Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do not own NCIS or any of its characters, and I probably never will. But hey, one day, it could happen.

Hey everyone! This is my first fic, so please be nice....although I do love criticism! This is mostly just drabble, but depending on if I get good reviews from you guys, I'll continue it! Thanks for reading!


Chapter 1

"She's never coming back, is she?" Tony DiNozzo asked, staring at his phone. He looked up at Gibbs for an answer, but his boss never offered one. Instead, he just stared at his computer screen, pretending not to notice that his senior field agent had just asked the question.

She had been gone for over a month now, and they hadn't heard from her since. Her name had become a taboo, avoided in everyday conversations. Everyone in the office had figured out the truth, no matter how badly they wanted to deny it. No one even spoke of Israel, let alone Tel Aviv, unless they absolutely had to. She was never coming back.

While it seemed like everyone had forgotten her, no one really had. They were all still hanging on to her in some way, hanging on to the thread of hope that she might come back. Especially Tony. No matter how attached they were to her, how badly they wanted her back, Tony had them beat.

He thought about her day and night, never stopping, always wondering......"What if?"

What if he hadn't gotten into her business?

What if he hadn't kept things from her?

What if he hadn't shot Rivkin?

What if he had told her how badly he hurt, because she was hurting?

What if he had told her everything he was thinking?

What if she had never left?

What if all of this had just....never happened?

Tony sighed as he slowly got up from his desk, running his hand through his hair. He walked across the 'bullpen' to stand in front of her old desk. He placed a hand on it, then glanced at the empty chair, sighing a second time. Gibbs couldn't help the brief wave of sympathy that washed over him as he watched him. No one was taking this worse than Tony. No one. Of course they all missed her, and of course they all wanted her back. But Tony.......he was a different story, a complicated one at that. Gibbs wondered if he would ever get over her.......their bantering, constant stream of arguments, their occasional long, somber discussions, their meetings in the men's restroom......

As if Tony could read his mind, he started walking over to the head, his chin up, but eyes downcast. His phony attitude wasn't fooling anyone- they could see it all in his eyes. The last time he had been like this was when Kate Todd had died....Tony was, again, the one to take it the hardest. Gibbs knew he still hadn't fully gotten over her violent death- no one really had. But Tony had had something special with Kate.....something no one else had. No one could really explain it, but something about their (complete) opposite personalities had just clicked from the beginning, whether they had liked to admit it or not. Tony had changed some after her death.

And there was Paula Cassidy. She had been another agent, who had grown close to Tony as well. They mostly had a flirtatious, tension-filled relationship, but they had had their moments. And then she died. Tony was a little different after her death as well.

But then, there was Jeanne Benoit. Oh jeez.....Tony had dug himself a deep hole with her. Once he had fallen in love with her, there was no stopping it. But then the ugly truth had eventually come out, and it all had gone downhill from there. After she had gone, he was a different man- no one could not see the change in him.

And now, there was her. Gibbs honestly didn't know if he could just let go after all this time. He watched him walk through the doors of the men's restroom, not saying a word. As soon as the door closed behind him though, the phone abruptly rang. Gibbs sighed and picked it up.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Shalom, my friend," the low voice sounded on the other line.

"Director David." Gibbs replied, trying oh, so hard to disguise his enthusiasm.

"Of course. And how is NCIS this lovely day?"

"I don't have time, David."

"Of course not. Well, I am calling on behalf of my daughter. She is not....well. In fact, she is quite the opposite."

"Ziva...." The word sounded foreign to him, like he hadn't heard it in years. It was the first time he had heard her name spoken out loud since the day after everyone had found out she was gone.

"Yes, Ziva. She went to finish Officer Rivkin's mission and....." he searched for the right words. "Got tangled up in numerous ways."

"What kinds of ways?"

"I am not exactly able to disclose that right now."

"And why not?" Gibbs was getting angry at the lack of information that was (or was not) coming out of Eli David's mouth.

"Because...I do not know anything."

"Then why are you telling me this?" he shouted.

"Because, Agent Gibbs.....she has requested for you to help her."


So, anything? Reviews are greatly appreciated! Let me know if I should just give this up or continue on. Thanks!