Prologue

"Special Agent Gibbs, my office, now!"

It seemed the agents in the bullpen collectively ducked their heads as the director bellowed out her orders from the catwalk, her green eyes glittering dangerously. Jenny Shepard had only been appointed Director of NCIS a few weeks ago but her fights with Gibbs had already earned a certain reputation around the Navy Yard. To outsiders they seemed almost violent whereas Ziva and Ducky – knowing more than the rest of them, according to Tony – eyed them in a curious mixture of interest, sadness, and a hint of concern.

Gibbs got out of his chair provocatively slowly but took the stairs two at a time as soon as the redhead had turned around and stormed back to her office.

"What the hell do you think you're doing," she hissed as he slammed the door behind him. "I know you think this is Paris take two and you can still do what you want and I am never going to say anything – but so help me God, Jethro, it isn't!"

"Yes, Jen?" he asked sarcastically, walking around her desk and invading her personal space, basically making her crane her neck to be able to look him in the eyes.

"Yes, Jethro," she confirmed, refusing to be intimidated. "I don't know how many times I told you not to take it too far but you just ignore every single one of my orders!" she continued, her voice getting progressively louder. "There is yet another suspect complaining about how you treated him during your investigation, he claims you deliberately injured him by pushing him into a car to get him to confess."

"Jeez, Jen, he was guilty! He attempted to murder two of his fellow Marines and I got him to talk. The evidence in his house would've been enough to convict him anyways, it wasn't even as if I'd needed his confession," he gave back, seemingly uncaring.

"This is besides the point and you know it! The integrity of this whole agency depends on the standard each and every agent holds themselves to and you just stomp over it all, not caring about how that makes us look!" Jenny stabbed an accusing finger in his direction, her face flushed with rage.

"You mean when the press actually takes long enough to care what NCIS stands for?" he snorted. "You were a perfectly fine agent, Jen, I don't know why you gave that up for the pure politics that is the director's job!"

"Don't try to make this about me, Special Agent Gibbs," she took a step back, inviting their formal titles into the argument. "You went too far and you're not even willing to admit it. I managed to smooth this one over – barely – but I am not sure what will happen next time."

Gibbs looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Are you threatening to take my badge, Director? That would hurt you more than me – or this precious agency you are so worried about," he added sarcastically. "What happened to rule one, 'Never screw over your partner', Jen?"

"You're not my partner anymore, Agent Gibbs, I am your boss. And that is exactly why you will back down and follow my orders!"

"I am not sure if I was ever your partner at all. Maybe I was just someone in your way to the director's chair, someone you could throw to the curbs again as soon as you were done with them!" he bit back, intentionally trying to hurt her.

He saw her eyes gloss over with raw emotions and knew that it had worked, only now he wasn't sure if it had been such a good idea anymore. Leaving out the fact that she was now more hostile than ever, he could make out the distinct glimmer of vulnerability in her dark green orbs and knew he had gone too far –again.

"Jen," he began, trying to take at least some of the sting out of his earlier words.

"I believe we are quite done here, Special Agent Gibbs," she said, her words as icy as her eyes. "I don't think there is anything more left to say, you can go back to the bullpen now. Please make sure to pass my orders on to your team," she finished with practiced monotony as she sat down in her chair, pulling a file from one of the piles over to her.

"Jen, I know that –"

"Is there anything else you need, Special Agent Gibbs?" she asked, not lifting her eyes from the paper.

He shook his head. "No, Director," he answered with clenched teeth and turned around.

She felt hollower than ever as she heard the door slamm into its lock in his wake.

This is going to be my first English multi-chapter story in a long time :) Please tell me what you think!