A/N: A great big "Well Done!" goes out to Shelbylou for this chapter.

Abby could feel herself trembling at her revelation and felt the fear of both her boyfriend's and surrogate father's reactions, rise uncomfortably from the deepest depth of her being. If she was going to be honest with the two men in her life, then she needed to convince them somehow that it was all innocent; that she hadn't been so naive that she didn't see the link that was so obviously there. She swallowed loudly in an effort to move the lump that had planted itself deep in her throat and pulled her knees up to her chest to try to keep out the cold that slowly crept over her.

Tim saw Abby's reaction and painfully hefted himself up onto one elbow in an effort to get into a position where he could both probe and comfort his girlfriend. The exertion caused him nothing but pain and suffering what with the excruciating pull on his ribs and the incessant pounding that soon had him clenching his jaw so as to hide the pain and get Abby to talk. His boss didn't miss a trick though and he soon felt a gentle tug on his shoulder as Gibbs carefully pulled him back and helped him settle on his back. The movement sent a wave of nausea rolling over him and left him feeling weak as a kitten, in pain and incredibly cold and sweaty.

Taking one look at his agent's pale, sweaty brow, Gibbs frowned deeply and used one of the tissues in the box to gently swipe at the perspiration that was starting to drip uncomfortably into Tim's eyes. The young man's actions were foolhardy and obviously affected him in such a way that had Gibbs reaching over for the call button to get Tim the relief that he so desperately needed.

"Boss, no! I need to..." Tim swallowed the bile that had risen back down before continuing "I need to know." The sincere concern in those pale green eyes was heart wrenching leaving Gibbs with no choice but to pull back his hand, only to lay it gently on Tim's shoulder.

"Ok, McGee, but you don't look so good so once were done here the Doc's gonna look you over." He waited for Tim's pained nod before setting his gaze upon Abby who was looking more and more like a deer caught in the headlights of his car.

"Abbs?"

"Gibbs, Timmy. I'm sorry! Oh God! I'm so, so sorry." Gibbs watched Abby with sheer curious concern as she pulled out the cross that hung round her neck. She didn't wear it often but he knew for a fact that it had been given to her by her beloved nuns and that the large cross tattoo on her back had been modelled on the beautifully crafted silver necklace that hung on a black ribbon.

"Abbs, please talk to me." Tim's shaky, weak voice seemed to boom through the quiet room and gave the loveable Goth the strength to uncurl herself gingerly. She stood up and moved toward the bed and lowered the rail so she could perch on the side and weave her fingers through Tim's.

"I got a phone call a couple of nights ago from a friend on New Orleans...."

Flashback.......

Abby was sitting on Ziva's couch wearing her black skull pyjamas and was carefully painting Ziva's toenails with a stunning maroon nail polish.

"...and would you believe, Tim actually got tickets for us to go see Brainmatter? Seriously Zee, it was amazing and you should've seen him shake his booty in the mosh pit."

Ziva chuckled loudly and couldn't help but admire Abby's precision at applying the lacquer.

"McGee? Really Abby, I didn't have him clipped as a.." she clicked her fingers in an attempt to recall the correct phrase "Head banger! Yes that's it, head banger."

"Not all people head bang Ziva; it gives me a headache so I just dance. It was fun, oh and it's pegged."

"Sorry?"

"Pegged, you didn't have him pegged as a head banger." Abby had just finished applying the red to Ziva's little toe and slapped her friend's calf gently to let her know she was done.

"Afterwards was wonderful, we left the concert and he took me home." Abby couldn't help laugh loudly at the glint in Ziva's eyes "Where we snuggled, put on a movie and fell asleep cuddling on my couch!"

"Semantics, Abigail. I will accept whatever you tell me." Abby loved this playful side to Ziva and threw her head back in mock frustration.

"It's true Zee, I can honestly say Timmy was the perfect gentleman. Come on, he's not Tony! Can you see McGee taking advantage?"

"No I cannot, Abby and I am very happy for you both. Now, I have some very special hot chocolate that my Aunt sent over from Israel that is very indulgent and delicious. Would you like me to make some?"

Abby's phone started to ring and she barely got out the 'yes please' before looking at the display and answering.

