A/n: Happy Saturday! I hope everyone's week went spectacularly. If it didn't then I hope this week turns out better for you. Thanks for the reviews!

This is it. The last three chapters of Hatikva.

Ch. 26 Never Alone

Tony was greeted by a smack on the head and a smile from Gibbs, a handshake and half hug from McGee and full out bear hug coupled by sobs of joy from Abby. Tony accepted them all whole heartedly, relieved and overjoyed to be back. Even Director Vance spared him a small smile along with his assurance that Tony was still and NCIS Special Agent. Without a doubt, Tony was a hero and everyone at NCIS let him know. He'd intended to go to NCIS, fill Gibbs in, ask for his job status, and then quietly fill out a report on his experience. He was only able to complete the first two. Everyone at NCIS seemed to know the general story of what happened in Somalia and everyone wanted to know how Tony survived and made it back. Tony's responses were limited and were usually variations of "I was lucky. It's good to you see you." Ziva, who had been keeping back and letting everyone else get their fill of Tony yet never remaining out of eye distance, noted Tony's subdued remarks and as they walked to her car, asked him about it.

"I dunno, Ziva. A lot of what happened was luck and had nothing to do with me. Fharar did the work. I would have died without him. I dunno...it just feels wrong to take credit for something I didn't have all that much to do with." he responded. Ziva nodded in understanding. They drove in silence back to her home when she spoke again.

"You're time in the desert has served you well Tony. I remember a time when you would have puffed out your chest and...gloated about your survival. You would have made it sound like you had gone to hell and come back to reclaim your throne."

"Well, I think that DiNozzo got left in the desert. And I 'm kinda glad he's gone. You know, you're not unchanged either." Ziva instantly tensed up at his casual remark. She hadn't wanted the conversation to swing back to her. Sure, the others – Gibbs, McGee, Abby -- had seen her in the weakest state she could ever remember herself being in. But they'd seen her hospitalized, her wounds bound up. They'd seen after she'd had a little while to adjust to being free. Tony had found her. He found her when she had finally accepted death. He saw every mental and physical bruise, broken bone and cut Ziva had received and he had seen them fresh. Ziva avoided talking about herself because as much as she trusted Tony, she felt vulnerable with him.

"What do mean?" ventured Ziva noncommittally.

"You're...different. More human? That sounds meaner than what I'm trying to say. You're not as detached as you used to be. You used to keep your distance sometimes, keep your emotions back. There's a lot less of that now. You also smile more easily." Ziva did smile a little at his last comment. Then her face grew sombre.

"In the desert, I realized that I had spent to much of my life keeping me for me. I told about having the veil ripped from my face. It was painful. Sometimes it still is. But now...I feel as though for the first time, I have a family. It is a good feeling." Tony smiled and took Ziva's hand. Ziva responded by squeezing his hand gently and driving the rest of the way home in silence.

OoOoOoOo

Gibbs wasted no time in putting Tony to work. It seemed as though now that Tony was back in town, Navy and Marine crimes were allowed to pick up in capacity, as now Team Gibbs had the man power to handle it. The team worked as intensely as they ever had, fitting back into a regular rhythm as a hand slides into a familiar glove. Before longs weeks began to go by and everyone began to feel comfortable again. Some things were different: Tony lived with Ziva and wasn't even looking for his own apartment. Ziva went out for with the team after work more, without refusing as was her previous custom. Gibbs never mentioned rule twelve and actually smiled a little when he saw Tony and Ziva together.

Tony and Ziva had fallen into the habit of taking long walks after work to just talk and enjoy each others company. On one such night, Tony and Ziva were in Rock Creek Park when Tony realized they were at the very self same spot where he'd decided that he needed to rescue Ziva. He told Ziva as much and she actually laughed a little.

"You fell, Tony? Right here?"

"Yup. Went head over heels. And I just lay here on my back, looking at the stars, asking myself how I could have screwed up so bad. You know, I'd hurt the most beautiful girl in the world. I didn't think that she'd ever forgive me and then she disappeared." Used to Tony's comments, Ziva played along.

"And so this most beautiful girl. Did you find her?" she asked, a sly smile on her face.

"Oh yeah. Turns out she even forgave me too." Tony smiled as he pulled Ziva into a kiss. It would have lasted longer, had not the shout interrupted them.

"Freeze, CIA!" Suddenly Tony and Ziva were surrounded by a TAC team. Instantly, Ziva's instinct took over. She lashed out with foot and fist. Tony was a beat too slow, and was seized by two of the TAC team. They wrenched him back, separating him from Ziva's side. All the while he was shouting.

"Hey, we're NCIS Special Agents! We're NCIS, what are you guys doing?!?" Then as if in slow motion, he saw Ziva get thrown to the ground. That was when he really began to fight against his captors.

"Ziva! Let me go! Damn you...ZIVA!" Deciding that she couldn't be subdued my normal means, one of the TAC team members produce a stun rod, jabbing it into Ziva's back. She convulsed violently and then was still. Tony continued shout and fight against the guys holding him.

"Enough, DiNozzo!" rang out a clear English voice. Tony turned eyes of hate on Trent Kort.

