Note: Thanks to everyone who's read, followed, reviewed, commented, PM'd me, favorited, you all are the best! Make sure you read the note at the end! Big shout out to my beta HarmonFreak1 - THANK YOU!

Note: Megan (guest), I'll say this again, you obviously don't watch the same show I do. Apparently you did not see the warning on the summary, the one that's there in plain sight. Or are you a troll? Since your last comment is the same as your first, I'm beginning to think you are.

Chapter Eight

The team was at their workstations, completing their reports for the project. Tim noticed that most of the ones who normally looked like they were wearing their pajamas to work had spruced up for the day. He was proud of their work, individually and as a team, and had been generous in his praise. He'd also been clear and honest with any of them when they'd made mistakes. One of the things he'd learned in his life as a homeless orphan, a "parent" with his two young siblings and again as a member of Gibbs' team was that the absence of respect or worse, outright disrespect could sometimes cause as much or more harm than physical, verbal or emotional abuse. He learned that showing a person respect and honesty while dealing with his or her mistakes went a long way to helping that person's self confidence and learn from the mistake. In his opinion, people disrespecting others reflected badly, showed they didn't respect themselves. He had said that once to Ducky and the man patted him on the arm as he told him he would have made a great psychologist.

He went through the room, introducing their Director, noticing how Vance repeated each person's name as he shook their hand, thanking them for their good work. When he reached James, he smiled, "You're Tim's flat mate, I've heard about some of your travels, sounds like fun!"

James' eyes widened, he'd been ready for a stiff formal authoritative figure, not this man with the warm handshake. Swallowing, he remembered all the things his parents had taught him about small talk. "We have had a lot of fun, Sir." The next man, Reg, said the rest for all of them. "Sir, Tim made sure that while we worked hard and smart, we've also worked as a team and enjoyed our work. " He paused, "And played a bit after work." Everyone chuckled at that.

Vance nodded. "You certainly do have a strong team, good development, testing and implementation skills. And it shows, ladies and gentlemen. You've just given us the best implementation of a new product this agency has ever had. Zero bug reports, congratulations! I don't know whether you're familiar with the US dollar amounts, but use of your program will save the agency more than $4 million a year. In this age of budget cuts and freezes, that's a considerable savings! Thank you again." Joel started the applause and the team took it up, applauding each other and their Project Manager, who was busy applauding them.

Vance spoke again, "I understand you're still writing up your final reports. Once those are finished, shut down for the day, we'll go have a nice lunch and then you'll have the afternoon to yourselves." Joel and Tim had kept that as a surprise, not even James knew and there were many surprised murmurs and even more grins. One of the cheekier members called out, "Hey Tim, what will you see this afternoon then? Maybe we can all go!" Tim laughed. "Don't know Henley, hadn't thought about it. I'm willing to listen to your suggestions; you know where we've been so far."

Nodding to Vance and Joel, he turned to head to his own desk to finish up. A warm hand on his shoulder stopped him, "Hang on Agent McGee, need you for a little while longer."

Tim smiled as he turned, "Sorry Sir!"

" 'S ok." The three men retreated to Joel's office and the SAIC invented an excuse to leave them alone, sensing the Director wanted some privacy with his protégé, for he saw now the personal pride the man had in Tim.

"Is something wrong, Director Vance? Kayla and Jared? Ducky?"

"No no, Tim, everyone's fine, didn't mean to worry you. I just wanted a moment alone with you; see how you're really doing."

"Oh good, glad everyone's all right." He paused. "Sir, this has been one of the best experiences of my life, I can't even begin to thank you for letting me do this."

"I didn't "let you", Tim, you were ready for it and I was ready to beg you to take it if you hadn't spoken first. And I take it the flat share has worked too?"

"It has, it's been wonderful, I felt part of the group, had an instant friend who is nearly as new to London as I am and I was at home right away. I've been warm, comfortable, happy. I'm serious when I say it's been the happiest month – or three and a half weeks - of my life."

Vance put his hand on his shoulder again, "That's good, just what I hoped for you. A chance to break away and catch your breath, do what you love to do, have a success, strengthen your confidence levels and let you move on to the next phase of your career. I'm damn proud of you, Timothy." He hesitated and Tim figured it was something to do with his former team. "It's ok Sir, whatever you need to tell me, or ask me."

"Ducky said you haven't wanted to know what was happening."

"I haven't wanted the distraction from the project, Director, no matter how much fun I've been having sightseeing or hanging out in new clubs, the project has been my first priority."

"Good man, that's just as it should be, I'm just glad that you've had time to explore. It's a great country, isn't it?"

"Yes Sir, I'll be coming back on holidays and vacations."

"Hmm, I'll want you home once in awhile Special Agent McGee."

"Not a problem Sir! So what's the news?"

