Author's Note: Thank you to all of those who set this story as a favorite and putting an alert for it! ^_^ Especial thanks for those who elft reviews!

Mandy I Am :: Abberz the Awesome :: PlushItBunny :: ThePenIsMighty :: Gunner'sDream

DISCLAIMER: Anything recognizable is not mine. :)

Chapter Fourteen

"Good evening to all the listeners! This is DJ Dee-Jai coming to you from the beautiful Maryland," boomed a familiar voice from the radio. Ziva's focus, however, was mostly on the street and how she could get to her destination quicker. "I hope that your weekend is going along just fine. Mine's been pret-ty well! The switch from nighttime broadcasting to afternoon had been lots of fun, I tell you."

Ziva glanced at time on her watch. 5:29 PM. She was just five minutes away from the airport. Tersely turning the steering wheel, she snaked through several cars that were beginning to clot. It was not unusual for that road to be busy on certain weekend days, but why did it have to be that that Saturday?

". . .song that just finished playing was requested by Henry T. He said it's dedicated to his sweetheart, Jess, for their third year anniversary! Can we get an 'aww' for that?" the DJ chuckled.

From the distance proudly stood the control tower, a minute, red light blinking above it almost as a beacon. The sound of large engines dominating the skies struck through her ear, causing her heart to pound faster. She saw a plane move aloft. A chill suddenly trickled down her spine.

She stepped on the gas. 5:32 PM. If she could find the gate immediately, perhaps he would be there.

"You know, speaking of request, I just remembered this one that I had a couple of months back," Dee related. "Maybe none of you can remember it, maybe some of you can. Me? I was kind of surprised that I did. Anyways, the caller named himself as Probie One, and the song he asked for was for Probie Two. It was clearly a geek love, I thought. But then, I met Probie Two and let me tell you: she's far from being your average nerd. Very beautiful woman. She had that certain. . . je ne sais quoi in her. I don't know if she can hear me right now. If she could, she'll probably kill me for saying telling this story—and she looked like she can: she came one day to me, and telling me that the guy that requested 'The Reason' by Hoobastank had actually been missing. She looked really worried, and she asked me for help. She wanted to see him bad. . ."

Ziva eased down on her speed as she approached the lane leading to the 'Domestic Flights' entrance. She impatiently looked at her watch when a van halted in front of her, a few meters from the sliding doors, before a family came out to unload their baggage. It was 5:33 PM.

"She said she was a friend, but I can tell he was more than that to her," Dee continued. "And when he called, I could also tell from his tone that she was more than a friend to him, too. With that being said, I heard this song one day, and I thought it would fit them well. By now, I hope they've found each other. I hope they're listening, too."

Ziva grew impatient with waiting and decided to abandon her car. She would have to answer to the questions sure to ensue from the employees later.

"So here's Lifehouse's 'You and Me' for Probie One and Probie Two. You're—"

Ziva ran inside. She pleadingly sought for any indications of the gate Tim was in from the signs above, but there was none in them.

"Miss? Are you looking for something?" a security guard came up to her.

"Yes," Ziva answered, growing the more apprehensive at every second that passed. "I'm looking for a flight in California, gate B-23."

"Okay. Have you checked in your luggage?" he asked.

"I. . ." Ziva searched the faces of the people passing by her, wishing that one of them would be Tim, but she was met with disappointment. She caught sight of an electronic clock on the wall. 5:37 PM. "I need to be there before the flight leaves," she petitioned him. "Please. I do not have enough time."

The security guard regarded her pensively, discerning her intention of rushing inside the place with nothing but a desire to get to a certain flight. Nonetheless, the sincerity of her desperation convinced him that he had to point her to the gate. "Go straight down, and then make a left when you see the bookstore," he said. "It would be the second gate on the right."

Ziva nodded, a bit relieved. "Thank you," she said before she began moving again.

The cacophonous melody of attendants' voices announcing a flight's boarding lingered in her ears. Silhouettes of planes heading to the horizon blinded her periphery.

She could not lose Tim now. She had to see him.

When she turned left, she immediately saw the sign at the right—B-23. Various, but not many, passengers occupied the seat near the counter. Kids were running around, but Joshua was not one of them. A man stood on the corner talking on the phone, but he was not Tim. Drawing towards the attendant, she noticed that the door beside her was closed. No plane waited outside. "Excuse me," she asked the lady standing at the counter shakily. "The flight to California?"

"Oh. Are you a passenger?" the attendant asked apologetically. "I'm sorry, but the flight left just a few minutes ago."

"But. . . Why didn't. . ." Ziva was unable to finish.

"It came earlier than usual. We thought that everyone had boarded," the attendant said, checking the records in her computer for fear that she would be held responsible. "I'm really sorry."

Ziva nodded. She peered outside the window in a futile hope to see the plane come back. Of course, it would not anymore. She was too late. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she swiftly wiped them off with the back of her hand. She should not cry. He would be back, she told herself. He would be back one day.

But, she feared, she did not know when. She did not know if she ever would.

"Ziva?"

Thinking it was someone from the team, she turned around, attempting to hold down the grieve possessing her heart. "He's—" She stopped. She creased her eyebrows when she saw the person that called her name.

Tim smiled when he saw the surprised look on Ziva's face. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he said.

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