The blinds were drawn and not a single light was turned in house. The sole occupant was huddled up in the ancient easy chair that probably dated back to the mid eighties. A decorative pillow was clutched close to his chest. His eye wide with terror, his glasses sitting on the table beside him. His heart racing so fast that he halfway expected it to beat out of his chest and literally run away from him. Every time he heard a sound or a car drove past the house he jumped. Fear had always been the most powerful emotion in his mind. Others would argue anger, love, or even joy but fear could render even somebody like Leroy Jethro Gibbs nearly catatonic. A car pulled into the driveway and he threw himself onto the floor. He peaked up and saw that the car had driven off, probably just somebody turning around. On his way up from the floor, he spotted the letter. The letter he had dreaded for years but still denied was true when it came. Time was another strange concept. How could twenty five years possibly have rushed by so fast. When he was a kid and thought that this day would never come. Twenty five minutes seemed like an eternity. His childhood, he had painted it as idyllic though sometimes he did slip up and tell stories from both of his lives. In a way he was glad that nobody called him on it but in another way he was hurt. That he was nothing more than a minor player in the team and his past was so insignificant that he could tell of two different childhoods and nobody would care. None of that mattered. His very life could be ending at any moment now. What meaning did it have that he felt ignored and unappreciated at work. Except if he were more noticeable and important maybe he would not be sitting alone living in terror right now. Maybe agents would be at his house. Maybe Breena would not be driving Victoria down to her sister's house in Florida. Using the excuse that the couple had a few things to work out. Which deep down did make sense considering Breena was a month and a half along with the newest Palmer. God, he wished that she had agreed to stay down there and be safe but she wanted to stand by her man. Why did he have to get such a loyal girl? He did not deserve a woman like her. Especially if she would only end up getting murdered by a psychopath thanks to him.

Tony stood barefoot in the "snow" it was more cold rain than anything. Yes he knew that snow was just frozen rain but this did not have the white fluffy or even white hard appeal that snow had. The flurries would fall and then for the most part instantly melt. Though a few did stick around a dust the ground with white, wetness. He looked at his watch and saw that it was well after eight o'clock. He stood on his tip toes and squinted his eyes like a boy trying to see over the fence into the neighbors yard. The highway had a decent amount of cars for this late on a Friday night and a few looked as though they may be about to turn off. A couple did turn down his street but whizzed right by his apartment complex. He looked at his watch again and wondered if once again he was alone on a Friday night. Abby, Bishop, and few other woman from NCIS had gone out for a girl's night out. As a way to brighten Bishop's mood in wake of her soon to be finalized divorce. With Delilah up in New Jersey visiting her cousin who had recently had a baby or something. McGee was alone for the weekend as well. So the seemingly terminal single DiNozzo had suggested a guy's night. Of watching movies, playing video games, eating junk food, and farting. Ducky, Gibbs, Jimmy, and a few other men from work. Ducky had politely declined, as Tony had expected. The old man rarely went out past eight anymore but still Tony thought he would ask. Gibbs had actually considered it but then remembered plans with Dr. Taft, needing to finish a project for Dr. Taft, or something else involving his new best friend. Tony knew that being friends with your boss wasn't exactly the best idea but he did have a strange feeling of resentment. As if he had been replaced. Not that it really mattered that much. Jimmy had agreed but ended up backing out and Tony didn't really blame him. He had just gotten terrible news and wanted only to stay home and away from the world. McGee on the other hand had promised he would come. He had even agreed to bring the food and his fancy uber geeky gaming system. Tony was about to head inside, remove his pants, and watch an adult movie. When McGee's Prius swung into the parking lot and slammed to a halt in the guest space for his unit. McGee jumped out of the driver's seat, lugged the gaming system out of the backseat, awkwardly balancing it and the groceries he had bought, and stepped up onto the sidewalk. Tony grabbed the system from his friend and the pair headed inside. As usual the elevator was broken, so the pair ended up awkwardly lugging the game upstairs like a piece of furniture. McGee took the game while Tony unlocked his apartment. While the younger man was hooking up the system. Tony tossed a little food into Kate's bowl. Ziva had died thanks to complications from swim bladder and Wendy had eaten one of Kate's eyes. So she was now in the care of his friend Mort who quote "took in unruly fish". Once the fish was fed and the food was in the in the oven, microwave, and toaster oven. Tony grabbed the chips and dip, some cookies, and walked over to the couch. He plunked down beside his friend, and dumped the food on the table.

"Foods cooking, should be ready soon." Tony commented.

"Great, how is Kate doing?" McGee asked.

"Good considering she's rocking the Trent Kort look and about five years old." Tony explained.

"That's good to hear." McGee replied.

"It is" Tony agreed.

"Sorry I'm late. They were doing something at the grocery store and only had one line open. Took me about an hour to get through. Then the kid working the register had to clock out and the manager had to check me out." McGee explained.

"It's alright. I am just glad I was not ditched." Tony replied.

"Aw I wouldn't ditch you." McGee assured.

"I know but everybody else backed out." Tony replied.

"Well I'm not everybody else." McGee remarked.

"I know" Tony replied, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"Oh yeah while I was at the store I saw this dude who looked like a middle aged version of Jimmy Palmer. Well not exactly, he was more built and tatted up but he had the same hair and face. Here I got a picture." McGee explained, all while laughing and handing Tony his phone.

"Holy Shit!" Tony gasped, studying the phone.

"I know, crazy right?" McGee asked.

"Please tell me you didn't talk to him and certainly tell me that you did not tell him that you know Jimmy." Tony begged.

"No I wanted to but there were a few people between us in line and he was gone before I could get out of there." McGee explained.

"OK, OK good. Now I need you to call NCIS and have them bring the Palmer's to a safe house. I am going to check on Jimmy and tell him the Calvary is on the way." Tony replied, gasping for breath and trying to keep his cool.

"Why? What's happening?" McGee asked, completely befuddled.

"I will explain later! Just get somebody over to Jimmy's!" Tony cried, frantically dialing his phone.

A/N: You like? Who was the man McGee saw and why is Jimmy so afraid? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.