Thank you all so so so much for reading and writing nice comments. I so appreciate it. Enjoy this chapter and your weekend! :)

Late the next day Tim was allowed to be discharged. He tried and was surprised when he succeeded in convincing Gibbs to let him go home and stay by himself. He just wanted time to think and process all that had happened without having anyone around. The ride was fairly uneventful and quiet until they neared his apartment. Gibbs looked over at him and cleared his throat.

"Have you talked to your family?"

McGee looked up panicked.

"They can't know Boss, you can't tell them!"

"You don't think they'll find out when the trial starts?"

He sighed

"Yes" he said glumly. "I-I'll think about what to tell them."

Gibbs nodded. McGee was silent until they got to the apartment. Gibbs helped him take his stuff in. Right before he left he looked Tim in the eye and spoke directly to make sure his message got through.

"You call me if you need anything right?"

"Yes Boss"

Gibbs nodded and left. McGee exhaled and looked around his apartment. He went to the refrigerator to see if he had anything to drink. He opened it and smiled. It was full of food and inside Abby had left a note.

Welcome Home Timmy! Can't wait to see you at work when you feel better!

Gibbs had given McGee the rest of the week off of work. Tony and Ziva were away at lunch the day before McGee was supposed to return. Gibbs was sitting back looking at his empty squad room when his phone rang.

"Yeah, Gibbs"

"Agent Gibbs? This is Darryl Givings, I'm the prosecuting lawyer in the McGee case."

"Is something wrong?"

Darryl let out a long sigh.

"I wondered if you had talked to Tim McGee recently."

"Umm, a few days ago. What happened? Is he ok?"

"His father wants to plead out and Tim accepted."

Gibbs was quiet not sure how to feel. He dreaded the next question.

"What are the terms of the deal?"

"He pleads guilty. Eight years in prison, possibility of parole in five. It's not bad in itself but if this had gone to trial I know he would have gotten twenty years, there was so much evidence against him, witnesses, everything."

Gibbs rubbed his head.

"Yeah I know. Why did you call me with this?"

"I thought you could talk to him, maybe..."

"Yeah, I'll try."

Gibbs hung up the phone and grabbed the car keys.

McGee answered the door surprised to see Gibbs standing there, even more surprised when Gibbs barged in without a greeting.

"Umm. Boss I was coming in tomorrow, you-"

"What the hell are you doing McGee?"

"Huh, I was telling you I was going to come in to-"

"I talked to Darryl Givings." Gibbs interrupted.

McGee suddenly found his feet very fascinating.

"Oh."

"Why, McGee, just tell me why. There's enough evidence to put him away for a long time. What you're doing, this isn't justice. This is hiding. Would you ever advice anyone to do this, would you ever tell a victim to just let their attacker win?"

"I'm not a victim." McGee snapped, his head coming up. His eyes immediately widened when he realized who he was talking to and the tone he had used.

Gibbs face softened.

"Tim sit down." He guided Tim to a chair and sat down across from him. "You were the victims of a crime, doesn't make you less of a person. I can't understand why you would do this, let him off like this."

McGee shook his head.

"Boss, I can't begin to describe how much I dread going to trial. I know that's the cowards way out and I should do everything in my power to make sure people like…like him are put away, but I…can't."

"McGee, you're not a coward, I-"

"Gibbs this is my choice. I've made it, it will save my family the experience of testifying, I've already talked to them about it, it will save the tax payers money, trials are expensive. Besides…"

"Besides what McGee?"

McGee rubbed his forehead shaking his head before looking up at Gibbs.

"Boss you and I both know how long it takes the criminal court system to run its course. It's not like the TV shows. Arrested, tried, and jailed in one month. I could still be dealing with this two years from now. This way it's over and done with."

"McGee is this what you want or what you feel would cause the least amount of trouble?"

He smiled sadly.

"Boss…it's the same thing. At least this way I get my life back, otherwise he's still in control for as long as this trial can drag out." He took a deep breath. "I know you came to try to convince me to go through with the trial, but…please, please just don't."

Gibbs stood up.

"If this is what you're sure you want McGee, it's your choice not mine."

McGee nodded slowly.

"It's for the best…for everyone."

Gibbs headed for the door.

"You know where I am if you need to talk."

McGee smiled.

"Yeah Boss, see you tomorrow."

One month later

Gibbs entered interrogation and sat down across from the man accused of killing two sailors in an attempt to hide his theft of classified information. The epitome of cockiness, James Neal smiled smugly at the Navy cop in front of him. There was no way he could prove what had happened. He had hid it too well. Gibbs started to pull out printouts.

"We found out how you sold the information Neal. Embedding the information in online Bingo, pretty smart. Those old ladies never really knew what going on."

Neal's smile wavered.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't sold any information and I have never been on online Bingo." He laughed. "Can't you guys find that out, check my computer history or something?"

Gibbs smiled.

"Yeah we did, nothing there."

"So why am I here?"

"You had a program, hidden, aww hell, somewhere, that allowed you to embed the code so your buyers could pick it up. You never had to go on the site yourself. We have the documentation and we have your signature on the program. Locked up nice and tight, just the way the DA like it."

Gibbs got up and walked to the door

"I want a deal." Neal called out after him. Gibbs turned around.

"No deal. Have fun playing Bingo in prison Neal."

"Aww Gibbs you did so good remembering all the words me and Timmy told you to say." Abby said once Gibbs appeared in the hallway

Gibbs gave her a look and McGee wisely hid a smile. Gibbs turned and headed toward the squad room.

"Go home everybody, its late."

"Alright weekend time! We're going to a bar to celebrate, yeah?" Tony said looking and pointing at his coworkers. Ziva and Abby smiled and nodded.

"You're coming right Probie? Don't make me drink alone with all these women." That earned him two good punches to his arm. Tim laughed.

"Yeah I just want t finish some things here. I'll meet you guys there."

It was quiet in the squad room with everyone gone and McGee was able to finish much of what he wanted. He heard a sound and was surprised to see Gibbs standing at his desk.

"Hey Boss, I thought you went home."

"I could say the same for you McGee. You're not going out to celebrate?"

"I am, just about to leave. I just wanted to finish up some paper work."

Gibbs nodded but didn't move. Tim got a little nervous.

"Is something wrong Boss?"

"Nope"

He continued to stare. McGee didn't know what else to say so he just looked back. Finally Gibbs spoke.

"Couldn't have solved this case without you and Abby, McGee. Without-" he gestured to the computer "what you know how to do with that thing."

Tim smiled knowing exactly what Gibbs was trying to convey to him.

"Thanks Boss."

Gibbs went to his desk and turned off his light.

"Go home Tim"

The End

Ok, I'll be honest I did look up what the penalty was for assaulting a federal officer and got so many different answers I just made a guess. If you are a federal officer and you are offended by my lack of knowledge I humbly apologize.

I didn't come up with the ending until today. I know it will probably be unsatisfying for some, but I fell like it would be real. I personally couldn't imagine having to deal with a trial for as many years as they take, so I decided to end it. I love being the writer Mww-ha ha. :) If you are unsatisfied certainly feel free to tell me so. I enjoy different opinions.

Thank you all again so much for reading. I have enjoyed writing this and am glad that others have enjoyed it as well. Your kind comments and remarks made my day. Hugs for all and since they are virtual hugs we can avoid redlight situations. :)