Prayers for all those who lost loved ones yesterday and prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.

And to all those who rush toward danger instead of away. Thanks.

Don't own, wish I did.

Tony knew that he had to figure out a way to get to class on Saturday and decided he needed to talk to Ducky. Ducky looked up from his desk with the doors slip open. Ducky smiled when he saw Tony. He and Tony had become very close when Gibbs had left for Mexico. After Ducky had realized that Tony was by himself and the team was really not helping him, Ducky had encouraged Palmer to talk to Tony. Ducky knew that one day Palmer and Tony would be in the same place as he and Gibbs if Tony stayed with NCIS. While it was no surprise to him, Tony and Jimmy became good friends. Even after Gibbs was back, Ducky knew that the way everyone was treating Tony that sooner or later Tony would leave. Ducky was trying to do everything possible from keeping that from happening.

"Anthony, my dear lad, what can I help you with today?"

"Well Ducky, I have started working on my PhD and I need to go to class on Saturday. We are on call and I am not sure how to approach Gibbs. He really hasn't been talking to me lately and I really don't want to get that silent dark stare."

Ducky quietly laughed. "I understand Anthony, but if you don't want to miss class you are going to have to tell him what is going on. I know that he would not interfere with anything you are doing. He should be proud of you going back to school."

"I don't know Ducky, we haven't been communicating very well since he was in that explosion and went to Mexico. None of us have exactly. I don't even want to tell the rest of the team what I am doing since all I will get is ridicule. McGee in particular will tell me I can't do it."

"Anthony, do you think you can't get your degree?"

"Yes, I know that I can. It may take awhile, but I know that I am smart enough to get it done. I know that I am not as good on computers at McGeek, but who does he think ran the computers before he was placed on the team? I am a good cop. I know how to solve a crime. I don't need a computer to tell me how to do that. Besides solving crimes is about the person, not a computer. McGee and Vance forget about the human element. It is not the computer that kills."

Anthony, I know that you are frustrated with the team and Vance right now. I also know that you have every right to be angry with them, but please don't do anything rash."

Tony smiled at Ducky. "I won't. By the way, is your mother still available for tea on Sunday? I haven't been able to get over there in the last few weeks and I have missed playing the Italian Gigolo."

Ducky again laughed. "Tony she loves when you come over. I know that I appreciate the fact that you can entertain her for a while. It gives me a break. I cannot tell you, dear boy, how that helps me."

"I know Ducky. Just so you know I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. I really don't mind moving that toilet."

The door slid open and Gibbs walked in. "DiNozzo, what are you doing here. Why aren't you getting that information I asked for on the Lancaster case?"

Tony looked at Gibbs. "I am working on it boss. The computer is searching upstairs. I needed to ask Ducky a question."

"Did you ask him, did he answer?"

"Yes he did."

"Then what are you waiting for, get moving!" Gibbs snapped.

Ducky sighed as Tony said goodbye. "See you later Duck Man." Ducky nodded to Tony and looked at Gibbs. "Jethro, why are you being so rude to Anthony? He has done nothing to warrant such behavior from you. It was bad when you returned back from NCIS, just dumping his things back on his desk without so much of an apology, but things have not returned to the better. You are going to drive him away if you are not careful."

Gibbs just looked at Ducky. "If DiNozzo can't handle being on the team, than he can leave. I am not his babysitter."

"You don't mean that Jethro. That boy means the world to you." Jethro just looked at Ducky. "Or at least he did at one point." Ducky threw his hands in the air. "I don't know if you remember how much he meant to you before the explosion, but he has been with you the longest of anyone. Almost five years with the current team and two before that. You are going to lose him if you are not careful, and I won't blame him for moving on."

Gibbs looked at Ducky, shook his head and left.

Tony was in the elevator going back upstairs when it stopped on the floor prior to the bullpen. He looked up and saw a marine, took another look and gasped. "Alex?"

"Tony? What are you doing here?"

"I work here, what are you doing here?"

