NB: I don't own anything of NCIS :(

I wrote this story years ago and then forgot about it. I rediscovered it while I was cleaning out my PC and, after the horrible farewell Tony/MW got, I wish this story had really happened at the beginning of S7... though we'd have lost 7 seasons of MW's amazing talent and charm.

This FF takes place just after Gibbs' Team took Ziva back to DC.

Warnings:

- NOT for Ziva's fans.

- NOT for Tiva fans.

- NOT for Gibbs' fans either, unless you decide there will be more chapters.

NB: Thank you so much to my BR USA123. Without your precious advices, this FF would never be posted. You're amazing! :)

"Choices & Consequences"

Two days ago, Gibbs, Tony and McGee had closed their last case. Yesterday Ziva had returned to the team and today it had been a very boring paperwork day.

Bullpen.

It was about 1900 and the team was still at their desks, reading and reviewing files and reports.

Gibbs was looking at his agents and wondering what they were thinking.

McGee was engrossed in his computer and typing very fast. I just hope he's not playing one of his stupid videogames!

Ziva looked relaxed and happy. They'd saved her from Saleem and brought her back to DC and to the only family that the Israeli woman still had. The pain that Eli David had caused his own daughter would always be with her but, after their last talk, Gibbs was sure that Ziva saw a bright and happy future in front of her.

''The closest thing I have to a father...''

Those seven words kept echoing in Gibbs' head. Ziva had told that to him after he had confronted her about Ari's death and her father's orders. The team leader had believed Ziva when she had told him that after killing Ari and saving his life, that she was not following Eli's orders.

I believed her, but why? Ziva had lied to us and betrayed us during Rivkin case. Tony was almost killed by her boyfriend, who was trying to frame her for terrorism on her father's orders. The Team Leader shook his head. She knew that Rivkin had killed the ICE agent, but she didn't do or say anything. Why?... Ziva knew that I and Tony had told Rivkin to leave our country... she knew! Why didn't she call Mossad to extract him? Even Hadar told her that she had screwed up and that Michael's death was her fault... and I...I took her back on the team.

Gibbs looked at Ziva. She raised her head and smiled at him.

Do I really trust her? Do I really believe her?

No! She didn't play me! She was sincere and really sorry for all that had happened.

Gibbs turned and looked at Tony, who was reading a report and making some corrections. Despite all that had happened just a few months ago, DiNozzo seemed fine with Ziva's return.

But you never know with Tony. He's not such a great undercover agent by fortune. He can put on any mask he wants and make it believable. I usually see behind those masks, but... I don't know... after... after... when?... Maybe my return from Mexico? Yes... after my return from Baja, I've some difficulties reading Tony... sometimes I really don't understand what he's thinking... maybe I should have kept an eye on him during the Rivkin mess... Eli said that Tony killed Michael out of jealousy, but that's not true. He killed Michael in self-defense and he was there just to help Ziva.

As if Tony had felt Gibbs looking at him, he raised his eyes and gave his boss a questioning look. Gibbs just shook his head and got back to his work. Tony did the same, oblivious of what was going through his boss' head.

Maybe I should have talked with Tony before taking Ziva back on the team... but he risked his life to save her so... I'm sure that Tony's fine... though...

Gibbs looked at Tony once again and he noticed how tired the younger man looked. The light from the lamp on his desk revealed all the lines of tension in Tony's face and the black bags under his eyes.

Gibbs knew his SFA was exhausted, but his tiredness looked more psychological than physical. Ever since their return from Israel, his gut had been telling him that Tony was hiding something.

Gibbs scowled, rethinking Eli's interrogation and his hands squeezing Tony's broken arm. Bastard!

But something happened since our return…Tony's distant and colder. He looks like the usual DiNozzo, but his eyes are not the same. After Ziva's return, I expected to see Tony in my basement for one of our talks... I thought he'd have wanted some explanations and... for once, I was ready to talk with him and explain why Ziva's here again despite all that had happened... but Tony didn't show up... something is not right.

