Filler and tag for "Witness."

While Gibbs makes an appearance or two in this one, it really focuses around Tony/McGee/Kate. This is one of my favorite McGee episodes, and, for me, the first time it feels like all three of Gibbs' team members really pull together. (Prior to this, it feels like it's always two of them against one, but this episode really had a team feel to it). Also, the first time we kind of see "big brother" Tony come out to support his favorite Probie.

"Carry On"

As Tony and Gibbs exited the elusive Robert Thorne's apartment building, the younger agent paused and gazed over in the direction of the ambulance where his two more junior partners sat in apparent silence.

When they'd arrived at the scene of Erin Kendall's murder earlier that night, the three most senior agents had agreed between them that it would be Kate who would be tasked with "Probie-duty" while Gibbs and Tony processed the scene. The assignment of that particular task had never truly been in question. Without a doubt, Kate was the most sensitive and empathetic of the three, and the most likely to be able to draw anything out of a devastated Agent McGee. Now, however, as Tony took in the junior agent's still dazed expression and the sadness evident on the face of his female partner, it was clear that little progress had been made.

Kate excused herself to join her other teammates, though her companion scarcely noticed.

"How is he?" Gibbs asked in the typical gruff fashion that masked his true concern.

"Physically fine. No concussion."

"Does he remember anything about Erin Kendall's attacker?" Tony asked, his tone almost a mirror image of Gibbs' with just a touch more finesse.

"No," Kate responded with disappointment. "Unfortunately, nothing. He's too busy beating himself up."

Not one of the three more-experienced agents was unaware of what their youngest teammate was going through. Guilt and doubt were two things they'd all dealt with in the somewhat recent past, whether it had been a case of misjudging the character of a possible suspect or not being able to prevent some tragedy. Still, they all felt they were better-equipped to deal with such things than the still-innocent and eager young agent who was now the focus of their attention.

Tony broke the silence. "I'm not sure he should be alone tonight, Boss."

"I could call Abby. He might feel more comfortable talking to her," Kate offered.

"Abby can't help him, Kate," Gibbs stated with certainty, but both sets of eyes looked at him questioningly. So, he continued. "DiNozzo. Remember what I told you right after Suzanne McNeil blew herself up?"

Tony and the Lead Agent had an unspoken conversation before Gibbs walked towards his vehicle, offering one last comment on the matter over his shoulder. "Best thing we can do is our job. Expect you in early tomorrow, DiNozzo."

Kate lingered in order to continue the discussion with her partner, curiosity now overtaking the prior traces of concern in her features. "What's he talking about, Tony? What did he say to you that night?"

He had never expected to have to share this story with Kate, but it was relevant to their current situation. "You were sitting there with the same expression McGee's wearing right now. I told the boss we should do something."

His partner was touched. "You wanted to help me?"

"Yeah," he admitted reluctantly. "But Gibbs asked me a question. He asked me if I'd ever felt like I'd screwed up and if anyone could make me feel better. And I knew the answer was no."

That had been one of the worst nights of her life, and thinking back to it, Kate understood the truth in those words. "He was right. There's nothing you could've done. But the difference here is that McGee didn't make a mistake."

"Doesn't matter, Kate," Tony said, sparing another glance at the Probie, who still hadn't moved from his position. "In his mind, he did. And if he wants to be a federal agent, he's gotta learn to get past it on his own. And pretty darn quick, too."

"Why do you say that?"

"How long do you think Gibbs' patience is gonna last? Before he tells McGee to 'get over it' the way he told you a few months ago?"

Looking over at McGee with a sigh, Kate answered, "I don't know if he can just do that, Tony. I mean, look at him."

"Yeah," Tony agreed. "I know what you mean."

Kate stifled a yawn and then made a very poor attempt at hiding a wince as she was painfully reminded of her toothache.

"Go home, Kate. You've got a dentist appointment to make in the morning, and if you cancel it again you'll never go."

