Title: Remembering to Trust
Author: CruorLuna (Alison)
Rating: K+
Characters: Tony, Gibbs, Jenny
Pairings: Jibbs, Tony/Gibbs father/son(ish), Jenny/Tony friendship
Spoilers: Up to the beginning of season five, subtle hints towards later season five though.
Summary: Set about two weeks after 'Bury Your Dead.' Gibbs decides it's time to have a talk with his Senior Special Agent, but maybe Tony isn't the only one with a lesson or two still to learn.

A/N: Final chapter of the exceedingly random fic that prevented me from studying today. Bad Alison! Oh well – it's done now! Hope you enjoyed it :)

"Agent DiNozzo," Jenny called from the catwalk. Tony looked up to where she and Gibbs stood side by side, leaning on the railings outside MTAC. "A word, please." He got to his feet quickly, deliberately pretending not to notice the looks both Ziva and McGee were aiming at Jenny right now. Around halfway up the stairs he passed Gibbs on his way down, and the older man grabbed his arm to stop him for a moment.

"I teach you that attitude, DiNozzo?" he asked with the ghost of a smile on his lips. Tony knew he was referring to their earlier conversation, and responded with a shrug.

"Guess it was about time something rubbed off, boss." Gibbs nodded.

"Not bad," was all he said, but it was enough to put a grin on Tony's face; a grin that was still firmly in place as he reached the landing and approached Jenny's side. He schooled his features into a more neutral expression before speaking.

"You wanted to see me, ma'am?" Jenny eyed him for a moment before letting out a sigh and turning her back on the bullpen, leaning backwards on the railings, and looking sideways across at him.

"You know very well by now how Jethro feels about apologies."

"He thinks they're a sign of weakness," Tony answered, and she nodded.

"He does. I happen to disagree. I think apologising is only weak when you've done nothing you feel sorry about doing. But what I put you through was selfish, and it was wrong of me. I'm sorry, Tony."

"I know you are," he said, leaning alongside her and crossing his arms over his chest with a sigh. "And I don't think you should have used Jeanne to get to her father. But I should never have agreed to be a part of it, and I should have known when to take a step back and say I could not longer be objective. That one's on me."

"As your Director – as your friend – I should have been more aware of what you were going through," Jenny countered. "I should have been there to help you know when to make that call. You're not used to intense, long-term undercover work, and I forgot that. Sometimes, Tony, it's hard to remember that even you still need help occasionally."

"What do you mean?" he asked confusedly. She smiled softly.

"McGee is the Probie of your team. He's smart and he's loyal and he's great at his job, but he still looks to Jethro – and you – for guidance. He still doubts himself sometimes. And Ziva's intimidating and well-trained, but as an assassin. She's still learning the finer points of investigation, and in the back of her mind will always be her Mossad training. Her instincts will never quite correspond to our protocols. But you, Tony, you're … you're different. You've been in law enforcement for a long time, and you've thrived at NCIS. Your gut instinct is up there with Gibbs', and you're confident in your ability to do your own job. And so you should be."

"Director, there's really no need for –"

But you're not infallible," Jenny finished firmly. "You're damn good, Tony – one of the best agents in this building – and makes it easy to forget that you're still on a learning curve, just like everyone else. I'm afraid I lost sight of that during this mission, and for that I am truly, truly sorry."

"Thank you," Tony said quietly, flushing slightly at the praise. "I didn't know you thought so highly of me, Director."

"René Benoît killed my father, Tony," she said flatly. "I never would have entrusted this mission to you if I didn't think you were a great agent. And I know he doesn't say it, but I hope you know that Jethro agrees with me one hundred percent."

"See, now you're overdoing it," Tony quipped, only half joking.

"Tony," Jenny said softly, and he sighed.

"Gibbs doesn't think that highly of anybody," he said.

"You're giving him less credit than you give yourself," she replied. "I've known Jethro for ten years, and I usually know what he's thinking. I've seen the way he treats people relative to how he feels about them, and he really does trust you. He even listens to your advice, which is an impressive accomplishment in and of itself."

"You think I'm nuts enough to offer the boss advice?" scoffed Tony. "Today was the first time in months we've even had a real conversation, and I –" He stopped mid-sentence as he remembered what he had said to Gibbs, and he glanced sideways at Jenny, taking in her relaxed posture; her flushed cheeks; her faint smile. He grinned. "Oh."

"Thank you, Tony," Jenny said sincerely. "I don't deserve Jethro's forgiveness, never mind yours, and I know that I most certainly wouldn't have his if it weren't for you. You didn't have to stand up for me, and yet you did it anyway. You're a good man."

"So is he," Tony responded, turning and glancing down at his boss. She followed his gaze and smiled fondly, and he caught her eye. "Gibbs taught me that making mistakes is what makes us human, and that you need to let people pull you back onto your feet every now and again. I figure I'd be letting him down if I couldn't apply that to you, and I don't ever want to do that. We're all lucky that he cares enough to offer us that hand when we need it."

"We are," she agreed softly. Tony grinned.

"He's lucky to have you, too," he said a little gruffly, and Jenny smiled broadly.

"That mean you approve?"

"Only if you name the first Gibblet after me." Jenny snorted in response. "Is that a 'no'?"

The only response was a loud THWACK that drew Gibbs' gaze towards the balcony. Tony was rubbing the back of his head, trying to hide his smirk, and Jenny was laughing aloud. Tony caught his eye for a moment and grinned sheepishly, before turning back to Jenny and shrugging.

"You have to admit, it's better than Leroy Jethro Junior."

A/N: And that's it! Three very short, very random parts that I just felt the need to get on paper, and that I hope you enjoyed. And now I'm going back to writing GTKY before I get eaten alive.

Alison xx