Gibbs felt he needed to find out what had happened in Israel after the interrogation.

He saw a movement on the mezzanine and raised his eyes to find Director Leon Vance staring at all of them.

The two men shared a brief look before the Director broke the silence of the bullpen and said, ''Agent DiNozzo?''

Tony jumped slightly out of his chair. He looked at Gibbs for a second and then he turned to their superior. ''Yes, Director?'

''I need a minute,'' the older man said as he went back into his office.

The four agents in the bullpen exchanged worried and surprised looks as Tony left his desk and headed upstairs.

Gibbs saw his SFA, his friend and the closest thing he had to a son, disappearing into the hall that led to Vance's office and again had a strong feeling that something wasn't right.

Vance's Office.

"Agent DiNozzo, take a seat, please," Vance said as he gestured with his hand.

Tony sat down in front of the Director's desk while the other man sat in his own chair.

They stared each other for a few seconds then Vance said, "I'm going to ask you a question and I expect complete honesty from you, Agent DiNozzo."

"Yes, Sir."

"Are you sure you can work with Ziva?"

"Director?" Tony asked, taken aback by his superior's words.

"Do you trust her, Tony?"

"Don't I have to?" Tony grinned, though his smile didn't meet his eyes, but after a glare he answered, "She's one of my teammates and we've got to trust each other."

"I asked: do you trust her?" the Director repeated, exasperated.

Tony went completely silent and averted his eyes.

Vance sighed, rubbing his eyes with the tips of his fingers. "That's what I thought."

"Director, Ziva's part of the team and you approved that. I don't understand why you're asking me if I trust her."

"Because of this," Vance clicked the remote so Tony turned to look at the big screen on the wall.

After a few seconds, Ziva's assault in Israel appeared on the screen and their words filled the office.

They watched the video in silence and, after it was over, Vance said, "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't trust her anymore, Tony. But I don't understand why you didn't report her and, most importantly, why did you accept her back on the team?"

"Well... I had no choice," Tony sighed and slumped back on the chair.

"What do you mean?" Vance frowned.

"Gibbs didn't ask my opinion, so if I want to be part of the team I've got to..."

"Suck it up and move on," the Director finished for his Agent.

Tony just nodded.

Vance stood up, rounded his desk, sat on it in front of Tony. "'Ya know, I've never understood why Gibbs wanted her back on the team after what happened with Rivkin and..."

"And what, Director?"

"And after what I told him about Ari."

"Ari?" Tony chuckled. "Sorry Director, but you're rehashing old stories. Gibbs killed Ari, end of the story."

Vance stared at Tony for a few very long seconds then he stood up and headed towards the window behind his desk.

Tony frowned, trying to read the man's body language. It seemed that the Director was mentally debating something important and this uncertainty made Tony uneasy. "Sir, what's really going on? Why am I here? And why are you talking about Ziva and Ari?"

"Gibbs didn't kill Ari... Ziva did."

Vance's words had the effect of a bomb. Tony's green eyes went impossibly wide as his mouth opened but no sound came forth.

"Excuse me?" the MCRT SFA finally uttered.

Vance took a deep breath. "Her father ordered her to kill Ari and gain Gibbs' trust. She didn't believe him and came here to save Ari and help him to escape, but when Ari confessed to Gibbs that he was a terrorist and a Hamas' mole in Mossad, Ziva finally followed her father's orders. She killed the half-brother she was here to save and gained Gibbs' trust, just as Eli wanted."

Tony couldn't believe what his Director had just said, but his shock was clear on his pale face as he stood next to Vance at the window.

"Too bad she didn't arrive in DC before Ari killed Kate," Tony murmured looking at the Anacostia River that was flowing peacefully by.

Vance just stared Tony who then questioned, "Ziva was here before Ari killed Kate and she didn't do anything? She let him kill Kate?"

