Chapter 10
DISCLAIMER: However much I wish it was so, I do not own these characters. I'm going to simply let them play for a little bit and then put them back a little happier.
WARNING: Slash story - you have been informed!
A/N: Okay, this chapter is really long, but I wanted everything that happens here all in the same place. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
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Tony stood looking at his reflection in his full length mirror as he finished tying his tie. He was wearing his black Armani suit, a crisp white shirt and black silk tie. This was his serious suit, his 'you-better-not-fuck-with-me-because-I'll-take-you-out' suit. He smiled back at his reflection and his eyes glinted dangerously. He nodded at himself once and thought "Ready."
He made his way out to the kitchen where Jethro was sitting at the breakfast bar reading his paper and finishing his coffee. They had gotten up a few hours earlier and Jethro had made them both breakfast before they had taken a run together and then had separate showers. They didn't trust themselves to behave, so Jethro had taken his shower in the guest bathroom while Tony had been in the Master suite. Both had missed the other greatly, but realized they couldn't be late today. Besides, this was probably the last day Tony would have to work for awhile, they would have time to play soon.
Tony's breath caught when he saw Jethro sitting there looking at the paper with his reading glasses on. He thought Jethro looked so sexy wearing them! He had to force his body to relax. He continued into the kitchen and kissed Jethro's cheek as he went by to fix his own coffee in a travel mug.
Jethro was having his own issues with control when Tony had appeared in the doorway. Damn! He looked so hot and sexy in that black suit! He squirmed a little on the stool as Tony kissed his cheek and went to get his own coffee. "Stand down, Marine!' He told himself. They would have plenty of time later.
Jethro was smiling to himself when Tony turned around again with his travel mug.
"Why Mr. Gibbs, it appears you are thinking naughty thoughts!" He drawled while leaning back on the opposite counter.
Jethro put his paper down and smiled wryly at him before replying, "Well, it's a little hard not too with you looking like that!"
Tony smiled back at him and replied, "I could say the same thing about you." Before taking a sip of his coffee.
Jethro looked down at what he was wearing, faded jeans and blue hoody and looked back up at Tony with a you're kidding right? Look on his face.
Tony laughed and replied, "Your glasses. Always does me in." He walked back over to Jethro with a sly smile and leaned in for a proper kiss that had them both breathing hard when he finally pulled back.
"I'll have to remember that." Jethro replied, with a sly smile of his own.
"Yeah, I'm in for it." Tony answered, but looked quite pleased at the thought. "You ready to go?" He asked, all business again.
"Yep. We're taking your car." Jethro announced.
"Okaaay, I thought you'd want to drive yourself?" Tony asked him as he grabbed his badge, gun and keys and made for the door.
"Don't want to be away from you for that long." Jethro simply said making Tony stop in his tracks and look at him with his head tilted to the side.
"C'mon, we don't want to be late!" Jethro said as he passed him with a kiss to his cheek and a smack on his ass before he was out the door.
Tony broke into a wide grin and jogged to catch up after locking his door.
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Jenny Shepherd took one last look in the mirror at the bottom of her stairs before she walked out the door. She had chosen a red pantsuit and simple diamond earrings. Her hair was upswept with a few curls hanging down. She smiled back at her reflection and decided she looked intimidating enough, yet still feminine. Perfect. She thought.
When she had first decided to climb the corporate ladder, she thought it would probably be in the FBI. Even though her father was a naval officer, she didn't think NCIS had a high enough profile to get her where she wanted to go. She had let him talk her into trying it though and she was surprised to find how much she liked it. Working for the military and their dependants had benefits all its own. While she had not attained her goal of SecNav, she was okay with that. She was pretty happy where she was right now, there would always be time to climb that final rung.
Her only regret in her climb had been Jethro. She had been thrilled when Franks had left and given the team to Jethro. She knew she would have to 'network' with team leads to up her profile, but Franks did nothing for her. Now Gibbs, that was something else. She had watched him covertly ever since she had been placed on Franks' team, and Gibbs was one hell of a man. That observation had been proven when they had posed as a married couple in Paris and had taken the ruse all the way. The man was incredible in bed! Tony was one lucky man! She had seen Jethro falling too hard for her though and had quickly taken an assignment in London and ended it with a letter to him.
She was flattered that he thought so much of her, but there was no way she would derail her aspirations to settle down with him and have children. Although now, the thought of children appealed to her, but she had not met anyone who peaked that interest in her. She had actually been quite interested in Tony when she first came back as the director, but Morrow had clued her in to the nature of Tony and Jethro's relationship so she scrapped that plan rather quickly. Jethro was not one to share, and she didn't want to hurt him. Watching them over the past year, she had seen how much they meant to one another and how good they were together. They complimented each other perfectly and they had that whole reading each other's mind thing. She and Jethro had never had that.
She was happy they had found each other and loved one another so much, because even if the past year had not proven it to her, these past few days had. She was happy the SecNav knew about them and was okay with it, because she would fight the President himself to allow them to stay together on the job if she had to. She was hoping her idea for the team would be acceptable to both agents, it would be a stretch, but she thought it could work out very well.
She grabbed her purse and briefcase when Greg knocked on the door, signaling they were ready to go. Taking one last look in the mirror, she winked at herself thinking, "It's all going to work out." She wore a smile as she allowed Greg to carry her briefcase to the waiting car.
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Tim McGee stood and wiped his face after splashing water on it in the men's room at work. He had come in at 0600 hours and at 0700 he had just finished the reports he had come in to finish.
He stood looking at his reflection and psyched himself up for his meeting with Tony.
"Try not to stutter, be honest and don't forget to call him Agent DiNozzo or Sir!" He sternly told himself.
"Good advice McGee." Gibbs commented while leaning against the wall near the door.
Tim must have jumped a foot off the ground and spun around so quickly he nearly fell. Gibbs made no move to help him in any way; he just stood there with his arms crossed looking not very happy.
"Oh shit, he knows!" Ran through McGee's mind before he was able to choke out, "Gibbs!" in a squeaky voice.
Gibbs did not answer him; he never moved but his stare intensified if that were even possible.
"Um, um, I'm sorry! I was stupid for not looking deeper and, and following someone, well blindly following, just, um not thinking for myself and, and treating Tony, I mean Agent DiNozzo so badly, I, I, I, I think, NO! I know it will never happen again.." Tim knew he was going on and on and maybe not making a whole lot of sense, but he didn't expect to see Gibbs and all his old insecurities were bubbling out and he just couldn't stop himself. He had expected a head slap about half-way through, but Gibbs hadn't moved and hadn't said a word. Tim wasn't even sure he had blinked at all. He just kept looking at him with that intense, Gibbs stare and a mildly disgusted look on his face.
