Gibbs picked up his cell phone and walked out the back door to call Dr. Cranston, while Ducky went to the bathroom to check on Tim.

Ducky was surprised to find the bathroom unoccupied and Tim no where in sight. Following up on his curiosity he knocked softly on the door to the downstairs bedroom that the two men had been sharing since Tim was injured and was pleasantly surprised by the soft voice that invited him to enter.

"Hey Ducky, I'm feeling alright, you don't need to worry about me.", Tim answered quietly.

"Tim, are planning on going somewhere tonight?"Ducky asked seeing the overnight bag that Tim had packed.

"I just need to go for the night and clear my head."
"What's wrong Timothy?"
"I overheard the two of you in the kitchen. I know how Jethro feels. I'm not weak, Duck, I need to find a way to prove to him that I can take care of myself."
"Timothy, I don't know what you think you overheard, but Jethro doesn't think you are weak by no means."

"I HEARD YOU!"

Tim's angry voice reached the kitchen as Gibbs as he was entering after getting off the phone and he hurried to the bedroom to see what was wrong with his young man.

"Tim, what...", he started but stopped short when he saw the overnight bag on the bed.

Ducky saw the look in Gibbs' eyes and decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and quietly left the room.

"Tim, are you leaving me?", Gibbs felt like he had been mule kicked in the stomach.

"No, Jethro I just need to get away for the night, think about everything that has been going on since the dock."

"What has been going on, Timothy?"

"Jethro, you don't trust me, you think I'm weak.", Tim couldn't keep the hurt out of his voice.

"Tim, just stay we'll work this out. I..",Gibbs was getting ready to tell Tim about the upcoming meeting with Dr. Cranston, but Tim was beyond listening to anything he had to say.

"You what Jethro? You want me to stay here where I'll be safe? You need to protect me? Hell, maybe your right, you couldn't even take me to the firing range without me getting hurt. Isn't that how you feel and before you deny it I heard you and Ducky in the kitchen."

"Tim, you didn't hear the whole conversation, that didn't mean what you think it did."

"You were pretty clear, I don't think I misunderstood. Jethro, if you love me you will let me spend the night at a hotel and we'll have brunch at Benoit's tomorrow morning.", the look on Tim's face broke Gibbs' heart and at that moment he clearly remembered the discussion he had with Dr. Cranston the day Tim had been shot.

He looked at his hands and cupped them together the way Rachel had done under the faucet in the hospital, "Okay Tim, go I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

Tim looked up, biting his bottom lip with the crooked little smile that went straight to Jethro's heart, "I'm not leaving you, I just need some space tonight. I will always love you, Jethro."

Gibbs picked up the overnight bag, "Let me drive you, please babe, you do have a concussion."
Tim thought for a second and nodded in agreement,

Jethro's heart soared at the slight nod which told him he hadn't lost the young man through his own stupidity. Though he was well aware that he had a lot of damage control to do before he could continue with his relationship with the young man. "I will give you all the time you need. You mean too much to me to push you."

"Thank you, Jethro."
Jethro picked up the overnight bag and pulled Tim into his arms for a hug before he walked with him to the front door.

After dropping Tim off at the hotel, Gibbs returned to the Navy Yard unwilling to face the empty house, upon entering the bullpen he was surprised to find McGee's desk occupied by Agent Thomas from Cyber Crimes. "Agent Gibbs, Agent McGee has been allowing me to help with the searches on the Scaletti case." he explained quickly.

"Have you found anything?"

"There's something off, but I haven't figured out what yet. I'll go finish at my desk downstairs, sir."
"Don't call me sir, I work for a living."
"Yes s... Gibbs."
Gibbs continued to his desk and sat, staring longingly at his partners desk, lost in thought about everything that transpired over the last month and a half. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Dr. Cranston.

"Jethro, you called me?"

"I might have run him off Rachel."

"Tim? I think you underestimated his feelings for you."

"I tried to keep him safe and destroyed his belief that I trust him to take care of himself."
"You tried to put him in a tower and keep all dangers away from him?"
"Yeah.", he said hanging his head in shame.

"Do you remember the story of Rapunzel?"
"Yes." was the confused answer.

"The person who locked her in the tower wasn't the hero of the story, but the villain. Question is which do you want to be in this relationship?"

The question was left hanging by the return of Agent Thomas from the basement at a dead run, "Agent Gibbs, I figured it out.", he stopped trying to catch his breathe.

"Jennifer Scaletti..."
"You found her?"

"No, she is the one behind everything, She's alive and running what is left of the family. It was basically assassination by federal officers. She set everything up including the kidnapping of Agent McGee. His searches were to close to revealing her ultimate goals so she arranged for her brother's people to get their hands on him and she planned for her brother to kill him and then we would either kill him or send him to jail for the rest of his life."
Gibbs took and unsteady breath, "If your right then Tim is still in danger from this crazy bi..."
"Agent Gibbs", the Director called out coming downstairs from his office having heard everything, "Is Agent McGee at home?"
"No, he's at the Adams House."
"Call your team and get their until we get Scaletti and her people in to custody."
"Leon..."
"Nothing has changed my operation as long as McGee is threatened."

AN: Hope you enjoy the story only a couple of chapters left, will update soon. Please review and let me know what you think.