"Director Ben-Gidon, huh?" Malachi smiled with a hint of something in his voice. "So formal, Liat." He finally lifted his sunglasses and looked her in the eye. "It is good to see you." He smiled softly, kissing both of her cheeks in a greeting and Liat looked away.

"Mal," Tony stepped forward deciding to intervene unable to help himself and felt Gibbs penetrating gaze to the back of his skull for doing so, "Good flight?" He extended his hand.

"Not bad, Agent DiNozzo." Malachi smiled and shook Tony's hand. "So, how is she?" He asked peering around Tony and catching first sight of Ziva. "Hello Ziva." He greeted her and Tony stepped aside but stayed close. "You are looking well." He kissed both of her cheeks.

"Likewise, Director." Ziva greeted him with a soft smile, eyeing him cautiously and steeling glances at Liat as she backed away, out of his line of immediate sight.

"Your wounds have all healed?" He asked looking Ziva up and down.

"For the most part, yes." Ziva answered honestly but not getting into details. "And you, how is life as the Director of Mossad treating you?"

"I never knew the long hours your father put in at this position. I believe I may never sleep again." He smiled softly and saw her immediately tense and then let it go. His eyes tracking to the others feeling them all take a step in towards Ziva in protective mode at the mere mention of her father and took notice of the change. "McGee," He extended his hand, "Always nice to see you. Agent Barrett." He greeted her as well with a kiss to her cheek. "And I do not believe I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance," He smiled his charming smile at Agent Borin.

"Special Agent Abigail Borin." She smiled and extended her hand to greet him forgoing his cheek kisses she'd witnessed with the other women. "Coast Guard." He certainly was handsome and charming she thought, eyeing his interactions with all in a curious nature, especially Agent Tuvia's knowing the back story now.

"A pleasure." He smiled and flipped his sunglasses down again, all business, "Let us take a look at the crime scene, shall we?"

They walked down to the beach where the yacht was stilled marooned, waiting for his arrival. Liat lingered in the back and Ziva slowed her gait as did E.J. to walk on either side of her, in an unconscious stance of protection. McGee and Tony stood side-by-side walking directly in front of them and offered a buffer of protection even from the line of sight between Mal and Liat.

Gibbs and Borin took point in explaining the manner in which they found the bodies, pointing to bits of evidence and what they knew while the others remained unceremoniously quiet and simply listened. When it was decided that NCIS had jurisdiction and should take the lead, Borin, Ben-Gidon and Gibbs decided to have the boat hauled into NCIS for Abby to go over and Borin would be making the journey north with them to continue the investigation from D.C.

"Liat," Malachi stopped her as they were all walking towards their vehicles, reaching for her hand and holding it looking down at the diamond ring on her finger. They couldn't read his reaction or eyes behind the dark glasses. "Something you forget to tell me?" He asked in Hebrew quietly.. "You are engaged?"

Liat refused to answer and pulled her hand away.

"I asked you a question, Agent Tuvia and I expect an answer." He ordered again in Hebrew speaking to her in a rather rough voice, annoyed at Liat's lack of response and forcing her to look at him and respond.

Ziva took a step forward, making Gibbs, McGee and Tony all do the same going on her reaction. They couldn't understand what was being said but had some inclination given the physical interaction between the two with Malachi inspecting her hand and ring and Liat pulling it away.

"Do not act as though you are surprised, Director. You are the one who sent him after all," Liat answered forcefully in Hebrew, "For this very reason, yes?" She challenged him with dark eyes, feeling her heart pounding and angry on the rise at his reaction to her engagement.

Malachi seemed taken a back and gathered himself though anger was clearly visible in the tight set of his jaw, realizing they had an audience and cocked his head to the side, "Congratulations then. We will speak of this more and why I was not informed, Agent Tuvia." He continued in Hebrew and then switched to English, "Agent Gibbs, I would like Agent Tuvia to ride with me to D.C. we have many things to discuss."

"I am protecting Ziva. I do not leave her side." Liat immediately responded using her orders to protect Ziva as her own personal shield, stepping back beside Ziva, not wanting to be left alone with Malachi right now for the long 3-hour car ride north.

Malachi smiled looking over the two and how fiercely Liat responded in not wanting to leave Ziva or her side. "Then, Agent David is more then welcome to ride along with us." He answered smoothly extending his hand to Ziva towards his waiting vehicle.

"Not happening." Tony responded immediately feeling his heart pound at the thought of Ziva riding in the car with Malachi when they still weren't sure of where his loyalties lie.