Tim swallowed and ventured to ask, "How is Tony, I mean Agent DiNozzo?"
That got a reaction. Gibbs sprang from the wall and backed McGee up against the wall next to the urinals and got right in his face.
"How is Tony? Tony was feeling a little betrayed by people he considered friends, but he's doing much better. You want to know why McGee? Because he finally realized what a mistake we both made allowing you on the team. You had potential McGee, but you're as bad as David; too full of yourselves to see what's really going on. I'm not the one you should be apologizing to McGee! We should have kicked you back to Norfolk right away. You are an ungrateful, sarcastic little shit who couldn't reason his way OUT OF A PAPER BAG!" Gibbs shouted this last part directly into McGee's face and slammed his hand on the wall about an inch from McGee's head. McGee was actually in fear for his life. He knew what Gibbs was capable of.
McGee was mentally reviewing all the ways Gibbs could kill him and Abby and/or Ducky would dispose of his remains when a quiet, but still forceful, "Jethro." sounded from somewhere near the door.
Both men looked over to see Tony standing just inside the door and McGee had never been happier to see him.
Tony ignored McGee completely and spoke directly to Gibbs. "Go see Abby, you two really need to talk." McGee held his breath while Gibbs contemplated taking this advice or continuing on the path he had started on when he came in to the restroom. McGee noted he took a few deep breaths and he and Tony shared that talking without words thing again, before Gibbs nodded his head once.
Gibbs looked back at him and had an expression on his face that said McGee was on par with something he scraped off his shoe. He never said another word, he turned on his heel and walked out of the bathroom, brushing his hand against Tony's as he went by. A gesture Tony returned. McGee was still looking down at Tony's hand when he realized it was very quiet, so he looked up to see Tony watching him with a calculating look. He also noted Tony was wearing his black Armani. Crap, that was not a good sign for him or Ziva. He cut no slack to anyone when he wore that suit.
McGee slumped against the wall and was a little nervous to hear Tony locking the bathroom door.
Tony leaned back against the sink with his arms crossed and asked him, "You need to change your pants Agent McGee?" In a slightly amused tone.
McGee took a deep breath and replied, "No, sir."
Tony watched him carefully and asked, "You have something you want to say to me, Agent McGee?"
"Yes. Yes." McGee took a deep breath and stood straighter and said, "I'm an asshole, sir."
Tony quirked an eyebrow and replied, "Well, you'll get no argument from me. So, how did you come to this conclusion?" He asked him.
"Firstly, by thinking I knew more than you. Even if you didn't have the education you do, you still had way more experience in investigating than me, and your instincts are unbeatable. I was jealous when you would show me up or come up with the clue we needed while looking like you hadn't done any work at all! It was frustrating that I could never figure out how you did it! I realize now you were pushing me to be a better investigator by trying to dig deeper to find out how you could do that, but I just jumped to the wrong conclusion that you had found out by accident or it was a lucky guess, I was really a moron." He lowered his head as he said this. Tony still did not say a word and when he looked back up, he was standing in the same position he was in before.
McGee continued, "Looking back now, I realize both you and Kate were pushing me to be more curious and figure it out by myself, but I never caught on. She always knew about you, didn't she?" He asked Tony.
Tony nodded his head yes, but he still didn't say anything. "Then Ziva came along and instead of being on the receiving end of jokes, I was helping dish it out." Tony cocked his head to the side and gave him a contemplative look, but he didn't say a word.
"I was no better than the bullies who used to pick on me in school. I did the same thing to you. Kate would tease, but she never got personal, that's all Ziva did and I enjoyed it. I liked getting what I thought was one up on you. I remember now seeing the hurt when you didn't cover it up fast enough and feeling satisfied that I hit a nerve. I was an asshole." He finished with a quiet voice looking at the floor.
"Again, not disagreeing McGee, you have anything else to say?" Tony asked him.
Tim stood up straight again and faced Tony. "Yes, sir. I behaved in an appallingly unprofessional manner and I want to apologize not only for not respecting your position, but for not respecting you as a human being. My actions were dangerous and could have cost an innocent man his life. I am prepared for any punishment you see fit, and, and I hope that someday you could learn to trust me again. I did a lot of thinking in the past few days and I realized that I really don't trust anyone but you or Gibbs to have my back in the field. If I could not work with either of you again, I don't think I could stay here, I wouldn't feel safe. I'm really sorry Agent DiNozzo, and I hope that someday we could be friends again." Tim finished and then swallowed deeply while he waited to see what Tony would say.
Tony continued to look at McGee, but gave no indication of what he might be thinking. They stood for at least a full minute before Tony spoke again.
"I'm glad you brought that up McGee. Have you finished your reports?" He asked him.
"Yes, sir. Just before I came in here, they are on your desk ready to be checked." Tim promptly replied.
"Good." Tony said. "Now let's talk about Renny Grant." He continued.
Tim's face turned red, but he replied, "Yes, sir."
"Did I not ask you to go over the evidence?" Tony asked him.
"Yes, sir."
"What was your response to that request?" Tony asked him
Tim gulped. "That you didn't know what you were talking about and that I knew how to do my job." Tim replied in a small voice.
"Well, I guess not, huh?" Tony sarcastically asked him.
""No, sir." Tim replied while studying his shoes.
"That man could have been sent to prison for years, he might have lost everything! Not to mention all the embarrassment and suffering he's already gone through! Yes, I should have listened to my gut and dug deeper myself, but I trusted you to do your job, big mistake!" Tim's face got even redder and he lowered his eyes to again study his shoes. "This infraction is too much to let go. Yes, you caught it in time and he was released and Yes, you apologized personally to him; it's not enough!" Tony stood up and took a few steps in Tim's direction.
"Do you understand how serious this is?" Tony asked him, forcing Tim to look up directly at Tony.
"Yes, sir I do." He replied.
"I hope you do, Tim, I really do. A simple 'I'm sorry' is not good enough here. You have to know there are consequences for such a large breach of protocol. You're being suspended for one month without pay and you will receive another formal reprimand in your record. The suspension starts right now. When we go back to the bullpen, you will hand over your badge and gun and clear out your desk. When your suspension is up, you will report to FLETC for a refresher course on chain of command and professional etiquette. The director agreed to commute the two weeks suspension she already gave you into your time at FLETC. She thought it would be a better use of your time. When you are finished with that, it will then be determined where you will go." Tony finished and Tim hung his head again.
Tony stepped back and again leaned on the counter by the sink.
