Gibbs called his oldest friend as soon as he arrived back in DC, "Fornell."

"The prodigal son finally returns home. How you doing Jethro?"

"Someone once told me its not healthy to drink alone, so get your ass over here Tobias."

Fornell was at the Gibbs household not ten minutes later, he got the first shock when he started to head down to the basement only to be called to the den. The second shock was the whiskey bottle sitting on the table instead of the normal cheap bourbon the two men generally consumed when they set out to drink their problems away.

"Jethro?"

"I lost him Tobias."

Fornell simply stared at the man opened mouth as they had never once spoken out loud about Jethro infatuation with his young agent.

"And you know what?" Gibbs continued. "I can't blame McGarrett or even Tim for it. I lost him because I can't now or ever let go of Shannon."

Fornell dropped down into a nearby chair as the second taboo subject that was never to be brought into the light of day was dropped into open conversation.

"Jethro?" Fornell was in shock and looking at the unopened bottle of alcohol longingly.

Gibbs looked at his friend and gave him a small sympathetic smile, "Go ahead,." He handed his friend the bottle and a glass.

Fornell opened the bottle and poured himself two fingers in the glass, and downed the drink quickly. He then poured himself another drink, this one to drink slowly.

Gibbs sent his trademark smirk to the other man, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"You're the one bringing up ghost and taboo topics, my friend."

Gibbs poured himself a drink out the bottle and looked long at his friend.

"In Hawaii it was easy to pretend that one day I could love him like he should be, like he deserves to be loved and cherished, but back here in this house... I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he will always be second to a ghost. He deserves better. He deserves to be loved the same way that I loved Shannon; mind, body and soul. How could I ever love him that way when my heart and soul will always belong to another?"

"Do you want me to give me you permission to love again Jethro? Because in all honesty, I can't, that is something that only you can do."

"No, I want permission to let him go. I need someone to tell me that I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life by allowing him to go to another. To go to McGarrett."

"Will McGarrett love him, cherish him?"

"The way that I loved Shannon and you loved Diane. I can see it every time he looks at Tim. He would make Tim the center of his existence."

"One last question and then we will get very drunk. Who is better for Tim?"

A single tear ran down Gibbs' cheek, "He is."

Fornell noticed their glasses were both empty so he refilled them and raised his glass to the other man, "If you love someone set them free."

Silence filled the den of the Gibbs house as the two men drank through the dark of night.

AN: Once again I must apologize for the long wait between updates. As some of you know my oldest son lost his battle with depression at the end of July. Returning to writing as been very difficult for me because I would often use my children as sounding boards of the stories I am writing. However it would be a grave insult to his memory if I didn't continue to follow my dreams as I always encouraged him to do. I know this chapter is very short and very dark and I am sorry. Finishing my three works I progress in difficult but I hope to complete them soon. Please review with your thoughts and comments as they mean more than you can ever know. Stray..