A/N: Thank you Jen-NCIS-Lover, M E Wofford, and ncistiva for your reviews, and thank you to those who added this story as a favorite or on your alerts! I had so much fun writing Tony last chapter, cause I'm pretty sure his mind probably rambles and bunny-trails like that! ;) Hope you liked it, too!

Chapter 10, here we go...I did end up changing my mind on the order and so this chapter is Palmer. I feel Palmer doesn't get nearly enough recognition or appreciation, which is why I wrote a whole chapter from his POV, and why I decided to have him join the team in visiting Ziva, though I know in the show, that would NEVER happen. Despite that, I tried to keep him as in character as possible, but there's not enough of him for me to get into his head. So this is how I imagine he'd be, a bit unsure, insecure, yet glad to be included and trying to be strong. Enjoy! And review!!!!!!!! :)


Palmer

What am I doing here? I feel so out of place. I've never even been out of the country before, and now I've suddenly jetted halfway across the world.

When I first heard that Ziva had been captured and interrogated, but found alive, I figured she'd be in critical condition in some hospital over here. Likewise, I knew they were all going to fly out to see her. I know that Gibbs answered me as if I'd asked real questions, but they weren't really questions at all, more like a statement of what was sure to happen.

I mean, I've worked with the team for five or six years now, and I know how close they all are. And I know how they operate when someone on their team is in trouble. And though I personally like to think I'm part of the team, I'm sure they don't really consider me to be one of their team, although I've definitely been on the receiving end of that help before.

So when Agent Gibbs said, "we're all going," I knew without a doubt, that they would go out to see her, and I would stay behind. Like usual. And that was fine. Not that I wanted to be left behind, of course. But I just know that's the way it is. I'm not bitter or upset, I'm just not one of the actual team that goes out and does stuff unless there's a body to see. Ziva's still alive, so I've got no reason to go see her.

Except that I wanted to see Ziva…she was one of the only ones of the field team who never teased me. She was willing to teach me how to fight, though I was no good at it. I've never seen her really hurt before, and it scared me a little bit. So yeah, I wanted to visit her, but I knew it would have to wait until she got much better and came back to the US.

But then Abby and McGee were working on getting plane tickets and they talked about getting tickets for five people. Five? Tony and Tim, and Abby… Doctor Mallard would go, of course, so that makes four….

I still remember the exact look Abby gave me after I screwed up my courage to ask her who else was going. Kind of a cross between an "Are you crazy?" and a "You've got to be joking me!" kind of look, with eyebrows scrunched together, and her head tilted to the side, arms on her hips.

"You are."

That was it. Two words, one bone-crushing hug. A no-nonsense look on her face that squashed all my protests and questions before I even got a chance to speak them aloud. Two words, like it was plain as day, of course I was coming. Maybe they do see me as part of the team…

So here I stand in who knows what country, (though I won't tell Doctor Mallard that, for fear of getting another lecture like the one I got when I didn't know why there wasn't a "J" Street in D.C.) working with Tim McGee to comfort Abby out in the hallway of the hospital. A few moments ago, Doctor Mallard and Tony went into the room where Ziva and Gibbs are. I'm not very brave or strong, and I know that, but right now I can be strong for Abby and help support her. And maybe that's all I'm supposed to do right now.


A/N#2: So, what'd you think? Short yes, but that's all I had. Was it okay? Horrible? Excellent? Doesn't matter, just review! :)

Next chapter is Gibbs' POV, and I'll post it a week from now, on Tuesday. Though, I already have it 99% written, so I might be persuaded to update MUCH sooner if I'm flooded with lots of lovely long reviews hint, hint! ;)