"I know, Tony. I just hate to leave him."

"Don't worry about it. I'll make sure he gets home okay. Go."

"Thought you said he needed to get over it on his own," Kate teased with a knowing smile.

"I did. But that doesn't mean I can't follow him." With a wink to his partner, Tony added, "He'll never have to know."

Tony was getting nervous as the clock continued to tick. McGee was five minutes away from being late to work, and DiNozzo was clearly not the only one who'd noticed. Unfortunately, the probie agent's absence was felt even more acutely due to Kate's untimely dentist appointment, and Tony was the one feeling as if he'd been left holding the proverbial bag.

When he'd teased the Probie a few days prior about Gibbs testing him, he'd actually been mostly serious. He knew how their boss worked, and when the call had come in about Erin Kendall's questionable report to police about having witnessed a murder, and Gibbs had assigned Agent McGee to investigate alone….well, it had been crystal clear to Tony that the time had come. Gibbs wanted to gauge McGee's investigative skills, and more importantly, the younger man's "gut," now that he'd had several months of on-the-job training as a full-time member of the MCRT. While Kate had tried to soothe the junior agent's nerves by calling it a "show of confidence," Tony had felt it more prudent to call it what it was. And contrary to popular opinion, he wasn't trying to make McGee nervous. He simply wanted the younger man to take the test seriously.

There had been some tense moments when it had appeared that the young woman's report may have been bogus after all. So much so that Tony had felt compelled to remind his younger partner about their upcoming performance reviews. But to his great relief, McGee's gut had proven correct. Unfortunately, while he'd passed the initial test, he was now being hit with a far greater one, and much sooner into his tenure than DiNozzo would have liked. It was unlikely that Timmy would ever completely recover his former innocence after this case. Tony knew that was inevitable, but was saddened by it just the same.

That, however, was not his primary concern at the moment. The even more critical test in the eyes of their boss was how McGee handled adversity. Not as a man, but as an agent. Could he learn to put aside his personal feelings and get the job done? And right now, as Gibbs sent another pointed look in his direction, Tony feared that the younger man was failing.

"He'll be here, Boss."

"You try calling him yet?" Gibbs was aware of the concern for his younger partner that Tony was trying in vain to keep well-hidden. And he was proud. At one time, he hadn't been certain the two men would ever learn to be real partners. But now he was confident that if anyone could figure out a way to get McGee through this first real trial of his NCIS career, it would be DiNozzo.

Tony was trying desperately to find a way to respond without throwing McGee under that well-known bus. He had tried to call the younger man earlier under the guise of seeing if he wanted Tony to pick him up an extra coffee, but there had been no answer. And Tony really did not want to have to tell their boss that the other man had broken the rule about never being unreachable. On the other hand, lying to Gibbs would end very badly for him.

Just in time, McGee stepped off the elevator. "Good morning, Probie. About time you got here," Tony greeted with great emphasis.

But his coworker gave no acknowledgement that he'd even heard. He passed right by Tony's desk looking straight through everything in his path. He was no better than he'd been the night before, and obviously hadn't gotten any sleep either.

Wordlessly, Gibbs stood up from his desk, making his directive for Tony clear with just one look. He was leaving the two men alone for now, but he expected results upon his return. Straighten him out, DiNozzo. Or I will.

Tony gave an almost imperceptible nod, indicating that he'd gotten the point.

Now what am I gonna do? Tony thought, as he continued to send anxious glances in the Probie's direction, all of which went apparently unnoticed.

Then he had an idea. There was one thing that just might snap McGee out of it.

The need for justice. Or in this case, the desire for revenge.

"Are you gonna ask him?" Kate whispered as she and Tony knelt down to pick up the last remnants of carrots and peanuts off the floor, the only remaining evidence of their earlier good-natured food fight.

"I've got it, Kate. Don't worry. Just waiting for the right time," Tony whispered back.

