A/N: Ok, here's a long overdue chapter of Choices! Sorry it's taken so long. For the record too (before I get the inevitable comments), I've included some McAbby in this chapter. Same as in the last couple of chapters, I've included it so I can explore Tim's feelings of not being a whole person due to his injuries...it may or may not remain one sided. Just so you know :)

Anyway, enjoy!

"Seriously Tony, we did not have the weekend duty this week, and you did not go out? That seems unlike you." Ziva commented as the elevator stopped.

"I didn't feel like it." Tony caught the sceptical glance she gave him "Hey, stranger things have happened."

"Like what?"

The elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the squad room.

"Like Palmer getting a girlfriend... or McGee sitting at his desk like nothing happened."

Ziva followed Tony's line of sight and quickened her pace, smiling.

"McGee. You are back."

He grimaced. "Kinda. Light duties only, and only a few days a week yet."

"But you are still back, yes?"

He smiled at her. "Yeah, I'm back."

"So you get the easy stuff, and we do the field work" Tony commented. Ziva glanced sideways at him, unable to believe that he would deliberately make McGee feel guilty for being injured, and then caught the grin that accompanied his words. She knew that he was trying to mask how much he'd missed the fourth member of their team. Judging from the expression on McGee's face, he knew it too.

"DiNozzo, stop teasing McGee and grab your gear. We've got a dead sailor in Georgetown." Gibbs' mild rebuke came from behind them.

"Ah, Boss? I thought we were still working the Adams case?" Tony asked, looking slightly confused.

"The Director handed it over to JAG. Get moving."

...

McGee was a little surprised when Gibbs didn't immediately follow Tony and Ziva to the elevator. Instead he turned to McGee

"Ducky clear you?"

McGee nodded. "This morning, Boss."

Gibbs' rather rare smile crossed his face.

"Welcome back, Tim."

Then he turned and followed Tony and Ziva out of the squad room, leaving McGee at his desk.

McGee sat in shock for a moment. Gibbs had actually called him Tim. He could count the amount of times Gibbs had used his given name on the fingers of one hand. Shaking it off, he looked around for something to do, to occupy himself until they got back in from the field. Not finding anything particularly useful, he stood up and headed for the elevators as well. Maybe Abby could use his help.

...

Going back to work was supposed to help, McGee grumbled to himself. It was supposed to give him something to occupy his mind with other than his shoulder and his recovery. But three weeks after his return, it was having the opposite effect.

The first day hadn't been so bad. He'd watched the field team go out without any problems, distracted by the surprise of having Gibbs welcome him back the way he had. But after that... he'd watched the team leave with almost physical pain. He didn't understand it- he spent more time in the office than the rest of the team did usually anyway. He put it down to the fact that he couldn't go into the field. Normally when he was left behind, it was because what he was doing at headquarters was more valuable than his presence in the field. Now, it was simply because he had no value in the field.

On the second day, unable to sit in the empty bullpen and wait for them to return, he'd gone to the one place that always gave him at least a small amount of comfort- Abby's lab. Since then, it had become a routine. The team would leave and he'd retreat downstairs.

But being with Abby brought its own problems. He'd spent years keeping his feelings for the brilliant forensic scientist buried as deeply as he could, but somehow admitting them to Sarah had brought the repressed longings close to the surface. With them came the feelings of worthlessness that he tried his hardest not to dwell on. She was smart, and energetic, and warm hearted, and so beautiful that it made his breath catch. And he was...broken.