Author's Note: My apologies. I prepare income taxes for a living and was too busy to give this chapter the attention it deserved.

"Jason DeWitt's body has been transferred to the nearest military base with autopsy capability. The camp where Gibbs was held was abandoned. A few bodies were found, along with evidence of fairly recent explosions that destroyed some vehicles and a catch pile. Your work, DiNozzo?"

"Some of it, although only one of the bodies is mine."

"Fast work." Vance stared at Tony long enough to make the other man uncomfortable. "I've seriously underestimated you once again. I see you in action, I know how good you are in that moment. Yet within no time at all, I forget and fall for the charade all over again."

A proud smile on his face, Gibbs shook his head. "It's part of why DiNozzo is one of the best undercover operatives that I've worked with. The only other one as good is Callen."

"G Callen in Los Angeles Special Ops?"

"Yep. Their methodology may be different, but both are two of the best." Gibbs narrowed his eyes at Vance. "Don't get any ideas about transferring DiNozzo to Hetty."

Worried about the direction the conversation was heading, Tony spoke up. "What about Michael Callaghan?"

"Due to the nature of the charges, the fact that he has the money and the connections to flee the court's jurisdiction, he's been remanded."

"Do we have enough to try him here? Most of his crimes were committed elsewhere, even if ordered from this area."

Vance shrugged. "The D.A. is contacting the various authorities to try and coordinate the cases. One way or another, he's going down."

"Good."

"And the Senator?" Gibbs asked.

"Not happy. He originally said he would stay out of it, but it wasn't long until he was trying to place the blame on Torrence Roberts. Unfortunately the evidence left by both DeWitt and Roberts are slowing eroding that belief. Especially the recordings of his son's own words, particularly in regards to destroying his father's career, if not his life."

"So what happens next in regards to the case?"

"We let the FBI and the lawyers do their work. Gibbs, you're out on sick leave until you're cleared to return for desk duty. No arguments!" Vance pointed his finger at the senior agent before he could protest. "This investigation into our still unknown mole isn't going to be easy. Unlike David, the mole is being extremely careful. Regarding Ziva David. You do realize, Gibbs, that even if she isn't charged with espionage, her time here is over."

Gibbs gave a curt nod.

"Will she be charged, Director?"

"That will be up to SecNav and JAG, DiNozzo. I guarantee you that, even if she avoids criminal charges, Ziva David will be deported and banned from ever returning. Her plans for American citizenship, much less special agent status, are done."

Tony saw Gibbs had reached his limit on the subject and rose to his feet. "If that's all, Director, we should go. Gibbs still has to check in with Abby before we head home."

Vance, accepting Tony's heavy-handed hint, also got to his feet. "I think that is enough for the time being. I'm having Hetty's tech people assist McGee with the mole hunt. Until we can narrow down our suspect list, we can't take the chance to investigate in-house."

With a sigh of relief, Tony ushered Gibbs out of the office and into the elevator. "Abby, then home."

"You enjoying bossing me around, Tony?"

"Maybe a little, Jethro." He grinned.

Entering Abby's lab, Tony stepped in front of Gibbs to prevent a full tackle hug. "Gently, Abby, very gently."

She nodded, a sheen of tears in her mossy green eyes as she carefully wrapped her arms around Gibbs.

"Abs, it's okay. I'm fine." At the twin looks of disbelief, Gibbs amended his statement. "Okay, a little battered and bruised, but I'll heal."

Abby looked to Tony for confirmation. Once he nodded, she threw herself at the younger man, her tears spilling over.

Tony murmured assurances in her ear as he hugged her. Once she regained her equilibrium, she stepped back.

"No more dreams?"

"None. Thank you so much, Tony."

"Hey, I wouldn't have let it go, Abby."

"Well, duh, of course not." Abby's smile might still be a bit wobbly, but it was as wide as it could be. "You guys are a team! Batman and Robin, Starsky and Hutch, Butch and Sundance."