"Well I hope you find it before he leaves," she whispered more loudly than before.

"Shhh," he warned. "You want it to seem spontaneous don't you?"

She rolled her eyes as Tony unexpectedly threw a peanut in her direction. "Stop that!" she almost squealed. "We called a truce!"

"We did? I don't seem to recall agreeing to that Ms. T…" Tony almost choked as Kate lobbed another peanut at him and it flew into his mouth. There was coughing, followed by a laugh he couldn't restrain any longer, followed by the sound of Kate giggling.

"I can hear you guys, you know," McGee interrupted tiredly, as he put the finishing touches on the note to Erin Kendall's parents. He'd expected his partners to give him a hard time about it, but instead they'd been surprisingly understanding. Still, he wanted to know what they currently had up their sleeves. "Ask me what, Tony?"

Embarrassed at having been caught, Tony uncomfortably answered, "Uh, well, Probie….Kate and I were talking earlier and it's been a tough case and we just wanted to..." he looked to Kate for support as she encouraged him forward with a frantic nod. "…invite you to dinner with us. Totally casual. There's this Mexican place we've been wanting to try and we thought it would be fun to blow off some steam. No Gibbs. What do you say, Probie?"

"I'm really not in the mood tonight, guys."

"That's exactly why you should come, McGee," Kate encouraged.

"Yeah, and if you don't, you know we'll never let you forget it," Tony warned.

He's right, they won't, McGee realized with dread. "Okay. But just for a few minutes," Tim conceded.

Tony and Kate, meanwhile, shared a sideways glance and a mischievous smile.

McGee had tried to get by with ordering a soda, but Tony had insisted on buying him a beer, while Kate was enjoying a Margarita. They were on their second plate of chips and salsa when Kate and Tony once again shared a knowing smile, this time observed by their guest.

"What are you guys up to? Seriously, I'm not really in the mood for one of your tricks tonight, guys. Please?" McGee pleaded.

"No tricks, Probie. Promise." Tony laughed. "We just want to play a game. Kate and I like to play it after we've had a really bad week at work. Right, Katie?"

His partner rolled her eyes at the use of the nickname, but assured McGee, "Really, Tim, it's fun. You'll like it."

Tim was still suspicious, but Kate seemed sincere. "What kind of game?"

"It's called…." Tony made a show of making a dramatic drum roll on the table. "If I Was Gibbs."

Kate snickered. "He made that up just now. It really doesn't have a name…."

"Shhh…" Tony interrupted. "It has one now." Becoming very serious, he looked McGee in the eye. "But before we play this game, the newcomer must take the sacred oath. Raise your right hand and repeat after me, Probie."

Now McGee was rolling his eyes. "Sacred oath?"

"Better go along with him, McGee. He'll drag this out all night," Kate prompted.

Oh, sheesh. Why not? "Fine," Tim answered, raising his hand.

"I, Timothy McGee, do solemnly swear to never repeat the contents of this game to anyone, including and especially to one Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Pausing a moment, Tony decided he'd better add, "Or to Abigail Sciuto. Under penalty of great bodily harm at the hands of Anthony DiNozzo."

The Probie came dangerously close to smiling as he was repeating the sacred oath, then asked, "So how does one play this game?"

Excitedly, Tony explained, "It's very simple. We take turns asking each other questions about Gibbs, and if you're asked a question, you have to pretend to be him and answer the question to the best of your ability."

McGee frowned,, "But Gibbs never answers questions about himself…"

"He's got a point, Tony," Kate observed.

Throwing her a slightly annoyed look, he countered, "That's why it's a game, Kate. We wouldn't need to play it if the man actually told us things, now would we?" Turning his attention back to McGee, he continued, "I'll allow Kate to ask the first question."

Smiling, Kate sat up. "Hmmm, okay, Tony. If you were Gibbs, who would that mysterious redhead be that's always picking you up?"

