Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

Chapter Twenty-One

"May I ask what I have done to warrant another phone call, Director?" Tariq spoke into the phone. His voice was low and tense, and he was also listening intently to hear Tony's jovial tones passing by the room he was in, signalling that the two NCIS agents were far out of earshot. He did not wish to be caught consorting with their director when they very clearly had disobeyed his orders to get here.

"Checking up on what information Gibbs has found," came Vance's stern reply. "Did he get anything of value from Khalid?"

Tariq stopped himself from gulping. In his mind, two choices flashed—denial or betrayal. There was the silver lining, however. Tariq had not been told what information Gibbs had discovered from his interrogation with Salim and, therefore, he had nothing to tell the NCIS director. "Nothing as of yet, sir, but I sense that Agent Gibbs has not been entirely truthful with me."

"Ah, I expected nothing less from Gibbs," Vance responded, mildly cheerful.

"May I put forward a suggestion, Director? Agent Gibbs has obtained information we require and has skills that will be beneficial to us. Why not read him in?"

"Not happening, Bustani," Vance told him quickly. "If it were up to me, then I'd say yes, but it's not. You know that."

"I understand, sir. Perhaps he will reveal the information to Agent Shepard then."

"Or somebody back here," Vance mumbled, voicing his thoughts unintentionally.

"Miss Sciuto?" suggested Tariq with a hopeful expression, even though the director, who was thousands of miles away, could not see it. "If he learnt anything, then he would need to have it verified, sir."

Vance didn't respond right away, and Tariq was alluded into believing that his once hopeful aspirations of pleasing his superiors had been dashed. However, those hopes soon arose again when the NCIS director finally answered him. "Good work, Tariq," Vance commended. "Perhaps your desire for a promotion to another region will be heard by those at Langley this time." And with that, he hung up the phone.

Tariq shook his head, mentally admonishing himself. He could almost compare his goals to Hadar's now, and that was something he was concerned about. He never wanted a promotion or a chance to be reassigned to another region, even for a short period of time, to come at the hands of the friendships he'd nurtured over the years, and especially not at the safety of his own friends. He knew, deep down, that even though it was a requirement to report everything to those higher up in the chain of command, it was an action that often barricaded their progress in any operation and denied them the opportunity to do their jobs and do them well. And when they failed at their jobs, lives were lost. Their own lives, as well as innocent ones.

---

Two Seahawk choppers were organised to bring the party ashore to the base in Djibouti the following morning. Tony, Ziva, Ben, Jenny and Director David were bound up in one, leaving Gibbs with Tariq, McGee, Palmer, Ducky and their captive, Salim Khalid, in the other. The flight was not as long as Tony had first assumed it would be and they were welcomed openly upon their arrival in Djibouti. A Marine Staff Sergeant directed them to demountable on the base that they could use during their short stay.

"Where to now?" Ben asked Jenny as soon as the Marine had left them.

"That's a good question," Jenny replied, taking a seat at the head of the table. Each person in the party followed suit, except for Director David, who'd remained outside to make a phone call and hadn't yet come in.

"I thought we were going to the NCIS office in Naples," Tony put forward. "Your office."

"Well, the Marines want us outta here as soon as we know what we're doing," Jenny told them. "And we need time for reconnaissance, analysis of the information we've got and to decide where our next point of attack is. We can't do that here."

"And Director David?" Tony asked anxiously.

"Can go home," Jenny replied. "I am sure that's what he's organising at the moment. Ziva, however," and she turned to face her old partner, "will be staying with us. We will need to gather and share vital information and there are medical facilities for you in Naples."

"My father will not allow that," Ziva said, rather fragilely. If she were pressed, the bumpy flight had not been good for her recovery and she felt slightly nauseous. But she would never admit it.

"I will speak to him now," Jenny responded. "Gibbs, Tariq, speak to Marines and see when you can organise a flight for us to Italy." They nodded in reply and she left the room, running into Director David on her way out. "Director, may I have a word?"

"Of course, Agent Shepard," David replied politely. "You are asking after my daughter."

"The US and Israel have been involved, in conjunction, on this operation since the beginning," Jenny told him. "Mossad and NCIS have worked especially well on this together. Director Vance and yourself have been able to formulate a good rapport between our agencies and I wish for that to continue, especially on this case. Officer Moshe is already involved in it and we have worked exceptionally well. We would never have been able to find Ziva without him, but now I am asking you to let us finish what we started—what Officer Rivkin started and what Ziva continued."

"And Hazaiah Bernstein?"

"You know that the American interests in this stem to the camp and the sleeper cells responsible for it. And I know that Israeli, or maybe just Mossad, interests focus on the man running it. I believe that this jurisdictional issue can be resolved simply, sir."

David looked at her sternly for a moment, and then softened his gaze. "Agreed."

"Thank you, sir. For your understanding."

"Now, now, Agent Shepard," David said with good humour. "I remember what it was like to be active in the field. I also remember how difficult it was to complete your assignment with your commanding officer breathing down your neck. I wish you the best of luck with this. Now if you will excuse me," he said politely as he pushed passed her, "this young Marine will be escorting me to my jet."

Jenny nodded as the Marine stood at attention and then led the formidable older man back towards the airstrip. The seasoned NCIS agent found herself smiling and mentally praising herself as she walked back into the room.

"Flight leaves in forty," Gibbs told Jenny as soon as she entered. "Got us a C-130 direct to San Vito dei Normanni Air Base and then we've got transport to JFC Naples from there."

Tony stifled a laugh at Gibbs' complete lack of an attempt to add in an Italian accent to the air base's Italian name.

Thirty-five minutes later, they were being bundled up into the C-130 and both Tony and McGee found themselves desperately hoping that there wouldn't turbulence. But there was. Thankfully, it was a relatively short flight and, as they disembarked onto the Italian airstrip, they saw three black town cars with tinted windows waiting for them. Tariq and Ben dragged Salim off first, who was bound and gagged with a black hood over his head, and threw him into the back seat of the first car so fast that nobody could have possibly seen them. They hopped in after and closed the door. Gibbs walked off next and took the front seat of the first car with Tariq, Salim and Ben. Jenny sensed that it was to avoid any further breaches of human rights or international law.

Tony helped Ziva off next and took the second car, along with Jenny. That left McGee, Palmer and Ducky in the final car. Within in five minutes of landing, they were already speeding down the Autostrada towards Campania region of Italy and the coastline on the country's west side which housed the large town of Naples.

For Tony, it was as if his birthday had come early. He was injured and Ziva was injured, which meant that neither of them would be expected to take an active role in the operation. For once, he was glad for desk work, because desk work in this beautiful coastal city in Southern Italy meant time for some relaxation and sightseeing with the only person he'd ever actually pictured himself going on holidays with. He was like a child waiting up for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Author's Notes: Coming up next chapter. You guys finally get read into this mission. You get to know what's going on here?! All these names and no idea how they fit together--perhaps the next chapter will provide some clarification. It should be up tomorrow at roughly the same time. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review.