Yes, this is following elements of the series, but there are also significant changes like Tony not going to LA.

Chapter Eleven

'Well?' Fornell asked.

'We're here for a drink and something to eat.' Gibbs waved at their table with the drinks on it.

Fornell glared at him. 'What are you two doing here together?'

Tony couldn't help it, but laugh. 'That wasn't what you asked.'

'Well, I asked now, are you going to answer me?'

'Tony and I are dating.' Gibbs replied.

Fornell waved a hand between them. 'You two are dating, each other?' He looked around to see if he could see any other unattached females.

'Yes Tobias, we are seeing each other.'

'What about those rules of yours?'

'You don't know?' Tony looked surprised. 'You're behind Fornell. I no longer am Gibbs' SFA.'

Fornell looked between the two men. 'I've missed a lot haven't I?'

Gibbs looked over at Tony who nodded. 'Sit down.'

Fornell waved his hand to get the attention of a waitress. She nodded at him, and went off to get his drink. It was obvious he was a regular in here. They waited until the drink arrived so they wouldn't get interrupted again.

'Ok, so what's going on?'

'My chest has been causing me problems. I felt that I could end up letting my team-mates down. I was terrified that my lungs would cause me so many problems and I wouldn't be there to watch their back. I told Jenny, and she went to see if there were any other positions, within NCIS and based here.'

Fornell grinned. 'I can see what Jenny wanted that kept on the down-low. She could have lost you to another agency.'

Tony laughed. 'Yeah, right, I'm sure I would be beating them off with a stick.' He couldn't believe that other agencies would queue up for him. He was told often enough by Ziva and Tim.

'Trust me there would be a fighting frenzy.' Fornell added, and shook his head as Tony stared at him in disbelief. 'DiNozzo, me offering you jobs wasn't just to piss off Jethro that was just a bonus. Your experience as a cop, your expertise undercover, and then add how you can put clues together. Trust me; you wouldn't have been out of work for long.'

'I could slap McGee and David.' Gibbs growled, and then realised he had been part of that problem as well. He raised his hand and slapped the back of his head.

Tony and Fornell looked at each other and then back at Gibbs. 'What are you doing?'

'Tobias, I was an idiot and never let Tony how good an agent he was. I never stopped Ziva or Tim's put downs. I deserved a slap as much as they did.'

'Thanks Jethro, I appreciate the thought. We've talked about it and moved on.' Tony smiled.

'So you've decided on a younger model.' Fornell joked. 'A male, high maintenance younger model.'

'I'm not the only younger model he could have picked.' Tony chuckled.

'Yes, you really are the only younger model I could have chosen, no matter how high maintenance you are.' Gibbs drank back his bourbon, and waved his hand for another one.

'Do you mind filling in the rest of the class.'

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders, and nodded at Tony.

'Stan Burley came back and professed his undying love for Jethro.'

'You're kidding.' Fornell glanced between the two men. 'You aren't, so where has he been sent off to Siberia.'

Tony began to laugh so Gibbs knew that he would have to tell this part.

'No, he's my senior field agent.'

Fornell just sat there and stared at him for a moment longer before he joined Tony in laughter.

'How's that working out for you?' Fornell managed to ask as he calmed down. He sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. 'How have I managed to miss out on so much?'

'Well, it's going to be quiet for a few days.'

'Oh yeah, why is that?' Fornell asked.

'Jenny called me in for a meeting. She is taking Ziva and Stan with her to LA as protection. McGee and I can go over some cold cases.'

'What does Madam Director think about you two doing the wild thing?' Fornell knew how Jenny felt about Jethro.

'She's been very supportive actually. There is something going on with her though.' Tony muttered. He couldn't figure out what and it frustrated him.

'I agree she has been acting oddly.' Gibbs agreed.

'So if you're no longer his St Bernard on duty what are you doing?'

'At the moment training, I have a position of an Intelligence Specialist. I will also have other duties of having some of the more promising recruits train with me on cold cases. That way the get use to the paperwork, investigation techniques before they get put with a team. I think Jenny also wants me to try and get them to think outside the box. As you know some cases we get, and you,' Tony nodded towards Fornell, 'are way outside of the box.'

'They can be. It sounds like a good plan; maybe we can get you to do a talk over at the F.B.I?'

'Sacks would love that.' Tony grinned.

'I'm actually tempted to arrange it just to see his face.' Fornell replied thoughtfully.

'Great just what I need rain.' Tony sighed as he looked out of the window and watched as the rain started to fall.

XXXXX

'I will see you when we meet at the arranged time.'

'See you then Ziva.' Burley knew it was a good thing that he went to LA. He could work on his relationship with the director. He would be able to show how much better an agent he was than DiNozzo. This could also be an opportunity to show Gibbs what kind of man he was.

XXXXX

Pauline just out of sight, the rain drenched her. She glared at the three men she could see laughing while they drank. Tony was hers, and he would realise that soon enough. If anyone tried to get in her way, she would make sure the pay.

XXXXX

It had been a peaceful few days for Gibbs. He and McGee had started to make some headway on a few cases. Their working relationship was not as close as it used to be. It might have been if the young man had realised that he had been wrong about some things, like Tony's abilities. He hadn't said anything; it annoyed both him and Abby. Tony had to calm them both down. Gibbs did miss how the team worked together, but as he mentioned to Tony on a few occasions as long as they were together at home he could deal with it.

Things were so different now, being an NCIS agent wasn't his whole life. He actually had a personal life for a change.

'Gibbs.' He muttered as soon as he answered his cell. 'What? Jenny's dead?'

TBC