About fifteen minutes after Gibbs sat down on the bench he saw Abby and the team coming toward him. They had cut it kind of close.

"Hey, Gibbs," Abby called to him. She was carrying her jacket and looked a little flushed from a brisk walk.

Tony asked the question on all their minds. "What happened?"

Gibbs wasn't about to tell them, not before they had their own meeting. "We'll talk after yours," was all he said.

There was no more time to talk as the door opened and the same woman poked her head out.

"Ms. Abigail Sciuto, please come in."

Abby looked panicked and Gibbs stepped up. "C'mon, Abby, I'll go with you."

At first the woman looked like she would refuse him, but then she nodded and swung the door wider.

Gibbs escorted Abby into the room and the door closed behind them. The gal didn't stay this time. Instead she went out the inside door and closed it.

"What's going on, Gibbs?"

"Now we wait. You want to sit down?"

"Not really. I want to leave," she whined.

Before he could respond the inside door opened and the same people as before came in. They sat down, Abby and Gibbs sat down.

SecDef addressed them. "Special Agent Gibbs, you have no standing in this meeting."

Gibbs understood and said, "I understand, Mr. Secretary." He would stay quiet, but try to offer moral support, because he knew she was going to feel sick.

"Ms. Sciuto, do you understand that he is only allowed to stay as a silent witness and not to defend you?"

Abby nodded meekly. Gibbs scowled a little, but didn't say anything else. He was still a little surprised they had asked for Abby separately.

The officials went through a repeat of the earlier meeting. With tears in her eyes, Abby thought about her oath, signed the non-disclosure agreement and then listened to the instructions about not talking or thinking. Under Secretary Job was pretty rough on her for withholding lab results, lying and not trusting Vance or Gibbs. He reminded her that she had other avenues to pursue when told to do something like that and she chose to not use them. She promised not to do it in the future, if it ever happened again... in the future. She cringed when they said she had been suspended until Monday and that someone was going through her lab, computers, desk, locker, everything.

Gibbs wondered what would have been said if he hadn't stayed. Maybe nothing different since they could have kicked him out.

"Questions, Ms. Sciuto?"

Abby shook her head and said, "No, sir," to the SecDef.

He wasn't finished, the script almost the same. "Any comments?"

She just wanted to get out of there. "No, sir. Thank you, sir."

His glare made her realize she might have sounded sarcastic so she quickly back-pedaled. "I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary. I don't have a comment."

Thankfully she was sincere and sounded sincere and another meeting that never happened was over. The panel left, the woman came in and went to the door.

Abby and Gibbs stepped out, but the door didn't close.

"Special Agent Ziva David. Please come in." She got Ziva's last name right.

Tony stepped in close and announced a little harshly, "I'm next."

Gibbs tried not to smirk. DiNozzo was so obvious. He knew it would disrupt the team, but he also knew his SFA needed to face his feelings for Ziva.

"No, Special Agent DiNozzo, you are not next." She held the door open for Ziva.

"Then you can take us at the same time," Tony demanded.

The woman didn't smile. In fact, she didn't respond to him in any way. "Special Agent David?"

Gibbs caught Ziva's eye, asking if she wanted him to go in with her too. She nodded once and Gibbs told the woman, who agreed immediately, leaving Tony to look not only angry, but perplexed.

In the room the gal didn't leave right away and Gibbs took it to mean that they understood he was standing by his team members. He thought about the panel leaving the room every time before a new person was brought in and decided it was an intimidation factor. He knew it was one that worked too because they did it with suspects in interrogation rooms all the time.

The meeting was about the same except Ziva wasn't nearly as repentant as Abby had been. She signed the non-disclosure agreement and said she'd forget everything and not talk about anything, but then she lost her head, if she'd ever had it, and attempted to argue the merits of staking out the Wheeler home and following General O'Neill. Finally Gibbs pulled her back from the edge with a quiet, but firm, "Ziva!"

Her mouth finally snapped shut and she didn't look pleased.

