Yesterday's Shadow: Trying to put a difficult ordeal behind them isn't as easy as Leroy first thought it would be. Can they move on - together? Where do the others fit in?

Posted on NFA as a new installment in the series.


Thurs. 6/24/10

Nearly 2 AM and Tim's finally tired enough to sleep. Spending an hour cuddled with Leroy in front of the bedroom window has helped and now he wants nothing more than to hold him, the person he loves most in this world, physically keep him close to his heart while they sleep. With a tender smile for his lover, he eases himself from his hold and steps toward the bed, this time, not taking his briefs off, but rather, donning a pair of sleep pants to add more of a buffer for them. He's not ready to take them there yet. Tonight, they both need sleep and nothing more.

Compassion washes through Leroy as he watches Tim get ready for bed, adding more layers of clothing between them instead of taking them away. He's okay with that. Theirs isn't a relationship strictly about sex after all. Times like these prove it and solidify it at the same time. Tonight, Tim needs the closeness, the emotional intimacy of cuddling without the intensity of physical gratification. That much remains obvious even hours after they've showered together without any physical touch beyond caressing each other's face and sharing a kiss. In fact, after the events of the evening, they both do.

When Tim looks at him now, his soulful expression lets Leroy see where his mind is at, his quiet tone laying proof of how much tonight has taken out of him as he humbly asks. "Let me hold you tonight?"

The fact that his lover's felt the need to ask for permission says it all and with a lump in his throat, Leroy steps closer, already clothed in sweats himself. Tenderly he cards Tim's hair before leaning in for a kiss and stepping back to let the younger man get settled in the bed first. Once settled on Tim's chest, Leroy quietly asks him for confirmation that he is okay. "You sure you're okay?"

"Just tired, Luv." Tim murmurs as sleep seems to be taking him away already while his arms tighten possessively around the older man one last time before going slack as he's finally pulled under.

"That's it, Tim. Sleep." Leroy encourages him as he too settles down, letting sleep find him not too much later.

****NCIS*****

He's not sure what woke him, but the fact that he is awake lets Tim's mind to come online enough to wander and in no time at all, he finds himself going back over the events of the evening, starting with where his day went to hell in the Wal Mart parking lot. With his arms still holding Leroy securely, his mind fast-forwards to the video still he'd seen on the MTAC screen when he'd arrived back at work after his 'ordeal'. As he continues to hold his still sleeping lover close to his heart now, unwilling to lose the physical connection, the anger once again begins to build - this time for the pain and anguish filled hell this beautiful human being he's holding was put through tonight - selfishly and thoughtlessly.

****NCIS*****

Abby's too angry to sleep. Hell, she can't even stand still long enough to sit down! Suspended! How unfair can you be? She didn't do anything criminal! Hell, the man said so himself! And Gibbs? How dare he issue that order for her to stay away from McGee!

And speaking of...what the hell's gotten into the man who used to be her best friend?

She frowns as that question crashes through her thought process, coming to the forefront as if demanding to be addressed first. It's obvious that McGee has allowed himself to become spellbound by those gorgeous blue eyes of the silver haired man and lost himself in the process. He's no longer the man he used to be and that's not a good thing. The new edition is mean and narrow-minded!

Who did he think he was bellowing at her like that in Vance's office? Was he trying to humiliate her? With a scoff, Abby shrugs that idea off. It doesn't matter because she got the last laugh when she reminded everyone of all the crap Gibbs let Tony get away with at Tim's expense over the years. Now that he's been reminded of that, McGee will never be at peace in a relationship with Gibbs! So, even while losing, Abby's won. With that realization, she can smile - and finally get some sleep.

****NCIS*****

Shaking...trembling? What...? Woken up unexpectedly, Leroy lies still for a moment as he tries to ascertain what woke him. Blinking to clear his vision, his brain is quick to engage and it's not long at all before he realizes that Tim's arms that while holding him closely, are trembling enough that they've woken him up. In fact, the younger man's entire body is strung tight, ready to snap.

Gently disengaging himself from Tim's hold, he leans over and snaps on the low wattage lamp next to the bed. What he sees next as he turns his body and sets his eyes on the young man, nearly stops his heart. His lover's eyes are clouded, yet glistening with unshed tears, his arms now lying at his sides, his hands already clenched into fists.

