"Special Agent Gibbs," said Tony as he sat down opposite Gibbs in the diner.

"Detective DiNozzo," replied Gibbs.

"Nice place," said Tony as he looked around.

Gibbs nodded.

"What can I get you?" asked the waitress.

Tony looked at the menu, "Coffee and a donut, please."

"Cream and sugar with that?"

"'Fraid so," said Tony with a rueful smile.

"Honey, we'd go broke if everyone ate sensibly," said the waitress kindly. "You ready for a refill, Gibbs?"

Gibbs nodded but Tony scowled as the waitress walked away, "They know you here?"

"Yeah," said Gibbs.

"Thought we were meant to be meeting somewhere neutral," said Tony, "So we could discuss why you would want to hire me."

"I thought you might like to see somewhere I come regularly," said Gibbs.

Tony stared at him with narrowed eyes, "Not a good start, Agent Gibbs." He paused to take a bite of the donut supplied by the waitress, "But they're good donuts," he conceded.

Gibbs looked smug, "So we're all right to stay here?"

"I guess," said Tony. "So, go on. Explain why you made the job offer."

Gibbs shifted uncomfortably, "You're good at your job."

"Go on."

"You're honest – you proved that with Danny Price. Quick … and I don't just mean at running. You figured out my play in Baltimore."

"And that's it?"

"Like I said, you're good. And you don't waste good."

"And the plan?"

"What do you mean, plan?"

"How do you think we'd work together?" asked Tony.

"I'd train you," said Gibbs.

"OK," said Tony, "Let's put a pin in that. Why would you think I should come work for you … for NCIS?"

"Better resources, better equipment. How many times does a Baltimore detective miss out on solving a crime because by the suspect has disappeared by the time the forensics come back?"

"True," admitted Tony.

"NCIS get a variety of cases," said Gibbs. "Theft, murder, espionage. Lot of travel involved."

"In what sort of aircraft?" asked Tony. "Never heard anything about NCIS having their own airplane."

"Speed's the most important thing," said Gibbs evasively.

"One of the good things about being a detective is having your own patch," said Tony, "Getting to know what's going on, getting a feel for things."

"As a federal agent, your patch is bigger," said Gibbs, "The whole Navy and the Marine Corps."

"Huh," said Tony.

"The pay's better," said Gibbs.

"You think that's important?" asked Tony.

"Can't hurt," said Gibbs. "Let me ask you a question."

"Go for it."

"Why would you think of coming to work for NCIS?"

"The guns and the babes," said Tony lightly. He saw Gibbs' scowl, "Better resources, better equipment, better pay."

"That all?" asked Gibbs.

Tony sighed, "No, although I'm not saying none of those things matter. Because of you."

"Me?"

"Yeah." Tony looked embarrassed but continued, "I see something in you. I think working with you would make me better at the job. You read people, you have intuition …"

"Gut," interjected Gibbs.

"Yeah, gut," said Tony. "And I want some of that." Gibbs nodded. "But if the guns and the babes are around …"

"Bozo!" said Gibbs with a hint of affection.

"But," said Tony, "You might also be the reason not to work for NCIS."

"Explain," said Gibbs.

"You're passionate, committed …"

"Sounds good," said Gibbs.

"The job comes first."

"Damn straight."

"And that's … worrying. Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to go the extra mile or so but I want to sleep sometimes, have some downtime. All things that don't figure high on your wish list."

Gibbs shrugged, "I couldn't promise an easy ride."

"And then there's you …"

"You already said that," grumbled Gibbs.

"The case in Baltimore. You rode roughshod over everyone to get your way. You say that I'm good but there was nothing to show that you thought that," said Tony.

"I don't hold my agents' hands," said Gibbs. "There's a job to be done. Victims to get justice for."

"I understand that, Agent Gibbs. I'm just not sure … In some ways you're refreshing."

"Never been called that before," said Gibbs with a half-smile.

"The honesty, cutting through the nonsense. Can't imagine you using a velvet glove."

"A what?"

"You know, the iron fist in a velvet glove. You'd have thrown the velvet glove out years ago."

"You bet."

"Tell me, Agent Gibbs about your training methods," said Tony.

"Same as how my Boss taught me," said Gibbs. "He expected me to watch what he did and learn."

"Let me guess, he didn't hand out praise?"

"Nope," Gibbs smiled reminiscently, "Best I could hope for was being told that I hadn't messed it up as bad as I did before."

"And that worked for you?"

"I'm an NCIS Supervisory Agent," said Gibbs, "What do you think?"

"And you just have one method of teaching?" asked Tony, "Does it ever occur to you to have a different approach?"

"If someone's going to be on my team, they have to follow my rules," said Gibbs.

