Welcome to my new edition of "Promonitions". For the uninitiated, these Vignettes are my take on what the spoilers, photos and previews mean. Therefore, if you do not want to be "spoiled" read no further. I am not sure if I will continue once a certain character is no longer around: read my first series and you will understand the subject of every one of my vignettes. Sorry, but I am also totally uninterested in Delilah, and Palmer's adopted baby. Or Tony finding a "significant other". I am a total TIVA and McAbby, just saying…

These will not, I am sure be anywhere close to what airs. This will be the way I would want the premiere to go. Given we know the eventual outcome, it couldn't possibly. But given what we know, I hope to make it more palatable, even if it is not accurate. Thanks for reading, but read at your own risk. No complaints about spoilers, you've been warned!

I don't own NCIS or any of its characters, which is a damn shame.

Vignette One: "Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot"

Part One

NCIS

Ducky and Palmer stood together, arms crossed. They had just gotten the call that the body was on the way. It all came down to this: a single gunshot from a high-caliber weapon. It all came down to this: months of uncertainty and apprehension as their lives played out like a script written and directed by some unknown entity. It all came down to this: some would stay and some would go.

Four months earlier

"You three have something to say?" Director Vance looked up in surprise and some hesitation as the three Field Agents entered his office. As one, Anthony DiNozzo, Ziva David and Timothy McGee placed their badges on his desk, effectively ending their service at NCIS.

Director Vance looked at the badges, shocked that they would actually go through with such a drastic act.

"What is this?" He asked, knowing exactly what it was.

"We take full responsibility for the allegations." Tony replied. Vance took notice of the word "allegations" as opposed to using the word "crimes".

"Very smart, Agent DiNozzo" Vance thought to himself. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Vance held each of their gazes, daring them to back out.

"Gibbs would do the same for us. It is what we must do." Ziva declared.

"I agree, unfortunately. There are things I can't explain right now, but let's just say that you three have put into motion some events that may very well change the intended outcome." Vance sat back in his chair.

Tony, Ziva and Tim eyed each other uneasily. "What does that mean, Director?" Tim asked the question.

"I can't say any more at the moment. We'll be in touch." He stood up and shook their hands. "It's been a privilege to work with each of you. I hope this is only temporary."

The trio nodded, and silently took their leave. Once they had returned to the Bullpen, McGee looked around, lost. "Now what?" He had been fully on board with this decision, but now that it had happened, he felt as if he was sinking in quicksand.

"Now? I am going to go home and get drunk, McUnemployed." Tony grabbed his personal effects.

"Tony…" Ziva said softly. He glanced up at her, startled by the emotion in her voice.

"I'll be ok." He answered her unasked question. Ziva shook her head, not believing him. She knew Tony; she knew what he turned to when dealing with loss, and the name was liquor. He had gone down that path of destruction before: after Jenny, and after he thought that Ziva had died.

Ziva took a step closer. Tony narrowed his eyes. "Do you want to chaperone or something? Because no matter what you say, I'm going to drink myself into oblivion."

"Tony." This time it was McGee.

Tony threw up his hands. "What is this? An intervention?" He sat back down in his chair.

"Hell yeah, if you need one. Tony, we need to think and plan, not kill ourselves. You heard Vance. This may not be the end. Don't make it the end."

Tony looked startled at McGee's outburst. "Who said anything about ending things? I just want to drown my sorrows. I don't plan to stay drunk the rest of my life. I just lost my job, my livelihood. And so did you two by the way. I think I deserve to handle this the way I want to. Tim, go write a book; Ziva, go run off on your own and…"

The room went silent, except for Ziva's sharp intake of breath. Tony's face drained of color as he realized what he said. He stood up, shakily.

"Ziva…"

"Go run off on my own? And do what? Have a one night stand? Kill someone?" She held up her hand when Tony tried to reach for her. "Over…ten seconds ago." She hissed. Turning quickly, she grabbed her bag and was storming down the stairs before either Tony or Tim could react. When he finally got his wits back, Tim turned to him.

"What in the Hell is wrong with you, DiNozzo? How could you say that to her?" Tim was seething.

Tony scrubbed at his face, wishing he could erase the last two minutes. Hell, he would erase the last five months if it came down to that and it was in his power to do so. Things had been going so well between him and Ziva until…

Tony slumped in his chair, defeated. "I don't know why I said that, Tim. I'm sorry."

