Neglecting to knock, Gibbs entered the home, directly into the living room. The house was well lit and clean but sparse; no furniture, rugs, pictures or knick-knacks of any kind. Dearing appeared casual, standing behind a counter in the kitchen, (in the next room) pouring drinks.

"I bought your favorite brand of bourbon, Jethro. I hope you will join me, since this will be the last time we will ever meet, again." Dearing placed a glass on the counter in Gibbs' direction.

Gibbs ignored the glass. "Ya' got that right."

Dearing paused, smugly eyeing Gibbs before he continued. "So, I see that you received my letter concerning Timothy McGee-"

"You sent that?" Gibbs practically yelled, staring at Dearing, incredulously.

"Couldn't take my word for it?"

"I'm a cop, I investigate. I receive an anonymous letter in the mail revealing life changing news, what did you think I would do? " Gibbs was astounded, studying Dearing and the nutcase mentality he projected. "So, this is how you get back at me? What? For working for NCIS? Why us? I have nothing to do with your son's death and either does Tim?" Gibbs quickly glanced to his side then lowered his voice leaning towards the man."Where is he, Dearing?"

"Oh, Timothy and my assistant Mark are getting to know each other a lot better in the barn. Thought it would only be fitting for Timothy to suffer before he leaves this world. Tim seems like a nice guy; willing to oblige-"

"Dearing! Take me to Tim!" Gibbs was worried but felt extremely confident that Ziva had the situation under control with the help of Tony, at this point.

"If there is any chance I will allow Timothy to survive this I suggest you wait or else I will contact my assistant to proceed with my plan." Dearing held up a cell phone.

Gibbs sighed, annoyed, quickly losing his patience. "You will die for hurting him, I swear."

"I have studied you Gibbs. We have a lot in common." Dearing took a sip from his glass, not breaking his eye contact with Gibbs. "Death of a child...leading to revenge." Gibbs showed his agitation, as he fumed, glaring at the deranged man.

"I knew this would hurt, knowing the love of your life had flesh and blood out there... right under your nose for years. I bet you now wish you had treated him differently. Too bad you will no longer have that chance. Someone you could have raised as your own- "

"Would you stop with your theatrics, I've had enough of your games. You killed innocent people who had nothing to do with the death of your son-"

"He was innocent! Explain to me why he had to die!" Dearing yelled, slamming his glass on the counter, causing some of the liquid to slosh over. Dearing drew in a calming breath then continued in a, quiet, controlled voice. "Jethro, I think we both know a little something about revenge."

"I know what you are getting at and I won't deny it, Dearing. But, Tim killed no one! He doesn't deserve to die! And, it wasn't murder that took your son from you."

Dearing pointed his finger aggressively onto the counter top. "Timothy killed that cop-"
"There is no evidence that backs up that statement, making it inconclusive. We don't know if the kill shot was delivered from his gun! Besides, that doesn't even matter! Do you know how many people that boy has saved?" Gibbs waved a hand at Dearing in disgust. "I'm going to the barn."

"I don't think that would be a wise choice, Jethro. Let me just skip ahead here for a moment. We obviously will not be able to agree on anything...except maybe, this?"

Dearing raised a remote in his hand that he had been concealing behind the counter as he rounded towards Gibbs, walking towards the picture window in the living room facing the barn. This will remind you how it feels to lose a loved one."

Beads of sweat formed on Gibbs' brow.

"Do you remem-"

"No!" Gibbs jumped at him, grabbing for the device as he shoved his elbow into Dearings' neck, pushing him into a wall. They struggled, as Gibbs latched on to his wrist hitting his arm into the wall to stop him from proceeding with his plans.

xxxxxxx

HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY

xxx

Ziva looked through the barn window to see her Tim bound and hanging by his wrists from a beam; passed out, his body bruised and bloody. He was kneeling, his head leaning against one of his arms that were stretched over his head. He was covered in lacerations and his face was swollen and bruised.

"Oh, baby. What did they do to you?" She whispered to herself.

She separated herself from the knowledge of the obvious threat his life was in and of what she was seeing to concentrate on rescuing him. She quickly scanned the area he was being held captive to see what she was up against before apprehending Tim's assailant. She searched for any blinking lights that might indicate the presence of a live bomb. She rushed quickly and smoothly towards the entrance, her gun steady.

"Come on! Wake up, ya good for nothing! I'm not done and we don't have much time left."

Ziva heard a slap.

Peering in, she saw Tim shake his head, his eyes widening, seeing her. She entered, coming up from behind the assailant, her gun aimed at his head. He was still unaware of her presence as he roughly nudged Tim in the chest, with the end of the bat he held, trying to rouse him, Tim's eyes heavy and closing. Ziva couldn't take anymore as she watched Tim's head roll, his eyes blinking, trying to gain consciousness. The man swung the bat back as if he was about to hit a home run.

"NCIS, Drop the weapon! Hands in the-!" He continued through with the swing. "No!" Ziva shot but not before the bat connected with Tim's chest.

"Tim!"

The man crumbled to the ground, instantly, as Ziva ran to Tim. Tim struggled to breath, then his eyes rolled back into his head as his body went limp. "Tim!"

"No, please." She kneeled in front of him putting her ear to his chest to listen for a heartbeat, finding none. She heard a sound behind her and whirled. "Tony!" Tony stood shocked, with the horrible scene in front of him.

"Help me! He's not breathing, I can not hear a heartbeat!"

