Wow, so updating this has only taken me forever so I am sorry and I hope you all still will read it!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. If I did would I really be writing fics about it when I could be involved in the actual show?
Tony slumped onto his couch and Ziva sat near him as she set up her laptop next to his. Since Tony obviously didn't know where to start filling Ziva in on all of his ideas and suspicions, Ziva decided to help him focus. "Why do you have such a connection to Carrie?"
Sighing Tony looked at Ziva, "That is one of the first things I searched for when I got home. I made some calls to my buddies at Baltimore PD and they ran some searches on Carrie and her parents," Tony paused rubbing his tired eyes. "Ziva, it is really weird. On Halloween last year, I volunteered to help the PD because Halloween is always a busy night for police and they can use the help. My buddies found out that on that night last year, I worked a brutal car crash. It was a dad and his one year old baby girl, who were on their way to pick up the mom. While medical personnel treated the dad, who was in pretty bad condition, there wasn't anyone to hold the crying baby, who was perfectly fine besides being shaken up. I ended up having to hold the baby girl."
"It was Carrie and her father?" Ziva asked astonished.
"Yeah, crazy I know. Well, Carrie was screaming and wouldn't stop, but they were still taking care of her dad so I was left to figure out how to calm down a emotional, scared baby girl. I didn't have any experience, but remembered that they liked to be bounce or rocked. So I swayed with her and her screaming turned to a soft crying. After a little longer, I started singing softly to try and calm her down and coax her to sleep. It worked and I held the sleeping baby for the next half hour until her mom came and got her. I forgot all about it up until they pulled the record and told me two hours ago," Tony finished his story and turned to look at Ziva.
He found her smiling softly back at him, "That was very sweet of you Tony," she cleared her throat and shook her head trying to clear the mental picture Tony had just painted for her heart. "Well, that solves one mystery. You two have a connection because you have comforted her and protected her in her only other disturbing experience."
Nodding Tony sat up straighter and flipped a couple pages of McGee's open report, "Yeah that makes sense. Kids are smart like that. But why does your buddy from Mossad want her and her mother. If it was ransom they would have tried to make contact or given up after their first plan was ruined. Nothing makes sense from the little we know about their plan."
Ziva frowned, "So where do we go from here?"
"We need to confirm what we know and then search for what we need. It is going to be a long night," Tony looked over at Ziva, who stared steadily back at him.
"You get something big that we can write stuff on since we don't have the screens from the office and I'll call for Chinese," she left the room with the phone tucked between her ear and neck as she flipped through a takeout menu.
Fifteen minutes later, they had two flat pieces of cardboard taped to his wall, one for known facts and the other for ideas and plans. They had just gotten their order and as they shoveled food in their mouth, their minds turned with questions and facts.
Tony swallowed his last bite of fried rice, as Ziva finished her Chow Mein. Throwing their containers away, he talked over his shoulder, "You write stuff down because we won't be able to read my handwriting."
Ziva took a permanent marker and stood in front of the board, "We know ex-Mossad officer, Michael Rivkin is involved somehow." As she wrote it down, she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"You alright?" Tony asked noticing her discomfort.
"Tony, he used to be a friend and partner and now to find out he is involved in this horrible act. It is unnerving to know I trusted him," she dropped her gaze. "He wants revenge on you for something I have done and we just gave him an opportunity to work with. He knows how I operate and think and knows too much about both of us because of his Mossad connection."
Coming to stand next to her, Tony put a hand on her shoulder, "Like he said, I made it my business when I crashed into the room and I'd rather be involved in whatever he has planned than just you. Plus he had to know that he would come across us when he abducted a Marine's wife and daughter."
Eyebrows raised, Ziva said, "Maybe that is why he agreed to take the job, he knew it would bring him across us and it was an added perk for him."
"Good thought, write it on the idea board. By the way, why does he want revenge on you and why does he hate me for it?" Tony removed his hand from Ziva's shoulder and paced back to his laptop.
Biting her lip, Ziva faced Tony, "Do you remember when I visited Israel shortly after we returned from being split up?"
Nodding, Tony grimaced, "Before you finish, I confess I know you were going to visit Michael, I kinda looked under your keyboard. I was curious and shouldn't have been so insensitive to your privacy."
Ziva smirked, "I suspected you did, but honestly I would have done the same to you so I understand." She smiled at Tony's raised eyebrows and continued, "Well, I was there to visit Michael because we had recently become more than friends and I had to complete a mission with him since he was also my partner in Mossad. Things did not go as planned to say the least. He confronted me about our friendship ordering me to stop hanging out with you at anytime outside of the office.
"That is when I realized that I did not want to be in a relationship with someone who dictated my every aspect of life, but that he had more motives for dating me than liking me. It was hard to chew, but I ended things with him and offered to keep things civil; however he gave me the cold elbow and promised not to forget what I did to him. Which is ironic since he is the one who caused it and hurt me," Ziva was surprised to see Tony had moved to stand by her as she told the story and was now next to her.
She raised her eyes to his and saw compassion shining in them, "First off Ziva, it's hard to swallow and cold shoulder. Secondly, you dumped him because he didn't want us to hang out?"
"That is not the only reason, but it triggered my dumping him yes," Ziva wrinkled her brow and looked at Tony wondering if he was upset about it in some way.
Tony closed the space between them and pulled her into a tight hug, "I've never had a friend do that for me. None of the girls in my life have ever seen me as important enough and all my guy friends would ditch me as soon as they saw a pretty girl walk by. "
At first Ziva remained stiff in his embrace, but quickly relaxed into his broad shoulders and wrapped her arms around him in return, "Well, Tony you have more value than that to me. You are probably my closest friend." She seemed to realize the sentimental emotion she had just revealed and tried to back pedal, "Although that may not mean much, being in Mossad I have rarely had an opportunity to make friends."
A soft smile tugged on Tony's lips, "You are my best friend too, Zi. Thanks for making time out of your busy ninja schedule for me." Tony covered their deeper feelings with humor.
"Now I'm just an NCIS agent so no ninja schedule; however I still know how to handle a paperclip so behave yourself, DiNozzo," Ziva glared teasingly.
Okay, so if you REVIEW I will try harder to update! I was really unsure about this chapter so feedback would be great! Like it or not? I am having a hard time choosing where to go with the story so REVIEWS are greatly appreciated and needed! Thanks!