"Tim, I'm going to tell you a couple of things and I really want you to think about it while you're off. The first has to do with empathy. You cannot do this job well without it. You have to put yourself in the other person's shoes. What would you do in their situation? How would you feel if someone said or did that to you? Empathy will not only help you to be compassionate towards a victim, it will help you figure out what a perp may have done or will do. The second is, I think you can do this job well." Tim's head shot up and he looked at Tony who had a little smile on his face.
"Yes, you heard me right. You have better instincts than you think you do. You read me and Jethro correctly earlier and you also noted what suit I was wearing and what that meant." Tony told him, his smile getting bigger when Tim seemed astonished that Tony had noticed all that. "That's what being a good investigator is all about, you notice things and put the pieces together to see the big picture. I think you're finally starting to see that picture. I've also heard very good things about you while I was off, and I think you may have turned a corner." Tony told him.
"I'm not promising anything, but if you continue on this path, you'll find yourself back at your desk in the bullpen when this is all over." Tony said. "You will however, be a junior agent again no matter where you go, you're going to have to earn your rank again." Tony informed him.
"Yes, sir! Thank you for a second chance sir, I won't waste it!" Tim told him with a big smile.
"Everyone deserves a second chance, McGee, and I mean everyone! This is where that empathy will come into play. You assumed I had a privileged childhood and was a spoiled brat, wrong on both counts. I don't think my father cares if I'm even still alive, he disowned me when I was twelve when he caught me kissing another boy." Tony quietly told him and laughed when Tim's eyes got as big as saucers. "That blows that theory away too, huh?"
He laughed again when all Tim could do was nod an affirmative.
"I want you to remember that when you're dealing with Ziva. You have a false impression of her upbringing in your mind. I think all you need to do is ask her and she'll tell you what it was really like. Keep an open mind and don't jump to conclusions and hear her out. In fact, I want you to stick around until she comes in. It would not surprise me if she wanted to apologize. She's already apologized to me."
Tony quirked a smile when McGee looked incredulously at him at that news.
"Don't judge a book by its cover McGee. What's inside will more often than not surprise you." Tony finished with a smile.
Tony reached up to unlock the door but was stopped by McGee's voice.
"T-Agent DiNozzo?" He asked.
"Yeah, McGee?" Tony asked as he turned back around.
"Do you think we could be friends again someday?" McGee asked him hopefully. "There's so much I want to talk to you about." He stated.
"So, now I'm worthy enough to be your friend because you know I'm smart enough to understand you?" Tony asked in a cold voice.
"NO! No. I, I always thought you were my friend, but I know I wasn't a good friend to you." He finished while looking down at the floor again.
He was surprised when Tony placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "We'll see McGee, I think we're on the right track."
McGee smiled widely at Tony and nodded his head once before they both walked back to the bullpen.
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Gibbs stood just outside Abby's lab holding her Caf-Pow! He hadn't been this nervous since he had gone to see Tony yesterday morning. Had it only been yesterday? He thought with a smile.
Well, that had gone well so maybe this would be okay. He took a deep breath and walked the rest of the way into the lab. Abby had her back to him and was working quickly on her computer. He slipped up behind her and placed her drink on the counter next to her.
She whirled around saying, "Tony-boy!" Her smile and voice died as she saw who was standing behind her. She leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms, leveling a glare at him.
Gibbs nervously ran a hand through his hair and asked her, "Could you lock the door Abs? We really need to talk."
Abby looked at him for a few seconds, but she picked up her remote and locked down the lab. She dropped the remote back on the counter and resumed her stance with arms crossed and a so talk look on her face.
So Gibbs leaned back on the counter across from her and talked. He told her about why he had trashed Tony's things at the house. He told her about going to see Tony yesterday morning after she left and he told her how happy he was that Tony could depend on her and that she had watched out for him. He told her that Tony had forgiven him and they were back together. Then he asked her to forgive him for hurting Tony and everyone else when he just took off without a word.
Abby stood looking at him with an unreadable expression on her face. Time seemed to stretch out and Gibbs was starting to seriously doubt he could repair things with Abby when she took two steps and crushed Gibbs in a vice-like hug. Gibbs hugged her back tightly, he was very glad he was on the way to making things right with her. She really was like a daughter to him and she meant so much to Tony. He felt a great weight lifting off of him. He hated to disappoint her.
Abby took one step back and punched Gibbs as hard as she could in the arm. "OW! Abs, what the hell?" He cried out while rubbing his sore arm.
"Don't you ever, EVER do that again! Do you understand me Mister?" She admonished Gibbs while shaking a finger in his face. "Do you know how much you hurt Tony! He was devastated! You tore everything up and ran out on him!" Gibbs was fidgeting and unbelievably uncomfortable, but he stood and listened to everything, he deserved this. Abby was pacing furiously in front of him as she continued her rant. "Then you left him with those two agents!" She spat out. "And what did they do? Did they rally around him and support him? NO! They ridiculed him and treated him like he was a moron!" She stopped her pacing and looked around agitatedly, finally grabbing an empty beaker and smashing it against the wall behind him.
Gibbs' eyes widened in surprise, but he remained silent at her uncharacteristic outburst.
"I HATE them!" She screamed out, but immediately calmed down. "No, I don't, but they really need to get in trouble for being so mean to him!" She told him plaintively.
Gibbs pulled her into another hug and whispered in her ear, "I know Abs and they will be. I cornered McGee before I came down here and I think I made him piss himself."
She pulled back to look at him with a big smile on her face. "You did?"
"Yep." He confirmed with his own smile. "If Tony hadn't come in, you might be helping me hide a body."
Abby pulled away from him and did a little twirling happy dance. "Ooh! Did you do it anywhere a camera picked it up so I could watch?" She excitedly asked him while bouncing up and down.
"Sorry, Abs. It was in the men's room." He told her as he kissed her temple while she pouted.
"Abby, you know how much I love Tony and I'm going to spend the rest of my life making this up to him. I am a bastard, so I'm sure I'll mess up again, but I will never knowingly hurt him again." He told her seriously.
"Okay. I will hold you to that. You should know that if you hurt Tony again, Ducky, Palmer and I have an unmarked grave all ready to go, comprende?" She asked with a pointed look.
"Si, Seniorita." He replied and kissed her again.
"So, are you coming back to work or are you just going to be Tony's 'kept man'?" She asked him with an mischievous smile.
"As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll be back to work soon, just don't know where, my old job is taken." He replied.
"Damn right it is!" She retorted. "You better not think you're going to push him to the side!"
Jethro stepped up and grabbed Abby's arms before she went off on another tangent. "Abby, I would never treat him like that, I love him. There are plenty of other jobs here that I can do. Hell, I could even work here with you, I do have a chemistry degree." He told her with a crooked smile.
She smiled back at him. "Yeah, you do. That would be really hinky though! I think it would really blow people's minds to see you down here in a lab coat. That would be so cool!"
