#2: Gibbs' absence.

The team was still stood shell shocked in the squad room in Gibbs' wake. Tony couldn't believe he'd really left. And left him in charge! McGee was holding a still sobbing Abby, and he glanced across the room at Ziva. Her eyes were wet. She muttered something about going to the gym and left. Tony knew Ziva liked to take her emotions out on a punch bag. McGee made eye contact again and gestured to say he was taking Abby home. They left. It was just him in the squad room now, staring at Gibbs' desk, no, his desk! He turned to see the director on the stairs, except she had disappeared. Tony gathered up his stuff and headed out into the car park. He was about to get into his car when he saw Jenny sat in hers, hunched over the wheel. He shoulders were shaking, so he knew she was crying. Part of him wanted to just go and leave her. She still intimidated him. But he knew he had to go see if she was alright. He went over and opened her door.

"Jenny? Are you alright?"

She continued to sob against the steering wheel. He lifted her up out of her car and into his arms, where she carried on crying into his chest. A few minutes later she lifted her head and dried her eyes.

"M-My car wouldn't start, Tony."

"I'll drop you home. Come on."

He led her over to his car, after locking hers, his arm still round her shoulders. He held the passenger door open and made sure she go belted up. The ride to her house was quiet. When they got there, he walked her up her path and made sure she got in ok.

"Will you be alright?"

She nodded. He turned to leave.

"Tony?"

He span back around, "Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Would you like a night cap?"

"Why not?"

Jenny's house was beautiful. They were sat on the sofa; she curled up like a cat. She raised her glass, "To you, to being an excellent team leader." He clinked his glass against hers, but he looked unsure of himself.

"You can do it, Tony. I know you can."

He nodded, looking slightly more confident. Before she knew what she was doing, she had leant in and kissed his beautiful mouth. It lasted two or three sweet seconds before she pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't h-"

He silenced her by dragging her head back in and giving her a much more passionate kiss. He reclined on the sofa and she soon found herself on top of him. She had never experienced so much fire and passion in a man, not even with Jethro.

Gibbs.

She broke the kiss.

"What?" asked Tony.

"I was thinking about Gibbs."

"Not the kinda thing a guy wants to hear after he's kissed a woman."

"He wouldn't be happy to see this."

"Well, it's a good thing he's not here then, isn't it?" he replied, silencing any further doubts with another sizzling kiss that set her on fire. She hadn't felt anything like this with a man before. He seemed to know just where to push her buttons and his wonderful mouth never left hers for hours.

Jenny was awakened by the sound of birds outside the window. She lifted her head and froze. There was a man in bed with her. And then the night before came back to her. They weren't in a bed. They were on her sofa. And the man she was lying on was Tony.

A dark flush crept up her cheeks. She disentangled herself from him, and slipped upstairs. She showered, changed and did her hair and makeup. When she went back downstairs, he was still asleep.

"Tony," she said, shaking him.

He woke with a start, and frowned, clearly he was disorientated, but then he caught sight of her and his expression cleared. He smiled up at her.

"Morning."

"Morning," he replied, stifling a yawn. He leapt up and pulled his clothes on.

"I better run home and take a shower."

He leant in and gave her a deep kiss.

"I'll see you at work."

"Yeah,….work."

Work. Holy frick, what the hell had she done?

How could she face Tony now?

Ziva was sat at her desk when Tony came in. He was whistling and he gave her a wide smile.

"Morning, Zee-vaah!"

"Someone got some last night," she muttered under her breath.

"What was that, Officer David?"

He was in front of her desk.

"I said, someone got….shot last night."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Someone probably got shot last night."

"Oookay. Where's McGiggle?"

"Labby."

"Sure. Heads up!"

Ziva glanced up and caught the paper ball just in time. She unfurled it.

"Run those names."

"Yes, Boss," she muttered under her breath again.

Tony stepped into the elevator, and who should be in there, but the Director.

"Jenny," he said, leant in and gave her kiss.

She blushed, "Not at work, DiNozzo."

She had her director voice on. He got the point. This was going to be a secret relationship, if it was to be a relationship at all. He got out of the lift on Abby's floor. He turned and flashed Jenny his classic 'DiNozzo' grin and then went into lab. Jenny sighed and leant against the cool metal of the elevator. Her heart was racing from one kiss. He had too much of an effect on her. But he had a point. Gibbs wasn't here. There was nothing to stop them being together and that scared her. There was nothing in the way.

In the weeks that passed, they slipped into an easy routine. Nobody at work had any idea about Jenny and Tony. He spent most nights at hers, and he was proving to be a very effective team leader. Jenny was happy.

And then one morning, Ziva didn't show up for work. She hadn't called in sick, and nobody could get hold of her. Tony was worried, she could tell. She had no idea where anybody was.

Everyone else was in autopsy, planning how to help Ziva, who was being framed for a Hamas style bombing in Georgetown.

"Palmer, you're in charge of supplies. And by that I mean lunch, and at this rate, dinner."

"I spoke to Ziva yesterday," blurted out Abby.

"You don't bowl with nuns. I should have seen that coming." glared DiNozzo.

"I do! Ziva made me promise not to tell."

"Why would Ziva care we knew you bowled with nuns?" asked Ducky.

"I think she meant that she had spoken to her. Where is she?"

"I don't know. All I have is this phone number."

She held it out to Tony, who took it and punched the digits into his phone.

"Tell Abby I'm gonna kill her," said Ziva when she answered the phone.

"We love you too. Where are you?"

"A safe place."

"I'm also trying to get a hold of Gibbs, but I'm not having much luck."

"Gibbs, oh, well, why didn't you say so?"

"DiNozzo." Said Gibbs, "You've got ten seconds to tell me why I am not building a teak hot tub in Mexico. Nine."

Tony just gaped.

Donald Mallard had had a pretty uneventful day. No new bodies had been brought in, so he and Mr. Palmer had done the inventory stock list for most of the day. He was leaving when he realised he had left his hat in autopsy. He went back down there and walked through the sliding doors.

"Oh, my," he said.

Jenny and Tony were pushed up against the wall, kissing like there was no tomorrow. Ducky cleared his throat awkwardly. The couple broke apart. Jenny looked mortified. She smiled at him and hurried out of autopsy. Tony gave him a sheepish smile.

"Ducky. Don't tell anyone, please. We will tell Gibbs. Soon."

Ducky knew that they would, so he let himself forget what he saw.

The day after he cleared Ziva, Gibbs came into the office, sat at his old desk and started tapping at the computer. It had a password on it. He didn't know what it was. He clicked the clue button – director. He didn't know what that meant. Not jenny? He tried it so he could dismiss it, but to his surprise, he got in. Why did DiNozzo have Jen's name as his password?

"OI! Get off my computer! Oh, Gibbs. What are you doing back here?"

"I have a better question. Why is Jen's name your password?"

Tony froze, "Because it's really unobvious and the connection is hard to make. What are you doing on my computer anyway?"

"Fornell contacted me about an old case. Convict escaped that we threw away years ago."

"Gibbs you can't work this case. You retired. It's not allowed."

Gibbs glared at him.

"Go take it up with Jen, I mean, the Director, if you've got a problem."

DiNozzo was acting weird, thought Gibbs, as he stomped up the stairs. Jen wasn't there. She was apparently in meetings all day. For the time being he thought he'd go see Abby in her lab.

Over the next two days, he accessed the file from home and avoided the office. But then he had to go in. Fornell was there, and they had pulled Paulson in for interrogation. He didn't see Tony around, and when he got to interrogation, he knew that he was most likely in the observation room.

It didn't take long to talk to Paulson. He was clearly telling the truth. He had been set up. Tony wasn't in observation. He was in the hallway. Jenny was leant against the wall, and Tony was stood in front of her, his arm resting against the wall. Their heads were close together. They were whispering about something. Gibbs' entrance into the hallway made Tony jump away from Jen as if she'd burnt him. They both looked at Gibbs. Jenny smiled at him and then walked off. There was an awkward silence between the two men.

Tony and Jenny were being a lot more careful since Ducky had caught them. He hadn't seen her at work in days. They restricted themselves to strictly after hours. They thought no one else would find out, but they did.

Abby Sciuto was furious. She had bought Ziva a beautiful pen for her birthday, and it had been stolen. It was half ten, and she was in her lab, watching security camera footage from Monday night. The squad room was clear by nine, but Tony came back at ten and sat on his desk. He was waiting for something. At quarter past ten, Jenny came down the stairs into the squad room and went over to Tony's desk. Abby fell off her chair. Jenny and Tony were locked in a fierce embrace, kissing. She had not expected that. She fast forwarded the tape. Tony and Jenny went up to her office at eleven, and Tony left at half one.

Abby Sciuto was delighted. She hadn't found out who'd stolen the pen, but she knew something much better.

The following morning when she got in the elevator, Tony joined her. They started to descend when she flicked the power off, suspending the lift between floors.

"Abby?"

"I know."

"You know what?"

"I kno-o-o-ow."

"You kno-o-o-ow what?"

"About Jenny."

He looked flabbergasted, "How?"

"I saw you on security tapes when I was trying to find out who stole Ziva's pen."

"Um..."

"And you've seen her this morning!"

"How do you know that?"

"The only other person I know who wears lipstick like mine is Jenny, and I haven't kissed you this morning."

She got out her mirror and showed him. He did indeed have red lipstick all over his mouth. He wiped it off hurriedly.

"Abby, please, keep this to yourself. Jenny wants to tell Gibbs, and she will. She just doesn't know what to say though."

"I won't say anything."

But Abigail Sciuto did not forget what she saw that night.

The next morning when Ziva and McGee came in, Tony was at his desk on the phone. Agent Lee came in with everyone's coffees. Once again, Gibbs was at the far desk, writing something.

"Gear up!" yelled Tony, "We got a body at Quantico." His team scrambled around getting ready. He threw the keys at Tim, "McGee, gas the truck." They ran for the elevator.

"Gibbs," yelled Tony, "You coming along for this one?"

Why not, thought Gibbs. He'd get to see Tony in action. He grabbed his coat, badge and gun and hurried after them.

The crime scene was a pitiful sight. Petty Officer Lorraine Thompson had been found dead in a pool of blood on her bedroom floor. Her body showed repetitive signs of physical and sexual abuse.

"Okay," said Tony," McGee, shoot, Ziva, sketch and measure, Lee, interview the witness. Duck, what you got for me?"

"Time of death; 8 to 10 hours ago," said Ducky, removing the liver probe, "Her body is covered in bruises and bite marks, definitely abuse."

"But we'll know more when we get her home," said Palmer. Gibbs watched as Duck and Palmer packed up the body and left. Tony was a very efficient leader. Once the team had done their job, he supervised the cleaning up of the crime scene and evidence before they all left. Gibbs made a detour on the way back to grab a coffee. When he got back to the office, Tony was already drawing up a list of suspects.

"Ziva, you take the women, McGee, the men. Abs is already processing the teeth marks. When she calls you with an ID, give her this," he said, putting a Caf-Pow on McGee's desk, "But not before. Just gonna go see what Duck's got for me."

Tony left the room and Gibbs followed.

Later that afternoon, McGee and Ziva went down to the observation room to get it all set up for the husbands interrogation. They went in through the door and gasped at the sight through the window. Tony and Jenny were getting hot and heavy on the interrogation room table. Tony was shirtless and Jenny's dress was bunched around her waist. McGee put the mike on and cleared his throat. Tony fell off the table in shock. Jenny screamed and covered herself. Tony yanked his shirt on and ran into observation.

"You two saw nothing, ok?"

"Uh, but we did," said McGee.

"Seriously, Gibbs doesn't know yet. Keep it to yourselves for a bit."

"Fine," said Ziva, shooting McGee a sideways look. They didn't forget what they saw either.

Three nights later it was the NCIS Christmas party. Tony was looking forward to going out with Jenny as a couple, cos Gibbs never went to these parties. He was on a high, having thrown Scott Thompson in jail for life for what he had done to his wife.

Abby was really looking forward to the Christmas party. It was her favourite time of year. And this time, she'd even persuaded Gibbs to come. Ziva and Jen were coming over at six to get ready. She was gonna make Jenny look so hot Tony wouldn't know what hit him.

Gibbs worked on his reports until half seven, then he headed down to the party, which was held in the gym. Everything looked completely different. Platforms had been erected all around the edge of the room, to create a sunken dance floor, and there was a bar at the end. All the gym stuff had been packed away, even the wrestling ring to create space. The room was starting to fill, so he took a seat at the bar and ordered a glass of bourbon.

He could see Tony and McGee on the dance floor with Michelle Lee and some other girl. They were laughing about something. Just then the double doors at the other end of the room opened, and Abby, Jenny and Ziva came in. Gibbs gaped. Jenny looked amazing. She was clad in a tight black halter neck mini dress with a slit at the top that showed off her impressive cleavage, and sexy stilettos. Her hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail, most likely Ziva's doing, and the ends were poker straight instead of curly. She wore scarlet lipstick and had amazing smoky eyes. She didn't look a day over twenty five. Ziva had her hair all down and was clad in an equally sexy dress. Abby had her usual pigtails and was in a tiny playsuit and her favourite black platform boots. Just then the song changed, and a smile lit up Jenny's face. She weaved through the crowd with Ziva and Abby till they reached Tony and McGee.

Gibbs ordered another drink. He then looked back at his old team. Abby and McGee were dancing energetically, Ziva was snaked around Palmer, and Tony….Tony was doing a very sexy bump and grind with Jen. Her body was moulded against his, his hands sliding all over her hips. He muttered something in her ear and she laughed. His arms wrapped around her tiny waist. The song ended and now she danced with McGee. Abby and Palmer were doing some weird two step, and Ziva and Tony were dancing together. A song came on that had them all dancing in a line, doing a kinda of simultaneous grind. Gibbs didn't recognise it, but they all knew the words, even Jenny. Another song with a heavy beat had every one forming a circle around Tony and Jen grinding closer and closer to the ground. Everyone was cheering. Throughout the evening, Gibbs couldn't help notice that Jenny kept going back to Tony, and their dancing was getting hotter and heavier. Gibbs raised his eyebrows when DiNozzo put his hands on Jenny's ass. And she let him. He had done this with Abby and Ziva though, so Gibbs figured it was just the way he danced. The group retired to a table to the side and their drinks. The music changed to a lot slower song. First McGee and Abby, and then Ziva and Palmer went to dance. Jenny and Tony were left at the table, laughing about something. Then Tony stood up, took Jen's hand and led her on to the dance floor. Gibbs watched them. Tony's hands rested on Jen's butt, her arms around his shoulders. They were dancing so close she was moulded to him. As he watched, Jenny lifted her head and DiNozzo kissed her red lips. Gibbs nearly fell off his stool. This wasn't some tentative first kiss. They fit too well; the passion in the embrace was not new. How long had this been going on? They weren't really dancing anymore, just swaying on the spot, their lips still locked together. His hands were on her ass again, and hers were in his hair, massaging his head. He couldn't believe it. He averted his eyes. Ziva was looking at him. She walked over and grabbed his hand, pulling him onto the floor without giving him the chance to protest. She put his hands on her waist and her arms around his shoulders. They were dancing as close as Jen and DiNozzo had been. She whispered in his ear, "Ignore them." She was pressed against him, her chest pushing against his, his hands still on her tiny waist but itching to move down to her butt. His attraction to her was getting harder and harder to fight, and if she kept up dancing like this, she'd soon realise it, in a big way. This made him pull away, make his excuses and leave. He had left his car keys in his desk. He walked into the squad room and froze. Jenny was lying on his old desk, and DiNozzo was on top of her, kissing like randy teenagers. He backed out of the room without them noticing, went downstairs and ordered a cab. He'd had too much to drink anyway.

He was waiting for the taxi outside to the left of the NCIS building. To top off his day, Tony and Jenny came outside and stood under the stoop, kissing and giggling. They were both clothed in long rain coats, and Jenny carried an umbrella. Tony took it and put it up, and walked her over to his car. They shared yet more kisses before he helped her in the passenger side. It caused Gibbs to remember kisses in the rain in Paris with Jenny, though now it was painful. Tony went round the other side, put the umbrella down, and got into the drivers seat. His car zoomed out of the navy yard. They had had no idea Gibbs was watching them.

Tony had just bundled Jenny in through her front door when his mobile rang. It was Ziva.

"DiNozzo."

"Gibbs knows."

"What?!"

"He saw you."

"When?"

"He was at the party, Tony."

"He never goes to the party."

"Well, he did tonight. I danced with him, so he was definitely there."

"How does he dance? I mean, how did he take it?"

"He left. And he dances pretty well actually."

"Shit."

"You're telling me. Anyway, I'm going back to the party."

"Yeah, thanks. Night."

"Night."

Tony turned around. Jenny looked apprehensive.

"Gibbs knows. He was at the party. He saw us and left."

Jenny's eyes widened with shock, "Well, at least he knows, I guess. It wasn't they way I wanted him to find out though."

She then took his hand and led him up the stairs.

Monday morning found Gibbs back in his old desk. He had just emailed Jenny and had got his old job back. Lee had gone back to legal, and Tony didn't seem to care.

"Morning," said Ziva, yawning. She didn't mention the party, so he followed her lead. When he glanced up again, she had disappeared, so he leaned over the side of his desk. She was behind hers, on her hands and knees. All he could see of her was her butt, a black lace g-string riding above her skin tight jeans. She was killing him.

"Ziva?" he queried.

"I just dropped my pen," said a muffled voice.

Tony came in next grinning, but stopped at the sight of Gibbs. He sat down at his old desk and began tapping away at his computer. Gibbs' phone rang.

"Gear up!" he yelled, "We got a body downtown." They grabbed their stuff. As Tony walked past Ziva he noticed the g-string and pinged it. She span and hit him so hard in the gut he hit the floor. Gibbs slapped him on the back of the head. Tony didn't dare ask why.

The body had been in the restaurant for what must have been decades. Squatters had broken in and found it. Gibbs got his team to process it quickly. Ziva found an address in the pocket of the dead man. He sent Tony and McGee back to HQ with the evidence, and he and Ziva went to check it out.

It was an abandoned warehouse. When they got there, everything seemed quiet. As they approached the door, a series of bullets ripped through it. Gibbs threw himself on top of Ziva to protect her and they crashed to the ground.

"You ok?" he asked, gruffly.

"Uh-huh," said Ziva.

She could feel Gibbs' hard abs through their shirts. He was still on top of her. They seem to realise it at the same time, and he jumped up and pulled her to her feet. She bust in through the door and took the gunman out with a single reverse turning kick to the head that was so fast Gibbs nearly missed it. The rest of the warehouse was clear. Ziva was still kicking the unconscious body on the floor.

"Enough, Ziva. Enough!"

"I don't like being shot at."

Gibbs just laughed and pulled her into his arms. She looked up at him. Before he knew what he knew what he was doing, he had pressed a gentle kiss against her lips. He realised and started to pull away, but she pulled him closer and deepened the kiss, delving her tongue inside his mouth.

Ziva dragged her lips away from his.

"That shouldn't have happened, Gibbs."

He said nothing, just walked out to the car. The journey back to NCIS was silent, and when they got there, he headed straight for his desk. Ziva cornered Tony behind the staircase.

"I am worried abut Gibbs. He has taken you and Jenny harder than he is letting on."

"What makes you say that?"

"He kissed me."

Tony gaped, "What?"

"At the warehouse. He saved me from gunfire. I was shaking, and he hugged me and then he kissed me."

"Did you kiss him back?"

"No," said Ziva, but Tony could see it in her eyes.

"You did. You kissed him back."

"Ok, for a second, I forgot who he was. And then I realised and stopped it. Tony, can we focus on the more important things here? He's emotionally messed up."

Tony was nearly crying with laughter, "You kissed Gibbs."

"NO!" yelled Ziva and shoved Tony against the wall, "He kissed me, and I stopped it. So, if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your trap shut!"

"Uh, should I go and come back?" said a voice from behind them.

Ziva dropped Tony and turned around. Jenny stood there.

Tony laughed, "You have nothing to worry about, Jen. Gibbs kissed Ziva."

Ziva once again swung at Tony's gut, making him double up in pain. She stormed off. Jenny ran forward.

"Are you ok?" she asked, holding his head in her hands. He nodded. Before she could stop herself she had lowered his lips to hers. Things were starting to heat up when a wry voice from behind them said, "Well, this is cosy."

They broke apart, looking around guiltily. Jenny's eyes widened with shock when she saw Gibbs. He didn't walk away this time.

WHAM.

His fist slammed into Tony's pretty boy face. He staggered and collapsed on the floor. Only then did Gibbs walk away, leaving Jenny to help Tony up. He walked into the bull pen, saw Ziva and turned on his heel.

"Gibbs!"

He walked up to her, "What?"

"It happens, forget about it. I'm not embarrassed, so you shouldn't be either."

"Ok, David."

"What happened to your hand?"

"What? Oh, I hit Tony."

She laughed and inspected his knuckles. She got out the first aid kit and gently rubbed antiseptic cream onto them. Tony came in, supported by Jenny. She got the cream off Ziva and some gauze, and cleaned up Tony's nose. When she was done, she turned around.

"Jethro, my office, now!" her voice was shaking with quiet anger. He stormed after her, looking just as angry. When they got into her office he slammed the door behind them. She span around.

"What the HELL was that for? You NEVER hit a co-worker, no matter how much they upset or annoy you. I let your little head slaps slide, but this is different."

He said nothing, just glared at her, so she continued.

"I understand this is hard for you, but you should be able to deal with it like the adult you are. Why are you so angry? Paris was years ago, Jethro."

"You never truly fall out of love with the people you fall for. Tony, of all people, knows that."

Jenny just gaped.