"There is no way in hell I am letting her stay with you DiNozzo!"
Jenny sighed as she heard, once again, Gibbs and DiNozzo arguing over where Ziva was going to stay once she was released from hospital. She had had enough. She picked up her phone. "Cynthia, I'd like to see Special Agents Gibbs, DiNozzo and McGee, Doctor Mallard and Ms Sciuto in my office ASAP please." She sighed again; if she was quick, maybe she could finish this document before she had to play Mum.
5 minutes later, Abby slipped into the director's office. She was the last to arrive, so Jen tried to call everyone to order, but Gibbs and DiNozzo continued to bicker.
"She is not staying with you, I am not blind…"
"No Jethro, but nearly." The room went silent as everyone processed what Jenny had dared to say to the boss. She smiled wickedly. "Now that I have your attention…" she glared at Gibbs and DiNozzo "we are sorting this out once and for all. Ziva needs somewhere to stay while she recuperates, and we are talking this through like the adults we are, NOT" she raised her voice to override Gibb's impending interruption, "like the children we are currently acting like."
"Well I'm out of the running I'm afraid", Ducky said, sinking into the director's couch and lacing his fingers together. "Not with Mother the way she is… I have no doubt that she would love a house guest, however," he smiled wryly "I doubt Ziva would quite enjoy being the house guest."
"She's staying with me." Gibbs said it quietly, leaning on Jenny's desk. "I have a spare bedroom, she'll be fine."
"You also have steps", Tony pointed out in his know-it-all tone. "She can't manage a stair case every time she wants to go to the bathroom or get a glass of water."
"Well then I'm out as well", Abby shrugged. "I'm on the second story. No lift."
"I've only got one bedroom but I'm happy to have her" McGee offered.
"There is no way known she is sleeping on your couch McGee" Tony assaulted him. "No, Tony" McGee looked at him with that "if-you-let-me-finish-you'd-see-I'm-right" look. "I meant, she could have my room and I'd take the couch."
"It seems pointless when I have more than enough room at my place, plus the financial capabilities to look after her as long as she needs", Jen pointed out.
"You have more stairs than I have Jen!" Gibbs roared. The room dissolved into arguments for and against until Ducky yelled "STOP!"
There was complete silence for all of thirty seconds. Then Tony said slowly, "The way I see it, Ziva's best with me. I have a spare room, I have a lift to my apartment, and I don't have the official duties that come with a high profile job. I'm not on call like the director, Gibbs, Ducky or Abby. She is better off with me than anyone else."
Gibbs moved until he was eye to eye with Tony. "I am not leaving you two alone to play house DiNozzo. If you think I haven't noticed the looks that pass between you two… It's just not happening!!" he suddenly exploded. "Rule 12 is there for a reason!!" "Um, yeah, and there are a lot of reasons why I'm the best person for her to stay with. And, I mean, she was sandwiched between a car and a tree. What do you think'll happen?" he laughed and shook his head. "Not a lot. For three reasons." He took a step closer to Gibbs. "One, she's still pretty trashed. I mean, there's a reason she's not allowed home on her own yet. Two, we both know about rule 12, and we're both too scared of you to break one of your rules. And three, we both respect you enough not to break one of your rules." Tony took a deep breath. "I swear to you Gibbs. Nothing will happen."
Gibbs stared at him for about 10 seconds, and then silently stormed out the door. "Well, that's settled," said Jen in her "director voice', then followed Gibbs out the room. Everyone else stayed where they were, glancing from one to the other, until Abby said cheerfully, "Well. That was awkward."
Jenny ran down the stairs and caught the lift just before it closed. She and Gibbs stood silently for a moment before Gibbs flicked the emergency stop switch, and the lift ground to a halt. When he looked at Jen he could see the amusement in her eyes.
"What?" he demanded. "You think I shouldn't have been so hard on him?"
"I think you shouldn't worry so much about rule 12. Tony and Ziva are very well suited to one another, and both could be relied upon to keep it out of the office. Ziva is very professional."
"That's only part of what I'm worried about." Gibbs rubbed a hand over his face as Jen arched an eyebrow. Finally, he sighed, and when he spoke, it was nearly a whisper. "I care about them Jen, both of them. And I hate the thought of them getting hurt, by anyone." "Even each other?" Jen asked. "Especially each other," Gibbs replied. "They're partners, trust me, it'll happen." He flicked the switch and the lift roared back to life. Jen stopped him as the lift doors opened.
"What makes you think they'll hurt each other?" she asked. "Your famous gut?" he shook his head, and leant in until he was right next to her ear. "History." He stalked off, leaving her standing by the lift, shell-shocked.