"I am the new JAG attorney assigned to NCIS. I started on Monday. Why haven't I seen you here before?"

"We were on a case this week in West Virginia, we had to stay there and investigate. We just returned home today."

Tony was stunned. They hadn't asked each other what they did for a living and now that was catching up to him. "Alex, can you grab a cup of coffee with me quickly. We need to talk about something before you meet the rest of the team."

Alex looked at Tony. "Ok, I have seen that cart out on the promenade; we can meet there in about 15 minutes. Let me run upstairs and dump my bag."

"Ok, that works. I need to finish something for Gibbs anyway. If I run a few minutes late I'll text you."

Just before the doors opened, "Wait Tony, did you say Gibbs?"

"Yeah, he is my boss, why?"

"Oh boy. We will be having a conversation later today on procedures. I had a case thrown out of court today due to an illegal search. He is not going to be happy with what I have to say to him."

Crap, Tony thought. This wasn't going to be pretty.

Fifteen minutes later, Tony and Alex met at the coffee cart out in the promenade. Tony took Alex's hand once they bought their coffee and tea.

Tony started. "Alex, my team does not know that I am back at school. I don't want them to know. Actually, the only people that even know that I am back in school are Ducky and Palmer."

"Why Tony? It's a good thing going back to school, why don't you want everyone to know?"

"It would take too long to explain now, but can you keep my secret for me. Very few people know what I am doing."

"Ok Tony. I won't say anything, but you will be explaining to me later, right? I know that we have been very careful on what we talk about, but I would like to understand." Alex smiled softly as she said this.

"I promise, I will tell you everything. Now I have a question for you. What are you going to do about Gibbs? He is not going to be easy to push around. He was also a Marine you know. Once a Marine, always a Marine. There are no X's."

Alex laughed. "Oh don't worry. I can handle that Gunny." Tony looked at Alex when said Gunny. "What you think I would go into battle without knowing who I was up against. Please, I was trained better than that."

Tony and Alex walked back to the entrance of the building. Saying hi to Sam and showing ID they were about to enter the elevator when Alex turned to Tony. "Go on up without me. If we are seen together you will get questions and I don't think you want any right now." Tony smiled at Alex and nodded thanks.

Gibbs looks up as someone approaches his desk. It is a Marine Major. "Major, what can I do for you today?"

"I am Major Alexandra Flores, I am the newly assigned JAG attorney as of Monday. I am here to talk you about the Anderson case. It was thrown out of court today on a technicality due to an illegal search. The defense proved this in court. Everything after you obtained prior to the phone records were ruled inadmissible, which means I can't use the phone records, credit card reports or even the betting slips from the track since he used his credit cards to get cash to buy the tickets."

Gibbs stood up at his desk and said "it is not my problem if you aren't a good enough attorney, Major," Gibbs sneered, "if you can't make it work, don't blame us."

Alex just looked at Gibbs and said very softly. "Special Agent Gibbs, I am very good at my job. One of the best or Admiral Rabb would not have put me here since this seems to be a common occurrence with your team. So here is how this is going to go from now on. If you need a warrant, come to me and I will be happy to get it for you if you have probable cause. If you don't then you are not doing your job right and I will tell you so."

Gibbs just looked at Alex for a long moment and came round his desk. He stood toe to toe with her and looked down his nose. "Be careful Major, don't overstep you bounds. You don't get to tell us what to do."

"Actually Special Agent Gibbs, I do get to tell you what to do. If you break the law then I will be happy to have you up on charges. I won't lose a criminal that should be behind bars because you stepped over the line."

Gibbs just continued to stare at the Major. He was slowly realizing that she wasn't going to back down. Gibbs noticed movement up on the balcony and it was Vance. Vance just shook his head and silently said to Gibbs. "Told you so."

The bullpen had been silent during the Major and Gibbs conversation. Everyone was slowly realizing that the new JAG attorney was not going to back down from Gibbs. Now it seems that Gibbs had two people that wouldn't back down from him. Tony DiNozzo and Major Alex Flores.