The Director shot Tony a look. "DiNozzo, do you really think I would have let her back on the team last year if I thought she'd allowed Ari to kill Kate?"

Despite Vance's tone, DiNozzo didn't back down, his angry glare demanding an answer.

Vance huffed out a sign at his agent's accusation then continued, "Before rehiring her, I checked and rechecked everything we knew about the circumstances of Agent Todd's death. Despite my efforts, I didn't find any evidence that Ziva let Ari kill her on purpose in order to sit at her desk."

This doesn't mean that she didn't do it. She's Mossad and knows how to get rid of evidence to save her a**. Tony thought, but kept his suspicions to himself.

He was just opening his mouth to say something diplomatic when his gut began to churn. "Does Gibbs know?" he asked, barely audible.

"He does. I told him when you came back from Tel Aviv."

"And he still took her back." Tony shook his head sadly, feeling more betrayed than he had when he'd found out Danny was a dirty cop.

Vance just nodded. "That's why I wanted to talk with you and find out if you still trust Ziva, because..." he got back to his desk and looked at some files on it, "We need to reorganize the field office in Pearl Harbor and I think you'd be the right man for the job. But within the next 14 months the team leader of Europe and Africa Field Office in Naples will retire. Over the last few years that office has become more and more strategic and I need one of my best agents there: I want you there, Agent DiNozzo."

"I accept," Tony said without any hesitation.

Not surprised by his Agent's reaction but worried Tony would regret it after shock and anger faded, Vance asked, "Don't you want to think about it?"

"No, sir," Tony shook his head resolutely. "I can't stay here and this job is a great opportunity for me."

"You can't stay here because of Ziva or there is more? I can transfer her if you..."

Tony shook his head again as he left the door and stopped in front of the Director's desk. "I could have tried to work with her again, but Gibbs," Tony lowered his eyes as he shook his head sadly. "He let the handler of Kate's assassin sit at her desk and he accepted Ziva back after he knew..."

DiNozzo took a deep breath then switched the subject before he lost control of his emotions. "Thanks for your trust, Director," he said, holding out his hand.

"You earned and deserve it, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo," the Director said as he shook Tony's hand.

They both softly smiled.

Bullpen.

Vance and Tony arrived in the bullpen and they were met by Gibbs, McGee and Ziva's questioning looks. Tony immediately went to his desk and started collecting his stuff.

"What are you doing, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked surprised.

Tony just looked at him for a brief moment and then got back to what he was doing.

"DiNozzo!" the Team Leader barked making McGee and Ziva jump on their chair, but getting no reaction from his SFA. "I asked you—"

"I've an announcement for all of you," Vance calmly interrupted Gibbs. "I'm going to make some changes to this team."

McGee looked at Gibbs and saw his boss get up and, in two strides, stand face-to-face with the Director.

Ziva was watching the entire scene with an amused smirk on her face. Vance's finally punishing Tony for what he did to me and Michael... he could have compromised USA and Israel's partnership with his jealousy for me. She was genuinely happy to be back in US and at NCIS, especially because Gibbs' team was the only family she had but, just like when she assaulted Tony in Israel, Ziva still blamed DiNozzo for her lover's death and that anger was still in her heart.

"We need to talk in private, Leon," Gibbs hissed, barely hiding his anger.

"No need," Vance replied with his best poker-face. "I've already made my mind. Nothing you say or do is going to change it."

Gibbs glared at Vance and then looked at Tony who didn't look upset or angry; DiNozzo was just deadly serious and his eyes were pure ice.

"Agent McGee, you've just been promoted to SFA. A new agent will be assigned your old position in the chain of command," the Director announced.

Tony softly smiled at McGee's reaction. The new MCRT SFA kept looking at Vance, then Gibbs, then Tony, his jaw hanging slightly open with shock. "Congrats Tim! You deserve it," Tony told him sincerely.

"Where are you going Tony?" McGee finally managed to ask.

