Okay, so I know I'm already writing Holiday Attitudes, but I'm going to attempt to write this as well, how well that'll work I don't know but I'm gonna at least attempt as this won't go away. It will be JIBBS in later chapters but I wanted to show the friendship between Jenny and Tony in this chapter. Sorry if Tony's slightly OOC, and for the biology bit, what happened to Jenny can kind of happen. Anyways some background you may need below so READ! And enjoy…

Set early season 4, slightly AU.
- Gibbs is back from his margarita safari, seeing Hollis Mann, and flaunting it to Jenny.
-Whilst Gibbs was in Mexico Jenny became seriously ill, the only people who knew about this where Tony and the Sec-Nav.
-Jenny is not going after the frog.

'now we both have separate lives, from lovers to strangers…it's like I never loved you at all.' Like I never loved you at all-Take That [I love take that and this song, especially these words fit JIBBS so well!]

Her stomach was a mess with nerves. It'd been six weeks since she'd been Director, with the exception of the few days when Gibbs was present at NCIS. Things where complicated now though, Tony knew she'd been ill, no one else with the exception of the Sec-Nav knew though (they'd been told she'd been at international affairs meetings), Tony had been there to help her when she needed a back-up story, visited her when she was bored beyond belief and most of all, when she'd needed a friend, and now she owed him.

The operation had taken place just 5 weeks ago, a week after she'd had a heart attack. This had been unusual for a woman of her health and age, yet it had been caused by a bullet from years ago. Apparently all those years ago when she'd been shot on an undercover op with Gibbs , a bullet had grazed her left aorta. The graze had over time torn and began to bleed out, causing problems. The doctors had managed to patch it up though, and she'd recovered quicker than expected, even though she still wasn't 100% she was back.

But now came the hard part, she'd lost weight, she knew, which meant questions. She was weaker, which meant questions. Now she had to lie to the people she loved, and deal with Gibbs new found relationship with lt. Cornel Hollis Mann, which he felt the need to flaunt at every possible opportunity.

As she stepped of the elevator at the MTAC level (in hope to avoid Gibbs and stairs which had proven difficult of late) , she spotted Tony as he same running up the stairs to great her, she smiled at the younger man, although he wasn't always thought to be the caring type he'd been brilliant to her. "Jenny you're back! How are you?"
"Alive!" she joked, yet seeing the serious look on his face she continued. "I'm ok, nervous, but ok."
"Good and you'll be fine. Let me take your bag."
"No I'm ok thanks, honestly."
"Jenny, doctors said no heavy lifting, and I've dated enough women over the years to know that bag constitutes as heavy lifting, no hand it over!"
"Thank you Tony. I mean for everything you've done over the last few months, I really appreciate it."
"I'm just doing what any good friend would do in my position." With that said they walked to her office just as Gibbs and Mann walked out of the elevator, Gibbs just managed to catch a glimpse of the pair, and an overwhelming sense of jealousy hit him like a ton of bricks. But then he realised he'd left this time; he'd moved on and was with Hollis, so why couldn't she be happy? Even though he knew he shouldn't be, he still couldn't shake off the feeling.

As the day went on team Gibbs caught no case. Jenny did paperwork until she had to go into MTAC to oversee an anti-terrorist op which she'd worked on in its early days before she was director. She was slowly getting up from her chair when in stormed Jethro. "What Jethro! I'm busy, and will you get a blooming dictionary and look up knocking!" she eventually got the strength to get up and was walking to the doors when her legs gave way, luckily Gibbs caught her and helped her up.
"Jen.." he said, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine Agent Gibbs."
"Jen, people who are fine's legs don't give way."
"Well I am Jethro so drop it." She shot back in an icily cold tone. With that she pushed him away, and began to walk away, at a slower pace than usual. Gibbs was worried, she was strong, mentally and physically, never had he seen her look so frail, she'd lost weight and a lot of it. 'Maybe it's my fault' he thought 'I've been so caught up in me that I haven't noticed. God! How could I have been so stupid!' needing to seek help from a man who knew him like no other.
"Hey Duck" he greeted his friend. By the look Gibbs was wearing Ducky knew privacy was required.
"Mr Palmer why don't you go take a break." Once the younger man was out of the room the pair began. "Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be in a difficult situation?"
"Whilst I was away was Jen alright?"
"I believe so but I'm afraid I did not see very much of Jennifer, I believe she was occupied by meetings a lot. I think your questions are better suited to Anthony though."
"DiNozzo?"
"Yes, whilst you where away things where difficult. Tony looked up to you like a father and I believe to him your leaving felt like he'd lost another father figure in his life. Jennifer is the closest thing he has to a mother, and I believe she also views him as a son."
"Thanks duck." He said leaving. Ducky had helped in a way, but now he just had a stronger sense of confusion, so he decided to leave it, after all, it really wasn't any of his business.