"We'll see, Abs." He kissed her cheek again. "Can you unlock the door? I need to get to autopsy and make amends with Ducky and I think Palmer too, but I'm not sure how that happened." He added with a puzzled expression.
"Palmer really stepped up when the wonder twins turned their back on Tony." She informed him. "He's been a really good friend to Tony, he's even helped him work out cases when Tony needed to talk them through."
"That's good to know Abs. I'm glad he had support." He frowned.
Abby picked up her remote and clicked the door open before going over to kiss Gibbs gently on the cheek. "I'm glad you two made up Gibbs, but I think you have some more things to talk out."
"Thanks, Abs." He quirked a smile at her as he left the lab.
She stood for a minute gazing after him. She was thrilled he was back and that he had talked it out with Tony, but she hoped he didn't revert to his functional mute and mess things up again. She sighed as she turned back around to her computer. She would have to talk to Tony soon.
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Tony and Tim walked back into the bullpen to find Balboa waiting for them.
"Everything okay, Tony?" Balboa asked him with a stern look at Tim.
Tony smiled an easy smile as he replied, "Yeah, Vince. We got some things straightened out; I think everything's going to be okay."
"Good! 'Bout time you got your head out of your ass, McGee!" Balboa commented as Tim sat down and lowered his head.
Tony's brow furrowed and he replied, "That's enough, Vince. He got the point."
Balboa quirked a smile at Tony, "Still the big brother, huh?" He remarked while holding out his hand to shake.
"You know it! Nobody messes with the family." Tony replied while shaking Balboa's hand. His back was to McGee, so he didn't see the surprised look on McGee's face followed closely by an ashamed expression.
Balboa saw it though and inclined his head towards McGee as he was leaving the bullpen. "Don't waste this chance McGee, you won't get another one." He told him as he was leaving.
"No Sir!" McGee replied with a serious expression.
Tony smiled down at McGee as he returned to his desk and sat down. He was just starting to go through the files McGee had left for him when he found McGee standing next to his desk with his gun and badge in his hands. Tony took them and stowed them in his own desk and gave McGee a single nod as Tim went back to sit as his own desk to continue packing and wait for Ziva to come in.
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Gibbs stood in the stairwell just outside of autopsy and planned his mode of attack. He huffed out a breath as he realized the only way to go was to apologize, but he still had a few things to say. Yeah, this sucks. He thought. He straightened his shoulders and resolved himself for another uncomfortable confrontation. You gotta do what you gotta do for family. He took another deep breath and then pushed open the door to the autopsy suite.
Palmer had his back to the door and Ducky was facing him, both bent over a body. Ducky straightened up and got a sour look on his face when he saw who had walked in. Palmer, realizing his mentor had stopped, glanced up at him and then turned towards the door. Gibbs was impressed at the look of disdain Palmer gave him, and he looked pissed. Go Palmer! Gibbs thought. Gibbs walked right up to Palmer without breaking eye contact.
"Thank you, Mister Palmer." He sincerely said. "You had Tony's back when very few others did." He gave Ducky a pointed look when he said this and Ducky had the grace to look embarrassed. "I've talked to Tony and apologized to him, we're okay. He's told me how supportive you were and what a great friend you had become, We're back together, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to never hurt him again." Gibbs finished, again looking directly at Palmer.
Palmer seemed to shake himself and nodded once before he replied, "See that you do Gibbs, I'm not as timid as I appear." He said in a hard voice.
Gibbs nodded back at Palmer in approval. He then turned to Ducky. "I'm going apologize to you Ducky, because I upset you, not because I didn't tell you about my girls. That was none of your business. The only person here who knew about them was Tony, and I had a good reason to tell him. No one else here had the 'right' to know about them. I would have told you, I would have told you all eventually. Tony was helping me get over the grief I felt every time I thought about them. I was almost there. The explosion derailed all that but it's getting better again, because of Tony. "
Gibbs moved over to the head of the body Ducky and Palmer were working on and intensified his gaze, which Ducky met.
"Now you may be mad at me Duck, but I'm also pretty pissed at you too. You left Tony to twist in the wind. You knew about the two of us, you knew how he must have felt, but you weren't there for him. You were pissed at me because I didn't share my secret with you. You let him down and me when you turned your back on him" Dr. Mallard finally broke eye contact and bowed his head.
"You are quite right, Jethro. I behaved appallingly towards young Anthony. Mister Palmer has told me of the difficulties Anthony has had with the two miscreants under his charge. I had witnessed a few incidents at crime scenes between them, but as you say, I was too wrapped up in my own anger to even think to intervene." Ducky confessed.
"It is I who owe you the apology, Jethro." Ducky said contritely. "You are correct, I had no right to know your secret until you decided to share it with us and my abhorrent behavior towards young Anthony was inexcusable. I'm afraid Anthony let me off far too easily, I shall endeavor to make amends with him on a larger scale." Ducky looked troubled by thoughts of his letting Tony down, which he most certainly did, but Jethro decided to cut him some slack.
"Let's call it even, Duck. We can start over from here." Gibbs told him while wearing a crooked smile.
"Agreed. Thank you my friend." Ducky responded with a smile of his own.
"So," Ducky continued, his smile turning mischievous, "You and Anthony have made amends yourselves have you?"
"We have. We're all good. Gotta go, I have to meet with the director. Bye Duck, Bye Palmer." He responded with a wave as he made his escape from autopsy. Palmer waved back and turned to Ducky, who was chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny, Dr. Mallard?" He curiously asked.
"Well, I think that's the most I've ever heard Jethro say at one time, yet he still managed to deflect and avoid my direct question." Ducky responded with a twinkle in his eye.
"Well, I don't think he avoided it, he just didn't elaborate. You wanted details, didn't you Dr. Mallard?" Jimmy accused.
"Mister Palmer when one gets to be my age, we are forced to live somewhat vicariously through our younger acquaintances. You can't begrudge me wanting to know a few of the good bits, now can you?" The elder doctor said with an evil smile.
Jimmy laughed out loud. "I guess not, but I doubt either Gibbs or Tony will give out any juicy details."
Ducky sighed dramatically, "Oh, I suppose not, but one can dream! Let us get back to the job at hand and determine the demise of this poor fellow."
"Right away, Doctor." Jimmy smiled back and resumed assisting.
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Ziva checked her reflection in her rearview mirror one last time before exiting her car at NCIS.
"Everything will be alright." She told her reflection. "I will make this better." She gave herself a determined nod and headed off into work. She hoped she would be able to speak to McGee, she really needed to apologize to him.