Before Tony could answer, Vance continued, "He's been tasked with reorganizing the Pearl Harbor office and," he looked at Tony with a proud smile, "if Special Agent DiNozzo will agree, in 14 months, he'll will transfer to Italy and become the Team Leader of Europe and Africa Field Office in Naples."

"Wow, Tony," McGee replied, knowing how important that field office was for US strategies. "That's an amazing opportunity! They're lucky to have you."

Ziva, who had thought that Tony finally being punished for killing Michael out of jealousy, was shocked and speechless. "I don't understand," she managed to get out.

"There's nothing for you to understand, Agent David. Agent DiNozzo is being promoted for his hard work over the last nine years."

"Thank you, Director," Tony was quick to say, unaccustomed to all the compliments thrown his way in the last ten minutes.

"No, Tony. You're a Team Leader now so... it's Leon," he grinned.

"Thanks si—Leon," Tony grinned back as they shook hands.

"Good luck. I'm sure you'll do a da*n good job."

"I'll do my best, Leon," Tony resolutely vowed.

"As you've always done," Vance nodded as he let Tony's hand go and left the bullpen.

Tony holstered his gun, picked up his backpack and a box with his belongings. He took a deep breath and smiled, the expression a bit forced. "Okay. I guess this is the right moment to say goodbye."

McGee quickly walked over to his desk. "I really am happy for you Tony. I'm just sorry to see you go."

"You wanted this desk the day you arrived, McGee," Tony teased.

"Tony, I—"

"No, problem. Just be on the lookout for Gibbs' head slaps now that I won't be here to take them for you."

"Good luck, Tony and..." they shook hands. "It's been an honor working with you."

Tony just nodded.

Then he raised his eyes, looked straight at Gibbs and nodded again before heading towards the elevator.

As he passed next to Ziva's desk, she opened her mouth to say something but Tony just shook his head and kept walking.

The ding of the elevator doors finally snapped Gibbs out of his shock. The Team Leader quickly walked to the elevator just in time to stop the doors that were closing behind DiNozzo. "Tony, this assignment won't last long. I'll get you back ASAP," he hurried to reassure his now former SFA, thinking this was another situation like the mole hunt when Tony was sent to US Seahawk and then US Reagan as Agent Afloat.

But Tony surprised him once again by shaking his head and saying, "Don't, Gibbs. I voluntarily accepted his assignment."

"You what?!" Gibbs' bark echoed in the bullpen and startled all people who were trying to get back to their jobs. "Why? This is your job, your home... your family."

"Is it?" Tony raised his eyebrows. He shook his head and added, "I don't think so. This was a team and a family. Not anymore."

"What the h*ll are you talking about?!"

"Family members respect and protect each other. They do not lie and betray and..." DiNozzo swallowed hard. "They respect their dead."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Gibbs' anger was loud and clear in his words.

"Think about it, boss...Gibbs. Please, tell Abby, Ducky and Jimmy that I'll call them later. Thank you and... thanks for everything, Gibbs." With these words Tony pushed the button to the parking lot and the elevator left the third floor of NCIS building.

"This talk doesn't end here," Gibbs whispered through clenched teeth as he walked towards the stairs. I need coffee.

"They respect their dead."

These words kept echoing in Gibbs' mind on the way to the cafeteria and back to the bullpen.

"It doesn't end here, Tony...I'll get you back," the MCRT Leader promised himself without any regard of the fact that his SFA has voluntarily accepted the assignment in Pearl Harbor.

Tony's apartment.

When Gibbs arrived at Tony's apartment, it was about 2100.

Tony'd just come out of the shower when he heard someone knocking on the door, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed to the door.

''Gibbs,'' he said as he opened his door and saw the man in front of him.

''You don't look surprised, DiNozzo,'' Gibbs confidently said as he made his way into the apartment, stopping in front of Tony's luggage next to the door. ''In a hurry?'' he asked as he turned to face Tony.

