AN: I know that I try to keep the chapters in either Tony or Ziva's POV, but I had to change it for this one.


"GEAR UP! We've got a dead Marine downtown!"

Gibb's familiar call rang throughout the bullpen, causing the entire team, except for Ziva, to reach for their bags. Ziva merely glanced up from her computer and frowned- now five months pregnant, she no longer had to fight the urge to reach for her non-existent gear- she had long since learned that there was no point in doing so. She was stuck in headquarters until the babies were born, a fact that frustrated her to no end. While she was concerned for the health and safety of her babies, a part of her always longed for the action of field work.

Sighing heavily, Ziva returned her gaze back to her computer and continued to slog through the ever-growing stack of paperwork. Suddenly she felt a warm hand rest on her shoulder and looked up to see Tony's green eyes gazing down at her. He leaned over.

"Hey, I really miss having you around, Zi." he said sympathetically, rubbing her shoulder. Suddenly, a mischievous gleam sparked in his eyes and he put his mouth closer to her ear. "Maybe I can make it up to you later tonight; how does that sound my sexy little- Gibbs is right behind me, isn't he?" Ziva, who had started to grin when she saw the older agent approach, chuckled softly when Gibbs promptly smacked Tony on the back of the head, causing Tony to give his characteristic yelp.

"Keep it out of the office or you're out of the job DiNozzo. Now let's go!" Without waiting for a reply, Gibbs gave Ziva a quick nod and then started off to the elevator where McGee was already waiting.

"On your six, Boss!" Tony gave Ziva's shoulder one last affectionate squeeze, and then hurried after his teammates, barely making it into the elevator before the doors slid shut.

Ziva, smiling at Tony's antics, turned back to her desk. Her smile quickly faded when she saw the stack of paperwork waiting for her.

Here we go again she thought with an inward groan. Heaving a sigh, Ziva opened yet another file and began to type.


As Tony and McGee were pulling their gear from the NCIS truck, Tim turned to the senior agent.

"You know," he began, "I could really get used to this."

"Get used to what, Probie?" Tony grunted as he heaved his heavy backpack onto his shoulder and slammed the back doors shut.

"You know… not having Ziva drive. It's kind of nice not to have to go through the trip wondering every five seconds if I'm going to make it out alive… Not that I don't miss Ziva!" Tim said quickly, catching Tony's dirty look.

"You'd better be more careful about how you talk about my wife, McGoo, or I'm going to lock you in a room with her next time she's feeling hormonal." Tim gulped and Tony smiled. "Speaking of Ziva, both she and I were wondering if you would be willing to be the babies' godfather." McGee rolled his eyes, but Tony could see a small smile forming on his face.

"Wow, great transition there, DiNozzo." Tony glared at Tim, who replied with a shrug. "But yes, I'd be more than willing to be their godfather. Just curious, who are you thinking for their godmother?" McGee asked.

"Abby, of course. Who else would we choose? She practically made Ziva swear to have her as their godmother." Tim grinned at that. Just then Gibb's voice rang out.

"Are you two planning on standing there all day, or are you actually going to do your jobs?"

Tony and Tim jogged over to where Gibbs was standing next to the dead Marine. The Marine, wearing a sweat-soaked T-shirt with the words "US Marine Corps" on it, was draped over a chain-link fence, and two construction workers stood nervously nearby- clearly, they had been the ones to who had found the body. As Tony approached the body, he narrowed his eyes. He felt like he had seen this man's face before, but where? Before he could think about it anymore, Gibbs spoke again.

"About time you two got here." he growled. "DiNozzo, take pictures. McGee, use that fingerprint scanner of yours and see if you can get a name, the local LEOs couldn't find an ID. When you're done, take statements. What've we got, Duck?" Gibbs finished, turning to the ME as he and Jimmy rolled the gurney up.

"Well Jethro, it looks like this man did not spend his last moments in peace. Based on the sweat stains, he may have been exercising, or he may have been running away from an attacker. I will have to take him down before I can take his liver temperature, so when you are done with the orientation photographs, please let me know Anthony." Ducky replied.

"Just a few more, Ducky." Tony said. He snapped the last of the needed photos, and then helped Ducky and Jimmy lift the body off the fence and onto the waiting gurney, where Ducky inserted the liver probe and read the temperature.

"According to the probe, the time of death was about six hours ago." Ducky removed the probe and began to search the body for wounds. "Although I will need to confirm it at autopsy, from the lack of obvious wounds, and the position of his head and neck, I will say that this man's cause of death was a broken neck. Whether it was accidental or a murder, we will have to see. Did Timothy get this man's name?"

Tim nodded. "Yeah, it's Corporal Brenton Cors."

Tony stiffened when he heard the name. Suddenly he knew why the Marine looked so familiar. Corporal Cors had been on their flight to Tel Aviv when Ziva had gone to talk to her father. Gibbs, noticing Tony's tense expression, motioned the senior agent over.

"Do you recognize this guy, DiNozzo?" Gibbs hooked a thumb towards Cors' body. Tony gave a curt nod in response.

"Yeah Boss, he was one of the Marines on our protection detail to Tel Aviv. He made the plastic bag joke to Ziva and she almost bit his head off, remember?" Gibbs merely grunted in response and turned back to the body. Ducky, who had been placing the Corporal's body in the body bag, stopped suddenly.

"Hello, hello, what do we have here?" The Scotsman cheerfully pulled something out of the Marine's waistband, but then his happy look quickly vanished.

"Jethro, come look at this." Gibbs, Tony and Tim quickly went over to Ducky, who held up the object, revealing it to be a videotape. At first Tony was confused. How could a simple tape be any threat to them? Then Ducky moved the tape closer to them and Tony's gut twisted painfully when he saw the typed note that was taped onto it.

"Dear NCIS" the note started.

"Since you were so keen to accept Ziva back into your organization, perhaps you will change your mind about her when you see this. It would be very unwise of you not to watch it."

Gibbs looked back at Tony, whose hands were balled into fists.

"Rule 39, Boss." Tony growled through gritted teeth.

"There is no such thing as coincidence."


Dun dun dun! What's on that tape? Cliffy!

I'm evil. Sorry.

You'll have to REVIEW to find out!

Yeah, sure, you becha!