I am going to have a really long day tomorrow and don't know if I'm going to be able to get to my computer ... so I decided to post the next chapter tonight. I will be back on Wednesday. Hope you enjoy.

Oh, I think I forgot to write a disclaimer on the second chapter ... but I am not making any money from this, I own nothing of NCIS.

Over the next week, with Ducky's help, Gibbs visited and ran back ground checks on each of the care facilities. He found one only a mile away from his own house that came highly recommended. It was that one he chose, wanting to have Tim as close as he could.

Vance had given the all team some extended time off so they could take care of their fallen friend.

Everyone helped get Tim settled into Loving Heart Family Care Center, with the exception of one member of the team, Ziva. Everyone noticed her absence, but no one made mention of it ... trying to keep a positive vibe going.

Gibbs made a visitation list, making sure the Center knew Victor was not allowed access to his son and remembering Penny's words, Tim's mother was also barred. Another stipulation he added was that he was able to visit anytime he wanted, even outside of visiting hours. Since he was the one solely responsible for McGee's medical decisions, the Center gave him the leeway he wanted.

Ducky and Jimmy accompanied Tim all the way from the hospital, in the ambulance, and to the Center. Ducky, of course, talked all the way and Palmer added his odd comments, hoping the familiarity would comfort their friend on some level.

Abby and Tony went to McGee's apartment to get some familiar items for Tim's room. Tony tried to get her to take Ducky instead, feeling like he had no right to step foot in friend's apartment. Abby, however was hearing none of it, reminding Tony that he would be better at lifting the heavy books and Tim's writing desk ... plus Ducky needed to oversee Tim's transfer.

Tony reluctantly agreed and went with her. When they arrived, Abby had just put the key up to the lock when the door opened. Sarah greeted them with tear swollen eyes.

"I knew you guys would wind up here. Come on in." She backed up, opening the door wider, gesturing them inside. She was wearing one of Tim's old MIT shirts, her hair was matted and unkempt. She didn't bother to try to get herself together. She sat in Tim's favorite computer chair and curled up into it.

Abby squatted down in front of her. "You been here long?"

Sarah looked at her with lost eyes. "Ever since the day in the hospital." She wiped at her eyes as tears threatened to fall. "You'd think I'd be out of tears by now." She took a moment to look around. "I just wanted to be close to him. I feel closer here instead of ..." She drifted off and looked away from Abby.

Before she could say anything, Abby heard the soft sounds of foot padding coming towards her. She turned to Tim's dog, Jethro, he placed his head in her lap and whined.

Sarah reached out and petted his head, without turning to look at any of them. "He knows something bad has happened to Tim. He won't eat for me. I keep telling him that Tim will be so mad at me for not taking care of his dog, but the stupid animal still won't eat." She tried to say her last sentence with bite, but it came out sad, this time she didn't bother to wipe away the tears that fell.

Tony stood back, watching everything, feeling like crap. How could Death think no one valued Tim's life? We might have failed at it but surely Sarah ... He shook his head at his thoughts. He walked over to the food bowl, dumped out what was there, add fresh, then whistled softly. "Come on McMutt. You have to be okay for when Tim wakes up."

Everyone, including Jethro, turned to Tony when he whistled. The dog looked like he was thinking about it.

"Please Jethro ... for Tim." Tony pleaded.

The dog slowly walked over to the food bowl, looked at Tony then down to the food. He seemed to sigh and started to slowly eat.

Sarah smiled slightly. "I guess he likes you better than me."

Tony looked horrified. "No ... Sarah ... I just have a way with animals."

Sarah huffed a laugh and waived her hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it. I don't blame him for not liking me ... it's not like I ever treated Tim nicely any time I was around. He's just being protective."

Abby and Tony scowled and a small fire of anger sparked within Tony. "What do you mean?"

Sarah shrugged. "Tim was always there for me, ya know, no matter what. Do you know even when he was trying to save me from murder charges, all I did was dis him? Told him all his job require to was make pretty graphs all day long." She laughed at herself ruefully. "Even after, I didn't do any better by him. He was willing to give up NCIS for me, and what do I do - I end up telling him that I didn't want to have to live up to his standards and I didn't want to see him again until he came down off of his high horse. Now ..." tears choked her up again, "... now, I'm not going to get to tell him how wrong and sorry I am." She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Abby looked over to Tony, confused. Tony, however, was fuming. "Why in the world would you say that to him!?"

Abby stood and put a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Tony ..." she said in a soft but warning tone.

Sarah wiped her eyes again. "No. It's okay." She finally turned to look at them. "A year ago, I was dating a guy Tim didn't approve of, and tried to warn me. I thought he was just being overprotective and judgmental. We fought and I got really nasty, said lots of hurtful things to him, then stormed out. We didn't talk after that, until ..." She stopped looking sad at her recollections.

"Until what Sarah?" Abby asked.

"Until I realized he was right about the guy. Found out the hard way. Called Tim from the hospital. He dropped everything and came right away. He never once said, 'I told you so'. He just took care of me, both physically and mentally. I stayed here for weeks. He never asked for an apology, it was just like it never happened. Once I was ready, I went back to my life. Just picked up where I left off, feeling like all was right with the world." She looked down and stared at her feet, and in a very small voice that made her sound like a little girl, stated, "I never even thanked him."

