The drive back to D.C. is a long and quiet one. Even the changing of drivers goes off with merely a silent handing over of the keys from first Tony, then Ziva and finally Gibbs, each after an hour behind the wheel and only when they stop for coffee, gas or necessities otherwise needed. No one, it seems, wants to talk about what they'd walked into or what they've been forced to leave behind.

Since the rented car is due back at the car rental place in D.C. by early the next afternoon, it gives them time to stop for the night, yet no one makes any mention of it, choosing instead to keep on going. It's as if they need to punish themselves or at the very least keep themselves busy.

Having had the foresight to set their phones on vibrate, the blessed absence of ringing phones seems to be the only relief they've allowed themselves during the drive. It's cold and drizzling rain by the time they return to the Navy Yard to retrieve their own vehicles. Emotionally drained, the only communication is a silent wave here and a nod or two there, before once again, they're sitting in their own vehicles, each headed home. It's been a very difficult day.

****NCIS****

"Alright, big brother, rise and shine. Ducky says you've slept enough and now you need to eat."

"Sarah? Wha…What are you doing here?" Tim asks in quiet surprise as he sits up with all the grace of an infant gazelle, the lingering tendrils of pain stubbornly clinging to the inside of his head preventing him from raising his voice any higher.

"How are you feeling, Tim?" Sarah answers his question with one of his own.

Stubbornly, Tim bypasses her question to ask her another. "What's Ducky got to do with you being here? When did you start calling him that?"

"Boy, for someone who just woke up from a really long nap, you sure have a lot of questions." Sarah quips glibly, trying unsuccessfully to hide her nervousness at the questions, knowing he's not going to like the answers.

"Can you just answer them, please?" Tim sighs wearily as he lets his head fall back to the wall with a quiet thump. God, he's still so tired! Damned stubborn pain won't go away, either.

"C'mon, Tim. Ducky says you need to eat. You can go back to sleep after you get some nutrition into you." His sister insists loudly enough to disturb him.

He frowns in her direction as shards of agony begin to touch down in his head once more. "Can you tone it down, please?"

"Hey, I just saved your butt! You think you dragged yourself up off that floor and found your own way to that comfy bed?" She protests, albeit in a softer tone.

Somehow now that he's all right, she can't help but give him the same grief they've always given each other. Besides, part of her is still running on adrenaline from having been so scared that something god-awful had happened to him while he was out of touch. Now, seeing him so obviously exhausted, confused and still showing signs of being in pain settles her right back down into feeling sorry for him and she goes silent, waiting for whatever it is he says next.

In the wake of Sarah's sudden lapse into silence, Tim closes his eyes and lets his thought process catch up to the tidbits of information she's given him. They're filling in the gaps in his memory; answering his as yet unasked questions. The peace and quiet is relaxing enough that his mind goes blissfully blank for a time.

The silence drags on until she's convinced he's gone back to sleep. "Tim?"

Wearily, he opens his eyes and looks over at her without speaking.

"I knew you were upset, but you really should have told me how bad it was before you let it get you so bad it progressed into one of your migraines." She gently reprimands him.

"What happened?" He wants to know; there are still too many holes in what he remembers of the past few days.

"You didn't answer your phone for 2 days."

"Two days?"

"Yeah. Two days. You scared the hell outta me, Tim. I didn't know what else to do."

"So you went to NCIS." He surmises without raising his voice.

"I didn't have any other choice."

Tim nods. "I know. Thank you."

"Hmm. Don't thank me, thank Director Vance. And Ducky and Ziva." A heartbeat later she adds with obvious reluctance, "And Tony and Gibbs."

Closing his eyes again, this time in frustration, he sighs. Giving himself a few breaths of stress-free air, he opens his eyes and looks at her with all the sincerity he can muster at the moment, because he truly is grateful. "If you hadn't worried, none of them would have either, so thank you.

"You're welcome."

"Ducky I understand, but why all of them, Sarah?" The question is quiet, non-accusatory and filled with obvious genuine curiosity and even a twinge of regret.

