Tim had only taken a step into Abby's lab when something large and furry hit him in the face.

"Hey!"

"Hey? Hey? I have been stuck in here waiting for one of you to come and tell what's happening, let me know everyone is okay!" Abby hit him with Bert again. "I have been worried sick McGee, how could you! I mean yes I could have called, but I didn't want to disturb you, I thought about coming up but I have so much to process and I couldn't just leave, didn't think I had to leave because I knew as soon as anyone heard anything they'd come and see me. Oh my God that's it. Where are they, where's Gibbs, did Tony do something stupid, did he-?"

"Abby!" Tim raised the caf-pow in his left hand.

"This does not make up for it McGee." Tim did not know why everyone was saying his name like it offended them today.

"Of course not," He brushed it off. "I'm sorry Abby, but I'm here now."

"Okay then." Abby spun around on her heels and stomped back over to her computer and turned her music down slightly with the clicker.

McGee followed and stood next to her, they both stood looking straight ahead.

"First off, they are all fine." McGee started. "Gibbs drove his car into the river but Tony got there in time and pulled him out." He said in a rush. When Abby didn't immediately start screaming at him for more details he got nervous. "Gibbs stopped breathing, Tony did CPR and got him back, Tony later collapsed at the scene and had trouble breathing – but!" He held up his hand when Abby, distressed, looked about to shout. "They are fine. They are both here, somewhere, so it's not that serious."

McGee watched Abby take several deep breaths. It was the Gibbs slap he got from her that knocked the tension out of the room. "They drowned!"

McGee grimaced and scowled, "They didn't drown!"

"They nearly drowned!"

McGee, mouth open wide ready to rebuke her statement once again, sick of everyone trying to make out they nearly lost two friends today, stuttered to a halt. "Fine" he said defeated. "They nearly drowned. Happy?"

"Why would I be happy McGee?" Abby spoke softly.

McGee's façade cracked. Friends, colleagues, boss, whatever title he wanted to bestow on them, McGee cared. He cared a lot. He admired Gibbs, wanted to be like him, sort of. Tony he kind of envied. No matter how irritating he was McGee was jealous of the confidence, the authority he flaunted without a care of what other people thought. The fact that no matter what Tony did to annoy people, most really liked him and only very few held a grudge.

"I… I don't know. I just don't know okay. Gibbs was only just alive when we got there, he looked nothing like Gibbs, he was…"

"Don't say it McGee!"

He didn't, couldn't. Gibbs was nothing but strong. "And Tony? He collapsed. He wasn't making a joke when it happened he wasn't being stupid, he was just standing there and then…"

"What?" Abby questioned, curious.

"It was a very surreal day is all." McGee sighed and lifted his coffee to his lips. Grateful when Abby did the same with her caf-pow. It HAD been a surreal day and McGee could not wait until it was over and everything went back to normal. They were back to normal.

…

Tony didn't immediately go back to the bullpen after his chance meeting with Ziva outside of autopsy, despite the Gibbs glare being aimed at him. He had someone he needed to see first.

"What's surreal McKubrick?" Tony sauntered into Abby's lab, feeling his usual exuberance.

"TONY!" Abby practically jumped at him.

"I'm fine Abs." Tony assured, stepping back to steady himself.

Abby's narrowed eyed gaze met his. "Don't you lie to me DiNozzo!"

Tony looked at McGee still quietly standing by Abby's computer. "What did McSnitch tell you?"

"Hey, I told her the truth Tony."

"Ah huh. Well I'm fine. Ducky says so." Abby didn't budge. "Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Well I may have a little cold, maybe, but he's going to sort it, AND" Tony stressed, "He isn't worried, so why should I be?"

Tony froze with the pleasing smile on his face, hoping against hope Abby would find that acceptable. He let out a breath as she went from beady eyed glare to wide eyed worry and hugged him fiercely.

"You really okay?" McGee asked him when Abby let him go to see to one of her beeping machines.

"Why do people keep asking, am I not trustworthy enough?"

"Well no, frankly, and today, today has been weird." McGee practically breathed out.

Tony knew exactly what he meant, he hadn't forgotten that everyone was there when he'd collapsed by the river and woken in Gibbs' arms, just like he hadn't forgotten why he found himself in that position. The fear he had felt just a few hours ago hadn't completely disappeared, his mind was still coming to terms with what did and what might of happened had he arrived any later.

"Well I'll drink to that Probie." Tony replied dropping the 'everything's peachy' act he had walked in with.

"We should do that!" Abby shouted, "All of us, tonight, including Gibbs, is he ok? I haven't seen him yet, normally he would have been to see me by now, have you seen him?" Abby babbled and look set not to stop.

McGee answered her and Tony had the feeling they had already been through some of this, but it was Abby after all. Tony didn't offer any insight, wanted to tell her, desperately wanted to tell her what had happened in autopsy with him and Gibbs, but held back, wanting to wait for a time when they could be alone. Abby was the only person he would feel comfortable with sharing that kind of thing. Though he supposed most knew about his Daddy issues and how he feels about his boss, what they didn't know, what HE didn't even really know for sure until ten minutes ago was that Gibbs possibly felt a similar way towards him. He certainly didn't want everyone knowing how utterly shocked yet happy he was when Gibbs not only made him feel ten times better when he was ready to give up, but also thanked him. Gibbs hugged him and thanked him. McGee was right, it was a surreal day.

…

McGee and Tony left Abby's lab together. McGee was still a little on edge, but was hoping going out for drinks tonight, which Abby was already in the process of arranging, would help him loosen up a bit and move on.

"Do you think Gibbs will let us go soon?"

"If he doesn't I may regret not taking that offered ride to Bethesda. Their security would be easier to escape than Gibbs."

McGee laughed. He didn't like to encourage Tony too much, but frankly with the day like they'd all had he was willing to listen to him quote whatever movie he wanted. It helped remind him that Tony was still Tony.

McGee's thoughts were disturbed by the ringing of a cell phone.

"DiNozzo" Tony paused. McGee could hear Ducky's voice on the other end of the line. "I'll be right there."

"Test results?" McGee guessed from what he heard of the conversation.

"Test results." Tony confirmed, "Wish me luck probilicious."

…