SecDef had had enough. "Special Agent David, the Wheeler investigation is over. You agreed to not think or speak about it again."

His intense glare got her attention, but it was Under Secretary Job who doled out her punishment.

"You are suspended without pay for thirteen days. Locked out of NCIS until 0600 a week from Monday."

Ziva gasped and looked ready to argue, but Gibbs was prepared and grabbed her forearm where it was resting on the table.

His low growl of, "Don't. Ziva, don't," kept her quiet, but she was obviously very angry.

He was confused about her stupidity. She was former Mossad and knew all about secrecy, classified and don't talk about anything. Oh, d - - m, there it was again. The truth. He knew too. Some of his own Marine file was classified top secret, from the black ops he participated in, and he wouldn't want just anyone looking into it, so why had he pushed to get O'Neill's file? And Wheeler's and Fraiser's? What was it about the special project that had him acting so stupid too?

He remembered Mike telling him again and again that some secrets weren't meant to stay secrets and it was up to decent people to bring them out into the light of day. Was the Air Force project one of those secrets? He was angry with Ziva because she wouldn't let it go for now and snoop later. That was the whole ball of wax. Gibbs had pushed to be read in on projects and missions claiming he needed the information in order to solve a crime, but most times that wasn't true. He realized he was arrogant, like Mike, and stubborn, and believed that whatever the secret was it would be safe with him. He couldn't begin to consider that he didn't need to know about it in the first place. Ziva expressed her desire to know out loud while he schemed in secret and he didn't care. He'd find out and he wouldn't tell anybody. That would work. The meeting drew back his attention when SecDef raised his voice.

"You signed the non-disclosure and then violated the agreement." His words were harsh, but he admitted, "You may appeal your suspension, but keep in mind there are five witnesses." He didn't say that he knew four of the five witnesses were unimpeachable.

Ziva heard five and looked at Gibbs, horrified that he would testify against her. His eyes told her to drop it, drop it now. Her gaze went to the table top.

Under Secretary Job took a non-verbal cue from SecDef and added, "On your return, you will report to Director Vance."

Gibbs took note that Ziva's suspension was without pay while they hadn't said that with him, Vance or Abby. There was no point arguing though, she'd done it to herself and he kept his hand on her arm. He'd help her with rent and was sure she wouldn't go hungry during the almost two weeks. All of them would help her out.

On her return to work, Gibbs suspected there would be a few seminars for her, like ethics in law enforcement and anger management. He also thought she needed a few sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist, maybe Dr. Rachel. Ziva was still dealing with the loss of her father and the murderer was on the loose. It was only a matter of time before something gave. He knew she and McGee had been looking for Ilan Bodnar, but that didn't change the fact she was still grieving. Maybe the time off would help her focus on the search. Her attention to it and work had left both lacking.

Gibbs knew what was coming and switched hands in order to get a hand on her shoulder too if needed.

Job told her, "Agent David, you may keep your credentials, but you will give your firearm to Gibbs."

He felt her body tense, ready to fly off the chair and his hand went to her shoulder. She kept staring at the table.

"Agent Gibbs, you will keep her weapon secure until your return to NCIS when you will hand it over to Director Vance."

Gibbs nodded his understanding while keeping his hands on Ziva. She got the message and relaxed, just a little.

SecDef must have been a glutton for punishment because he gave her another chance to speak. Or it was a test.

"Agent David, anything else?"

She looked from the table to Gibbs, who tried to look supportive, but he was determined to keep her from further trouble. The Gibbs stare worked because after a few seconds she turned her head to look toward the SecDef and quietly said, "No, sir."

SecDef studied her for several seconds before he was satisfied, but added a warning, similar to the one he gave Gibbs and Vance, about having her head.

The big guys left and the woman stepped in. Gibbs asked Ziva for her gun, knowing that he needed to get it right away. They hadn't insisted he do it with them there, probably thinking Ziva was so angry she might shoot them. He almost laughed when that thought entered his mind.

