A/N: Thanks for the reviews and the questions. Keep them coming! I'll answer them in a few days.

Today's chapter is below. Not much to say about it, but I hope you enjoy it. It's more like a stepping stone.

I'll post again soon. Love you all! Don't forget to review!

Tony pulled up the van to the crime scene. It was a residential neighborhood, and the family, friends, acquaintances, and passerbys began to crowd around the yellow tape. In the center stood several Metro PD officers, Gibbs, and the body. The body definitely appeared to be Navy—he was clad in a pair of khakis. His dog tags were lying near the body, which was facing down. Ziva was taking photos and McGee was collecting evidence.

"Looks like someone scratched off everything but the 'U.S. Navy' on these," He said, looking closer at them.

At Ducky's nod, he and Palmer turned over the man, only to discover his face was completely disfigured and unrecognizable.

"How long, Duck?" Gibbs said.

"Has he been dead? About two days, give or take a few hours. I'll know more when I do the autopsy," He said, looking over the body.

"ID?" Gibbs asked Tony.

"Nah, no wallet. Anything identifiable on his uniform has been taken off. Guess we'll be relying on DNA," Tony said.

"Someone went through a lot of trouble to cover up his identity," McGee put in.

"Guess they didn't think about the uniform," Ziva mused, snapping another shot.

"Matthew! Oh, Matthew!" Sobbed a blond woman, trying to cross the yellow tape. A PD officer took her by the arms.

"I'll take it from here," Tony said, walking under the tape and leading the woman to the park across the street.

"Is that my husband? Is that him?"

"I'm Special Agent DiNozzo,"

"My husband… is that man over there… Is that him?"

"Tell me about your husband,"

"His name is Matthew, Matthew Cunningham. He's been missing for two days. He's in the Navy. We live just down the street…He has short brown hair just like that man over there," She said through her sobs, her words barely intelligible. "Is that him?"

Tony handed her a tissue. "We don't know yet,"

"Well when will you know?" She said, her voice weak and blue eyes flooded with tears. Tony could practically hear the sound of her heart, beating fast with the ache of not knowing.

"It's gonna be a couple days. What's your name?"

"Julia," She said, sniffing.

"Julia, did you file a missing person's report?" She nodded. He eyes didn't leave the scene behind him. "Okay. I'll call you if we find out anything, alright? Here's my card. You call if you need anything, you understand?" She nodded as a PD officer that Tony had motioned to come over took her away gently. He followed her with his eyes.

"Wow," Ziva said from behind him.

"What?" He asked.

"That was very caring, Tony," She commented, almost sounding surprised, but somehow not. In truth, she was proud of him.

"Yeah, well, I can't imagine seeing a body and then wondering if it's your husband," He said. He realized what he said, and shot his eyes back to Ziva. "Ziva, I--"

"It is alright, Tony," She said softly.

"I just wanted to protect you," He said sincerely.

She nodded, the slightest glimmer of tears in her eyes. "When they said you were dead…" She opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words. She looked around, avoiding his gaze. She laughed a little. "That morning, before I got the call from Gibbs, I just… I could just feel it. I knew something was wrong, something was different about that day,"

"Gibbs said you were pretty out of it," She nodded. "I am sorry,"

"I know," Ziva said, her eyes kind. She touched his arm, and walked away.

It was a step.