Author's Notes: To the Guest who commented that (s)he wasn't happy that I seemed to be redeeming Ziva. Trust me, that won't be happening. After all, I warned that this wasn't a Ziva-friendly story.

To the other Guest who reminded me that Ziva had resigned from MOSSAD after being rescued from Somalia. You are correct. I hadn't forgotten that and it was to be addressed in the story. This chapter as a matter of fact. I'm also aware that, even with the resignation, she would not have been an agent, even probationary, until she became an American citizen. Contrary to what the series showed, Ziva would not have been fast-tracked to that status. Because I know that, I'm continuing with her Officer status. Call it another aspect of AU story status, if you like.

Chapter Nine

Tony realized that he was taking a big chance going to the military camp to speak in person with Major Delansky. If he wasn't just being paranoid, he was certain an alert would have gone out regarding both himself and Gibbs. But he had to discover what Delansky's search had uncovered.

Not wanting to drag Neal into direct trouble, Tony had sent him to find the rest of the supplies they would need, from appropriate clothing to food to tents and sleeping bags.

Tony was soon escorted into Delansky's office.

"Expected to hear from you sooner, DiNozzo. Although based on this paper I received, I guess I can understand the delay." Delansky handed Tony the paper in question.

He inspected it quickly, then looked up suspiciously. "So why am I here, Major? According to this, no one is supposed to talk to me, give me any information or assistance whatever."

"I did some checking. No one from Headquarters knows anything about this directive. That means I've got no orders that I'm required to follow. Coffee?"

"Uh, yeah, that'd be great."

After the Major's aide-de-camp had served them both coffee along with a plate of cookies, Delansky explained what little he knew about Gibbs' disappearance.

"Seems your boss received a message the morning he was last seen in camp. According to Sergeant Dawkins in the motor pool, he asked for directions to Tullaiha. It's west of us, but the town in on the motorway, about 200-250 miles from here."

Tony pulled out his map to pinpoint the destination. "A lot of desert starting out there."

"The Syrian Desert. If you continue west, you'll cross the border into Jordan. I'd advise ou to take note of the waterholes. You might find yourself needing them in an emergency. There's really no way of knowing who has him or where they might be now."

"I might be able to help with the who."

"Sorry, sir, he ran in here before we could stop him."

Tony turned to see Neal and the aide-de-camp standing in the doorway. He jumped to his feet. "It's okay, sergeant, he's with me. Major, this is Neal al Musab, a friend of Gibbs and my guide."

"I did some talking with a few cousins. They like to keep up with all the various groups operating here. Tony, Gibbs wasn't taken by terrorists. The people who kidnapped him were hired to do so."

~NCIS~

"Father, I need your assistance."

"Ziva. What have you done?"

"I have done nothing wrong," Ziva managed to reply through still lips. "My cover is still secure. However, Gibbs has disappeared in Iraq. If he is not found and returned alive to NCIS, I cannot guarantee I will be able to remain here."

Ziva waited impatiently for Eli David's reply. Her resignation from Mossad had been sincere at the time it was given, but her father's influence and control soon became reinstated. Whatever else that may have happened, he was still her father.

"We worked very hard to get you into NCIS. Director Vance knows your importance in regards to the relations between our agencies. The loss of Special Agent Gibbs would be a setback, but not insurmountable."

"Tony will be a problem. He has long been jealous of my closeness with Gibbs as well as my superior skills."

"After experiencing Special Agent DiNozzo in action, I begin to wonder just how superior your skills are, my daughter. His determination and bravery in regards to your rescue, even if foolhardy, are quite admirable." Eli's voice hardened ruthlessly. "Your profile of him for Ari was sloppy, Ziva. Your continuing refusal to adjust your view of him is childish and unprofessional."

"Yes, Father." Ziva could taste blood from where she bit her lip to control her reaction to her father's criticism.

"I am also disappointed with your inability to seduce him past flirting and innuendos. A simple honey pot operation which you have continually failed. Your original assignment was to use whatever methods necessary to ingratiate yourself into this team."

"And I succeeded, Father."

"Not with DiNozzo. He has remained suspicious since the beginning. If not, he would never have become involved in the Rivkin situation."

"Father…"

"No, Ziva, enough. No more excuses. As to Special Agent Gibbs, I will see what I can discover. Tell me everything."

~NCIS~

"Timmy, I think I have something." Abby slurped a healthy amount of Caf-Pow! through the straw before passing the cup to Tim.

"Tell me."

"About three weeks before Gibbs got the request to meet this mysterious informant, DeWitt began receiving calls from one specific phone number. Once Gibbs disappeared, the calls stopped."

Tim rolled his chair to where Abby's monitor showed the phone records. "Who does it belong to?"

"Senator Marcus Callaghan's office."

"The Senator who seemingly got DeWitt out of his courtmartial?"

"Yep."

"Okay, that might tie into what I'm finding." They moved to look at Tim's monitor.

"Which is?"

"Cash deposits in DeWitt's bank account, consistently followed a week later by donations of 50% of that money to a political campaign."

"The Senator's campaign?"

"No, his son's. The same son who was involved in that slaughter so many years ago. Michael Callaghan is running for the governor of Maryland."

"So what is the motive?"

Tim grimaced. "Self-preservation. Or, in this case, the father protecting his son's reputation."

"But Gibbs isn't the only one who knows about this. He was the one who reported it, but there were others involved."

"Yeah, I think we need to find out where everyone else is and what has happened to them since then."

"We need to tell Tony," Abby said. "And find out how his search for Gibbs is going."

"Not yet, Abby. We don't have enough information to pass on to him yet. Nothing that will help him find the Boss."

"But…"

"No, Abby."

With a heavy sigh and a bit of pout, she reluctantly agreed.