A/n Thank you so much for all of the reviews and the anonymous reviews. I was so pleased and surprised to have received so many reviews from the first chapter. I also want to say thank you for all of the story alerts too. As always please read and review! Please enjoy!! By the way, this story is set during season 7 with the assumption that Ziva has returned!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 2

Gone

NNNNNNCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS

Three weeks earlier

Baghdad, Iraq

Tony had just woken up after having another nightmare. He was ready for the op to be over so he could return home to his friends. He checked his watch that he kept next to his bunk. It was a goodbye present from Abby. He considered it his good luck charm because he was wearing it when he narrowly escaped a mortar attack. It was almost 0600 and Abby would be contacting on his laptop using her secure network. Usually it was either Abby or Gibbs talking to him. But occasionally Ziva, McGee, or Ducky, sometimes even Jimmy Palmer would come down to say hi. It was almost heart wrenching to get to talk to them then have to say goodbye. He learned how to take their pictures using his webcam. So he had his own team wall just like Abby's new Tony wall that she put up. Pulling on his shirt and running a hand through his hair he flipped his laptop on and got ready for the video call.

"Hi Tony, stand back so I can see you. I, I mean we all miss you so much." Abby exclaimed

"I miss all of you too." Tony said wearily "Is Gibbs around Abbs?"

"I'm right here DiNozzo" Gibbs said.

"Hey Boss "said Tony trying his usual smile but not getting it right. "I finally have the lead we have been waiting for. Captain Reynolds came up to me last night and said that he may have found a buyer for the weapons he showed me last week. He's asked me to meet with the buyer tonight. I don't know much more but hopefully this is lead we need to close this case. I need to get out of here. I miss my car, my clothes, and my life. I'm going absolutely crazy here."

"I understand" Gibbs said "Just as soon as this deal goes down we'll have enough evidence to bring Captain Reynolds and all of the other players into custody. I know this has been hard on you but we'll bring you home as soon as we can. McGee and Ziva are gone right now but they said that they would talk to you in the morning. Just hang tough Tony."

Gibbs smile as he walked away. He gave Tony a wave goodbye. Abby suddenly popped into the screen with her smile on her face.

"So Tony" Abby said "How are you doing? And don't you dare lie to me either."

Tony smiled at her. Just seeing Abby's face made him feel so much better. It was almost like he was home.

"Better" he said "It's taken a while to get used to being a Marine. I think Gibbs would actually be proud though. They actually believe that I'm a Marine Sergeant. If you can believe it, I've been put in charge of a platoon. I like the responsibility. It's kind of like being a Senior Field Agent except for a lot more responsibility."

"That sounds so cool Tony." Abby said "It's so quiet around here and I miss you so much. Oh, before I forget, I downloaded a few more movies for you to watch. Just check your email. Also Ducky asked me to say hi from him and Palmer. I will talk to you in the morning. Or we can talk later if you're available. I gotta go Tony. My baby is speaking to me. I love you and be careful please."

"I will and I love you to Abby." Tony croaked while trying to hide the tears.

He was wiping away his tears when a man came up from behind him.

"Sergeant" the man said "Captain Reynolds is looking for you."

Tony stood up to pull his shirt on and to tie up his boots.

"Let the Captain know that I'll be right there." Tony said

After the man left, Tony walked outside thinking that he wanted to talk about the gun deal he was putting together. Instead, the rest of his platoon was waiting for him outside of the mess hall.

"Sergeant Cooper" Captain Reynolds said Tony "We are sending you and your platoon to escort a group of civilians to a UN safe house about four hours away from here. You can plan on being gone for several days."

Tony went back inside to grab his gear. As he did, he quickly slipped on the watch from Abby and sent a quick text to McGee explaining that he would be gone for a few days but not to worry.

NNNNCCCCCCCIIIIIIIISSSSSSS

NCIS Headquarters 0700 Two days later

Gibbs heard Abby's mantra before he was able to see her. He turned around to see Abby running toward him in her three inch platforms.

"Gibbs" Abby shouted "I don't know what to do. Tony has missed our video conference two days in a row. I'm worried because he promised to call me at home last night so I could tell him whether we won our bowling tournament or not. Which we did thanks to Sister Rosita. I tried his cell phone but it was turned off and he's not answering. Gibbs, I'm really really worried about him. Please tell me whether he is okay?"

"Abby" Gibbs said "I wish I could. But what I will do is get in contact with the commanding officer that is in charge of the unit that Tony is in. Let's just wait and find out."

Abby was in tears. Gibbs knew that they were close friends even though from the outside they appeared to have completely different personalities. But on the inside they were very much alike. They were special friends, so he knew that this separation was very hard on both of them. It was very hard on Gibbs too. He was ready to go and collect Tony himself. But he knew that there was a mission to complete and Tony was the one to do that.

