A/N: I'm very sorry for the long delay with this chapter. It didn't want to get written. A shout-out to Dolphtat on this one. I'm finding inspiration hard to come by these days so feedback, reviews, a kick in the pants… it's all appreciated. This story has a little bit longer and then it will be ending. I will then be sticking to one shots – both in the future and from the past.
***JIBBS***JIBBS***JIBBS***
Ziva was happy. Because they were waiting on a warrant from a judge who was taking his sweet time, she was able to steal away for a quick lunch off campus with the Director of NCIS. The two old friends and former partners picked at their Mediterranean food as they gossiped in hushed voices.
"How's Agent Truelove coming along? Is she driving Gibbs crazy yet?"
Ziva shook her head emphatically. "She is very good. His only issue with her is that she may be showing too much initiative, running off to check things out. But," she began before swallowing another bite of her falafel-filled pita, "I suspect that could be Tony's fault."
The redhead shot her cohort a look. "Really? Why?"
Ziva snorted, gesticulating with her hands as she finished chewing. "Because he loves hearing Gibbs scream as he is looking for her, 'Truelove! Truelove!' It amuses Tony every time."
Jenny laughed so hard she started to tear up. "Oh to see that," she said, dabbing away at the moisture around her eyes.
The Israeli smiled. "You seem happy. Things are good with Sam and Julia, yes?"
She couldn't stop smiling. "Very good."
"Motherhood obviously agrees with you. I do not think I have ever seen you so happy, except maybe on your wedding day."
Jenny closed her eyes briefly, letting the memory wash over her. "That was an incredible time, for sure. But we're in a really good place now, and it keeps getting better and better." She quickly knocked on wood. "Hope it stays that way."
Ziva nodded. "It will. You two deserve good times."
Jenny studied her friend. "And what about you? We really haven't talked about Eli's visit, at least – not in any depth. I hope you've forgiven me, but I felt it was too important an opportunity."
The younger woman watched as her friend picked the lamb out of her gyro. "I was a bit upset at first, but I do understand why you felt the need to meddle."
Jenny almost choked on her water. "Meddle? You make me sound like a yenta."
Ziva raised her eyebrows.
The director rolled her eyes. "Fine, I suppose it was yenta-like behavior. But only because I care so much."
"That is something my Bubbie would say."
Jenny put her fork down and narrowed her eyes. "I draw the line at being compared to your grandmother."
"Grandmother?!"
Both women turned to the origin of the male voice even though they knew the owner immediately.
Jenny was indignant. "Ziva was just comparing me to her grandmother, if you can believe that," she said before giving her husband a quick kiss.
Gibbs pulled a chair over to join them. He looked his wife up and down and smirked. "I'm guessing it's not because of the way you dress." He leaned over to kiss her again and frowned when she playfully pushed his face away.
Ziva held her ground. "Your wife was breaking Rule 6." She saw his confusion. "Setting me up to see my father."
He nodded. "Ah."
Jenny leaned over to him. "I did not break Rule 6. I asked if she'd forgiven me. There's a difference."
The corners of his lips turned upward as he looked at Ziva. "Have you?"
She sighed. "Well, I do know that her heart was in the right place even it was highly inappropriate for a boss to do."
"First, I'm sitting right here." Jenny saw her husband eyeing her food, so she handed him her fork and pushed her plate over. "Second, I didn't do it as your boss, but as someone who has shared many a Shabbat dinner with you two. And we both know the toll the estrangement has had on you."
Gibbs watched the two women carefully. He appreciated any chance where he was able to learn a bit more about their time together. "What did happen after I left you with Eli, Ziver?"
She sat back in her chair and sighed. "He admitted to being jealous of you, Gibbs. He knows I see you as a father figure, but he also is grateful that you have been there for me. Jenny trusts you, so he… accepts it."
He looked at her, realizing she was holding something back. "What else?"
Ziva locked eyes with him. "He knew I was the one who killed Ari. We took a moment, mourned the boy he once was."
Gibbs grunted, obviously still disturbed by the monster he became.
Jenny reached over and squeezed her hand. "How'd that make you feel?"
She sighed. "It was hard. I realized that I still blame him for a lot of things. But he seemed older, like his choices have cost a toll."
"Had a toll, Ziva," corrected Jenny.
She looked confused. "But when I drive to the airport, I have to pay a toll. A toll costs."
Gibbs ignored their semantic struggle. "Does that mean you forgive him? You just needed to know he was suffering?"
"It was… easier to be mad when I thought my father was being ruthless and feeling no..." she looked like she was struggling to figure out the right word.
Jenny prodded, "Repercussions?"
"Pain?" asked Gibbs.
"Guilt!" she shouted, relieved to have placed the word herself. Ziva took a deep breath and fell back against her seat. "He feels guilt. He said, 'Heavy is the head who wears the crown,' which I did not quite understand."
Jenny nodded and sighed. "When you get to the position that we're both at, sometimes you have to make decisions that hurt others or seem unfair. But so many more factors are at play, are being considered, that those on the outside don't know – that they couldn't possibly know. We get top-secret intelligence briefings, advice from those above us but in the end – we have to make a decision and then live with the consequences. I think Eli meant something along those lines. I imagine Ari's actions left him with very little choice, and you with an even more horrible one. I think about what I would do if it were me – between Sam and Julia. And then I realize I can't even wrap my head around that."