"That last duo didn't end well," Tony reminded her. "Great movie, though."

"The real Butch and Sundance didn't die there. Everyone knows that!"

"Ah, well, okay then."

"What do we have on Callaghan?"

"Gibbs."

"DiNozzo. Ten minutes, fifteen max."

"I'm holding you to that." Tony tapped his watch face.

"You guys are soooo cute!" Abby squealed.

Before the three could discuss more than the basics of the evidence, Ziva barged into the outer lab. She was trailed by a visibly flustered McGee who shrugged apologetically at Tony.

"Ziva." Gibbs acknowledged her presence.

"You are coming back, yes?"

"In a few days."

Ziva's eyes darted to Tony, then back to Gibbs. "Your injuries, they are not serious?"

"He was brutally beaten, Ziva. You should know how that feels, as well as the injuries that can result. Gibbs will take whatever amount of time that might be needed."

"I shall assist Gibbs. You are no longer needed. You do not have any business here."

tony heard the shocked protests from both Tim and Abby. He could also feel the keen probing laser blue eyes of Gibbs behind him.

He stepped forward, crowding the Israeli. "It has nothing to do with business, Ziva. Gibbs and I are friends. We've been friends and partners since long before you and your brother targeted both NCIS and Kate. So until Gibbs kicks me to the curb, I'll be staying with him. I'll also be locking the door. And I'll be turning away anyone who shows up without an invitation. Or with lockpicks."

"Friends?" Ziva sneered. "Gibbs can barely tolerate you. You are nothing. It is better that you no longer..."

"Enough!" The snap of Gibbs' command stopped Ziva's rant.

"Gibbs," she protested.

"No more, Ziva. Give it a rest. DiNozzo, let's go."

On the drive to Casa Gibbs, Tony kept waiting for the shoe to drop. There was no way that Gibbs missed the unspoken subtext. But once again, the trip was unnaturally quiet.

He was pretty certain that Gibbs spotted him dropping the visitor's badge on the way out, unable to find an excuse to leave Gibbs. There would definitely be questions flung at him soon enough.

Inside the house, Tony doled out Gibbs' medications. He knew the pain pills would be ignored as usual. Tony then decided to tackle the laundry. Not only did it need to be done, it would remove him from Gibbs' direct line of sight since the washer and dryer were at the back of the house.

It wasn't until after dinner, a light fare of broiled chicken with rosemary and garlic served with sautéed asparagus, that the subject came up at last.

"Don't you need to check in at work? Even if Ziva is under close watch, they must be working cold cases."

"No, I'm fine. Everything's good."

"DiNozzo, whenever you use the word 'fine', I get worried. What's going on?"

"It really isn't that big a deal, boss."

Gibbs just stared.

"Okay, okay. I might've...resigned." Tony grimaced, waiting for the storm to break over him.

"Resigned? Do you want to tell me why?"

"Uh, not really. C'mon, Jethro, we don't need to go into that now. I baked a nice bread pudding for dessert."

"I think we do. I knew there was something. Abby and McGee were trying too hard to not talk about you coming back. And then there was Ziva. Tony, why?" Gibbs' forehead creased with worry.

Nervously, Tony moistened his dry lips. "When you went missing, they wouldn't authorize a search."

"Because of DeWitt and the accusations of treason."

"Yeah. He had SecNav and Vance on his side at the time."

"Don't you think resigning was a bit of an overreaction?"

"Jethro, it was the only option I had. Vance wouldn't even approve a leave of absence. You would be put on the Most Wanted Terrorist list with Interpol and other foreign agencies. No one was going to take the time to search for you."

"Shit."

"That was my reaction. So I did what I had to do." Seeing the older man's concern, Tony placed his hand on Gibbs' arm. "I don't care. Honestly, I don't. There isn't one thing I would've done differently. Other than going after you earlier."

"We'll fix this, Tony."

"Doesn't matter. You're here and you're relatively healthy. Everything else fades compared to that."