In Vance's Office
"Gibbs." Vance said as Gibbs entered the room.
"Anything on Ziva?" Gibbs asked.
"No. Nothing." Vance answered then redirected.
"It is your choice. Do you want to look at replacements or do you want to stick it out with a three-man team for now?"
Gibbs never answered. Instead he just reluctantly shook his head. However, Vance knew that Gibbs wanted to just stick with a three-man team.
"Is that all?" Gibbs said quickly.
"What do want to do about DiNozzo?" Vance said innocently.
"What about DiNozzo?" Gibbs snapped back loudly.
"His field work should be restricted for a while." Vance corrected the way he approached the question.
Gibbs stopped and nodded his head to that statement.
"Your boy did do well in Israel. He really held his own. And, you were right. I did throw him to the wolves." Vance tried to ease some tension.
"You underestimated his abilities, Leon. . . as usual." Gibbs said. Vance looked down and reluctantly shook his head to that statement.
"I'll have a talk with him, Gibbs." Vance stated.
"Maybe I should too." Gibbs mumbled to himself as he was about to leave, but Vance still heard him.
"That probably wouldn't be a bad idea, Gibbs." Vance stated. ". . .get reacquainted with the team members that you still have."
"What!" Gibbs shook his head and snapped back.
"Your gut is still off Gibbs. How did DiNozzo become suspicious of Ziva and you didn't?" Vance degraded Gibbs. Gibbs returned a look at Vance that could burn thru him.
"I realize that Agent DiNozzo can be rather "nosey" at times." Vance smiled and tried to lighten his tone after snapping at Gibbs. "However, he knew there was more going on with Rivkin. The reason he went to Ziva's apartment was to try to protect her. . .from whatever she may be conspiring to."
Gibbs turned and left Vance's office. As he headed down to the bullpen, he could hear Tony on the phone.
"Tomorrow? Okay. Let's say 8ish then. All right. See you then." Tony said. As he hung up the phone, he noticed that Gibbs was standing beside his desk. Gibbs raised his eyebrows and walked to his desk. Tony chuckled nervously after seeing Gibbs' reaction.
DiNozzo's desk phone rang, which earned Tony an irritated look from Gibbs.
"Yes, Director." DiNozzo said strongly." ". . .on my way up, sir." Tony smiled and cringed at Gibbs then headed up to the director's office. When Tony got upstairs, his desk phone started to ring. Gibbs once again looked up, very irritated. He moaned and then stood up to answer Tony's phone.
"Agent DiNozzo's phone." Gibbs said with a snap.
"Who? Jessica? Wednesday night at 6:00? I'll leave him a message." Gibbs quickly said and hung up the phone. As he was taking the message, McGee reentered the bullpen.
"Scheduling dates for Tony, now, Boss?" McGee said with a laugh, but he went silent immediately when seeing Gibbs' irate reaction.
"Sir?" Tony said suspiciously as he entered the room slowly.
"Ah, Agent DiNozzo, come on in." Vance addressed him as he entered.
"I wanted to tell you that you did an excellent job handling the interrogation in Israel. You handled the whole situation very well." Vance commented.
"However, . . .for now on. . .you don't keep anything to yourself. In the future, you are to keep Gibbs and me apprised. That is an order."
"Yes, sir." Tony responded. Vance looked over at Tony's sling.
"Take care of yourself." Vance said, which caught Tony off guard.
"Y-Yes, sir." Tony shook his head and turned to return to the bullpen.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs strongly said as Tony returned.
"Jessica called. She wants you to pick her up at 6:00 on Wednesday." Gibbs loudly stated in an irate tone.
"Thank you, Boss." Tony responded nervously as he sat back down.
"Wednesday at 6:00? You have two dates scheduled tonight!" McGee laughed out loud in disbelief. Gibbs tilted his head in confusion after McGee's statement.
"You also have a date tomorrow at 8:00." Gibbs repeated accusingly, after hearing McGee's statement. They both stared Tony down waiting for an explanation.
Tony laughed nervously. "Look I was in a dating slump for a long time and now I am making up for it." Tony said laughing with the embarrassment. "And, I am trying to make the most out of having an injury and wearing a sling. . . ha, ha!"
Gibbs continued to stare at him. McGee finally shook his head in disbelief. He caught a glimpse of Gibbs, whose face read that McGee needed to leave. McGee took one more look at the two of them and left the bullpen.
"Tony?" Gibbs said sharply. Tony looked back nervously.
"Boss?" Tony finally replied, when he didn't know where this conversation was going.
"Something bothering you?" Gibbs asked looking him over.
Tony laughed nervously in response as Gibbs' powerful eyes felt as if they were seeing right thru him.
"Well, it has been a rough few days." Tony tried to relax Gibbs. Tony swallowed hard, as he noticed Gibbs didn't seem to blink or even move at all.
"Boss, everything is fine." Tony answered.
"Your arm bothering you at all?" Gibbs finally broke his silence, as he continued to stare.
"Nah, I have fractured bones before. This one isn't bad at all." Tony responded casually. Then he tensed up again, as Gibbs continued to give him the stare.
"The dates won't affect my job at all, Boss. I give you my word." Tony tried from a different angle.
"What are you doing, Tony?" Gibbs asked, still regarding Tony. Tony just nervously shook his head and put up his one healthy arm in surrender. Gibbs finally blinked and tilted his head. He then returned to his work.
"My door is always unlocked. . ." Gibbs offered one more time, as he looked back down at his desk.
"I know, Boss. Thanks." Tony responded and started to relax. He began to relax and returned to his paperwork. Gibbs gave another look at Tony and headed over to the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, Gibbs saw McGee standing there, ready to exit onto the floor.
"McGee, join me." Gibbs said redirecting McGee back into the elevator.
"Boss?" McGee asked in concern as the reentered the elevator.
When the doors closed, Gibbs hit the autopsy floor button. He then redirected his attention to McGee. McGee felt Gibbs' eyes regarding him.
"Boss?" McGee finally said quietly.
"Everything all right?" Gibbs asked him.
"Y-Yes, Boss. I am fine. Thank you for asking." McGee answered surprised by the question. Gibbs nodded and then hit the emergency stop before the door could open at autopsy.
"What is your take on DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked directly.
"He's being DiNozzo. Didn't his dating schedule increase after we lost Kate?" McGee tried to make logic of Tony's behavior.
"No. He did the opposite. He didn't date at all. Though, he was also recovering from the plague." Gibbs responded. "And,. . .he talked more back then." Gibbs revealed his concern, which surprised McGee.
"Tony will be fine, Boss." McGee said with certainty. Gibbs nodded and released the emergency stop, so he could get off in autopsy. McGee continued back up to the bullpen.
Ducky watched as Gibbs entered the room and actually sat down near his desk staring off into space.
"Gibbs?" Ducky turned in concern.
"Ziva. . .Tony." Gibbs said still staring in space. He put his hand in the air and let them fall back to his side. Ducky just shook his head, not knowing how to respond.
TBC
