DISCLAIMER IN CHAPTER ONE…..
A/N: Whoa… sorry it took a couple days. Been hectic round here… as usual, review replies at the bottom of the chapter. I'm combining TWO scenes in this one…. Enjoy.
His blood ran cold at the announcement Ziva made. They were going to interrogate McGee- and Jen had approved it. His first thoughts of why and how she could blatantly ignore his request were followed by the increasing urge to go into her office and talk some sense into her. Hadn't he taught her better than that? He grit his jaw and eyed the catwalk behind Ziva's head before unceremoniously moving around her as she was midsentence of HOW she'd found the info out and ran up the stairs to her office, taking them two at a time and stormed past Cynthia before heading into her office and slamming the door; his eyes on her as soon as the door had opened. She was pulling items from her briefcase and organizing them into piles on the desk. He growled in his throat and approached her at a rapid clip and addressed her in a tense tone as he came to stand in front of her desk, "When were you going to tell me?" The fact that she continued doing what she needed to do irked him to no end and the fact that he couldn't get a rise out of her or intimidate bothered him even more.
It hadn't been an easy choice for her to make. In all honesty she'd gone back and forth about it all night, but at the end of the internal debate the only logical choice she could make as the director was to send McGe and to let Metro have their day with the suspect; after all, she had promised them complete cooperation and that she would do whatever she could to help the case get solved. She'd known the rage he'd be in when he'd hear and she knew that it wasn't going to be pretty… him angry. It never WAS good to see him pissed and this would put him further over the edge than any stunt she'd pulled as a probie back in the day. The resounding thud of her door being thrown open and slamming brought her back to the real world and she glanced up as he came in then returned to unloading the briefcase she'd taken home the evening before. "When were you going to tell me?" She cast another glance his way and pulled a large stack of files from the bag- barely giving him recognition, "I see we're picking up where we left off yesterd-," she knew she'd irritated him when he raised his voice to interrupt her, "If you're sending McGee to Metro you're damn right we are." She looked up at him as she screwed her courage to the sticking place and swallowed, "Didn't know I had to ask your permission." She dropped her eyes, in an act of regret and shame that she'd defied him, yet again, but also to show him that he needed to drop it.
He hated when she did that. He hated that look down she did when she was trying to tell herself she'd made the right choice even when she knew she hadn't… and he hated how much he loved her looking up at him after she looked down. He glared at her, trying to use the tactic that had worked so well in the past on her, against her now. "Don't give me the stare I'm not a Junior Agent anymore." He knew there was only one way to get her to break; insult the one thing she had going for her- the director status. "No, you're a junior director." He saw the flash of hurt in her eyes before she growled back at him, "That's ENOUGH Special Agent Gibbs." Her eyes showed how hurt she was at the personalized attack he'd just delivered and if Cynthia hadn't buzzed in when she did- he knew she would've gone into him more. He fumed as she responded to the assistant over the intercom and then pointed his finger in her face, another move he knew she hated, "You need to learn to say no."
She glared at him. Attacking the director status was hitting below the belt… it was an unfair hit to get her to back down and she wasn't going to let him win. If Cynthia hadn't buzzed in when she did- he would've gotten an earful. She responded calmly to her young assistant before looking up at him and hearing his words echo around her, "You need to learn to say no." She couldn't help but smirk as she recalled the night before when she'd told him no… or how she'd left him in Paris, a silent NO to spending their lives together. She smirked as she grabbed her things for MTAC while holding his eyes, "I did Jethro." She saw the realization dawn in his bright blue eyes and pulled back from the desk before heading around it, "Or have you forgotten?" She headed out of her office, leaving him there alone with a trail of her perfume and only that. She took a deep breath to relax herself as she headed to MTAC and to her meeting.
He hadn't been expecting that. He never would've thought that she'd get down and dirty like him. He faced forward-staring out her window as she threw their past in his face before leaving him there. He turned once she was gone and stared at the door, wondering if he should follow her to continue this- or just let it go. He finally exited the office and was greeted with the news of the case update that McGee and Abby had figured out. He watched them discuss it and barked orders but his thoughts remained upstairs in that office, with Jen, wondering what he could do to save his agent and their relationship. He was frustrated and needed a break… some time away to THINK. He grabbed his jacket, "Going for coffee," the white lie slipping from his lips convincingly. He got up and left, leaving them behind and leaving McGee to go it alone at Metro.
She'd gotten the news before Jethro had. It was probably better that way. She paced in her office and knew he would be along shortly. She heard him before she saw him, a muffled growl through her doors of "The Director in?" She swallowed and prepared for the onslaught that she was about to face. The door flew open and she stood her ground behind her desk- it would be to her advantage to stand. What did she hear about animals in the wild? They puss up to make themselves bigger or more intimidating? She straightened her back and tried to feel bigger, but knew it wouldn't help her in this battle with him. After their encounter in her office, she'd realized she had hit a little TOO low below the belt, and after hearing about McGee, she'd bitten the bullet and pleaded for them to release him to NCIS- knowing it'd buy her some salvation from Jethro. As she watched him advance towards her now- she hoped that it'd be the one thing that could save their relationship. She looked at him and spoke gently, "Close the door please." His steely eyes met hers and she knew he'd deny her that. "No. You don't want that door closed Director." He was ready to kill- and she'd have to risk it. "I don't?" His eyes narrowed and he furrowed his brow at her, "NO."
