AN: Flashbacks in italics.

--

"I…I…I…" I could barely annunciate, let alone speak. Gibbs was standing in front of me; looking over the edge of the bridge.

"How many rounds McGee?" He tried not to yell; but not hard enough. "I said how many rounds hit him?"

I closed my eyes and replayed the event in my mind before Gibbs snapped me out of it. I opened my eyes to see Gibbs eyes inches from my face. "Remember McGee, or you'll be the next body going into that water."

I swallowed hard. "Two, maybe three."

"Maybe?"

"It happened so fast boss. I opened my eyes at the sound of gun fire; I saw his body hit, twist and fall. I know for sure it wasn't one…there were two shooters."

Gibbs stare was firm for a few more seconds, before storming away with a look in his eye I'd only seen once before…

Gibbs replayed him and Abby's conversation from the night before; as he watched her sit solemnly at Tony's desk; setting fresh black roses into the vase she'd placed there in his memory. She had gone on and on with stories about the old days…Kate and Tony's bickering… McGee starting to stick up for himself…he let her ramble out of love for her; even if his heart was breaking. She also seemed to be the only one not wanting to strangle him for their current predicament.

"How long you planning on staying up here Abs?"

"You can't be up here alone Gibbs."

"I'm a big boy."

Abby readjusted the roses before standing up and pacing in front of Gibbs desk. "You could just ask them back you know?"

"Abs, we've been over this. Gotta do it my way."

She gently patted him on the head. "You always do." She watched him glare up at her, and motioned towards the elevator. "Okay, okay…just thought you'd like some company."

He stood up; in fear that he'd hurt her feelings and placed a hand on her arm. "We're gonna be okay."

She pouted a bit before letting out a long sigh. "Might be okay…but it'll never be the same."

Timothy McGee spent all night letting his imagination get the best of him. When he woke up for the tenth time he decided staying awake would take less energy then trying to sleep. He had a hard time filling his day; and almost drove to NCIS on autopilot. But he realized quickly that; that part of his life was over. It was time for a fresh start…

Ziva David had spent the night toiling through her things and packing away anything branded with NCIS. When she came across her bright orange cap; she clung to it for dear life; allowing memory after memory to haunt her. Coming to NCIS had changed her; she used to think it was for the better; but after Tony…she wasn't so sure anymore…

The Director arrived in the bull pen as if last night's events never took place.

"Morning Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs didn't look up. "Morning."

"You know what today is?"

"Feels like a Tuesday..."

She didn't smile. "It's been 31 days."

Gibbs finally made eye contact and slowly shook his head. "No body Jen."

"You know as well as I do; that doesn't matter. Regs say he needs to be replaced. And since your whole team is no longer…"

He interrupted her. "Don't do this Jen. Not now."

"And just when would be best for you?" She stared down at him. "Oh wait, for a second there I thought you were the Director of NCIS. Report to my office tomorrow morning at 0700 to discuss some prospects with HR. And that wasn't a suggestion." She turned and left him like she had the night before…speechless.

The end of the day came sooner rather than later; and he did what he had every night for the last 31 days…He fixed himself a sandwich and tarried down his steps to pour him a stiff drink. He pulled out a file box and laid out scene photos from that one fatal night…

"I don't care if you have to wake up your whole damn department; I want every available man, woman, and animal you have on this search. Understood?"

"Understood."

Gibbs jogged towards his car and opened his trunk as more reinforcements arrived. One in particular approached him quickly.

"Tell me it isn't so Jethro?"

"Don't know yet Duck."

"Have you spoken with Abigail?"

Gibbs slammed his trunk down. "She is the least of my worries right now Duck!" He took in a breath in an attempt to calm himself. "Look I just got here myself…let's wait to tell her anything till morning!"

Ducky nodded. "Whatever you think is best." He watched his friend storm away and began to battle his own fears until he noticed one Timothy McGee with his head down and shoulders shaking…

Only before he could get to him, his friend had…

"Pull yourself together McGee…"

Tim rubbed his eyes. "I'm good boss."

"Good. Now you're in charge of the crew to the east…Go!"

Ducky approached just as Tim left. "Perhaps you should take it easy on the poor boy…"

"Easy? Because of him Tony could be dead…easy isn't an option here."

--

Gibbs poured himself another drink as he snapped out of the flash back. It seemed as though he'd exhausted all his options; all his favors…and nothing had helped. There were two options; either Tony disappeared off the face of the earth; or his body was somewhere they would never find it. And he wasn't even close to accepting either one of them. Over the course of the last month he had brainstormed a thousand different scenarios and his own gut wasn't even helping. A plethora of emotions were plaguing him; guilt, anger, self resentment, self pity…you name it, he had it. But he still seemed to operate as if little had changed. A blessing and a curse; it seemed.

It was then; his eye shifted and he picked up a lone photo. It wasn't long after that, that he raced upstairs and left…

Abby Scuito stumbled towards the sound of knocking at her front door, and squinted at the sight of McGee at her door step. She gave him a trying hug before letting him in.

"I miss you too McGee, but couldn't this wait till morning?"

He shook his head emphatically. "Abby, he's alive!"

She reached out and placed a hand on his forehead. "You're not warm."

"I'm serious…I was just typing away, you know trying to get some sleep and bam it hit me!"

"What did?"

"My typewriter…well not really my typewriter…you see I was writing and I dosed off, so that was the Bam…but that's not important, what's important…is that Tony's alive."

She was too tired to get excited. "Did you tell Gibbs?"

He shook his head. "I can't until I know for sure…can't disappoint him again."

"And just how do you expect to do that?"

"Find him…and bring him back."