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"EVERYTHING"

Chapter VII - Emails & Traces

He wasn't sure of how many hours it had been but, Tony was thankful that it was over— for now. This was the third night in a row that Tali had cried herself to sleep, not wanting comfort from anyone or anything except her Ima . It was just hitting the six month mark of her being gone and, while she had been okay so far with just being with Abba, these last few days had proven that Tali desperately needed her mother.

Tony's heart kept breaking over and over. He was managing to get the hang of being a single dad but, truth be told, he wanted Tali's mother around too. Especially now that she was noticing Ziva's absence. Unfortunately, his quest for finding Ziva had become a challenge. Not that he wasn't trying hard but, being a single dad meant keeping up with his ever growing and hyperactive two year old. There really just wasn't any time to dig deep like he wanted to. He needed help— major help.

The thought crossed his mind on a few different occasions to reach out to his NCIS family back home, but then he would always dismiss it. Tony figured, since he had changed his number and dropped all communication after the third month, that they probably wouldn't be willing to help now. It was bridge he hadn't meant to burn but it happened in the wake of a moment of deep depression. They were a constant reminder of how life used to be and he was trying to move on. Now though, he wished he hadn't pushed them away.

But something in this moment, while looking down at his sleeping daughter's tear stained face, resurged his desire to reach out and ask for help. If not for him, than for Tali. She didn't deserve to have to cry herself to sleep every night in the anguish of not being able to understand why Ima was gone. If Ziva really was alive, like he believed she was, then Tali deserved to have her Ima. Sure, they might all think he was crazy for saying Ziva was alive after grieving her death for six months but, he knew if he was confident then they would follow his lead.

Deciding to see if he could gauge what their reactions towards him might be, he pulled out his laptop and signed in to an old email account. Before he stopped communication, that was the account where McGee and Abby reached out to him. Not knowing what to expect, he was floored when he saw that he had over 200 unread emails. The most recent of which had just been sent an hour ago by his former Probie.

Tony let out a deep sigh as he clicked on the newest email. With no subject title, he was sure it was probably just McGee ranting about his decision to cut his family off. He definitely wasn't expecting to see the exact opposite when the words popped up on the screen:

'Tony,

Where are you? Are you okay? How's Tali? I really hope all is well. Look, we really need to talk. Last time I traced your cell you were in Tel Aviv, are you still there? Please respond. We've been trying to get ahold of you for two months now. I know you haven't opened my other emails, or Abby's, but hopefully you see this one. It's really important we talk to you. We're STILL family! Please, just reach out.

- Tim'

And there is was, right at the end in big bold letters— 'We're STILL family'. Tony smiled as he realized his previous assumptions were wrong. They still cared. His family still cared. He made up in his mind at that moment to respond back to his surrogate little brother but was side tracked Tali's screaming cries. Taken aback by the sudden sound, he nearly sprang off his bed but recovered quickly and sat the laptop on the night stand.

"Shhhhhh, it's okay Talikins", he lifted the toddler off the bed and wrapped her tightly in his arms. "Abba's here baby girl. I got you." He stood and paced the floor, bouncing Tali as he did so to try and calm her. When the tears eventually subsided and the screams were dulled to a small whimper, he pulled her back slightly to look down at her face. "Did you have a bad dream princess?"

Tali just stared into his eyes and whimpered more. That was Tony's indicater that he was right. He sighed and clutched her tighter, "I'm sorry baby girl." He glanced over at his laptop with McGee's email still opened, "Guess the Probie's gonna have to wait a little while longer."

Walking back over to the bed, Tony sat leaning against the headboard with Tali still nestled into his chest. He reached over to the laptop with one hand and closed the email then opened the folder he had created for all the Disney princess movies he had downloaded for Tali. "How about we watch Mulan, my little warrior princess?"

Tony tickled her sides, eliciting a much needed giggle from Tali. Her eyes were bright again and her smile matched. Bad dreams forgotten for the moment as her view fixed to the opening scenes of her favorite movie. Tony was thankful, again. For the moment, he had won the epic battle of keeping Tali's mind off of the reality around her. He wasn't sure how long the moment would last as it got harder ever day, but he prayed while it did that he would be able to reach out to McGee and ask for the help he desperately needed.

As soon as she goes back to sleep, I'll call Probie. Hopefully he won't think I'm crazy when tell him what I need.

.

"Okay, so we know Petty Officer Marks was last seen leaving the bar around 2300 then he walked straight up Main towards the deli", Bishop ran through case information for what seemed like the thousandth time. Their latest case, finding a missing petty officer, had given them all a headache from hitting dead end after dead end.

McGee clicked the remote to pull up a map on the plasma as he chimed in, "surveillance from outside the deli shows him walking by and crossing the street at the corner. Then we lose him right around ..."

"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! OH MY GOD!" If the sound of her voice didn't give her away, the thuds of heavy platform boots running towards them at full speed did.

McGee turned around just in time to brace for impact as Abby squeezed him in a bear hug. "Abs", he choked out, "can't ... breathe."

"Oh!" She let go with a giggle then jumped up and down. Her signature pigtails bouncing with her as she did so. "I'm just so excited!"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Excited about what", he asked from his seated position at his desk.

"I found him!"

