Gibbs was currently in his basement working on one of his many wood working projects. It was what he spent most of his time doing since leaving NCIS.

Gibbs soon heard someone from upstairs. He sighed, figuring that it was Abby once again trying to persuade him to return. She tried that every once and a while. It never worked. It wasn't that he didn't want to go back. He couldn't. He'd done the one thing he promised himself he would never do. He failed his people. There was no going back from that.

Gibbs listened as whoever it was started down the basement steps. He didn't even look to see who it was before speaking. "Might as well turn around right now, Abby. I'm not coming back no matter how much you ask me to."

"Well, you can't blame her for trying."

Gibbs' head shot up at the familiar, yet shocking voice. He looked over to see the last person he ever expected to willingly show up at his house. Timothy McGee.

"After all, it wouldn't be the first time you said that," Tim continued.

"McGee?" Gibbs asked in shock.

"You're surprised to see me. That's understandable I guess. I mean, if anyone had told me I would be here a couple of days ago, I would've laughed hysterically in their faces," Tim said.

"Why are you?" Gibbs asked.

Tim sucked in a breath and said something he'd hoped never to say in his life. "Because I need your help. Well, actually a friend of mine needs your help. I was once your friend too, so I'm hoping you'll be willing."

"Callen?" Gibbs asked. He figured it had to be Callen. He was the only one that fit that description.

Tim nodded and walked further into the room. "Callen's been arrested by the CIA."

"What the hell did he do to the CIA," Gibbs asked as he put his tools down.

"He didn't do anything! He's being set up!" Tim growled at his former boss.

Gibbs put his hands up in surrender. "Alright. What was he arrested for?"

"Terrorism," Tim said softly.

"Callen?" Gibbs said in complete disbelief. That was the most outrageous thing he'd ever heard. There was no one more committed to protecting the country than G Callen. The idea of him plotting against it was beyond absurd.

"Yeah, my sentiments exactly. Callen is no traitor. There's no way he would aid in any attacks on this country. The problem is, all the CIA has to do is say he is one and they can fry him. As a terrorist, he won't get a trial or a lawyer. He will be presumed guilty, imprisoned, and eventually executed. It'll be a cold day in hell before I let that happen," Tim said firmly.

"Okay, so all you have to do is prove he didn't do it. Even for terrorism, they have to have some evidence. Find out what they have and prove it false," Gibbs said.

"If I could do that, do you really think I'd be here dealing with you right now?" Tim snapped. Needless to say, he was on edge. As if Callen's situation wasn't enough, he was forced to deal with someone he vowed never to have to deal with again. But he would suck it up for Callen. He had to. "There is a restraining order keeping anyone from NCIS from going anywhere near this case, even Vance. The only reason I even know what Callen's been charged with is because I asked my father to use his contacts in the CIA."

"CIA already knows he didn't do it," Gibbs said. It was the only thing that made sense. They wouldn't go so far as to get a court order keeping NCIS away unless if they thought what they did was above reproach.

"That's what I'm thinking. Unfortunately, I have no way to prove it because the moment I attempt to try, I'll be sacked and arrested," Tim said.

"But I'm not with NCIS anymore, which means the court order doesn't apply to me," Gibbs said as he realized why Tim had come to him.

"If I thought I could do it myself and not get caught until Callen was free and clear, I'd do it, but I know that's impossible. I need somebody on the outside to do all the heavy lifting," Tim said.

"I don't know what you expect me to be able to do. My guess is that this is going to take some heavy computer stuff. We both know that's not exactly my forte," Gibbs said.

"But once we have the information we need, you can follow the evidence. Also, you might be able to get in to see Callen while I can't. As for the computer stuff, we both know someone who is good with that kind of thing," Tim said.

"Abby? She's still with NCIS," Gibbs reminded him.

"Yes, but she's not close with Callen. In fact, anyone who knows the history between me and the rest of your old team will have a hard time believing any of you would get involved, or that I would even ask you to. She'll be able to get around easier than I could," Tim explained.

"You want me to ask her to risk her career for this?" Gibbs asked. Himself he didn't have a problem with, but Abby was a different matter entirely. She had her entire life ahead of her. It wouldn't be fair to ask her to do this.

"Yes," Tim said matter-of-factly. "If I thought it would save Callen, I'd ask you to ask your own father to risk himself. I owe that man more than I've ever owed anyone. He helped me find my place in NCIS. You may have been my first boss in the field, but he was the one who taught me what I needed to be a good agent. He's the brother I never had. In many ways, I really do believe he saved my life. Now it's my turn to save him. I will risk anyone that I have to."

Gibbs cringed as a twinge of guilt hit him. He knew that he was the reason Callen had to do those things. If he hadn't let McGee down so grievously, Callen wouldn't have had to take the role he did with him. McGee might think he owed Callen, but Gibbs knew he owed McGee. "Okay. I'll ask her in the morning, but I won't push her if she says no."

"That's all I'm asking," Tim said.

"I also have a couple of people I can ask to try to get me in to see Callen. We used to be friends, so it wouldn't be that farfetched for the CIA to believe I'd want to see him," Gibbs said.

"Thank you. Alright, I'm gonna go. I need to go find a hotel," Tim said.

"You can stay here if you want," Gibbs said. He didn't expect the younger man to take him up on it, but he felt he owed it to him to at least offer it.

Tim snorted. Yeah, like that was going to happen. "Uh, thanks, but I think I'd rather sleep in the street. I'll be back tomorrow," he said before heading back up the stairs.