"Talk to me, Tim." The older man's soothing voice is just loud enough to break the silence without shattering any thought process going on. He doesn't want to startle him, just let him know he's with him now.

Blinking at the sound of his lover's voice, Tim swallows hard around the pain in his throat that's come from holding the white-hot fury in and quiet for the past fifteen minutes or so. Easing himself up into a sitting position and laying his head back against the headboard, he sighs tiredly as he raises one hand up to wipe it across his face before he looks at the older man briefly, his eyes closing tiredly once more. "I can't shut it off, Leroy." He admits defeatedly.

"Shut what off? What's got you so pissed that you're shaking?" The older man asks with genuine concern as he sits down on the bed at Tim's waist, one hand immediately reaching out to stroke his lover's hair above his ear.

"I woke you." Tim laments sadly as he opens his eyes and looks over at the older man again, while he verbally sidesteps the question with a genuine regret.

"What is it you can't shut off?" Leroy does his own sidestepping to keep the conversation where he needs it to stay focused. He's rarely seen Tim this agitated and it's worrying him enough that he's using more words than he would normally use. He thought everything had been resolved before they'd gone to sleep earlier. What the hell happened? What the hell had he missed?

"The image I saw in MTAC." Tim replies somberly as he looks at the older man. He watches as the memory of that image he's referring to, of him being kidnapped at gunpoint, hits his lover all over again, still fresh and painful. The younger man can only imagine how much worse it had been for his lover hours ago when no one knew Tim was alive or not; okay or not. It's this very thought process that has kept him awake and getting more pissed by the minute for the past hour. Seeing for himself now with the look in Leroy's eyes, that he was right, only amps up the anger already washing through Tim relentlessly.

Suddenly, he can't sit still any longer. Practically leaping out of the bed, Tim's pacing agitatedly behind Leroy, who turns to take in the change in his love's behavior, as the explanation finally spills forth from the younger man.

"I'm so PISSED at what she put you through, Leroy! I just can't... it was selfish, it was cruel... it was...beyond sadistic...I just...how could she do that to you? I just don't...making you worry and think that...scaring you...after everything you've already been through with...I just... all the people you've already lost, it's just not...I..."

Suddenly, he's stopped in his tracks as his lover envelopes him in an embrace. "Sssh... Tim. I know. But, it's over. Sssh."

Tim goes physically still within Leroy's arms as everything else just shuts down: his words, his mind's thought process that has been keeping him awake and even the degree of anger coursing through him; in large doses until finally, he finds himself just melting into the older man's care, both strong arms holding him close while the man's head is turned to the side, holding Tim's still, his quiet words still coming.

"We're okay now. Let it go."

Endless minutes tick by as Leroy goes silent while he holds his exhausted lover in his arms. The strength and depth of Tim's anger on his behalf while not completely unexpected, has come at a most inopportune time and before the older man was ready since they both need sleep. Neither of them want to have to call out of work in the morning, both wanting all things that can return to normal, do so.

It's the reason he's not trying to talk about this right now; why he's not trying to remind Tim that Abby didn't ask her friend to kidnap him. It's not the right time to remind the young man that she hadn't planned on the friend she'd asked to help her, handling her request the way that he had. The fact that she'd set things in motion that led up to his kidnapping is obviously keeping Tim's fury on his behalf stoked too hot as it is.

The only thing that matters right now is diffusing the situation, after they get some sleep. Holding firmly to his silence and the silence from Tim that means the young man is following his lead on this, Gibbs mentally sighs in relief. Feeling his lover physically go slack in his arms, Leroy moves them back to the bed, gently encouraging Tim to walk with him. "C'mere."

With nothing further said between them, Leroy lies down on the bed and draws Tim down with him, settling the younger man on his chest. "Sleep, love. I'm right here. We'll get through this together. After we get some sleep."

The sound of Tim's even breathing brings a dry smile to the older man's face. Well, that was easy!

****NCIS*****

The sound of the shower running just down the hall wakes Leroy up the next time and he's quick to glance at the clock. 0600. Crap! He's usually already in the office and working on his second cup of coffee by now. Tim knows this so why... never mind. The younger man's got a lot on his mind and maybe he just decided Leroy needed a bit more sleep this morning. No harm, no foul since he's not late. In fact, he's still got some time for a shower himself so...

