Tim was a well through the door when Tony saw the intent in Frank's eyes. He quickly tried to restrain him as calls for Security erupted around them.

"Easy Franks…back off…" Tony was trying to shove him in the other direction before a few guards made their way over.

"Consider yourself lucky son, if I could get free, you'd be laying in one those hospital beds…" He straightened out his jacket and motioned to the guards that he was fine. "That man risked his life to save you, and you go and quit…you give a new meaning to the word coward."

Tim didn't react. "And here I thought you'd admire it."

Franks took a step towards him in response; his face fierce. But it wasn't long before the guards stepped in between them once again. Tony had seemingly lost the ability to speak while Ziva purposely remained silent. Abby on the other hand was now inches from Tim's face, her eyes wet and her expression cold. McGee opened his mouth to speak, but before he could his face was met with the open side of Abby's hand. It was as if time stopped and all that could be heard was the sound of her hand hitting his face. Tim hung his head low for a moment before lifting it up.

"I'm…"

She put her hand up. "Don't Tim…what you just did; it was, well, it was…he almost died. I don't understand."

Ziva then stepped in cautiously. "You cannot understand Abby. I don't believe any of us can."

With that said; McGee took one more glance at his teammates and walked away. Tony had wanted to go after him but Ziva placed a hand on his arm to stop him. The four simply stared at his back in silence into he was out of sight.

Franks was still calming himself down and approached the rest of the team moments later. "Now I know why the Probie likes you so much…"

Abby couldn't even smile at the comment but chose to respond. "You know, as much as hitting him made me feel good for like a second…it's not gonna help bring him back."

Tony shook his head. "Don't be so sure Abs, don't be so sure."

Tim could still feel the sting on his face as he stared out of the taxi taking him to NCIS. He figured he'd be feeling a bit guilty, but he wasn't. He thought he'd be feeling uneasy, but he wasn't. He felt, in a word, relieved. He was watching the familiar landscape and buildings pass and wondered how much longer he'd be staying. He could start over, far far away or stay close enough to at least savor the relationships he'd made. Either way, his time at NCIS had come to an end. A transfer wouldn't do this time; Gibbs face alone would make his heart ache with that familiar pain. And it was that pain he needed to run away from. And so he ran.

Gibbs clutched to his Agents badge as they ran their tests. Part of him wishing he was still unconscious. Nothing hurt when he was asleep, nothing was real and at least in his dreams he could change the past. But as his thumb ran across Tim's badge, it became more and more real that nothing he could do would change what he'd put him through. And nothing ever would. Tim had made a choice and this time, Gibbs had a feeling there would be no turning back.

"If you remember correctly, I don't work for you." Fornell was adamant with his final statement before starting towards the door.

"You do this and its career suicide." Leon shouted towards him.

It was then Tobias turned back with a shrug. "If my career means turning my back on what I've worked my whole career to stop…then the hell with it." He reached for the door handle and with a one final look through the glass he left.

Tony had convinced Ziva to take Abby to get some food and was the first friendly face Gibbs saw after the nurses had left.

"Hey boss…how you feeling?"

"How's it look like I feel DiNozzo?"

Tony examined him for a second. "Point taken." He stared down at the badge in Gibbs hand and sighed. "You want me to go after him?"

"I'm not in much shape to be giving orders, wouldn't you say?"

His Senior Agent shook his head. "Boss, I'd take orders from you till your very last breath, you know that."

Gibbs had to smile. "It's worse than I thought."

"What is?"

"When you start getting sappy, that can't be a good sign." He motioned towards the cup of water to his left and Tony handed it to him promptly.

"Bet you wish there was scotch in there eh boss?" He took the cup after Gibbs had finished and set it back down.

"Now there's the DiNozzo I know." He peered towards the door.

Tony picked up on his gaze. "Franks running an errand, Ducky's asleep, and Ziva dragged Abby downstairs to the cafeteria."

Gibbs nodded at his statements. "Tim?"

"Franks tried to kill him, but Abby got in the only swing."

Gibbs almost sat up. "She did what?"

"Yeah, good thing the nurse confiscated her stapler, who knows the kind of damage she could've done."

"Stapler?"

Tony tried to smile. "Long story."

Gibbs set his head back down on the pillow and sighed loudly. "Jenny?"

"In custody at NCIS."

He nodded. "Fornell?"

"There with her."

Gibbs swallowed; his throat still a bit dry. "Go."

"After Tim?"

He shook his head. "To NCIS. My guts telling me this thing with Jen won't exactly be cut and dry."

Tony agreed, his eyes telling more than he was saying. And he knew better than to try and hide it. "Boss, listen, you were right, Jenny was hiding something else."

Gibbs nodded and slowly sat up, the pain in his shoulder causing him to cringe. "She's sick."

Tony stood with his mouth open for a few seconds. "How…okay, how do you do that?"

"I was her partner DiNozzo…you spend that much time with someone, you know what they're capable of." His thumb was still consciously rubbing across Tim's badge as he continued. "The Jenny I knew wouldn't do what she did…unless…" He gestured with his hands to finish his statement.

Tony swallowed hard before eyeing the badge in his hand and starting towards the door. "On my way."

"And DiNozzo…"

"Yes boss?"

Gibbs met his eyes intently. "Let Tim go."

Vance entered the interrogation room and could almost feel the sadness in the air. "Jenny."

She looked up at him, but only for a moment, not saying a word. He took a seat across from her and folded his hands. "We understand that you acted as a result of your illness. And are willing to grant you release, provided you forfeit your resignation quickly and quietly. He reached into a folder and placed the papers in front of her. "We have prepared them for you in advance, as soon as you sign them, they'll be processed and we can move on from this." He watched her stare at the papers quietly and continued. "There are some restrictions, you can't talk to the media, or release any of the details of this rogue mission to anyone. I'm sure you are well aware of how this goes."

She reached for the pen and with one swift movement it was over.

It was then Tony entered with a skeptical look in his eyes, that eventually landed on Jenny. "That had better be a confession you just signed…"

Ducky appeared cautiously at the entrance of his friend's door; almost unsure if he was welcome. But with a wave of Gibbs hand he brought the wheel chair to his bedside.

"Nice wheels."

The ME tried to smile. "Those were not the first words I expected you to express."

"We've lost enough."

Ducky picked on the rare tone in his voice. "That we have." He stayed silent for a few moments before noticing the badge in his hand. "Timothy?"

Gibbs nodded the best he could. "He's not coming back this time."

"I realize I am in no position to pass judgment, but perhaps an apology is in order?"

"Wont work. I saw it in his eyes."

"What did you see?"

Gibbs swallowed a few times to moisten his throat. "What I see in mine."

"Guilt?"

He shook his head and fixed his eyes towards the ceiling. "Irreversible damage."

"I played a part in that as well."

Gibbs didn't disagree. "You thought you had a son; what I did…was more about me than anything."

"I am sorry Jethro…" He held his head low and seemed to struggle a bit to breathe. "All of this could've been avoided had I…"

"Had you told me the truth…had Jen told us all the truth…I'm tired of the blame game Duck."

He solemnly agreed. "We all are Jethro, we all are."