"I see," said Tony, "And what do you think about the people on your team?"

"What you mean?"

"I'm guessing you only recruit the best? People who can meet your standards?"

"Yes. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. Of course, nothing. But do you respect them?"

"Explain."

"Don't think it's a good sign I have to explain. Do you respect their skills, the contribution they make? Or is the only thing that matters that the job gets done and if you trample on a co-worker that doesn't matter."

"I told you, I don't hold my agents' hands."

Tony tried a different tack, "How do you build a team?"

"Working as a team is important," said Gibbs. "it's one of my rules."

"And what does that mean … in reality?"

Gibbs looked blank.

"Does it really just mean that the team follows your lead?"

"I guess," said Gibbs. "If they do that then everyone's doing what they should be doing. Listen, I look out for my team and I expect them to look out for one another. Whatever you think of me, I want my team to be safe."

"In the field," murmured Tony.

"What?"

"I'm sure you look out for them when they're on a job. But what about when they're in the office. Do you look out for them there?"

"I don't get what you're saying," said Gibbs, "My teams always work together."

"OK," sighed Tony. "So, is there any reason you wouldn't want to hire me?"

"Your bad points?" asked Gibbs. "You really want to hear those?"

Tony shrugged in his turn, "Go for it."

Gibbs hesitated before saying, "I wouldn't have made the offer if I didn't think you'd be a good fit."

"Good to know," said Tony. "So you made the offer because you thought I'd be good at the job."

"And you thought about accepting the offer because you thought you had something to learn from me," said Gibbs.

Tony's eyes clouded over. "So where did it go wrong, Boss?"

"I didn't think it had," said Gibbs.

Tony sighed and hid his face in his hands for a moment or two as he thought back over the last few months. Tony had taken over leading the MCRT when Gibbs upped and retired to Mexico after being blown up on a ship in harbour but had been demoted when Gibbs decided to return.

Relations between the two had been strained ever since leading to tensions within the team. Tony was considering whether to leave but found himself reluctant to go on a sour note. He had discussed the problem with Dr Rachel Cranston who had suggested that he and Gibbs go back to the beginning and think about why they had agreed to work together in the first place. Somewhat to Tony's surprise, Gibbs had agreed – probably because it had been suggested by Dr Kate's Sister for whom Gibbs had a great respect.

"You thought that coming back in and dumping all my stuff on my old desk was an acceptable way of behaving?" asked Tony.

"I guess I could have done that differently," said Gibbs. "But, hey, it was a spur of the moment decision to come back. Maybe, I didn't think it through."

"I suppose I should be grateful you didn't pee on my desk just to make the point about your territory." asked Tony. He saw a glint in Gibbs' eye, "You didn't, did you?"

"No," said Gibbs, "I didn't pee on your desk. Or any desk. Is that what this is all about, DiNozzo? Me not consulting with you?"

"Why would that come as a surprise to you?" said Tony. "But I guess it did because you're not used to me taking offence at what you do."

"You know I think you're good at the job," said Gibbs. "Hey, I wouldn't have left you in charge when I retired if I didn't think you could do it."

"And that was supposed to be enough?" said Tony. "And what does it say about how good I am at the job when you come back, interfere in two cases and then grab your job back? Not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?"

"I said I could have handled that better," said Gibbs.

"Weeks later, when I told you it had riled me."

"Well, I've admitted it now. Can we move on?"

"You know, a few months ago I'd have said yes. Hell, a few months ago it wouldn't have occurred to me to talk to you about it. But things have changed."

"How?"

"I was in charge all that time you were on your margarita safari."

"You want to be in charge, DiNozzo?"

"it's not a crime, Gibbs. But no, that's not my point. When Jenny put me in charge I thought I had to lead like you did but then I realised that wasn't going to work. It's not my way, sure I wanted them to do what I told them but I was willing to listen to their input, to be collaborative … and no, it's not a dirty word. And it worked, or it was beginning to."

"Jenny said you'd done a good job," admitted Gibbs.

"I think I bought into your whole macho mystique, Boss. Maybe I've watched too many John Wayne movies …"

"Yah think?"

"'Course not, no such thing as too many of the Duke's movies. No, what I'm saying is that I bought into the strong leadership vibe you've got going on … I guess it's because there's so much that I admire about you that I thought your way of leading must be right too."

"And now you don't think so?"

"No, I think it sucks. I think it works for people like you but …"

"Go on, DiNozzo. Too late to back down now."

"Ziva once asked you if it was too much to ask for respect."

"She told you that?"

"You know, Gibbs we do talk when you're not in the squad room. And not always about work. Yes, she told us but I don't think she noticed my mouth drop open in shock. You never seem to give us … me … any respect. Lot of the time it seems to me that you think having a team is a necessary evil and you're working on it being an unnecessary evil."

