AN: Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Hope it doesn't disappoint! Trying to keep everyone reasonably in character. Stretching Tim's a bit in this chapter. Any comments or suggestions are always welcome! Especially constructive criticism. I love to find ways to improve my writing! Enjoy, and I don't own anything from NCIS, except season one's dvds. But, if CBS is feeling generous . . . *Grin*

McGee sat alone in the squad room, looking at Tony's desk. Free time was a luxury at NCIS. He couldn't figure out why he was spending his focused on a man that had spent the better part of four years torturing him. Gluing his hands to the desk. His head to the keyboard. Yet, it was all he could think about for weeks. Tony made it a point to mess with him. Four months, and even Ziva didn't prank him. McGee sighed, realizing he missed it. He missed the pranks. The harsh ribbing. Mainly, he missed his older brother from another mother.

"McGee, it's two in the morning. What are you still doing here?"

"Sorry, Boss. Just catching up on paperwork."

"Go home, McGee."

"Boss, did you find Tony?"

"If I found him, would I be here alone, McGee?"

"Agent David is with him on there way to Paris." They both turn, to see Vance.

"This your idea, director? I'm already one down."

"You know as well as I do, Gibbs. He's not going to see the sights. Until we find out what he's doing, it's in the best interest of the agency to keep him under close surveillance."

"Director, you can't believe Tony would do anything to compromise NCIS." McGee said, as he put on his jacket.

"I don't know what to think, McGee. That's what worries me."

"Director, you know I respect you, right," Vance nodded, chomping the toothpick, "If you think Tony would do anything to compromise or jeopardize NCIS, you need to pull your head out of your ass before that toothpick perforates your rectum. Goodnight, boss. See you tomorrow." Both senior agents watched open mouthed, as Tim headed for the elevator.

"He'd better apologize . . ."

"Sign of weakness!" Tim shouted, as the doors closed. Vance and Gibbs both chuckled.

"He's really coming into his own without Tony." Gibbs shrugs.

"There's a lot of skills we all bring to the party, Leon. Tony is one of the best, if not the best, field agents I've trained. McGee is coming along right on his footsteps. Ziva is one of the strongest female agents I've seen in a long time, now that we've gotten her out of assassin mode."

"And where do you fit into this, Leroy?" Gibbs smiles.

"I'm the ringmaster." Vance laughs.

"You're worried about Tony, too?" Gibbs shrugs again.

"He's a big boy, director. He can take care of himself."

"Explains why you drove to Cleveland last night on your own time. I've assigned the backup team to take on any upcoming cases until we sort this mess out."

"Seems like a waste of agency funds." Vance laughs.

"If you want to talk about a waste of funds, you should see what Ziva's hotel room is costing us." Gibbs chuckled.

"The lady has expensive tastes, director."

"Yeah, but she's worth it." Leon walked off, as Gibbs chuckled to himself.

Tony hailed a cab, yawning. After a two hour connecting flight to New York, and a fifteen hour flight with a stopover in London, jetlag was kicking in big time. He looked back at Ziva, who wasn't faring much better.

"We'll be at the hotel soon, sweets." He kissed her cheek.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, we're supposed to be honeymooners, right?"

"We're supposed to be tourists." Tony smirked.

"My mistake." Tony said, opening the cab door.

"I didn't say I didn't like it." Ziva said, sitting down, as the trunk popped open. Tony put in the bags. As he sat down, he found the cab driver and Ziva conversing in French. Seconds later, the cab cut off another, picking up speed.

Ducky got off the elevator, taking off his trenchcoat. He entered the autopsy room, finding a manila envelope on his desk. He pulled the tabs on the envelope, removing the report. As he read it, he compared it to crime scene photos of the girl.

"Oh, dear. Tony was right."

"Right about what, Duck?" Ducky turned, to see Gibbs.

"You shouldn't sneak up on an old man, Jethro."

"I didn't sneak up on an old man, Duck. What was Tony right about?"

"Tony asked me to get an autopsy report from the French consulate for Tina Roberts."

"The girl they found floating in the Seine river?"

"Yes. Apparently Tony didn't think she drown. He was right. Look at these photos." He showed Gibbs the photos.

"Looks like she was strangled."

"Exactly. But the autopsy report doesn't indicate any assault or defensive bruising of any kind. Someone is trying to cover this poor girl's death up."

"Where did you get the photos?" Ducky smiles.

"An old friend."

"Tell Fornell I owe him."

"What makes you think it was Fornell?" Gibbs shot him the look, and walked off.

Tony got out of the cab carefully. Ziva laughed, as the doorman collected the bags.

"I thought you were a bad driver. Jeez!" Tony said, rubbing his sore neck.

"He made good time." Ziva said, sticking her head in the passenger window. After a short conversation in French, the driver laughed, taking Ziva's money.

"What did you tell him?"

"Thank you for the ride."

"Yeah, I love getting whiplash on my first day of vacation." Ziva laughed again, as they both went inside.