"Agent David rides with me." Gibbs stepped forward feeling the same protectiveness coming over him. He didn't want to subject Liat to the long car ride trapped with him either, seeing as how he was using his position to pull rank on her for a more personal conversation. Malachi had the final say in Liat given he was the Director of Mossad and she their Liason but he hoped the man would relent and leave her with his team.

"And I stay with Ziva." Liat reaffirmed that she was not leaving Ziva's side. "Those were your orders, Director Ben-Gidon, the reason I am here, correct?" She reminded him with a challenging tone, calling him out in front of the others in a round about way that he was trying to use this time to speak with her about personal things, throwing aside his previous orders for her just because of his arrival.

"Fine." Malachi raised his hands slightly in defeat and smiled at their tactic, "But we will speak later, Agent Tuvia." He moved towards his vehicle where his guard had the door open and waiting, "We have much to discuss it seems." He added in Hebrew looking at her pointedly and disappeared into the car.

"You two," Gibbs nodded towards Liat and Ziva, "With me. You three." He nodded towards Tony, McGee and E.J., "Get in the car. Go." He ordered them quickly wanting them out of the parking lot and already on edge. They all began to move quickly watching Malachi's vehicle already on the move.

"Never a dull moment with your team, is there, Gibbs?" Borin smiled at him having watched the entire interaction with great fascination. She knew this case and investigation would be anything but dull. The air was still charged and humming from the fiery encounter between the Director of Mossad and the NCIS Mossad Liason and Gibbs teams protectiveness of Ziva screaming to the forefront in their quiet way.

Gibbs sighed and took a breath watching his team split up and get into their assigned vehicles, "If it were dull, something would be wrong." He shook his head once, realizing how true that statement was. Every time things had gone quiet with his team, it meant something more sinister was happening in the background. Like the summer Ziva had stayed in Israel. They'd had no contact, everything was too calm and then all hell broke lose when it was revealed she'd been killed on the Damocles.

"I'll follow you." Borin nodded with a soft head nod and they both moved quickly towards their vehicles.


"Liat, what was that about?" Gibbs asked directly once he'd slid into the driver's seat with Liat riding Shotgun and Ziva sitting in the middle of the backseat as she always did now, away from the windows. He didn't bother to mix words, he needed to know what the status was of the situation though he had a fairly good idea.

"He was angry with me for not disclosing that I'd become engaged, Agent Gibbs. I told him that he should not pretend to act surprised. He sent Asa after all." Liat countered trying to keep any emotion from her voice, "His Mossad spies would have certainly informed him almost the moment it occurred anyway. He was just using his authority to react angrily that I did not tell him personally." She knew him well in that regard to read his true thoughts and feelings from his response. Liat inhaled a sarcastic laugh shaking her head and looking out the window, lowering her own sunglasses to hide her eyes, "He sends the man to propose to me and then reacts with jealousy when I actually accept. So typical." She added quietly and Gibbs and Ziva shared a glance in the rearview mirrors reflection.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Gibbs asked wondering how these two fiery individuals were going to be able to conduct themselves on this investigation or if he'd need to remove Liat temporarily.

"Not from my end, Agent Gibbs." Liat answered him without looking at him, deciding resolutely that she would not give Malachi anything to use against her from here on out. His abuse of authority and acting jealous only angered her further.


When they arrived back in D.C. it was straight to work for them all. Ziva looked at her old desk sadly and walked past, setting her things down on the other side of the wall where she shared a sad glance with Liat who was sitting in the space beside her.

Gibbs took a seat at his desk to go over his paperwork quickly from what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. When McGee, Tony and E.J. all took their seats in absolute silence, he took notice as it was never that quiet when they'd all returned. His eyes flashed up to see all of their heads hung low and E.J. looking positively guilty to be sitting back down at Ziva's desk across from his. He remembered he had switched them and had yet to switch them back. His phone rang before he could continue with his thoughts and answered.

"Preliminary findings are finished, Jethro." Ducky informed him quickly.

"On our way." He nodded to his team as Ben-Gidon stepped off the elevator with Borin, the two having arrived at the same time and clearing security.

"You have your own desk." Malachi smiled looking down at Liat as he passed, seemingly surprised and amused by the thought as he passed she and Ziva.

"Ducks waiting, let's go." Gibbs stood motioning for Gidon and Borin to follow.

They rode the elevator down to Autopsy mostly in silence and Borin took note of the chilly air between them. Team Gibbs was purposely holding this man at arms length and given he was the Director of Mossad, she could certainly understand why…but their reactions seemed more on a personal nature.

"What do you have, Ducky?" Gibbs asked charging into the room, ready to get down to business.

