a/n - Thanks for all the reviews, you guys really liked the last chapter. The question was raised about a confrontation between McGee and Abby over the dog and what kind of punishment she will be getting. McGee is such a gentleman, too much of a gentleman where Abby's concerned, but he's probably not going to change. As far as punishment, sometimes it's not what's done to you, but what you miss out on. Remember that as this case draws the rest of the team closer.

True to his word, Gibbs arrived less than an hour after Dr. Morrison pronounced him ready to leave the hospital, Ducky in tow. While Ducky tracked down the doctor, Gibbs listened carefully to the aftercare instructions from the nurse as he watched her help McGee into a shirt and strap his arm back into place. When she was finished, Gibbs bent down to tie his shoes, much to Tim's embarrassment.

"Let's get out of here, McGee."

"Sure, Boss." He waited until Ducky joined them and they were in the car before asking the question he really wanted answered. "What's going on with the case?"

Ducky tutted disapprovingly, but Gibbs had been expecting the question. "DNA proves that our suspect is the person you struggled with."

"Really?"

"Yep, and we can also tie her to the syringe used to dose you. That proves intent."

McGee was glad to hear that. "Have you tied her to the murder?"

"Not exactly. Malpractice, yes, but nothing to prove it was deliberate. DiNozzo and the cyber-geeks are still trying to find a connection between the nurse and the widow."

"Will one of them roll over on the other?"

Gibbs had gotten the same question from Vance. "We have absolutely nothing on the widow except motive and I'm not ready to cut a deal with the nurse. That drug overdose almost killed you, and I'm not letting her walk on that just to get a confession on Harden's murder."

"Got anything for me yet, Harvey?" Tony leaned against the wall in the crowded sub-basement.

Harvey Miller looked up, pushing his glasses further up on his nose. "No, Sir, Agent DiNozzo, sir. I even looked under Mrs Harden's maiden name. Anything more complex, I usually ask Agent McGee. He's going to be able to come back isn't he? I mean his arm is going to heal?"

Tony reached out and patted Harvey on the back. "I hope so, man, I hope so."

"McGee?"

Tim blinked and took in his surroundings. He had been asleep, but remembered Gibbs and Ducky getting him in the house and tucked into bed. Now Gibbs was standing in the doorway with a gentle expression and a soft tone.

"You need to eat. Up to sitting at the table, or do you want me to bring in a tray?"

"Umm..." He wasn't used to this solicitous version of Gibbs. "I can get up, Boss." He was less stable on his feet than he was willing to admit, but with Gibbs at his elbow, he made it safely to the door of the bathroom.

"Holler if you need help."

By the time McGee was washed up and at the table he was trembling with exhaustion as Gibbs pulled two steaks off the fireplace. He remembered Tony talking about the cowboy style steaks their boss was known for. Handling a steak one handed was something he wasn't too sure about, but Gibbs sat at the table with both plates and carefully cut one of the steaks into bite sized pieces before moving the plate in front of McGee. Tim knew he was bright red.

"Thanks, Boss."

"It's not a problem, Tim." He looked up at his agent and raised an eyebrow. "Am I going to have to beat that into your skull?"

"Sorry."

Gibbs let the apology go, shaking his head. "If you feel up to it tomorrow, DiNozzo said that Harvey could use some help. Maybe call and talk him through his search?"

McGee hastily chewed and swallowed, letting out a small moan at the flavor of the meat. "Sure, Boss, what's he working on?"

"Helping DiNozzo try to connect the nurse and Mrs. Harden. They've been working at it all afternoon. Those two ladies really covered their tracks."

Tim speared another piece of meat as he thought about it. "Have they found any common thread? Had the Colonel been a patient at Bethesda before?" Gibbs stopped, mid-bite.

"Why would it matter if he'd been a patient before? What are you thinking?"

"This was planned, right?" Gibbs nodded and waited. "Well, Mrs. Harden didn't just arrive at admitting and start asking for somebody to kill her husband, so how did they connect up?"

"Good question." Behind him, Gibbs heard the front door opening and called out. "What about it, DiNozzo? Has anyone found the original connection between Capt Andrews and Mrs. Harden?"

"Umm, not yet." Tony stood in the entry, a grocery bag clutched in his hands. "We've gone back ten years and haven't found anything yet. Maybe the big payoff is waiting for Harden's estate to be settled."

"She's already got a trip planned. That money had to come from somewhere."

"I know, Boss." Tony came the rest of the way in and sat at the table, handing over the bag. "However they did it, they were good at covering it up." He handed a tub of ice cream to Gibbs. "Harvey is good, but he doesn't have the instincts of a field agent."

"McGee's going to give him some pointers in the morning." Gibbs frowned at the tub in his hand. "Vanilla, DiNozzo?"

"I am here." They all turned at the sound of Ziva's voice. As she came closer, they could smell the hot pie before they could see her. Gibbs grinned as she walked through the door into the dining room.

"Is that a cherry pie, Ziva?"

She smiled as she set the pie on the table. "Yes, it is. I made it from scratch using fresh cherries."

Gibbs stood to get more plates and a knife. "I'm surprised you were able to find fresh cherries this time of the year."

"Imported, but still fresh. That should make it good, right?" For a moment she looked unsure of herself.

"Absolutely." Tim smiled, remembering telling her about the cherry pies his grandmother used to make. "Fresh is always better, but most people use canned cherries so they don't have to pit the cherries."

"Pit the cherries?" Ziva looked back and forth between the three men.

At the other end of the table, Gibbs smirked as the knife hit something hard in the pie. "Just eat carefully, boys."

Four dessert plates, each with piles of cherry pits along the edge joined the two dinner plates on the kitchen counter while the four of them settled in to watch a movie. Tony had brought a collection of Leslie Nielsen comedies that had them laughing at Ziva as much as at the screen. Eventually, Gibbs called an end to the fun and herded McGee up the stairs, Tony at their heels.

After a quick detour to the bathroom, the bedroom beckoned. "Thanks, guys, this was fun." Tim smiled weakly as he sat on the bed, exhaustion winning out.

Tony helped him swing his legs up and pulled the covers over him. "Yeah, it was, wasn't it?" While Gibbs went to get a glass of water and Tim's pills, Tony leaned closer. "Are you starting to believe that you are just as valuable as the rest of us?"

Throat tight, Tim nodded just as Gibbs came back in. Tony took the bottles and checked the labels. "What, no pain pills?"

Ducky had explained it to him earlier. "Not until the nerve block is gone, which should be some time tomorrow. For now just antibiotics and a muscle relaxant." Gibbs waited until McGee had taken the pills before moving closer, tucking the blankets around his shoulders. "If you need anything, just call out. I'm a light sleeper."

Feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the blankets, Tim nodded once again and closed his eyes, sleep already claiming him as he felt the brush of a hand over his head.