Tim stood in his new kitchen, him and Cassie having moved into a house after what had happened at the apartment. Most of their belongings had been undamaged, but the sofa and chairs had been ruined. Tim had put down the deposit on the place straight away, determined to get out of the rental market. He and Cassie had returned to the apartment only once, Tim refusing to return there any more, knowing if he had not recommended it, Jenny Shepard might still be alive. Tim had spoken to Jay Block several times over the last three months, knowing his guilt was self manufactured. Tim knew that if Jacques Benoit wanted Jenny Shepard dead, he would have killed her, one way or another.

Tim watched as Cassie prepared her go bag, being called to help a smuggling operation at Pearl Harbor. Tim wondered who would get to see her in the bikini and sarong she had packed.

"OK, I think I'm ready to go." Cassie declared, closing her bag for the last time.

"You sure?" Tim smirked at her. "You got a camera in there?"

"Why do I need a camera?" Cassie asked, confused.

"I want pictures of you in the bikini and sarong," Tim whispered in her ear, taking her in his arms, knowing he wouldn't get to hold her for another week, possibly two.

"Look, me and Bryn deserve this. We are in Hawaii for the case, and then three to five days leave. Just us girls. Besides, it's not like you and Jimmy won't be doing whatever it is you do when we are not around." The two couples had become fast friends, spending at least one night a week in each others company. "The two of you can hit the sports bars, scream at the umpires for bad calls, or something," Cassie mocked, knowing Tim hated sports bars.

"You know me and Jimmy so well," Tim played along. He and Jimmy had not planned anything for when Cassie and Bryn were away. Tim had plans to get the house much more organized, as well get started on his level ten cyber qualifications. "We might even hit the student bars," Tim wiggled his eyebrows at her.

BBBBEEEEEEEEPPPP

"That's Bryn," Cassie said, unwrapping herself from Tim. Tim grabbed her bag, walking her to the car. "You going to be okay?" Cassie knew Tim almost as well as she did herself. She was worried leaving him alone, even after three months, he would begin to wallow in his guilt, continue to overanalyze the day of Jennys death.

"I'll be fine. I've got a thousand things to do in the house, as well as at work." Tim was doing his best not to restart his self destruction over Michael DeLa Tour. The man had tried to destroy him, and almost succeeded. Tim would not allow him to win, even if he was dead and Tim was alive. "Call me when you can, and remember the time difference." Tim knew the time difference had been a struggle when he was in California.

"I will, I'll see you soon," Cassie kissed him on the path, not caring who saw her. They didn't know their new neighbours well, but she wanted to make sure any women in the neighbourhood knew this man was taken. "I love you."

"I love you," Tim said, moving to put the bag in the trunk of the car. "Hey, Jimmy, thanks for taking them." Tim shouted to the driver.

"You can pick them up," Dr Palmer called out.

"Deal," Tim and Jimmy had come to this arrangement when they were first told about the trip. "Jimmy, did you check Bryns luggage before you left?" Tim asked, deliberately not looking at Cassie or Bryn.

"No, why? Should I have?" Jimmy asked, confused by Tims question.

"Well, Cassie has packed a bikini, just wondering what her and Bryn will get up to with us not there." Tim teased.

"Well, Bryn knows no matter what, no man will love her more than me, even if he has a six pack, biceps and an even bigger wallet." Jimmy said, his eyes full of love for the woman sat next to him.

"Bryn, I'll fight you for him." Cassie said, glaring at her boyfriend.

"You have your man, sister, I have mine, and that's the way it is staying," Bryn declared, kissing her boyfriend.

"Call me, every day, I mean it," Tim whispered, once again hugging her, wishing she didn't have to go.

"I will, I promise," Cassie hugging him just as hard.

Two hours later, Tim was sat in the Directors office, but with a different person in the chair.

"Tim, I have read your six month review of the Intelligence section. Once again, you have exceeded yourself and expectations. Increased employee satisfaction, increased productivity, not to mention the comments and compliments that have come through to myself, SECNAV, and Director Shepard." Tim grimaced at the last name mentioned, his guilt still troubling him. "Your suggestions regarding reassignments and promotions are acceptable, and will be actioned as soon as they can be, once new positions are available. As you know, Tim, when I took this job, it was on the understanding I got to name my successor." Tim looked up, knowing he was not going to get the job, and he would do his best to avoid it, for the next thirty years. "Who you would you recommend to take over the open Deputy Director spot?"

