A/N: So this is what Jen, Abby, Ducky, Tony, Tim and Ziva do during the year that Jethro is in Iraq; it's about half way through the year (so 6 months). I thought that since Jethro was gone and not there to piss everyone else off that NCIS would be able to shake the money tree on the Hill and receive more funding. I also know that Abby works alone but I thought that maybe she would like to train her assistant (intern) instead of having one that has already done their internship. Reviews are welcome as always.
A Marine's Return
6.
The Year Without: Stateside.
Jen sat in MTAC waiting for SecNav to come onscreen. After a few more minutes he came on.
"Director Shepard, how are we doing this morning?"
"Just fine Sir."
"How are the latest cases progressing?"
"Progressing fine; waiting on Forensics."
"Does it normally take this long?"
"Yes, though it would go a little faster if we had more than one tech other than Abby, but as I have learned Abby works better alone."
"Well ok then. I wanted to let you know that you have the funding you requested. What do you plan on doing with it?"
"Plenty sir, however I would prefer to talk to you in person."
"How about lunch this afternoon? I can have my detail pick you up."
"That works for me sir. What time?"
"Good and 1330."
"See you at 1330 Sir." With that the connection broke and Jen left MTAC. Slowly making her way back to her office she paused on the Catwalk and looked at the Bullpen. Gibbs's no Tony's team were at their desks doing paperwork on the case they just completed. What was better than last time Gibbs was gone was that this time Tony was acting like himself and not like Gibbs, and everyone seemed to be happy about that. Jen knew that they each wrote weekly letters to Jethro as well as Abby and Ducky. Entering her office she sat behind her desk and looked at her clock. 1130 hours. She still had time to do a few things before her lunch with SecNav. She pulled the legal pad that had the list of things that she wanted to do with her new funding. Looking at the list she had a few new ideas that could be placed at the top of the list, but before she brought them to SecNav she wanted to get approval from them. She picked up her office phone and dialed Forensics.
"NCIS Forensics Abby Scuito speaking."
"Abby, it's Director Shepard."
"Mommy! What Can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you had a minute to come up to my office."
"Does right now work?"
"Yes that is perfect Abby. See you in a few minutes."
She hung up on Abby and poked her head out of the office.
"Cynthia, Abby should be up here in a few minutes. And I have a meeting with SecNav and 1330."
"Yes Director."
Sitting back at her desk she waited for Abby to get here. Not even three minutes later a knock was heard at her door.
"Come in." She told the person standing up. Abby bounds into the room and greets Jenny with her customary death grip of a hug. Which Jenny returns with a tight hug of her own.
"What can I do for you Director?"
"I had an idea that I wanted to run by you."
"Run it."
"Okay so I know that you like to work alone, but I wanted to get your opinion on getting you an intern?"
"Why an intern?"
"Because that way you will still get the help you need in the lab (which was why I hired Chip) and you can train your own assistant the way you want them to work regarding who runs what tests or whatever. I made the mistake of hiring Chip without talking to you; I don't want to make the same mistake twice."
"You know that actually sounds like a good idea. I'll do it on one condition."
"Go on."
"I get to pick the intern and stuff."
"Deal. I will get SecNav's approval and get applications from the local universities. Send me a list of specific schools you might want to look at. You should be able to have your intern by the end of summer."
"Will do Director. Can I get you Lunch today?"
"No Abby; I have a lunch meeting with SecNav. How about we go get lunch tomorrow, Abby?"
"Tomorrow works. See you later Director."
"See you later Abby." Abby walks out the door and Jen makes a note on the list about interns for Abby at the top of the list. Next order of business was Ducky. Picking up the phone she dials down to Autopsy.
"NCIS Autopsy, Palmer speaking."
"Mr. Palmer is Ducky available?"
"Yes Director let me get him." Placing the Director on hold Palmer makes his way over to where Ducky is going through a profile of a suspect.
"Dr. Mallard the Director is on the phone for you."
"Thank you Mr. Palmer." Ducky walks over to the desk and picks up the phone.
"Yes Director?"
"Ducky, can you come up to my office?"
"Certainly. Do I need my Kit?"
"No Ducky you don't need your medical kit; I wanted to talk to you about a few ideas that I had."
"I'm heading up right now Director." He hangs up the phone and walks out of Autopsy. Without a word to Palmer about where he is heading, but Palmer can guess and continues his work.
A few minutes later a knock is heard on Jen's office door.
"Come." Jen calls out; she knows that it is Ducky. Ducky enters the office with Cynthia.
"Director do you need me during your lunch meeting?" Cynthia asks.
"No Cynthia I don't think I do." Jen replies as Ducky sits down at one of the conference chairs.
"Then I will see you tomorrow Director."
"Yes Cynthia see you tomorrow. Have good afternoon off." Jen replies and Cynthia smiles before leaving the office.
