Gibbs' confession silenced the room and even Ziva faltered to a stop at what she saw in his eyes.

"I know he deserves more than me. I'm a long way away from being a prize catch anymore. But here we are and it's me he's got. Look you can stand there and say whatever you want to me. Fine. Call me names, walk out on me if you need to. I can deal with it. But if you have a problem with this? With us? Then you come to me alright? I don't want Tim hurt anymore than he has been already. Ziva's right. He doesn't deserve it"

Gibbs swept the room with his bright blue eyes. Tony's shocked and angry reaction had flicked the switch for Gibbs and he felt cold hard conviction once again spreading through his veins. If that was the way it had to be then so be it.

"So while we are alone here in this room then I want to hear it. Once I walk out of this room then that's it. I don't want to be ambushed by your opinions when we should be working. I don't want looks in the parking lot or private conferences in the elevator. I want you to think about it and if you can't work with me after this then fine. You can put in for a transfer with Vance for personal reasons and I will even sign the form for you."

Gibbs paused watching, all senses on high alert to see how they would respond.

"So whose first then Huh?"

Abby shot up her hand eagerly and Gibbs couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his face.

"Yes Abby"

Abby launched herself into Gibbs' arms and hugged him ferociously before enthusiastically throwing herself into a one sided conversation that Gibbs in his tired state had trouble following.

"I mean at first I was like WHAT? I mean you know with you and my Timmy. Not the shooting. No that's wrong. I WAS really scared when I heard he was shot but well you know what I mean. Shooting bad. And then you kissing him? In front of everyone? Oh my god it was like Officer and a Gentleman …you know at the end when in front of everyone he picks her up and carries her out? I was surprised and shocked and everything sort of wow you know?

But then I was like what could be better than my Gibbs and my Timmy together? I think its going to be great even though you broke your own rule Gibbs which I mean is bad but as they are your rules and you made them then I suppose that's ok. I still want you to take me out on my birthday by myself though. That's kind of our special thing and just because McGee is around I don't want to lose that but I know it wouldn't happen because well it's you Gibbs and it's McGee and he knows me better than any of you really. Even better than you in some ways Gibbs cause….

"I'm sorry Boss"

Tony whispered quietly interrupting Abby's enthusiastic rant. He was still looking at the floor and then he looked up at Gibbs, his eyes flooded with unshed tears and Gibbs saw his pain and sorrow and something else he hadn't expected. Guilt.

"You got something to say DiNozzo?" Gibbs glared at him still angry at Tony's initial reaction.

Tony stood slowly, shaking slightly and then he glanced around the room.

"I….I'm sorry. I had no right to say what I did. It was unfair to you and to McGee. I don't have an excuse. I was completely out of line. I was angry and tired and shocked. I don't know if you can accept my apology for saying what I did. I understand if you don't so I'm just going to go wait outside until you're finished."

Tony turned to go and Gibbs could see he was pale and holding onto the back of the chair far too tightly. Gibbs sighed. He hadn't worked all these years with this man without learning how to read him. Something else was going on here.

"Tony? What it is?"

Tony stopped, his back to Gibbs and the shaking increased. When he answered his voice cracked and Gibbs could tell he was trying unsuccessfully to hold back tears.

"He's like my little brother you know? An annoying, under my feet, goody two shoes little brother I never had."

Tony took a deep breath and he didn't turn around as if knowing that looking at them would break the last reserves of control he had over himself. Abby's eyes were wide and she looked like she was going to cry as Tony continued.

"But I never told him that. All I tell him is what a pain in the ass he is. At the scene I was laughing at him for being so slow. He tripped over getting out of the car and I gave him grief for it. It annoyed him but I kept at it. I just kept at it. He needed to work out more, he needed to be faster, I couldn't be the one to keep saving his ass. I said…he should stick to desk duty. I didn't mean it. Not really. I was just…you know trying to ease the tension. And he was giving back as good as he got and telling me to shut up and….."

Tony trailed off and hung his head before he rallied, wiping the tears from his eyes and continued.

"Then I heard the shot and I saw him push you out of the way and I froze. MR Senior Super Agent and I'm the one that fucking froze. I heard him scream and I knew he was badly hurt. He was on top of you Gibbs and there was already so much blood everywhere and I thought……….I thought Tim was dead because he wanted to prove to me he was a good agent. And it would have been my fault.