Abby finally calmed down enough to leave to go back to her lab. When McGee and Ziva came back, he would send McGee down to help her. After Abby left, Gibbs reached for his phone book. Once he found the number he was looking for, he placed the call.

"Hello" Gibbs said "I am looking for Colonel Matsen. This is Jethro Gibbs."

"Wait a minute." The woman said "He just came in. I'll go ahead and pass him over to you."

Gibbs heard two people talking. He was getting very concerned and wanted answers. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.

"Jethro" Colonel Matsen said "How can I help you today?"

"One of my agents has been undercover in your unit for about three weeks." Gibbs responded "He has been in contact with my forensics specialist almost every day for the time he has been in Iraq. However, over the last couple of days we have had no contact with him. We've tried contacting via the secure connection my forensics specialist has with Agent DiNozzo and also by cell phone but we still haven't been able to reach him."

"Well I do know that a platoon under my unit was sent to escort a group of civilians to a safe house about a hundred miles to the north." Colonel Matsen said "I believe that they were under the command of Captain Reynolds. I from what I've heard they had taken heavy fire about five miles away from the safe house. There were some casualties but I've heard from my source that your boy is okay. In fact he saved the lives of his men. I've heard about a possible commendation coming his way. You should be proud Jethro"

"Thank you" Gibbs said "I'll be sure to let Agent DiNozzo know. Do you know when they are due back?"

"In a couple of days" Colonel Matsen replied "I can arrange for you to speak with him if you'd like."

Gibbs thanked him but said that it was not necessary.

NNNNNNCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSS

Iraq Two days later 01125

It was a long trip back to the base. He felt bad that he hadn't been able to talk to Abby or his friends. He'd call after he had a chance to shower and get some sleep. When he made it back to his bunk he saw that there was a note with a time and a place for a meeting. He was glad to be able to get some rest and some food. He had been hoping for a pizza but knew that wouldn't be possible. Tony showered and was getting ready to lie down but he heard a beep coming from his computer. Tony opened it to see Abby and Gibbs watching him from down in Abby's lab. Tony yawned but decided to share the news with his friends.

"Hey Boss and Abs" Tony exclaimed. "I'm sorry Abby that I'd missed our morning video calls. We got called out on a mission. Things kinda got of hand for a while. But we're back and most of my team is okay."

"Tony" Gibbs said "Are you sure that you're okay there. You look like you're about ready to collapse. Did you know that you've got cuts all over your face?"

"I know" Tony said as he lay down on the bed "I feel better now. But what I could really use is a pizza. I know that my face is cut up. It was just some shrapnel from a mortar attack. But thanks to my lucky watch, I survived again. Boss, the meeting is tonight at 2330 tonight. There was a note on my bunk. It said that the buyers like me and want to see me face to face tonight. I guess that this is the break that we've been waiting for."

"It is DiNozzo" Gibbs replied "But Tony, please be careful. Abby will have my hide if anything happens to you. I will have yours too Tony. You look exhausted so we'll speak to you later."

Tony waved his goodbye as he shut his laptop off. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

2330 Meeting place

Tony and Captain Reynolds arrived at the meeting place just when another jeep pulled up. The other men were carrying weapons and a cache of RPG's. One of the men motioned for them to come on over.

"Cooper" Captain Reynolds said "This is Ahmad Adid; he is my main supplier of weapons. I've spoken very highly of you and he has asked to meet with you. So you have the weapons that I had requested."

"Yes we do" Adid said turning around to look at Tony "You don't even look like a marine."

"I am a marine." Tony responded with his usual smile.

"And a damn good one too" Reynolds replied "He's saved the lives of his men twice now. He's the one you want for this job, trust me."

Tony felt confident that this whole thing was finally going the way he wanted. He was sure that in a weeks' time he'd be back in DC with his friends. They set up the time, location and date of the buy. Tony would be introduced to the buyers, he was told in due time. With a sigh of relief he got back in the jeep with Captain Reynolds. Tony noticed that they weren't going back to the base as planned. The captain kept driving until they arrived in a near bye town, about 15 miles away. They pulled up to a fancy apartment building which strangely reminded Tony of his own home. The captain stopped the jeep and motioned for Tony to get out.

"One of these apartments is for you if you want. But first we need to get a few things straight."

The captain led him inside the building using a key card. The elevator was next to an abandoned guard desk. As they walked into the elevator Tony began to get worried. He wished he hadn't left it in his jacket pocket outside in case he needed help. The elevator opened and Tony was led into a spacious apartment. The captain directed him to sit down.

"You do realize that I told a couple of lies back there, didn't you?" Captain Reynolds said with a dangerous look on his face.