The tears started again. Abby wrapped her in a hug. "He knew, Sarah, he knew." Sarah grabbed onto her and cried harder.

While Abby was focused on consoling the distraught McGee, Tony's small flame of anger was growing. Was Death right? Did no one realize how important Tim was? Did any of us ever deserve to have him in our lives? The last question quelled the growing anger ... for now.

While Abby talked quietly and soothingly to Sarah, Tony went about getting the items together they had come for. He grabbed some books and record albums. As he walked around the bookshelf, he realized there was a big gap of furniture. "Sarah? Where's Tim's typewriter?"

Sarah had calmed down. She got up and walked over to Tony. "That old thing? He got rid of it a long time ago."

Tony turned to look at her shocked. "Got rid of it?"

She nodded. "Yeah, said he had no intention of ever writing again. He wouldn't tell me why. I just know that he had to pay back the publishing company a lot of money for breaking his contract. Had to sell his Porsche to do it." She shrugged and turned away when Abby called for her.

Tony stood there in shock. He never wanted to write again? Is that because I threatened him? Is it because he felt responsible for the deaths that Landon caused? He went so far as to break his contract? He started to realize that there was so much his friend kept to himself. The weight of how much he had let Tim down hit him, making Tony stagger and hold onto the bookshelf to keep from falling.

XXXX

Abby eventually talked Sarah into taking a shower and coming with them back to Tim's 'New Place'. She combed Sarah's hair and talked the whole time, but not with the manic energy she usually radiated. In fact, she really had been handling the situation quite well, she seemed to realize that the team needed someone else to take charge this time. Between her and Ducky, they kept the team going.

Tony drove, in silence. In fact, he hadn't said a word since asking Sarah about the typewriter. His mind was racing - going back through all the years he'd known Tim. He realized missed opportunities, harsh words, and ignorant behavior. His stomach was churning and his anger at himself was growing ... as was his anger towards everyone else.

Why did no one ever put me in my place? Everyone was always so worried about my ego and my feelings ... but Tim ... None of us ever worried about him! And now? Now, we get to look at him and know that he'll never, ever understand what he means to us ... how much I ... how much I really do love him.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, seething. His brother was gone, and this time, Tony DiNozzo couldn't blame an accident, or an enemy, or a disease. This time he, and the people closest to him, were to blame ... which made it all the worse.

Abby saw Tony's death grip on the steering wheel and wondered what was going on with him. She didn't have time to focus on it long, as Sarah made a soft whimper, and drew her attention.

XXXX

They reached the Center and Abby silently pulled Sarah out of the car while leaving Tony to unload. He grabbed a box of books and followed right behind the two women, scowling the entire time.

When the trio reached Tim's room, Sarah froze and started breathing fast and hard. Abby, who had been holding her hand the whole time, squeezed harder and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Sarah, easy. Tim's not that scary."

"How ... can I ... do I ..."

"Just talk to him. I believe he can hear us. He needs to know we are all here for him."

"Even me?"

"Oh, Sarah, especially you. He loves you, no matter what."

Sarah gave a small nod and slowly opened the door. Abby, still holding her hand and shoulder, gave a gentle push that got her moving.

Gibbs and Ducky were still in the room, Jimmy had left to run an errand for Ducky. The two men watched Abby guide Sarah to Tim's bedside while Tony stormed over to the small bookshelf that was provided by the Center.

Gibbs made brief eye contact with his senior Agent. Tony angrily shook his head and turned his attention back to stocking.

Ducky watched the two younger men, confused by their silent conversation.

Gibbs sighed. I wonder what happened now? He didn't need to wait long to find out.

Sarah stood by Tim's bedside, reached out and grabbed his lifeless hand. "Oh, Tim." Her tears starting flowing again. Pulling her other hand out of Abby's for the first time since leaving her brother's apartment, she wiped at her eyes. "I can't believe I'm still crying." She gave a half-hearted laugh. "Bet you wouldn't either." She gave a watery smile, that fell almost instantly. "You've always been there for me, and ... and, I got used to it, took you for granted ... never ... never said thank you ... never said sorry." She was shaking with emotion.

"Your the best big brother anyone could ask for! I never meant any of those horrible things I said! Please come back! I'll ... I"ll do anything you want ... I'll be nicer to you ... I"ll ... Oh, Tim! Just come back!"

Then she did something she hadn't done in many, many years and would never admitted to ... she crawled into bed with her brother. She curled up under his right arm and wanted to bring his left arm to wrap around her, but it was covered in IV's.

Usually, her head would rise and fall with his easy breathing, but now his chest barely moved, let alone her head. It made her realize just how far away her brother was. With renewed tears, she buried her face into his chest and sobbed.

While Abby and Ducky looked on in sympathy, Gibbs looked over to Tony. He had closed his eyes at Sarah's words and his jaw was working as if he was biting his tongue.

Great! Gibbs thought. Death was right. Nobody valued Tim's life ... until it was too late.