First, I just noticed I didn't put a disclaimer on this story. I do not own NCIS, CBS, or any of the characters. All original characters are property of my own imagination. Second, thanks for the reviews from the first chapter. Here is the second chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter Two

Officer Ziva David and Special Agent McGee were sitting at their desks at NCIS at 0730, wondering where their colleague Tony was. It was not unlike him to be five minutes late or so, but never half an hour.

"McGee, do you know where Tony is?" McGee noticed the worry in Ziva's eyes when she asked him.

"No Ziva, I don't. I thought maybe you would know." Ziva became even more worried when she found out that McGee didn't know either.

"That is strange. I will try calling him." She was just about to dial his number when Tony came up from behind her and grabbed her phone out of her hand.

"No need," Tony proclaimed as he waltzed into the bullpen as if nothing was wrong. He sat down at his desk and began to check his e-mail.

"Tony, give me my phone back," Ziva spat as she walked towards the front of his desk.

"You're gonna have to fight me for it, Ziva." As Tony said this, she moved around his desk, and grabbed his wrist, taking her cell phone out of his grasp.

When she dropped his hand, she saw the distant and scared look in his eyes she had only seen a few times before. The last time she had seen that look was when the team had been separated after Jenny's death. "Tony, what is wrong?" Ziva asked tenderly.

"Nothing, I need to go see Vance," he whispered harshly to her as he strode out of the bullpen, up the stairs to the Director's office.

Just as Tony left the bullpen, Special Agent Gibbs got off the elevator, coffee cup in hand. "Where is DiNozzo going? He's already late."

"He said he needed to see Vance," Ziva replied from her desk. She was exceedingly worried about how Tony had acted this morning. First, he had been a half hour late, and then he had to speak to Vance. She tried to shake the bad feeling she had away. Lately, Ziva had been thinking about Tony more, but not in a professional way. Every time she locked eyes with him, or he gave her his signature DiNozzo grin, she couldn't help that her heart would beat faster and she become like a little school girl with a crush. Part of her wanted her to give into temptation and tell him how she felt about him. However, the Mossad part told her that he could never feel the same way, and that she was foolish for feeling this way towards a colleague.

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Director Leon Vance was working on some paperwork when he heard the door to his office open, revealing Tony. Right on his heels was Cynthia, apologizing for Tony barging in on him.

"It's not problem Cynthia, I wasn't doing anything. Agent DiNozzo, I see you picked up some things from Gibbs. What do I owe this pleasure of seeing you to?" Vance asked sarcastically.

"It isn't a pleasure, Vance," Tony spat back at him gruffly.

"It's Director Vance to you, Agent DiNozzo." Vance was already irritated with Tony, and it had barely been a minute.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Director Vance." Tony emphasized the 'Director' part, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sure you are. What is this about?" Vance asked curtly.

"Well, long story short, I enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve seven years ago and they need me for active duty in Afghanistan," Tony told him quickly.

Vance was visibly shocked by the fact that Tony was in the Reserve. To him, Tony was the irresponsible, frat boy type. He never imagined that Tony would take that much responsibility and serve his country like that. "Well, that's a shock. I take it you are resigning then?"

"No, not resigning. Just a really, really, long leave maybe." Tony didn't want to lose his job permanently; he just needed the time off for when he would be gone.

"Don't worry Agent DiNozzo, your job will be here when you get back. As much as a pain in the ass you are, you're still one of the best agents here. When will you be leaving?"

"In one week. I have to go through training, and then I'll be shipping out. They didn't really say how long I would be out there, probably as long as they need me."

Vance took a minute to think. "Have you told the team yet? I know that you are very close."

Tony shook his head. "No, I mean, I just found out this morning. I figured I should tell you first, then everyone else. You know, have some practice."

Vance could tell that Tony was nervous about going to Afghanistan and telling his team. "Go tell them. And take Thursday and Friday off, to get ready to leave."

"Thanks Director. I'm gonna go tell the team now," Tony declared as he walked towards the door.

"Agent DiNozzo," Vance called out as Tony turned his head towards him. "Thank you, for serving our country." Tony nodded his head in thanks before walking out the door.

As Tony walked out of Vance's office, he was met by Gibbs on the catwalk above the bullpen. "DiNozzo, what the hell's going on? First you're late, then you rush to talk to Vance right away before even seeing me and saying why you're late. What's happening?" Gibbs inquired angrily.

"I just need the entire team up in the bullpen, including Abby, Ducky, heck even the Autopsy Gremlin. I have something I gotta tell everyone, and I don't want to repeat it three different times." With that, Tony rushed off down to the bullpen, leaving Gibbs alone on the catwalk.

A half hour later, the entire team, plus Abby, Ducky, and Palmer were gathered in the bullpen. "Okay, guys, so I know you're probably wondering what I need to talk to you all. Well, um, it's pretty big news. Um…"

"DiNozzo, stop stalling and just spit it our already, will ya," Gibbs said to stop Tony from rambling.

