emerald_green37 | Catalyst 22/?

As Gibbs and McGee arrived in the bullpen, flanked by Ziva and Dorneget, Abby was waiting for them. She squealed and ran to hug them both. "I'm so excited, my two favorite guys are together." Pulling back, she slugged Tim in the arm.

"Ow, what was that for?"

"How long have you two been together without telling me?"

Tim looked over his shoulder at Jethro, grinning. "Time between when we decided we were together and when everyone else found out. What would you say, about five seconds?"

Gibbs returned the smile, pretending to think about it. "You move pretty fast, I'd say about three."

Abby stared at them, processing their comments and grinning when she realized that she and the others had actually seen the moment first hand. "Right then, really?" She hugged them both again and perched on the top of Tony's desk to watch them.

Vance called down from the catwalk, startling the entire group. "Gibbs, could I see you for a moment?"

---NCIS---

The silence of the empty house brought Tony out of his deep sleep. He didn't open his eyes right away, trying to decide what was different. When he realized that he didn't hear anyone breathing in the bedroom with him, he slowly opened his eyes. Staring at the empty side of the bed, he remembered waking at some point and watching their interlaced fingers as they slept. Two broken men, both vitally important to him, that had somehow joined to become whole. Part of Tony still didn't fully understand, but they both seemed happy and content and that was good enough for him.

Raising his head slightly, he looked around and spotted the folded page propped up on one of the pillows. Recognizing McGee's handwriting, he snagged it and rolled onto his back to read the letter.

Tony, . .

Stay here and rest, you've earned it. .

I know reading through my journals was rough,

thanks for caring enough about me to stick it out.

We'll see you tonight, it's your turn to buy the pizza.

Following Tim's orders to get more rest, Tony rolled back onto his side, pulling the note close as he closed his eyes.

---NCIS---

Vance waited until Gibbs was sitting across from him. "Things get sorted out all right with DiNozzo?"

"Pretty much. He and Tim have sorted things out. I'm still... let's just say I'm going to reserve final judgment until I see if he can walk the walk."

The Director wasn't surprised at that. McGee had had years to come to terms with what happened to him and the role DiNozzo had played in it. Gibbs and the others were still playing catch up. Unfortunately, there was another topic they had to discuss before they could move onto Patterson.

"You do know that, officially, I should remove McGee from your team. The rules state that very clearly."

Gibbs' face instantly turned to stone. "We're not married."

"No, but you are in a relationship and you're his direct supervisor."

Studying the other man's face, Gibbs spoke slowly. "You and I both know that his safety comes first and that you're not separating us, at least not now. Not while Patterson is alive and breathing and targeting him."

"No, I'm not." Now that Gibbs had called his bluff, Vance leaned back in his chair. "However, it is something we will have to deal with eventually. I hope you and McGee talk through your options before I have to make the decision for the two of you. But, in the meantime, we need to talk about Patterson. Ducky went to talk to some of the prison officials and it looks like he's even more violent than we originally thought."

"What did Ducky find out?"

"In prison, he became a rapist. We're not just talking about sex with men because of a lack of options, but brutal, repeated assaults and he'd always call his victims 'McGee'." Vance waited while Gibbs swore and stomped around his office, not trying to speak until Gibbs had it out of his system. "Now, I've spoken to the DA. He is willing to file charges if we can get one of his victims to make an official statement. I want to send DiNozzo out to the prison this afternoon. If he can get one of them to make a statement, we can pick Patterson up. Do you think DiNozzo is up to this?"

Gibbs thought about the encounter when Tony arrived at the house. Much like Kelly, crawling into bed with he and Shannon after she'd been in trouble, Tony had fallen into a deep, restful sleep as soon as he'd earned forgiveness. "Yeah, he's ready."

---NCIS---

The phone call had woken DiNozzo, but he was thrilled to be finally taking down Patterson. Grabbing the go bag from his car, he took probably the fastest shower of his adult life and was back in his car, still tucking in his shirt, only ten minutes later. Only when he was in the car did he wonder just how much activity Gibbs' shower was seeing now. Laughing at that thought, Tony pulled out of the driveway, not noticing the jacked up truck that turned onto the street just as he was leaving.

---NCIS---

Patterson parked down the street from Gibbs' house and approached it cautiously. DiNozzo had left, but Gibbs' car was still in the driveway. Patterson went around to the back of the house, breaking a pane of glass to unlock the French door from the back deck. Expecting to find Gibbs, he took a large knife from the kitchen before he crept through the house.

In the bedroom, he looked at the crumpled bedding and smiled. "Well, Gibbs, I hope you broke him in real good for me." Thinking, he moved through the house, looking down at the driveway from one of the upstairs windows. He thought about hiding in the attic until Gibbs and McGee returned home, but he wanted someplace more private for what he had planned. Remembering an old warehouse near the road that the agents would be taking between the Yard and Gibbs' house, the last piece of his plan fell into place.

---NCIS---

"I ain't got nothing to say to you."

Tony took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check as he tried again. "Listen, I know that some really bad stuff has happened in here, Danny. Don't you want justice for what happened to you?"

"Justice? Oh, yeah, let's arrest that sorry bastard and put him back in prison – with me. Thanks, but no thanks." Danny Prentice leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he glared at DiNozzo.

"We can protect you, get you transferred. I bet my Director can get the DA to sign off on a plea deal for you, get you out on probation. I've seen your file, you got a crappy deal, kid. You help me protect my friend, I'll personally make sure you're taken care of." Tony leaned forward, hoping the young man's need for self-preservation would win out. The look he got in return was suspicious.

"Who's your friend?"

"His name's McGee."

Prentice flinched at the sound of that name. "Your friend is a dead man walking, if he's lucky."

"So, help him and help yourself at the same time, Danny. Help me get Patterson locked up so tight he'll never get his hands on anyone ever again."

Danny stared at a spot above Tony's shoulder, his leg bouncing as he thought through his options. "I get my deal in writing, then I'll talk."

"Okay." Tony was already on his feet, ready to put the plan into motion.

---NCIS---

It had been a day of paperwork for the rest of the team, stuck aboard the Yard, and everyone was glad when Gibbs called it a day right at 1700. Tony was waiting at the District Attorney’s office for the signed deal and with any luck they'd be able to put an APB out on Patterson before the night was over. Feeling hopeful, the couple, along with their protection detail, headed back to Gibbs' house.

They were just leaving DC proper when Gibbs noticed that Ziva was checking her mirrors. "Problem, Ziva?"

"I am not sure. There was a truck behind us for several blocks, but now it is gone."

---NCIS---

Patterson smiled when he saw the black sedan leave the Yard. Knowing what route they would take, he cut over one block and paralleled them for several miles until the traffic started to slow on the street he was on. Close to his goal, he cut back over to follow behind them. There was enough distance between them that he wasn't too worried, but he knew he couldn't stay there for too long.

Another few blocks and he was past the construction on the other street and cut over again, gunning the engine to get in front of them, checking each alley as he went. The sedan was about a block behind a large florist delivery truck and when he saw that go past the right alley, he turned. Positioning his stolen truck in the alley, he waited until he saw the front bumper of the sedan and then floored it, laughing at the sound of crumpling metal.