''My flight is tomorrow at 0600,'' Tony informed him, closing the door.

''I told you you're not going anywhere,'' Gibbs said, raising his voice.

Tony half-grinned as he shook his head. ''You're no longer my boss, Gibbs,'' he calmly said as he headed to his bedroom and closed the door in Gibbs' face.

Gibbs was shocked by Tony's behavior and calmness. He thought that Tony'd have been upset of being sent away from his team.

In the bedroom, Tony change into his boxers briefs, a pair of faded blue jeans and an OSU t-shirt. Then, he took a deep breath and left the room ready to face Gibbs.

''Do you want a beer?'' Tony asked as he walked into the living room.

''No. I want an explanation for...for all of this!" Gibbs raised his voice as he widened his arms to indicate Tony's luggage.

Tony went to the kitchen, took a beer out of the refrigerator and came back to the living room. He slowly took a gulp of his cool beverage and then, with maddening calm, he answered, ''It's simple. Vance gave me an important assignment and I accepted the promotion," he replied as he sat down on the couch.

''Why?'' Gibbs asked on the verge of head-slapping him to get a straight answer.

''Why what? Why Vance promoted me? Or why I accepted it?''

''Why did you accept?'' Gibbs asked as he sat down next to Tony.

''Do you think I'm not ready? Do you think I'm not competent enough for this job?" Tony asked, looking straight into Gibbs' eyes and seeing confusion and sadness.

''You're more than ready, DiNozzo. You..." Gibbs swallowed hard because he was not used to complimenting his subordinates, then continued, "You're the best agent I've ever worked with and I trust you more than anyone else." He lowered his eyes as he intertwined his fingers and rested his elbows on his knees. "I don't understand why you want to leave."

Tony shook his head and stood up. Feeling the need to put some space between him and the man he had seen as a role model for years, he sat on the piano bench in front of Gibbs. ''Because... because I can't... I don't want to work with you anymore,'' Tony whispered but his voice sounded like the explosion of a bomb.

''You don't..." Gibbs was speechless. This was the last thing he thought he'd ever hear from Tony. "Me or the entire team?'' Gibbs' question was barely audible.

''You,'' Tony whispered as a lump closed his throat. He tried to swallow it with a gulp of beer but with no avail.

''Why?'' Gibbs was completely in shock now. His ego couldn't believe that any Agent—especially Tony—didn't want to work with him.

''You don't get it, don't you?'' Tony asked and Gibbs shook his head.

Tony stood up and went to the window. "Gibbs..."

''In the elevator you said that a team and family's members protect each other. They do not betray and lie... so it's about Ziva? I thought you forgave her. You accepted her back on the team.''

''You took her back on the team," Tony turned to him and didn't try to hide his disappointment and anger. "You never asked my opinion even though you knew how our last case had turned out," he swallowed hard, "how I killed Rivkin. We were a team, but now I'm...well I am your SFA only when it suits you.''

''So you feel bypassed? Is it just this? You're leaving the team that has been your home and your family for more than 8 years because you think I don't respect your authority?'' Gibbs asked, derision clear in his voice.

''Gibbs, do you really think this is the reason behind my decision?" Tony sneered, as he raised one of his eyebrows.

''No,'' Gibbs shook his head as he stood up as well and stood by Tony at the window.

''In the elevator, I said something else,'' Tony said, drinking some more beer. ''I told you that a family respects its dead.''

''Yes. So you think I didn't respect...''

''Kate,'' Tony firmly said as he locked eyes with Gibbs.

''Don't you dare! I respected Kate and I—'' Gibbs barked in Tony's face.

''No, you didn't!'' Tony shouted back.

''What?!" Gibbs raised his voice even more.

Now they were face-to-face, fighting a battle of fiery stares.

''You let her assassin's accomplice sit at her desk and take her place!" Tony was furious: Gibbs has never seen him so angry.

''Jenny forced Ziva on the team!"

