So close, but no cigar ... well, you guys got three of the four obs correct!

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, as the story winds down ... wait, I'm so totally lying! There are a few more chapters to go, make sure you hang in there until the end!

Each of Team Gibbs was flabbergasted by who was standing in front of them.

Ziva knelt down to be eye level with her sister. "Tali?"

The child with dark hair and eyes nodded to her. Ziva threw her arms around her and this time she couldn't stop the tears. "Oh, Tali! I have missed you! I ..."

"I know, my sister. I have missed you, also" As she hugged Ziva, she looked over to Ari. "I have missed you as well, brother."

Ari enveloped them both of them in a tight hug.

Tali was the first to break the embrace. "You must take good care of Tim, he is special." She wagged her eyebrows at her sister.

"Tali! Shame on you." Ziva said in mock horror as she wiped her eyes. "It is not like that between us, we ..."

Tali reached out and put her hand over her sister's heart. "You carry too much here. Too much of me. What happened was not your fault, no matter what Papa says."

"Tali, you do no understand."

The girl shook her head. "You do not understand. Papa was hurting, he took it out on you, not realizing his words would haunt you. I think he does now, and wishes he knew how to change it. Change is not easy for him."

"Yes, that is true. Tali, are you asking me to forgive him?"

"No, I am asking you to forgive yourself. You bear no responsibility for what happened to me. It's a weight on your heart, let it go."

"I am afraid too."

"Why?"

"Because, if I let that go ... then I am letting you go. I do not wish to lose you a second time."

Tali laughed, it was a sweet sound that Ziva had not heard in far too long. "You are so silly. I will always be here, in your heart. We are sisters after all."

Ziva grasped the child's hand and pressed it firmer against her heart. "Yes, that we are."

Tali smiled brightly. "I know that Timothy will be in good hands with you."

"Always."

XXXX

While Ziva was having her reunion, Tony was going through his own. When his orb materialized, Kate was standing the one standing in front of him.

"Well DiNozzo, you're doing good."

"I should have figured it was you looking out for Probie."

"He's not such a Probie any more, is he?"

Tony shook his head. "Nope, hasn't been for a long time ... just got used to calling him that."

"Yeah, I know. You really helped him to turn into a great agent."

"Nah, he did that himself."

"Yup through all the hazing and teasing."

Tony blushed and looked away. "I never ..."

Kate laughed. "You two still remind me so much of my brothers. You are at each other mercilessly, but just let someone try to step in an hurt one of you ..."

Tony smiled and looked back up. "He's the best brother anyone could ever have."

"So are you Tony."

They fell silent for a moment, then Tony decided to bring up what had bothered him for years. "Kate, you know if I could have traded places with you ..."

"I know. What happened to me isn't your fault. None of us saw it coming and honestly, out of all of us, I'm glad it was me."

"You are? Really?"

Kate nodded. "Tim needs you and Gibbs."

"Kate he ..."

"Oh, I'm not putting myself down, just looking at the bigger picture."

"Which is?"

"He's had good a good female influence in his life, but he's never had a good male one. He and his dad are still struggling to make a connection. He needs you and Gibbs, he needs a brother and a father. He needs to know that there are good guys out there."

"And you think we show him that?"

"Everyday, Tony, everyday."

XXXX

Gibbs knew was was standing in front of him even before the orbs materialized. As soon as they were solid, he reached out to his wife and daughter and pulled them close.

"Hi sweetheart, we've missed you."

"I've missed you both too. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"It's okay Daddy." Kelly tugged at his arm, their old signal that she wanted picked up.

Gibbs let go of his wife just long enough to pick up his daughter, then he pulled Shannon close to him again.

"Jethro, you can't hold yourself responsible for what happened to us."

"How can I not?"

Shannon laughed. "Yes, I supposed that is you." She turned serious as she hugged her husband. "You've turned us into a burden."

"What!?"

Shannon pulled away, slightly. "I know you were hurting ... are still hurting. But you can't hold on to us so tightly that you can't breath. Even now that everyone knows about us, you still don't share us. We will always be with you, share us, let us live in you memories ... instead of something that is held for when you are alone."

Gibbs rested his head on top of his wife's. "I know you're right. I just ... I'm not a big talker."

"Really? Since when, I could never get you to shut up."

Kelly laughed.

"Hey, you two, watch it." However, Gibbs wore a smile like none had ever seen on him before. A smile that he used to have all the time, before his two ladies were taken from him.

"Daddy, I like that boy. Are you going to take good care of him?"

"I ..."

"No, Jethro. I know what you're thinking. As much as I would love to have you here with me, with us, he needs you more."

"Shannon ..."

