When McGee and Gibbs came the next morning they weren't surprised to see Tony and his team stayed over night in the bullpen. Maya and Talisa were sleeping on the floor, with a coat under their heads; Kane and Animal were sprawled across a desk and Tony and Cassandra were sitting in front of Cabron's computer and checking something. McGee took a good look at Tony and saw the tired eyes.

"DiNozzo, didn't got too much sleep last night, did you?"

"Don't have time to sleep! Hey Animal, pass me a BoomBoomBoom."

With his eyes still closed, Animal retrieved a small plastic bottle from near the desk and threw it to Tony. Catching it in mid-air, he popped the cork and took a long gulp. Shivering like he was wiped by artic winds, Tony closed his eyes, savoring the liquid.

"What's that? Coffee in disguise?"

"Here, try this stuff Gibbs. It will grow hairs on your chest."

Gibbs sniffed the bottle with caution. The smell was somehow bitter, reminding him of something long forgotten. He took a small sup. His eyebrows climbed almost to the top of his head.

"What the hell is this?"

Tony smiled.

"Something brewed by our team. Don't let it fall into Abby's hands or you'll have a hyperactive-ready-to-be-sedated forensic scientist. Near this, her Caf Pow will look like bottled water. McGenius, can't have you running on this stuff or Gibbs will be forced to run you over with his truck just to stop you from running."

Cabron sighed.

"Mano, this is useless. In all the Mossad fileserver there is no intel about Kidon missions around us."

"Wait a second, you've hacked Mossad?"

"Shush McHacker, you've done worst and we didn't tell. Cassandra?"

"It's an under the radar operation. We don't even have access to the identity of those presumptive Kidon units. Sorry Tony, things don't add and we need more intel. Talisa is keeping Omicron Red under fire, but even they can't process this volume of information. We need a fresh mind. Should I wake her?"

Tony's eyes darted to the sleeping form of Talisa. He shook his head.

"No Cass, let her sleep some more. She's exhausted. We need her to be sharp, she doesn't function like us on BoomBoomBoom!"

McGee checked his phone.

"That's strange. Ziva is almost never late. Why she isn't here yet?"

The elevator doors opening gave the answer. In came trotting Eli David and Ziva. The Mossad Director locked eyes with Tony.

"Team Leader DiNozzo. I am sure some of your men already are keeping me in cross-hairs, but I guess you and me should have a talk."

Kane open a sleepy eye. From beneath the coat covering him, his hand darted forward, to show the Glock upgraded with a silencer.

"Tony got his six covered all the time. Well, almost all the time. We don't do peeping jobs."

"Cork it, Kane! The nice man here and me will have a little chat. Don't worry; I can handle him. Oh, Director, how's Mal? I hope his wrist isn't to damaged."

"Why did you break it?"

"It was his wrist or his neck. I had to choose fast. Shall we?"

When both Eli and Ziva moved along, he frowned. That was a conversation that will be most… intriguing. And they moved into Interrogation 2.

"So Director David, what's all about?"

"I always thought of you for a buffoon, like a dead weight. You know, last night my daughter and me had a long talk and I saw what my mistakes were. To think I had three children and I was too blind to cherish what I had. I always wanted control and look where I got. I saw the mistakes that I've made with my Ziva and I feel like my actions drove you away from NCIS. I don't even try to apologize; I know I am unforgiving. But I just to tell that I don't hate you."

"Aww, I'm shocked! You don't even want to hate me? Am I so low in your eyes?"

"No, DiNozzo. I don't want you as an enemy. I can't afford you like an enemy. The fact is you turned the table over me and then I saw why Gibbs kept you around him all those years. I won't hide you, I saw Ziva throwing you on the ground and I didn't know why she hadn't pulled the trigger. Now I'm happy for that. I am selfish, I know, but you saved my life. You and your team even uncovered the plans against me. Never ever I could imagine someone like Ilan making a move against me. Don't get me wrong, I live in a world where deception, lie and treason are every day tools, but I was so blind I thought Ilan Bodnar will be the next to have the Director chair in Mossad. Liat is at the embassy, in a few hours will get you some top secret intel."

"That would be nice. Maybe we'll get more information; more that we already have it."

Ziva lowered hey eyes and whispered.

"Team Leader DiNozzo, I know what I have done. My mistakes are so big even I cannot comprehend them, I took you for granted and I have hurt you more that I have hurt anyone. I would give anything to turn back time and make things right."

"No time for this, Ziva. If both of us will survive this operation, maybe we'll have time to sort out our divergences."

Eli talked, in Hebrew.

"You've hurt him badly, bat. Make things right, we need this kind of warrior."

"It will be a long time to get him to trust me again. Perhaps never."

The communicator gave a sharp thrill and Tony answered. As the information from the other end kept being presented, his face was getting more and more frozen. He clicked it shut and his jaws were clenched. He stormed out the interrogation and got in the bullpen. Hetty and her crew was there already, but he was looking for one particular individual.

"Kane, we are going mobile! Get the van and get the Dynamic Duo. Pack heavy. Jo was ambushed during the trip. Let us tell them the song of our people."

The next minutes were a flurry of preparations. Never saw Gibbs such a great coordination; weapons were picked, clips were loaded. A breeze of danger was hovering over the bullpen. None of the four men preparing for the battle was wasting unnecessary movements; all their actions were smooth like oil. Ziva was the first to break the silence.

"Can I come with you? I could help."

Kane looked at Tony and shrugged this shoulders.

"Your call, boss. But if it's an yes, tell her the rules."

For a long second, Tony stopped and looked at her. Punching in the clip in an AUG, he nodded.

"OK, you can come. Remember three things, they're not negotiable. First: we don't negotiate. Second: when you shoot, shoot to kill. And third, the most important: Respect the chain of command."

Before leaving, he smiled at McGee.

"McNinja, you and Cabron work together and assemble a plan to get in the hospital without any cameras watching us. "

And they were gone. McGee sighed.

"Boss, I don't know what to think anymore. Tony was three jokes and five smiles; now he's cold as ice. Is it normal to be scared?"

Gibbs nodded.

"He's changed, Tim. I saw in my times with the jarheads warriors like him. They burned fast, but they burned in glory. God speed, DiNozzo."