A/N: Just a short chapter to reset the remaining ones where they're supposed to fall.

A huge thank you to all who have read and/or read and reviewed!

Tim wrapped his mother in the biggest hug he'd ever given her in his life; everything else around him fading into the background.

Gibbs used that time to clear the room, heading toward his other two, still stunned agents who, for the second time that day were standing frozen in the squad room with their mouths open in shock. Gibbs, grinning widely once again, popped both of his shocked agents in the back of the head.

"Told you about catching those flies. Go Home." He quipped as he headed out of the squad room to take the long way to the back elevator.

"Hey, Duck!"

"Jethro, I was just heading home. I have lots to do for tomorrow. What brings you to me at this hour? I thought surely by now, you would have let your team go home."

"Well, yeah, I have. I came to ask you if you have room for two more people at your house tomorrow."

"On Christmas, Jethro? I wouldn't turn anyone away. You know that."

"Yeah, well, this isn't just anyone, Duck. Thought we'd invite McGee and his mother."

"His mother? She's come to spend the holiday with him? How wonderful! Of course, they are most welcome. In fact, it would not feel as though the whole family were together without them." Ducky answered enthusiastically.

"I agree, Duck. See you there." Gibbs answered as he turned to head back up to the squad room. As he took the elevator up, his phone rang. "Yeah, Gibbs."

"Agent Gibbs. I need your help."

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning dawned bright and beautiful and there was no one on Team Gibbs that didn't stop to appreciate everything they had. While Gibbs spent the morning deep in conversation with someone who needed a willing ear, Tim spent the morning taking his mother to church and to breakfast and enjoying a long quiet talk with her. She'd even convinced him that his sister not being there for Christmas was not a reflection on anything Tim had done or said; despite the circumstances of their last meeting.

Tony and Ziva spent the morning helping Ducky prepare for the day. Abby spent her morning going to church, calling her mother on her TTY phone service and calling her teammates to wish them a Merry Christmas even though she would be seeing them in a few hours

Early afternoon found most of the team already at Ducky's. Tim's mom proceeded to share with the team, some of her son's childhood exploits They'd been there for over an hour now and Ducky had just announced that the much anticipated holiday meal would be ready within the hour. Tim looked around at his family. He'd be the first to admit that he'd always considered the team as family, even before they'd lost Kate. It felt great to finally get the sense that the feeling was mutual. It had taken a long time and a lot of struggles, but this latest struggle had been personal and his alone to deal with. No, that wasn't true. They'd all been there for him or had at least tried to be and for that he'd always be grateful.

Gibbs, most of all, had been the unexpected rock for Tim. Where Tim had expected the man to run and hide in his basement to get away from even the possibility of helping deal with a personal emotional crisis that centered around the loss of one father and the identity of another; he'd risen to the challenge and been there for Tim in ways that the young man hadn't even realized he'd needed him to be.

Speaking of Gibbs; where was he? Was he hiding in his basement now? Surely, he'd at least celebrate Christmas Dinner with the team that loved him and thought of him as their surrogate father; cherished him as such?Tim slid off his seat on the couch and stood up, suddenly needing some air. If this situation with Tim and his family had in any way affected Gibbs adversely, it needed to be fixed right now. Tim wouldn't be able to look himself in the mirror if the man was drowning in re-awakened heartbreak from the loss of his own family because of the help Tim had needed from him to get through this.

As he slipped out of the room, Ducky watched him go, frowning at the look in the young man's eyes. "Ducky? Everything all right? Where's Gibbs?" Abby asked as she watched the M.E.'s reaction to Tim's sudden bout of sadness and equally sudden departure from the room.

"Everything's fine, Abigail. I'm sure Jethro will be here soon enough. All of you, please, continue on. I must check on Christmas Dinner."

