This chapter gave me hell. I had to rewrite about a third of the end three different times because the site kept crashing on me. The end result is not as good as what I originally had but it'll have to do because I was getting frustrated. This chapter is longer, making up for the last one being shorter.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just some bumps and bruises."

Gibbs wasn't convinced as he stood next to the agency sedan in the driveway of the Barclay residence. They had gotten there only to find they had gone out of town until Saturday. The funeral director had called them with Hannah's burial plans and they had decided to get the kids out of town for a few days. Gibbs thought that had been a good idea except know they didn't really know what Eric would do and he still had Maddie.

While Tony and Ziva were still talking with neighbors Gibbs had gotten a call from Tim. The young man seemed a little out of sorts as he talked but after hearing Eric had been waiting in his apartment for him and had attacked him, demanding a trade of Maddie for Lisa, Gibbs knew the young man was downplaying his injuries.

"Abby is tracking the GPS in my watch. She'll be able to give you the location of where Eric stops. Please go and get my kid, Gibbs."

"We will McGee." Gibbs motioned for Tony and Ziva to hurry up as they headed up the driveway. "Have Balboa's team meet us wherever we're going. And have a paramedic on standby, just in case."

"Yeah. Okay."

Gibbs hung up the phone just as Tony and Ziva reached the car. Gibbs tossed the keys to Ziva and walked around to the passenger side.

"Boss?"

"Eric Baker attacked McGee in his apartment and is demanding we give him Lisa for Maddie. Tim was able to slip his watch with a GPS locator into Baker's pocket." Gibbs looked up from his phone. "Abby is getting us a location and Balboa's team is meeting us out there."

They all jumped into the car just as Gibbs phone beeped with the location on Eric Baker. Ziva wasted no time leaving the Barclay residence behind.

Back in the squadroom Abby watched as her friend paced back and forth between his and Gibbs' desks. The stitches above his right eye and the sling that held his arm a stark reminder of what had happened to him just twenty minutes ago. When Tim had returned to the yard with blood coating the side of his face and his shirt Abby had panicked. He had stopped her from doing so until she had the location on Eric and had sent it to Gibbs while Tim had talked to him.

Abby had subtly sent a text to Jimmy in autopsy that Ducky was needed in the bullpen for Tim. As the younger man had refused to go to the hospital for stitches when the police had shown up at his apartment, Abby knew Ducky was the next best thing. The medical examiner had tried to get Tim to go to the hospital but the agent dug in his heels so Ducky did what he could.

He stitched up Tim's forehead and arm, cleaned up the blood, and set him with a sling. Tim was now in a fresh shirt as well. Still pacing the bullpen, Tim ignored everyone around him, including Vance when he came down the stairs for an update. It had been a shock to the director when Gibbs had informed him of the younger agents secret family and what had transpired in the last 24-hours.

He knew that McGee would need his file updated to include his children. If something were to happen to him, Vance needed to be able to get a hold of the agents family. All of them.

"Any word?"

Tim didn't stop pacing so Vance turned to the others in the room. Ducky had occupied Gibbs' chair but had it pulled away from the desk to keep McGee in his sights. Abby sat at McGee's desk and Jimmy had pulled up a spare chair next to the desk.

"Not yet, Director." It was Jimmy who spoke.

Nodding Vance turned to return to his office but found himself pulling DiNozzo's chair from out behind his desk and sitting down between DiNozzo's and McGee's desks. He saw Abby smile but didn't comment. Every time there was a ding from the elevator Tim would freeze. When it didn't produce the people they were waiting for his shoulders would slump and he would return to his pacing.

When an hour had passed without word Vance had sent another agent out for food. By now the whole agency knew what was going on. Many stopped to check on McGee before returning to their own work. Just like McGee everyone on the floor would stop and look towards the elevators when the doors opened.

When the food arrived Vance shoved McGee into DiNozzo's chair and handed him the burger. One look and McGee started eating. Vance wasn't Gibbs but he was still the Director of the agency, and his agents knew when to listen, even to unspoken instructions. Satisfied Vance then took Ziva's chair for himself.

They ate in silence for the most part. They couldn't drown out the other teams working around them, the ringing of phones, the soft chatter of teammates talking about cases or weekend plans. But for the most part it was quiet in their little corner - even if their corner happened to be in the middle of the squadroom.

When the doors opened on the elevator and Tony and Ziva stumbled out Tim jumped to his feet. They rushed over to him before he could take a step.

"Gibbs has her, she's fine. The paramedics were looking her over when Gibbs sent us back." Nobody watched as Balboa and Davidson rushed out of the back stairs with Eric Baker in handcuffs and down the hall. Tony finally took a good look at his partner and frowned. "What the happened to you? Gibbs said you were fine."

"I am. It was just a flesh wound. You're sure she's okay?"

