Short Tag to Chapter 20 'Jerusalem of Gold' of 'The Star of David'.

The man inhaled the familiar scent of stale alcohol and cigarette smoke. It was late afternoon and he had been sitting in the bar for close to an hour, enjoying the Mexican music blaring from the nearby radio. He would have to return to his beachside cabin shortly, but he knew he still had some time left as his two girls had gone shopping at the local market and would no doubt still be a while deciding on what to buy from the many wares on offer.

And so he ordered another beer to pass the time.

He took a gulp of the cool liquid before placing the bottle back on the counter, taking another breath of cigarette. This truly was the life; beer, cigarettes and of course the knowledge that his family were in the nearby market, enjoying themselves. It was a far cry from the rush and danger back at NCIS where he had encountered murderers and terrorists daily with little time to appreciate the good things in life.

And now that he was retired, he had all the time in the world.

Of course he did sometimes miss the dangerous life; after all there was a certain appeal to taking down bad guys and being a federal agent and so when his probie needed him he was mostly willing to oblige.

As if fate itself was listening, his thoughts were interrupted by a woman's voice.

'Signor Franks telephone for you.' Carmen leaned over, grabbing his attention. 'It's Signor Gibbs.'

Mike grabbed the phone, taking the cigarette from his mouth as he did. 'Probie? What can I do for you?'

'Need a favour Mike. Concerns Ziva.'

'Lady Ziva in some sort of trouble?' Mike frowned in worry.

Although he would be damned to admit it, he had a special place in his heart for his Probie's team. All of them had special talent...Abby, McGee...even DiNozzo but Ziva...Ziva was something he had never seen before. She commanded respect.

In his long career in law enforcement, he had come across other women, although he had often dismissed their talents in the place of their looks, but Ziva was something altogether different. She could hold her own in any situation. After all there were very few men who could have gone through what she had in Somalia and survived.

'Terrorists who killed her sister are after her. She's heading to Israel to stop them. Need somebody to go make sure she's ok.'

'And that would be me Probie?' Franks gruffly questioned.

'Needs to be someone who is not known.'

'I've had some run-ins with the Israelis in the past. Not sure I'd be welcome.'

Mike could almost hear the smirk in his probie's voice. 'They're on our side Mike. I talked to Amit Hadar, Eli David's aide. He okayed it. I take it you do still have friends you can talk to.'

Mike pretended to be offended. 'Hell yeah Probie. I ain't dead yet. Have a friend in Cartagena with links to Mossad. Friend of Ziva's. She'll help.'

'Thanks Mike. Give my love to Leyla and Amira.'

'Will do Probie.' And with that he hung up, letting slip a small smile.

It was about time this old cowboy had another rodeo.