Stripping out of his sweats, Leroy slips silently into the shower behind Tim, who's standing directly under the water, head down to his chest, arms stretched out up towards the top of the shower head with his fingers wrapped around it. Not sure what the young man is thinking about, he reaches out and wraps his arms around his lover's waist, gently tugging him back just a bit, as he himself steps up to align their bodies up closely. "Mornin." He murmurs into Tim's ear, letting his warm breath caress the younger man's face.

Tim's arms come down and wrap themselves around Leroy's, holding them in place as the young man surprisingly enough refrains from leaning back into the physical support that his lover is offering, as he usually does in these moments. Even more surprising is when he speaks, Tim's voice is barely heard. "Leroy."

Moving his arms, the older man gently turns Tim to face him. "You all right?"

Tim's eyes are clear and awake, his expression still slightly troubled as he nods slightly. "Yeah. I know you're usually up an hour ago, but I wanted you to get some real sleep."

"Not an apology I'm hearin'." Leroy jokes with him.

Tim seriously answers him, unashamedly looking him straight in the eye. "No. Not today."

"None needed, Tim." Leroy smiles encouragingly at him. "You hungry?"

"No." Tim's voice is still on the flat side and there's no hint of humor in his eyes.

Immediately, all thoughts of playing evaporate from Leroy's mind. Before he even thinks about doing it, his arms are already pulling Tim close. "C'mere."

Standing under the shower together as they silently remain embraced even as the water beginning to turn cool, Leroy and Tim reaffirm their connection that while not shaking under the strength of Tim's anger over the situation; certainly feeling it. Then again, they're supposed to feel it; work through it, together. Right?

Leroy mentally sighs. They can't spend any more time on this now. They have to get on with getting ready for the day. Forcing himself to move, he steps back enough to look the younger man in the he quietly asks what he needs to hear the answer to. "You gonna be all right to work today? Can't have you taking off anyone's head because you're this pissed about this, Tim."

The young man steps back, turns and shuts the water off and gets out of the shower, handing a towel to his lover still standing in the tub. Dragging a towel over his face to dry it before wrapping the towel around his waist, Tim answers him. "I'll be okay. I shouldn't have let it get to me, I'm sorry." Turning, he opens the bathroom door and slips out of the room, closing the door between them.

"Well, hell!" Leroy mutters as he tosses the towel back to the toilet seat cover, turns the water back on to finish his shower. Damn, this water's cold! Just how long had Tim been in here?

****NCIS*****

0620 finds Tony already trudging up the stairs to the Director's office thanks the earlier unexpected call from the man with the not quite unexpected request to meet with him at 0630. He's not surprised to see that Gibbs isn't in yet after the stress-filled night he and Tim had last night. They both needed a chance to catch up on their sleep. Tony genuinely hopes those two can catch a break now.

Knocking on the Director's door, he's pleasantly surprised to find it immediately opened by the man himself. "Thanks for coming in early, Agent DiNozzo."

"It's no problem, Sir. What's this about, if I might ask?"

Vance shuts the door and beckons Tony to the table across the room. Once they've both taken their seats, he finally speaks. "I want you to find that club. However you can without discussing this in house. When you find it, Talk to the owner. Get his side of the story. " He says without wasting time with small talk or repeating details from the situation at the heart of the matter.

"Are we charging him?" Tony asks immediately.

"No. And we're not bringing him here either. Just a friendly chat"

"That I can do."

"That's why I'm assigning you to the job. I don't want a word of this breathed to McGee - or Gibbs."

"Getting the information from Abby would make it a lot easier - waste a lot less man hours, too."

Vance shakes his head. "Probably going to be harder than you think. Her work cell is here. But, if you know where she lives and you think you'll be welcomed, go ahead. Just don't wait a lot of time on it. You're a seasoned investigator with street cop smarts, figure it out the old fashioned way if you have to."

"Glad to, Sir. And Gibbs?"

"I will deal with Gibbs."

"Of course. I'll get right on it."

"Do that. Report back to me."

