A/N: One more chapter after this one. Thanks for your interest. Don't forget, R&R is always appreciated. Disclaimer: I own nothing, no profit or gain.

A New Set of Rules

Chapter 4

Gibbs stared at the blank computer screen, astounded EJ had cut him off. But it wasn't anger that filled his gut. It was fear. Fear and desperation that he may have just thrown away something priceless, as cavalierly as tossing a wad of paper into his wastebasket. His head was spinning, thoughts and feelings frantic.

He paced back and forth across his living room for the next hour, a battle between two fears raging inside, paralyzing him from making the crucial decision before him. Like EJ, he was afraid the relationship might not be enough. But rather than her being enough for him, he was afraid he would not be enough for her. He shook his head at the irony. On the other side of that battle were years and years of loneliness; an aching hole in his heart that had been filled only once since Shannon's death – an emptiness filled and forgotten for a short time during a warm Hawaiian summer.

He knew EJ was at the Navy Yard. He recognized the familiar conference room in the background. He needed to see her, to convince her to listen to him. But he wasn't sure exactly what he wanted - or needed - to say.

I need to talk to Ducky. He's better at this stuff, a hell of a lot better. And EJ's at the office. Maybe by the time I get there I'll be able to figure this out.

But he wasn't convinced by his thoughts.

He grabbed his keys and coat, closed the front door behind him and headed toward his car.

Twenty minutes later he arrived at that gate to the Navy Yard. The security officer smiled when he recognized Gibbs, issuing him a visitor's pass without question. As always, he was directing to the staff parking area; a perk of retirement, he guessed. He entered the ground floor parking garage elevator and smacked the button to send it one floor up to the Autopsy Lab.

Dr. Donald Mallard, the prim and proper NCIS Chief Medical Examiner, turned toward the familiar sound of the swoosh of air as his lab doors opened, announcing a visitor's arrival. His jaw dropped when he spied Gibbs standing just inside the door staring back at him.

Gibbs' smirk made it clear to the doctor his astonishment showed on his face.

"Hi, Duck." Gibbs said.

The doctor's opened his mouth, but remained speechless.

"Corpse got your tongue, Duck?" Gibbs chuckled at his pun, his smirk widening.

"Jethro!" Ducky almost shouted. "I am …," he sputtered some more. "It's so good to see you!"

"You too, Duck." The two friends stepped toward each other and exchanged hugs and slaps on the back.

"Got a minute?" Gibbs asked.

"Well, so much for the pleasantries," Ducky said. "Right down to business I see."

"Sorry, Duck. I'm kinda short on time."

"Of course! For you, Jethro, I have many minutes." His smile beamed. "How can I be of service?"

Ducky knew the private side of Gibbs well, perhaps better than most. Sharing gender, age and experience had bonded them more than once in deep discussions about life. Ducky could see the concern echoed on his friend's face, but there was something more going on inside. The turmoil behind Gibbs' eyes was evident. He looked unsure … even lost in some way.

Directing Gibbs toward the chair next to his desk Ducky also sat and pulled the rarely used, but ever present, bottle of scotch from his bottom desk drawer. Reaching up to the shelf above his desk he pulled down two, clear, glass lab beakers and splashed the liquor into each, handing one to Gibbs. Gibbs nodded, they clinked beakers and each took a sip, acknowledging the serious intent of their discussion.

"Duck, I'm trying to navigate a situation, but my map's out-of-date" Gibbs said, looking down at Ducky's desk.

Knowing Gibbs was a man of few - and often cryptic - words, the doctor listened intently, focusing on deciphering their meaning. "I see," he said, nodding his head.

Gibbs' brow wrinkled into a frown, "I'm and old dog, Duck!"

"Ah," Ducky said, grasping the first hint of Gibbs' concern. "One who is, perhaps, afraid he cannot learn new tricks?"

"Yeah," Gibbs chuckled softly, "something like that." His frown returned as he continued, "EJ came to see me this morning."

