"Bob Gray insists they don't know anything about any disappearance of an American special agent here or abroad." – Informed Jenny the team as soon as she had finished her call in MTAC. She had been talking to the director of CIA, trying to clear things while also not giving anything away. For now, at least. – "Of course I didn't tell him what we suspect. I was treading carefully. I said we were worried about an unnamed agent who hasn't made contact for weeks and has gone completely off grid…"

"And you believe him, Jenny?"

"Of course I don't, Jethro. But this means they really don't want us to know. As a matter of fact, I could see it in his face: he's hiding something and he won't tell us more."

"All right then. What do we do?" – Asked Fornell, looking around at the people in the director's room. They had gathered there to make sure their conversation wouldn't be overheard by anyone, since the director's office was the only room in the whole building that could be made bullet- and soundproof with pushing just one button. – "If CIA has DiNutso, he definitely needs help!"

Everyone nodded. They hated the mere thought of Tony alone, doing who knew what for an agency that had the tendency to regard agents as expendable objects.

"I… might have an idea." – Squeaked Palmer, who was already very nervous just to be in the meeting with the director. Talking in front of all these people was very difficult for him. But he'd do it for Tony.

"Mr. Palmer? What is it?"

"Ah, Doctor Mallard, you know… ahm… Tony and I used to play this game… Ahm… He likes riddles. And old detective movies. And…"

"Palmer, say it already!" – Ziva hissed, getting impatient. She just wanted Tony back.

"Sorry. So, he likes these movies where the spies hide messages in plain sight: like newspaper articles for instance. Do you remember A Beautiful Mind? We had this ongoing game with him, you know? Trying to find messages like that, to see if it's still working. Of course we never found… And then one day I did. I was so excited! I ran to tell him, we cracked it and talked about it for days… And then he confessed in the end that he gave up that advertisement just to see if I'd notice." – He smiled at the memory. – "God, I was so angry for a while."

The others stared at him in amazement. While they knew Jimmy and Tony were friends, nobody suspected they were this close. Then again, Tony was close to everyone…

Tim jumped up.

"Wait a minute! You're saying we could send messages to him with codes and he'd be able to understand them?"

"Definitely." – Jimmy nodded. – "You probably wouldn't think but he's incredibly talented in cryptography. Maybe he'll be the next Leonardo da Vinci." – He chuckled but seeing that nobody else looked amused, he cleared his throat nervously and continued. – "It must be because of all those old films he watches… Anyway: yes. We just need to use a newspaper he'd be able to get anywhere in the world, seeing that we don't know where he is."

Jenny and Gibbs said together:

"The New York Times."

Jimmy nodded in approval.

"That was actually the one he used to prank me. He always said this was one of the most likely papers spies would use because it's available almost everywhere. And I know he reads it."

"Great! So we'll send him a message, telling him we know he's alive… And we'll find him, yes?"

"That's the idea, Abbs."

"Jimmy, can you write the message?"

"I think so, Ziva. I'll do my best."

"Marvelous. Let's do it then."

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

"Ready!" – Jimmy proudly presented a piece of paper for everyone to see.

It was a small article; only a few lines since – as Palmer had explained to them – hidden messages were always short and straightforward. Something nobody would think twice about but would catch the eye of anyone who knew what to look for.

Decreasing Number of American Federal Agents

Quantico, Virginia has lost great assets lately due to unexpected outside intervention. Recruiting new members is continuous but not enough; agencies joined forces to gain back what they have lost, claiming: 'Our work is important for our beloved country. We never give up.'

"Ahm…" – Ziva said after having read it. – "I do not know if he'll understand it… I'm not even sure there's anything to understand, to tell you the truth, Jimmy."

"Oh, but there is, Ziva!" – Ducky smiled. – "Everything is in there: that we lost him but we're not giving up. That we have help from FBI and we know he might be abroad. That we know about the CIA. Everything. Great work, Mr. Palmer, that's ingenious!"

Jimmy blushed.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"I'll make sure they'll put this into all the different editions." – Jenny took the paper. – "I just hope Tony reads the paper, wherever he is…"

"If he has the opportunity, he'll want to keep up with things." – McGee said confidently, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to convince the others or himself more. – "He's always up to date with news." – He added for good measure and hoped he wasn't sounding too desperate.

"In the meantime though we'll have to continue working. Or at least pretend to do so. Otherwise others might get suspicious." – Ziva said, turning to Gibbs for confirmation.

"That's right. We'll work cases like normally."

"But you're one man short, Jethro. I think-"

"No. Jenny: no."

"But-"

"I said: no. We'll manage."

"All right, if you change your mind, just let me know." – The expression on Gibbs' face said more than thousand words could. The director sighed and shook her head. She just wanted their missing agent back so that things could be normal again. – "Fine."

"We also need to organize at least a small memorial service for him. So that CIA won't get suspicious."

"Ziva's right, Boss." – McGee agreed. – "If we lose an agent, there's always a funeral. If we don't have one now, they'll know something's up."