"Tony …"

Tony held up his hand to stop Gibbs, "And it's not all your fault. I have this stupid need to please people … and if it's someone I admire then that need amps up a lot. I saw you were good at the job, you'd recruited me and I was grateful. Hell, I must have been grateful seeing as I've worked for you longer than anywhere else. So I didn't call you on it, and I should have."

"And you are now," said Gibbs.

"Yes," said Tony. "Because I know it doesn't have to be like this. It's possible to be a strong leader and show respect for your team. And it's not about being soft or nice: it's about recognising the gifts and contributions of others without feeling undermined. You know, we might work better if we weren't constantly on edge waiting for you to make another impossible demand or bawl us out for something that's not our fault."

"And you've been bottling this up – for how long?" asked Gibbs.

"Not all the time," said Tony, "And if you hadn't taken off and left me in charge, I'd probably still be living in a Gibbs induced state of terror but thinking that it was perfectly normal."

"So you should be grateful I got blown up?" said Gibbs.

"No, never, Boss," said Tony seriously. "Thinking you'd been killed was one of the worst moments in my life. And thinking you'd never remember me comes pretty close after."

"I guess I should be grateful for that," said Gibbs drily.

"It's because I think I've still got things to learn from you that I spoke to Rachel," said Tony. "I could walk away tomorrow to another job but I don't want to do that. I want to carry on working with you … for a while at least but I won't do it unless things change. She was right, it's helped me to look back and remember why I came to work for you – and it wasn't for the better resources, better equipment and better pay."

"Or the guns and babes?"

"Well, possibly those," grinned Tony. "I came to NCIS because of you, because of something I saw in you that I admired and wanted to know more about."

"And?"

"And I was right about that, it was a good decision. But your leadership style sucks – or at least it does when you're leading someone who's good at his job and who you say you respect. If you respect someone you don't need to treat them as if they're children – actually, not like children, you're nice to them. I don't know, perhaps like out of control teenagers who can't be trusted." Tony held up his hand, "And yes, perhaps sometimes I do act like a teenager but never when it matters, Boss. And you need to trust that too."

Gibbs took another sip of coffee and considered his reply, "I do trust you, Tony. And I do respect you. I thought you knew that. You wouldn't still be on my team if I didn't think you were more than up for the job and I'd have never made you my Senior Field Agent. And maybe I lost sight of all that because … because I'm a bastard. And because you took it all so I never had to stop and think about it."

"And now?"

"And now, you've made me stop and think about it. And I don't want you to go. I depend on you and that's probably as big of a compliment as I've ever given anyone. "

"Again, good. But what now?"

"Now, I'll try to remember. I'll try to make it clearer that I respect you. I don't know what that's going to look like but I'll try. And if I screw up …"

"If you screw up, I'll call you on it," said Tony firmly.

"See that you do," ordered Gibbs.

"You can depend on me," said Tony.

"Always do, Tony. Always do. So, we good?"

"I think so. Guess I owe Rachel a dinner."

"We both do," said Gibbs.

"Hmm," said Tony, "I think we both got in to the spirit of going back all those years. Perhaps we should think about role play as a way of resolving conflict …" He saw Gibbs about to explode and hurried on, "Or not."

"Not," said Gibbs firmly, "But it was a good thought, making me remember why I thought it was a good idea to hire a cocky, opinionated scrawny detective from Baltimore."

"But with a nice smile," said Tony.

"There is that," said Gibbs gravely.

"So, Boss, now that we've got over our failure to communicate …" Gibbs groaned. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

"Something else?" said Gibbs with a hint of a whine, "I've already used up my stock of words for the rest of the year."

"And I appreciate it, Boss," grinned Tony. "But I need to tell you something."

"Go on," said Gibbs. "Now that I've let you into the secret of where I get my coffee every day, I guess I've opened the floodgates to the inner Gibbs."

Tony was momentarily distracted, "Yeah. It's great. Sort of homely – I bet they make great apple pie. And it was a good thought, Boss."

"Spit it out," said Gibbs, "My hair could go even greyer waiting for you to come to the point."

Tony's eyes sparkled for a moment but then went serious as he said, "Jenny's got me working on this secret assignment. Boss, I think I'm getting in over my head …"

AN: done at last. I think 21 versions of Tony and Gibbs meeting is enough – even if this last one was more them trying to remember why they originally decided to work together.

I've enjoyed writing the stories and reading the comments and the suggestions for other meetings – who knows, one day there may be a series 2 of the Meetings. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who reviewed and/or made suggestions. The characters are back in their NCIS boxes and probably very grateful to be there!