"What the hell are you doing Kort?! Are you out of your mind?" Tony shouted.

"Shut it, DiNozzo," ground out Kort. "Answer your cell phone. Answer it!" Tony didn't realize until now that his phone was ringing. His eyes not leaving Kort's, he ripped it from his pocket.

"What?" he snarled.

"DiNozzo, let Kort take Ziva. You'll get an explanation, but this has to happen!" came Gibbs' urgent voice.

"Boss, I am not –,"

"Damn it, Tony, trust me and do as I say! Let him take her and get your ass to NCIS now!" the line went dead. Tony looked up with murder in his eyes.

"My boss says to let you gentlemen get on your way." he whispered. Kort gave no indication that he'd heard Tony. Tony's attention was then diverted to Ziva. The TAC team had her in cuffs and was dragging her away. Tony longed to change the situation. He longed to be with her, to fight for her. And now Gibbs wanted her to stand by as she was dragged away.

"Get going DiNozzo. It's going to be a long night."

OoOoOoOo

"Gibbs, what the hell is going on?!" exploded Tony as he burst from the stairwell. He was too keyed up for the elevator.

"Conference room DiNozzo," said Gibbs, indicating the elevator.

"No! I'm sick of conference rooms! I'm sick of secret meetings in autopsy with the bio- hazard light flashing! I'm sick of secrets! So no more secrets. Secrets are what got Ziva almost killed! And now, you're telling me to go to a conference room while she's with Trent Kort." Gibbs went to Tony and practically dragged him to the elevator. He punched the button and threw Tony in when the doors opened. After he punched the emergency stop, he rounded on Tony.

"Tony, you need to listen. There's a situation. Something out of our realm of control. Mossad is gunning for Ziva and this time, they're doing it legally." Gibbs voice was harsh. He was desperate for Tony to calm down so he could explain the situation.

"What do you mean legally?" Gibbs had Tony's attention.

"Hadar is still Eli David's golden boy. Today, Hadar himself showed up at CIA headquarters. He says that he has proof that Ziva was participating in terrorist activities with intent to harm Israel. He wants her "extradited". Mossad has the leash on the CIA. If we don't deliver Ziva, it's aiding and abetting a foreign terrorist. And Hadar is sticking around to make sure the job gets done."

"Boss, he's going to kill her. We can't let him get to her. He'll finish the job!"

"That's why we're going to CIA headquarters now, DiNozzo. Hadar doesn't know the CIA has her yet."

"We're going to Langley?"

"Right now," finished Gibbs, punching the emergency switch.

OoOoOoO

Gibbs strode into the CIA interrogation observation room four hours later without any warning. He took a long look and the woman sitting on the monitor with her hands cuffed behind her back before addressing Kort. CIA interrogation was set up with video monitors. The observation room was several doors down from the actual interrogation room.

"You told me that you wouldn't rough her up. Why are you in charge of this again?" He said, his voice containing a slight edge. Ziva had a bruise on her jaw bone that was just beginning to spread.

"Sorry Gibbs. She fought back. My higher ups think I have a cozy rapport with NCIS so they picked me to deal with this. Ah, DiNozzo, long time no see." Kort's smile was as sarcastic as his voice. Tony just glared at him. "Don't glare at me so, DiNozzo. I'm saving your friend's life." Tony was about to speak but was silenced by a glare from Gibbs. Gibbs looked at Kort and nodded for him to continue.

"Mossad claims to have evidence that former Mossad Liaison Officer, Special Agent Ziva David, was not held prisoner in Somalia but rather participated in terrorist activities with the men who took her captive. That's right DiNozzo, captive. We happen to side with NCIS in this dispute. Furthermore, we have reason to believe the Senior Officer Amit Hadar has been participating in the organization of terrorist activities against Americans. The problem is, we have no concrete proof."

"No proof? You read Ziva's report, you must have. She gave you everything that he said to her, did to her. I saw him shoot her! What more evidence do you need?" asked Tony agitated.

"Real evidence, DiNozzo. Right now, it's David's word against all of Mossad. There is no way we can make a terrorist accusation based on one person's account of a story."

"You're using her as bait," said Gibbs in a quite voice. Tony looked from Gibbs to Kort and back again.

"No. No, Kort you can't. She's been through enough already. Amit Hadar will kill her. He tried and failed once and now you're giving him an open shot to do it again."

"Tony, it has to be done. Either we have Ziva get Hadar to talk or we send her back. Better to control the situation here, where we have jurisdiction. She'll be dead and buried before the plane lands in Tel Aviv otherwise." Tony could hear the pain in Gibbs voice as he spoke. He wanted to argue, but couldn't think of what to say. Kort filled the silence.

"Hadar has already been notified of her capture. He's already told me he wants to interrogate her so we'll let him. He should be here within the next half hour." Tony looked at Ziva in the screen. Her eyes were hard and distant. He hadn't seen that look since before she left. Tony could tell Ziva knew that she was their subject of discussion.

"Does she know?" asked Tony in a low voice.

"She's been briefed." replied Kort.

"Then can I talk to her? Alone?" asked Tony.