Gibbs reached over to squeeze her hand in comfort. "Don't."
Ziva looked at them both and nodded – feeling like she had a better understanding of her father. "I can not say that things will ever be back to normal, but at least I do not dread his phone calls… as much."
The director smiled. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"
The Israeli narrowed her eyes. "Yes, Grandma."
When Gibbs snorted, Jenny shot them both a dirty look.
Later that afternoon, the team returned to the bullpen after having served the warrant. They put their gear down as Gibbs looked over at Agent Truelove. "Good work today."
Tony's eyes widened. "What the? You just complimented her? Since when are you nice to probies?!"
Fearing what was about to come next, Ziva and Tim quickly busied themselves with their computers.
Gibbs turned to glare at the younger man. "Excuse me?" he asked pointedly. Tony gulped, realizing his mistake. "You never showed up a senior field agent."
Tony laughed uncomfortably as Gibbs headed to the elevator. "She didn't show me up! It's not my fault I was sent to search the wrong room!" He turned to look at his coworkers, who simply shook their heads at him. He glanced at Julie. "I think Gibbs has a crush on you."
Tim and Ziva both stopped what they were doing and let their mouths hang open at Tony's words.
He shrugged. "You have a better excuse as to why he doesn't give her grunt duty, let's her actually participate in the field? Ziva – how long was it before you were allowed to actually try to help on a case? He made you watch forever!"
Not wanting to be a part of this, Julie left for the break room.
Ziva stood up and walked over to him. "Do you even hear yourself? How can you put that thought in her head?"
Tony smiled from ear to ear. "Maybe she'll do something stupid like make a pass at him."
McGee was incredulous. "You're not in college, Tony. Stop the hazing. And what makes you think she'd be that stupid – or interested even?"
"Oh come on, McBoy Scout. Why would she settle for you when she could grab for the power of the big man."
Ziva shook her head and returned to her seat. "You are obviously as stupid as you look."
Tony shot Tim a look when he laughed. "Sure, call me names now but I'm telling you – he has a soft spot for her, and it's not my fault if you are all too blind to see it."
Observing - and unnoticed - on the catwalk, Jenny took a deep breath and headed back to her office.
Later that night, after the kids went to sleep, Jenny put on a silky negligee and went down to the basement to join her husband. He had finally finished setting up the frame for the new boat he wanted to work on and was now in sanding mode. All sweaty in his T-shirt and jeans, he looked up when he heard her footsteps. He smiled as he drank in her appearance. "Hubba hubba."
She laughed as she placed the baby monitor on the workbench. "Glad I can still get that reaction from you."
Gibbs looked at her funny. "Still? Have you ever not?" He pulled her to him and leaned her back against the rib of the boat.
"Tony seems to think you have a thing for our young Agent Truelove."
He started to laugh, thinking she was joking – but quickly realized that she wasn't. "He said that?! To you?"
"Not to me. The team. Apparently, you've been showing her unusual attention."
He sighed and backed away from her, headed for the bourbon.
Concerned by his behavior, Jenny followed him. "What is it?"
He turned to look at her. "She's good, Jen. Damn good. Reminds me a bit too much of another young agent I once worked with."
Jenny searched his eyes, trying to see if there was more to it. "Should I be worried?"
He scoffed. "Only if you don't want to nurture a future you." He saw the apprehension in her eyes. "Damn it, Jen. She reminds me of you and practically has our daughter's name. Maybe those two things have made me go a bit easy on her, but she is impressive." He pushed her back against the boat, and his hands slowly wandered over her body. "But I'm impressed by her talent. Nothing else. You, on the other hand," he whispered, desire overwhelming him as he started to kiss her neck. "You are everything. Tell me you know that."
Her back arched in line with the rib of the boat, her chest heaving up and down as his hands and lips drew out her excitement. "In my saner moments, I do know."
"Do you trust me?" he asked as his fingers lifted the negligee up her thighs, gently caressing along the way.
Her head moved back and forth as the stimulation wreaked havoc with her senses. "Yes," she said breathily, completely turned on by what he was doing to her.
His mouth moved from her neck downward. "I'm not sure I heard you," he teased.
She threaded her fingers in his hair. "Yes," she managed, a bit more insistent this time. "God, Jethro, how long are you going to make me wait for it? And if you mention pacing, I may have to bite you."
He laughed as he quickly took off his shirt and unzipped his jeans. "I like driving you crazy."
She pushed his jeans down and reached for him. His moaning made her smile. "Now who wants it?"
He lifted her up a bit against the boat before he entered her, her legs wrapping around him instantly. They moved fluidly, knowing what the other wanted, what the other needed. After a while, Jenny was whimpering, nearing the end. "God, I want to do other positions but I didn't lock the door on the way down. Just a bit… more… harder," she cried into his ear.
After one final thrust into her, he felt her shudder beneath him. It wasn't long before he joined her over the edge, burying his face into her shoulder. He held her in his arms, allowing her down so her feet could touch the floor.
She didn't want to lose his warmth and held him tightly against her.
"Still believe what Tony had to say?" he grunted.
Her eyes fluttered open as she licked her lips. "Tony who?"