Tim paced in front of him. "Sure you do. You said it because you're still pissed she went off on her own after Bodnar. You're still pissed she had her little fling in January." Tony stood quickly at that and confronted Tim.

"What do you know about that? It wasn't a fling, it was a mistake. A stupid, stupid mistake and we are fine about that. Fine!"

"Who are you trying to convince, Tony? Me or you?" Tim asked quietly. "And I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

Tony closed his eyes. Tim stepped closer to him. "Tony, listen to me. We need to stick together, not fight among ourselves. If we are going to beat this, if we are going to save Gibbs; we have to be a TEAM."

Tony opened his eyes and nodded. "Sorry, Tim. You're right, of'course. You're always right." He retrieved his dropped bag and sprinted toward the stairwell.

Gibbs' home: Alexandria, Virginia

Gibbs put the final document in his fireplace, watching the past literally go up in flames. He sighed and hung his head. He never meant for things to go this far. He truly believed in his own Code of Conduct, and felt it to be just. And he knew there were those who didn't agree with it or him. It just never occurred to him that someone would call it into question legally.

When Mike Franks gave him his "insurance policy", Gibbs had no illusions about the dirt that box contained. At the time, Gibbs believed the files had more to do about Leon Vance, a person he didn't really trust at that time.

Gibbs rubbed his eyes. "This is insane!" He went into his kitchen once the fire was done and got his broom. He carefully swept up all of the evidence. By the time he was done, no one would ever know such secrets have ever been in his house, much less his fireplace. As he placed the bag in the back of his truck, his cell phone rang.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Gibbs. Pack your bags. The Op is a go."

Gibbs closed his phone and leaned against his truck, searching the stars for the strength he knew he was going to need.

Washington, DC

Ziva threw her bag into her car and slammed the door. She brushed away her angry tears, furious at herself that she was crying and furious at Tony for making that remark. "How could he say such a thing to her? After all they had been through?"

Ziva shook her head to get her wits about her, and took off. She drove aimlessly for over an hour, not wanting to go home and be alone, but not knowing where else to go.

She finally ended up at Gibbs' home. She chastised herself for thinking he would comfort her because she was upset with Tony. What would he think about that? She took a deep breath and got out of her Camaro. The lights were on, but she didn't see his truck.

Quietly, she walked up to the front door and turned the knob. She smiled to herself: unlocked, as usual. She entered the foyer, keeping her footsteps light and looked around. "Gibbs? Are you here?" The first floor was eerily silent. She headed down to the basement, finding it empty as well. She noticed dusty footprints by one of the walls, and bent to investigate.

Placing her hand on the wall, she realized that there was a space behind the boards. A "hiding place", but for what? Ziva stood abruptly. It was not her place to snoop, and she felt uncomfortable that she even had the thought. Frowning, she went back upstairs. Taking a deep breath, she mounted the stairs.

She glanced briefly into each of the bedrooms, finally entering the one she figured was Gibbs'. She checked the closet and drawers. They had clearly been gone through. In a hurry.

She went across the hall and checked the bathroom. His toiletries were gone. Ziva slid down the wall into a sitting position. Gibbs was gone. He had left. He had left without telling anyone where he was going and when…no if…he was coming back. She placed her head in her hands and sobbed.

Tony plopped down into his sofa, disgusted with himself. He had stopped by Ziva's on the way home, but she wasn't there. He figured she was driving like a maniac, taking her anger out on the freeway. He hoped she wasn't too angry to pay attention to what she was doing; he hated when she drove period, but driving angry?

He checked his phone, a dim hope that perhaps she had called to chew him out or sent some scathing text. No such luck. He ran his hand through his hair and went into his kitchen. Opening the fridge, he stared at the scant number of items occupying the large space. He started to reach for a beer when he had a sudden thought.

"DiNozzo, you are an idiot!" He replaced the beer and grabbed his keys. Quickly running to his car, he turned the ignition and headed toward Gibbs' house.

He slowed as he approached, seeing her car. He sat for a few minutes, knowing he had to be in control. Finally taking a deep breath, he got out and headed toward the house.

NCIS

"You did what?" Abby demanded. Tim stood in front of her, squirming as Abby was pointing her finger in his face.

"Abby…"

"No! First Gibbs, now you and Tony and Ziva? What were you thinking? How could you leave me?"

Tim grabbed Abby's arms. "Abby, believe me when I say that I'm not trying to be mean, but this isn't about you. It's about Gibbs and saving him. We had no choice."

