Mission now. Feelings Later. One phrase that Timothy McGee was repeating over and over to himself…hoping the more he did, the more he'd believe it. As he headed down the steps he was met by Abby's embrace. And when not even that softened him; he knew he was in trouble.

"McGee! He's alive!" She squeezed him tight before capturing his expression. "You don't look happy…?"

He straightened his coat. "No, I am. I really am." He stepped aside; and Gibbs immediately appeared in front of her.

"You get what I asked for Abs?"

She nodded; still letting her gaze follow McGee. "Nice to see you too."

"Abby..."

"Yeah I got it. Sheesh, for Tony being alive, everyone sure is in a weird mood…"

Gibbs quickly placed a hand on her arm and pulled her aside just as Ducky immerged into the hallway. She had made a motion to hug the ME when she was moved away.

"Gibbs?"

He interrupted her. "Meet me down in your lab."

"But…"

He met her gaze. "Meet me down in your lab."

She slowly nodded; unsure of his demeanor but complying none the less. Mike approached just as she walked way.

"Plan on keeping it a secret forever Probie?"

He sighed. "Mike, I'm not sleeping with her."

Franks slowly smiled. "Hey don't ask don't tell Probie….but I was talking about the old man's involvement…"

"I'll tell her what she needs to know."

He started down the stairs. "Yeah, I'm sure you will."

Ziva stepped behind McGee as she watched him fixate on the black roses starting to wilt on Tony's desk.

"We could be too late you know…" Tim began; sensing her presence behind him.

"We could also find him." She countered.

His eyes slowly shifted upward to the railing where Ducky and the Director stood; completely oblivious to Gibbs sudden presence.

"McGee!?" Gibbs voice got increasingly louder. "McGee?"

He turned around with a nod. "Sorry boss."

Gibbs then handed them both their badges and weapons. "If you still want to quit after this is over…that's fine…just remember for now, I give orders, you take them…" He watched Ziva agree without hesitation; but Tim wasn't so eager. "Problem McGee?"

His eyes had found their way back to the railing, and Gibbs attempted to bring his focus back with a gentle head slap. "Hey…"

"Yeah," Tim interrupted. "Mission now, feelings later."

"Good. Now our plane is set to take off in two hours. We leave here in one." He took out a sheet of paper. "Ziva, find out all you can about these two names. McGee…"

"Hack into the CIA…it's all I ever get to do…"

Franks stepped forward. "And me Probie?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Stay here. And don't touch anything."

He arrived to find Abby standing at the entrance with her arms folded. He tried to deflect her stare with his own; which under normal circumstances would've worked. But these weren't normal circumstances.

"What do you…" He began but was cut short.

She put her finger against his lips and cleared her throat. "Before you say, "What do you got Abs?" … I'm gonna ask you first…"What do you got Gibbs?"

He tried to smile as her impersonation of him. "We're all reinstated and we're going after DiNozzo."

"Well, where is he?"

He stepped towards her computers. "What did you find out Abs?"

She shook her head. "Whoa, don't even think about changing the subject. He's in trouble isn't he? I can see it in your eyes."

"In my eyes huh?"

She pointed towards them. "Yup, you're worried."

"Yeah, right now I'm more worried about what I'm gonna do if you don't tell me what you found out." He pointed towards the screen. "Now, what do you got?"

His ability to re-direct any emotional conversation never ceased to amaze her. "Depends on what you're looking for. I compiled a list of all the schools he attended; every job he's ever had…did you know that Ducky used to…"

He interrupted her. "Any Marriages?"

She glared sideways at him. "Marriages?"

"Yes, marriages Abby…as in you say you love me, but you never take me anywhere anymore…

She pointed at him. "That explains a lot Gibbs."

He threw his hands up. "Abby..."

"Right…sorry. Well, no, no record of any marriages, or annulments…but here's something interesting…" She clicked away at her mouse and as soon as the image came up; she anticipated his response and reached out for his arm. "Oh no you don't…You're not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on!"

Gibbs eased back, so not to separate his shoulder. "Have you ever doubted me before Abs?"

She let go of his arm. "No."

"Don't start now." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Just keep your distance from Ducky…and if the Director asks you to do anything for her, you call me."

"Um, okay. But…"

"No butts Abby just do that for me."

"Fine but only if you promise me something…" She watched him sigh and looked intently into his eyes. "Bring everyone back okay…everyone…"

He sent her a smile before turning to leave; his eyes giving her the answer she needed to hear. She only hoped he believed it himself.

Gibbs stormed into the bull pen to find Mike with his feet up on his desk. A simple stare solved that problem. "I told you not to touch anything Mike, especially my desk."

He put his feet down and ignored the comment. "What'd your girlfriend find out?"

Gibbs opened his mouth to answer the question; but soon noticed Tim wasn't at his desk.

"David, where's McGee?"

She looked up. "Rest room."

"For how long?"

"Just before you arrived…"

Gibbs threw his hands up. "And you let him?"

"I am not a babysitter…" She tried to respond; but Gibbs had already raced towards the bathroom; quickly opening the door and shoving open each of the stalls. He met Ziva and Mike in the hall way.

"Autopsy now!"

The three piled through the doors to find Ducky sitting silently at his desk. He turned to face them quickly.

"Three against one, seems a bit trite, but I suppose I deserve it…" He stood up.

"Has McGee been down here?!" Gibbs chose to ignore Ducky's previous statement.

"No, no he has not."

And without another word, Gibbs turned to leave; Ziva following close behind. Only Franks wasn't so quick to follow.

"You sure are lucky to have friends like that…if I were them; you'd be laid up on one of these tables of yours…"

"And I would be more than deserving of it."

Mike took a step towards him and slowly removed his jacket. "Well, I'd be pleased as punch to help you ease your conscience."

Ducky placed his arms at his side and remained silent; prepared for the inevitable. But just as Mike was within swinging distance; Gibbs stormed in and nothing short of tackled him. "Back off Mike."

"Let him go Jethro."

After shoving Mike towards Ziva to hold him; he snapped his head towards Ducky; letting his stare speak for itself. "You're not getting off that easy."

Ziva shouted in an attempt to bring the focus back where it should be. "Gibbs…McGee, yes?"

He nodded and forced himself to remove his glare; leaning forward to whisper one simple phrase into Ducky's ear before turning to leave.

Timothy McGee stood like a fixture in front of the Directors desk.

"Why?" He asked clenching his teeth.

"That's need to know."

He shook his head. "I don't care about the assignment…I want to know why I was in the car that night? Why me?"

"Needed you to establish the legitimacy of the stakeout."

His eyes squinted and he could almost feel the fury begin to fill them. "I fell asleep…was that part of your plan too? Or did I wake up too soon?"

"I don't have to discuss the details of this operation with you."

He tossed down a file in front of her. "Discuss them."

She slowly reached for it; just as Gibbs and the others stepped inside.

"McGee…I said, feelings later."

Tim gestured towards the file. "This is about the mission boss…"

Gibbs stepped closer to him and eyed Jenny's response. "What's in the file Tim?"

McGee glanced towards the Director. "Shall you tell him, or shall I?"