"Hey Lisa. I haven't heard from you for ages, How're you doing......Yeah I remember him......What? you're kidding, how? ......I don't know L, he was pretty messed up beforehand......I know......I'll be careful, you know me......Ha, I don't think he'd travel this far......yeah? ......I know and I miss you too, just be careful! OK......hey, I'll come visit, soon! I've got someone I want you to meet anyway......I'm not telling you over the phone but he's adorable like a puppy......Ok, thanks for letting me know......yeah, speak to you soon, I'll call you K...bye."

Abby hung up the phone and looked up to see Ziva standing over her holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

"Is everything alright Abby?" Ziva had heard the conversation and could tell that all was not well with her friend.

"Sure is Zee, is that for me? Ooh it looks so good." Abby's pigtails bobbed slightly as she squealed with delight over the hot chocolate. She considered calling Tim but knew for a fact that Tony had wanted to try to get him to open up and talk in a way that only a big brother could.

Present time......

"So Lisa rang to tell me that an ex boyfriend...fiancé... of mine from way back when, had managed to escape from Community Care hospital."

"Community Care?" Gibbs asked guardedly.

"It's a psychiatric hospital Gibbs. He was a long term patient." Tim saw the flash of hurt that briefly clouded her pretty green eyes and pulled her hand up closer to his chest, ignoring the stab of pain that ran through him from the increased pressure.

"Abbs, hey, it's ok. you all right?" Tim waited for the slight nod before pressing further "What was up with him?"

Her gaze fell distant as the memories of his behaviour surfaced, the very behaviour that led to her breaking off the engagement and getting him the help he needed. She started to drift off and felt her mind slowly ride the tidal wave of memories that flooded into her head. She was pulled out of her reverie by Gibbs's hand on her shoulder and with a shake of her head she carried on.

"He started to act really weird, I ignored it for a while but it got worse and worse. He started to attention seek constantly in the most random ways and his emotions were so exaggerated that they were overbearing. He was jealous and wanted sex all the time. We carried on and I pandered to his every need and whim but he soon started doing things that were illegal and so out of character that I made him go to the doctors."

"After breaking up with him?" Gibbs watched as his surrogate daughter nodded sadly and melted into the hand that Tim had placed in the small of her back for support. She felt a wet trail snake down her face and swiped away the tears that had seemingly come from nowhere.

"The doctor sent him to see a psychiatrist but after a few sessions he seemed to get worse so the decision was made to admit him. He's been there ever since."

"What did the doctors say, Abby? What was wrong with him?" Tim was surprised by how easy it was for him to listen to Abby talk about someone else that was so close to his girl and found himself wishing his injured ribs would stop protesting long enough for him to pull her into a hug.

"They diagnosed him with two disorders which had apparently always been there but had been under control."

"Abbs, what was wrong with him?."

"Gibbs I'm not sure I want...."

"You're going to tell me, Abby, I don't care whether or not you don't want to talk about it. Take a good look at McGee and tell me; tell him that you don't want to know for sure that this guy isn't responsible!" Gibbs was using his authoritative voice as a ploy to keep Abby talking. He watched as she took a deep breath and carried on.

"APD and HPD. That's what they diagnosed."

"Abby, you need to be more specific baby." Tim knew the terms but the concussion was making it increasingly difficult for his mind to focus on the acronyms.

"Antisocial Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder, Timmy. I'm sorry, I really didn't think anything of it because he was so loving and gently. I'm still not convinced Alex has anything to do with this."

"Then why bring it up? More to the point, why not come to me as soon as you knew? Didn't you learn anything the last time?"

"I'm sorry Gibbs, I didn't...I don't think Alex has got anything to do with this. It just doesn't fit!"

"You might not think so, Abby, but I'm not too sure. I'm gonna need the full name. McGee, your doc say when you can go home?" Tim was slightly surprised at his boss's sudden dismissal of the case but knew damn well that he'd be straight on the phone to Tony to run the background on the guy.

"No, Boss."

"Ok, I'm going to go find out how long you're here for and then I'm gonna go get coffee. You want anything?" He was met by two sheepish no's before heading out of the door towards the nursing station. The burst of activity had taken its toll on Tim ad he let his head loll to the side as his eyes drifted shut.

"Tim, can I ask you a question?" Tim smiled slightly.

"You just did!" came his quiet answer.