Ziva was happy to see Tony as she got off the elevator in the bullpen and somewhat surprised he seemed happy to see her too. She was further encouraged when he gave her a small smile and indicated with a tilt of his head that she should go speak to Tim.
She walked over to McGee's desk and cleared her throat when he did not notice her. He looked up and was startled to see her standing there.
"Ziva! I didn't even hear the elevator ding. What can I do for you?" He asked her with a guarded expression.
"May I speak to you privately, McGee? There are some things I need to say to you." She asked him.
McGee studied her face but could see no sign of deception. She didn't have that little sneer she usually wore and her eyes looked clear and sincere. That was something else he had learned from Tony, "The eyes don't lie. Always look in the eyes Probie."
He glanced over at Tony who was watching them and received a nod to give his okay to step away. He turned back to Ziva and said, "Okay, is the break room alright?"
"That will be fine." She answered him. He rose and allowed her to go first.
Tony smiled down at the file he was looking at and thought, "You've learned well, Probie! Private enough for a conversation, but public enough if things go South."
He gave them a few minutes to get settled before he followed them. Ziva may appear different, but he wasn't risking Tim's life on a supposition. He stopped just outside the door and saw they had taken a table near the window. Ziva's back was to him and he saw that Tim noted his presence with a relaxing of his shoulders and seemed grateful for it. Tony noted to himself that Tim never gave any indication to Ziva that he had seen Tony. Tony smiled to himself as he thought, "Probie got some skills! We'll have to see about some undercover training when he gets back." Tony pushed his own thoughts aside as he focused back on what Tim and Ziva were saying.
"I am grateful that you agreed to speak with me, McGee. I wasn't sure you would." Ziva warmed her hands on the cup of coffee she had in front of her.
"What did you want to talk about Ziva?" Tim asked her.
"I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you and for the way I used you against Tony and Gibbs to some extant." She began. "I saw you as a means to an end, never thinking how that would effect you. I think, no, I know I hampered many of the positive traits Tony brought out in you and encouraged you to treat him as badly as I did. For that, I am truly sorry. I wish I could take it back, but I cannot. I must move on from here and try to make amends as I go along." She lowered her head and studied the steam rising from her coffee cup.
Tim, who had been watching her body language closely (Thank you Tony) and still did not see any indication of deception, relaxed a bit more. He finally asked her, "Why did you do it Ziva? I know I played my part and I'm ashamed for it, but I'd like to know why. Did you really think Gibbs would choose you over Tony?"
"Yes. I was arrogant enough in my thinking that I did. The worst part is that Tony was correct. I did know of his background and I had even been told by people in my homeland, including my father, not to underestimate Tony, but I mistakenly believed I knew better." She sighed deeply before continuing. "I had originally come here to get away from Mossad. The person you know of as me, is not the person I always was or ever wanted to be." She said softly.
"I wanted to be a ballerina when I was a young girl, and I had a great interest in music. Those dreams were dashed when my sister and mother were killed and Ari was lost to Hamas. My father decided that I would train to be an assassin for Mossad. He thought I would be perfect, no one would suspect me. I was only 10 years old. What kind of person requires that of their child?" She asked him sadly.
Tim was shocked at this news. How could her father have done that to her? He was deeply saddened by the information she had shared with him and also secretly glad Tony had urged him to listen instead of lashing out. She was just as much a victim in all this as they were. Whatever happened with their team, he vowed to support her, wherever they both ended up. He had not been a good friend to her either.
Ziva wondered what Tim thought of everything she had said. It was actually more than she had intended to share, but it had felt good to tell someone. He had a frown on his face, but she could not read his thoughts. He has learned well from Tony and Gibbs. She thought to herself. I wish I had been smart enough to listen to them too. I could have learned so much from all of these men. She looked back up when Tim straightened up in his seat and looked at her directly.
"I'm sorry you had that life Ziva." He told her. "If you want to change and turn things around in your life, I will help you. But know this; if you start down that road again and try to pull me along with you, you're on your own. With your help I have managed to alienate the people in my life I respected the most. I think Tony will forgive me even though I'm not sure he should, but I'm not sure Gibbs will. Abby hates me and Ducky and Palmer can't stand to even talk to me. It's not all you, I am an adult and I chose to go along with you." He paused before adding, "I have issues too." He told her while ducking his head.
"I was bullied as a child and I was jealous of Tony. He seemed to have everything and never had to work for it. I know now that was a false assumption, but it fueled my jealousy. So, I was very willing to go along with you to knock him down, when it should have been him knocking me off my high horse." He laughed a little at the confusion on Ziva's face. "It means I thought too much of myself and was arrogant and he should have pointed it out to me before now." He explained to her.
She nodded as the explanation clarified things for her. "I've done a lot of thinking in the last couple of days too. It would be very easy to blame you for everything, but I was just as much to blame. I think between the two of us, we can make this right again. I meant what I said, if you really want to be different, I will help you, all you have to do is ask. We can help each other." He told her with a small smile. Tears threatened to obscure her vision, but Ziva nodded back at him and choked out, "I would like that very much."
Tim and Ziva stood at the same time and Tim pulled her into a hug that she returned with almost as much force as Abby. It will be alright. She told herself. Tim met Tony's eyes over Ziva's head and Tony nodded in approval at him before slipping away again to the bullpen. Tim felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I think it's gonna be okay. He thought to himself.
Tony was unbelievably proud of his Probie. Yeah, even if Ziva is not on the team anymore, we'll all be there for her. Things will work out. He thought to himself. He was smiling as he sat down again and started back on the reports.
Tim walked back to his desk a few minutes later and said at Tony's questioning glance, "Ziva's in the restroom, she needed a few minutes. She'll be right out."
Tony nodded in answer and commented, "You did a great job Tim, the Probie is growing up!" he said with a lopsided smile.
"Thanks Agent DiNozzo!" Tim smiled in response.
Tim's smile increased tenfold when Tony replied, "I think we can go with Tony for now, but I reserve the right to revoke that if you get pissy again!" He told Tim while pointing a finger at him.
"Yes, Sir!" Tim agreed with a huge smile.
"Okay then." Tony answered. "When you're finished with your desk, you can just go, no need to ask permission." He informed Tim.
"Will do, Tony." Tim replied and went about packing up his things with a much lighter heart. Maybe this time off will do everyone good. We all need time to re-adjust to the new dynamic. Tim thought.
Ziva made her way to her desk a few minutes later and got right down to her reports. The bullpen was soon silent again except for paper shuffling and typing.
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Gibbs, after escaping autopsy took the back elevator directly up to the level Jenny's office was on. She was standing on the balcony looking down on the bullpen at Ziva's arrival when he joined her.