"Director Ben-Gidon," Ducky acknowledge Malachi with a slight head nod as a sign of respect for his new title and position, "Abigail," he turned his attention towards Agent Borin with a smile, "Always a pleasure. " She smiled in turn and Gibbs sighed with hands on hips, indicating he was waiting on Ducky.

"Our Navy SEAL, Tyler Floren." Ducky began with the body closest to them. "Appears to have died from a single gunshot wound through his front temporal lobe. The wound would indicate close range. His body shows some signs of bruising that are common in someone who has recently been in close hand-to-hand combat. The bruising on the other two bodies would suggest, that before they were all killed, they had been fighting. Most likely each other." He moved down the row towards the next body.

"Our Mossad Officer, Rachel Cohen." Ducky presented standing over her body, "Appears to have died from a single gunshot wound through the base of her skull, that likely severed her spinal cord immediately at her brain stem." He rolled her head to the side slightly so the others could see her entrance wound. "Ironic, how much she looks like our very own Ziva." He shook his head sadly looking down at the dark haired woman.

Malachi's facial expression had changed considerably as he looked at her face and Gibbs took notice in his change in demeanor, the man's eyes never leaving the woman's face and recalling what he'd said about them being friends as well as fine officers.

"The husband, Ducky?" Gibbs prompted the man to move on, not wanting to think about or be reminded of how much alike the woman looked to Ziva.

"Mr. Cohen." Ducky moved to the third and final body, turning the man's head to the side to once again reveal the kill shot. "Tragically, met the same end as his wife. Single gunshot wound through the base of the skull. I removed the bullets from all three of our victims and sent them to Abby already. Mr. Palmer and I should be finished with their complete autopsies by tomorrow morning." He announced.

Gibbs nodded at Ducky who saw Malachi's reaction staring down at the man's face and left them alone, backing away as did Agent Borin.

"It's hard to see someone you cared about lying in autopsy." Gibbs spoke quietly, poking the bear to see what reaction he may get, still unsure of where Malachi's loyalties were. "Ziva was lying on this exact table when I called you."

"Yes, Agent Gibbs. I did what I had to do in order to save Ziva's life." Malachi responded not looking at Gibbs or taking his eyes from the man's face, "I have already apologized for the pain that caused all of you. Fortunately, for all of you, she was not really gone. My friends…were not so lucky." His eyes flashed up to look intently at Gibbs. "I did not send them to their deaths. I did not give this order."

"Then lets start talking about who did." Gibbs challenged him to cut the small talk and get down to business. "What do you know about the Hashshashini Project, Director?" Malachi was already aware they knew of the project, given that Liat had informed him weeks ago when they'd turned to him for help. That had yet to hear anything in response to that request and now the ball was in Malachi and Mossad's court.

"This is not the appropriate place to discuss such things, Agent Gibbs." Malachi stepped even closer with face near Gibbs and speaking quietly with a challenging tone. "There are other things that need to be addressed first."

"Like what?" Gibbs held back his temper, not liking Gidon's attitude and refusal to answer the question.

"Your mole problem, or starters." Malachi's voice dropped even further, near whispering levels. "Your walls have ears."

Gibbs' eyes narrowed reading Malachi's eyes and seeing he knew more then he was letting on, "What do you know?"

"A great deal more then you." Malachi stepped back. "Let us find a more appropriate place to discuss this. Shall we?"

Gibbs nods his consent and steps back. Malachi steps forward towards Noah Cohen's body and mutters a prayer in Hebrew that he doesn't understand but remembers Hadar doing the same in Israel over Rivkin's body on arrival. He moves towards Rachel and then does the same, standing above her head as Gibbs, Borin, Ducky and Palmer looked on.

The three of them, along with Malachi's constant bodyguard, walked back to the elevator in silence. No one speaking as they ascended towards the Bull Pen once more. They didn't expect any new information from Ducky's preliminary findings, with their causes of death fairly obvious when they'd arrived on the scene, though the indication that there was a fight before their deaths had been news. They would have to wait until Abby had further processed the evidence to get any further on the case and in the meantime, they had other matters to discuss. The mole in NCIS being one of them.

"Agent Gibbs," Malachi announced when the elevator was coming to a stop, "I need to speak with you alone. Somewhere secure."

Gibbs nodded as the doors opened and Borin excused herself when Gibbs eyes asked her to go ahead.

The doors to the elevator closed once more and Gibbs hit the Emergency Stop button, sending them into darkness.

"Go ahead," Gibbs motioned the man, "Its secure." He eyed the guard behind him suspiciously and then looked back to Malachi.

"I will not discuss anything, especially not The Hashshashini Project until your facility has been secured and thus far, Agent Gibbs, it is not." Malachi informed him, "You have a mole problem."