He watched her pass and heard the door shut behind before she spoke again calmly, "Let 'er rip." He wheeled around and tore into Jen trying his damnedest to hold back from screaming at her, "The US attorney's office is charging McGee with negligent homicide. Metro is booking him right now. Do YOU know why?" His eyes narrowed as he clearly insinuated that she crucified him by handing him over to Metro. He watched the sigh that flowed through her body and swallowed as she placed the blame onto McGee with a subtle nod, "Because he admitted to making a tragic mistake." He growled his response out and took a subtle step towards her, "No." He took several more steps and told her the REAL reason McGee was in this predicament, "Because you may know how to kiss ass but you sure don't know how to protect it." He stood in front of her and glared into her emerald orbs that met his with the same passion over this topic, "And you think you're protecting that boy by ignoring the facts?"
"And you think you're protecting that boy by ignoring the facts?" She was, admittedly, in the wrong but she'd die before she'd admit to Gibbs that she had made a poor decision. She'd barely gotten it out of her mouth before he replied to her, "He's not a boy. He's a NCIS Special Agent. He's one of MY people. I don't leave my people behind. It's a MARINE thing." He glared at her and she sighed watching him ramble on at her. Her eyes held his, not daring to look away and show a sign of weakness to him. Any show of weakness to Jethro and her career as Director would be over. He'd walk all over her if he could and she had to stay strong enough to say no to him… over and over. "What are you going to do?" She almost felt her legs go weak as he closed in on her and spoke in his deep voice to her; his voice implying that he wanted no argument in return, "I'm going to go to Metro and get him." Stand your ground Jen. She knew this was the moment she would be able to reverse some of the hurt her choices had caused, "No." She shook her head and curled her toes in her heels trying to stand strong and hard against Jethro… even as he gave her an irritated glance and repeated her words with disdain, "No?"
"No?" Had she REALLY just said that to him? "You're eye sight's weak… not your hearing." He gritted his jaw at the calm expression on her face and the sparkle in her eye that she held a trump card that he hadn't seen yet. He narrowed his eyes and clapped his hands onto her shoulders, feeling her jolt slightly at the grip and he allowed himself a moment to appreciate the feeling of her in his grasp before he moved her aside while continuing to hold her eyes. He paused for a millisecond, almost wanting to pull her to him and make her understand his reasoning, before common sense took over and he released her and grabbed the door instead. He opened it and stormed past her as she stood stark still before calling after him as he walked away, "You're not going to Metro because McGee is on his way HERE." He stopped just past Cynthia and listened to her with a ghost of a smirk on his face, "I convinced Captain Carsen that he wasn't a flight risk and to release him into our custody until his arraignment hearing." She couldn't help but show the upturn at the ends of her mouth and the cocky tilt of her head as she showed him her trump card. He heard the door shut and turned to it glancing at Cynthia then starting to take leave. He got to the door frame of Cynthia's office, before making the decision and heading back into Jen's office and slamming the door shut. He grabbed her at the elbows from behind and pulled her back into his chest as he dropped his head to her ear and growled heavily into it, "You like playing games with me Jen?"
A soft gasp escaped her throat at the contact of his firmed chest to her back and her eyes slid close against her will as he spoke into her ear, his hot breath dancing down her neck. She swallowed and tried to find her voice to reply. She felt his cocky smirk as he tightened his grip and held her closer, "Answer me Jen. You seem so eager to play with me like that… why not now huh?" His words were moving lower down her jaw and neck and she now felt his breath on her collarbone, his name dropping from her pouty mouth in a strangled whisper. He moved his hands up to her shoulders and let his thumbs massaged the back of her neck, "You turned me away last night Jen. You turned me away over this didn't you?" She nodded slowly and relaxed under his ministrations as her head lagged to the side and exposed her long lean neck. His breath danced over her skin and she felt the condensation of his breath accumulating over her as he breathed into her then ghosted his lips over her neck while continuing to speak, "You knew I'd change your mind… didn't you?" He flicked the tip of his tongue over her jugular and she felt the immediate heat flash down to her core, her legs almost buckling at the contact.
He hadn't forgotten her weakness- her neck. He grinned feeling her sag slightly against him from all the teasing and pressed a gentle kiss at the base of her neck before whispering in her ear, "Thank you Jen." Amidst all the stunts she'd pulled this entire time, she still had the agency's best interest in mind, and she still wanted to please him, regardless of how nasty he got with her. He whispered against her ear as his hands began to slide down over the front of her shirt and traced over her breasts to her waist, holding her tight against him, "Can I see you tonight?" Her felt her give a slow, deliberate nod and he grinned against her temple. He brushed his lips against the skin there and let her go. He made sure she was capable of standing then pulled away from her and stormed out of her office to the bull pen to make sure McGee was alright.
Aserene- thank you for the review and for explaining what you meant. You're right it is easier to read, but for the sake of the design of the story, it doesn't really work and I don't have much dialogue so I'm not real worried. But I hope you keep reading. I do LOVE your feedback.
Allisone- first off, I LOVE your av. Catherine Willows is second ONLY to Jennifer Shepard in my book. Marg and Lauren are both SUPER nice and I've been lucky enough to encounter them both; SO talented and SO sweet. Secondly, I'm glad you like it… and I hope this lived up to what you expected.
CSI Encyclopedia- the elevator scene is what MAKES this episode for me… that and the first JIBBS scene in the ep. It just WORKS. I miss Lauren on the show so much. Lauren AND Sasha really. Hope you enjoy this and that it was worth the wait.
Emeilia-Rose- Thank you again, for the continued support. It's so nice to have regular readers of the story. :)
Itzcheeseball- So glad you like it. Thank you.
Prettycrazy- I'm glad you liked the other chapter. Of course she softens up. She's Jen. She's not completely hardened by her job. LOL She just needs time… Enjoy this one…
read-only13- Hope this lived up to what you imagined. :) Thanks for inspiring this to a degree. :)