They both witnessed the interaction between her and McGee and Gibbs nodded in approval when Tony got up to watch McGee's back during the meeting. He glanced over at Jenny and saw her satisfied expression at Tony's actions.
"He's an excellent team leader." She told him.
"I know." He replied with a proud smile.
"So, did you come to discuss your options Jethro?" Jenny asked him.
"Yep. That and a few other things." He replied as he looked out the windows.
"Such as?" She asked him as she turned to look at him directly.
"Scaring the piss out of McGee, groveling to Abby, thanking Palmer for having Tony's back and telling Ducky off for not having Tony's back." He told her with a lopsided smile as he glanced over at her.
"Well, you've had a busy day!" She teased him. "Come on into my office and we can discuss what options you have." She told him as she turned and walked away from him. Jethro stood and followed her, closing her office door behind him.
"Let's sit at the conference table and I'll tell you what I came up with." She advised him. Jethro sat to her left as she took the seat facing the door at the end of the table.
"What you got, Director?" He emphasized her title, just to annoy her. She ignored him completely and started to tell him of his options.
"Your first option is a training position. We have an arms instructor who is moving to our LA office in a month, you could take over his spot. We could also use you to teach some sniper skills." She started with.
"Maybe, what else you got?" He asked her.
"Second option is your own team at the Norfolk office. We are expanding the location and you could head up their team. It would free up the teams here from having to commute the 4 hours to Norfolk." She told him.
"Next option." He quickly dismissed that option, there was no way he was working that far from Tony.
"I thought you'd say that." She told him with a wry smile. "Okay, third option is Tony's SFA on the current MCRT. He's going to have new members and could use your experience, but make no mistake, he will be your boss. Could you handle that?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I think I could." He replied with a contemplative look on his face. "Those are my choices?" He asked her.
"So far. I'm thinking about one more option, but there are some things I have to iron out first." She mysteriously told him. "Which one are you leaning towards?" She asked him.
"Right now SFA, but I'd have to talk to Tony about that. If he doesn't think it would work out, I could do the arms instructor. It's been a long time since I had a 9-5 job, it has it's appeal." He told her while leaning back in the chair.
"I thought you'd opt to work with Tony. I'm glad you'll be discussing it with him, because he'll have the final say on if he wants you as his SFA." She informed him.
He nodded his agreement. "How long do I have to decide?" He asked her.
"At least a week. Are you two going out of town next week?" She asked him.
"Not sure." He replied. "I have a couple of thoughts that might take us out of town, why?"
"I should know about the fourth option by Monday or Tuesday. Could you stick around until I can present it to you?" She asked him.
"Shouldn't be a problem. Any clue on what it would be?" He tried to wheedle out of her.
"Let me work on it. I may be able to offer it before you leave today. I'd like you to sit in on the meeting Tony and I will be having with Ziva. I want her to know we are aware of what she's done and there will be no appeal to the revocation of her credentials. She has one option at continued employment here at NCIS and that would be working for Reilly in training." He nodded in agreement.
"Ziva won't be done with her reports for a little while. Why don't you go for coffee and grab something to eat and be back here around 11am?" She asked him.
"Okay. Sounds good." Jethro stood up and stretched. "I'm going to sneak in and out the back way. Not really in the mood for small talk with anyone right now." he told her.
"Alright Jethro, see you in a few hours." She smiled at him as he slipped out and she moved back behind her desk.
She picked up her phone and dialed. The line was picked up on the third ring.
"Hello, Mr. Secretary! Do you have a few minutes to discuss a change I think may be beneficial to NCIS?"
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Tim McGee stood up an hour after his meeting with Ziva and walked over to Tony's desk. Tony sat back in his chair and said, "Good work with the reports Tim, you all packed up?" Tony asked him.
"Yeah, all set." He told Tony with a smile. Tony stood up and held his hand out to shake Tim's hand. "Good luck, Probie. Use this time well." Tony told him.
"Thank you Sir, I will." Tim replied while shaking Tony's hand.
He then retrieved his backpack and box from his desk and started walking out. Ziva had watched the exchange between the two men and looked up at Tim with a questioning look on her face. He stopped at her desk and explained, "Starting my suspension." She nodded in understanding. "If you need anything, or just want to talk, call me." He told her with a serious look.
"I will McGee, thank you." She replied with a warm smile.
He returned her smile saying, "Okay. Bye Ziva, Bye Agent DiNozzo."
"Goodbye McGee." Ziva answered.
"Bye Tim." Tony answered. He was pleased Tim had used a more formal address for him, since Ziva was not yet back on that level. He was also impressed Tim had not used it to taunt Ziva. Looks like Probie really was growing up and was also trying to rebuild his relationship with Ziva. Tony smiled to himself as he retuned to checking the reports Ziva had given to him a little while ago.
He knew Jethro would be in the meeting with Ziva, Jethro had texted him the specifics of what was going on before he had ducked out for coffee earlier. He hoped Ziva's newfound Zen extended through that meeting. He wasn't looking forward to a confrontation with her.
About an hour later Balboa walked up to his desk and smiling said, "Tag out, Tony! Time for your meeting with the director."
Tony stood up and stretched. "Yeah, she emailed me. Thanks man." He replied with a yawn. "Ziva? You need a break?" He asked her.
"No, thank you. I only have two weeks left, I would like to finish." She told him.
"Okay. Vince, if she finishes before I'm done, just call up." Tony advised the other lead agent.
"Will do Agent DiNozzo!" Vince smiled as Tony grabbed some files from his backpack and a stack from his desk and jogged upstairs to meet the director.
Tony knocked on the director's door and entered when he heard "Come in!" from inside. He closed the door behind him and went to sit at the conference table where the director had several files spread out. He placed the stack of finished and checked reports from McGee and Ziva next to her and said, "These are the last of McGee's reports, he's already gone. I have his badge and gun locked in my desk and the rest are what Ziva has given me so far today."
"Good! There's a few things we need to discuss. The first I want to tackle is your new team members. Have you made any decisions?" She asked him.
"Yes, ma'am." He replied while handing her two files. "I think Cassie Yates and that new agent Dwayne Wilson would be a good fit."
She nodded her head in approval and said, "I think those are the best choices too. What did you think of the other two possibilities?" She asked him as she leaned back in her chair.
"Actually, I was considering Jardine. She's a whiz with computers and off-the-charts in smarts, but I was a little concerned about her last psych eval. I'm not sure field agent work is the best place for someone with a germ phobia and it appears to be a new thing for her?" He questioned.
"Actually, her phobia appears to be situational." The director responded. "Her brother was injured in Iraq and she visits him almost every day. Her germ phobia manifested after his hospitalization." She explained.
"Ahh, gotcha." Tony replied. "She doesn't want to bring him any germs to set him back. Okay, we could probably work around that."
