Author's Note: Your reviews and comments are deeply appreciated. I hope to hear what you think of this chapter.

The quotes used inside the chapter are from the episode "red cell", season 2.

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Chapter Six

Ziva (about Gibbs): It takes a while for him to warm up to people, doesn't it?

Tony: Want to know the secret about getting on his good side?

Ziva: Of course.

Tony: Me, too.

(Switch, season 3)

"Okay," Tony crossed his arms, looked at Gibbs directly, and simply said, "dangling carrots and backhanded compliments."

Gibbs just stared at him, crossed his arms as well and waited for an explanation. Tony thought Gibbs was about to tell him "put it on the plasma, DiNozzo" as if that would somehow make it clearer, which wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Since we both hate drawn-out explanations" Tony continued, "I will just tell you one example, but keep in mind that there are others that go along the same line, all right?"

Gibbs simply nodded. He was doing a conscious effort to rein in his infamous short temper. He hasn't barked, snapped or glared at DiNozzo for the last 30 minutes or so, which was an accomplishment, really.

"I wish I had this on a DVD or something," Tony said smiling a bit, "to show you rather than tell you…"

"Just Say it, DiNozzo!"

Gibbs was starting to sound his usual impatient self, so Tony gathered his thoughts and started to explain, "Remember a case, years ago, when we still had Kate .." Tony stopped for a heartbeat, and went on "it involved a dead marine on a college campus, a hacker, and a really vicious gunny who did a number on you.."

"The way I remember it, DiNozzo, is that I did a number on him." Gibbs interrupted with a false glare. DiNozzo was one of a handful of people who liked to tease him, and mostly got away with it. He added, looking a bit amused "I remember the case, it is rather hard to forget the party we crashed by mistake, and all those screaming girls …"

"Yeah, well, right after this lovely incident, we were together in Autopsy with Ducky and Palmer, where you demonstrated, so efficiently, how one can break a person's neck with his bare hands…"

They both smiled as they recalled the way Gibbs has thrown Tony to the floor, and then proceeded to demonstrate the technique enthusiastically.

"We were kind of desperate to find the hacker," Tony went on recounting the exchange they had that day:

Gibbs: You find my hacker yet?

Tony: McGee's upstairs working on it.

Gibbs: I didn't ask McGee. I asked my Senior Field Agent. I want that damn hacker!

Tony: Did you hear that, Palmer?

Palmer: He sounded pretty upset.

Tony: Yeah. He called me his Senior Field Agent. Finally!

"I don't see .." Gibbs frowned a bit and looked at Tony with a question in his eyes, "DiNozzo, you usually like a challenge."

"I do."

"and, if I remember right, you did find something that got us the hacker."

"I did."

"Then, what's the problem?" Gibbs asked in a frustrated tone.

"It is not a problem, it is more like a pattern .. the "Senior Field Agent" was like dangling a carrot .." Gibbs interrupted, "to keep you moving.."

"Then let me tell you what usually happens after you keep me moving. That day, after you left, I went back to Abby' lab, where McGee was having a small fit of despair over the hacker's matter, and came up with a suggestion to find him, and that's when you interrupted this little scene:

Kate: I hate to say it but that was actually smart, Tony.

Gibbs: What was, Kate?

Kate: Tony might have figured out how to find the hacker.

Gibbs: It's his job. You think I keep him around for his personality?

Tony has been pacing around as he recounted that exchange, he now turned to face Gibbs who still looked perplexed, and asked with an agitated tone, "Now, let me ask you, is that a compliment or a put-down? Does it mean that you don't think it was particularly smart, that it is nothing worth talking about, or did you mean that I did good, and that's what I am capable of, on a regular basis. Why the mixed signals? Why the dig about my personality, was it to say that even if I do good on the job, I still fall short as a person?"

Tony tried to calm himself, but the pent-up anger and pain still crept to his voice "You don't like double talk; you give it to me straight when I mess up, and I don't complain about that. So, why can't you bring yourself to say it as clearly when I do good? You don't seem to have that problem with McGee or Abee .. worst of all, is the fact that you know how much that means to me .. you know it, and you use it!"

"To get the job done, DiNozzo.."

The words were out of his mouth before he considered them carefully, and Gibbs could have smacked himself over the head. DiNozzo had a hard look on his face that didn't bode well at all.

"I am not lazy, and I don't do sloppy work, Gibbs."

"I know that."

"I like to have fun, have a good laugh and enjoy myself, but I take my job seriously .."

Gibbs interrupted him, "I know that too, DiNozzo."

"Then "getting the job done" is not the reason you act that way, don't you think?"

Gibbs had to agree to that. He just hoped DiNozzo wouldn't expect him to explain his reasons or intentions clearly, because he really needed to explain them to himself first.

Tony was silent for a moment, debating with himself how much to reveal, and resisting a really strong urge to just wrap it all up and go home. Gibbs was not an expressive man at the best of times, unless you're a child or a victim, and Tony was none of those. But he was tired of leaving things unresolved, and of settling for less than he should.

"Do you also know, Gibbs, that for some mysterious reason, I still have this complete trust in you, even after you took off without a warning, and came back also without a warning, even when you keep me chasing after that elusive carrot for years, and even when you forgo thanks and apologies that really needed to be said?"

Gibbs was momentarily speechless. DiNozzo's loyalty was not a secret, neither to him, nor to the others; deep in his heart, he recognized the place he held in Tony's life, but it was easier to evade something that has always been left unsaid.

"However," Tony continued in a sharper tone, "as you have said yourself, even those who bounce back, forgive easily and stay loyal, can reach a breaking point. There were times when it seemed like you're pushing to see how much it will take before I reach that point, well… I am almost there, Gibbs."

Gibbs sat on his desk, listening silently, while thoughts raced in his mind, his inner voice summed it up perfectly : Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you are really your own worst enemy!

Tbc.

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One more chapter to go.