"So do you from what I hear." Gibbs challenged him, shifting on his feet, "Reis." He offered the man's name as bait to see how Malachi would react. Reis had been the name of the man Liat identified as the one who had been helping Malachi take over as Director and turned up in a photo with Illan Bodnar.

"He has been dealt with." Malachi quickly answered, brushing aside the subject, "Your problem however, still exists."

"What do you know?" Gibbs asked tired of playing this game. "You clearly believe you know more, Director, so lets hear it."

"You do not trust me, Agent Gibbs. I am not blind. Your entire teams disposition has shifted in my presence from my previous visit to now." Malachi offered with a small smile crossing his arms over his chest. "You all regard me with much suspicion. Have I wronged you in some manner that I am not aware?"

"Everyone is guilty until proven innocent from here on out in regards to association with Ziva." Gibbs answered, avoiding Malachi's direct question with specific details about why they were suspicious of him. "Put your cards on the table, Malachi and we'll see where that leaves you."

"Then consider this a gift in proving my innocence, Agent Gibbs." Malachi smiled at Gibbs bluntness and protective nature towards Ziva, "I know the identity of the great Cyber Terrorist you seek. The one called, 'MC."

"Who is it?" Gibbs asked with interest fully peeked.

"He is the baby brother of someone I am certain you are familiar with." Malachi's smiled faded and he took a deep breath, "Saleem Igor Ulman."

"Saleem?" Gibbs felt his heart start to pound at another connection to the man who had tortured Ziva for so many months.

Malachi nodded slowly, "And he works in this very building, Agent Gibbs. Side by side… every single day with plenty of access to Ziva." He snapped his fingers and the guard behind him held up Malachi's briefcase, cuffed to his wrist. Malachi reached inside to collect a folder.

"Name." Gibbs demanded with anger rising and fear taking over quickly that Saleem's brother was working in their building with access to Ziva.

"His birth name is Kahlil Hussein Ulman." Malachi answered handing the folder over to Gibbs, "But you know him as NCIS Security Systems Administrator Kevin Hussein."

Gibbs felt all the air suddenly leave his lungs flipping open the folder and staring down at the photo of the young man he'd seen nearly daily. The young seemingly geeky techie who solved all of their technology problems, was responsible for uping their security after MTAC was hacked and as it turned out, had now been revealed to be responsible for the hacking to begin with. His mind flashed to the man helping them fool Ajay Khan just weeks ago to give up the Cyber Terrorist MC's IP location in an attempt to hunt him down. His celebratory dancing with both Tony and Ziva, standing right beside her, at their job well done. Saleem's brother within inches of Ziva.

"How do you know this?" Gibbs asked near breathless looking over the file, written in Hebrew.

"I went looking into how our genetically-altered flowers for the Project Ziva's father created, ended up here in America and used on an attempt in Ziva's life." Malachi explained. "Shipments were sent and in back tracking how that was possible when I'd never authorized such a thing, we discovered that the system had been hacked and orders given under my name. The hacker responsible for the shipment was the man called, MC. As for the rest, it is tied to Reis and the Hashshashini Project which I would like to discuss at length in time, but now is not it." Malachi purposely flipped to the end of the file and revealed another photo, of three young men with their arms around each other. "The brothers Ulman. Saleem, Kahlil, and Ashour."

Gibbs couldn't ignore the evidence in front of him. There sat the unmistakable face of Saleem Ulman with his arm wrapped around the man he knew to be Kevin, their tech geek. Quiet, harmless, Kevin who seemed to be more smitten with Ziva then intent on killing her.

"You think he's the one who placed the flower next to Ziva?" Gibbs asked Malachi directly, hearing what he'd said about MC being responsible for the flower shipment to the US.

"If he didn't, he helped whomever did by covering for them. Looping the security footage in the hallway leading to Ziva's room that day, covering their tracks." Malachi shifted his weight, "He has access to everything, Agent Gibbs. Unlimited access to every single thing you do at NCIS from your emails, phone calls, GPS locations, files, where you are at and what is being said at all times within this building. He has the ability to hear and see everything you do. He is in place as the perfect mole."

"He was placed by Bodnar?" Gibbs asked trying to understand how this went down. Kevin had been working with them for quite some time. Long before Director Eli David had been gunned down and yet had a part in the most recent events of the attack on Ziva while she was recovering. An attack orchestrated by Illan Bodnar, linking these two men.

"Well that's the other part of this situation that we need do discuss, Agent Gibbs, as it seems to all be tied together." Malachi sighed uncrossing his arms and instead putting them on his hips. "Ilan Bodnar did not place Kahlil Ulman into this office as a mole. Director Eli David did."