Ziva waited while the others left, when the briefing was over. And when Jenny said her name, she realized that the other woman wanted her to stay back. "What can I do for you, Director?" She asked, with the deserved respect for her boss in her voice.  When the redhead apologized she said, "Thank you for your apology to me. You should also apologize to Tony. He has been loyal to both you and Gibbs and he has been juggling playing both sides longer." She gave Jenny a tentative smile back, unsure of where their friendship went from there.<br/><br/>"I was happy to save your life, Jenny. I just do not understand why you would waste your life playing games. You didn't ask for my opinion, but I'm going to give it to you anyway. You should put your cards on the table with Gibbs. Be honest. With yourself, and with him, and maybe things won't be as bad as they have gotten anymore." She paused for a moment and then looked at her friend. "Can I give you a bit of advice to think about? You're angry with Gibbs and you feel betrayed by him, because his hid the loss of his family."<br/><br/>"It wasn't about you. I know I don't know Gibbs as well as you do, but I've been working with him for a while, and it's rare that he talks about Shannon and Kelly. So, I hope you won't be too angry with him about it. I think.. for Gibbs.. the only way he can cope with losing his family, is to not talk about them. It's nothing you've done. It's just that some people handle grief by not talking about it. I am the same way when it comes to my mother and my sister, Tali. I do not talk about them, because it hurts too much."<br/><br/>"Perhaps it's the same for Gibbs. Anyway, I've said my part, and I should get out of your way, and get back to doing my job. Let me know if you need anything," She said and exited the room silently and returned to the bullpen. When Ziva returned to the bullpen and heard Tony's question and simply shrugged. "I wanted to talk to the Director about something, that's all." She said, not wanting to put him in the middle of any more hurt, drama, or pain. "It's taken care of, so there's nothing to worry about. We should just focus on getting our work done."<br/><br/>__________________<br/><br/>Gibbs got up from his desk shortly after Ziva returned, and he walked up the stairs, went into the Director's office and closed the door behind him. "Whatever issues we have with each other, I think the least we can agree on, is to not to take it out on my team anymore, right? I've never had a problem with telling you when you did or said something I disagree with, Jenny. And you've never had a problem putting me in my place when you thought I needed it. But.. this has gone too far, for both of us."<br/><br/>"I hate being lied to. And I'm not gonna sit here and try and justify why I withheld my past from you. My past is in my file. If you wanted to know so badly, you have the upper hand as Director and you can access it anytime you want. As for me not telling you... I don't talk about my girl's. I rarely have since losing them. You might not like that I kept it from you, but it's not something I like talking about. They're dead, and they're not coming back. I can't do a damn thing about it."<br/><br/>"We both know that I took care of the guy who killed them. It won't bring them back. And talking doesn't help me. It might help others, but all it does is remind me of what I lost. So if you're pissed that I kept the fact that I had a family, from you, then fine. But it's my choice whether or not I talk about them, and I choose not to. You never talk about you father, and I don't talk about my girl's. And there are some lines that you just can't cross. Even I have them. There's a reason why rules, 12 (Never date a coworker,) 14 (Bend the line, don't break it) and 1 (Never screw (over) your partner) exist."<br/><br/>"I learned the hard way that even friends or partners could become enemies."  He paused for a moment and then said, "I don't always agree with how you do things, Jenny. I'm not saying that I'm never going to buck your orders again, because we both damn well know better. But all I can promise is to do better for my team, and to try and be less of an asshole. I can't say that I won't fail. I will. A lot. But I'm trying to do better. I think I at least deserve credit for that. When I lost my girls.."<br/><br/>"When I lost... you... I wanted to burn the entire world to ashes. And you know what? Sometimes I still feel that way. But then we get a case, and we're able to protect some little girl and her parents, or I look at my team and see DiNozzo getting the life hugged out of him by Abby, or Ziva and McGee teasing each other playfully, and it makes the world a little less crappy. I am who I am, Jenny. I've been this way for a long time. You can either accept it, or fire me. I try to do better."<br/><br/>"But some days I just don't think it's worth it. But as long as we can still do our job, that's all you should be concerned with." After he spoke, Gibbs turned around and walked out of Jenny's office and went back to the bullpen, where he dropped down into his desk and started going through files.