[NCIS Fic] Arguments and Problems (Jenny/Hollis, Ziva)

[jaina47]

Title: Arguments and Problems
Characters: Jenny/Hollis, Ziva
Category: Romance,
Genre: Slash
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Hollis Mann comes to work at NCIS
Spoilers: General Season Five.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, et al. No copyright infringement is intended.
Prompt: arguments and problems...are we sensing a theme here?

Hollis had expected working for NCIS to be challenging.  It was part of the reason that she'd accepted the position that she'd been offered.  Being bored by a job was simply not acceptable in her case. Still she hadn't expected things to be quite this challenging.

By the time she'd accepted Director Sheppard's offer, her relationship with Jethro had been effectively over.  Not in a 'throwing vases at his head in a rage' sort of way, but merely in a 'seeking different things' way.  She'd known from the beginning that he didn't have a good record with commitments, but she'd been willing to if not overlook it, then at least set it aside, because despite what else he may have been, Jethro was a good man.

What she had not been prepared for was the Director asking her out for a drink late one night after they'd finished discussing a recent case.  They had much in common, she and Jenny, Hollis thought.  Enough so that they'd dated the same man.  It was also enough that they frequently butted heads, particularly about work related issues.

And this was another one of those moments.

"Director, if we do not bring Schuller in now he's going to continue his pattern of behavior - killing more innocent young girls."

"You don't have any solid evidence that Schuller committed those crimes, or you would have already brought him in.  Intuition is not enough."

"Unless it's Jethro' gut?"  It was a cheap shot and one Hollis wouldn't have taken if she hadn't spent the last thirty-six hours working on the case of a murdered girl that had suddenly become one case in a string of similar incidents.

The look on Jenny's face changed from one of frustration to annoyance.

"If you think goading me about Jethro is going to make me change my mind about this case," Jenny said slowly, her voice suddenly icy calm, "Then  you're mistaken.  I treat my agents with the respect and trust that they've earned.  Find some evidence to back up your theory, and I will stand behind it completely."

Hollis folded her hands behind her back and straightened.  She hadn't quite eased out of the years of military discipline yet.  She exited the room. Only that same discipline kept her from slamming the door behind her.

She made her way down the stairs from the Director's office, deliberately slowing her pace as she descended the stairs to erase any trace of the anger and irritation that was flowing through her.  The slight smile that could easily be mistaken for a smirk should the viewer chose to take it that way was firmly in place on her face.  It was habit more than any true indication of her mood.  She was far too professional to throw a temper tantrum like the over-grown two year olds that so many of her former colleagues have seemed to be.

"I volunteer."

Hollis glanced over at the young Israeli Mossad officer that had appeared at her side.  The out of context statement distracted her momentarily from her thoughts on the case.  Her raised eyebrow conveyed skepticism and uncertainty.

"I've heard that it can be a very rewarding experience," Hollis allowed politely. 

"I'm sorry?"  Now it was Ziva's turn to sound confused. 

"You said you volunteered," Hollis prompted.  "I was saying that I'd heard it was a rewarding experience to devote your free time to helping others in whatever way you've chosen, but perhaps now isn't the best time to discuss it.  I'm in the middle of a time-sensitive case at the moment."

"Ah.  But that was what I was volunteering for, yes?" 

Hollis stopped walking abruptly, forcing Ziva to stop and turn back to look at her quizzically.

"You're assigned to Jethro's team, not mine."

"That is why I am volunteering."  Ziva shrugged.  "We do not have a case at the moment.  Gibbs is out of state on an assignment with Tony.  McGee is taking care of things here and Abby threatened to slap me if I bothered her again today.  Therefore, I volunteer."

"And this has been cleared with the Director?"  Hollis' question to Ziva was skeptical and contained a wealth of wry amusement.

"What the Director does not immediately need to know, we do not immediately need to tell her."

"Is that one of Gibbs' infamous rules?"

"No," Ziva said with a tip of her head, "Merely common sense."

Hollis stared at Ziva for a moment.  She hadn't gotten a particularly strong sense of the young Officer David when she'd worked with Gibbs' team other than that she was a competent agent.  For the moment, that was all she needed to know.

***   ***   ***

"If I had know that volunteering would be so exciting, I would have visited Abby again."

Hollis laughed.  "You volunteered."

"True," Ziva conceded the point with a tip of her head.  "I will remember this next time that particular urge strikes me."

Hollis raised her cup and took another sip of coffee. It was ice cold.  Fortunately she was equally fond of ice coffee as she was of hot coffee. 

"We have movement," Ziva straightened in her seat. 

Hollis leaned forward intently, quickly catching sight of what Ziva had already seen.

"Is that..."

"Yes," Ziva replied instantly.  "It is."  She glanced over at Hollis.  "We move now?" 

Hollis hesitated for a moment.  If they weren't correct, but no. They certainly couldn't take the chance and let him go free again.

"Go," Hollis said decisively. 

Ziva was out of the car before in an instant with Hollis not a step behind her. 

***   ***   ***

"Why did you volunteer to help me?" 

Hollis' blunt question wasn't exactly unexpected.  In fact, Ziva had been expecting it since the moment that she volunteered. 

"I was bored." 

"If I said that I don't believe you..."

"You are free to believe whatever you wish," Ziva pointed out.  "And you may be correct."

Hollis smiled and nodded her thanks.  She wouldn't push her luck by asking for anything more. It was enough to know what she did. 

***   ***   ***

"That was sneaky," Hollis commented.  Her hands were folded behind her back once again.  This time she watched as Jenny stared out the window of her office. 

"Yes it was.  Didn't you hear? Sneakiness was why they made me Director."

Jenny turned away from the window and rested her hands on the back of her chair.  Despite her flippant comment, she was waiting to hear what Hollis had to say about it.  Giving her Ziva's assistance could be interpreted as a lack of confidence in her abilities if she chose to take it that way.  Jenny hoped she didn't.  She'd meant it as a gesture of support and confidence, not the opposite.

"Why did you do it?"

"Because I thought you were right, and you could use someone to keep you awake while you watched his house."

Hollis smiled.  She was learning to listen to the things that Jenny didn't say as much as what she did say.

"Thank you," was what she finally settled on.  "It's nice to know that I have the Director's support and confidence."

Jenny smiled at her, the warm light in her eyes promising things that would be delivered on later far from the confines of her office. 

"You always do." 

Comments

[olli1a.livejournal.com]

Wow! Jenny and Ziva are my favourite NCIS pairing and now you add Hollis... Great idea but no denying that Hollis is hot, too. More of them soon?? *pleading*

[jaina47.livejournal.com]

There will be more Jenny and Ziva, but Hollis in the mix I'm not sure about. I doubt I'll continue this. This has to be one of the hardest fics that I've ever written!

[olli1a.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a pity. I think all three of them are hot but after all it is the decision of the authors what they want to write about.

I'm looking forward to your next Jenny/Ziva story.

[greenovalfruit.livejournal.com]

Omnomnomnom. I heart me some Jenny/Hollis. And working Ziva in! My three favourite ladies (well, I'd have to include Faith Coleman too)