Jenny looked up when she heard a gentle knock on her door. "Come in."

The door cracked open and two black pigtails peeked in, followed by the rest of Abby. "Hi, Director Sheppard."

And so it begins, Jenny thought. "Good morning Abby. What can I do for you?"

Abby came all the way into the room and put on a smile. "It's not what you can do for me, Director, it's what I can do for you." She plunked the box she was carrying on the coffee table and proceeded to pull several items out of it. "These are for you." The forensic scientist handed Jenny a single black rose and placed a black, gun shaped object on the desk. "It's my taser, the one Cynthia gave me when Michael was, you know, stalking me. It worked well for me so I thought you could use it to keep the creeps away."

Jenny smiled indulgently. "That was very thoughtful of you Abby, thank you."

"Oh, and this," Abby added, bringing one hand out from behind her back. It was a black teddy bear, with sequins spelling out the message 'We Love Director Sheppard'. She handed it to Jenny. "I think everybody needs a teddy bear. I mean, we can't all have Bert." She grinned at the thought of her faithful, flatulent hippo back on her desk in the lab.

"I'll keep him in a place of honour Abby," Jenny said, setting the bear on the corner of the desk. There were a few moment of awkward silence while Abby shifted back and forth. "Anything else?" she asked the girl.

"Umm..." Abby started. Then she just ran around Jenny's desk and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I'm glad you're okay Director." And she ran out of the room.

Jenny sat back in her chair in mild shock for a minute before shaking her head and smiling. After all these years she should be used to Abby's way of doing things, but some things were still surprising. And I guess if they weren't, she wouldn't be Abby, the director mused, looking back down at the file she was reading.

She'd only gotten through a couple more pages before her phone rang. So much for getting actual work done today, she sighed, reaching for the receiver. "Director Sheppard."

"Director, it's Cynthia. Dr. Mallard is here and wondered if you might have a moment to speak with him."

Ducky, Jenny thought, I'm surprised Abby beat him up here. "Of course Cynthia, send him in."

She stood up to greet him. "Ducky, how are you?"

"Ah Director," he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek, "what a pleasure to see you. But I believe that is my question. How are you doing?"

Jenny led Dr. Mallard to the couch on the other side of her office and sat beside him. "I'm fine Ducky, honest. You don't have to worry."

"My dear, fine is a very deceptive word."

I clearly need to be a better liar, the thought flitted across Jenny's mind. "Did Jethro send you up here to check on me Ducky?"

The medical examiner looked surprised. "Of course not. But even if he had, I would've still wanted to see you for myself. We are old friends you and I."

"We are Ducky and it was very sweet of you to come and see me. But it's really not necessary to be concerned."

Ducky looked Jenny over with a critical eye. She squirmed, wondering how much of an evaluation he could do of her without saying a word. He placed a hand over hers. "Have you had your psychological evaluation yet?"

Jenny tried to keep her shudder from being visible. "It's scheduled for this afternoon Dr. Mallard."

"Good." Ducky nodded. "I'm sure it's not something you're looking forward to Jennifer, but I promise you it will help."

"On that point we must disagree Doctor, but I will survive it, anyways."

Jenny stood and Ducky took that hint. His time with her was over. "Remember Director, you can always come and talk to me anytime, about anything."

She smiled at him. "I'll remember that Ducky, thank you."

"Or, you could just talk to that husband of yours. I'm sure he cares for you far more than the rest of us could. A husband's love is not to be taken lightly."

Jenny shook her head at him. "I'll see you later Ducky."

"Good day, Director," the good doctor said on his way out the door.

Jenny closed her office door and seriously considered locking herself in. Still an hour and a half until her conference in MTAC but she almost wished it was sooner. That was still plenty of time for visitors to come barging in, trying to make her feel better. I'm fine! She argued silently. But she knew they would all worry more if they couldn't see her, so it was just better to get it over with today and hope that by tomorrow they would forget she was a curiosity. Thinking of what she'd told her husband earlier, she smiled. But I suppose it is nice to know that so many people care. She sat down again at her desk and attempted to finish at least one report before the next visitor came knocking.

Ziva slammed her pencil down on her desk. "How long does it take to go for coffee? He has been gone for over an hour!"

Tony looked up, not in the mood to be his normal self. "Gibbs does not need your permission to be absent from the bullpen for more than five minutes at a time, Officer David. Nor do we need his supervision to do our paperwork."

"Maybe there's a really long line up," McGee put in from across the room, attention off his computer screen for the first time that morning.

"Can it Probie!" Tony said, annoyed, aiming a balled up piece of paper at McGee's head.

"Hey!" McGee protested, with no response.

"That is it!" Ziva jumped to her feet. "I am going to see her."

"See who?" McGee asked.

Ziva rolled her eyes at him. "Director Sheppard, of course! Who else would I be wanting to see, McGee?" Leaning down as she passed Tony's desk, she whispered. "If Gibbs gets back before I do and you tell him where I am, I will castrate you with a rubber band and a sewing needle."