Ziva stepped up. "The moment we had her away from Eric she ran for Gibbs. She recognized him from a photo you showed her?"

Tim nodded. "I wanted her to know who to go to if she ever needed too. Told her about you guys too."

"Well she hasn't let go of him since." Tony smiled at his friend.

"Is Eric dead?"

"No. Balboa and Davidson brought him up the stairs and into interrogation. He was very surprised to find us in his front yard."

"It was not a front yard Tony, he was hiding in a warehouse." Ziva corrected him.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Probie knows what I mean." He dug into his pocket and pulled out McGee's watch. "Figured you would want this back."

Tim took the watch and smiled. "Thanks Tony."

Realizing Tim wouldn't be able to put it back on himself, Tony took it back and clipped it back onto McGee's wrist where it belonged. At the same time the elevator doors opened again. They all turned to watch McBride and Stephens from Balboa's team step off. Right behind them was Gibbs with Maddie in his arms.

Tim took a step forward as Gibbs whispered in the little girls ear before placing her in he ground.

"Daddy!" Maddie ran for Tim.

Tim bent down and opened his arms to catch his little girl, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as she barreled into him, clinging to his shirt. He stood with her in his arms, Tony helping to make sure he had her supported. Gibbs rounded the corner into their section of the squadroom and stopped. Tim's face was streaked with tears as he looked at the older man with a watery smile.

"Thank you."

Gibbs nodded, happy to have been able to keep his agent from losing his little girl. He stepped closer as Maddie lifted her head.

"I did what you told me to always do and ran for Gib."

Tim laughed as he kissed his daughter's temple. "Yes you did and I am very proud of you." Taking a deep breath Tim looked around. "Would you like to officially meet everyone."

Maddie nodded as she stared as Abby, the goth inching her way closer.

"Abby." Maddie smiled at the goth.

Surprised Abby looked at Tim.

"Like I said, I wanted her to know everyone she could turn to for help." Tim shrugged. "She keeps telling me she wants your help with her costume for Halloween."

"So you were actually going to introduce us before all this?" Tony asked.

Tim shrugged. "I wasn't sure." He then turned back to Gibbs. "Does she know?"

Knowing exactly what the younger man was asking Gibbs shook his head no. Tim nodded before introducing everyone else to Maddie. Maddie rattled off each name as Tim pointed to them, including Jimmy and Director Vance, much to the surprise of both men.

Once Maddie had seen each one of them Tim turned back to his team and friends, "Everyone, this is Maddie. My daughter."

It was getting late, too late for visitors at the hospital but Tim didn't care. Gibbs dropped them off at the door and Tim carried his little girl up to see her surviving mom. When they walked in Carrie was still awake and as soon as she saw Maddie she burst into tears. Tim had yet to tell Maddie about her other mom, knowing he had to do it with Carrie.

Gibbs had parked and followed Tim and Maddie into the hospital and up to the room but he didn't step inside. The door was cracked open and he could hear their whispered words as they told Maddie about her mother and all three cried together until both Carrie and Maddie had fallen asleep. Gibbs had felt the rest of the team behind him but none of them spoke. They watched as Tim tucked the blanket around Carrie and Maddie before he retreated from the room, running his free hand over his eyes.

"Now that you're here I want you looked at."

"I'm fine."

"You were shot."

"It was a graze."

"That bled a lot and required stitches."

"That have been taken care of."

"Will you just stop?"

Tim looked at Gibbs and instead of seeing anger, saw worry in the blue eyes. Now feeling guilty Tim nodded. "Okay."

"Thank you."

"You go with Jethro, Timothy, we will keep a eye on miss Maddie."

Tim smiled at his family. "Thanks Ducky. Thank you all for everything."

Tony shrugged. "It's what family does." Realizing what family had done to Tim's, Tony continued. "Well what family's suppose to do."

"DiNozzo stop talking."

"Got it Boss."

Tim had to laugh as Gibbs lead him down the hall, the warm hand never leaving the small of his back, even as the doctor looked over the stitches in his arm from the gun shot. Suddenly exhausted Tim found himself leaning against Gibbs side once the doctor was done, satisfied that Ducky had done a good job, and had left the room. Gibbs left him for a moment while he sent a text to Tony.

"Okay, let's get you and Maddie out if here so you can get some proper rest."

"I don't want us to be alone." Tim mumbled against his shoulder.

Gibbs kissed the top of his head. "You're not. You're both coming home with me tonight."

Once Gibbs had Tim back in his shirt, the sling no longer needed, he took Tim back down to Carrie's room. Ziva was sitting in the chair in the room but Tony, Abby, and Ducky were gone. Ziva stood as they entered.

"She was getting restless but she has calmed now."

Tim nodded as he let Gibbs carefully lift Maddie off the bed. Leaving a note for Carrie about where they were didn't seem right but Tim also didn't want to wake the woman. His decision was made for him though as soon as Maddie was removed from her arms Carrie was awake again. Tim leaned down to talk with her.