"Ya tracked down my missing petty officer?"

"Nope!" Abby's smile grew wider, "I found someone better!"

McGee looked at her confused, "Abs, who's better to find than the petty officer we've been looking for for two weeks now?"

She smirked, "How about the former Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo we've been looking for for two months now!?"

"No way", McGee's face lit up. "You found Tony!?"

Bishop's face matched her partner's, "How? When?"

"That program Tim made to auto trace Tony if he ever read one of our emails worked! He just read Tim's last email about an hour ago! He didn't respond, but at least he read it! When I came back from court there was a notification on my computer. I almost didn't notice it because I was so drained from having to wear the monkey suite all day. Seriously, I hate that stupid suite! Ugh! And then those awful shoes! How is it even legal to make those and expect women to wear them? They're so uncomfortable and ..."

"ABBY!" All three agents yelled in unison to stop her ramble.

"Get to the point, Abs", Gibbs said in more even tone.

"Right, sorry. So, when I was changing my clothes I heard the reminder chime to open the trace results but I ignored it because it sounds just like the same beeping Major Mass Spec has been doing all week. But then I realized it was coming from inside my office and not the lab so I looked at my computer and there it was, Tony's location!"

Gibbs stood up, now as fully excited as his team was, but of course he didn't show it on his face. He smoothly walked over to her and stared intently, "You got a fix on Tony?"

"Yup!" Abby briefly went over to McGee's computer and, at warp speed, typed away at the keyboard until a photo and a map of Tel Aviv popped up on the screen. She came back to the group and took the clicker remote from McGee's hand as she began explaining, "Tony used a laptop with an unsecured WiFi signal. The program Tim made accurately traced the signal to some pretty swanky apartments in Tel Aviv called The Jaffa Residences. I double checked the IP address and it links to a network setup for residents living at those apartments."

"Are you absolutely sure he's living there Abby?"

"One hundred percent, Gibbs. I did some further 'snooping' and Suite 406 is rented to one Tony DiNozzo! It's him! We found Tony!"

"What happens now?" Although she had been following orders since the voicemail incident two months ago, Bishop knew that tracking down Tony meant that the focus on finding a woman she still believed to be dead would be increased again. It worried her that the entire team had been working on the side investigation. Even Vance had gotten involved with contacting Orli at Mossad to help aide the search. It seemed everyone was on the same page except her. It was a bit frustrating, but she knew better now than to voice her opinion. It was a loosing battle. Especially against the three people standing next to her. Still, she had to ask, "We know where Tony is so does that mean we tell him about the Ziva investigation? He hasn't even answered McGee's email, what if he doesn't want to hear what we have to say?"

"It's about Ziva still being alive", Abby stated incredulously as she got in Bishop's face. "Of course he's going to want to know! How could you even think anything other than that? He's in love with her! They have a daughter! Tony would do anything to have Ziva back! Especially now! Don't doubt him!"

"I'm not doubting anything, I'm only saying ..."

"Say nothing", Gibbs interrupted sternly as he look between both women to make them back away from each other. When they moved, he answered the immediate question running on all their minds, "What happens now is that McGee and Abby fly out to Tel Aviv to see Tony. Something this sensitive does not get said over the phone or in an email. He'll need the support of his two best friends, that's why I'm sending you two. You be gentle but firm, explain everything we've found so far and what Vance got from Mossad. Bishop and I will stay here to keep working Ziva's case from this end and I'll get Vance to pass off the current caseload with Petty Officer Marks to another team."

"How are you going to get Vance to approve all of this, Boss?" McGee was excited but still knew there was a chance that the director would deter Gibbs from making this kind of call.

Gibbs was confident though, "Already ran this plan by Vance two months ago when I went to speak with after Ziva called you. Covered all the bases for whenever we found DiNozzo or Ziva. It's already approved."

Abby hugged Gibbs, "Oh this is so great! We get to go to Tel Aviv! I can't wait to see Tony and little Tali! Oh I have to buy my niece some pink skull t-shirts and dresses! And we get to help Tony get the love of his life back! I'm so excited! I have to go home and pack!" Before anyone else could say anything, Abby ran off towards the elevators and got on just as the doors were closing.

McGee chuckled, "Guess I'll go home and pack too. I'll book the ticket from there. Should I email Tony again to tell him we're coming? He may not look at it."

Gibbs nodded, "Do it anyway. Just in case. And be safe Tim, take care of Abby, and keep DiNozzo level when you tell him. Alright?"

"Yes, Boss. I'll call you tomorrow sometime, when get to Tel Aviv." With a pat on the shoulder from Gibbs, McGee grabbed his things and went to the elevator. His smile speaking of the overwhelming sense of hope that surged through his body. As the elevator descended, he couldn't help but thing about the joy that it would be to have his family back together. To have his big brother, and his new niece, reunited with Ziva. He vowed to himself in that moment to track down the woman that had become his sister at all costs. There was no doubt in his mind anymore that she was still alive.

Wherever you are Ziva, stay safe. And don't worry Tony, we're gonna find her— together.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Next chapter is titled: "Reunions & Leads"

Okay, so maybe it's not a juicy spoiler but, can y'all guess what's coming?

LoL! You'll see tomorrow! Until then, later peeps!

- Chide