Abbs. I'm not going to run away again. It didn't help anyway."

"What are you doing?"

"Starting over... well, almost over. It's something so simple I'm overlooking it."

"If it was simple, someone would have seen it already."

"I know, but I also know that I figured it out once. That should give me the edge, right?" he smiled, a shadow of the old McGee.

"As if you need an edge, McGee."

"Maybe not...before. Now..." he trailed off. Abby hugged him.

"Never, Tim."

Tim didn't respond; he just turned back to the screen.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Where are you starting?"

Tim looked at her. Abby was always there. "Well, I wanted to start here." He pointed to an area of code on the screen. Together, they started going through the files, looking for a hint of the solution. Hours passed and Gibbs woke to find Tim and Abby working away as if nothing had happened. He left them to it and started up the stairs. Then, he heard an exclamation.

"I've got it! See, Abby? I told you it was something simple!" Gibbs ran back down and saw Tim standing, pointing excitedly at the screen, looking for all the world like his old self.

"Simple? You're a genius, McGee! That was pure brilliance."

"What's going on?" Gibbs asked. Abby looked sideways at Tim. "Don't give me the details, just a quick recap."

"McGee cracked Dobson's files!"

"Abby did a lot of it, boss."

Abby slugged him, making him wince. "Sorry, McGee. Look, Gibbs! Dobson was part of Robertson's arms smuggling."

McGee had already resumed typing. "Dobson was Robertson's contact in the armory and Dobson got the weapons. It looks like Dobson had been hiding some of the profits and arms in hopes of setting up his own ring."

"Good job. Now, we'll–"

McGee caught a glint of something in the window. He didn't think; he just pushed Abby down and shouted, "Get down!" A split second later, the window shattered. Gibbs was on the floor, shouting for Tony and Ziva to go after the guy.

They heard Tony shout, "NCIS, freeze!" Then, more gunfire. Then, silence.

"Did you get him?" Tony asked.

"I think I nicked him, but he got away."

Tim looked at Abby. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Tim was shaking.

"I'm sure, McGee. The worst injury is a bruise from hitting the floor."

"I'm sorry, Abby. I'm sorry." He was holding her tightly.

"It's okay, McGee. Don't worry." She looked up at Gibbs who had stood up and was hovering with his gun drawn.

"Stay down, you two. Let us clear the place first."

McGee let go of Abby and started to stand. "I'll help--"

Gibbs immediately pushed him back down. "McGee, you're the one he's after. Stay down!"

Tim huddled and Abby scooted over next to him. "Relax, McGee." They stayed on the floor until Gibbs, Tony and Ziva came back to the basement.

"It's all clear. He's gone," Ziva said.

"Well, he found us."

"Is it my fault, boss?" Tim asked.

"I don't know, McGee. It's possible that he followed us back."

"Where to now?"

"NCIS."