With Ziva's firearm in his pocket and aware that the meeting had lasted longer than the one with Abby, Gibbs guided Ziva out of the room.

Tony was right there. "What the H*** happened?" Then he saw how upset Ziva was and glared at Gibbs like it had to be his fault.

Gibbs shook his head hoping Tony and Tim wouldn't get into it yet and thankfully the woman was there to call the next person.

"Special Agent Timothy McGee, please come in."

Gibbs stepped up to go with McGee, but he turned to his mentor and said, "I got this, boss. You need to stay with Abby and Ziva."

Abby, tears in her eyes, slouched on the bench looking like the world would end any second. Ziva, tense and angry, looked like she would kill someone any second and Tony's presence was not helping.

Gibbs addressed McGee sincerely. "Are you sure, Tim? Tony can stay with them."

"I'm sure."

Gibbs took note of the confidence and put a hand on the man's shoulder. "You'll do fine. Just keep your head."

Tim smiled and nodded, then followed the woman into the room.

"Talk to me, Ziva," Tony demanded, practically pinning her against a wall.

She evaded him, spit out, "There is nothing to say," and collapsed on the bench next to Abby.

Gibbs moved between DiNozzo and the bench and Tony finally got it. His face softened and he non-verbally indicated to Gibbs that he would back off a little and behave himself. Gibbs suspected that Tony thought Ziva's anger was about being suspended since he knew about Abby and thought Ziva's punishment was the same. Trusting his SFA to go slow, Gibbs stepped away and let Tony try to talk to Ziva.

Trying to joke a little, he suggested, "Just think how many movies we can watch in the next six days. It'll be fun."

Ziva threw her coat to the floor. "Thirteen days, Tony." The anger rolled off her. "I am suspended for thirteen days."

"Whoa," he exclaimed and looked to Gibbs for an explanation as he scooped up her coat.

Gibbs kind of shrugged and looked at Ziva. She should be the one to tell them.

Five minutes later Tim came out of the room and Tony went in alone.

Tim had received the same punishment as Abby and Gibbs and felt pretty good after finding out about Ziva.

With Abby and Gibbs talking privately several feet away, Tim whispered to her. "I know you're upset. I understand. But Ziva, we can use the extra time to track Bodnar." That got her attention. "I can even take a couple of vacation days or use comp time."

Ziva nodded and relaxed a little. McGee was right. There were more important things to occupy her thoughts... and now her time.

When Tony came out he didn't stay. Walking quickly down the corridor, he left them scrambling to get their jackets and coats and follow him.

It wasn't until Tony was outside in the cold morning air that he stopped and stood on the pavement, breathing heavily and staring up into the cloudless sky.

NCIS~SG~NCIS

O'Neill was busy reading the latest budget estimates when his secure phone rang.

"O'Neill."

"It's over."

The President's pronouncement was welcome.

"Do you think they got everything, sir?"

"I doubt it, but I don't think Jarvis or NCIS could have anything that proves the program exists, let alone what it is."

"Let's hope not, Mr. President."

Jack knew the President told Jarvis to take two weeks vacation and then in two or three months he would quietly step down as Secretary of the Navy, citing personal reasons. If he doesn't do as requested, he will be publicly embarrassed when the President announces his firing.

"It looks like they concentrated on you, Jack."

O'Neill grabbed the back of his neck. "A new reason for you to let me retire, sir."

"Jack." It wasn't admonishment. The President wanted and needed Jack and intended to keep him close for as long as he could.

Both men were silent for many seconds then Jack thought about the funeral. Andy had made it home from Iraq, but he couldn't stay forever.

"When will they release Ron's body?"

"Already done. Give Elizabeth a call."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

tbc

Please review. Thanks for reading.

Note: I don't know anything about NCIS employees and their access to the Pentagon. For this story they have limited access, which means their federal ID gets them in the building. Even Abby. They just can't go everywhere they want. The security checkpoint down from the conference room had been notified and they were allowed into the corridor. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.