Director David: What was behind that intent?
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"Have to go home eventually DiNozzo…"
Tony cringed at the thought; his eyes fixated on the desk across from him. "I will boss…just organizing some things in my head."
"Talk."
"What?" He looked away from her desk and focused on Gibbs'.
"Those things in your head clogging up your ears?"
Tony smiled slowly. "Sorry; you just don't usually initiate deep conversations."
"Yeah, well, I'm tired."
He ran a hand over his face, still a bit hesitant to oblige him; no matter how bad he wanted to talk. "You told me to stay on it…why didn't you?"
"Your gut."
"Was your gut too…you said it yourself boss. Maybe if you'd gone to her apartment, things would've ended differently…maybe she'd still be here."
"Did I?"
"Did you what?"
"Go to her apartment…"
"Well no, but…"
Gibbs stood up. "No butts DiNozzo. What's done is done. I handed it over to you because you need to trust your gut. Not just mine…"
"I did. And now Rivkin's dead…Ziva hates me…and my shoulders gonna hurt for months…"
"You did what you had to do."
"Did I?" He stood up as well. "Every time I play it over in my head, I think Ziva and her Father are right…maybe my intent was wrong."
"Stop playing the tape DiNozzo. Only way you're gonna put this behind you."
"What if I don't want to put it behind me?"
Gibbs stared at him for a moment. "Then you'll never own your decisions Tony…you gotta know what rights in here." He pointed directly over his heart.
"I know I did what I had to do." Tony assured himself and took in a long breath. "She was my partner."
Gibbs nodded towards him. "And she always will be Tony…don't you forget that."
"I wont."
"Good…now get out of here before I slap you so hard that you do."
Tony tried to smile. "On it boss…"
Gibbs watched him leave before fixating on Ziva's desk himself. One word floating back and forth in his mind…
Trust.