The days following Jimmy's transplant passed by in a blur for team Gibbs. Jimmy was now out of the ICU and into a regular room. He would remain in the hospital for two weeks to a month. From there he would be moved to a rehab hospital. Overall he was recovering well but he still tired easily and was still susceptible to infection. For that reason visitations were still restricted. He was now permitted visitors from outside his family but visits were still limited in time. Visitors were also required to be checked out by a doctor and were required to wear gowns, gloves, and a mask. Jimmy's miraculous recovery did bring some peace to the team but still a dark cloud loomed in the distance. The grief was still fresh and it was almost as if a war were brewing.


Tony had officially lost his job at the school. He was hurt and angry, but not exactly surprised. He had ignored the principal's calls and blown off the meetings with the county counselor. Maybe deep down he wanted to be fired. He knew that he needed to do right by Jonah but he was still struggling with a lot of things. He was still mourning for Tali and trying to make sense of his bizarre new world. He spent most of his time with Jonah and Gibbs but would occasionally visit Jimmy in the hospital and bring food over to Breena. While he had managed to keep his meetings with the school board appointed shrink a secret from Gibbs. He was not able to even think about blowing off his appointments with Dr. Kate's Sister. Gibbs drove him too and from each appointment and would go as far as walking him into the office building and not budging from the waiting room until Rachel came and led him back to her office. That was how it had gone today. He leaned back on the couch and nervously tapped his fingers on the side.

"How is Jimmy doing?" Rachel asked.

"He's doing well. Breena is doing a good job at keeping him from being depressed. She did say that he would be seeing you once the restrictions have been redacted." Tony explained.

"I can't go into detail but it is common procedure." Rachel replied.

"I'm glad he's doing OK. Breena was a mess when it wasn't looking good." Tony replied.

"I was praying very hard for him and all of you." Rachel replied.

"Thank you" Tony replied.

"It is no trouble but we need to get back on track." Rachel replied.

"Tali" Tony sighed.

"How are you doing today?" Rachel asked.

"I got a call from the school today. I have been let go." Tony replied.

"Tony that's wrongful termination." Rachel remarked.

"Not so much. I have been ignoring calls and not going to my meetings with the county appointed shrink." Tony explained.

"Tony" Rachel warned.

"Maybe I don't want to go back!" Tony cried.

"Well you have to get back into the workforce eventually. Do you have any idea what you want to do? Do you want to return to NCIS?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know" Tony mumbled.

"Well think about it. I am sure that Gibbs will support you as long as you need but you need some normalcy. For yourself and for Jonah." Rachel explained.

"I don't things will ever be normal again." Tony admitted.

"Maybe not the normal you knew before Tali died but you will find a new normal. Trust me. I felt the same way after Kate died but just like you in found normalcy." Rachel explained.

"I had the nightmare again." Tony confessed.

"About Tali's death?" Rachel questioned.

"Yes" Tony replied.

"How long did it take you to calm down this time?" Rachel asked.

"Two hours" Tony replied.

"How long did it take last time? When was the last time?" Rachel asked.

"Most of the day and it was about a week ago." Tony replied.

"That is an improvement. When we first started meeting it was nightly and you never quite came down from it." Rachel explained.

"I saw his face." Tony replied.

"The driver?" Rachel asked.

"Yes and it was Sacks." Tony replied.

"Is he still on the lam?" Rachel asked.

"Unfortunately" Tony sighed.

"He will be caught and brought to justice soon." Rachel assured.

"Your mouth to God's ears." Tony replied.

"Now how are things with Ziva? Have you spoken since the incident?" Rachel asked.

"She is threatening a restraining order." Tony replied.

"Maybe it is time for couple's counseling." Rachel commented.

"Which part of restraining order do you not understand?" Tony demanded.

"You need to work things out for Tali's memory." Rachel insisted.

"She hates my guts!" Tony cried.

"Yes but do you hate her?" Rachel questioned.

"No" Tony confessed, barely above a whisperer.


Ziva was desperate to get out of the apartment. Monique had gone back to wherever she was now and Ducky was taking a shift baby sitting Victoria. She almost called Abby but knew that the perky Forensic Scientist would just try to get her to speak with Tony. Ditto for McGee. She didn't know Bishop that well but figured that she would take Tony's side. Vance was bound to be the same. She wished that they would just leave her alone. She did not love Tony anymore. She hated him. He was a trained agent. He could have done something. He should have done something. She refused to believe that her daughter's death was unpreventable. Maybe her coma was a planned and deliberate poisoning but Tali's death was just an accident. An accident at the hands of her irresponsible father. Oh how she hated him. In a fit of rage she kicked over a box and the contents spilled out over the floor. She picked up the contents it was a scrapbook of Tali's far too short life. On one page was the pregnancy test and a picture of the first ultrasound. There was a printed out copy of the text she had sent to Tony. On the very first page was the photograph of Tony and her in Paris. He looked so happy and so did she. Also in the box was a letter. It was addressed to the PO box she had used when she first came to Israel and was weary of giving her true address. It was from Tony and it was mailed out while she lay in her coma.

"Dear Ziva,

I am not sure why I am writing this. Abby says it will help me deal with closure. God I wish that you were here. Tali is so perfect. I wish that we could enjoy her together. I just left Israel and am now in Paris with my dad and our girl. Dad is about the same. He was great with Tali at first but I fear he is slipping back into his old self. Well you know what they say about an old dog. Enough about my daddy issues. I just wanted to say that I love you and that I miss you. We all do but especially Tali. Oh Z if ii had known I would have saved you. I would die a thousand deaths for you. This is so pointless. I mean you are dead. You are dead and burned into ash on the grounds of your farmhouse. This is the mother of all cliche's but what is heaven like? Is it the white and gold cloudy utopia they describe in Sunday school or is it different. God, this is so stupid. No disrespect to the G man but it's not like you can read this. You are dead. This letter is sitting in a PO box unless it was destroyed at the post office. God Ziva I miss you. You brought me joy and optimism. Sweet Tali is doing that now but I need my woman and she needs her Ima. I love Tali and have no idea what I would do if I lost her. Here's another cliche. I love you more than anything. Rest in Peace my darling Ninja Angel and know that I will see you again someday. I am working to be a better man to ensure that. Because Lord knows I have fucked up a lot and need a miracle of redemption. Enough ranting a cliches. I love you and always will.

Love Forever Anthony, D. DiNozzo, Jr.


Ziva clutched the letter to her chest and fell to the floor. Tony had been a mess without her. Tali was all that had kept him going and in an instant she was ripped away. Leaving him void of everything he loved. Tali was dead, Senior was back to his old tricks, and he thought that she was dead. When she was alive. She had become a stone wall and closed herself off to him. He was hurting as much as she was if not more and that was why everybody wanted to work it out. Not so they could get some sappy, romantic, storybook ending, but so Tony could finally find peace. Through all the terrible things she had done. Tony had never wavered in his love for her. One tragedy that she knew wasn't even his fault and she hated him. She did still love him but she did not deserve him. She did not deserve Tali either. She grabbed her gun and held it to her head. She placed her finger on the trigger and gently began to push back.


It was a busy afternoon and people were rushing by on the street outside of Ziva's apartment complex. Suddenly the sounds of kids laughing, adults arguing, cars speeding by, and dogs barking was interrupted by a scream and a gunshot.


A/N: Was Ziva successful or did somebody knock the gun out of her hand just in time? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.