It's still true. All of this being my fault. I mean maybe if I had been watching the roofline like I was supposed to instead of giving Tim shit I would have seen the shooter first. I could have shouted a warning. I could have taken him out myself. Anything except this. I have been sitting out there all night thinking that Tim nearly died because of me. Because of me and my big stupid mouth and not thinking before I say something. I screwed up Boss.

I wanted to come in here and tell him as soon as he woke. Tell him to his face that I was sorry that I never give him the credit that he is due. Tell him that he didn't need to go and be heroic to prove anything to me. He has been there when I really needed it a thousand times over.

He was even there when you weren't Boss. He was my Senior Agent when you left us and even when I wasn't sure I could pull it off I knew I had to. I had to because McGee needed me to be able to do it.

But when I walked in and saw you….when I realised that you and Tim…..I knew then that he didn't do it because of me."

Tony turned and looked at Gibbs, tears freely streaming down his face.

"He did it because he loved you Boss."

Gibbs blinked rapidly and swallowed the lump that suddenly came to his throat.

"I'm sorry Gibbs. I know its no excuse but when I saw you kiss him all I thought about was myself. I was so angry. Angry at myself. Angry at you. Angry at McGee. At everybody. I thought that everyone knew except me. That even though I trust you with my life everyday, you couldn't trust me. That you were all laughing at me behind my back. Stupid DiNozzo. And it hurt Boss. It really hurt. You're the only family I really have. The only family that will put up with me and all my crap. The only ones who give a shit about me. In that moment it really hurt and I wanted to hurt you back. So I said the worst thing I could think of. I know that's childish and stupid and I regret it. But I have said it now and I can't take it back other than to say I'm sorry."

Gibbs stayed silent and Tony started towards the door. Abby made a tiny whimpering sound.

The events of the last 24 hours surged through Gibbs' tired mind.

Tony, the man who went back to NCIS to appraise the secondary team about the investigation so Gibbs could stay at the hospital with Tim.

Tony, the man who went back to the scene of the shooting and made sure it had been secured properly so the evidence couldn't be tampered with and risk loosing the conviction.

Tony who took all of Vance's call's and wore the brunt of Abby's own fear.

Tony, the man who hadn't slept or eaten in nearly twenty four hours as he picked up the slack Gibbs had left and worried about a man he cared for like a little brother.

Tony who had fielded Sarah's panicked calls as she tried to get a flight back to DC from her holiday staying with friends.

Tony who unlike Gibbs had actually seen Tim take the nightmarish shot, his body buckling under the impact as the bullet tore through his chest as he screamed.

Gibbs grabbed Tony's shoulder, whirled him around and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I nearly lost one of you, I'm not going to lose another"

Tony nearly crumpled and he buried his head into the comforting strength of Gibbs' shoulder.

"Tony, listen to me. This is important. We ALL missed the shooter. I did, Ziva did, Tim didn't see it until too late. It wasn't your fault. Understand?"

Tony finally broke and sobbed at Gibbs' forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for everything" Tony whispered harshly through his tears

Gibbs patted his back firmly, almost thumping it.

"Tony if I paid attention to everything that came out of your mouth I would have booted you off the team years ago."

Tony gave a small laugh and self consciously wiped the tears off his face. How embarrassing. Palmer had seen him cry.

Gibbs pulled back and looked at Tony gently.

"Are you done?"

"Yeh Boss. I'm done"

"Ok then" Gibbs gave him a small nod and a smile.

"I think I'm going to step out for a while. Go get some coffee."

Gibbs nodded and let Tony go. He suspected that Tony was going to splash some cold water on his face and take a walk outside to try and settle his emotions down. Tony always seemed to feel so much. Of them all he was the first to laugh, the first to cry and often the last to heal.

Abby gave Gibbs a big thumbs up and a wide grin before she slipped out of the room. Gibbs suspected she was probably going to keep an eye on Tony and make sure he was ok. Give him one of her patented Abby hugs.

Gibbs turned to his other team mate still left in the room.

"Ziva? Have you finished?"