"Yes, Sir." Tony heads out, happy to be conducting this mission. He can't wait to get the chance to talk to the bastard who'd put Tim through that crap last night. But first, a word with the person who set it all in motion is in order, regardless of how early it is.

****NCIS*****

Quickly getting dressed in the bedroom, Tim then straightens up, picking up all dirty clothes and towels and tossing them in the laundry hamper as he works his way through the room. Heading to his kitchen, he's quick to pour two mugs of coffee to go and a thermos full of what's left in the pot, after turning the pot off. While the shower's still running, he empties and refills the coffee grinds section for the next pot of coffee tonight. While he's waiting for Leroy to finish up in the shower, he reaches into the freezer and pulls out four breakfast burritos he made over the weekend - and pops them into the microwave for the morning drive into work.

While the food is warming up, Tim stops moving enough that his brain can finally engage in some focused thinking again. He knows that he's seriously skewering things up with Leroy by being so angry on his behalf and he wants to be able to let this go.

****NCIS*****

Drying himself off, Leroy resets his focus on Tim's ability to recover from stressful situations that are personal, even though he knows this one's much more personal and much more stressful than normal or even average. He still has faith in his lover that they'll work through this. Slipping into his clothes, he feels his mood lift as his thoughts stay on the wonderful person he knows Tim to be. Whistling, he heads to the kitchen.

****NCIS*****

No sooner has that thought crossed Tim's mind, than Leroy passes in front of his vision, heading for the coffee cups, actually whistling. This brings a touch of a smile to the younger man's face and lightens the heaviness in his heart. Not wanting to waste anymore of the man's time this morning, he's quick to alert him as to what he needs to know before he heads out.

"Breakfast is ready to eat on the road, Leroy." Tim offers quietly as he opens the microwave door and quickly bags two sets of the burritos since they'll be driving into work separately this morning, just like any other morning.

With an appraising nod, Leroy accepts the bagged breakfast food in his free hand and picks up the coffee cup with the other, drinking heartily until it's gone. Holding the cup out to Tim, he grins. "Good coffee."

Tim chuckles as he points to the second cup sitting on the counter. "Yours for the road."

Picking it up, Leroy leans in to kiss Tim and turns to go. "Thank you."

"Leroy, before you go..." Tim cuts his escape off with his attempt to talk to him, while hesitantly dropping the sentence before he completes it.

Turning back from the hallway entryway, Leroy waits until Tim finishes saying what's on his mind.

"I just wanted to apologize for messing up our morning with my mood. You didn't deserve that." Tim's expression is as full of regret as his tone of voice.

Leroy silently scrutinizes his lover for a long uncomfortable minute. Unexpectedly he sets his coffee and breakfast down on the counter and approaches Tim. Reaching out he grasps the younger man by the shoulders and purposefully yet calmly walks him to the mirror in the hallway he knows Sarah insists on keeping there for when she's staying over. With their eyes meeting in the mirror, Leroy points sharply at Tim's reflection as he speaks his mind.

"You see that man right there? The one with the gorgeous green eyes and the mind that's sharper than a tack; gorgeous light brown hair and a body to die for? The heart of gold that sees the good in everyone and does what he can to help everyone he meets? You see him?"

Tim smiles shyly, his eyes closing in a moment of guilt before he opens them again to answer the older man. "Yeah."

"He doesn't deserve it either!" Leroy growls in Tim's ear.

As his own open windows to his soul unwaveringly stay locked onto his lover's vibrant blue oceans of blue honesty, trust, security and love in the mirror, Tim also speaks his mind. "I know. And I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for getting pissed on my account, Tim. Just don't let it take over. Gotta let it go, just like we did the rest of it." Leroy's voice softens at the reminder of how they washed it all away for each other last night in the shower.

Turning to face his lover now, Tim somberly reiterates what Leroy said to him just last night before they'd fallen asleep the 1st time. "Because what we have, no one can take away from us, but us."

"Damned right!" the older man growls as he steps back and gently chucks Tim under the chin - knowing it will help realign the young man's posture and attitude.

Smiling softly, Tim does straighten up and seems to send his wayward thoughts packing, at least far enough away that his expression eases into his normal loving smile as he looks back at Leroy. "Thank you."

Picking his breakfast and coffee back up and heading to the door, Leroy warmly suggests over his shoulder. "Dinner tonight - 1900 - you pick the place."

