<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Gibbs lowered his gun when David did, holstering it and shifting his jacket back to its usual concealing position.  The hell of it was... he wanted to trust her.  Her body language screamed of genuine emotional pain, and though he couldn't detect it in her voice -- and that was damned impressive -- he could see it, deep in her eyes.  Reminded him, in a strange way, of his own method of dealing with grief.  (Which is, he admitted wryly, to NOT deal with it.)<br/>
<br/>
"Not just about me?" Gibbs repeated.  "How did he think I was like Eli David?"  The idea was repugnant -- he'd never considered himself to have anything in common with the Director of Mossad.  Slowly, he placed himself between David and Ari's body.  No matter how she felt about him, she didn't need to keep staring at his body... it wouldn't change anything.<br/>
<br/>
(Later, he would wonder if that was the first time he admitted to himself that she might be human.)<br/>
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He waited until she'd finished on the phone.  "You wouldn't just be banned from Israel, would you?" he asked quietly.  "Your life is in danger, for what you've done tonight.  For saving me, instead of following orders."  Gibbs paused.  "If you know my history, you know I can't let that happen -- can't let you be hurt for protecting me."</span></span>