"Because they're a package deal?" She quips with a shrug of her shoulders as if to say he should already know this about his team.

When he doesn't so much as crack a smile, she gives him what he's obviously asking for; a serious answer.

"Because, they weren't about to let Ducky come with me without being able to make sure the house was safe; that you weren't in danger."

Again Tim nods; perfectly understandable and genuinely a page out of the book of protocol. Absolutely nothing he can find fault with. And since they did come a hell of a long way just to make sure he was okay, he really has no business even thinking about being upset about any of this. After the way he just bailed on the Agency and the team…. No, he can't think like that. But he has been a Field Agent for too long to think they would have handled this any other way. But…?

"Your team left right after they got you up off the floor and Ducky told them you'd be fine with some rest and food."

"If they left, then…" He questions, refusing to let this be the time or place she finds out he's transferred off the team.

"Ducky's still here. He wanted to give you a once-over when you woke up and make sure you really are alright." Sarah patiently explains. "Now, enough questions already. You need to eat and rest. Ducky's orders."

Almost as if he feels the need to prove that no such fuss is needed, Tim swings his feet over the edge of the bed to the floor.

"Wait, no, Tim! You do NOT need to get up!" Sarah is not happy. She knows after battling a migraine, her brother usually needs to sleep much longer before the residual pain subsides enough for him to be able to bypass the dizziness and stand under his own steam.

Grimacing at her tone that sends the jackhammers back out to play in his head, Tim stops moving.

Instantly, Sarah is contrite; hating herself for obviously causing her brother more pain. "I'm sorry." She calms down. "Here, let me just get Ducky. You stay right there." She orders quietly as she heads to the door.

"No." Tim strident argument stops her on a dime and she whips around to glare at him, forced to watch him struggle to his feet. He remains locked into place while he holds onto the bedpost with all his weakened might.

"Tim, stop being so stubborn. He's concerned about you! "Sarah turns back around and resumes her trek to the door.

"Why now?" Tim mutters as he attempts to move again, only to quickly grab once again at the bed post. It's obvious his body is not cooperating with his stubborn mindset. He frowns even as he feels a sliver of relief that his sister is so intent on her mission that she's not looking at him in this moment of weakness.

"And he's got the expertise you… what did you just say?" Sarah stops and turns to stare at him.

"Forget it." Tim mutters. "I'm fine. Tell him he doesn't have to stay any longer."

"He's waiting until you can be left alone again. I need a ride back to D.C. too, you know. He might as well check you over while he's here." Sarah informs him almost angrily as if she's upset with him because she feels obligated to stay until Ducky's convinced he can go.

"I told you, I'm fine. You can go." Tim's voice has risen but it's the vice-like grip he maintains on the bedpost that belies his words. It doesn't matter. They obviously don't want to be here and he's never been one to hold anyone against their will. They should just go. He'll be fine.

"Boy, be grateful why don't you?" Sarah snipes.

Again sighing out loud, Tim remains silent on that remark. He doesn't know how else to let his appreciation be known. It's obvious he's sounding more grumpy than appreciative and he knows he needs to quit before he makes it worse.

His silence makes it obvious to his sister that his world is still off-kilter. Feeling for him, Sarah refrains from saying anything, choosing instead to give him a moment of blessed silence as she remains by the door.

Finally, after what seems like forever, Tim opens his eyes and moves away from the bed. "Sarah, you know that I appreciate everything you did. What all of you did; to help me. But I can't give you more than that right now. "

Hearing the dejection in his tone and seeing the vulnerability in his eyes, his little sister nearly cries for him. Instead, she retraces her steps and wraps her arm around his waist. "You don't have to take care of everyone else anymore. Tim. Right now, you just take care of you."

"I'm trying. I am."

"That why you don't want Ducky or I to stay? You think you can't ask for our help?"

Tim shakes his head. "No. I just don't want anyone else putting their lives on hold for me. Especially if they're ready to go anyway."

"Tim, I didn't mean for you to think we don't want to be here for you." Sarah tries to amend her meaning. We're both here because we want to be and we'll stay as long as you need us."