"Um, yeah, on it boss. Do you want the long or short story?"

"Short," everyone replied at once.

"Okay. I'm going to Afghanistan."

It took a few seconds for everyone to register what he just said. "Is this another one of your undercover ops?" McGee asked.

"Nope, it's not an undercover op."

"Then it's a vacation, right?" Abby asked hopefully. "I don't know many people who would want to vacation in Afghanistan, but whatever floats your boat," she rambled on.

"No, it's not that either. I'm going to fight a war in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom." Ziva and McGee gasped, Gibbs shook his head in disbelief, and Abby's eyes welled with tears. Tony saw the shock and sadness in everyone's eyes. Nobody was aware of the fact that he had even enlisted.

"Since when are you a soldier Tony?" Ziva asked.

"Um, seven years ago," Tony replied sheepishly.

"DiNozzo, full story. Now!" Gibbs boomed.

"Okay. Well, seven years ago, I had just left Baltimore PD and I needed a job. I couldn't find anything, so I enlisted in the Reserves in case I couldn't get a job anywhere, and I wanted to serve my country. I had just finished all my Selected Marine Corps Reserve obligations when I found work at NCIS, so I went straight to being an Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR. I could be called back anytime they needed it. And as you all know, the war in Afghanistan is getting pretty bad, so they need me to go fight."

Nobody said anything for a few minutes as they were too shocked. Finally Ziva spoke up. "So, you have been in the Marines for seven years and never told us? Why?"

Ziva was hurt that Tony never told her about enlisting. Throughout the four years of their friendship, they had shared many deep secrets that only each other knew. He was the only one who knew about her sister Tali, while she was the only one he talked to about what had happened between him and his father.

"Um, it never came up," he stuttered unsurely.

Ziva walked up to Tony boldly and looked him right in the eye. "It never came up," she scoffed. "Do not use that excuse. There are many things that would have never 'come up,' as you say, had you not forced me to tell you," she shouted, emphasizing her point by jabbing her finger into his chest. "What is the real reason? Are you ashamed about it, being a Marine?"

"I am not ashamed of being a Marine! I'm damn proud to serve my country!" he bellowed. The two of them were standing extremely close to one another, their faces only inches apart. He was talking to Ziva as if she was the only person in the room, but loud enough for everyone to hear. He kept eye contact with her as he spoke. "Alright, you wanna know the real reason? I didn't want anyone to think differently of me, okay? Is that a good enough excuse for you?"

Ziva was taken aback by the sharpness of Tony's answer. "Why would anybody treat you differently?

"I don't know." He paused, then sighed before answering. "I guess I didn't want people thinking any more or any less of me," he finally said quietly.

"Why would anyone think any less of you? There is nothing wrong with being a Marine." He shrugged before she continued. "And what is wrong with people thinking highly of you? You are doing something noble and good by serving your country, you should take pride in that."

Sometime throughout the conversation, Ziva had managed to place her hands of Tony's shoulders to comfort him, and their eyes were still locked. They stayed in that position for a few moments, before Gibbs coughed, reminding them that they were not alone and in the middle of the squad room.

Tony and Ziva broke away quickly before Gibbs spoke up. "When are you leaving?"

"I have to report to Parris Island, South Carolina for training to get back into shape. I'll be there for three weeks. Then I'll have ten day leave before shipping out. I have no idea how long I'll be out there."

"You're leaving us in a week? That's too soon," Abby whimpered through her tears. She had started sobbing immediately after Tony said he was leaving to fight in the war.

"Oh Abs, come here," Tony said as he walked over to Abby. He put his arms around her, and she smothered him in a hug. "It'll be fine. I'll go over there, serve our country, then come back. I'll be back before you even know it."

"But...but what if you get hurt, or worse?" She asked the question that everyone had been dreading.

"Don't worry, I won't get hurt. And if I do, I'll recover and be fine." He said it to make Abby feel better, but also to convince himself.

Although he was upset about losing his best agent, Gibbs was proud of Tony for stepping up and enlisting. He, like all the others, had been shocked initially when Tony had informed him. However, he could see Tony being a respectable, responsible Marine. When he had first joined NCIS, he had insisted on calling Gibbs "sir," and always followed orders, even though he may complain. He may have an irresponsible, party boy side to him, but Gibbs could still see the dependable Marine in him. The only thing that bothered Gibbs was that he couldn't spot that Tony was a Marine, as he was so keen on spotting them.

After talking for a few more minutes, everyone got back to work. Before sitting down at his desk, Gibbs walked over to Tony's desk. "So DiNozzo, what are we going to do about that hair of yours?"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I should update by Saturday or Sunday, depending on when I have to work. Thanks for reading, and please review (: