Wow! Thanks for all the really great reviews! I love reading what you have to say. Also, just to let you know, because this is in Jeanne's POV you might understand some things faster than she will because you see Tony and the rest of the NCIS team all the time on television and know what happens. So, bear with her (and me).

Enjoy!


Chapter 2

With her feet cemented to the floor, Jeanne's only option was to look at him, neither she nor he daring to take a step forward. After the first year, she thought she would never see him again. Yet, he always seemed to surprise her. His eyes were focused on the tiles of the floor and she was unable to see his face.

She was confused. What was he doing at her hospital? He was an agent, employed by the navy, so if he was hurt he'd go to Bethesda Naval Hospital. She knew that she should be mad. Anyone would hold a grudge after what he had done to her. He'd used her to get to her father, she was a mission to him.

But, as she tried to work up the anger that she was going to show him, he lifted his head. His eyes were filled with tears. He muttered something and turned around, attempting to pick up a clipboard that was on the ground, the source of the noise that had brought her to the hallway. She took a deep breath and walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He tensed under her grip and looked up, a single tear falling from his blue eyes. He pushed himself off the ground and strode passed her. She watched him pause at the door. Turning, he cleared his throat. "Jeanne?"

She nodded, wanting to know what he had to say. He sighed. "Before I go, I just wanted to say...that I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Without even thinking of what he had said, she whispered, "don't say you're sorry, Tony. It's a sign of weakness."

He tilted his head to the side, looking confused. "Where did you hear that?"

A smile spread over her face, remembering the little girl with the hippo, who had spoken the words four or five days prior. "A patient," she told him, even though she knew it wasn't true. Tony would never know.

He shrugged his shoulders and stuffed his hands in the pocket of his jacket. "Well, I never wanted to hurt you like I did. I just want you to know that," he told her, his voice cracking.

Jeanne watched him turn and start to leave the hospital. She was at a crossroads. Tony had hurt her, he'd broken her heart, and it was the same heart that was breaking again as she saw him obviously hurting. She didn't know what happened or what she could do to help, but she knew that she couldn't let him walk away.

Only, she didn't know if she was doing this because he was in pain or because she was trying to get in contact with Tony DiNardo again. She shut her eyes and told herself that she was seeing Tony DiNozzo. Opening her eyes, she stood and ran out to the lobby where he was at the elevator.

"Tony!" He faced her as the elevator doors opened. "As a doctor I can't let you go in your condition. You shouldn't be driving."

He narrowed his eyes as the elevator closed behind him. "And what condition would that be, Dr. Benoit?" he asked harshly.

She rolled her eyes at his attempt of denial. "Seriously, Tony, anyone with two eyes can see that something's bothering you." She took a step toward him. "The cafeteria is on this floor, I'll show you. Why don't you get something to eat and get your mind off of what's going on?"

He looked away before walking to her. "Lead the way."

Jeanne brought him to the cafeteria and they walked in silence. All he got was a water bottle and for ten minutes, he played with the cap but didn't take a drink. Seeming bored with the bottle, he folded his hands on the table and a shine hit Jeanne's eyes. She nodded her head to his hand, her eyes focused on the thin strip of gold circling his ring finger. "You're married?" she asked.

Immediately, he pulled the ring off, examining it with a disgusted look before gently replacing it on his finger. "Kind of."

Nodding, she dropped the subject. It was apparent that he didn't want to talk about it. Wanting to start a conversation, she asked, "so, was that your father?"

He looked at her questioningly. "Who?"

"The man you were arguing with," she said.

A small smile formed on his lips. "Oh, no," he chuckled. "That's my boss. More like a father than my own was though."

She grinned, happy with the chuckle. Tony took a sip of his water and looked at her. "So, you work here? How long?"

Jeanne told him how long she'd been working at Memorial and the conversation started to go. It seemed like hours that they were chatting. The way they were talking didn't seem like speaking to an ex-lover, she thought, but instead like she was sharing memories with a long lost brother or best friend, someone she cared about yet not sexually.

It was because she was talking to Tony DiNozzo, she decided. She had never known this side of him, only the Tony DiNardo disguise, only the undercover part. He seemed more at ease than he had around her when he'd been undercover.

"So, what was your fight about?" Jeanne questioned.

Tony's entire demeanor changed upon the completion of her sentence. His smile faded and his eyes dulled. Jeanne cursed herself in her mind. She had been trying to help him and instead she put him back into his sorrow.

"My boss just told me that I need to talk to someone," he told her.

She leaned her elbows the table. "You can talk to me," she replied, wanting to help him.

"I don't want to put that on you," he said sternly, standing from the chair. "But, thank you for this. It was nice to talk to you, Jeanne."

He stood for a moment in front of her before turning on his heel to exit the cafeteria. "I'm here if you need me, Tony," she called after him, unaware if he heard her or not.


So, that was Chapter 2. How did you like it?

Review!