Tony's expression fell and he unconsciously pressed his legs closer together. "I'll tell him you're in the little girl's room."

Ziva glared at him and headed for the stairs. A minute later she slipped silently into Jenny's office. Well, except for the click.

Jenny looked up from the same report, she was one page from the end. So close... "Ziva."

"Jen."

"I see you've been taking lessons from Special Agent Gibbs. He seems to think knocking is a formality that can be overlooked."

"I am sorry Jen. I did not want to be seen by your assistant."

Jenny frowned. "Why? Don't tell me you're afraid of Cynthia."

"No. But if I had been seen, it would mean that my skills are slipping." She grinned. "They are not."

Jenny smiled. "After my first two visitors I was almost expecting one from you Ziva. See?" she spread out her arms, "All in one piece."

Ziva nodded. She stood, hands behind her back and feet slightly apart. Always ready for action, even at rest. "Just because your body is not broken Jen, does not mean that you are alright."

"Ziva," Jenny began but she was interrupted.

"I have seen what this kind of trauma does to women. It was not your fault, Jen."

Jenny was silent, feeling all her defenses stripped away under Ziva's dark eyed stare. It was almost as bad as having Gibbs look at her like that.

Ziva took a step forward and placed her hands on the edge of Jenny's desk. "I am your friend, Jen. I want you to know that if you need to talk, I am here."

Jenny recovered and nodded once. "Thank you Ziva. I appreciate your concern."

Hearing the unspoken dismissal Ziva stepped back and turned to leave, glancing back once over her shoulder. "Good to have you back Director."

Tony was the last of the team members to make his way up to Jenny's office. He sat at his desk, tapping his fingers and moving restlessly while he waited for Ziva to emerge from the silver door. He was so focused that he nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice behind him said, "I don't know what you're waiting for Tony, she won't bite your finger off."

"It's 'head' Ziva, 'she won't bite your head off'. And I told you to stop doing that! I'm going to have a heart attack and die, right here on the floor."

Ziva smirked. "You would do it just for the sympathy. I'm sure that skinny blonde in Reception would come rushing to your aid, compelled to practice CPW."

"CPR," Tony muttered.

"So what are you waiting for Tony?" Ziva asked, settling back into chair.

"I'm waiting...for you and Probie to finish your stinking reports so I can hand deliver them to the director's office, that's what."

Ziva raised her eyebrows. "I had my report finished before I went upstairs."

"Finished mine twenty minutes ago," McGee's voice added from the corner.

Tony shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Thank you Probie, for that stunning display of support. And when were you going to make your way up to our lovely director's office?"

McGee looked up, embarrassment and fear written all over his face. "Umm...I-I wasn't planning on it. She probably needs a few days to adjust to being back." He turned his attention back to his computer screen and steadfastly ignored the looks from the other side of the squad room.

"Fine, I'll take the reports," Tony groused. "But...you've got my back, right?"

Ziva grinned maliciously. "Yes Tony. If she shoots you, I promise to come to your rescue."

"Comforting, thanks Zee-vah!" Tony gathered the pile of reports and with great trepidation, headed for the stairs.

When he reached the director's outer office, Tony peeked inside. Cynthia was not in sight. Probably just getting coffee, he thought, or hiding. He winced, wondering what kind of mood the director had to be in for her assistant to jump ship. Cautiously, he knocked on the door, balancing his stack of reports.

"Enter," came the directors voice.

Okay DiNozzo, it's now or never, he told himself and taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

"Agent DiNozzo," Jenny greeted, "I see you come bearing presents." She eyed the folders he was holding, raising her eyebrows in disbelief. "A whole pile of finished reports from your team, and before 1000? I'm impressed! Is it my birthday?"

Tony was taken aback, not expecting her humour. "Uh...no. No Ma'am." He laid the folders on her desk and nodded. "The reports."

Jenny was finding Tony's junior high behaviour rather amusing. "I don't bite you know."

Tony rubbed his hands together nervously. "Uh..yeah. Ziva mentioned that. Look, Jenny," he didn't use her first name very often, but when he did it was serious, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry." He shook his head. "We should've...protected you better, followed leads faster. I wish, I wish we could've stopped this." He studied his feet for a moment and then locked eyes with her. "I'm sorry Director."

Jenny swallowed, not expecting to get emotional but touched by everyone's concern, even if she wished it was less conspicuous. "Thank you Agent DiNozzo, I'm just grateful the team was able to find me."

Tony nodded. "Yes Ma'am. But it was Gibbs. Not being able to find you just wasn't an option." He gave a short laugh. "Director," he said and let himself out.

When he had gone, Jenny took off her glasses and left them laying on her desk. This was not what she had expected when she walked into work this morning. She appreciated the effort everyone was making, but she was almost drowning in their care. It was overwhelming. She couldn't afford to get sentimental. She had a job to do. Breaking down in her office and crying twenty minutes before she was due in MTAC simply wasn't an option. But maybe I wish it was, Jenny thought, before swallowing hard and pushing everything else to the background as she continued playing director.