Chapter 2

Ziva sat at her kitchen table staring at the calling card and the bomb she had dissected. She recognized it almost immediately and felt the sense of dread. In all honesty she knew that one day this would happen. It had been promised that revenge would be had against her. She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair, knowing that it was time. She opened her eyes and picked up her cell phone, calling Mossad to have them say they needed her for a mission. This way NCIS would not be aware of what was going on, and most importantly it would mean that all of her friends would be safe. But it would also mean she was on her own and that no matter what happened she would have no one watching her back the way the team, especially Tony, always did.

"It was good to have friends for once." Ziva whispered as tears escaped her eyes and she gave in to the weakness and the overwhelming feeling of sadness that she was feeling. It was breaking her heart to know she would most likely never see the people she had grown to care about again.


The next day Tony arrived at work to see McGee and Gibbs already there but there was no sign of Ziva. He frowned as he saw a temp sitting at her desk and was about to say something to the agent when he got the eye from Gibbs. After setting his gear aside he followed Gibbs to his 'office' and waited until after he had hit the emergency stop button before he spoke up.

"Mossad has taken Ziva back. They said it's for a mission but Vance doesn't believe them. You're her partner DiNozzo, I want you to tell me what is really going on." Gibbs said with a silent but menacing look that basically said Tony had better know something good.

"She hasn't been herself lately. Last night I waited in the garage for two hours before she finally left and she drew her own weapon and cleared her car. I don't know if there was something wrong or if she found something but I could tell that she wasn't our Ziva." Tony said angry at himself for not pushing her.

"I sent McGee to her place already and he said she had already cleared out. I mean her furniture and stuff is there but it looks like she took what she needed and left." Gibbs said with a frustrated look. "McGee put a trace on her cell and don't repeat this but we have Mossad lines tapped in case she checks in with them."

"She's in big trouble again isn't she?" Tony whispered.

"I have a feeling she was never out of trouble DiNozzo." Gibbs said as he hit the button to restart the elevator.

As Gibbs and Tony reentered the bullpen there was tension in the air. Tony glared at the poor temp agent that was sitting in Ziva's seat as he took his own seat. He wanted to go over there and tell them they weren't allowed anywhere near this area and that they had better clear out but he knew better than that. Sighing he booted his computer up and looked at the files still sitting where he had left them last night on his desk. He felt like picking them up and smacking himself in the head. Why hadn't he noticed last night what was really going on with Ziva? Why hadn't he followed his gut and not let her out of his sight?


Ziva was beyond tired, she was exhausted. She wasn't sure how much longer she was going to be able to keep her eyes open but she needed to get in touch with some old friends who owed her favors. She knew she was close to the edge and immediately found a hotel to pull into. Before getting out of her car she rubbed her face with her hands, desperate to clear the cobwebs from her brain and restore her vision from it's now blurry status. She was about to exit her car when she saw that her phone had begun ringing. She had turned it on vibrate after Tony's fifteenth call. Sighing she gave in, desperate to hear a friendly voice, and answered it.

"David." She said automatically.

"Ziva, where are you?" Tony's concerned voice came over the line.

"Working for Mossad." Ziva said hoping she sounded convincing to him.

"You can't lie to me Zi. Not after everything we have been through." Tony said softly into the phone. "I know you're in trouble and all I want to do is help you."

"You can not help me Tony, no one can. It is my time to die, I have to accept that." Ziva admitted into the phone. She was just to tired to try and pretend there was nothing wrong anymore.

"Don't you dare say something like that. McGee, Abby, Ducky, Palmer, Gibbs and I will always have your back and we certainly can't survive not having you around." Tony said forcefully into the phone.

"I am sorry Tony but there is nothing you may do to help me up." Ziva said with a sigh.

"Help you out, you mean." Tony automatically corrected her. "I am not letting you do whatever it is you are about to do alone. I'm your partner and I always have your six."

"Not this time I am scared." Ziva said really confusing her English because of exhaustion.

"Afraid, Ziva the word you want is afraid." Tony said frustrated. "I have to say there is nothing you can do Ziva."


Tony glared at his phone before making the left turn. McGee had been tracking Ziva's phone for a while and Tony was following his directions. He was close to her, that much he knew. He also knew something really bad was about to happen, he was just hoping he would get there in time. He didn't think he could handle it if he lost Ziva the same way that he had lost Kate. Especially since deep down he knew there was something about Ziva that was really special. He just wasn't ready to admit that yet.