''I'm not talking about the first time, even though that didn't make any sense. I'm talking about now," Tony explained as he took a deep breath in the lame attempt to calm down a bit.

''You're the one who brought her back from Somalia,'' Gibbs fired back angrily.

''First of all, I planned that mission because I wanted to stop a terrorist cell before someone else died. Second, once we found out she was alive, what do you think I should do? Leave her there? I'm not a monster Gibbs.''

''You told her you couldn't live without her. I've heard you on the mic,'' Gibbs said, sure to hit Tony under the belt.

''I'd have said the same thing about anyone of you... even Vance,'' Tony chuckled self-deprecatingly. ''And... she'd just told me that she'd preferred anyone else. It didn't mean anything.''

''So I shouldn't have accepted her back on the team?'' Gibbs asked. His question sounded more like he was challenging the younger man to question his authority, but Tony surprised him with a firm nod. ''Why?''

''I was ready to forget... no, not forget, I was ready to move on after what happened in May during Rivkin case and in Israel, but I can't work with...you, after what Vance told me.''

''What did he tell you?'' Gibbs asked silently cursing his Director.

''Ziva was in US before Ari killed Kate."

"Yes," Gibbs nodded.

"Yes? 'Ya mean, you knew she was here before she came to NCIS HQ and started lying to all of us?" Tony was shocked.

Gibbs rolled his eyes, da*ning himself for that slip. "When Ziva was framed by Eschel and asked my help, we went to a Mossad safe house. I asked her why Eschel should know about that house and she said that he was part of Ari's extraction team and that she had prepared that house for Ari for that mission."

"That means she was in US days before she showed up at our HQ." Tony shook his head. "D*mmit Gibbs. She knew Ari was out of control! She knew Ari knew everything about us! She even gave him a file about all members of our team for Christ's sake!''

''So?"

''So?" Tony raised his eyebrows astonished by his former boss' blindness. "She could have stopped Ari before he killed Kate.'' Gibbs opened his mouth, but Tony stopped him. "Don't tell me that you hadn't thought about that too.'' He stared hard at his former boss.

Tony was like a river in flood now. ''If I hadn't seen the bomb in the car, McGee and Kate would have died that day. If I hadn't been as fast as I was, I'd have died in the car explosion. If Ari's accomplice hadn't missed the target, McGee'd have died on the pier. If...'' Tony stopped just a second to take a breath. ''If Kate hadn't taken the bullet for you, you'd have died on the da*n roof. If Ari weren't so cruel, he would have killed you, me and Kate without a second thought...we're lucky he was so sick that decided to make you suffer by killing just Kate,'' he bitterly smiled.

''Tony, I—"

''All of this happened because Ziva lied to our faces while she tried to help her brother escape.''

''She killed Ari in my basement and saved my life.'' Gibbs tried to justify himself more than her.

''This is what you thought three years ago when you didn't know about Eli's orders, but now?" Tony replied and without waiting for an answer from a very upset Gibbs, he added, "When we came back from Israel, Vance told you everything and you still brought her back on the team. It doesn't make any sense and it offends Kate's memory.''

''She was not following her father's orders when she killed Ari.''

''Who told you that? Ziva?" Tony looked at Gibbs in disbelief as he wondered how was possible that such a great investigator was so dumb too. ''Wake up, Gibbs! What did you expect her to say? She manipulated you,'' Tony chuckled.

''It's not so easy to manipulate me, DiNozzo,'' Gibbs growled as he stared at Tony angrily.

''No? What did she tell you? Let me think..." Tony started rubbing his chin as he left the window and started pacing his living room. "We were the only family she has?'' he looked at Gibbs. ''Nah! Too generic," he wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "She's alone in the world?" he looked at Gibbs again. "Maybe, but not enough personal... mmmmm... and her father is dead to her?'' Again he looked at Gibbs. ''No? Just part of it?''

