CHAPTER FIVE

The next morning…

The steel-framed sign pointing out into the Parisian street glistened and grabbed a few individuals' attentions as they passed by. Most were tourists and didn't care much about some minute building on the path to the Eiffel Tower. But the locals on that street knew about the building very well. The shiny green letters overhead read Dinozzo and Cassidy and had been home to their private investigation firm for nearly three years now.

Most of the people on that same street operated businesses of their own and were quite wary of the newcomers on the street. Tony could still remember the day Jim had fallen across his path quite literally. A case of stolen identity had brought Jim from England and planted him alongside Dinozzo to surveil a few people until they found out who was to blame. The "client" had insisted they be paid. And after splitting the dough evenly, they concluded it wasn't that bad of an arrangement after all.

"Tony, there you are." Jim leaped from his desk as Tony strolled into the office, thankful to be out of the rather busy Paris streets. They met half way, and Jim planted a newspaper in Tony's hands. "Take a look, mate."

Tony took the paper and flashed a grin. "What? Call girl ads?"

Jim rolled his eyes and flipped the paper over for him.

Tony scanned the article carefully before reading, "United States troops rescues handful of Israeli forces in Syrian raid on IDF investigative base."

"That's what I was telling you about. That's the same attack a former Mossad officer is said to have been killed in."

Tony found a seat before it was too late. He slammed the paper down and ran a hand over his face. "God, if we missed her by this much I'll never forgive myself. Have they released any names yet?"

Jim shook his head. "Still working on it. I did find out that they're shipping home the survivors within the week. A few U.S. soldiers are being discharged home. They lost some good soldiers too."

"I should call Gibbs."

"It's no use. Most of this info is need to know."

"Oh, you don't know my boss."

"Your boss?"

Tony chuckled. "I'll be old and gray and still be calling Leroy Jethro Gibbs my boss." He suddenly got up and darted for the door, calling over his shoulder, "Keep working on those names, Jim. I'll be back in an hour."

A few hours later…

"Good news, Miss Perez! You're cleared to go home. You'll be on a flight home in less than twenty-four hours."

Ziva had hardly moved from her position since yesterday. Staring straight up at the tent covering above her, she had tried in vain to remember who she was and why she was there. But it was no use.

"Miss Perez?!" The doctor tried getting her attention. He gently tapped her on the shoulder, receiving a death grip from Ziva as she snapped around to defend herself.

Ziva let go and wiped away a tear. "I—I'm so sorry."

"No," the doctor cleared his throat as he stood up and away from her cot. "It's okay. I've seen this countless times. You went through hell out there, soldier. You'll be back on your feet in no time though."

"What about my little girl?"

"Your family has been notified. I'm sure your sweet girl is eager to have you home."

"Thank you, doctor. Truly. I am grateful to you."

"Don't mention it."

Ziva watched as the doctor's figure faded out of the large tent and into the afternoon sunlight. Finally, she was going home. But where was home? They told her it was in the States. She wanted to believe that. The idea seemed so familiar yet foreign at the same time. As if she had more than one home. But that couldn't be. Not if her little girl was where they said she was. She knew that would be home. As soon as she was reunited with her then everything would be okay.

"Tony!" Abby yelped as the apartment door flew open, a flash racing through the kitchen to the master bedroom that she assumed was Tony Dinozzo. Setting aside the vegetable she was peeling for dinner, Abby raced into the bedroom to see Tony frantically packing a suitcase. Confused, Abby simply watched him stuff the bag with as much essentials as he could manage before zipping up the suitcase. He growled as the zipper stripped and left a gaping hole behind.

Abby had never seen Tony in such a state. He was usually meticulous and put together when he was packing something. That's not much to be said for other things such as his office desk or such. But things he truly cared about were never taken lightly. And that expensive-looking travel piece appeared to be taking quite the beating.

Tony huffed and stomped away into the closet returning empty-handed a short moment later. He then aimed for the exit, being stopped by Abby in the way. She had her arms crossed firmly as she stared into his soul.

"Abby," Tony chuckled. "Please let me by. There's a suitcase in the office I need to get." Abby didn't budge. "Abby, please. I don't have time to waste. Oh, that reminds me. Can you pick up Tali from school and watch her for a couple of days? I should be back in three days tops. Can you stay for that long?" Still, her poker face remained fastened upon her face. "Abby…"

"Tony," Abby broke her silence, cautiously raising a finger in his face. "Don't you dare keep a secret from me. What are you up to? Why are you packing to leave? I don't have a good track record with people who just rush away without telling me anything. I need an explanation. Now!"

Tony let out a sigh. He knew Abby would not let him go without an answer. "I'm going to Syria. On business."

"Okay," Abby nodded, and relaxed a bit. "Why the rush? It's dangerous, Tony."

"It's time sensitive."

"Well, duh. I can see that. But what for?"

"There are some soldiers being shipped home in a few days. I just need to get there to interview one before he leaves. That's all."

"Why? Can't you just let Gibbs know? I'm sure he'd be glad to help."

"No. Not right now. I have to speak with him myself."

"Well, okay." Abby finally stepped aside. But she still was not satisfied and followed Tony closely. "I don't believe you, Tony. What are you not telling me? You haven't been this agitated since Ziva…" Her words trailed off. "Just…maybe I could help. I may not be a part of NCIS anymore. But that doesn't mean I can't help one of my best friends."

Tony paused in his step in the threshold of the office and turned around, meticulously choosing his words. "It's Ziva, Abby. I think she's dead."

Abby hesitated. "Well, don't we already know that?"

"I thought we did," Tony admitted, swallowing a growing lump in his throat as memories of Trent Kort flashed in his mind. "But I'm not so sure now. I gave up searching for Ziva one year ago, Abby. I gave up. Completely. But yesterday there was an attack. My partner Cassidy says a former Mossad officer was killed during the attack."

"Tony, that could have been anyone. Mossad is huge."

"I realize that. But I've got a gut feeling about this one. Jim knows that they're shipping the surviving U.S. soldiers back home in a few days…and…and I keep hoping that by some weird miracle she's there." He finally stopped talking long enough for the emotions to overwhelm him.

"Aw, Tony," Abby consoled through her tears, racing up to wrap Dinozzo in her arms. "You poor thing." Suddenly Abby yanked back, gripping Tony at his shoulders and glaring into his eyes. "Don't go rushing off, Tony. Use your brain. What would Gibbs do?"

A grin slowly slipped onto Tony's face. "Shoot first and ask questions later?"

Abby punched him on the arm, triggering a grimace. "No, silly. Rule number three!"

Tony's forehead wrinkled. "Never be unreachable?"

"No, the other one." Abby waited, but Tony was drawing a blank. "Never believe what you're told. Double check!"

"Oh, yeah!" Tony laughed off the lapse in his brain waves. "I seriously should write those down."

"Don't worry about it. I'll send you a framed one like I have in my flat."

"Seriously? You framed them?!"

"Of course! Without Gibbs there with me all the time…it—it makes me feel like he's there helping me and giving me direction. So," she shifted subjects. "Let's go over the facts."

Tony and Abby began pacing the room together, sorting through everything Tony had logically pieced together so far until they had reached a believable conclusion. But then his gut still told him differently.

"Then I guess we chalk this one up to rule thirty-nine then," Abby concluded with a rough sigh, lethargically falling into a kitchen chair to rest.

Tony followed closely behind, sitting across from her. He then pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He smiled a little when he noticed he had never taken Ziva's number out. He flicked passed the number to escape his emotions and ended up on Gibbs' number. "Well," he flashed a grin. "Here goes nothing."