"Fine, no more beating around the bush. Here, sit down." The two men sat while Vance updated Tim with the changes in DC. Tim's heart sank when he heard of Abby's termination and DiNozzo's demotion and reassignment, even though Vance assured him it was not all due to their behavior toward him. When he was told that Gibbs was on suspension while Vance pulled together a new team for him, Tim's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. He had not anticipated any of this. He'd figured his former team mates would at most get a slap on the wrist and continue on their merry way. He shook his head when Director Vance stopped speaking. "I should have just asked for a transfer, I never should have said anything. I never meant to ruin their careers while mine…it doesn't seem right Sir."

"It is right, Tim. Gibbs and DiNozzo did nothing to help you in your career, in fact DiNozzo shot you down every chance he got and Gibbs kept you benched most of the time. DiNozzo bullied and disrespected you, hell they all disrespected you, while the rest of the office looked on helplessly. Gibbs was supposed to be your leader but he not only didn't lead you, he didn't lead DiNozzo or David, not the way a real leader does. DiNozzo was his second, he also should have been leading, he was even worse, frequently abused his position and not just with you. If I had been Director after Tom Morrow, DiNozzo would have been out on his ass then, Gibbs or no Gibbs." He leaned forward, "Special Agent McGee, you are an asset to this agency. Scuito was no longer an asset and DiNozzo had just about outlived his usefulness. I'm glad Gibbs is staying and I believe with some help he will build another strong team, but this one will be a team, not a collection of bullies and their target. Gibbs has taken your words and your departure to heart; I believe in the long run that as painful as it's been for you, it will do him good. Do you know I have complaints filed by nearly every other Team Leader that's worked in DC over the past ten years, reporting inappropriate behavior, bullying, lack of leadership against both DiNozzo and Gibbs and a few against David as well. And the complaints against Ms. Scuito were overwhelming; she was already in serious trouble, Timothy, for things that had nothing to do with you. However, along with those things, the evidence I found of her mistreatment of you, her lies about you, her lies to Gibbs and Shepard and me, dating back to her stalker, the dog mauling case, Mexico…it was all more than enough to cause termination."

He added, hoping this would help assuage the young man's misplaced guilt, "Even Gibbs accepted that with no argument."

Tim's head popped up, "He let her be fired without a fight?"

"Yes. And he had no argument against DiNozzo's demotion and reassignment."

"That's not Gibbs, Sir. I thought he'd go down in flames before he'd let his two favorites be impacted."

"Here's what happened. After your announcement to him, he started thinking. He realized he didn't know much about you and I helped him with that. I had him read your personnel file, which he had not done before, and then I had him look through all the incident reports and complaints filed against DiNozzo and Scuito. Then I pulled your personal notes from case files and the memos I've had over the years and that we've found in Shepard's files, of NCIS employees – and from outside the agency – praising you. I only showed him the specific ones, but he also saw the pile of the general ones too. You've done a lot, helped a lot of people, from the homeless to the CIA, from SecNav, even a former President." He paused again. "I don't know how this is going to make you feel, but when Shepard was Director, you had an offer from the White House to join their staff. Because you were already a Federal Employee the offer had to go through channels and she found a way to kill it without ever letting you know."

Tim had gone even paler than usual. "I've always known she didn't have much use for me, but that's…so low. Did Gibbs know?"

"No, the notes I found show that she killed it without saying anything to him. Yes, it was low but the point is you were requested. By the White House."

Tim smiled, "During Shepard's time that would have been the wrong party for me, Sir."

Vance laughed. "Ah Tim, you are a good soul. I'm so relieved to find you've bounced back, actually better than I've ever seen you."

"Thank you Sir. And now I have the confidence to go learn some more in Greece and show you what I can really do."

"I already have every confidence in you Tim; it's just a matter of bumping up your experience levels and allowing you to step up."

"Thank you, Director that means the world to me."

There was a discreet knock on the door as Joel stuck his head in. "Ready to go? Your team is ready, Tim." Vance answered for them, "Yes, we're ready, let's go eat!"

Tim later remembered that the lunch went well. Everyone was relaxed and Vance was charming and funny, a side of the man he'd never seen much of at Headquarters. On the walk over, Vance had asked if Tim minded if he told the "Admiral Whitebeard" story. Tim laughed and said as long as SecNav never heard about it, he was fine. Then he realized it would have been the late Secretary of the Navy Clayton Jarvis who would have been told. Before he could open his mouth, Vance just patted him on the arm and told him not to worry. Tim remembered laughing at the story when Vance told it, it sounded a lot funnier than it had been when it happened – Abby had actually threatened him if he didn't do something.

But the whole lunch was a bit of a blur as Tim's brain kept repeating Vance's words of confidence. He really was a decent Field Agent and not just a computer geek; it hadn't been his imagination after all. His extra training with his friends had helped; at least it had been noticed. In a way he felt that the indignities, abuse and disrespect he'd suffered for all those years were being gently swept away by the success of his new life and his new adventures. He'd loved his three and a half weeks in London and he would always have an abiding fondness for these people, his first success post the MCRT, but now he was ready to move on, to Greece and his new life there.

The End

Join Tim as he moves on to his new permanent post in Greece while his former team starts getting their act together. The new story "Finding Home" will be arriving soon!