"Hey, we're taking Maddie home to sleep. We'll be back in the morning when they discharge you, okay."

Carrie nodded and closed her eyes once again. Tim didn't move until he was sure she was asleep, then he straightened, smoothed out the blanket and followed Gibbs and Ziva out of the room and down the hallway. When they pulled into Gibbs' driveway it was to find Tony and Abby waiting for them, two duffel bags in Tony's arms. Silently they all followed Gibbs into the house and down the hall. As Gibbs, Tim, and Tony headed into the guest bedroom Abby and Ziva continued into the kitchen. Gibbs laid Maddie carefully down into the middle of the bed before stepping back. He turned towards Tim.

"You both can sleep in here tonight." Gibbs ran his hand through Tim's hair before leaving the room.

Tim smiled after him before turning his attention to Tony. "Those from my apartment?"

"Yeah. Abby and I headed over to get you both something. I remembered you had said some of her things were there so I went rummaging in your dresser and found them." Tony handed over the bags. "Didn't know which stuffed animal she'd want more so I just grabbed a few."

"Thanks, Tony." Tim started sorting through the bags, pulling out a panda plushie and carefully tucking it under Maddie's arm.

Both men watched as the little girl hugged the plushie to her chest as she rolled on the bed, tucking her head under the pillow. Tony smiled while Tim shook his head, finding clean pajamas to change her into for the night.

"She's one lucky little girl to have you as a dad, McGee."

Tim smiled at his friend. "And I'm hoping her awesome uncle is going to spoil her rotten and help me teach her things I don't know, like which movies are the best."

"Oh, yeah." Tony bounced on his toes, hands tucked into his pockets. "Just for you we'll start with Star Wars."

"Nah, she already loves those movies. Both Hannah and I introduced her last year. She's obsessed with Chewbacca."

"Not Princess Leia?"

Tim shook his head with a chuckle. "She loves princesses, but she really loves him. She calls Chewbacca a puppy."

Tony snorted. "Well, we'll just have to have a movie marathon, just the three of us. Maybe see if we can rope Gibbs into watching."

"Good luck with that one."

"Oh I don't know." Tony stuck his tongue in his cheek. "He seems to be smitten with you little Probie, I'm sure you could persuade our fearless leader to watch Star Wars."

Tim shook his head as he pulled sweats out for himself. "Alright, out. I want to get her changed and settled back down."

"Alright. See you in the morning." Tony clapped Tim on the shoulder and left the room.

He headed into the kitchen were the girls and Gibbs stood around the island counter, all eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tony grabbed the bread and started making his own. They all ate in silence until they heard shuffling from the hall. They turned to find Tim walking in, hand running through his hair, causing it to stick up at odd angles.

Tony covered a laugh by biting into his sandwich as Tim stepped up to Gibbs, leaning into the touch as Gibbs ran his own hand through the almost blond hair, trying to lay it back down flat. Three mouths dropped open as Gibbs held his cup of coffee up to Tim's lips, allowing him to take a gulp of it. Tim smiled at the older man as he plucked the knife out of Tony's hand before making a face at the peanut butter and jelly mixed together on it. Seeing this, Gibbs grabbed a new one from the drawer and handed it over.

Tim nodded his thanks as he grabbed two slices of bread and the jelly, being careful not to scoop any of the peanut butter out of the jar with the knife.

"Don't like peanut butter Probie?"

"Not really." Tim shrugged. "But Maddie is allergic to peanuts so."

Ziva straightened. "I have another jar of unopened jelly. It is grape."

"Thanks, Zee, but she doesn't like grape jelly. Her favorite is raspberry but strawberry is just as good." Tim smiled at the Israeli woman.

"We've got a lot to learn about that little one." Abby stated.

"And now we've got the time." Gibbs had his hand on the small of Tim's back, and the younger man leaned into the touch.

They watched as Tim finished the jelly sandwich, cutting it in half diagonally before setting them on a plate Abby handed him. With another smile, Tim took the coffee cup from Gibbs and downed the rest of it before handing the now empty cup back, taking the plate and retreating back to the bedroom. Tony and Abby both started laughing at the look on Gibbs' face as he frowned down at the cup in his hand.

With a shake of his head Gibbs turned to refill the cup, along with a second one, before getting a glass of milk and heading for the room as well. "Don't care if you stay but the couch is mine."

The three finished their dinner before cleaning up and shutting down lights. They all retreated to the living room. Ziva took the recliner and Abby took the smaller of the two couches, leaving the floor for Tony. The agent instead laid down on the couch left for Gibbs.

"Tony?"

Tony got comfortable and closed his eyes. "He's not coming back out here tonight."

Abby took one last look back at the hall before closing her own eyes. They were all asleep within minutes.