Tim was in the living room laying on the couch when he heard the doorbell ring. Obviously, he didn't bother trying to get up to answer. For one, he couldn't without some assistance, and for another, Jenny's housekeeper was around to do it.

A few minutes after the doorbell rang, Tony and Ziva walked into the living room."

"Hey, guys," Tim greeted, pushing himself up to a semi-sitting position.

"Hey, Probie. How you doing?" Tony asked.

"Well, I'd be better if my face wasn't on the front page of the paper," Tim said. Just as Fornell had warned, his story leaked to the media. Now his face was all over the papers and on TV. Everyone in the country knew what happened to him.

"Yeah, we saw that. It had to come out eventually. Have reporters been hounding you?" Tony asked as he took a seat on the arm of the chair next to the couch. Ziva sat next to him in the chair.

"They've tried. There have been a few calls. One showed up at the house the other day too. I'm pretty sure he won't be stupid enough to come back. Jenny threatened to shoot him in the balls," Tim said. He had to admit that had been fun to watch.

Tony snickered. "Yeah, no one can deny that your aunt is a scary person. I'd even go so far as to say she's scarier than Gibbs."

"So how are you feeling, McGee? How is your pain?" Ziva asked.

"I've had worse," Tim said.

"That's not very comforting, man," Tony said. He knew his friend had had worse pain, probably much worse, but that didn't mean much. With his history, McGee could be in agonizing, unbearable pain and still have had worse pain.

"No, I guess not. But seriously, it's not so bad right now. It's dealable at the moment. How are things at work with the assistant director?" Tim asked.

Tony scowled at the mention of Vance. "Let's just say that Director Shepard can't come back fast enough. The man has it out for me, I'm sure of it."

Ziva chuckled. "Vance does not appear to appreciate his sense of humor."

"He doesn't appreciate any sense of humor. Have you even seen him smile once?" Tony asked.

"I will admit he is more of the serious type," Ziva said.

Tim laughed a little. "To be fair, he's Acting Director. I don't think he's supposed to be very humorous. So what else has been going on. I'm sure word has gotten around by now that I'm the director's nephew."

Tony and Ziva looked at each other for a minute and then back at their friend. "Well, a lot of people have been concerned for you. They keep asking how you're doing," Tony said.

"But there are also quite a few who are angry. They believe you have managed to get as far as you have because of Jenny," Ziva concluded.

Tim huffed irritably. He sort of expected it, but that didn't make him any less angry. He didn't really care for himself, but Jenny didn't deserve the heat she'd undoubtedly take. "You know, I don't care what they say about me, but Jenny had no idea who I was. She opened no doors for me," Tim said.

"Yeah, those with any brain cells in their heads know that. Don't let the others get to you. You don't have to worry about Jenny either. She won't let them get away with that crap," Tony said.

"I just don't like that she has to suffer because I kept a secret," Tim said.

"Do you wish you had come forward?" Ziva asked.

"Well, I can admit that things probably would've been better if I had. A lot of things might not have happened, including this," Tim said as he pointed to his legs. "It felt logical to keep my secret at the time. Even now, a part of me wishes it was still a secret."

Tony nodded. He could see why Tim wished it was still a secret. Now that it was out, he had to face everything that happened. You couldn't really hide anymore when everyone knew the truth.

"But I also know that I caused Jenny a lot of pain by keeping who I was a secret and I shouldn't have done that. I just convinced myself that she was better off," Tim said. He still believed she was better off without him, but he conceded she wasn't better off thinking he was dead.

"You must have really been shocked when you first saw her at NCIS," Tony said.

"Are you kidding me? It knocked the wind out of me. I had no idea that she was with NCIS, let alone so high up that she would be the next director," Tim said. Talk about a crazy day. They had been stressed with having just lost Kate and trying to find Ari. Then all of a sudden, his aunt appeared out of nowhere and announced as the new director. He'd had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't in the middle of a very vivid nightmare.

"You were good at hiding it though. We all just thought you were nervous around her because, well, you were scared of her," Tony said.

Tim chuckled. "Not in the slightest. Although, most do have reason to fear her."

"Like Abby. She has been wanting to come by, but she is worried about Jenny," Ziva said.

"Something to be thankful for. Sorry, but I'm not really thrilled with Abby right now," Tim said. He was still pissed at her for the judgmental things she said to him the hospital. He had been nothing but supportive of her, yet she thought she had the right to condemn him.

"Yeah, none of us are right now. Even Gibbs snapped at her the other day," Tony said.

"Really?" Tim asked surprised. It wasn't often that Gibbs had anything bad to say to Abby. Actually, it was never. Abby was Gibbs' favorite. He thought of her as a daughter.

"Yeah. She said something to him about what you said to her in the hospital and Gibbs pretty much told her you were right to kick her out. He said if he'd been there, he'd have done it himself.

Tim couldn't help but be pleased to hear that. It was nice to know Gibbs had his back. Well, he knew Gibbs had his back, but he never thought he'd have it even at Abby's expense. "I'm probably still going to have to talk to her again at some point, but I'll be honest, I'm in no rush."

"I don't blame you. She had no right saying the things she did," Tony said.

Just then, they all heard the door open and close. Jenny came into the room a few minutes later.

"Uh, hey, Director. Sorry to just show up. We just wanted..."

"Relax, Tony. I have no problem with you two showing up to check on Jasper. I know your team has always been more than just a team," Jenny said warmly.

"Oh, okay. Thanks, Director," Tony said.

"Since you're here, you two wanna stay for dinner?" Jenny asked.

"Sure. I never turn down food," Tony said.

"I will stay as well," Ziva said.

"Good. Gibbs will be joining us as well," Jenny said before leaving the room.

Tony turned to Tim and quirked an eyebrow.

"Don't! Don't even go there," Tim said firmly.

Tony chuckled. "Come on, you don't think it's weird that she invited Gibbs for dinner."

"Shut up," Tim said.

"Would it be so bad if they started things up again. Gibbs could be your uncle-in law," Tony said with a smirk.

Tim grabbed a pillow from underneath his propped up legs and threw it at his friend.