As the M.E. slipped out of the room, the only one to follow him, albeit silently, was Tim's mother. She too, had seen her son's change in mood and his quiet slipping away and was worried about him. Mrs. McGee had no doubt that this wonderful Dr. Mallard was concerned about her son and she wanted to be there to help him reach out to her troubled boy, if that help was needed. Another reason she'd found to following Ducky in Tim's wake, was to see firsthand, the actual relationship her son had with this group of people he'd come to love and trust as much as his own family.

Heading out after the young man, Ducky was relieved to see that he hadn't gone very far. As he walked up to Tim while he stood at the kitchen window, looking out but obviously not seeing anything, Ducky placed a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder. "Timothy? What's troubling you, lad?"

"Was it too much for him, Ducky? Should I have gone with my gut when it was telling me that it would hurt him too much if he was asked to help me through that mess? We all know that losing Shannon and Kelly is something he's never gotten over and never will. Is that why he's not here with us today? Is it my fault?" Tim asked with guilt and sadness mixed together, literally radiating off of him as he continued to stare out the window, his shoulders slumped in abject misery and the guilt.

"No, Tim. It's not." Gibbs unexpected and choked voice came from the doorway of the kitchen where it met the front entrance way.

Tim whipped around, startled and ready to apologize profusely, now feeling like he'd been talking about the man behind his back. As he opened his mouth to issue the heartfelt regret, Gibbs shook his head at him and stepped towards him even as he quickly and calmly spoke to him.

"No, Son. Don't apologize. No reason to. You hear me? I don't want you feeling any guilt over any of what you've just been through. You hearin' me?" the older man gently instructed.

Tim nodded, his eyes wet and beginning to blur with tears.

"You worry too much about the rest of us and not enough about yourself and what you need. Need you to change that, all right? From now on, if you need to talk to me about anything, then you come to me, you got that?"

Again Tim nodded silently, his heart in his eyes.

Gibbs hugged him to him and whispered in his ear. "I'm here for you, Tim. Haven't been before this and I'm sorry about that. But, from now on, I'm here for you."

"Thanks,Boss." Tim whispered as he soaked up the hug from his long-time surrogate father.

Ducky felt a wave of relief at Jethro's uncanny timing and unusual wave of sympathy for this young man. The M.E. also felt a sense of astonishment at what came next as he watched Gibbs step back from his agent and step over to the young man's mother, obviously intent on talking with her. Knowing Jethro had the situation well in hand, Ducky returned to looking after the food that was still cooking. Tim smiled at his mother and boss before turning to help Ducky with whatever he could do to help.

As Gibbs quietly asked Tim's mother if everything was going well with her visit, she nodded her head and answered him just quietly enough for Gibbs alone to hear her. "Thank you so much for being there for him, Agent Gibbs. I can't thank you enough."

"You already have, Mrs. McGee." Gibbs answered her just as quietly.

"How?"

"By giving him back the belief that he was always wanted and loved. By not letting this take that away from him."

"Oh!"

Ducky turned from the stove and addressed Gibbs. "Pardon me, Jethro, did you bring your usual contribution to the Christmas Dinner?"

"Oh, right! Knew I was forgetting to bring something in. Be back in a sec, Duck." Gibbs answered with a touch of sheepishness.

Ducky chuckled as he sensed the younger man was up to something. The man never forgot things like that. Willing to play along, the M.E. shook his head and smiled at Tim's mother before she headed back to the rest of the group in the living room. Ducky then turned back to the stove where he was helping Tim re-wrap the sweet potatoes and put them back in the oven. As they closed the oven door, they heard the front door close and Gibbs' words as he spoke from the doorway once again

"Hey, Duck, guess I forgot something else out in the car along with the rolls. I think we're gonna need another place set at the table!"

"Oh?" Ducky answered as he and Tim turned from the stove at the same time. Seeing yet another pretty woman on the arm of the Team Leader, and knowing who she was, put a huge smile on the M.E.'s face.

But even Ducky's smile paled in comparison to the one that lit Tim's face.