Tony was late for work, as usual. But today was different. He wasn't late because he didn't wake up in time. He was late because he wasn't going to work at all. Ziva, Gibbs & McGee were about to find out why.

"Can someone tell me where the HELL DiNozzo is?" Gibbs was angry, to say the least.

"Nobody has seen Tony all morning. I checked all of his before work hang-ins."

"Hang-OUTS," McGee corrected Ziva. "Boss, I could try tracking his cell phone."

"DO IT, McGEE!" Gibbs stormed off, presumably for coffee.

"Ziva, I would not wanna be Tony when Gibbs gets a hold of him."

Ziva wasn't listening. She just got a message from Tony. She opened it and this is what she read:

"Hey, Ninja. I'm taking some time off in order to find myself. I don't know how long it's going to take. Tell McGee and whatever probie they assign you to stay out of my desk. I know we had a great weekend planned, but I'll make it up to you when I get back. I love you. P.S. Tell Gibbs I said thanks for the rifle. I'm gonna need it. :D"

Ziva smiled and sent Tony a reply. "You are a dork."

"Ziva, when you and DiNozzo are done playing electronic grab-ass, do you mind telling me where he is?" Gibbs asked, walking back into the bullpen. "And tell him I want my damn rifle back."

"I do not know where he is. All he said was that he is going to take time off to 'find himself' and does not know when he will be back."

"McGee, any luck tracking DiNozzo's phone?"

"Uh, I tracked it to a campsite in West Virginia. Otherwise, nothing else," McGee answered.

"Ziva, let me see that e-mail DiNozzo sent you."

Ziva reluctantly put the e-mail on the plasma. She knew what was going to happen when Gibbs read the last bit. Bracing for the head-slap that didn't come, Ziva was afraid when Gibbs started laughing.

"So McGee's 'Probie' and you're 'Ninja.' Does DiNozzo give everyone nicknames?"

"No," McGee said.

Gibbs was looking at the e-mail. "Ziva."

"Yes?"

"This last part, before the P.S. If you two broke Rule 12-"

"No, Gibbs. Tony said a few weeks ago that he has had feelings for me since we met, but they got so strong after you three rescued me from Somalia that he had to fight to keep them hidden in front of everyone."

"So, for the last three years, you two have been meeting in secret, right?"

"No. It is nothing like that. I feel the same way for him, but we can not act on these feelings because of Rule-"

"Forget it."