"Two months! Please tell me you're kidding."

"Ask around Tim. I'm not known for my sense of humour."

"But Doctor Solanki, you said I could go home in a few days."

"What I said was; if you continued at your current rate of progress and had someone who could look after you, then I would release you. I did not say you would be going back to work any time soon, and like I said, two months before you return to active duty is a best case scenario."

Tim slumped back in the bed, two months seemed like an eternity; what was he going to do with all that time?

"I warned you this would be a hard road Tim, you've come a long way already, but you have only just started out on your recovery. Tell me honestly, how do you feel right now?"

Tim took a moment to try and convince himself he felt fine, but his inherent honesty won through. "Exhausted."

"Quite, and so far today, what have you done?"

"Okay Doc, I get the message. It's just..."

"You want your life back; I do understand that Tim. But right now, your life has limits...two weeks ago your heart stopped, a machine was breathing for you, it doesn't get much worse than that. I want you to concentrate on how far you've come; you're getting round under your own steam."

"Slowly." Tim smiled a little, remembering how long it had taken him to get from the physical therapy suite back to his room.

"Well, slow but sure wins the race, and that has to be your way of life for some while longer. The stab wound is responding well, and I know it's been a torment trying not to scratch at all those scabs, but you managed to let them heal. Right now, your peak flow is still too low, you have to give your lungs more time to get back to normal; and I don't want you to underestimate how long your liver will take to fully recover; until it is one hundred percent healed the slightest blow could cause a haemorrhage."

"I know...and I do feel so much better, each day I can do more; you've all taken great care of me. I should be thanking all the staff here instead of whining about getting back to work."

Vikram Solanki shook his head as he completed Tim's chart. "All the thanks we need is to see you walk out that main entrance in a few days and not to have you back here except for scheduled appointments."

"I think I can work on that."

"Very good; you have another session with Glen this afternoon?"

"Yeah, he's working on a programme that I can build on when I get home."

"Then I'll let you get some rest and see you tomorrow."

Tim lay back against his pillows, he was physically exhausted, but his mind was still working overtime...He had been so overjoyed when the doctor finally allowed him to get out of bed and start some gentle physical therapy. He would never have believed the sheer joy that could come from looking at a hospital corridor, but it wasn't the ICU, or HDU, wasn't even a surgical ward…it was somewhere different, the next step to his release from the hospital.

Tony had been smiling the whole time he guided Tim to the fourth floor. "Here it is Tim, Physical Therapy." He leaned down to whisper. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Tim nodded vigorously. "And willing Tony, I'm going crazy lying around in bed, and I'm not sure I can take one more Anthony DiNozzo movie commentary." Tim grinned up at his friend. "What, no head slap Tony?"

"Fifteen…"

"Sorry?"

"That's fifteen head slaps I owe you, Gibbs warned me off smacking you while you were still in here, but don't think this situation is going to last forever."

"I sure hope not Tony, you being nice to me all the time, that's pretty scary stuff."

"Right on time Tim, let's not waste any time." Greg Udal, Tim's physical therapist, 6'3", shaven headed, 220lb of solid muscle was an imposing presence who seemed to tower above him as Tim looked up from his wheelchair. Greg was also a man who believed in starting as he meant to go on, and within minutes Tim was walking slowly on the walkway, holding on tightly to the bars on either side. Tony and Greg stood close by, ready to catch him if he looked like falling; but Tim was determined to get to the other end.

Greg was watching Tim's reactions "Three more Tim, you can do it."

Tim wasn't so sure, he'd only completed two lengths of the walk and already he could feel his legs starting to shake..

Tony winced each time he saw Tim take a deep shaky breath, this was too hard.

"Greg, do you think he should take a break?"

"What did I tell you yesterday Tony?"

"To mind my own business." Tony grinned as he recalled Greg warning him that he could only stay during Tim's sessions if he watched, helped when asked, but otherwise sat quietly.

Greg laughed aloud. "Not exactly, but yeah I guess that was the crux of it. Look Tony, I've been doing this for eleven years, I'm good at what I do, and I never push my clients beyond their limits. The easiest thing in the world would be to have Tim do nothing but gentle stretching, but he's been in bed over a week, you told me you were a Phys Ed major, you know what that was doing to his muscles, we have to start building muscle strength again, and we can't do that if he doesn't work…"

"I know, and I want you to show me how to help him when he gets out of here, but it's tough seeing him this way."