They all knew this was true, so they agreed to have a funeral – though they'd keep it to the bare minimum, knowing it would be hopefully not needed anyway.

"Then everyone knows what their assignment is?" – Each of them nodded at Jenny's question in confirmation. – "Good. To work then!"

Knowing a dismissal when they heard one, the others quietly filed out of the office, leaving the director alone, sitting at her desk, staring at the piece of paper containing their last hope.

'Oh, Tony. Wherever you are, just please: give us a sign!'

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

It wasn't until a boring, uneventful (if you didn't count the fake funeral that had been hard to go through even knowing the truth) week of work later when an excited Jimmy literally demanded that Jenny call the team together again, his previous shyness around the boss gone. As soon as all of them were in the office again, he couldn't hold back anymore:

"Tony answered!" – He said simply, wildly waving The New York Times around. – "He's alive!"

"Palmer, are you sure?"

"Yes, Agent Gibbs, look!" – The young medical student handed the paper to the team leader, who held it so that he and his teammates could read it.

Europe Extreme Weather

It's uncharacteristically cold for October in most European countries, causing disruptions in traffic and communication. All records have been broken in Berlin with an average temperature of 0°C (32 F) and snowfalls these last few days, prompting more fortunate residents to take vacation time and travel to somewhat warner countries like Spain, where the average temperature of last week was 9°C (49 F) with occasional rainfalls but no snow.

Jimmy anxiously awaited the reaction but was met with blank stares. He snatched the newspaper out of Gibbs' hands (something nobody in their right mind would normally ever do, but right now he was just too excited to care) and thought about how to explain to them.

"Ooookay… So, what's that mean?" – Asked Tim, looking somewhat lost.

"Yeah, Jimmy… How do you even know it's from Tony? It sounds so… normal…" – Ziva added, turning the pages as if hoping she'd find answers in other articles, but there was nothing.

"Don't you see!" – The med student exclaimed. – "The news is bogus, I checked: there's no record of people migrating towards the west just because it's a bit colder than normal…"

Ducky sighed.

"Mr. Palmer, it' not 'a bit colder than normal'. This is extreme. If it's true, it figures they'd write about it…"

"No! I mean: okay, yes. It has to be something they would write about, right? I mean, how else would Tony send a message if they don't write what he wants!? But it's Tony, I swear."

"If it's indeed DiNozzo, it means he was or maybe still is in Germany but headed to Spain." – Concluded Gibbs.

"Exactly." – Nodded Jimmy, glad that at least someone was getting it. – "And he can't communicate other than with these codes. CIA must be keeping tabs on him."

"How do you know that, Jimmy?" – Inquired the director, purposely using the young man's given name so that he'd know he can speak freely and she wasn't doubting him.

"It's in there: 'disrupting communication', director."

"Oh."

"That means we shouldn't even try contacting him any other way; we'd probably get him in trouble." – Jimmy added boldly before blushing again.

"I'll talk to Tobias." – Gibbs said and exited the director's office. They needed to think of a plan to get their boy back.

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

Halloween Quickly Approaching

Even some European countries have begun to practice Halloween traditions lately: this year Rota, Spain will hold their third Trick-or-Treat party for adults on the Naval Station (better known as NAVSTA) on 31st October beginning 10 PM. Costumes are said to be a requirement and local authorities will join forces with US Navy and Marine Corps personnel to ensure visitors' safety.

"Are you sure he'll understand, Jethro?" – Asked Fornell, holding the newest edition of New York Times in his hands, having read the article at least ten times already and still not feeling sure about the whole thing.

"He'd better." – Was all Gibbs said from where he was packing his go bag for a trip to Europe. – "Are you coming with us, Tobias?"

"You know I am. But how do you know we won't tip off CIA that something's going on when we all suddenly appear in Spain where, by chance, Tony happens to be…?"

"We won't. We'll fly to the UK for the ACLEA." – Seeing his friend's confused expression, he explained. – "The Annual Conference of Law Enforcement Agencies."

"Never heard of it."

"Of course you haven't. This will be the first. We're starting tradition. Abby will join the Section of Forensic Scientists, Ducky and Palmer give a lecture with the title 'The Dead Talk' and Tim will demonstrate how his MIT education and computer knowledge can be helpful in an investigation in the 21st century."

"And we?"

"We, along with Jenny, will participate in a roundtable discussion about leading styles and experiences with having your own team."

"And Ziva?"

"She will compare self-defense types and martial arts of agents from all over the world as well as hold training sessions."

"Wow. Just… Wow. You did give that lots of thoughts. And won't CIA want to be part of this?"

"No. It's only for agencies that operate domestically. MI5 will be there; MI6 won't."

"Great. So, and then how will we get to Rota to meet Tony at the Halloween party?" – Asked the FBI agent, finally getting to the most important question.

"We'll take trains and any other public transportation that's available. No more flying because CIA would know about that."

"Okay…"

Gibbs finished packing and swung the bag onto his shoulder.

"Let's go get your things too. We're meeting in Jenny's office in an hour, ready to go."

'Tony, hold on, son. We're coming.'