"What about the last candidate?" Jenny asked.
Tony huffed out a breath. "Paula Cassidy. I'm gonna have to say a firm no on that one." He told her.
"May I ask why?" She inquired.
"Yeah, we uh, had a 'dalliance' about six months before I got together with Gibbs, right after Gitmo. Plus the fact that Gibbs hates her." He continued when Jenny raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I don't think he respects her methods as an agent and looking back, I think he was a little jealous." Jenny smiled at this. "Looking back myself, she was a little sloppy dealing with the people she worked with and she probably respects me about as much as Ziva did. She never took me seriously, that's why it didn't work out between us." He finished.
Jenny nodded her acceptance, "Fair enough, she's off the table." Jenny leaned forward and said, "Speaking of Gibbs, he was here this morning and we went over his current options. One of which involves you, and another reason I wanted to speak to you."
"Okay, how long before he takes over the MCRT again?" Tony asked neutrally.
"He's not. The MCRT already has a lead who's doing a great job, no need to change that." She told him and then smiled at his surprised expression.
"Right now he has three options and I want to discuss a fourth with you in a minute." She went on when he nodded his okay. "He's dismissed the idea of his own team lead because it would be in Norfolk. The two choices he's pondering are arms instructor or SFA for you on the MCRT, he seems to be leaning towards the SFA position if you're okay with it." She watched the shock on Tony's face give way to trepidation.
"You don't like the idea of him being your SFA." She stated.
"It's not like he wouldn't be great at it, I just think it wouldn't be fair to him. He earned his team lead status and I don't think it should be taken away from him because he got hurt on the job. It would be, disrespectful." Tony explained. "Before you ask, I would feel this way even if we weren't sleeping together. He's Agent Gibbs. He shouldn't be demoted because he got injured. I'd be happy to step back and let him take the lead again." Tony replied decisively.
Jenny smiled a knowing smile. "That's what I thought you'd say." She told him. "That brings us to option four, which I'm discussing with you first."
Tony cocked his head to the side to show he was listening, but he didn't respond.
"How would you feel about an expanded MCRT with co-leads?" Tony widened his eyes in surprise and asked, "How would that work?"
"Well, you would have an expanded team, four agents under you instead of three and you would trade off lead in the field and in the office. Whichever way you choose. You two have always worked exceptionally well together and I was intrigued when I took over this position and Tom Morrow told me you both had been a two-man team for over a year. You seemed to work well as partners. Do you think you could both do that again, but as co-leads?" She asked him.
Tony had gotten a fond look on his face when Jenny had been talking about the time the team had been only him and Jethro and replied to her question with, "Yeah, I think that might work out just fine."
Jenny smiled at his response. "I was hoping you'd say that. Now from the interaction I saw between you and McGee this morning, am I right to assume you'll be taking him back on the team?" She asked him.
"Yes. If he continues the way he is, we'll be good, but if he reverts back to know-it all McGee, I'm booting him." He informed her.
"Agreed. So that will give you three agents, you just need a fourth. Do you want to go with Jardine or do you have any other ideas?" She asked him.
"I think Jardine will be okay. We'll work with her. I should talk to Gibbs about it though, since we're co-leads." Tony replied.
"Understood. Have you thought about an SFA for the team?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
"Cassie." He promptly replied, confirming her thoughts. "She has the experience and she certainly has the temperament."
"I agree, do you think Gibbs would have a problem with that choice?" She asked him.
"I don't see why, but we can ask him when he gets here." Tony replied.
"Okay." The director responded with a smile as she started stacking the folders spread out, into their respective piles.
"May I ask you a question, Jenny?" Tony asked her.
"Of course." She looked up waiting for his question.
"How does SecNav feel about this 'new' MCRT?" He posed.
"He was actually pretty fond of the idea. Especially when I told him which agents were most likely to be involved. If it works well, which I believe it will, stats will skyrocket and we will probably try it in other locations." She told him.
"Try what in other locations?" Gibbs asked as he walked in without knocking and sat across from Tony to the right of the director, winking at Tony as he sat down. Tony smiled back at him in response.
"Ah, Jethro, impeccable timing, as always." Jenny replied with a wry smile.
Gibbs grinned at her, unapologetically and asked again, "So, trying what?"
Jenny shook her head in exasperation and turned to Tony. "Would you like to do the honors, or shall I?" She asked him.
"It was your idea, director." He smiled back at her.
She huffed out a breath and said, "Fine." Before turning back to Gibbs.
"It seems Tony is not too keen on the idea of you being his SFA." She started, earning an annoyed look from Tony. She noticed the quick look of hurt that passed over Jethro's features before he buried it, so she went on quickly. "It seems he believes asking you to do that would be disrespectful."
Jethro shot a fond glance at Tony, which he returned, before focusing again on the director. "So, then this is that fourth thing you were talking about?"
"Yes. SecNav has signed off on it and I think it will work out perfectly. You and Tony will be co-leads of an expanded MCRT." Gibbs looked surprised and his eyebrows climbed up to his hairline, but he let her continue without comment. "You will have four agents under you and the team will be six with you two. I don't know if Tony shared his choices with you, but he decided on Dwayne Wilson, Cassie Yates, who would also be the SFA, and Nikki Jardine along with McGee when he comes back from suspension. We'll re-configure the bullpen to accommodate everyone." She finished. "So what do you think?" She asked him.
He looked over at Tony who had an unreadable expression and smiled. "It'll be like when we first worked together, we'll be partners again."
"That's what I thought. You're really okay with this?" He asked Jethro with a skeptical expression.
"Yeah, I'm okay with it, as long as I'm there to cover your six." Gibbs responded.
"Okay, I guess we're good to go!" Tony replied with a nod.
"One thing though," Tony added while looking directly at Gibbs, "You head slap me on the floor in front of our agents, I'm head slapping you right back, understood?" He pinned Jethro with a sharp look and Gibbs nodded solemnly.
As quickly as Tony had switched to "don't-fuck-with-me" mode while addressing Gibbs, it was turned off just as quickly when he turned back to the director.
"So, Jethro has some things to do before he's re-instated, all of them shouldn't take more than a week, so we could still take some time off?" He asked her.
Jenny smiled inwardly when Tony had turned his intensity on Jethro and asserted his authority and she saw Jethro swallow nervously when Tony again turned to her with his question.
"No problem. That's why I wanted to get it settled today, so you two could leave right away if you wanted to." She reassured him.
"Ziva's almost done with her reports, so as soon as the meeting with her is done and I've checked over the last of her reports, we'll take off." Tony told her.
"No need. Leave the last of her reports with me and I'll look over them. You've done enough cleaning up after those two." She informed him.
