I have no rights to NCIS or any of its characters. Please do not sue, I'm a broke college student, only writing out of pleasure.

Chapter 1

Snap shot: Ziva and McGee running up the stairs of the bull pen, their gun in their hands.

"Gibbs," Gibbs answered his cell phone without looking at the caller ID.

"Jethro, can you come up to my office, I need to speak to you," the Director said. Gibbs stood up, sighing but his mood quickly changed when he turned around at the sound of the elevator doors opening. He smiled at the woman who had stepped out of it.

"It's going to have to wait, Director. I'm taking a coffee break," Gibbs said hanging up and ignoring his team as he made his way to Lt. Col. Hollis Mann.

The Director shook her head as she hanged up the phone and picked it up, calling her secretary.

"Cynthia, can you go down and asked Agent Gibbs to please come up, that it is urgent."

"Yes, ma'am," Cynthia said as she hanged up the phone. She took a deep breath, preparing herself to see Agent Gibbs. However as she made her way down to the bull pen, she didn't see Agent Gibbs.

"Where is Agent Gibbs?" She asked the rest of the team who were in their desk.

"He went out for coffee," McGee said after moments of silence. Cynthia said nothing as she made her way to Gibbs desk and picked up his phone.

"I'm sorry Director, he went out for coffee," Cynthia said into the phone. She gave a nod and turn to the team.

"Did he go by himself?" The team looked at her confuse.

"He went with Lt. Col. Mann," Tony said.

"He went with Lt. Col. Mann, Director." Cynthia said, her back turn to the group.

"Are you feeling well, Director?" She asked. She gave a nod and spoke again.

"I can't say who that was Director, I will bring your tea right up." Cynthia smiled and shook her head.

"That's fine, Director. I will see you in a bit." Cynthia said hanging up the phone. When she turned around she jumped as she saw the three agents right in front of her.

"Is there something wrong with the Director, Cynthia?" Ziva asked.

"Nothing is wrong, just a growing head ache. Excuse me," she said going to her left to exit the bullpen. The three agents looked at each other and then turned around, all of them looking at the next floor, at the door that lead to the Directors office.

"Since when does she drink tea?" McGee asked.

"Since when does she drink tea for a growing head ache?" Tony asked.

"Have either of you notice the distance between the Director and Gibbs?" Ziva asked. McGee and Tony gave her a nod.

"And with Mann, the distance seems to be getting bigger," Tony said.

Jennifer took a deep breath, hanging up her phone. It had been almost four months since Jethro's accident and two months since his return from 'retirement.' Everything had been different since his return, not only the mustache he had for the first three weeks. But since the shared investigation with Lt. Col. Mann, Jennifer no longer recognized the man she once loved (and may still love, she wasn't sure anymore). With Mann in the picture, Jethro seemed to have been more distance then before and with them being a couple, Jennifer no longer knew where she stood by his side. Was she a friend? Only his boss? Was she even consider his ex-partner? She wasn't sure. She shook her head and stood up but quickly sat back down, a hand going to her head, and the other over her close eyes. She took deep breaths. After a few moments of breathing she took out her cell from her pocket.

"Autopsy, Dr. Mallard speaking," Jennifer smiled.

"Hello, Ducky," she said.

"Jennifer, what can I do for you?" Ducky answered with a smiled and enthusiasms.

"Gibbs went out with Mann, do you have time to see me now?"

"Was it important what you wanted to talk to him about?" Ducky asked a little concern.

"According to Gibbs, it can wait." She said with a little irritation in her voice. "Are you busy?" She asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Can I have fifteen minutes?" Jennifer smiled, trying to forget Jethro's dismissing of her.

"Of course," she answered.

"How are you doing over all?" Ducky asked.

"Between Cynthia and Naomi, I don't think I will ever starve. I've even had to start going back to the gym because of the weight I've gain." Jennifer laughed, Ducky chuckled but it wasn't a true chuckled.

"I'll get your file out and look it over before you make your way down. How much weight have you gain Jennifer? Are there other symptoms you have had?"

"Don't worry too much Ducky, I was under weight to begin with." Jennifer said shaking her head. "And no other symptoms, just the flu a few weeks ago but 18 hours of sleep took care of that right away."

"Jennifer, how much have you gain and how about any dizziness or nausea?" Ducky asked trying to figure out if there could be any sicknesses that had the symptoms Jennifer has been having.

"Last time I checked it was 10 pounds but its all the food Naomi and Cynthia have been feeding me."

"Jennifer, you gave poor Cynthia a heart attack when she came into your office and you were on the floor." Jennifer shook her head, slowly standing up and making her way tot he right of her office, pouring herself some ginger ale.

"I forgot to eat, Ducky, and I apologies. The incident didn't mean a complete control of my eating habit and schedule. Or alcohol intake." She added the last part a little louder but with amusement. Ducky chuckled.

"Jennifer, you go sick after having bourbon."

"I had the flu, Ducky."

"And its better for your health if you slowed down with the alcohol anyway." Jennifer shook her head, walking in front of her desk, back and forth.

"But removing all alcohol from my system was a little drastic, don't you think? Couldn't I have had scotch or whiskey?" Ducky chuckled.

"How about some red wine?" Jennifer made a face and shook her head.

"You're killing me here, Ducky, you, Cynthia, and Naomi."

"It's because we love you, Jennifer." Jennifer smiled and stopped in front of her desk, looking out the window to the sky, not really being able to see below because of how high she was from the ground.

"I love you all too," she said. At that second, she saw a splash of light. She fell to her right, knowing that a splash of light, like the one she had seen now, was the reflection of the sun against a lens. A lens of a sniper but it was too late. The bullet hit her, pushing her back towards her left and she turned over to her stomach.

"Jennifer! Jennifer!" Ducky shouted, having heard the shot. "Jimmy, get my medical bag!" He shouted, to his assistant. He hanged the phone and picked it up once more.

"DiNozzo."

"Anthony, go to the Director, now!" Ducky shouted. Tony didn't think twice, hanging up the phone, grabbing his gun from the drawer and running around the bull pen wall and up the stairs taking two at a time. Ziva and McGee didn't think twice either before they were running after him, their guns in their hands.

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