Gibbs: If caught. Do not engage. Get in. Get the Intel. Get out. Nobody gets hurt.

--

"Ziva." Gibbs called out and waited impatiently as she approached.

"Yes?"

"Well glad to hear your ears are working fine…"

She was still taking in what had happened and was a bit confused. "I do not understand."

"Then let me be more clear. If caught. Do NOT engage."

Ziva stood up tall and nodded. "I did not mean…"

"I…" Gibbs stopped and pointed at himself. "I don't care what you meant or didn't mean to do. You're damn lucky you didn't get yourself killed. Not to mention DiNozzo." He took a step past her and turned back. "You were grossly out numbered and although you may think you're invincible…you're not."

"I understand."

He leaned in closer to her. "Do you?"

She nodded a second time. "I jumped the gun. It will not happen again."

He took in a deep breath as he noticed Vance getting a bit impatient and brought his focus back to her. "I know it won't."

She watched him start to walk away and called back. "If I had it do all over again; I would have done the same thing."

Gibbs squinted at her as he turned around. "Is that right?"

"Yes." She swallowed hard, still standing at attention. "I believed us to be in danger. I reacted to keep us safe."

He pointed up at her. "You're job isn't to react. It's to follow orders. You escalated the situation."

"There was a shot…" She took a short breath. "I saw Tony on the ground, you would have done the same thing yes?"

Gibbs ran a hand through his hair, something he only did in moments of extreme frustration. "You are not me."

The two stood toe to toe for only a few more moments before Gibbs ended the exchange. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. "Go get cleaned up."

She nodded and took it slowly. And as she did it seemed as though an understanding was reached between them. "Alright."

"And Ziva…"

She turned back. "Yes?"

"Nice work." He followed up with a small smile and watched her manage one as well. "But do something like that again, and you'll be behind a desk for a month."

She met the look in his eye and nodded. "Understood."