AN: Dream sequences in Italics. Enjoy.

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Tim turned the key over in the ignition and let his bruised hand hover over the gear. He shifted the car into reverse for a few seconds before putting back into park. He let his forehead rest on the wheel for what seemed like hours as he contemplated his next move. Up until a few minutes ago he was convinced that leaving was what he needed to do to put this all behind him; but now he wasn't so sure. He eased back against the head rest and removed the keys from the ignition before closing his eyes. And before he could stop it; his body forced him into a much needed sleep...

It had been four days since Tony went missing and Tim had been surviving on the occasional nap. He wanted to work just as hard if not harder than Gibbs. It was the only thing that kept him from giving up hope.

"Boss…if you want to catch some shut eye, I can take over…"

Gibbs simply shook his head, barely acknowledging Tim's presence.

"Really boss, it's no trouble…you may be better off if you get some rest…" It was then Gibbs snapped towards him.

"Like you were doing when DiNozzo disappeared? I don't think so."

Tim cringed inside before hanging his head low. "Boss, I'm so—"

"Save it…cuz I sure as hell don't want to hear it…" He turned and left before Tim could formulate a response.

And as he watched him walk away, it felt as if a knife was being twisted into his back. As the days turned into weeks; the knife was twisted deeper and deeper. Leaving the scar that remains today…

Abby arrived back at the hospital to find Gibbs actually sleeping; her stapler gripped loosely over his chest. She approached his bed side and tucked in the covers around him before retreating back to her futon for some rest herself.

She tried not to seem scared, but couldn't help it. Ducky was bleeding; her head hurt and even more than that, two men with guns were standing in front of her. She cradled Ducky in her arms and closed her eyes…suddenly her headache paling in comparison to the fear rising up inside her.

Ducky had just seen his mother to bed before fixing himself a night cap and rummaging through old photo albums. Him as a child, then a young man. Old pictures of his Father and others who had passed on. Pictures of a time that was much simpler then the one he found himself in now. He came across one that struck a painful chord in his heart. Anna Jennings. The woman he was to marry, if her life hadn't been robbed away. He closed his eyes to try and remember the times they shared and slowly but surely drifted off to sleep…

"I assure you Doctor Mallard; this young man is your son."

He looked up at the Director and his eyes instantly filled with tears. "You are certain?" He watched her nod before taking the photo and tracing a finger across it. "My son…"

Tony was curled up on his couch his finger hovering over McGee's speed dial when he changed his mind at the last second. Turned out he wasn't the only one having trouble getting to sleep.

"Do you want me to sing you a lullaby Tony?" Ziva questioned; settling herself onto her living room couch and propping her feet up.

"Know any Frank Sinatra?"

"I'm afraid I would not do him justice…perhaps speaking about what's troubling you will help?"

Tony managed a smile as he threw his legs over the arm of the couch and rested his head on the other end. "You want me to share my feeling Doctor?"

She stifled a laugh. "I have become quite a good listener over the last month…try me."

Tony pinched a finger between his eyes. "You helped the Probie get through everything huh?"

"I tried to. But apparently I did not do a good enough job."

He shook his head but quickly realized she couldn't see him. "Wasn't your job to save him Ziva…the Probie's a big boy, he made his own choices."

"I suppose…I'm just used to solving problems by meeting them head on."

Tony replied through a yawn. "Well McGee isn't you…thank God for that. I don't know if I could handle two of you…"

"Very funny. But I am serious…what does he feel he is accomplishing by running away?"

"You and me both know that he wouldn't have left if he saw another option. Hell, he probably created a matrix that calculated his best possible outcome…and he followed through with it. In a way, I almost admire him…"

"How so?"

Tony placed a cushion behind his head before responding. "Before you got here, the Probie would stumble through every answer he gave the boss…he was so meticulous it was scary. And to be quite honest; I think he was more afraid of Gibbs than some of the suspects."

"What changed?"

"A lot," Tony began. "He got more and more confident with the help of the boss. He was just starting to become a part of team, when Kate was killed…"

Ziva swallowed hard at the mention of her; her mind catapulting to the night she took Ari's life. "Go on…" She managed.

"After that he was determined to do things that would've normally scared him to death…started with visiting Kate's body…to where we are today. I guess you'd have to of seen where he's come from to admire what he did."

"You must be really tired Tony…"

"Why do you say that?"

She sighed. "Because I have never heard you be so contemplative…"

Tony let out another yawn. "Yeah, well McGee wasn't the only one who's grown over the years."

Ziva agreed. "I suppose you're right."

"Aren't I always?"

She shook her head between a laugh. "Go to bed Tony."

"What about my lullaby?"

Her mind was still somewhere between that night in Gibbs basement and now. And before she knew it she began to softly sing the same song she had to Ari…until both of them closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Gibbs had barely opened his eyes before the smell of fresh coffee woke him out of his sleep. Only the person handing it to him wasn't who he expected.

"Peace offering." Tim tried to whisper glancing at Abby's restful form.

Gibbs was a bit shocked but could never turn down a cup of coffee. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you for a long time."

McGee agreed. "Neither did I."

"Why are you here?"

Tim was going to miss a lot of things and Gibbs directness was one of them. "I had a dream."

"About…"

"About what you put me through."

Gibbs sighed outwardly. "Forget I asked."

Tim continued solemnly. "It made me wonder why I put up with it when I could've stood up to you. I should've stood up to you. But I took it all on the chin…I've been trying to figure out why; then it donned on me that I did it for you…"

Gibbs shot him a questioning look. "For me?"

"For you boss. I guess being the punching bag for you was what you needed to get through it. I'm just sorry I didn't realize it before I took the beating."

"Tim…"

McGee interrupted. "Let me finish…I also realized that I had to love you a hell of a lot to let you get away with it…which is all the more reason why I have to go." He watched Gibbs try and form a response before he continued. "I'm walking away because I need to focus on me for a while…I need to try and heal and I can't do that with you here…and I just needed you to know that."

Tim turned towards the door before Gibbs called out for him causing Abby to stir. "Wait."

He held his head low before turning around. "I've waited long enough…just coming here hurts…seeing you hurts…I need to go."

Abby had awakened but only long enough to see Gibbs shuffle threw a bag and pull out a badge. She remained silent as Gibbs placed it in Tim's hand.

McGee stared down at it and shook his head. "This isn't mine boss."

Gibbs nodded. "I know…"

"I don't understand?"

Gibbs then placed a second badge into Tim's other hand. "Take yours and keep mine." He met McGee's eyes and swallowed hard. "You stay and I go."