Abby stared into his eyes, searching them for some sign that this was all a joke, a misunderstanding.

"How is quitting helping Gibbs?" Abby was beside herself.

"We took the blame, Gibbs is in the clear." Tim smiled.

Abby wasn't smiling. "Then what is going to happen to you?"

Tim opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His cell phone buzzed suddenly, breaking the silence. He glanced at it and saw it was from Delilah, her smiling face and long brown hair looking at him. He smiled softly and looked up at Abby. She was really glaring at him now.

"What McGee? What are you smiling about?" She had her hands on her hips. McGee lost his smile and his color, but tried to put her off.

"It was just a funny text from Palmer, Abby. No big deal." Tim hated lying to Abby, but he was hesitant to tell her about Delilah just yet. Sometimes Abby was very supportive, but he had a feeling this would not be one of those times.

Gibbs' House: Alexandria, Virginia

Tony walked into the house and started to call out, but heard a muffled sound upstairs. He reached for his weapon and realized he didn't have one. "Oh, yeah. I'm no longer an NCIS Agent with a license to carry a loaded weapon. Well, we didn't think that part through did we?"

Tony made his way slowly up the stairs, wincing when one of the treads squeaked. He finally got to the landing and looked around the corner. He was shocked to see Ziva sitting cross-legged on the floor, her hands covering her face.

Forgetting what had happened earlier; he rushed to her side and squatted down. "Ziva? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" He placed his hand on her face, trying to get her to look up.

Ziva felt his presence before she heard his words. She stiffened when she realized Tony was in front of her. She angrily pushed him away, making him topple over. She was on her feet in one fluid motion and heading down the stairs.

Tony cursed his aging body and he struggled to get up and follow her. "Ziva! Ziva! Wait, please will you just stop?"

Ziva stopped and turned around. "You want me to stop? Stop what? Killing people? Hurting people?" She spat at him.

Tony winced. He walked up to her and looked at her sadly. "I am sorry." He said. "I…I don't know why I said that. It wasn't right, it wasn't fair, and..."

"And yet you still said it. How can I believe anything you say to me, when you think of me only as…?" Ziva turned and hugged herself, trying to keep her emotions under control.

"That's not how I think of you and you know it!" Tony said quietly, trying to diffuse the situation. "Am I unhappy that you took off on your own and Bodnar ended up dead? Hell yes! But what I'm unhappy about…still…is that you took off on your own. Again! Once again, you took off…without me! Keeping me in the dark, not trusting me." Tony's voice broke at that last admission.

Ziva stood stock still, stunned by his words. "I have always trusted you, Tony."

Tony shook his head. "No, no you haven't. You've been keeping things from me for months." He looked at her with pained eyes. "We're supposed to be partners. I thought we were…best friends."

"We were. We are. I kept those things from you to protect you, not because I didn't trust you." Ziva said quietly.

Tony looked at her, incredulous. "Protect me? From what? Were you protecting McGee when you talked him into helping you track Bodnar?"

"That is different!" Ziva snapped.

"How is that different? Don't you care what happens to McGee?" Tony shot back.

"Of'course I do! It is just not the same as…" Ziva stopped, her eyes widened.

Tony looked wary. "Not the same as what?"

Ziva took a step back. "Nothing. It is nothing, Tony. Forget it." She turned to leave.

He grabbed her arm, and turned her to face him. "It is not nothing. What are you saying?"

Ziva looked pale as she gazed into his face. "Please Tony. Do not do this. Let it be."

Tony stared back, searching her face, looking for some sign. Sighing, he released her arm. As she turned to leave, he caught her again.

"Where's Gibbs?" Tony asked, suddenly realized that he was nowhere to be seen.

Ziva looked sadly at Tony. "He is gone, Tony. He has left us."

Tony looked stunned, a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Not again…"

Well, that's the start. I don't think they will add anymore to the resignations other than what we already saw, but I needed some angst for Tony and Ziva, so don't be upset with Tony. I don't think they are automatically going to fall into each other's arms without an impetus. Other than unemployment, that is. Please let me know what you think.

GG gave a lot of spoilers today, some I like, a lot I didn't. For example, the premiere is a two-parter and Cote is only back for those two episodes. So basically one episode to tie up her story since the premiere part one will focus on Gibbs I am sure. The second episode is when Marina Sirtis guests, so I hate the Mossad presence. This Vignette will not be long.