Tim shakes his head slightly. "It's okay. I'm fine or at least, I will be after some more rest and a hot shower; not necessarily in that order."

"Even if you are okay physically, you have to admit you're in a rough place right now. I know you, big brother. If you do this, send Ducky away without talking to him, you'll find a way to feel guilty about it sooner or later; probably sooner rather than later. What will be the good in that? You've already got plenty to think about up in that head of yours." She pushes with a full dose of tough love. "The last thing you need to do is make things worse between yourself and this team of people you care so much about."

Having painstakingly and slowly taken steps toward the door where she remains standing, Tim stops in the doorway, reaches out with his free hand and latches on to the door frame. Holding it tightly, he fights to regain his breathing in a suddenly spinning world. Even as his physical discomfort plagues him, his sister's words wrestle with his conscious decision to not speak to the M.E. She's right and he knows it.

As soon as the spinning stops and he only sees one door in front of him, Tim lets go of the door frame and glances down at Sarah. "You're right. I'll talk to him."

"Good!" She lets go of him and steps back in anticipation of his heading in the direction of the main part of the house.

He offers her a small smile. "After I take a shower."

****NCIS****

Tiredly walking toward his couch at nearly one in the morning, Gibbs is still trying to cool down even as he paternally covers his surrogate daughter with a blanket. He hadn't expected to find her here when he got home and hadn't been prepared to deal with her. She'd surprised him, though; her abject apology and tear-filled eyes begging for his forgiveness that just couldn't wait.

He'd patiently waited her out, heard her spiel of self-discovery and realization in regard to her bad choices and bad behavior where Tim was concerned. Then he'd hugged her and let her know he was proud of her for allowing herself to do the soul searching and being willing to admit her culpability in the mess. Afterwards, he'd firmly told her it was too late for her to be driving home and to get some sleep on his couch because tomorrow would be here soon enough bringing with it yet another work day.

Now, he sits in the after-midnight solitude, his own thoughts running amuck through the minefield they've helped create. His question to Ducky just yesterday, coming back to him now with painful sharpness.

"Am I gonna get him back?"

****NCIS****

Waking up with the sun cheerily shining down on him through the gaps in the curtains of the bedroom window, Tim grimaces at the glare and turns away from it. Going back to sleep is not even plausible now. Easing himself into an upright sitting position he stuffs a pillow behind his head and lays his head back, not yet ready to move beyond that much exertion.

Just as he's expected, the dull throbbing in his head is being stubborn about leaving, meaning yet another day of nothing but rest and quiet and those yucky pain pills. This is so not what he had in mind when he asked for this time off! How's he supposed to do any serious thinking with his head hurting like this?

"Tim, you up?"

His sister's almost quiet voice startles him out of his silent musings and he clears his throat so he can answer. "Come on in, Sarah."

Opening the door, Sarah smiles softly at him. "Hey. Brought you some breakfast." She turns and picks up the food tray from the nearby hall table, coming into the room with it.

"Thank you."

"So, how're you feeling? From the looks of it, it's still hanging on, huh?"

"Yeah."

"You really should let Ducky check you over again. This isn't normal for you."

Tim thinks about what she's said for a minute. Thinking back on his history of migraines, their rarity and ferocity, their patterns with him, he realizes she's right. What few he's had and the length of time between them has made them all the more memorable. They're usually not bothering him like this by now. Slowly nodding his head, he acknowledges that she's right.

"Good. So, then, after you eat?"

"Yeah."

"He'll be glad to hear it. We were worried when you fell asleep after your shower last night. We thought you'd at least be able to stay up long enough to talk to Ducky."

Sarah's tone is concerned, although calm. She knows there's no need to be upset about the way things turned out. Besides, she has enough faith in her brother's character to know that he'll work it out for himself without purposefully hurting anyone else. Huh. When did she start worrying about their feelings as much as his? Wow. Guess seeing them come running all this way to his rescue has turned a new light on the subject. Who would have known?