"Vera Strickland is one possibility, Sam Stevens another, Derrick Young could also do the job. You could possibly get someone from another agency. Peter Wilson at NSA, or Harriet Armand at the NRO. All five of them could do the job." Tim offered these people, knowing these were just random names off the top of his head.

"Vera has turned the job down, as has had Sam. Derrick has been approached, he hasn't made a decision yet. As you know, the post means relocating. You can say one thing about NCIS staff, job satisfaction and doing it well is their top priority. Taking a promotion is almost considered blasphemy, as is naming your friends for the top spot." Tim watched as the newly installed Director smirked at him. "Both Ricardo Balboa and Stan Burley have been offered the position. Ric, as you can imagine, turned it down, politely according to himself, others have a rather different view of that. My ears are still ringing from the volume of his voice, and my wife would have washed his mouth out with soap for his language." Tim could only think what Ric had said to that idea. "Stan Burley, on the other hand, has acquitted himself admirably over the last four years here in Washington. His actions six months ago, as well as his continued devotion since then got him the nomination. He took on some of the additional responsibilities of the Deputy position, as did yourself, Derrick Young and Paula Cassidy. Derrick has turned down the offer, not wanting to move. Stan, however, he is more than happy for the move."

"Good for him," Tim said, hoping he enjoyed California much more than he did. "How has your move gone, Sir?"

"Better than I would have dared dream, Tim. Believe me, when you have done as much globetrotting as I have done, all you need is a bed to sleep in, and a decent shower in the morning." The Director said. "I will miss the city though, I had truly learned to love it there."

"As had I, Director." Tim really missed Jacksonville, and hoped to return there soon.

"Let's hope Leon enjoys it as much as we did." Director Jerome Craig stood, preferring to be official at times like this. "SSA Timothy McGee, I am very pleased to confirm to you that your probationary period has now ended, and you are able to continue in the role of Head of Intelligence, NCIS. You will be promoted to GS-12, step 5. I hope to see your continued dedication to this agency and country, Timothy." Jerome held his hand out to the younger man, shaking it with pride when it was accepted.

"Thank you, Sir," Tim said with difficulty, feeling very emotional at this moment.

"I know how you feel, Tim. I wish it was Jenny doing this instead of me." Jerome never wanted the job, and Leon had turned it down, not wishing to see his children grow up without a father.

"Sir, that's not…" Tim started.

"It's ok, Tim. I never wanted this job, and I definitely didn't want to have to take it the way I did."

"Sir, if I may ask," Tim had been pondering this question for the last two months.

"Why me?" Jerome said bluntly. Seeing Tims nod, he continued. "Leon would have loved the job, but he loves his kids more. I don't have that issue. Owen flatly refused it, saying he would end up shooting someone within the first week. Tanya told me to take it, and finish the job Jenny started."

"What was that?" Tim asked, not understanding the last sentence.

"You may not know this, but Jenny and Tanya had been friends at college, Jenny was even at our wedding. When Jenny came down to Jacksonville nearly three years ago, she stayed with us, rather than a hotel. Over dinner, she told us her vision of NCIS. It was to be the best agency America had. Not the biggest or the loudest, but the best. She also had one other mission, one that only myself, Leon and Owen were read in on." Tim hated these missions, or rather, he hated not being a part of it.

"Do I dare ask?" Tim questioned cautiously.

"Jenny knows you will hate it, but the mission was to make sure in about eight to ten years, no more than fifteen, you are ready for this office." Jerome watched as the young man paled, his eyes glancing at the chair.

"Sir, I don't want it."

"Tim, neither do I, neither did Jenny. We were both asked to take it, and do the best we could when we sit it in. For you, it will be different." Jerome knew Jennys plan, and agreed wholeheartedly, as did Leon, Owen, and the President.

"How?" Tim really hated asking his question.

"You will be prepared. Tim, prior to joining the CTOC, you were being watched, by Jenny, and by the other agencies. Once you got to Jacksonville, you were on everybodys radar. You are a good agent, leader, teammate, friend, supervisor, even an unofficial ambassador. I can tell you now, the President has been paid compliments about you from the Ambassadors for the UK, Germany, France, India and Spain. These compliments come from their governments, your name being mentioned regarding your takedowns. Agents Balboa, Wan and Ryan have also begun to get their own fair share, as has Agent Jardine. However, it is you that has been the focus of talks amongst the higher ups in Washington. Tim, like it or not, one day, this chair will be yours, how you get there, is up to you. Jen believed you would be the best director this agency had ever seen. She was wrong." Tim had kept his eyes fixed to Jerome Craig the entire time, his eyes opening wide at the last statement. "You will be the best director this country has ever seen."