Author's Note: Trying to get the new chapters in as quickly as I can...still got lots of stuff going on over at my end-but who wants to hear about that? How about last night's premiere of NCIS season 8? Oh...I loved it. I really, really, REALLY...did. Nothing at all like the opening to season 7 (or season 7 in it's entirety...yeah not a 'big' fan of that season). What's this? We have contact by Eli David and Director Vance? Oh...shady... I like it! I like it a lot! Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed the new episode...if you did not...I'm probably going to get yelled at for mentioning a spoiler-but my spoiler is very "vague" so it's not like I gave the entire thing away (they didn't even give us that much to give away concerning Eli David in the first place!) Anyway...I hope to god there's a ton more Zibbs fics that start pushing out this year because the Zibbs category really needs to UP their game-and I mean that shit! Alrighty-short chapter, but enjoy anyway. I'll try to get the next one in as soon as possible (maybe sometime this week!) Later Days...GEEK!

Chapter 33: Needing Clearance

Director Shepard watches as the hostile Marine nearly finishes the long hallway in large strides.

"Just a second Jethro!" She calls out to him; her feet taking her where she wants to be as fast as they possibly can.

His feet stop against the floor like blocks of cement. Turning around, he faces her just as she finds herself too close to his face.

"I don't go a second, Jen." His tone low and aggressive.

"You haven't much else at the moment, either." She informs him as she takes a step back. "You're not at liberty to send the FBI back home."

"Yeah, well, I didn't see you trying to break their balls." He retorts.

"That isn't my job."

"Could have fooled me." He closes his eyes and tries to keep the majority of his bad attitude at bay. "They had nothing to hold us accountable for."

"What about the bodies of Director David and Michael Rivkin?"

"Caught in a crossfire, Jen. That's all it is. Just two of our own caught up in a crossfire…" He pushes his shoulders back as he inhales sharply. "…one of our own…"

"You're not thinking of leaving Ziva out in the woods on this case-"

"I didn't say that."

"Did you think it?" She frowns. "Now isn't the time to let past incidents stand in the way of your better judgment."

"Right now my judgment doesn't mean shit, and neither does theirs." He sighs. "You saw Fornell in there, he wanted to bury us…all of us."

"He wants answers and…I hate to say it, Jethro, but I want answers as well. I am in a very tricky position-"

"Don't want to hear it, Jen." His eyes burn into hers. "You're always in these types of positions-"

"I do what I can to help not only your team, but the greater good."

"You're just trying to go down in the 'Hall of Fame' here at NCIS." He huffs. "You want to play rough house with those beneath you and be the talk of the town with the hot shots. I caught on to your way of operations a lot time ago, Jen."

"This isn't about what you think of my decisions, Jethro."

"You couldn't even begin to guess on how I feel about your decisions." He shakes his head in shame. "You've used my team to do your dirty work."

"The work I do is worthy of investigations. With investigations comes agents who are required to investigate. I choose the agents I feel will get the job done as quickly and as safely as humanly possible. There is no fault behind what it is that I do as a Director-"

"No, but it's your use of power that fucks everybody in the end."

"I never told Agent DiNozzo to fall in love."

"Yeah, well, he did."

"You'd be liable of the same thing, Jethro, damn it…and you know it. We all could be liable."

"I don't mix business with pleasure." He defends his usual rule.

"His business was pleasure." She reminds him. "The heart wants what it wants."

He chuckles cruelly. Her words stabbing him in the regional areas of his heart.

"I didn't come here for a confession, Jen."

"I don't love you, Jethro." She shuts down any ego trip he might be having. "…but I know what love is and I can't remain at fault for Agent DiNozzo's heartbreak…nor can I remain at fault for your own."

"Good, and if you do not decide to truly help me and my team, then you'll forever remain at fault for this. I'll see to it that you do."

Her mouth grows smaller as her eyes enlarge, slightly.

"What is it that you would like me to do?"

He waits to read her; her eyes serving as the source of confirmation he is yearning for.

"Keep the FBI out of Headquarters and off our backs-"

"You're speaking like this is an investigation for you and your team?" She cocks an eyebrow. "It'll never happen, Jethro. The entire Agency will suffer the consequences."

"Doubting they'll be entirely good?"

"Yes." She speaks honestly. "There isn't any way for you or anyone from your team to predict the future. Besides, what are we looking at-plane tickets to Tel Aviv?"

"I don't know Jen, are we?"

"I can't let you return there-not until this case is closed. Not until Mossad cools off."

"Their leader was just killed by an American, they're never going to 'cool' off, Jen. We need to work fast and we need to work now."

"What are you hoping to find?"

"Evidence of what went on that day."

She grins; a feeling of pride for knowing him and his strong ability to get any job done. "Fornell isn't going to like this."

"He got one of my ex-wives, he can't win 'em all." He mutters, a slight grin playing on his lips. "…I need to do this…Jen. I've got to clear DiNozzo…"

She knits her eyebrows in slight confusion. "…what about Ziva?"

He looks away from her and focuses on the tops of his dress shoes for a minute or two.

"You're not going to leave her stranded in Tel Aviv, Jethro." She states sternly. "She doesn't deserve that."

His gaze returns to her. "She's got her own people to answer to." His anger flaring somewhat. "I can't speak for her."

"She needs your help…even if she doesn't ask for it."

"I've got to clear DiNozzo." He swallows hard; his adam's apple bobbing around for a split second. "He's my Senior agent…and he doesn't deserve this." He inhales sharply. "…and I owe him…when I retired…he took over as team leader and I never thanked him for that."

She feels the strength of his inner struggle and it shakes her because she understands his need to help a team member, and because she worries about his former team member.

"What do'ya say…Jen?"

"The ball is in your court, Jethro…" He nods, then abruptly turns on his heel and flees from the hallway. Knowing she is alone, she silently prays. "…don't drop it…"