A/N: This is set sort of between "Ex-File" and "Identity Crisis." Hope you like!

Sarah x

Typical Thursday morning, Director Jenny Shepard thought as she hung up the phone on the Director of the FBI. "Cynthia, can you get Gibbs up here, ASAP," she said to her assistant over the telecom. Why the hell did he say that to the man? Leroy Jethro Gibbs was one of the best agents Jenny had, but he was a total ass sometimes.

"What's up, Jen?" Gibbs asked casually as he strolled over to her desk.

"After all the trouble you just caused, you have the nerve to waltz in here all relaxed and say 'What's up, Jen?'" she yelled.

"What trouble?" he asked. "I didn't do anything wrong!" As Gibbs spoke he took a step back from Jenny. He had not forgotten the damage she was capable of inflicting on someone's body when she lost her temper.

"Directors of federal agencies don't take kindly to being told to go to hell! Why did you say that to him?" Jenny demanded. "And do not even think about denying it!" she added with a glare.

"He said something…insulting. About you." He looked away as he said this. He was well aware that Jenny would not believe him.

"What did he say?" Jenny asked, her eyes narrowed. Part of her couldn't care less if she tried, but the other part was curious to know what had gotten Gibbs so pissed.

"He said the only thing you are any good for is looking down your shirt!"

"Let him think that," Jenny shrugged. What was the point of getting worked up about it? All of the other Directors were chauvinists anyway. Hell, Jethro was one. "Anyway, why does it bother you of all people? You still treat me like a probie!"

"I do not!" denied Gibbs. He was giving his ex-partner the infamous stare now. "Why does it annoy you that it bothers me?"

"It's none of your business! I can deal with it myself," she half-shouted. "Why do you even give a damn?"

Gibbs took her by the shoulders and shouted, "Because I care about you, you stupid woman! I don't just stop caring about someone, even if she does leave me with no goodbye other than a letter!" He looked into her eyes, and immediately regretted it. He saw that look that came with her red-headed temper.

"Take your hands off me," she growled. When Gibbs removed his hands from her shoulders, she spoke again while her eyes shone with rage. "And while we're on the subject, half the time I don't know whether I should kiss you or hit you!" The look on Jenny's face said plainly that she had not meant to tell him that.

"Really? Which one do you want to do right now?" Jethro grinned cockily. His smirk faltered, however, when Jenny's face screwed up with anger.

Jenny slapped him hard across the face. She knew it had really hurt Gibbs because her hand stung badly. "Get out of my office, Agent Gibbs, before I hit you again!"

As Gibbs left her office rubbing his cheek, Jenny sank into her chair and put her head on the desk. Cynthia walked into the room. "Are you OK, Director, that didn't sound like a whole lot of fun," she asked concernedly.

"I'm fine," Jenny lied. "Did you hear all of that?"

"Truthfully, I think even Special Agent Gibbs' team heard it in their bullpen," the assistant admitted. "And I'm sure I saw money changing hands between Agent DiNozzo and Officer David."

Jenny smiled and rolled her eyes. "Who won this pool, then?" she said with a feeble attempt at light-heartedness.

"Ziva David did, ma'am."

"Oh, well. At least someone is profiting from all of this fighting," she sighed. "I'm going for coffee. Would you like anything, Cynthia?"

Cynthia grabbed her purse. "Could you please get me a cappuccino?" she requested as she held the money out to Jenny.

"Sure. Don't worry about the money, Cynthia. It's only a cup of coffee." Jenny patted her assistant's shoulder as she left.

She took the long way around to good coffee stand, to give her some time to think. She was well aware that hitting Gibbs was the wrong move, but he had boiled her blood. He shouldn't have argued with her, though. Jenny knew that Gibbs realised what the limits to her temper were. He, she thought, had crossed the line.

A/N: Please review!

Sarah x