"Well, that's easy, Kate. Clearly, she's ex-wife #4. Because if I have enough money to build a boat in my basement, I'm not paying enough out in alimony yet. Probie, it's my turn to ask you a question."

McGee was looking slightly more relaxed, but looked at Tony in concentration. "Bring it on."

"Probie, if you were Gibbs, how would you get the boat out of your basement?"

The younger man was seriously considering the answer to the puzzle. "Well, I suppose you could dig a tunnel…."

"No, no, no, Probie. You're supposed to be Gibbs. Not yourself, Mr. MIT," DiNozzo scolded.

"Oh. Right. I would dig a tunnel."

"Hmmm….never really thought of that," Tony pondered.

"DiNozzo'd have to burn the rest of the house down," Kate teased. "Your turn to ask me a question, McGee."

The probie agent had a question ready immediately. "If you were Gibbs, would you say I passed the test?" he asked seriously.

Taken slightly by surprise, Kate looked over at Tony who gave her an unspoken sign of encouragement. "Yes, McGee, you passed. You worked through your personal feelings, gave us information critical to the case, and identified and caught our suspect. I'd say you passed with flying colors."

For the first time that evening, McGee allowed a genuine smile to pass over his features. The moment of seriousness was short-lived, as Tony took his turn again. "Kate, if you were Gibbs…." he stopped to think and rubbed his chin for effect. "How old would you be?"

"I would be…" Kate burst out laughing. "I have absolutely no idea."

"Yeah, me either," Tony admitted. "What do you think, Probie. How old is the boss?"

"Well if we knew how long he's been with NCIS, and then how long he was a Marine before that…."

"Yeah, good luck with finding that information, Agent McGee," Tony said with a smack to the younger man's shoulders.

"Hey, Tony, who's Ilya Kuryakin?" Kate asked out of the blue.

"What does Ilya Kuryakin have to do with Gibbs?"

"Nothing," she admitted. "I asked him a few weeks ago what Ducky looked like when he was younger and he said Ilya Kuryakin."

"He's the guy from 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,' Kate."

"The man from who?" McGee asked in confusion.

"Wow. You know, come to think of it, Ducky really kind of does look like Ilya Kuryakin…."

McGee looked to Kate for an explanation, but she simply shrugged.

"Who cuts Gibbs' hair?" McGee asked with a smirk.

"Anyone can cut Gibbs' hair, really. As long as they have a bowl handy," Tony deadpanned, causing Kate and McGee to both burst out laughing.

"Okay, I have one," Kate volunteered. "Where did the name Leroy Jethro Gibbs come from?"

"Obviously from parents with a sense of humor, Kate," Tony answered. "Hey, I just thought of something." McGee and Kate listened attentively. "Does Gibbs even have parents?"

"Everyone has parents, Tony," Kate answered.

"But Gibbs has never mentioned parents. Where did he come from? Where was he born?" Tony was seriously contemplating the questions. As much time as he'd spent with the other man, his boss had never mentioned his family or his own childhood before, and Tony's curiosity was peaked.

"You hardly ever talk about your parents either," McGee pointed out to Tony.

The older man was suddenly uncomfortable before finding a way of deflecting the attention back to Gibbs. "There is one question I would really like to know the answer to."

"Just one, Tony?" Kate teased. "What might that be?"

"How does the man always know when to sneak up behind me? It's like he has eyes and ears everywhere. Maybe he's not even human."

The head slap came out of nowhere. "You enjoying yourself, DiNozzo?"

Tony's mouth dropped open as Kate and McGee looked over at their boss in amazement. Gibbs had been watching his team with amusement from the bar, finally deciding to make his presence known just in time to hear Tony utter the ill-timed question.

"B-boss…Uh, I was just…" Tony struggled to come up with an answer.

"I know, DiNozzo. I know." Looking over at the face of McGee, looking more relaxed than he had in days and clearly enjoying his teammates' company for a change, the boss gave them a very clear order before going on about his business.

"Carry on."