Greg nodded. "That's why I don't usually allow anyone to sit in on my sessions, every relative or friend would like to punch my lights out for putting their loved ones through this; he has to find his limits and then push past them…but only when I think he's ready, I won't hurt him any more Tony, I'm trying to help him heal."

"Hey guys…I may…be struggling…to breathe, but…I can still…hear."

"Then hear this Tim, two more, then Tony can take you back to your room. You're doing good Tim; this is hard work after what you've been through."

Lying here in his bed, four days on from that first re-introduction to the world of the vertical, Tim still found it hard to believe just how tough something as simple as walking had been. It was easier now, and he knew tomorrow would be easier still; Tim just wished…he shook his head impatiently, no point wishing – Greg was always telling him. "The only way to get better is to work harder."

So Tim worked harder, whenever the case load allowed Tony came and worked with him; and it was with Tony's support that Tim took his first steps outside. A short walk around the small hospital garden had been interrupted by a sudden shower of icy rain. Even with the rain beating against his face Tim was smiling, but the smile was wiped from his face by Tony's next words.

"Come on Tim, we have to go back inside. You know what the Doc said about keeping you warm."

"Just a little longer Tony, please."

Tony took hold of Tim's arm and guided him gently toward the door. "No way, you're shivering already; you were supposed to tell me if you felt cold."

"It's December in DC Tony, not exactly going to be tropical out here."

"Which is why we're going back inside. I'll bring in a warmer coat tomorrow and maybe, if it's dry we can walk a little further."

Tim gave in to the inevitable. "Okay Tony, and thanks, it was great to be outside again, even the rain felt good."

"Hope you remember that when we're out collecting evidence in some stinking alley with the rain pouring down the back of your neck."

Tim grinned. "Sounds pretty much like heaven to me Tony."

Another session with Greg had followed his foray into the outside world, and Tim was once again in his room waiting for a visit from Doctor Solanki. He glanced up as the door opened and was surprised and pleased to see Ducky walking in with his doctor.

"I won't keep you in suspense Tim, one more day in here for me to complete a battery of tests; and I'll sign your release papers."

"I'm guessing there's a but coming Doc." Tim was almost afraid to show any enthusiasm about getting out of the hospital.

"No buts Tim, you know I wanted you to go to a rehab centre, they offer the kind of care you will require for a while longer. However, I understand your team mates have come up with another solution."

Tim turned hopeful eyes to Ducky. "Are you sure about this?"

Ducky sat down in the chair beside Tim. "Absolutely certain; you missed Thanksgiving Chez Mallard, and I have no intention of letting you spend Christmas in a rehab facility, however excellent it may be. Jethro and Jimmy have helped me to prepare a bedroom for you on the ground floor, there's a bathroom on that level. Abby and Ziva have devised a rota to ensure you make all your follow-up appointments, Tony has already discovered some easy walks in the neighbourhood…I think we're all set Timothy. I would be honoured if you would agree to share my home."

Tim's eyes brightened with the tears that seemed to come easily these days, but his smile lit up the room. Ducky felt his own eyes watering a little. Thanksgiving had been a quiet affair, the team had gathered for lunch at Ducky's new home, and they had all given heartfelt thanks that their friend was still alive, but he had still been in the ICU, and the empty chair at the table served to remind them all how tenuous was their hold on life. Tim had held on and now he was ready for the next step.

"I…I know we'd talked about this, but I was afraid to think about it too much in case…you know, if it wasn't possible."

Ducky rested his hand on Tim's shoulder. "It's the very least we can do for a very good friend. Abby and Ziva will be here soon, so I will go and have a word with your nutritionist…it will be wonderful to have you home Timothy."

Tim waved Ducky on his way and suddenly remembered Doctor Solanki was still in the room. "I am so grateful to you, and your staff…but going home…it's what I've dreamed of every night."

The doctor smiled warmly. "I'd have been disappointed if you weren't champing at the bit to get out of here Tim, it's what I hope for with all my patients, just remember, you're coming to the end of phase one of your recovery, you still have a way to go."

"I know, and I'll do everything you say Doctor, You've done so much for me, I'm not going to undo all your good work now, I promise."