I can't believe I managed to finish this chapter today. It was so damn hot. Even the water in my pool was at 35 degrees C, but at least that was much cooler than outside. Anyway, I managed to finish it, although I apologise for any errors in spelling or grammar. Too hot to do a thorough edit.

Disclaimer: Same as other chapters.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Mistrust

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan did not have the strongest of relationships with those around him. His inability to trust inexplicitly often left him in hot water on the other side of the door. With the exception of his team, he was an outsider everywhere else. His instincts served him well, but it was his disposition that served his mistrust in others. There was one person he was beginning to trust without reservation. They'd known the NCIS crew for three years. And NCIS Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo shared his spark for life, as well as his issues with commitment.

Morgan wondered, as he patiently waited at the domestic terminal at Dulles for his colleagues, Dave Rossi and Spencer Reid, to fly in from their interview in Texas, if it was his inability to trust others that was the source of his concern over Tony's recent actions. He did not trust his best friend's decision to propose to the love of his life. When he put like that, Morgan knew that he was in the wrong. He knew that Tony was doing the right thing, but he still couldn't come to terms with it.

"Hey, Morgan!" he heard his friend and colleague, Reid, call out from baggage claim.

Morgan waved back and walked over to the young agent, who was standing beside Rossi. They did not have any luggage to retrieve, since they were only gone for a night and had carry-on baggage, so Morgan directed them to where he'd parked the car. They got in and Morgan headed towards the freeway.

"So, we all still at NCIS?" Rossi asked from the passenger seat. "Or is Gibbs now tearing up Quantico as well?"

"We... well... abandoned the case yesterday," Morgan answered. "Director Shepard's orders. She feels that we've spent too long on it and gotten nowhere."

"Well, she's right," Rossi told him. "Then what's up with you? Something wrong?"

"Nuh, man, nothing's wrong," Morgan lied.

"Why are you deflecting the question?" Reid asked from the back seat.

"I'm not deflecting anything, it's just not important," Morgan answered defensively.

"If it weren't important, you would be driving like a normal human being," Rossi pointed out. "You wouldn't be gripping the wheel like you were trying to rip it out."

Morgan banged his hand on the wheel as they stopped in traffic. He drew in a breath and mumbled out an answer. "I think Tony's making a mistake."

"In doing what?" Reid questioned, clearly confused by the change in conversation.

"McGee and I went with him yesterday to a jeweller's downtown to buy an engagement ring," Morgan answered. "I think he's making a mistake. I don't think he's ready and I think that Ziva knows that."

"You mean," Rossi began, looking at the younger agent intently. "That you're annoyed by the fact that Tony's ready to be happy with the love of his life and you haven't found her yet. Are you angry at him for finding happiness?"

"He's happy with a different girl every week," Morgan spat back. Reid chose that moment to withdraw from the conversation, but Rossi did not.

"Are you happy with a different girl every week?" Rossi asked.

Morgan refused to dignify the question with an answer. He turned his attention back to the road and swerved around a semi-trailer to escape the traffic.

oOo

Lunch was not something that they got to do often, but with Jenny's orders to close the case on Anthony's kidnapping, Emily, JJ and Ziva now had free time. It was a Sunday afternoon and they had Anthony and Henry with them, so McDonald's was the chosen place to eat. Even amongst the shrieks and cries of the many children in that fast food outlet, they still managed to have a civilised conversation.

Well, an almost civilised conversation. "I am beginning think that my entire relationship with Kalev is about sex," Emily spat out.

"Sex!" Anthony repeated and then giggled.

Ziva's eyes snapped open and she covered her son's ears as she leant closer to her best friend. "Please do not use that word around him. I am working very hard to make sure he does not become his father."

"You might as well turn him into a priest," JJ commented. "Uh, rabbi." She paused for a moment, confused but what she had said but then chose to ignore it. "Never mind. Are you telling me we can't have a normal conversation because you don't want Anthony to pick up anything?"

"We can talk, just not so freely," Ziva answered. "And not about that thing with my brother. He is my brother!"

"She makes a valid argument," JJ put in. "Just pretend that we're not talking about Kalev here."

"Look, it's just that we have it every night he's in town and then he goes away for several weeks or even months," Emily explained. "I wonder if he's getting it anywhere else. I'd have no way of knowing."

"Oh, why'd you go down that road, girl?" JJ asked her.