The next two days brought a new case for team Gibbs, meaning they barely saw the director. Yet Tony was not willing to forget his new-found friend and made sure that he went to see her every day, even if it was just for five minutes whilst Gibbs was out for coffee. Jenny had noticed this gesture and was thankful for it.

Three days into her return and the Madame Director was stressed. The Sec-Nav seemed to be calling every half hour for one thing or another, the FBI seemed to want in on nearly every active case and on top of that Army C.I.D where working with Gibbs' team, which meant Hollis Mann was in the building and Gibbs could flaunt his relationship even more than usual. Her temper was wearing thin now, and where it came to certain people (Jethro) it was just about non-existent. A knock at her door brought her back to reality. "Enter" she ordered going back into Director mode, then slipping out again when she saw who it was.
"Hey…thought you'd be stresses with the whole FBI/Army CID thing going on, I know Gibbs is all too well, I've been at the end of his stress all morning, so much so I could swear I'm getting a migraine." They both laughed. "Anyway, I thought you could use this." Said Tony handing the older woman a cup of her signature coffee.
"Tony, it's good to see you." She replied taking a sip. "mmm, thank you for the coffee. I swear you're a god send." He was about to go when she said; "You don't have to. You know, no matter what Gibbs says you are allowed a break, especially when he is in an irritating mood which I'm guessing he is in today. Plus if I read one more case file today I think my head might just explode, and I could use the company."
"Thanks, and yeah Gibbs is in an irritating mood. I have a feeling you'll be getting a few more irritated FBI's ringing you."
"Oh the perks of my job." She replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"So…how are you?"
"I'm okay thanks. But can we please talk about something else." For the next half hour the pair laughed and joked together about films, Gibbs and any other subject that caught their fancy. Until Tony decided he must go, as after all he had to face Gibbs at some point.

Meanwhile in Abby's lab…
Ziva and McGee walked through the automatic doors into Abby's lab where music blasted from her speakers. Upon seeing the air, the bubbly Goth lowered down the music and hugged them. "Where's Tony?" Abby asked with a slight hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Directors office." Replied McGee.
"Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how close those two have got recently…" began Ziva, not realising Tony was stood at the door listening "…I mean Tony carries her bag into her office for her, takes her coffee, and disappears up there when Gibbs isn't around."
"erm…Ziva" began McGee noticing Tony's presence.
"No McGee, there's something going on, I mean before Gibbs left they were never this close, so what is he doing up there?" she questioned, oblivious to the man in questions presence.
"It's called being a friend Ziva. That woman has been to hell and back recently. She's dealt with thing I never even knew existed, and she was willing to do it alone!" his voice was raised now. "Whilst all the time you lot where all oblivious, which I don't blame you for being. But I do blame Gibbs, for a man who we all think the world of, would jump of a cliff for, he's done nothing. Instead of being there for her when it has obviously been pretty obvious to him that she's not herself, instead of being there for her all he's done is flaunt his relationship with that Cornel Mann in her face whilst she desperately tries to pull the shreds of her life together. So that's why I've been spending so much time with the director; because she needed someone." With his piece said he headed out of forensics leaving two shocked agents and one shocked forensic scientist, three shocked friends.

Hope you enjoyed!

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