"Leroy!" Tim calls him back again

This time, Leroy stops but turns just his head, impatient to get going before he is late. And this time, he's met by his lover's hands as they cup his face and kiss him with all the tenderness Tim has to offer; a kiss full of passion, promise, love and gratitude. When Tim finally pulls back, both of them are fighting to catch their breath. Still, the younger of the two has more to add to the moment as he brings a hand up and cards his lover's hair briefly. "Love you. With all my heart. Pease, stay safe today."

Wordlessly, Tim pulls his hand back and walks out of the room, leaving Leroy standing at the door, frozen in place with awe, speechlessness and a wave of emotions he's not prepared for. Life is definitely not boring with Tim McGee by his side!

****NCIS*****

Persistent knocking rouses her from her period of restless sleep and Abby grumbles as she goes to at least find out who the hell is being so inconsiderate. It's taken her forever to get to sleep and now this? Whoever it is had better have a damned good reason for disturbing her this damned early. Wait, how early is it? "WHO IS IT?" She barks as she glances at the clock beside her bed. 0630 Seriously?

"It's me, Abby. Let me in." Tony firmly answers her obvious disgruntled tone in his no nonsense timbre.

"Why the hell should I, Tony?" She demands.

"Because I'm not leavin' until you do?"

"Not good enough!"

"Okay, fine. Have it your way." Tony sighs as he noisily settles down on the floor at her door and begins whistling a tune she doesn't recognize. Loudly.

"Tony, Stop!"

The whistling stops but it's immediately followed by a demanding question. "Gonna let me in?"

"You're really gonna just sit there doing that, aren't you?"

"For as long as it takes."

"If I let you in, you'll state your business and then you'll go?"

"Yup. Gotta get back to work. So, you'd better hurry up. Nobody likes to be around Gibbs when he's pissed."

"Don't really care anymore, Tony."

"You gonna let me in or not? I've had my Wheaties this morning, I can keep goin' out here."

"Fine!" She snaps the lock back and roughly opens her door. "Make it snappy!"

"Wow! Grouchy much?" Tony snipes back at her dryly as he steps inside, not wasting any more time.

"What do you want, Tony?" Abby demands, as she plants her hands on her hips in outright irritation.

"The name of the club."

Immediately Abby knows what he's talking about and reacts, protesting loudly. "What? No! Why do you need to know? Vance said he agreed with McGee about keeping it quiet!" Abby protests loudly as she stalks away from him, further into her apartment.

"Either you tell me or I start asking a lot of uncomfortable questions about you in a lot of places until I locate your friend myself. And you know I will." Tony reminds her as he follows her into the next room.

"WHY?" She turns to look at him now, her face the very definition of furious.

"Because we want answers!" Tony snaps back at her. "Make this easy on both of us, Abby! Tell me the name of the club and I'll be out of your hair. All I want is to talk to him. Not gonna charge him with anything."

"You're not gonna let this go, are you?" She asks petulantly, her arms crossed over her chest as she glares at him.

"No. And neither is Vance."

"Wait, Vance is behind this?" She squawks in shock.

"C'mon, Abby. You have met the man, right? Never settles for not having all the pieces to the puzzle if there's any way he can have them all? Or let a criminal go free if he has anything to say about it? Tony asks her dryly. "You really think I'd be here at this time of day on a work day if he wasn't? You're lucky this time, all the man wants is answers. You both are."

Huffing out a heavy breath, Abby caves. "Fine! I'll tell you!"

Tony's next words startle her. "No, you'll do better than that. You're gonna show me."

*******NCIS********

Driving to work, Gibbs forces himself to focus on where to go from this point with Tim. Sure, he can drop back and follow the younger man's lead for a while, step in and adjust their course when it becomes clear they're heading in the wrong or any unwise or unhealthy direction, but that's not exactly the compass of a partnership that's in synch. He's unsure of whether or not this is the right way to go for the time being. His gut says it is. So, maybe he'll trust that.

The only trouble with trusting his gut in his personal relationships is that doing so before hasn't always ended well or even gone well before it ended. This time needs to be different; permanent, deeper, real without causing Tim any pain or hurt. He's not sure his gut is up to that challenge. Sighing, he mentally resorts to taking things one step at a time, beginning with ways to remind Tim that he still has friends he can count on and that he can share his feelings with without fear of ridicule or embarrassment.