"No...Ok yeah I did but another question." She watched ruefully as Tim dragged his eyelids open and tried to focus on her.

"Do you think Alex has got something to do with all this?"

"I don't know Abbs, I don't really know the situation so can't come to any conclusions right now. That and the fact that my head is pounding and I can't think straight."

"I mean, I just can't see it. We were together for years and I knew he was quirky and slightly overbearing but I loved him and just can't imagine him...."

Abby's worried ramblings were starting to make his head pound painfully and each word was compounded by a throb that made the nausea roil harshly. He tightened his grip on her hand and tried to lean over as the heaving started. There wasn't enough time for Abby to grab the Emesis basin and so Tim threw up over the side of the bed and was left with an agonising burn as his ribs protested heavily against the torture. Abby started to panic and grabbed the call button to alert the nurses that Tim needed help.

"Hang on, Timmy, help's on the way. Tim, please just hold on!"

Tim heard Abby's words and felt her fingers card through his hair before succumbing to the darkness that crept eerily into his vision as the world faded from gray to black. It wasn't long before Abby's panicked plea's faded into the background and unconsciousness claimed his tortured mind, sending him spiralling into the oblivion that ebbed the pain away to almost nothing.

Gibbs was standing at the nurse's station talking to Tim's doctor when they were alerted to a call out to one of the patient's rooms.

"Maria, can you go and check on Agent McGee in room 20? He's due for his meds right about now anyway."

The doctor that had been talking to Gibbs turned to the nurse that was looking over Tim's chart and plucked it out of her hands.

"I've got this, Maria, I need to check on him, anyway." He turned to Gibbs and held out his hand to let Gibbs go first. As they were walking, they carried on with their discussion about Tim's health.

"So what's the prognosis, Doc? He gonna be ok?"

"He's going to be sore for a couple of weeks and will probably have a killer of a headache but he came through the neural checks well last night and his pupils are responsive. I don't think we need to keep him for much longer but I would like him to stay for a few more hours until I can be sure that there are no unforeseen complications."

"Ok, so where do we go from here?" Gibbs knew what had to be done but wanted to make sure all the bases were covered with his agent, especially seeing as he was going to be taking care of him at his house.

"Bed rest for a couple of days and then get him up and about. He needs time for his body to heal and even though the concussion will abate in a few days, the cracked ribs will take time and will make moving painful. Just make sure he takes his painkillers and takes it easy and he'll recover without a hitch."

Gibbs and the doctor reached Tim's room and froze momentarily when they heard Abby's cries as she tried to get Tim to respond. They rushed in and Gibbs pulled Abby off the bed to let the Doctor check over his unconscious agent.

"Agent McGee, can you hear me?" The doctor pulled out his penlight and shone it in Tim's eyes. Gibbs knew at that very moment that the prognosis wasn't going to be good by the deep frown that the doctor wore. "Agent McGee! Timothy, can you hear me. I need you to wake up now."

Gibbs pulled a struggling Abby out of the room and guided her to one of the chairs so he could push her down into it. He grabbed the top of her head and pushed it between her legs to try to halt the ensuing panic that was steadily rising in his girl.

"Abby, listen to me, HEY ABBS!" Gibbs waited for the sobs to die down before leaning in to whisper in her ear.

"McGee's tough and he's a fighter. He'll be ok." Abby pulled herself upright and looked him straight in those crystal blue eyes.

"You don't know that, Gibbs, what if he's worse than we thought, what if..."

"What if's are not going to help Tim right now so how about you channel some of that positive energy mumbo jumbo you like and work on helpin' him through this."

"I can't Gibbs. I'm so scared and don't know what to do. You didn't see him, he just started to throw up and then faded." Abby was sobbing and the memory of Tim being so ill played heavily on her heart.

"The doc's with him and wo..."

"Doctor! How is he, please let him be ok. He's ok right?"

The doctor had just walked over to the pair and slung his stethoscope over his neck before sitting down in the chair next to Abby. He was put under the spotlight by the two friends of his patient and could tell just by the looks on their faces, that they loved this man very much. He didn't know what to say so placed his hand over Abby's. Gibbs couldn't take it any longer and decided to urge the doctor on slightly.

"Hey, you wanna tell me what's goin' on with my agent, Doc?."