NOT MINE, JUST TAKING THEM OUT TO PLAY...ENJOY.

Down in autopsy, Ducky and Palmer were just putting away their most

recent guest as Gibbs steps into the room.

"Ah, Jethro. What may we do for you this fine hour?" Ducky asks.

"Palmer, can ya give me and Duck and moment to speak in private?"
Gibbs asks Palmer quietly.

"Certainly Agent Gibbs. I'll go take these tissue samples to Abby."

He gives them a tentative smile before picking up the 3 jars and makes

his way to the door.

"Palmer, once you go there, take Abbs upstairs and wait for us in the

bullpen, okay?" Gibbs asks.

"Sure thing, Agent Gibbs. I'll do that." Palmer replies before entering

the elevator.

Gibbs smiles and turns to Ducky. Ducky sees the smile and wonders

just what has transpired since early this morning.

"Jethro, what's going on? You were being, shall I say it? Kind to the

poor boy. I don't think he will know how to take it." Gibbs laughs at

this.

"Well Duck. He's been here long enough to know that my bark can be

much worse than my bite. But he's part of the team and he deserves

respect, even from me on occasion." Gibbs shakes his head. "However,

this is about Tony and Tim."

"Now I really am intrigued. So what have our boys done this time?" Ducky

asks humor evident in his voice.

"It's not what they've done Duck. It's what they aren't doing that has me

worried. How can I make them see that I don't give a damn about rule 12

anymore?" Gibbs asks as he looks into Ducky's eyes.

Ducky studies his friend a moment before sighing. He knew this was coming.

He wasn't blind to the looks that the two younger agents gave each other when

they thought no one was looking. How was he suppose to help those boys when

he wasn't sure how to. He moves over to his desk and settles down pulling over

a seat for Gibbs to take. Once they are both settled Ducky speaks.

"Maybe telling them both at the same time and then head slap them might work."
Ducky said amusement in his eyes.

"Yeah, that's really worked so far. Head slaps seems to not work nearly as well as

they use to." Gibbs smiles and shakes his head. "Ducky, are you free right now to

come up and have lunch with the rest of us. There has been a... development with

this issues between Ziva and Tony. Somehow, and I'm not sure how, Tim has gotten

her to talk. Now she's wanting to talk with the rest of us. So I am going to get every

body up to a converence room for lunch and get it out in the open and work on a

plan."

"Spendid, and yes I and Mr. Palmer are free to eat with the rest of you."

They both stand and as Ducky grabs his suit coat they move towards the elevator

to get to the third floor where the rest were meeting them.

***break***

Ziva and Tim return about half an hour later with several take out bags from the

chineese restaurant just off the naval base. As they ride up to the 3rd floor Ziva

grows nervous. Tim sees this and takes her bags and sets them down on the floor

beside the two bags he was carrying, hits the emergency button on the panel, and

takes Ziva into his arms. At first Ziva struggles to get away but soon relaxes into

his arms and begins to cry. Tim holds her speaking softly to her until she calms

down and pulls away from Tim to dry her tears and smile shyly.

"Better now?" Tim asks softly.

"Yes. I am fine McGee. Thank you for helping me." Ziva replies as she starts up

the elevator that soon opens to the ring floor.

The both pick up the bags and step out going to where everyone was waiting

for them. Gibbs smiles at Ziva and takes the bags and tilts his head indicating that

they all should follow him.

"Seems the lunch is heading to a converence room. Let's follow along my dears."
Ducky says as he too heads in that direction. The rest of them follow behind like

a row full of Ducklings.

Inside the room Gibbs has already set out 7 plates and napkins. He sets out 7

bottles of water and starts serving up food from the containers he has with him.

Tim joins him and also helps serving up lunch and everyone settles in to eat. Not

much was said for about 20 minutes as everyone concentrated on their meal. Gibbs

looks around seeing how everyone sat down. Ziva on one end near Ducky and Tim

Tony up on his end between Abby and Palmer. Gibbs sighs and decides now is a

good time to start.

"I decided we needed a team meeting today. There are several issues that are really

beginning to affect our work atmosphere and today it ends. First things first. Rule

12 is off the books. I will work to modify it but as of right now, it's gone. All I ask

is that you keep your relationships out of the pullpen and field." He says as he looks

first at Tony then and Tim.

Tony looks up at Tim his eyes bugging out as Tim also looks at Tony a look of

sadness crosses his eyes knowing that look and wishing it wasn't there. But he

smiles at Tony and winks before going back to eating on his meal. Gibbs just

chuckles then looks down the table at Ziva, who has been just picking at her food

for the most part.

"Ziva, Tim gave me a call while you two were out. Care to share what you shared

with Tim?" Gibbs asks gently.

"I...I don't know." Ziva mumbles as she sets her chopsticks down and stares at the

table.

"Ziva, you can. Nobody here is going to judge you. We want to help you." Ducky

says softly as he pats her hand gently.

Ziva lifts her face to look first at Ducky then down the table to look into Tony's eyes.

Suddenly she just couldn't keep it in and the story flowed from her almost as fast as

the tears slipping down her face. She never once took her eyes off Tony as she told

her story. She also told them how the Director Shepard was her father's eyes and ears

while she was here and was forced to actually live with her because of it. She was

afraid of what will happen to her if she told and now knew that they had her back.

As she got to the end of story she stood and walked over to where Tony is sitting

and turns his chair around and kneels before him and takes his hands in hers. She

looks up into his eyes and speaks from her heart.

"Tony, I am so sorry for all that I have done to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you

at all. You are like an older brother to me. Much more of a brother then Ari ever was.

I hate myself for what I have been doing and I know I don't deserve it, but I pray

that one day you will forgive me. I miss you, my dear friend and I want to be a

part of this 'family' we have here. And as long as you hate me, I'll never truly be

a part of it." She declares to him with all the sincerity she in her heart.

Tony stares down at her for a long time just studying her face for the truth. Just

as Ziva thought he wasn't going to say or do anything, he pulls his hands from hers

but instead of pulling away as Ziva thought but he gently takes her face into his

hands and gently wipes the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Zee-vah...my sweet little sister. I knew something was wrong, but you wouldn't

talk to us so I just stepped back. I don't hate you. I never hated you. I was sad and

hurt that you would treat me that way. I was confused by how you were acting.

But now we know. I know. We'll protect you and stop your father." Tony says before

pulling Ziva into his arms and holds her while she cries.

"I am so sorry, Tony. I never wanted it. I never understood why he is doing this. I

just wanted to be a part of a family. Never wanted this."

"Shhh...it's okay. Just calm yourself my sister. We will fix this." Tony says as he

looks around at the rest of the team. They were all smiling and nodding letting him

know that they were behind them on this. He smiles at them before bending his

head kissing the top of her head softly.

Gibbs stands and waves them all out. They quickly gathered up the last of the food

containers and bagged it all before heading out. Gibbs steps over to Ziva and Tony

and gently kisses her head and head slaps Tony softly.

"Attah Boy. You did good." He says softly before he too left the room. Now that

Ziva's issues were being worked on, it was time to get Tim and Tony to get their

shit together and maybe they'd all be happy.