The team watched the two women up the stairs, each with their own thoughts and questions, the junior agents wondering how much they would ever find out from Gibbs.
"Boss?"
"No DiNozzo!" Gibbs' reaction was automatic. After a moment, he smirked, "Actually, on second thoughts, go ahead and ask. But be warned, she has Level 3 Hand to Hand so she can hurt you, and two PhD's so she's smart enough to cover her tracks pretty thoroughly, besides being far too smart for you. Just know, I prefer my agents alive and unbruised when we are on a case."
Tony's jaw dropped as he considered Gibbs' words.
"Now I believe you all have work you should be doing!"
Tony and Tim hurried back to what they had been doing before Sam arrived. Ziva continued contemplating the stairs, a slight frown on her face, as she attempted to make sense of what she had seen.
"She has seen action, a lot of it." Ziva's comment was quiet but sure. Gibbs looked over at her and met her eyes for a long minute. He nodded briefly, but said nothing, he had gotten the same feeling from Sam. He had only seen her a few times since she transferred to Colorado, but whatever she was doing under that mountain, it wasn't just research. She wasn't the bright eyed young Captain he had known anymore. Today had proved that the mischievous side was still there, but underlying that was a deep sadness.
Ziva came over to his side, so she wouldn't be overheard, and made sure she had his full attention before saying quietly, "She has been through something bad recently, maybe even torture. She needs you."
With that she went back to her desk and continued with the report she had been writing.
It wasn't long after Gibbs had sent the team home for the night, that Jen and Sam finally came out of their meeting. The three of them chatted briefly before Jen excused herself saying she had some work still to finish.
"So LJ, ready to go?"
"Ready Sam. Come on." He led her out to his vehicle. Mindful of Ziva's earlier words, he took them to a quiet bar where they could talk uninterrupted and not be overheard.