"No I don't" Tony responded "I am a marine. And from what I've been told a very good one."

"I just can't believe that." He responded back "I would almost guess that you were a Federal Agent. You had better not be because you don't want to know what I do to people who betray me."

"I'm not" Tony spat back to him "You know that you can trust me."

"I'll take your word this time." Reynolds said very convincingly "Your things should here any minute. You can trust that they didn't go through your things. All your pictures will be in order too. In the morning you'll find a vehicle for your use. No go get your jacket and be up here in five minutes."

The captain tossed him the pass key and watched Tony hurry out the door. Tony hurried outside to grab his jacket. He slipped his cell into his back pocket so he could make the phone call as soon as he was left alone. When he got back up to the apartment, he saw all of his things being dropped into a pile in the living room. The captain waved goodbye and started to leave when he turned around and gave Tony a look that scared him to death.

"Why did you lie to me, Agent DiNozzo? You need to learn to shut down video feeds. They can be easily traced. Tell Abby with NCIS that we say hi."

They left and Tony thought he was in the clear. Tony ran into the bedroom to avoid being seen. He then pulled his phone out.

NNNNNNNNCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSS

Gibbs basement

Gibbs was spending is usual night in his basement working on his boat again. He was worried about Tony, but used the sanding of his boat to relax himself. Suddenly his phone rang. When he saw Tony's name on his caller ID, he knew there was trouble.

"Boss" Tony said with a frantic tone to his voice "We went to set up the gun deal with the new dealers. Everything was fine until we pulled up to an apartment building. I was lead into an apartment that I was told is mine. I figured my cover was blown when he mentioned that he had always suspected I was a Federal Agent. He told me to get my jacket and that my things were being delivered and to hurry back up. They must have gone through my things and saw the live link up to Abby's lab. I shut down my end to keep you guys safe. I need help Boss now."

Gibbs was very worried but kept his voice calm for Tony.

"Okay DiNozzo, I'm calling you FBI contact to come and pull you out. Stay where you are. McGee will use the GPS in your phone so we can get you out."

Gibbs heard pounding on the door and then the sound of a door breaking down. The sound of Tony yelling for help was the last thing he heard. He called Ziva, Ducky, and McGee top meet him in Abby's lab. When Gibbs was talking to McGee he remembered that Abby's special going away watch had a tracking device. McGee was pulling up the program as he was racing out to his car.

NNNNNNNCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Iraq

Tony woke up to a pounding headache that he could only assume was from another concussion. His whole body was sore. He assumed it was from the beating he was given before he passed out.

He automatically slipped his hand to his wrist. Grateful that it was there, he breathed a sigh of relief because he knew of the tracking device inside the watch. It was one of Abby's most creative ideas. He needed to remember to thank him. A door opened again and he cringed as he was held up to get what he was told, another lesson in what happens to traitors. He cried out in pain this time as he couldn't take the pain anymore. Thankfully he was out again. The next time he woke up, it was to a familiar voice.

"Gibbs?" Tony croaked.

"No!" the voice said "Hey Tony its agent Jensen. We're here to get you out and back to that apartment to get your things. There is a car waiting for you, but you have to be at the air field by 8 am. But first he have to get you looked at. Can you stand?"

Tony looked up and smiled "I gotcha. And yeah, I think I can."

Outside, a medic was waiting to look Tony over. While he was being looked over Tony asked for a second time for a pizza. Everyone laughed as they knew about Tony and his thing for pizza. Tony appeared to be okay except for a slight concussion.

Agent Jensen told Tony he would let Gibbs know that they had found him and that he was on his way to get his things so he could get to the airfield on time. The ride wore Tony out, but his desire to get home kept driving him forward.

The plan was explained to Tony and he ran into the building with the pass card he stuffed in his shoe in case he needed it again. He hurried inside realizing it would take an hour to get to the airfield on time. He was dizzy and was feeling sick. He couldn't allow himself a break right now. He was throwing everything into his bags so he could make a getaway when there was pounding on the door again. This time he was prepared as he opened the door. The men came charging in faster than Tony expected. One of the men got off a shot. Tony felt the bullet land in his shoulder. He turned around and emptied his gun on the three men, killing them all.

He glanced at his watch, realizing that he might not make it in time. Damn it, he thought. In an afterthought he hurried into the bedroom and hid the watch under the mattress so they would know he was still alive. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent a text to Abby to give her a clue if it was needed that he was still alive. Tony cried out softly when one of the bags bumped his shoulder. He almost fell to the ground, but picked himself up. He hurried down the elevator and to the waiting vehicle. He got inside with a sigh of relief until he realized that he was too late.

I know that this is another cliffhanger. But this story is going to be full of them. As always please read and review!!!!!!

Sarah