Tony ran to Ziva's side. "Ziva? What the..."

"Here. Hold him while I cut the rope. Careful!"

Tony's hands braced Tim's torso and back, as he anticipated his release.

"Ziva, look!" Tony alerted Ziva to a IED secured to one of the beams of a nearby stall. A red light blinked, then began to blink faster as a beeping noise started...

Ziva did not take her time as she cut the rope above Tim's wrists, his arms dropping in front of his body. "Go! Go!" Tony's arms wrapped around Tim's upper body as Ziva held his legs, awkwardly running towards the barn's entrance. The air was filled with a moment of dead silence, followed by a ear-deafening explosion.

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A blast lit up the front yard as Gibbs began to tremble. Gibbs caught Dearing's hand move to his pocket, so he cautiously thrust his knife into the deranged man's stomach. Gibbs eyes filled with tears, staring into Dearing's dying ones. Gibbs' hate for the man overwhelmed him, a strong dizzy sensation almost overcame him but the stronger sense of sadness and the sharp sting in his eyes kept him standing.

"Rot in Hell, Harper."

Gibbs bolted form the house, wiping the tears from his face. He could feel the heat from the explosion from where he stood on the front porch of Dearing's house. Scattered pieces of debris fell from tree branches that had interrupted their drop. He darted towards the barn, discouraged by the sight of destruction and how severe the bomb had been. He called all three of his team on their cells but received no answer as he frantically looked around the perimeter. How could anyone have survived this? Not only Tim but there was a good chance Ziva and Tony had been in there, also. He cautiously approached the fire-damaged barn, the flames too high and threatening to enter. He searched for any movement from his team or any indication there was life, circling the area in panic and determination. They had to have gotten out! He thought he heard something, searching the area...

xxxxxx

Tony and Ziva dropped to the ground once they rounded a big bush close by, seeking its protection from the fire. Ziva could still feel the intensity of the fire's heat but ignored it, knowing they had to begin CPR, immediately to revive Tim. Ziva quickly felt for a pulse in Tim's neck. "Tony, start CPR!" Ziva was already focused on Tim, attempting to breath life into his lungs as she watched the rise and fall of his chest to make sure he was receiving air.

Tony opened Tim's shirt, revealing dark bruises and patches of dried blood covering his chest and torso. He hesitated, "Sorry, kid," then began pressing down on his chest, with quick jerks, counting...

Ziva called for an ambulance, informing the dispatcher of their location and the situation.

Tony finished with thirty chest compressions, "Ziva!"

Ziva had already started her two breaths, her eyes on Tim's chest. Tony quickly resumed the compressions.

Ziva cut the rest of the rope from Tim's wrists, massaging his arms and hands.

Tim remained unresponsive; Dearing's assistant had done a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Tony winced as he pushed down on Tim's chest. "Ziva? What.. did they.. do to... him, did you see?"
Ziva counted Tony's thirty compressions then puffed two breaths of air into Tim's parted lips, holding his chin in position.

She checked for a pulse, "Dammit! The man who... had Tim...hit him in the chest with a bat, it must have stopped his heart; Tony, he's still not responding! Were we too late starting CPR?"

"It was that or we would have all been blown up-"

Tim began to cough as his body bucked, taking in deep, smoke-laced breaths, causing him to cough more.

Ziva's body practically, collapsed with relief. "Oh, Tim." She wrapped her hands around his face. "Oh, baby. Are you back with us? Timothy?"

His coughing subsided, momentarily. "Z-z-ziva?" Tim struggled to focus on her face. "What...hap-" Tim coughed, painfully. "Why is it sooo...hot?" Then Tim smiled groggily. "Oh...I know, that's just you."

Tony giggled with relief, "Probie, you're such a...dork. Please..don't scare me like that, again."

Tony saw the warm smile Ziva and Tim shared, just before Tim's head rolled to the side, his eyes closing. Ziva checked his pulse to make sure he had, just passed out, then cradled Tim's head to her chest. She turned to face Tony, with tears spilling from her eyes, on the verge of laughing. "We got'm, Tony, he's back." Tony smiled with a sigh of relief as he hugged her and Tim, close.

xxxxxxxxxx

Gibbs heard a distinct yell by the bushes near the corral. He could see a pair of feet, someone laying down and recognized Tim's shoes, as he broke into a run. Rounding the bush he found Tony and Ziva gathered, kneeling around an unconscious Tim. He looked rough, like Harper's man had really done a number on him. Gibbs could hear an ambulance in the distance as he dropped to his knees, slowly looking over Tony and Ziva.

Gibbs placed his hand gently on Ziva's arm, a strong relief on his face, conveying the appreciation he felt that they were all alive. "Ziva? Are you okay?" He looked at Tony. "Tony?"

"Yeah, boss. Ziva killed Dearing's help. We got Tim out just in time before the explosive he had strapped in there went off."

"Is he...okay?" Gibbs looked at Ziva, holding Tim in her arms.

"His heart stopped, Gibbs and we had to perform CPR on him to get him back. But...I think he will be okay."
"Well...then, it's over." Gibbs sighed in relief. Gibbs eyes were on Tim as he subtly reached out towards him. "Ziva? Can I hold him?" Gibbs waited patiently, his arms open.

Ziva and Tony exchanged confused looks.

"Of course, Gibbs." He gently pulled Tim from her arms, hugging him close, burying his face in his neck, rocking him. Tim remained unconscious, his arms hanging by his sides. The ambulance arrived within the next few minutes.