"Thanks, Jenny." Tony replied as Jenny's phone started to ring.
"Thanks, Vince." She said into her phone. "Bring her up here with the reports she just finished, please."
"Showtime." She said to Tony and Jethro when she hung up her phone. Both men nodded at her and shared a supportive look to each other while they waited for Balboa to appear with Ziva.
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Ziva followed Vince Balboa up the stairs to the director's office. She knew she would now learn her fate. He stopped in the outer office and handed the files she had just given him back to her.
"Just knock and go on in, they're expecting you. Give the files to Tony. Good luck, Ziva." He added with a small smile.
She nodded gratefully at him and watched as he disappeared back out the door. She took a deep breath and knocked. She waited until hearing a "Come in." before opening the door and stepping inside. She was startled to find Gibbs also in the office. She had not even seen him come in, but maybe it wasn't so strange, he moved like smoke.
"Ziva, please have a seat." Jenny told her.
Ziva complied and handed her reports to Tony saying, "These are the last of the reports."
He nodded back at her replying, "Thank you Officer David." Before handing them off to the director who nodded her acceptance back at him.
"Ziva, a serious issue has come to light." The director stated while picking up a large envelope that was under some files and dropping it in the center of the table. "Do you recognize this envelope?" She demanded in a hard tone of voice.
Ziva's face blanched and she seemed to shrink back in on herself. It was all over now. Not only will I lose my job, I will also lose my freedom. Leave it to her father to derail her last attempt at redemption. She thought morosely to herself.
"I asked you a question, Officer David!" the director barked out.
Ziva flinched in her chair and managed to force out, "Yes, ma'am. I have seen the envelope. I am sure you know that I sent it to my father a few weeks ago." The two men and the director were all pleased that Ziva had told them the truth right away.
"Why Ziva?" Gibbs demanded in a harsh tone of voice.
She seemed to shrink further into herself as she replied, "I did not want to." Ziva answered softly with her head bowed. "Father demanded payment for allowing me to come here. I-I tried to find the most inconsequential thing to send, but I know that will make no difference."
As angry as Tony had been when he had first found out about this, he did not want to destroy Ziva. She had always been at the mercy of her father's wishes. He could relate. He was just glad he had broken away at an early age, or he may have ended up in a similar situation. He sent a look at Jethro that said 'Enough!' and saw the sentiment reflected in his lover's eyes. They both turned to the director and saw she too, had no wish to prolong this further.
"Ziva, I suspected Eli would try something like this when he agreed to let you come here. Secretary Davenport agreed with my assessment and together we took steps to assure that you would not have access to anything sensitive. We expected this Ziva." She told the broken woman sitting across from her.
Ziva raised her pale face and whispered, "Then you have never trusted me."
Jenny took a deep breath before replying, 'Not entirely, no."
"You were right not to. I cannot remember the last time when I have chosen to do the right thing." She said in a small voice, bowing her head again.
"I can." Tony spoke up.
Ziva looked back up at him with questioning eyes.
"You did just a few minutes ago when you didn't lie to us about this. You did this morning when you apologized to McGee and you did yesterday when you apologized to me and Gibbs." He told her with a small smile on his face.
Ziva felt tears falling down her face, but she made no attempt to curb them. She was overwhelmed at the generosity of this man. She had tried to destroy him and everything he cared about, but he still stood by her and defended her. She did not deserve his compassion.
A crooked smile appeared on his face and he leaned forward to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly. "You do what you have to for family." He told her and when she looked to Gibbs and Jenny she saw similar sentiments reflected in their faces.
"I do not deserve your devotion. I betrayed you all." She told them looking from face to face.
"You were loyal to someone you thought would always have your back. Someone who put you in a vulnerable position and then left you twisting in the wind. That's not what a parent is supposed to do, Ziva." Gibbs told her.
She was still crying and could not answer just then, she simply nodded her head, agreeing with his words.
"Ziva, since we controlled what you saw and no information was actually passed, the Secretary has agreed not to press charges." Jenny told her in a quiet voice. "There will, however, be consequences for your attempt to pass information." She added.
Ziva nodded and said, "I am to be sent back to Israel, then."
"No. You have lost your field agent status though and your security clearance above level one." Jenny informed her. "The SecNav has also ordered a three and a half month suspension. I trust you understand why he chose that length of time?" Jenny asked her.
"Yes. That was the period of time I did not properly do my job." Ziva answered Jenny, receiving a nod in reply. "I do not understand, though. If I cannot be an agent, what use to you am I" She asked them.
"Oh, you've got plenty of useful skills, Ziva." Tony replied.
"Tony's right, Ziva. You could teach hand-to-hand combat skills or shooting skills to other agents. Do you think you could handle that?" Gibbs asked her.
"I could do that, yes. Then I would not have to kill anyone, any longer?" She asked Jenny hopefully.
"No, Ziva. No more killing." Jenny assured her.
"But maybe you could show me that paperclip thing, before you retire?" Tony joked with her.
She laughed and replied with a wide smile, "I suppose I could do that."
"Now since you'll be off for three and a half months, Tony and I arranged for it to be on half-pay so you won't lose your apartment. Also, the two weeks suspension I already gave you will be incorporated into the SecNav's punishment. I think three and a half months is enough time to be off." Jenny told her.
Ziva smiled again and said graciously, "Thank you both."
"When you come back, you'll be working for Liam Reilly, he's in charge of training. Now he's a former Marine drill sergeant, so you won't get anything past him and he will not tolerate attitude from you." Jenny warned her.
"Yes, ma'am." Ziva replied with a bright smile and feeling lighter than air.
"Do you have your gun and badge with you?" The director inquired.
"Yes, ma'am. Here they are." Ziva unclipped her badge and gun and placed them in the middle of the table, seemingly glad to be rid of them.
"Okay." The director replied. "Go downstairs and clean out your desk, I'll be down in a few minutes." She ordered her.
"Yes, ma'am!" Ziva bounced up out of her chair and left after giving both men a parting smile.
All three remaining occupants of the room relaxed back into their chairs when the door closed quietly behind Ziva.
"Well, that went well, she seems pretty happy with her suspension." Gibbs quipped, causing the other two to dissolve into laughter. The release this brought was a welcome distraction from the tension that had gripped them all for the better part of a week. They all realized that Ziva welcomed the change and was grateful for the second chance and would probably be just fine.
"Alright boys, I think it's time you started your vacation. Jethro, contact me in two weeks and I'll get you started on re-instatement. Tony, enjoy your time off, you deserve it." Jenny smiled at the two as they both replied with a 'Yes, ma'am!' in concert with the other and made their way out of the office.
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TBC…