Stepping off the elevator in the squad room, his cup of coffee is already empty, while his mind is chock full of thoughts running the gambit from the situation with Tim to the crap Abby's brought down on them. His heart breaks at the realization that his lab rat's most likely finished here at the agency. There's precious little that can be done to save her job here. Hell, he's not ready to trust her with anything right now, himself!

Settling in behind his desk Gibbs is less than happy to see that his squad room is empty. Where the hell are DiNozzo and Da'vid? With an aggravated sigh, he gets to his feet, needing some answers from the man upstairs. Before he can even get to the stairs, the elevator dings in its' usual way of announcing the arrival on the squad room level.

As it opens up, it reveals one of the agents in question as Ziva steps off with her normal stride and demeanor. Nothing out of place there.

"Good morning, Gibbs." She offers him as she rounds the edge of the work space and settles in.

"Where's DiNozzo?" He asks her without missing a beat or realizing he's being rude to her.

"I...I do not know. I have not heard from him this morning."

With a short nod to acknowledge that he's heard her, Gibbs is heading to the stairs, intent on getting that answer to his question even as he whips out his phone and attempts to call the younger man himself.

"Agent DiNozzo is working on an assignment for me. You'll have him back when I'm through with him.

The sound of the man he's intent on speaking to, speaking first and from behind him, has him freezing mid-stride. Frowning, Gibbs turns back, seemingly on a dime, and quickly takes himself to within quiet conversation space of the man over him. "Somethin' you forgot to tell me, Leon?"

"You sitting in that chair upstairs now, Gibbs?" Vance fires back. "Need to know. And you don't. What I will tell you is that he should be back before lunch today." Without further ado, the Agency Director turns and walks away, obviously not opening the subject for discussion.

The buzzing vibration of his personal phone he carries just for Tim, distracts Gibbs enough that he sighs and turns back to his desk as he pulls his phone out of his pocket, concern etching its' way into his gut as Tim doesn't call him at work like this on a normal day. Then again, yesterday was far from normal and only their second day on the job since becoming a couple.

My choice is dinner at home.

Gibbs smiles softly as he reads the text from Tim. He's not surprised the young man wants to reclaim what was taken from them with yesterday's ordeal. In fact, he's reassured that this means things are getting back on track with them and he's very happy about it. He wishes seven pm would get here already.

******NCIS******

A silent twenty minute ride, punctuated only by arm signals and pointing fingers, is followed up by a solid minute of talking Abby into stopping for breakfast first at a place nearby their final destination for the morning. There's no way the club is going to be open this early and she needs to eat, no matter how pissed she is right now.

Besides, he would really like to get a peek into what's going on inside that head of hers that's got her acting like this. At the rate she's going, she's about to lose her job and she's too good at what she does for that to happen. They've already lost Tim and all his experience and expertise with computers from the team. Losing her is the last thing they need.

Then again, there is that whole 'trust' issue with her now. Now that he thinks about it, he realizes it's probably already a done deal, her being dismissed from her job with the agency. Trust is too important and she's definitely blown that to hell and back. Realizing there's little he can do either way, Tony sits back, looks over at Abby and drops the question on her.

"What the hell's going on with you, Abby?"

******NCIS******

Having sent his lover the text that would stir the pot until tonight when they could at last enjoy that intimate dinner that had been taken from them last night, Tim smiles and turns his focus on his work. There's a mountain of paperwork waiting for him to read and initial his way through. Hell, if he's lucky he might see the end of it by lunchtime. Taking a deep breath, he breathes out slowly and dives in.

********NCIS*******

Watching Gibbs come back with a fresh coffee for himself and one for her, Ziva smiles as she thanks him. Getting to her feet, she approaches the boss at his desk while the man settles back into his chair.

"Gibbs." She comes to a stop directly in front of his desk, her hands resting on it as she does what she can to let him know this is a private conversation.

"Somethin' on your mind, Ziva?"

"How is McGee?"

"Pissed at Abby, but ok."

"That is to be expected, yes?" She asks with a touch of surprise.

"Not from Tim." Gibbs reminds her.