Gibbs averted his eyes and Tony said, ''There must be more than this... mmmmm... what she could have told you?'' Tony studied his former boss and after a few seconds he snapped his fingers, ''I get it! You're the only daddy that I have,'' he pretended to cry. ''Nah! It's not possible. You would never let her ma—" he tilted his head as he observed Gibbs' posture. ''You did... you let her manipulate you like that?!"

''I didn't! She didn't manipulate me!"

''She used your pain from your daughter's death to play you!''

"Don't you dare talk about Kelly!" Gibbs roared.

Tony blinked. ''That was too far, sorry," he conceded. But it what she did, Tony thought. "But answer this: are you sure that she didn't let Ari kill Kate so she could take her place in our team and gain your trust as Eli ordered her?''

"No, I wasn't," Gibbs admitted.

Tony looked at him in betrayal, ready to walk away but Gibbs held up his hand.

"But I checked into it. Went over every piece of evidence I could find. Her story checks out." He scrubbed his hand over his face. "God, DiNozzo, do you really think I'd let her on the team if I thought any of you would be at risk?"

DiNozzo shrugged. "I guess I don't know anymore," he said as he walked away from his former boss.

''So you're leaving us because of her?'' Gibbs asked, deadly serious.

''No, because of you," Tony turned and pointed at Gibbs with his index. "You let all of this mess happen and you did nothing. It's not about Ziva, Eli David, Rivkin, me or my career. It's about you. You should have told me the truth about Ziva and Ari, and after we saved her, you shouldn't have taken her back on the team... or at least you should have talked to me after what happened back in May.''

''I can fire her if it stops you from leaving,'' Gibbs said hopefully, but saw Tony shaking his head.

''No. I don't even remember how much cr*p I've tolerated in my life, but there was one thing that I've always trusted and believed in,'' Tony seriously said.

''What?''

''You. You were my mentor, my best friend, my boss... my role model... but now... I don't know you anymore and it scares me.'' Tony shook his head. ''You know that, despite what people think, I don't care so much about myself.''

Gibbs acknowledged the statement with a nod. ''That's a thing that I've always admired and feared in you: your absolute lack of concern for your own safety."

''I told you that I could move on after what happened in Israel, but I can't move on from your lack of trust in me and your absolute lack of respect for Kate. I'll always thank you for all of these fantastic years in your team and for all you taught me. You helped me to become the man that I wanted to be. You gave me a place to stay, a family. You gave me back the confidence that I had lost after Danny's betrayal, but...'' Tony swallowed the lump in his throat. ''But now the disappointment and the fear of not being able to trust you is too great. In our job we need to know our partner better than ourselves and trust among team members is imperative, but right now I can't say I trust you. Sorry," Tony took a deep breath. "I need to go, Gibbs.''

Tony looked Gibbs in his eyes and saw just pain and defeat staring back at him.

The older man nodded and headed to the door.

Gibbs opened the door and before leaving the apartment he only said, ''I've always trusted you,'' Gibbs said looking straight into Tony's eyes, his heart aching when he read doubts in the green orbs.

"Thanks for everything, Gibbs," Tony said, more out of courtesy than for sincere gratitude.

The disappointment and anger were still too deep and fresh, to make both men think clearly and remember all the positive things that there had been between them through the years.

Tony stayed on the threshold, watching at the man he had admired the most in his life slowly walk to the elevator with his shoulders hunched as if he was carrying the weight of the world.

Suddenly Gibbs stopped and turned. ''What did you mean with 'what happened in Israel'? Is it about Eli's interrogation?'' Tony shook his head still too upset to talk. ''So what?'' Gibbs insisted.

Tony cleared his throat. ''Ask Ziva... No, ask Vance. She could lie to you to save her worthless a**.'' He gave his former boss a sad smile and shut the door, leaving Gibbs standing there, staring open-mouthed at the closed wood paneling.

Now it's up to you.

The End or To Be Continued?

Let me know, please :D