Tony: There's only one force on earth that can short circuit a man's better instincts, put fire in his veins, make him dive head long into danger with no regard for his own well being…vengeance Salim, I'm here to kill ya…

--

Tony was still at his desk, long after everyone had gone home. The only thing missing was the sound of crickets chirping…and Gibbs.

"Got something against showering DiNozzo?"

He almost smiled. "Thought I was alone…"

"Thought wrong."

Tony couldn't help but notice Gibbs hadn't left the front of his desk. "You gonna order me to go home?"

"If I have to."

Tony's eyes moved past Gibbs, to the desk behind him. "Just debriefing myself boss…"

"Alone?"

"Just being thorough…Director's debrief didn't cover everything…"

"Such as?"

"Such as dealing with you in hovering mode…" His expression was obvious. "You do it after every…"

Gibbs didn't let him finish. "So you don't want me to hover then?"

"Please?"

"No…"

Tony nodded. "Thanks…glad we had this talk…now if you'll excuse me…"

Gibbs stepped aside to give him a better view. "You got some obsessing to do…"

"You would know."

Gibbs hid a smile. "Still got fire in your veins?"

"Didn't you after Ari?"

"Salim your Ari? Is that it?"

Tony met his glare with one his own. "One bullet doesn't seem fair…not after what he did to her."

"He's dead DiNozzo…she isn't…bout as fair as it gets."

"That's how you see it then? Kate for Ari? Eye for an eye?"

"Doesn't matter how I see it….it's how it is…"

Tony stood up. "And you're okay with that? I mean, geez boss…did you see her? I mean really see her? He did worse than kill her…he took her soul…"

"Souls can heal…"

"Has yours?"

It went silent for a full minute before Gibbs turned to leave. Tony was quick to follow.

"Boss, I'm sorry…"

Gibbs faced him abruptly. "Just go home DiNozzo…"

He took one look in his eyes and guilt washed over him a second time. "I just want to know we'll be 'us' again boss…that Salim didn't win…"

"I cant predict the future Tony…"

"Debatable," he stated simply before meeting his eyes a second time.

"We did a good thing today…"

"And tomorrow?"

"That's up to you," he pointed at him and moved back towards the elevator. "It's always up to you DiNozzo."

Tony managed a small smile. "Listen about what I said…bringing up Ari…I didn't mean to open old wounds…"

"Healed wounds…" he said simply before stepping inside the doors. "These will heal too…"

Tony stood in silence as the elevator doors closed and returned to his chair moments later. He stared quietly at her desk and let memories of Kate stream through his mind…followed by the memories of the last four years…then finally the events of the past two days. He couldn't say for sure if things would ever be the same…but there was one thing he did know…

Time heals all.