"Guess not, huh?" Tim hedges as he glances at her briefly before looking down at his food. He's not thrilled that his body showed his vulnerability like this, but he knows he can't help it. It isn't anything he's done or that he can undo. Almost completely void of energy, he lifts the fork full of fluffy scrambled eggs to his mouth and silently begins to work his way through his breakfast.

****NCIS****

"Ziva Da'vid." She growls into her phone as it wakes her from her first full night of rest in a while

"Hey, Ziva Da'vid. Let's do breakfast."

Tony's faux cheerfulness pulls the last vestiges of sleep away from her and she sits up in bed, using her free hand to manhandle her free swinging hair away from her face. "Where are you?"

"Knocking on your door."

The subsequent knocking startles her and she's up off the bed, racing to the door before she can even think to slow down. Since her alarm clock has not yet gone off, she's sure it's way too early for this and doesn't want her neighbors to complain.

Whipping the door open, Ziva snags Tony by the coat sleeve and pulls him into her apartment, swiftly closing the door behind him, sliding the bolt in place. "What time is it?"

"0600." Tony's nonchalant answer puts a frown on her face.

"And you chose to do this at this hour why exactly?" Ziva grumbles as she makes her way to her kitchen, leaving him to catch up or not.

"Thought we could use the time to, I dunno, brainstorm, maybe." Tony's tone has changed and his real motivation is clearly written all over him.

"Tony. Sit." She patiently encourages him, no longer upset with his unexpected early phone call or his arrival on her doorstep. Pouring them both a cup of coffee from her thankfully preset coffee maker that has just finished brewing, she joins him at the kitchen counter where he has taken a seat. "I understand that you feel the need to fix this with McGee."

"But you don't." Tony surmises unhappily.

"I do not believe any of us are very good magicians."

"Meaning you're not even willing to try to fix this mess." Tony accused her as he picked up his cup and sucked down a huge swallow full. Setting the cup down with a bang, he rises to his feet. "Thanks for that, Ziva." Turning on his heel, he heads out of her kitchen.

"Tony!"

Wearily he sighs and turns back, the pain of his team falling apart before his eyes written all over him. "What?"

"I merely meant that I do not hold out so much hope that my heart will crush in the failure. Only enough hope to help me do what I can to try."

Tony scrutinizes her for a long silent minute, obviously thinking about what she's just said. After a minute, he's nodding. "I hate it, but you're right. All we can do is try."

"The question remains, how do we begin?" Ziva reminds him as she pecks him on the cheek and heads to her bedroom to get ready.

"Wish I knew." Tony mutters. Raising his voice so she can hear him, he calls out. "Hey, see you at work!"

"Wait and I will drive in with you!" She calls out to him.

"Only if I'm driving!" He hollers back.

"I will let you. This time!"

Tony chuckles. Yeah, right. This time.

****NCIS****

"Thanks, Duck." Gibbs snaps his cell phone closed and takes a drink of coffee from his mug. He's worried now since the M.E.'s just called to update him on Tim's migraine. Apparently, the kid's still in pain and according to Sarah McGee, this is the longest any of his migraines have ever held on. Something to worry about?

Ducky seems to think so, if it's not completely gone by tomorrow. The wise man has insisted on staying until he can be sure, promising to take Tim to a doctor if things are not improved by tomorrow. This means another day without the Medical Examiner. He seriously hopes they don't get an active case murder case today. The last thing they need is Ducky's loyalty divided or even his concerns. One situation at a time would be a nice change of pace for them all.

Glancing at the clock, Gibbs is surprised that it's after six. He's usually at his desk by now. Snatching up his keys and everything else he needs, he heads to the living room to check on his guest. Surprisingly enough, Abby's dressed and heading toward him.

"Thanks for letting me stay last night, Gibbs. I gotta run now so I can get to work on time."

"Anytime, Abbs. Just maybe not quite so late on a work night next time, huh?" He teases her with a slight grin.

Although she doesn't outright chuckle or even grin, the light in her eyes does go a little brighter as they walk out to their cars together in silence. "See ya!" She's in her car and gone before he can think to ask if she wants to ride in with him.