"Ducky I wanted to talk to you about a new personal joining you and Mr. Palmer down in Autopsy."
"What did you have in mind Director?" Ducky's interest is peaked.
"Over the past few years since I became Director I have had a few people ask if I would hire a full time Forensic Anthropologist, and until quite recently I have always responded with NCIS did not have enough funds to hire someone of that caliber. But this morning I received word that we have gotten a few more federal grants that allow me to budget hiring an Anthropologist and their assistant. I wanted to know if you would be okay with that." She paused to allow Ducky to absorb and contemplate this idea. After a few minutes his face lights up. Jen thinks that he likes the idea of the new potential hires.
"That seems like a great idea, Director. The past few years have not been kind on my eyes. And to examine bones and not skin requires good eyesight I have found. It would be an honor to work with an Anthropologist down in Autopsy. Did you have someone in mind?"
"Not at the moment. I wanted to hear your views on the matter before approving it with SecNav. I have a lunch meeting with him today. I will bring it up then and tell you of his decision after lunch."
"Wonderful my dear. Now I believe that you said ideas as in more than one."
"Yes I did. You have been here a good many years Ducky and I wanted to know if our Probie agents are getting an equal education from all teams."
"I take it from your tone that some Probie agents give better reports than others. Well in my opinion some team leaders give their Probies only the grunt work and they don't let them learn while others expect too much form theirs. Other team leaders don't get Probies while others get quite a few. The education is not equal among teams and in my opinon never have been equal."
"Thank you Ducky. I agree; we can't have Team Gibbs or Team Tony train all the good agents."
"Is that all Director?"
"No Ducky; one more thing. Do you think that if we had a six month to a year of training like the FBI Academy it would be better for everyone?"
"I think it would off the top of my head. Having everyone given the basic training by the same people in the same manner might go far, very far in getting decent agents in this agency."
"I'm glad you agree Ducky; I've had this idea in my head for a long time. And now I think that I can get funding to see it through. Now I just need teachers and someone to run it." She trails off in thought as does Ducky. They're both thinking the same thing, but would have to wait six months before they can ask them. Jen shakes herself and smiles at Ducky.
"Have you had word from Jethro lately Ducky?" Ducky knows that Jennifer misses her old flame even if no one does.
"I had a letter from him about a week ago. He seemed to be doing fine, both physically and mentally. I really think that this was a good decision for him. We all miss him terribly but I think that he misses us as well; though it would be like pulling teeth to get him to admit to such feelings, stubborn man."
"I got that feeling from him too. Do you think that he'll come back to NCIS?"
"If he comes back will you consider dating him?"
"No it would be very inappropriate for me to date one of my agents. However much I may want to."
"If he comes back but doesn't return to NCIS will you date him?"
"Without a doubt Ducky, it nearly killed me to have to tell him no off the job when I started as director. I want to be the fourth Mrs. Gibbs. I made a mistake in Paris; I never should have left him. I regret that decision every day Ducky."
"Then he will come back to you and still be there for the team but he won't return to NCIS. Because it did kill him in a way when you told him that; I know that for a fact. But he will give you a second chance, because he loves you. Now Jennifer I must be going and so do you. I will see you later and my door is always open should you need to talk my dear."
"Thank you Ducky. I will let you know of SecNav's decision when I can." Ducky got up and left and a few minutes later one of SecNav's detail picked her up and brought her to the restaurant. Her meeting went well SecNav agreed to all three of her requests. And would start looking for teachers while they waited. She returned to her office to continue reading case files when she saw that she had a guest.
"Ziva, what can I do for you?"
"I need advice Jen."
"What's up?"
"My father has become Director of Mossad and is ordering me home.
"Okay. Do you not want to return to Tel Aviv?"
"My lease is up at the end of the month and it would make sense for me to at least go home for a bit but my father wants me to take over some of Riffkin's ops which would mean suicide missions. I also think that he wants me to give out classified information on you and the rest of the Agency. I now find myself loathe to go home at all. I do not know what to do."
"Well you could always resign from Mossad and disown your father; that would mean that you could remain here without worrying about your father."
"Yes but if I did that my visa would be revoked and I would still have to return home."
"Do you want to return home Ziva?"
"This is my Jenny and I don't want to leave it."
"Good. Then take these papers; fill out what I missed and get them back to me." Jen reaches into her desk and pulls out a file and hands it to Ziva.
"What are these for?"
"Your Green Card application and paperwork changing you to Agent David instead of Officer David."
"You've had this planned?"
"I wanted you to have the option of staying in America."
"Thank you Director. I will fill these out before then end of the day." With that Ziva got up and left the office leaving Jen to do some paperwork of her own. But half of Jen's thoughts were on a man half way around the world and the countdown until he returned home.
Only six months left, she couldn't wait.