Ziva: Psycho

Gibbs: He has his moments

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Tony opened his desk drawer to place another one of Gibbs' awards into it when he stopped the action and held it in his hands for a few minutes. The bull pen was an eerie silent and the only other person around was Thurman, the night janitor.

It wasn't as if he hadn't seen an award like this before; after all Gibbs had received it every year since he'd been there. But something about this one made Tony contemplate the future. When Gibbs had 'retired' he thought he'd stepped up to the plate fairly well and even had the chance for his very own team. So what was it about this particular award that caused him to react this way?

"Plan on staring at that thing till the name on the bottom changes DiNozzo?"

Tony managed a smile as he looked up to see Gibbs passing by him. "Oh hey boss…naw, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

His straightforwardness was always something he admired about his boss. "The future I guess."

Gibbs was moving some things around on his desk and stopped to look up at him. "Is that right?"

"Yeah…like if I'll ever have a drawer filled with my own awards."

Gibbs shrugged. "What the hell for?"

Tony managed a small smile at his tone. "Just nice to have something to show for all the work you've done."

"A piece of paper won't show much DiNozzo."

The younger agent simply nodded before completing the first action he'd set out to do. He placed the award in the drawer and closed it gently. "Guess you're right boss…you always are." He stood up and started to collect his things to head home just as Gibbs appeared in front of him.

"I don't do what I do for shiny medals and plaques…you shouldn't either."

Tony shrugged. "But what's so bad about those things?"

"It's not the things Tony, hell awards should be given every time we go out there and get shot at. But they're not, because it's what we do."

"Yeah but, a little recognition never hurt anyone."

Gibbs stifled a laugh. "The last thing I need is you out there playing John Wayne, just so you can have a plaque above your hospital bed."

Tony managed a smile. "Yeah, you're right…again."

"Damn right I am… they don't give those awards to just anyone you know."