Ziva was quiet for a moment considering her answer. She lifted her head and seemed to swallow him with her big dark eyes.

"I am sorry I was abrupt but I needed to know if you really cared for him. What will be ahead of you will be difficult and I need to know you will stand by him."

Ziva reached out and clasped Gibbs' hand and held it tightly in both of her hands before she leaned up and whispered for his ears only.

"I have already lost one brother to you Gibbs. I will not lose another."

And with that she released his hand, excused herself with a slight bow of the head and with glistening eyes she swiftly left the room.

Gibbs felt exhaustion sweep over him again as Ziva's strength left him. He had often wondered how she could still feel so much and yet stay so strong. He watched her go and remembered the look of loss in her eyes even as she steeled herself to shoot Ari. To kill a brother she loved to save him.

They had a relationship built literally on blood, trust and tears. He knew Ziva would defend them relentlessly to anyone who dared raise an eyebrow over his relationship with Tim.

Gibbs rubbed a hand over his tired eyes and then through his scruffy silver hair.

"Well Palmer? Since everyone else appears to have had their say? You got any sort of problem working with me and McGee after this?"

Palmer opened his mouth and rapidly closed it before attempting again, twitching slightly under Gibbs intense gaze.

"Uhh No. No problem Gibbs"

Palmer backed rapidly away and nearly succeeded in upsetting a pitcher of water. He pushed his glasses up his nose nervously and with a grateful look at Ducky left the room. His sigh of relief at having escaped with his life could be heard from down the hall.

Gibbs sat down heavily in the chair in the corner and sagged back into it exhausted.

"Well Jethro? How do you feel?" Ducky enquired, slightly worried at the dark circles under his friends eyes.

"Like I would have been better off shot Duck" Gibbs answered with his eyes still closed.

Ducky laughed gently "Yes well I'm sure I know one young man who might disagree with you."

"No doubt, Ducky, no doubt"

Ducky squeezed his shoulder

"You did very well Gibbs. You should try and rest now too as I'm sure you will want to speak to Timothy when he wakes up"

Ducky pulled a thin hospital blanket out of the tiny cupboard and spread it out over Gibbs now sprawled form.

"Don't need it Ducky" came the mumbled response as Gibbs again closed his tired and dry eyes from the harsh light that now seemed to pour through the closed blinds on the window.

"Yes yes I'm sure that's true" Ducky murmured pulling it even higher and gently tucking it around his oldest friend.

"Goodnight Jethro" Ducky whispered as he quietly left the room and its two sleeping occupants. Timothy seemed to twitch briefly in his sleep before settling down again.

Tim ran after Gibbs but he never seemed to get any closer no matter how hard he tried. He was always just ahead of him, telling him to hurry up. He couldn't let Gibbs down. He could feel his muscles working hard and his breathing was becoming strained. He clawed at his new tight shirt collar trying to give him some room to breathe. He tried to spit out the bitter taste of the teeth whitening agent from his mouth but it just seemed to make it worse. Was it getting darker? He had to hurry. He needed to be faster, stronger. Sweat dripped into his eyes making them sting and his chest burned as he pushed himself harder and harder.

The dark corridor seemed to start closing in on him, making the space smaller and smaller. Where was Gibbs? He would help. Tim saw him in the distance and kept running, desperately trying to get closer, to get any answer.

Why was Gibbs running?

Was he running away from him?

He ran faster and felt pieces of himself fall away. Some smaller bits he didn't miss, they flaked off like old worn dried paint revealing shiny new skin underneath. But soon larger pieces and then chunks tore themselves from his flesh as he ran. He screamed in pain and looked down at himself as he ran. He was becoming almost transparent. The old McGee barely existed anymore. But Gibbs seemed closer standing in a pool of light at the end of the tiny dark windowless corridor.

"Gibbs!" Tim shouted, screamed in growing panic as he felt himself slipping away.

He had a choice. Either he kept running and risked disappearing completely or he stopped and hoped Gibbs would come to him.

Tim stopped running.

And opened his eyes with a painful sudden jerk of his body as his nightmare ended.

Gibbs smiled down at him and Tim felt a bitter taste in his mouth

"Gibbs. We need to talk"