AN: Sorry the updates are slow in coming but I have been laying a new floor in my bedroom, and it hasn't been easy! But it is finished now and so updates should be more often.

As always please feed me…leave feed back, it is all greatly appreciated!

Chapter 8

Gibbs and Liz walked back into the bullpen as silently as they had been all the way from the coffee shop. McGee noticed them first and was struck on how much alike they seemed, not physically or on any real physical level, but in the way they both walked, in the way they bothheld their head and watched everything around them without moving anything but their eyes and yet seemingly staring straight at you at the same time. McGee wondered if it was a military thing or if it was a personality trait, he finally settled on it being a bit of both; in order to succeed in the military be it the marines, the army, navy or air force you needed a certain type of personality and it seemed that these too had it in spades.

McGee paused in his thoughts as Gibbs and the sergeant stopped at Kate's desk, his heart leapt into his mouth before Gibbs even spoke

"You can have this desk" Gibbs said to Liz, motioning to Kate's desk aware that Tony had stopped mid phone conversation and that McGee's stare was boring holes in to the side of his head, Liz looked over Gibbs's shoulder as she went round to the desk, her eyes motioning briefly to Tony, who had just slammed his phone down.

"Are you sure?" she asked softly, aware that the desk must have belonged to the agent Ari had killed

"Yep, its empty and you need a desk" was all he said as he turned and headed to his desk, mentally counting in his mind, he didn't even make it to 2 or to his desk

"No Friggin way boss" Tony snarled leaping from his desk and standing before Liz who was in the process of sitting down, which she calmly continued to do, her eyes calm but firm, showing none of the shock she felt at Tony's behaviour.

"DiNozzo" Gibbs said as he turned his tone a warning, his voice hadn't been raised and yet still stressing that Gibbs wasn't going to tolerate this kind of behaviour.

"That's Kate's desk" Tony said turning and glaring at Gibbs, his eyes blazing; Gibbs noticed it immediately and was pleased that beneath his grief Tony was still able to feel, even if at the moment it was only anger

"No Tony, it WAS Kate's desk, its now Sergeant Liz Carroll's desk" Gibbs said softly, his tone both compassionate and commanding. Tony narrowed his eyes slowly at Gibbs before turning to face the woman seated behind Kate's desk.

"So why does she need a desk? She isn't NCIS" he sneered, his eyes screaming anger and pain

"She is now, she's been seconded to us, she is now the newest member of my team" Gibbs told both Tony and McGee "if you don't like it you know where the door is" he added on harshly, knowing he had to make his position clear from the start. Tony turned back to Gibbs and stared at him in shock, pain and anger.

"You bastard" he said quietly, giving the words more impact by the quiet venom they carried "You don't even care she's dead, all you care about is replacing her and getting Ari" Tony continued beyond caring anymore, finally finding an outlet for his pain. Gibbs watched Tony carefully, knowing the anguish the younger man was going through, wanting to let him vent on him but also knowing that he couldn't.

"Pull it together Tony, or go home" he said quietly coming to stand before Tony, almost toe to toe "and if you do go home, don't come back unless you're ready to work with and accept Liz"

Tony stared at Gibbs then turned to look at the woman behind Kate's desk before he turned on his heel, grabbed his coat and stormed out. Gibbs watched him go with a sigh, wishing he could go and make sure he was ok, but knowing it would be the wrong thing to do for Tony, for himself and for the team and its newest member. He closed his eyes for a moment then turned to McGee who was standing silent and worried

"Do you have a problem McGee?" he asked softly, watching as McGee swallowed nervously darting a glance at Liz

"Uh no Boss" he said sitting in his chair abruptly, sending it scooting back slightly under the force of his action.

"Good" Gibbs said turning back to Liz

"Stow your stuff, then come with me" he said, heading off to the elevators before Liz had even had time to react, she sighed, threw her bag in a drawer and headed after him, wondering just what she was getting into here but not really caring so long as it meant Haswari was out of the game.

…………………………………………..

Gibbs and Liz rode in silence for the first part; Liz watched the first floor go by then decided this was as good a place as any to talk about what had just happened.

"I take it DiNozzo and Todd were close?" she said softly, no hint as to what she felt about Tony's actions in her tone

Gibbs turned to look at her, determining instantly that this wasn't idle gossip she wanted, but the reason for Tony's outburst

"Yes, partners and friends" he said, perhaps more he thought to himself, if they had had the time.

"Ok" Liz said understanding what he meant "and McGee?" she asked needing to know where any problems in the team dynamics might come from. Gibbs paused a moment before answering her.

"He's still finding his place in the team, it's assured but he hasn't figured that out yet, but he's getting there. He won't be a problem to you" he finished meeting her eyes, pleased to see understanding and perhaps even compassion reflected in them.

"I'll tread softly, but not on egg shells" Liz warned him her voice low but laced with steel

"Didn't ask you to" Gibbs said stepping out of the elevator doors as they opened on the floor that housed the morgue.

Liz watched him leave the elevator and walked slowly out herself, thinking that he would never ask anyone to do something he wouldn't do. Liz had a feeling she was going to like and hate Gibbs but the others worried her slightly, they were an unknown and unknowns were often a problem