Ziva nodded once, letting the Director know that she understood what was expected of her and watching like a hawk as she veered off the path. Only when she'd disappeared from sight did she turn her attention back to Hollis – intent on following Jen's instructions to the letter. Even though she knew that if she had been the one undercover such precautions would have been unnecessary.

The two women ran in silence for a while – Ziva issuing a silent challenge to pick up the pace, which Hollis responded to. Grudgingly she conceded that the Colonel was in good shape. Which didn't mean she trusted her to watch Jenny's back.

The track opened out into a large field and they both slowed, looking around – Ziva tensed, not happy about being out in the open in unknown terrain. But Hollis was admiring the scenery and didn't seem in a hurry to leave. In fact she looked as though she had something to say.

"Have I done something to offend you Officer David?"

"No," she responded shortly. Not surprised when the other woman persisted.

"So why am I sensing your ... disapproval?" There was little point in denying it – she had been impressed by the Colonel's skills when they had been involved in joint investigations – but this was a very different set of circumstances.

"I am concerned by your involvement in this mission."

"Because I haven't been undercover before?"

"Partly," she could see her answer had surprised Hollis.

"Why else?"

"You brought this case to Director Shepard, you claimed to be Commander Coleman's friend, but you did not know about her sexuality. Perhaps you have another motive for seeking our assistance."

"If I'd killed Faith I'd hardly want there to be a more thorough investigation, would I?"

"I did not suggest you murdered the Commander. I was merely speculating about your reasons for asking the Director for her help."

"The case should have come under NCIS' jurisdiction – I hardly twisted her arm."

"You are a skilled investigator yourself – on other occasions you have not surrendered jurisdiction so easily. Why do so this time?" She saw Hollis pause, shaking her head for a moment as she realised what Ziva had implied.

"You think I'm deliberately dragging her into something that could damage her career?"

"I am considering the possibility."

"Well, you really are watching her back – aren't you?"

"She was my partner – for several years."

"Of course she was. She was your partner – Gibbs' partner. She can wrap a room full of women around her little finger, apparently without thinking about it, half seduce the Deputy Secretary of State and not lose a moment's sleep over it – but she needs your protection!"

"Yes," Ziva said firmly, "and if you think this is not costing her anything then you are not as good an investigator as I believed you to be."

It was always quiet in autopsy and he was glad to be able to escape the noise and scrutiny of the rest of the building. He didn't doubt that Ducky's would ask questions, or that his questions would be searching. But there was some relief in the fact that he would ask them and not necessarily expect an answer.

"You get anything Ducks?" His old friend looked up from the papers he was pouring over.

"The autopsy was sloppy, but more than that Jethro I can not tell you, not without exhuming Commander Coleman's body." Gibbs winced – not at all keen on that scenario, hoping that it wasn't going to be necessary. He turned to go – wondering if Abby would have better news for him – when Ducky's voice stopped him. "How is she?"

"Hollis is ... hanging in there."

"I meant the Director – and I think you knew that."

Well, it had been worth a try.

"I'm sure she's enjoying herself."

He knew he sounded angry, believed he had every right to be angry – especially with Jen.

"She doesn't know?" Ducky asked softly, and when there was no immediate reply he added. "Jethro?" The surprise and reproach clear in his tone.

"Ducky," he growled in response – certain that he didn't want the conversation to head in this direction.

"You've been bringing her coffee." Well, there was no point denying that one.

"Yeah."

"And she hasn't noticed?"

"Apparently not." He wasn't sure what that said about her investigative skills or about how she was choosing to interpret his behaviour, if she'd even noticed it. He'd been thinking for a while that maybe he needed to do something more than just bring her coffee. Hadn't got around to figuring out what, and now this case had blown up.

"Is it possible that this might be easier if you'd just talked to her?"

If he didn't know better he'd suspect that Ducky was amused, at his expense.

"Too late for that now."

"Let's hope not."