"Agent McGee, I assume that you will want to take emergency leave to take care of your sister?"
Tim didn't look back as the elevator doors opened. "Yes, sir, and then a transfer." As he entered the elevator, he didn't notice Vance looking up at Gibbs. Vance didn't say anything until the elevator was moving.
"Perhaps this is something you should think about first. It's been a very difficult day, I'm sure." It was a quick ride upstairs, and within moments they were in Vance's office and his assistant was under orders not to let anyone else in. "You're also a victim here, Tim. Falling on your sword is not your only option."
"I appreciate that, Director Vance, but this is a decision I made before I arrived." McGee sat in the chair across from Vance as the older man settled behind his desk. "My sister is going to need me for more than a few days so I need to not be out in the field. I need to be available for Sarah, with regular hours she can depend on. If I have to leave early to take her to a doctor's appointment, I don't want to be risking someone else's life, sir. As much as I really don't want to be, I need to be riding a desk for the foreseeable future."
Even if he didn't know the other man so well now, the defeated posture told Vance how difficult it was for McGee to walk away from the job he loved and excelled at. "First, we need to discuss your current team. DiNozzo broke into your apartment and Gibbs assaulted you without provocation." He held his hand up to prevent McGee from saying anything. "His assumption that you had fathered a child by Miss Sciuto is not enough provocation, even if he'd been correct. You would be well within your rights to file charges against both of them."
"No, I'm not filing any charges against either of them."
Vance wasn't all that surprised, but he was curious. "Would you tell me why?"
It took a few minutes for Tim to say anything, but Vance could see him working through his answer, so he waited. "We've done some amazing things over the years, and I've never regretted being a part of Gibbs' team. Striking back at them won't help any of us. Besides, Abby's involvement is going to be hard enough on the agency, if she's charged with being an accessory. I won't drag the agency through the mud by having half my former team arrested."
"I appreciate that, Agent McGee, I really do, and I respect your willingness to sacrifice your career to help your sister. In our line of work, families get shortchanged a great deal. It takes a better man than most to not fall into that trap. Why don't we plan on a temporary assignment for a few months, so you can give yourself some time and space before we make any permanent changes?"
"Thank you, Director Vance." McGee's strain eased with that slight glimmer of hope that he hadn't lost everything.
Vance handed him a stack of forms to sign after he'd quickly scribbled in the dates. Once McGee had signed them, Vance stood up. "Now, you go be with your sister. Drop by first thing in the morning, and I'll have some options for you."
---NCIS---
As soon as the elevator doors closed behind him, McGee pressed the button for the garage level before leaning against the back corner and closing his eyes. Even though he'd hoped to make a clean getaway, it wasn't a surprise when the metal box stopped at the squadroom level and one passenger entered.
"McGee."
"Gibbs." Even without opening his eyes, he'd known before the other man said anything.
The elevator barely moved before Gibbs hit the emergency stop. "You know how I feel about apologies."
"Yeah, I know." Tim reached out to turn the elevator back on, but Gibbs stopped him and McGee finally looked up at him. The sorrow in the suddenly aged face staggered him and he stilled to listen.
Gibbs never took his eyes off Tim as he spoke. "Sometimes they're very necessary. This one is necessary. I made some wrong assumptions, not only about what I overheard, but about you. That's the worst, because you're one of the most honest and honorable men I've ever had the privilege of working with or calling my friend."
"Boss..."
"Am I?" Gibbs reached over and turned the elevator back on. "Can we get past this?"
"I don't know. Right now I have to concentrate on Sarah."
---NCIS---
As soon as the doors closed behind Gibbs, Tony and Ziva were on their feet and heading for the stairs, hoping to catch up with McGee before he left the building. Breathless, they arrived at the garage level to watch the numbers still descending. McGee was startled when he stepped out to come face to face with DiNozzo.
"Tony?"
"Tim, God, I am so sorry. I never meant... please, you've got to know I would never knowingly hurt your sister." Tony was stumbling over himself trying to find a way to earn McGee's trust back.
Tim was feeling too exhausted for this conversation and shook his head. "Tony..."
"Come on, man, don't tell me I've ruined everything. Please, Tim."
"Like I told Gibbs," Tim paused, rubbing his forehead. "I have to make Sarah my only priority right now."
Ziva struggled to find some way to hold the team together. "McGee, let us do something to help."
Anything Tim might have said was interrupted when the elevator doors opened again, this time revealing Detectives Jeffries and Thompson, escorting Abby. She wasn't in handcuffs, he noted, not sure how he felt about that. Abby looked up at them and rushed over to McGee.
"Timmy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anything bad to happen." Her hands fluttered around McGee, she had enough awareness to know he didn't want to be touched, let alone hugged by her. "Roger and I grew up together, he's always been a nice guy. He wanted me to find him the perfect woman, and I..."
"Abby," Tim stepped further back from her just as Gibbs pulled her back. "I can't deal with you right now. I have to go take care of Sarah." He gave his team mates a sad look before walking away.
---NCIS---
DiNozzo was on his third drink of the night when a familiar voice called out over his shoulder. "Bourbon, neat."
"Gibbs."
"DiNozzo."
Tony wasn't one for silence. "Hell of a day, Boss."
"Yeah, you okay?" Gibbs took a sip as he watched him over the rim of the glass. Tony shook his head before downing the rest of his drink.
"Am I okay? I drove my best friend's little sister to a suicide attempt."
"Have you told him that?"
Tony turned to stare incredulously at the other man. "I think he noticed." He turned back to the bartender and waved him over.
"Not that." Gibbs waited until DiNozzo turned back to face him again. "Have you ever told him he's your best friend?"
"Little late for that."
"You sure?" Gibbs set down his half empty glass and patted Tony on the shoulder. "Think about it."
When Tony shook his head at the bartender, Gibbs turned and started to leave. He got about half way to the door when DiNozzo caught up with him. "Could I get a ride home, Boss?"
"Sure, DiNozzo, let's go."