THanks so much for being patient ya'll! I've been doing way too much work this semester-I think the teachers have ganged up on me!! Anywho, thanks for all the reviews, Here is another chapter for you. Oh, and I forgot I don't own any of this, wish I did, but alas I don't.

Tony and Ziva stood in the elevator a week later. Ziva stood with her hands clenched tightly.

"Breath, Zee-vah. Jenny picked the best agents she could find," Tony assured her. They had just dropped Laila off at school. She had missed a week of school already, and, with Gibbs and Jenny's urging, Ziva relented, on one condition: the school was well guarded. The man—Trent Kort, Daniel Ivansic, or whatever he wanted to called—was still on the loose, and the team was determined to find him.

"DiNozzo, you're late," Gibbs told the agent as the two walked to their desks.

"Sorry, Boss. Laila wouldn't let go of Ziva," Tony explained.

Gibbs ignored Tony's excuses and strode over to Ziva. "My office, now," he ordered her, walking towards the elevator. Ziva glanced toward Tony who attempted an encouraging smile. They both knew what this was about, but Ziva was nervous. Following Gibbs, Ziva took a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable.

Gibbs reached over, stopping the elevator. "When were you going to tell me that you had a child?" he asked, staring at the door in front of him.

"I wanted to," Ziva sighed. "My father did not give me a choice. If I were to ever tell, my father threatened to bring me back to Tel Aviv. Gibbs, I cannot take Laila back there. She is not safe there."

"You're staying here," Gibbs assured her, turning the elevator back on. Before the door opened, Gibbs head-slapped Ziva, "That's for breaking rule number 12." Adding, "I know about the undercover mission," when she went to defend herself. Gibbs was out of the elevator before Ziva could reply.

"Boss, the Director wants you two in MTAC, ASAP," Tony said as the two walked toward the bullpen. He looked at Ziva, hoping to find a clue as to what happened in the elevator, but she avoided his gaze.

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Tony was beginning to drive McGee nuts. McGee looked at the clock on his computer: ten minutes.

"Why are they taking so long?" Tony asked for the umpteenth time.

"Tony, calm down. I'm sure they'll be out soon," McGee sighed.

"McGee! Have they come out yet?" Abby asked, hurrying into the bullpen.

"No, Abby," McGee answered, sighing again. "Guys, it's not a big deal. I'm sure they are just finding out what Ziva knows on the man that hit her," he tried to assure them, but knew there was more to it.

Two minutes later, the three heard the door to MTAC open, and watched as Gibbs, Jenny, and Ziva walked out. Something had happened, that was clear. Gibbs' glare was enough to make anyone want to hide. Jenny looked just as angry, but there was a hint of worry. Ziva, Tony noticed, attempted to conceal her emotions, but he could read her like a book. She was scared and angry, but there was also a hint of resignation.

"What happened?" Tony asked Ziva when she reached her desk.

Ziva began packing her bag, not looking at Tony. "I have been called back to Israel. Mossad has deemed that I am no longer needed here," she explained, hiding her emotions. She knew her father would pull something like this when she disobeyed his order.

"You are needed!" Abby exclaimed, hugging Ziva who just stood there. "You are one of the three musketeers! They stick together. Gibbs, do something. Ziva can't go back to Israel. Mossad cannot do this!" Abby rattled off, seeing Gibbs walk up.

"Sorry, Abby," Gibbs said softly. He had truly tried to persuade Deputy Director David, but to no avail.

"Don't apologize!" Abby said, punching Gibbs' shoulder. "Mossad can't order Ziva to pack up and leave. What about Laila? They can't make a little girl leave all her friends!"

"Abby, I have no choice," Ziva said, beginning to lose control of her emotions.

"Uh, Boss," McGee began nervously and the whole group turned to look at him. "Tony just went up to MTAC," he said just as they heard the door slam.

"Harah," Ziva said under her breath, hurrying up the stairs, followed by the others.

When they reached the room, Tony was already connected to Deputy Director David's office. "Sir, I'm sure you have your reasons for forcing Officer David back, but I know for a fact that I have better reasons for her to stay here," Tony told the older man.

