The sun poured in from the large window behind Jenny Shepherd's desk casting the room into a golden glow. She crossed her arms and sat on the edge of her sleek wooden conference table, studying the young agent before her. She understood what few others did not, that Tony DiNozzo had spent nearly his entire life hiding his own insecurity and self doubt behind a mask of cockiness and jovial antics. He had fought to keep the demons that whispered into his ear at bay. Despite himself he had found a home here at NCIS and with it a purpose, a place and a family.

She smiled warmly as memories long passed flowed through her mind. Tony reminded her so much of all she admired and missed about his mentor, and hers, Jethro Gibbs. Tony had an inner strength that when tested only grew stronger and an intuition and loyalty that were without question. All of those abilities and experience had been tested in the months since Gibb had retired to a life of leisure on a Mexican beach, leaving him to command the team. Still, he had risen to the challenge in a way that surprised even her. He had proven himself to be not simply an excellent field agent, but a leader and commander as well.

Today though, was not one for which he was prepared. Today his loyalty to his friend had come crashing headlong into his duties as team leader. Ziva had defied his direct order on an undercover assignment targeting a terrorist sleeper cell operating in the nation's capital. When a bomb was discovered inside a hideout, she risked her life and her cover to defuse it and salvage the evidence remaining inside. In doing so she also risked the lives and covers of two FBI agents who had operated deep inside the group for nearly a year. Had she been discovered, there would not have been enough time to extract those two agents before they would surely have been killed.

Tony leaned forward, his elbows planted solidly on his muscled thighs. His face was heavy with the decision he knew he had to make.

"You are the team leader, Tony."

"I know that Director," he said firmly. "But at the same time, Ziva is my friend."

"And you don't want to see your friend hurt, or be the one to do it," Jenny said sympathetically.

His silence was all the answer she needed.

"So how would you feel at seeing her dead? Or sent back to Israel because she cannot follow NCIS policy?" Her words were firm but soft and filled with regret. "If it goes on record Tony, what she did today will cost Ziva her career at NCIS. I won't even be able to prevent that," Jenny said what Tony already knew and the weight of that was heavy for them both.

Tony took a deep breath and studied his folded hands. He didn't look up as he felt her sit slowly beside him on the couch.

"How can I make this decision Jenny? Ziva is my friend and my partner. There is nothing that I wouldn't do to protect her," Tony asked in a whisper. "I want Gibbs back."

"Gibb's quit Tony. You did not," Jenny leaned forward studying him for a long moment. "You can protect her and show her that she crossed the line at the same time."

"How?"

She took a deep breath and leaned back against the couch, gathering her thoughts. "Many years ago, Gibbs was assigned a young agent that he also cared about as more than just a partner," Jenny chose her words carefully and searched Tony's eyes to ensure he understood their meaning. "She made a mistake that nearly cost an important mission and could have ended her career."

"What did he do?"

"He covered for her and then chose a more unorthodox method for addressing the issue," Jenny answered lowering her eyes.

Tony took a deep breath. He knew about Gibb's "unorthodox methods" all too well. Despite that knowledge he, he had never dreamt of utilizing them himself, especially not with Ziva.

Jenny could feel Tony's knowing eyes studying her and tried her best to keep from blushing. Despite their differences, there was no denying that Tony had Gibb's innate ability to know and understand more truth about people than they themselves often understood.

"Did it hurt?" He finally asked smiling slightly at the flush of embarrassment spreading across her face.

"It hurt like hell," she acknowledged with a self-conscious laugh.

"Did you hate him for it afterwards?" Tony asked a question that revealed a deep set fear.

She pondered the question a moment before answering, "No actually. I felt closer to him afterwards. I knew that he would protect me, even against myself. I certainly didn't make the same mistake again."

He took a deep breath and allowed it to flow through his body. He knew what he had to do, both as the team leader and as Ziva's friend. There was nothing that he would not do to protect her, even from herself. Still, Ziva David was not a young Jenny Shepherd. He knew that it would not be the pain that came from this punishment that would get through to her. It would be the vulnerability and intimacy that would reach behind her well constructed armor. He just prayed that he had the strength to be the leader, the partner, the friend and the man that she needed him to be.