As Gibbs said EJ's name the nature of his problem crystallized in the doctor's mind. He sighed and nodded his head. "Ah, yes, Agent Barrett. I believe I understand your dilemma, Jethro."

Ducky, like everyone else in the office, had heard the rumors EJ Barrett had been offered the lead position for MCRT 2. It became clear to him exactly why his friend was a torrent of emotion.

Ducky thought back to the waning days of summer almost 10 years ago when Gibbs returned from his temporary assignment in Hawaii. To his surprise and joy his friend had somehow worked through much of his initial grief about Kate Todd's death. But there was another sorrow smoldering under Gibbs' stoic exterior, a sorrow Ducky could sense, but did not understand. Eventually, Gibbs had come to him, trusting him above all others, needing to talk about his new grief, and laid bare his brief and intense affair with EJ Barrett. Ducky also remembered Gibbs had broken off the relationship, unwilling to consider either one of them abandoning their careers to be together. He remembered the terrible hurt his friend suffered after making that decision.

"And I suppose," Ducky continued, "she needs closure, one way or the other, before she can decide whether or not take this job."

"Yeah," Gibbs sighed, "you nailed it."

Silence filled the space between them. Eventually, Ducky spoke. "You know, Jethro, as Chief Medical Examiner I have worked with Erica many times over the past decade. She is an amazing individual, much like you, in fact."

Gibbs didn't respond, taking another sip of scotch.

"It is hard for her to give her trust to others," Ducky continued thoughtfully. "But for those fortunate enough to win her favor she is committed, loyal and dedicated, to the point she will sacrifice her own life to protect them. Erica would willingly make that sacrifice for someone important to her, whether it was their life, or their heart, committed to her care."

"Sure Duck," Gibbs sighed. "EJ's special. Always has been, always will be."

Ducky huffed his exasperation at his friend's evasion. He decided to change his approach so Gibbs could not do what he was so skilled at - avoiding his own feelings.

"Jethro, you are a man fortunate among men. Most men never experience the joy of knowing the unfathomable love of even one true and committed partner. But life has blessed you with that exact love, twice. First, with Shannon and now, with EJ. More than most men, you deserve it. Your life has been one of selfless service and sacrifice. Now life is offering you a gift beyond measure, with no strings attached. All you have to do is reach out and accept it."

Gibbs continued to look down at Ducky's desk in silence.

Ducky's frustration was palpable now. He straightened his back, drew himself up in his chair and said with the most commanding voice he could muster, "Jethro, get … another … map!"

Gibbs' head snapped up. "What do you mean, Duck?"

"Rule Twelve," the doctor said.

"What about Rule Twelve?"

"You are, indeed, an old dog, Jethro," Ducky's voice had softened, "and it is hard to learn new tricks. I, more than most, can attest to that. But it's not impossible. Maybe Rule Twelve isn't relevant any longer. Maybe all of your bloody rules aren't relevant any longer."

Gibbs' frowned grew deeper.

Seeing the confusion in his friend's face Ducky sighed, set his scotch down and caught Gibbs' eyes. "Perhaps, Jethro," he said, "you need a new set of rules!"

Ducky heaved a sigh of relief as he saw the corners of Gibbs' mouth begin to turn up into the faintest hint of a smile, letting the doctor know his message had been received and understood.

Gibbs drained his scotch and set the beaker down. Rising, he said, "Thanks, Duck!" and started walking toward the lab door.

"Jethro," Ducky said.

Gibbs stopped and looked at his friend.

"There is one rule you have which I like. Something about being wrong."

Gibbs smiled, "Yeah. That's rule 51. Sometimes you're wrong."

"Keep that one."

Gibbs smiled and nodded, his eyes showing his appreciation. He turned and exited the lab, moving quickly, like a man on a mission.

Ziva whispered a frustrated curse in Hebrew as she completed another dead-end internet search concerning one of the suspects implicated in the team's current case. Hearing the elevator bell ring and the doors open did not persuade her to turn and see who had entered the floor.