"Not in normal circumstances, I agree. But this...this is different for him. Deeper. Everything." She looks at him knowingly now, willing him to understand what she's saying.

"I know, Ziva. He'll be fine." Gibbs tells her with all the emotion he knows how to let seep into his tone, hoping she'll understand what he's not saying.

In a mimic of his trademark communication style, Ziva nods shortly and returns to her desk, satisfied that Gibbs' determination to be there for Tim and take care of him is still in place.

She never notices the piercing look he sends her way as he contemplates her concern for his lover - who happens to be someone she cares about a great deal. He can't hide the smirk when she reaches into her desk drawer and palms her box of paper clips without hesitation, the moment she sits back down in her chair. Apparently, not even he is exempt from her weapon of choice if he mis-steps with Tim.

With shared glances of understanding between them, it's not long before both of them are setting the topic of discussion aside and getting down to work. Soon, they're both engrossed in going through cold cases to get the morning started. For once, neither of them wish for a call out, preferring the solitude-like peace that has settled in the air while they work.

********NCIS*******

Having dawdled over breakfast until almost 0900, Tony is now knocking on the door of the closed club. It's a solid two minutes before the arrival of the immediately worried owner.

No sooner does he see Tony and reluctantly admit him and Abby into this establishment does he turn on Abby. "I told you not to come back here!"

"Hey! She's with me. And I am here to talk to you. So, lose the attitude and start talkin'"

"Not here."

"Okay. Fine. Your office then and no stalling. I don't have time for games." Tony orders as he keeps one hand on Abby's arm, nearly dragging her along with him. He's grateful that she has yet to open her mouth. Her silence is actually keeping him calm right now instead of ripping this guy's head off. He's only slightly mollified when the guy calmly confirms Tony's order.

"No stalling."

Once standing in the back office, the questions that are half accusations start coming as Kenny glares angrily at Abby as he speaks his mind. "I thought I could trust him. He..."

"Said he'd keep his word not to open his mouth about what you did to him? He did do that" Tony interrupts him brusquely.

"If he did you wouldn't be here." Kenny argues with a firmness that says he truly believes that.

"Is that what you think?" Tony asks with a dangerous aire of faux ignorance. "You thought that the people he works for and works with wouldn't give a rat's ass about him? That he wasn't missed while you had him? That he hadn't had any plans? That no one would care about what he went through? What was done to him?"

Presented with a solid wall of issues he hadn't thought of while doing what he'd done for Abby, Kenny literally wilts before Tony, sagging down into his chair. "Well, no, but..."

"But, if he'd kept his mouth shut they wouldn't have found out about it. Right? News flash, big man: you were dumb! You carried out your plan on a store's video camera! Who does that?"

Kenny shakes his head miserably. "I wasn't thinking straight."

"Obviously." Tony retorts dryly. Turning to Abby now, he quietly tells her to wait outside the office door "And don't even think of leaving or trying to hide from me. We're gonna talk when I'm through here. No getting' out of it."

Abby glares at him and stalks from the room without even a glance at Kenny. Once the door is closed firmly between herself and the guys, Abby sighs angrily. If he thinks she's just gonna sit here and take this from him, well, he's got another thing comin'. She's got better things to do than be Tony's pet stooge for the day. Without a second look, she's out the same back door Tim used the night before, disappearing into the crowds around the corner.

********NCIS*******

Once he's alone with Kenny, Tony sits down and tries again, this time backpedaling things to a more calm discussion. "Tell me how it is you went from Abby's request that you get Agent McGee here by 'whatever it takes' to kidnapping him at gun point on Walmart's security footage. Because you have to admit that's a pre...ty big jump. What did you always want to try that and decided you'd just been handed the golden opportunity or something?"

"No. Look I'm a businessman and I don't have time for games like that - I did what I needed to without any wasted time or money."

"So it was a business deal for you."

"Not exactly."

"Then what exactly was it, Kenny?"

"Abby's my sister's best friend all right? She's like my kid sister. I do what I can for her. Look out for her."

"Do I need to tell you that this was NOT looking out for her?" Tony asks sadly.

"No. l know I spoil her; give her what she asks for; don't usually over-rule her requests."

"Because?"

