A/N: It's been great hearing from some old-timers again! Thanks for checking in. Love hearing what everyone's thinking.

***JIBBS***JIBBS***JIBBS***

Jenny, carrying some files and a clipboard, had Holly follow her into MTAC so they could talk privately. "Can I have the room please?" They waited for the techs to leave and then sat together in the front row.

Holly eyed the other woman carefully. "You got quite a shock earlier."

Jenny narrowed her eyes. "I can't think about that right now," she said, looking at the clock on the wall. "I know you have a plane to catch, so I need you to get me up to speed on upcoming missions quickly."

Holly shook her head. "Director, I left detailed instructions, in order of importance, with Cynthia. I made sure there were no operations being conducted today or tomorrow to give you a chance to catch up."

Jenny relaxed a little and nodded. "Thank you." She took a deep breath. "Then I would like to hear the details about the Summers case. What can you tell me?"

"He's a really good boy, Jenny."

The director was taken aback by Holly's use of her first name. That is, until she realized she was addressing Jenny Gibbs and not Director Shepard. She did her best to hold onto her professional demeanor. "The case, please."

Holly locked eyes with Jenny. "Read about the case later. Right now, talk to me. You must have so many emotions, questions…"

She wanted to hold it together, and Holly wasn't making it easy. Jenny put down her files and clipboard and then walked towards the console. "I don't have time to indulge in things like that. If you want to help me, then please tell me what we're dealing with."

Holly stood up too. "I do want to help you, but I'd understand if you're not comfortable talking with me. But is there someone else who you can talk with about this? Because you need to get these feelings out before you deal with Gibbs – and before they eat you alive. Otherwise, you won't be any good to him. And he's going to need you."

Jenny leaned against the console and hung her head. "I don't know what to do, Holly. This came out of nowhere. I was having a hard enough time adjusting to being a mom to a 4-month-old – never mind a 4-year-old! What if he hates us? What if he hates me?"

Holly sighed, relieved that Jenny was opening up. "He won't hate you. It may take a while for him to adjust but any child would."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "How did you get so knowledgeable about kids?"

Holly smirked. "I spent a lot of time with Ryan while he was here. He talked about Missy and how she handled the various things she had thrown at her. You know, Ryan thought Sam was a pretty strong kid considering all he was dealing with."

Jenny perked up, incredulous. "Ryan's met him?"

"Yeah," admitted Holly. "And I had Missy watch him while Ryan gave Tony some parental advice."

Jenny shook her head. "It just gets better and better," she sighed. "I don't know how he's going to handle this."

"What do you mean?"

"Jethro's missed four years of his son's life. I know my husband. That fact is going to flatten him like little else in this world can. And to think, if that horrible bombing hadn't happened, he still wouldn't know. How could she do that to him?"

Holly studied Jenny carefully before she spoke. "We can guess all day long how this will affect Gibbs. I want to know how you are handling it."

"I have to concentrate on him, Holly. If I don't, horribly selfish things could come popping out of my mouth."

"I won't say a word."

Jenny felt her chest tighten as her emotions made their way to the surface, causing tears to begin to form. "All I can think about is how this is going to change everything. I loved our life together. We were finally in a place of normalcy. And now it's all shot to hell."

Holly felt for her boss… her friend. "You'll get there again. But you're going to need a lot of patience."

Jenny's temper flared. "Again? I just had to have tons of patience when he got shot and needed to learn to walk again! Why does it feel like I'm always the one who has to be patient? I have to be the rock, I have to take care of everything and everyone else!" She saw Holly's worried look. "God, I sound horrible, don't I? But these last two weeks, he took care of me. I knew I had to come back here and take care of this entire agency, but it was easier knowing he would be there for me. It's going to be a long time before he's able because now he's going to have to be there for Sam. Julia and I will be…" she broke off, trying to stem the tears from falling.

Holly sighed. "Jenny, he's not going to cast you both aside. I don't think it will be as bad as you think."

Jenny shook her head, upset with herself for voicing her fears. "You're right. It'll be fine. I just… I had a moment of weakness."

Holly allowed Jenny to say that, but she had a feeling her fears were all too real to her. For their entire family's sake, she hoped Jenny was wrong.

Down in the lab, Ziva and Abby were discussing what transpired earlier.

"He will not talk with me about it, Abby. I am worried."

"I'm not surprised. I wasn't even the one Gibbs was yelling at, and it freaked me out," she said, giving Bert a squeeze for comfort.

"I still cannot believe Sam is Gibbs' son or that Tony knew and said nothing."

Abby sighed. "No, I can understand – Tony was right. It would have been so much worse for Gibbs if we all knew and he was the last to find out. But I wonder how the director is handling this."

"Did you see her face? She tried to cover but she was definitely in shock."

Abby nodded. "How could she not be? I'm in shock. And my poor Gibbs. The look on his face was heartbreaking. But Jenny will take care of him. It's Tony I'm worried about. Where is he now?"

"Avoiding everyone. I think he is off sucking his wounds."

Abby's eyebrows rose. "I think… I hope you mean licking."

