McGee's eyes shifted to the ground momentarily before fixing them back on Jenny's. He took in a long breath as he considered the array of words he wanted to express. It was then his good ole boy persona was thrown away with one cold phrase.

"Go to hell."

Jenny could sense the lining of hatred in his tone and swallowed hard. "I deserve that."

Tim's eyes remained welled up with tears as he continued to reveal a side of himself he barely knew existed. "What you deserve can't be expressed in mere words Director. In your own self centered sick world what you did was acceptable and somehow a part of me felt sorry for you. But not anymore. I'm not the same person I was before you did this to us…I could honestly say I've never hated another human being more than I hate you right now."

She nodded slowly as if accepting his tirade and uttered a phrase she knew would never be enough. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head and let a wry smile fall onto his face. "Sign of weakness Director; and as far as I'm concerned…you're as weak as they come."

Fornell waited patiently outside the glass of the interrogation room as Anthony DiNozzo stared relentlessly at their suspect. He had to smile at the young man as he tried to evoke the same fear that one Leroy Jethro Gibbs was capable of. And for a moment Fornell thought he might actually achieve what he was aiming for…

"Okay geez…just stop with the staring will ya?"

Tony remained silent and only shifted his eyes cautiously.

"Look, that Scottish dude looked us up. Contracted us to pick up that broad and old man…then do some babysitting. After that chick escaped he said he didn't need us anymore…"

"Nick Pendleton…" Tony stated simply; referring to the body occupying a table in their autopsy room.

"It was self defense okay…he was gonna try and kill me to take my half of the cash, but I popped him first…that's self defense right?"

Tony ignored the question and continued the Gibbs signature stare. "Barclay…"

"Like I said; after that chick escaped he didn't need us anymore. Another one of you guys tried to play hero and he knocked him out cold…after that he paid us and left…"

"Where?"

"How would I know?"

It was then Tony unexpectedly slammed his fist on the table. "WHERE?"

"I want a lawyer…"

"Yeah, and I want a puppy…but you can't always get what you want Jason…now you tell me where Barclay took that Agent, or you're dead where you stand."

Jason looked up but averted Tony's eyes. "He only met us where you found Nick; he didn't say where he was going, just left the cash on the table…"

Tony turned towards the glass and swallowed hard. "The old man…"

He took a few deep breaths before answering. "Tough old man…he tried to be a hero…Nick was trying to mess with that goth chick, and he took a swing at him. He tried for Nick's gun and they struggled…I didn't have a clear shot; but the guy was old you know…never had a chance."

"Where is his body?" After asking the question he watched Jason's expression change.

"That Barclay guy had him picked up to get medical treatment. Thought maybe he felt bad…not all bad guys are cut out to be bad guys if you catch my drift… he made Nick change the bandages on his wounds after we finally got him away from that broad…"

"Picked up? By who?"

"Heard him talking over the phone for a while…some guy by the name of Kurt…or Kort…"

Tony snapped his head towards the glass for only a second before leaving the room without another word.

"Hey…man, what about a lawyer?"

Abby reached for her phone to dial Tony when the two entered her lab. "Okay seriously; I'm beginning to think that Gibbs isn't really gone…"

Tony managed a smile but was soon all business. "Abs, we have reason to believe the CIA is involved…"

"Aren't they always…" She hit a few keys and pulled up a record of phone numbers. "I was able to locate the restricted number that Barclay used to call Gibbs…it's a burn phone, but check out that area code…he's been calling someone in Scotland and I'd be willing to bet…"

"Kort." Fornell interrupted.

Abby agreed. "Most likely…no way to tell for sure…but the last call he received is even more interesting…"

This time it was Tony's turn to interrupt. "Jenny."

"Right again, the call only lasted a few minutes…"

"Enough time to exchange pleasantries and location." Fornell continued. "Any chance you can trace this number?"

"Only if he uses it again." She replied; picking up the phone and handing it to Tony. "Care to talk to the man behind this mess?"

He took the phone with ease. "I'd care to do a lot more to him than talk…"

Gibbs glanced at his watch and thought seriously about threatening the pilot to make the plane go faster. He leaned back and shifted his eyes to Ziva who was now fast asleep. He listened to her breathing in and out and it almost eased his impatience. Almost. He averted his eyes back to the window but could barely see the clouds anymore. And all of a sudden in a plane full of passengers he felt very much alone.

Barclay was jolted out of his thoughts by the ringing of his cell phone. He managed a smile before rejecting the call. "Jenny…a word?" He hollered towards her seconds later.

Jen managed to pull her eyes away from Tim long enough to turn around. "Be right there." She turned back around and opened her mouth to speak, but didn't have the chance.

"Nothing you could possibly say will change anything. So before you feed me another line of bull; remember who trained me."

She was solemn in her response. "The same man who trained me."

Tim's eyes remained filled with tears as he shook his head and let his expression speak for itself. She left him after a few moments of silence and met Barclay across the room.

"Seems NCIS was able to trace this number. Which suggests they have the call log. They'll know you're here."

Jen agreed. "They will not be surprised."

"Jenny, do not give up now. We have achieved what we wanted from the very beginning of all of this. Grenioulle is dead. He has paid for what he's done to both of us…"

She turned momentarily to her Agent; whose eyes still hadn't left her. "He's not the only one who's had to pay…"

Tony's eye lids were rising and falling as he stayed close to Abby's side. Empty Caf-Pows were scattered around the lab; and Fornell had just gone out for his fifth cup of coffee.

"Break time…" Tony offered as he placed a hand on her forearm.

"No…no way…we have to find a lead." She managed a yawn. "Every minute we spend on break is one more minute Tim has to be with that guy…"

"Abs, how many Caf Pows have you had?"

"Five…six…okay eight."

"And you just yawned…now I'm not a Doctor; but I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen."

She began typing again before Tony placed his hands over her fingers. "Abby, you're gonna crash…then what good will you be to McGee?"

She let her left hand intertwine with his and soon engulfed him with an embrace. "I'm scared for him Tony…I just want everyone home where they belong…"

He closed his eyes and could've fallen asleep right there in her arms. "We will be soon…I promise."

Franks waited impatiently for Ziva and Gibbs as they deplaned and couldn't help but notice the look of exhaustion of his ex-agents face. He stepped to his left as the three made their way down the terminal.

"Catch any shut eye Probie?" He watched Gibbs simply shake his head. "Didn't think so. Listen…"

"I don't need a lecture boss. I'm fine."

"I wasn't going to lecture ya…hell I know better. I just wanted to let you know, that I know…"

Gibbs stopped and asked for Ziva to give them a minute. She agreed and left to secure them a ride back to NCIS.

"What are you getting at Mike?"

Mike eased away from him and put his hand up. "Don't give me the stare Probie…I can see right through that crap…you're forgetting where you learned it from."

"Just get to the point boss…what is it that you think you know?" Gibbs closed the distance between them as if ready to fight.

Mike pointed at him; unwilling to back down. "You're scared."

Gibbs scoffed at the implication and started to walk away from him. "I don't have time for this…"

It was then Franks reached for his arm and pulled him back. "Don't you walk away from me Probie. You're a damn mess…and who in the hell said that being scared was such a bad thing anyway?"

"You did."

"I rest my case." He threw his hands up and stared intently into his eyes. "I'm seeing in you what I saw in myself; and I'll be damned if I let you end up like me."

"And just how is that boss?"

"Alone."

A few moments of silence passed between them before Gibbs managed a response. "Thought you said you weren't gonna lecture me?"

Mike managed a smile. "I lied."

Gibbs then gestured towards the exit and let his expression speak for itself. "Come on, I got a family to bring back together…"