"I told you, she's like my little sister. She's wormed her way into my heart, man."

"And herself into being suspended from her job." Tony pipes in, wanting Kenny to know there were costs to be paid for what they'd done.

"Oh, man!" Kenny frowns. "Wait! She didn't do anything! It was me!"

"Sounds like you're willing to go to jail for her, Kenny."

"What? NO! I didn't. I mean..."

"You didn't know he was a federal Agent and if you had, you wouldn't have done it. That's your story, right?" Tony asks with an overdose of sympathy in his tone.

"That's right!" Kenny agrees with abject relieve.

There's just one problem with that, Kenny." Tony tosses into the discussion almost casually.

"What?"

"I don't believe you."

*****NCIS*****

Glancing at the face of his watch, Gibbs realizes it's nearly lunchtime. He's hungry but more than that he's itching for the chance to see how Tim's getting through the day with the way his day started out this morning. For right now, he'll settle for coffee and a chance to send a quick text.

Heading out, he does just that, his brief "Everything OK?" text getting to the heart of his concern without wasting words. What he doesn't expect however, is the silence. The entire walk to the coffee shop and back, he gets no response. It's unsettling to say the least.

Walking into the squad room, coffee in hand, Gibbs' phone finally vibrates with the incoming text. Opening his phone, he is finally able to breathe freely again when he reads Tim's reply.

"Fine luv. Getting lunch at Subway."

****NCIS******

Stepping off the elevator back in the squad room, Tony sighs deeply. It's been a hell of morning, even after Kenny had told Tony that he had known Abby well enough to know of her prior relationship with Tim but that he'd never met the guy before because Abby had kept that part of her life separate from her friends.

That had certainly led more understanding to the situation and had eased Tony's mind about the guy, enough that he'd been able to finish grilling him without wanting to punch his lights out, only just slightly. He'd still been pissed enough to reiterate to the guy that the other people in Tim's life had been affected by what had happened and Kenny had better think long and hard about how he'd feel if someone had done that to someone he loved.

Leaving that place with the knowledge that he'd struck some serious points with the guy had psyched Tony enough that he'd actually been able to deal with Abby's disappearance without blowing his cool. Even her not answering her door back when he'd followed her back to her apartment hadn't triggered his fury, any more than her refusal to talk to him over breakfast had. In fact, as he walks to his desk now, he's feeling almost calm. Almost.

"DiNozzo."

Hearing the boss' call him, he's mentally prepared for a showdown over his absence this morning. With the failed attempt to talk to Abby earlier weighing on his mind, what he hears instead blows his mind.

"Lunch run. Subway. Pick ours up on your way back after you eat."

"Boss?"

"Now would be good, DiNozzo."

"Okay then. Ziva, you comin' with?"

"I have other plans for lunch, Tony. But, I will be glad to walk down with you." Ziva gets up and shares a nod with Gibbs before walking to the elevator

Tony doesn't miss the look on the boss' face that normally says that he's being given a chance and he'd better not blow it. Joining Ziva on the elevator that is thankfully empty, he immediately asks, "What the hell is that about?"

"Perhaps it has something to do with McGee."

"Why would you think that?"

"Earlier, this morning, I asked him how McGee was doing."

"Okay. What 'd he say?"

"He said McGee is angry. Although he used the less polite term."

"Pissed."

"Yes. That one."

"At Abby."

"Yes."

"Still?"

"Yes."

"So, maybe this is him wanting me to check up on how Tim's doing, you're thinking?"

"Yes."

"And why would you think that?"

"Tony. Gibbs does not choose where we have lunch."

"You're right. He doesn't"

"Unless..."

"Unless there's something going on there that he wants us to see."

"Right."

"Okay, then." Tony hits the ground practically running as he endeavors to do what he can in the off chance that Ziva is right about this. He struck out trying to get through to Abby this morning, but Tim's a different story. They're closer now, he thinks than they've been in a long time and on a deeper level than before. Sure, there's a lot of work left to be done on Tony's part, but he's willing to do it.

Sure enough, not inside the establishment sixty seconds and he spots Tim sitting in a corner, his eyes glued to the table in front of him, barely touching his food.

Approaching him, his own order in hand, Tony greets him. "Hey. McGee. Fancy meeting you here."