Sorry, it's been sooo long since I last updated. A lot's been going on, plus I've been having writer's block on this story for a while. But! I figured I'd post this, so all of my followers and readers could get the next part.

Enjoy!

Tel Aviv, Israel

Team Gibbs stepped off the plan in midst of an unusual cool temperature. Aaron and his bodyguards were there to meet their guests.

"Shalmon, Agent Gibbs and McGee. It is nice to finally meet you both." Aaron said, shaking hands with the two men. Then then hugged Ziva and shook hands with Tony. "Thank you for coming."

Gibbs looked at Tony pointedly as he responded. "You're welcome, Director David."

Aaron looked questioningly at Ziva, who merely gave a subtle shake of her head. It was all that he needed to understand about his cousin's coworkers. "Well, please join me. I'll escort you to your rooms. Then, we can eat and discuss a plan of strike."

They followed Aaron to the two SUVs – one carrying a small herd of bodyguards with the others getting in the other SUV. They arrived at Aaron's mansion. The David family were all there.

"Ziva! Tony!" The group heard some children squealed in delight. Some of Ziva's younger cousins ran over to them, engulfing her in a big hug.

"Hello tatelehs, ve gates?" she asked them. A course of "good" and "great" in Hebrew were her responses.

They made their way into the mansion where several other members of Davids hugged Ziva and Tony, shaking hands with the other two members of Team Gibbs, some (mostly the women hugging Gibbs and McGee). Food lined the counters, folding tables, and even the two stoves in the expansive kitchen. There would be plenty of leftovers.

Asa, Aaron's wife, supervised as the women finished cooking and set the tables. She gave her husband a sweet, quick kiss before returning to her task.

Nettie smirked knowingly at Tony and saddled up to him, whispering conspiringly . "So, tell me Anthony, have you asked her yet?"

Tony turned beet red. "Not yet, Aunt Nettie." He answered in a matching voice. "No weddings yet. Maybe after we get this war done and over with."

"I'll hold you to that. How is little Benjamin adjusting?" She asked.

"Is that boss of yours single because those blue eyes are nice on the eyes, not to mention his physique?" Nettie smirked, eyeing Gibbs like a piece of meat.

Tony inwardly gagged, shaking his head in humor. "No, he's got a woman back home."

"Oh damn." She sighed. "Well, I tried." She said, walking away.

"What was Aunt Nettie telling you?" Ziva asked, coming out of nowhere and making her partner jump.

"Um, n-nothing." He answered, unconvincingly and looking at her with wild eyes.

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Uh-huh." She definitely didn't believe his answer but chose not to respond.

"Food's ready!" Asa announced and everyone got in line.

~NCIS~

Two Weeks Later

Tony wiped some of the dust off his face as he kneeled down, blinking as the dusty wind roused the otherwise stationary dirt. It'd been two weeks since they arrived and they were nowhere further in trying to clear out the danger than they were before. Every time they'd successfully remove an IED or eliminate another threat, another one would only replace it.

He couldn't remember how many guilty, misguided people were killed along with innocent people who'd gotten in the way. Every time, that happened he'd glance over at Gibbs and/or Ziva, give a subtle congradutory nod before looking back at the decease. Every innocent life shed made his heart clench in guilt. The only thought that they'd unknowingly sacrificed themselves for a better world was the only reassurance that kept him going. He still didn't know how Gibbs or Ziva managed to carry on, but he saw tiny bits of guilt when an innocent was killed.

He momentarily closed his eyes, taking a breather before he heard his name being called from a short distance. The sun practically beat over him, nearly threatening to show its anger on the soldiers and NCIS agents for their disruption to the light tan ground. Tony's eyes popped open to see Ziva signaling to him from their makeshift command center where McGee had taken the reins.

"Coming!" He hollered as he rose to his feet, wiping more dust off before slinging his weapon to rest against his back. It'd taken some time to get used to the assault weapon but it'd quickly became his best friend.

Entering into the semi-cool tent, he grabbed a water bottle, twisting the cap off before taking a hefty swig and wiping his mouth. He moaned his appreciation for the cool liquid, smiling briefly before joining Gibbs and Ziva behind McGee.

His spirits rose upon seeing his boy and the team on McGee's laptop. "Hey Ben! Hey guys, what's going on?"

"Abba!" Ben squealed, excitedly.

"We're checking on you." Abby told him, reminding him that it was most likely Thursday. It had become a weekly thing that they would have a video chat and keep up with everyone back home. "Ben's got some news!" She reported excitedly, not to Ben's degree who was currently bouncing on his feet but nonetheless excited.

"Oh really? What news?" Tony asked in his excited tone.

"I made the T-Ball team!" He blurted out.

"Yay, Ben, way to go!" Tony congratulated, happy that he'd taken an interest in sports.

The other three were just as happy as Tony and said so. Gibbs and McGee decided to give Tony and Ziva a few minutes to speak to Ben alone. Gibbs had moved away to speak with one of the soldiers and McGee focused on checking the two-way radios and other important equipment.

Fifteen minutes later, the four of them spoke to the other members of their team, including Vance.

Sorry, it's not very good.

TBC...