A/N: Just a short chapter here but one that took me a while to write since I hadn't really given it much thought. Too occupied with the next couple pivotal chapters to come I guess. I promise to update soon - some important parts are coming.

As soon as Tony set foot in Vance's outer office, his secretary waved him inside. Not a good sign that Vance isn't playing his usual power games and making me wait, thought Tony. When he stepped through the door, he became even more worried. Vance was standing beside his desk with his arms crossed and a toothpick doing a frantic dance between his teeth. Gibbs was slouched against a wall and raked Tony with an assessing gaze as soon as he entered.

"Director, Gibbs," Tony greeted them but then shut his mouth, the better to keep his foot from entering it while navigating this potentially treacherous interview.

Vance didn't even bother with preliminaries. "Gibbs tells me that you have spent some time with Ziva these past few days."

Tony's eyes flew to Gibbs in shock. Could his boss really have informed the director about his suspicions regarding Tony and Ziva's recent activities. When he saw Gibbs' unperturbable mien, he realized that there was no hidden innuendo in the director's words so he nodded and allowed himself to relax for a moment.

His relief was short lived as Vance plowed ahead. "Am I correct in believing that she may also have talked to you."

"Yes, she did," Tony answered without elaborating. He though he detected a small, tight smile from Gibbs but it was gone in an instant.

Vance looked back and forth between Tony and Gibbs, obviously waiting for someone to tell him more. When that didn't happen he barked, "DiNozzo, are you going to tell me what she said or am I supposed to read your mind, damn it."

"I wasn't planning on it," Tony responded mildly. Then he waited for the ax to fall.

"DiNozzo, may I remind you that you are an employee of NCIS, and as such, you have an obligation to disclose any information that might impact this agency - at least if you want to remain an employee." Vance was not happy to be thwarted.

Gibbs started up off the wall, ready to come to Tony's defense. He might not be pleased at Tony's reticence but he hated it when Vance threatened one if *his* agents. Tony held up a hand to stop him and answered Vance himself. "I know exactly who I work for and I can assure you that if the information that Ziva gave me was something that would damage NCIS, I would tell you. However, I also have an obligation to her, as a partner and as a friend, and right now it is more important that she knows that someone has her back, no matter what, than it is for you to know what she told me." Vance opened his mouth to protest but Tony just steamrolled over him. "I know I'm not your favorite agent, but I am a good one, and you'll just have to take my word that you do not need to know this."

Gibbs wasn't sure he agreed with Tony but he had to admire his steadfastness. This, and not the goofy fuck-up Tony usually pretended to be, was the agent Gibbs had spent years grooming as his replacement. It remained to be seen if Vance would go along with him.

"DiNozzo, you do realize that Director David is likely to tell me whatever it is that Ziva doesn't want us to know - after all, it seems a reasonable assumption that was what he threatened her with. If I'm going to find out shortly, what is the harm in telling me now so that I can possibly use it against him. You say I should trust you but you need to trust me too. I have Ziva's best interest in mind." Vance refused to give up but he was trying a different tack now.

"I know he may tell you but she's already been betrayed by her father so that won't be anything new. I will not be the friend that does the same."

"Tony, how can you be so sure that the information won't hurt NCIS?" Gibbs asked, more as a way to let Tony explain himself than because he was worried about the issue. Tony's word alone was good enough for Gibbs.

"It was something that happened a long time ago, and Ziva assured me that her father covered the incident up. He can expose her to you, but if he was to try to do it publicly, news of that coverup would only hurt him as much as it hurts her. Besides, if you succeed in discrediting him, I doubt anyone will be inclined to listen to him anyway."

Finally, Vance had to bow to the force of Tony's logic. "Okay, DiNozzo, I'll let you off the hook. I just hope Agent David knows what a good and loyal friend she has in you."

"So do I," muttered Tony under his breath, "so do I."