Ducky walked past the conference room and saw Tony surrounded by files. He sat down next to him. "How are you holding up, my boy?"

"Just trying to solve our case," he sighed.

"Don't take what Gibbs said too much to heart. It was a lot for him to hear and deal with at once."

"I don't mean to be rude, Ducky, but I don't want to discuss it. I want to solve this case."

"Ah. You're looking for redemption through that?"

Tony looked up from the file. "Can you blame me?"

"No," answered Ducky, "but I'm not sure it will be that simple."

Tony tossed his pen down and leaned back in the chair. "I know that. But it would be a start."

"Why didn't you call him?"

Tony tried to keep his anger in check. "I did what I thought was best. Hindsight, yeah… I screwed up like everyone always expects me to." He stood up quickly, sending his chair flying. He gathered his files and walked out.

Ducky sighed. "Oh my."

McGee finished reading his boss in on the case while they were driving and the remainder of the trip was spent in silence. At the hospital, the threesome was searching for Vivienne's room and her doctor.

"Boss," began McGee, "I know you're really angry at Tony but he thought he was helping."

Sam perked up upon hearing his friend's name. "Tony is the best! He took goog care of me."

Gibbs couldn't help feeling a twinge of pain at Sam's words. He ignored them both, pressing on with his quest to find her doctor. The sooner he did that, the sooner he'd get some answers. And he wanted answers. He needed them. He stopped at the nurses' station. "I'm looking for Dr. Rollins. Where can I find him?"

The main nurse looked at Gibbs. "And you are?"

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. We're here about Vivienne Summers."

She nodded. "Dr. Rollins is in with a patient but as soon as he's out, I will tell him to see you. You can have a seat over there," she said, pointing to a row of chairs against the wall. Gibbs nodded curtly but he was angry. He had zero patience at the moment and was not happy he was being forced to wait.

Jenny was back in her office, reading over the files left for her by Assistant Director Mann, when her intercom went off.

"Yes, Cynthia."

"Dr. Mallard is here to see you, ma'am."

Jenny sighed, unsure if she was up for what she assumed he wanted to discuss. "Send him in." She watched as Ducky entered and closed the door behind him. She motioned for him to take a seat across from her. "What can I do for you, Dr. Mallard?"

"Dr. Mallard? I see you have your defenses up, Jennifer."

The edges of Jenny's lips curled upward as she leaned back in her chair. "It's been a day already, Ducky. Not in the greatest mood at the moment."

"I can only imagine. And while yes, I would like to discuss that with you if you are up for it, I'm here on a more pertinent matter first."

"And what would that be?"

"I'm afraid we could be in danger of losing Agent DiNozzo."

Now he had her full attention. "Lose? In what respect? You think he'd quit over this?"

"I'm worried. He's taking Jethro's rejection of him very hard. I'm afraid he could spiral downward to a place that could be hard for him to make his way out of."

"So you've talked to him since this morning's fiasco?"

"I just left him or rather he stormed out on me in the conference room. He's on the edge. Anthony thought he was doing a great thing, giving you and Jethro your honeymoon while he truly rose to the occasion, taking care of and protecting young Samuel. And what happens? The man he was trying to impress not only didn't appreciate it but berated him for it."

Jenny sighed as she stood up and paced around the room. "I know. I realize Tony's heart was in the right place, but Jethro was right – he should have called. Now Tony has completely bonded with Sam, and Jethro's seen as the enemy. It's made things so much harder."

At the hospital, Dr. Rollins approached the people waiting. "Agent Gibbs?" He saw the older man nod. He looked over at the other two people with the agent. "Is that their son?" he asked, motioning to Sam. Gibbs nodded. "While I'm sure she'd love to see him, you better prep the boy. She's practically unrecognizable," he whispered. "It could be traumatic."

"I plan to cover his eyes. But I would like to speak with her alone first."

"Of course. Keep in mind, she's very weak. She drifts in and out of sleep so I'm not sure how long she'll be able to handle questioning. Her answers will more than likely be short. We're trying to keep her pain to a minimum, but due to her injuries, there's just so much we can do."

Gibbs sighed as he scrubbed his hand down his face in frustration. "What are her chances?"

"I'm afraid not good. But I bet seeing her son will help a lot."

"Can I see her?" The doctor nodded. Gibbs turned to the other two. "McGee, keep an eye on him. I'll be back."

Sam ran over to Gibbs. "Wait, I want to go too!"

Gibbs bent down and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "You will. But I need to talk with her first. Stay with Tim, okay?"

Sam narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. "Why you go first? She's my mommy."

"I know. But the sooner you let me talk with her, the sooner you'll be able to visit too."

Sam sighed dramatically. "Fine."

Gibbs watched him rejoin McGee. He then turned to follow the doctor to Vivienne's room. When they got there, Gibbs' breath caught in his throat. All the tubes and machines she was hooked up to, along with the fact she was almost unrecognizable due to the wounds, made his attitude towards her soften – but only a tiny bit. He carefully approached and sat down in the chair next to her.

Vivienne saw him as he entered and sighed. "Shit."

He shook his head at her. "You got that right."