"Sweetheart, listen to me. He needs you ... is going to need you ... so that he doesn't lose his way." She locked eyes with her husband and willed him to understand the message she was trying to convey. She knew what she was allowed and not allowed to say, but she also knew how to get around that. They always had a connection and she hoped it was still as strong.

Gibbs for his part searched his wife's eyes. He knew he had to stop thinking about his own desires. He got that she was trying to tell him something important. He nodded his understanding, even if he was still reluctant to once again be parted from his family.

"He'd have made a great big brother!"

Kelly's words made Gibbs look over to his sleeping agent. No, more than just an agent, they all were, as Gibbs looked over to both Tony and Ziva. They were his kids just as much as Kelly was. No, he couldn't be selfish. He may be parted from one family, but he had another that needed him. He squeezed his daughter again. "He is sweetie."

Kelly leaned in a kissed her father's cheek. "He's special Daddy. Don't let him get lost."

Once more pulling them close to him, he whisper them a promise, "I won't."

Hades let them have a few more minutes, but the time had come for the living souls to go back to their world. "Alright ladies, I'm afraid it's time for them to go."

Ziva and Gibbs gave their family one last hug. Kate leaned in and gave Tony a parting kiss on his cheek.

The women then stepped back, started glowing, and once again turned into orbs of light. They hovered for a moment, then blinked out.

Tony, Ziva and Gibbs just stood there with conflicting emotions: both glad for the ability to finally say goodbye, but sad that they had to at all.

Hades let them have the time to come to terms before he started laying ground rules. "As I said, it is time for you to return to the living world. You three will remember what took place here, although I warn you, do not discuss it outside of yourselves or you might just find yourself locked away ... or worse."

Each nodded.

"Very well, here are your guiding sticks." Hades handed each of them the Mountain Ash branch. "On my order, the branch will break and you will be transported back ... understand?"

He once again received three nods. "Alright, ..."

"WAIT!" Tony tossed his stick to the side and took a step towards Hades.

"What is it DiNozzo?"

"I have to know ... my mom ... where did she ... I mean I'm glad I got to see Kate, but ... I just have to know."

Hades understood what Tony wanted. "Most suicides end up in the Marsh, once they realize what they've done. Your mother was no different."

Hades was taken by surprise when Tony smiled.

"But the Marsh is empty now ... right?"

Hades was shocked and then laughed. "Yes DiNozzo, it is empty now. She has gotten a second chance ... seems as though you have gotten a two-for."

Tony beamed. He went to bend down and pick up his branch, but stopped midway down. "Oh my god! What if I end up dating her!"

"What?" Ziva looked at him as if he had finally lost his mind.

Grabbing his branch as he stood, he explained. "Think about it Da'vid. She'd be my perfect woman. How could I not fall for her ... but yuck!"

"Tony, if she is just being born now, you would have to wait at least eighteen years and you would be too old."

"Bite you tongue Ziva. Besides, us DiNozzo men would never let a little thing like age stop us."

Gibbs shook his head and did the only thing he could think of ...

*thwack*

"Thanks boss." Tony said sheepishly as he rubbed his head.

Both Hades and Ari smiled at their antics. Hades decided to throw out something else for Tony to think about. "Besides, who's to say that she will be a she this time around."

"What?"

Trying hard to keep a straight face, Hades elaborated. "Being reincarnated doesn't mean that someone will be the same sex each time around. She could be a he in this life ... or may not even be human ... a soul can be reincarnated as any living creature."

"Whoa, so you mean ..."

"Why do you think there's the saying about being careful of the dogs you kick."

Tony titled his head to the side, trying to figure that one out, until Gibbs gave him another head-slap.

"Ready DiNozzo."

"Yeah, Boss, ready."

Each grabbed a hold of the thick branch, waiting and wondering how they were going to break the Mountain Ash.

"Remember well the lessons learned and the warnings given ... they will be the last you get." With those final words Hades waived his hand and all three branches snapped in half, sending the three agents back to the living world.

Ari stood by Hades side, watching the empty space where the team had been just seconds before.

"And what am I to do with you? You have certainly earned a place here ... if you wish it."

Ari shook his head, then turned to face Hades. "I will stay in the badlands."

"Why would ..."

"With what is coming, you are going to need eyes and ears everywhere. I can be that for you ... out there."

"You are sure?"

Ari took one last look over to the still unmoving Timothy McGee, then faced Hades again. "Oh, yeah. I'm sure."

Hades smiled, then nodded his approval.

Ari gave a devilish grin, then he too was gone in the blink of an eye.

Hades turned to look at the object of all of their concern. "You have done much and touched many ... however, there is more needed of you. At least now, you will have the support you need ... that you deserve. Fare the well, Timothy McGee."

Hades brought his two hand together, then spread them wide. When he was done, the bed was empty.

"The fate of many now lies with you ... fight hard." He then turned and left the now empty room.