"There weren't as many stop signs," Emily answered with a smile.

"Why are we talking about your driving now?" Ziva ejected with a confused look at the two FBI agents.

They both looked back at her and simultaneously answered. "Never mind."

"How's things going with Tony?" JJ enquired, changing the subject.

"Great," Ziva answered simply. "Perhaps a little too great."

"Too great?" Emily questioned.

"When things are going well in my life, something always happens to turn it topside down," Ziva explained.

"Upside down, not topside," Emily corrected. "And Anthony was kidnapped a week ago. I think enough bad luck has come by you."

JJ nodded, but did not comment.

"Alright, but I still have..." Ziva began but then paused for a moment. "A not-so-good feeling that something bad is going to happen."

"You get feelings like these often?" JJ asked sceptically.

"Yes," Ziva replied in a soft voice. "The last time, Tony was nearly killed when his car blew up. We all thought he was dead."

JJ and Emily now looked at her in a different light, for the first time, actually concerned that Ziva may be on to something.

oOo

Noemi attempted to open the front door of the Shepard townhouse in Georgetown before Gibbs could get to it, but, quite unfortunately, she was not as quick as the former Marine Gunnery Sergeant. He wrenched the door wide open and stormed passed the maid, knowing exactly where his boss was at that moment in time. Walking twice as fast as usual, he near-sprinted into the study at the back of the house and came to a halt in front of the antique desk.

Jenny did not even flinch let alone look up to acknowledge him. She did speak to him, however, in the same tone she always addressed him with. "Any reason for you barging down my door this time, Jethro?"

"If you were more careful with your own security, Madam Director, I would not be able to barge my way into your house," Gibbs retorted.

"Oh, somehow I doubt that," Jenny pointed out.

There was an awkward pause before Gibbs spoke again. "Who is after you, Jenny?"

Jenny stopped writing, took off her glasses and looked up at him. "If I knew that, don't you think that I would have done something by now?"

"I'd hope that you would have alerted me by now, but you have this uncanny knack for leaving important things like that out," Gibbs shot back, walking over to the cabinet on his right to pour himself a glass of bourbon.

"What is it about my life that interests you so much, Jethro?" Jenny asked, taking the freshly poured glass of alcohol from his grip and taking a sip of it.

Gibbs chuckled slightly and poured himself another glass. "Decker's funeral is in two days time. Are you going to lie to me and say that you weren't worried when you found out that he was dead?"

"From a heart attack, Gibbs. All the more proof that the man had taken one too many liberties with his health before he passed on."

"So why did you look so concerned?" Gibbs asked intuitively.

Jenny stared him in the eye but did not answer.

"I was always worried," Gibbs began and then took a breath, turning away from her. "That we did not get out of Paris as cleanly as we thought."

"We got out cleanly, Gibbs," Jenny said firmly, although she genuinely did not believe what she was saying. "It was years ago."

"Then why do I get the feeling that you know something," Gibbs threw out, turning back around to face her. He took a step closer so that they were no more than a few inches apart.

"I don't know what you mean," Jenny breathed out, her voice hitching at the closeness of their bodies. "Can we talk about it when I get back? I have a plane to catch in an hour."

"Do you know something about Anthony's kidnapping?" Gibbs asked, his voice much stronger.

"No," Jenny replied and that was not entirely false. She did not know exactly who was behind it.

Gibbs stared into her eyes and then decided not to press it. He moved on to another matter. "Are you okay, Jen? Is there anything that you want to tell me?"

Jenny didn't want to answer him. She didn't want to lie to him, nor did she want to tell him what was going on. Instead, she stared back at him, taking in his wordless worries and concerns.

Their moment was broken, however, by Noemi informing Jenny that her car was there.

"I'll be right out," Jenny called back and then turned back to Gibbs. She raised her height slightly by standing on her toes and kissed him softly on the cheek, lingering for a little longer than she needed to and dangerously close to his lips.

Gibbs was taken by surprise. He watched her walk away from him and then turn back as she exited the study.

"I'm sorry, Jethro," Jenny said before turning around and walking to her car. Her driver held the door open for her as she got in.

Gibbs walked to the front door and watched her leave, wondering ever so incessantly about whether or not she was only apologising for her abrupt departure.

Oh dear, do we all know what's happening now?

Reviews, please! :)

I won't be able to update again for about two weeks. I'm going away. Sorry people.