Glancing across at Tony her gaze froze as she observed her partner's shocked face. Tony's jaw had dropped, his mouth was open and his bulging eyes were laser focused toward the elevator. Ziva whipped around to see what had made her partner speechless and found Gibbs walking quickly toward the bullpen.

Her stomach fluttered. She felt the corners of her mouth stretch upwards into a huge grin. There could be only one reason he was here and it warmed her heart more than she thought possible.

Gibbs glanced at her as he walked up to the bullpen, a quizzical look on his face. She knew she must look about as un-Ziva-like as he had ever seen her, but she could not stop the grin that continued to grow.

As Gibbs got closer Tony's shocked face sprouted a broad smile and both he and McGee jumped up to greet him.

"Boss," Tony blurted out. "Well, not really boss … more like ex-boss. Or maybe not boss at all … or …"

McGee stepped over to Gibbs and extended his hand while Tony kept babbling. "Good to see you, Boss," he nodded at Gibbs. "You look great!"

Ziva chuckled as her two partners continued to talk over each other, expressing their surprise and delight at their mentor's unexpected visit. She stepped close to Gibbs, almost brushing against his coat, basking in the strength of his presence which she had missed so greatly over the past year. She stood quietly, continuing to smile at him, feeling peaceful - and hopeful.

After a moment Ziva realized Gibbs was trying to ask a question, but the jabbering agents weren't getting the hint. When one took a breath the other kept talking and vice-versa. They tag-teamed Gibbs for at least a minute before he finally reached over and gave Tony a head-slap which silenced both men.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs said as Tony cowered back just a bit.

"Yeah, Boss!" Tony's crisp, almost military response was automatic, conditioned from years of working with the older man.

"Where's Barrett?" Gibbs barked.

"Last time I saw her she was heading up-stairs to talk with Director Craig, Boss!" Tony snapped back.

Ziva could not remember ever seeing Gibbs move so quickly up the stairs leading past MTAC to the director's office. Any doubts she had about his visit dissolved. She knew why he was here. Her heart sang for her mentor and friend as a happy tear ran down her cheek.

Tony and McGee stared after Gibbs, stunned. Tony turned toward her and his brow furrowed in confusion as he caught the smile - and the tear - on her face.

"Ziva?" Tony sputtered.

She laughed at his expression, flashing him a glowing smile.

"We will talk later, Tony."

Gibbs bound up the stairs two at a time to the second floor. He walked quickly into the director's outer office and nodded at his administrative assistant.

Recognizing him, she began to protest his unannounced intrusion. He just smiled and moved past her, opened the door and walked into Jerome Craig's office.

Craig's head jerked up, a startled look on his face.

"Gibbs ...?" Craig's unasked question of why Gibbs had just barged into his office hung in the air.

Saying nothing, Gibbs look around the office, puzzled at not finding EJ.

Craig continued nervously, "Jethro, ah … good to see you. And you're here because …?" his voice trailed off.

"Barrett!" Gibbs snapped his attention back to the Craig. "She was supposed to be meeting with you about the MCRT 2 lead position."

"Jethro, you know I can't talk to you about personnel assignments, that's classified. Last time I looked, you were a civilian."

"Where is she?" Gibbs spat back.

"Special Agent Barrett is on her way back to Rota."

"But she was supposed to leave at 1400 hours. It's only 1345. She should still be here."

"Jethro, we met early, over an hour ago. She took the 1300 shuttle to Andrews."

Gibbs' face grew hot, his pulse pounding in his neck. A rising panic gripped his chest and for a moment his legs shuddered, threatening to buckle. He took a quick, deep breath and brought his sniper training to bear, calming his body and concentrating his focus.

Looking at his watch his stomach sank as he realized his chance of navigating mid-afternoon traffic from the Yard to Andrews before her transport flight left at 1500, even if he drove like a maniac, was dwindling with every second he delayed. He whipped around and ran out the door.

"Gibbs, wait!" he heard Craig shout after him as he left the outer office at a dead run.

He didn't turn back to find out what the director wanted, but instead, quickened his pace.