"And, what are these reasons, Special Agent…?" David asked, trailing when he could not recall the agent's name. Normally he would be furious, but this was fascinating. He never had an inferior agent force a video conference with him before.

"Anthony DiNozzo," Tony finished for the deputy director. At that name, Eli David's eyes widened. So this was the man his daughter had become enthralled with. "I am sure you think you know all about me, but you don't. I am not going to sit around and do nothing and let you take Ziva and Laila back. I only just learned about my daughter and you can bet your life that I am not going to let her go. As for Ziva," Tony stormed, releasing all the pent up frustrations he had had for the past few months. "I let her slip away five years ago, and I'm not going to let it happen again. As a wife and mother of American citizens, Ziva is not leaving this country unless it is her own decision. She is one of the best partners that I have ever worked with, and one of the best damn investigators on the NCIS roster. If you feel as if she is no longer needed, then you are gravely mistaken," Tony wound down. Suddenly realizing what he just told the Deputy Director of an agency that could easily order his assassination, Tony gulped.

Behind him, Ziva, Gibbs, Jenny, McGee, and Abby all stood stunned. Ziva was half-proud and half-pissed at Tony. Gibbs and Jenny were still trying to process what Tony had said. McGee and Abby stood there staring. McGee had pulled out his I-phone and was video-taping the whole thing, expecting Tony to get his butt kicked. He was also mentally laying out the whole plot for his next novel, if Tony survived.

"When did this marriage occur?" Director David asked evenly.

"April 29, 2001," Ziva spoke up, walking to stand beside Tony.

"Why did you not tell me?" the man asked his daughter.

"I was afraid," Ziva admitted. "He did not even know until last week," Ziva explained.

"I would like to speak with Director Shepard privately," David said.

Everyone left the room besides Gibbs and Jenny—Gibbs refused to leave.

Bullpen

Ziva grabbed Tony's hand and pulled him towards the elevator.

"He's dead," McGee commented as he and Abby watched the elevator doors close. Abby just nodded her head in agreement.

Elevator

Ziva pulled the emergency stop switch, and whipped around to look at Tony. "That was the most idiotic, stupidest thing you have ever done!" she yelled. "What were you thinking? I did not tell my father for a reason, and now you bolted it up."

"Screwed, Zeevah," Tony corrected her, immediately regretting it.

"Tony, my father was not happy when he found out I got pregnant after a mission. If my brother had not of stood up for me, my father would have seen me on a suicide mission. When Ari died, I was no longer safe in Tel Aviv. That is why I persuaded Jenny to let me stay here. I do not need you hurt, too. One of the agreements I made with my father was that Laila could stay here with her father. She'll be safer here," Ziva explained.

"I'm not going to let you go. It's too dangerous," Tony told her quietly.

"I do not have a choice," Ziva sighed. She wanted him to understand. This was how life was as a Mossad agent.

"Dangit, don't do this," Tony said, trapping Ziva between his body and the wall.

"Let me go," Ziva said her voice wavering.

"Zee-vah, I can't lose you," Tony admitted, breaking down his barriers. "The whole time you were in the hospital, I was mortified. I thought I was never going to have the chance to tell you how much I loved you. I love you, Zee-vah. Please don't let them take you from me."

Ziva stared at Tony, her mind trying to process what he just said. He loves her! Not trusting her voice, Ziva leaned forward, her lips crashing into Tony's. This kiss expressed all the pen-up emotions the couple had hidden for the past two years.

Breaking for much needed air, Tony leaned his forehead on hers. Ziva placed her hands on each side of his face, gently rubbing her thumb over his cheeks. "If my father orders me to go back, I have no choice," she whispered. "I do not want to leave you and Laila, but if it keeps you safe I will. I love you, Tony."

"How dead do you think I am?" Tony asked, smiling slightly.

"Gibbs is going to have your skin," Ziva smiled back.

"Hide or head," Tony corrected her. Kissing, Ziva's lips one more time Tony stepped back and started the elevator. He continued to hold her hand as they walked into the bullpen.

Hope you enjoyed it! I should have another chapter up in a few days! TaTa