Wow -- thank you so much for all of the alerts on this story! I hope this last chapter doesn't disappoint ... if it does or you think it's missing something, please feel free to let me know! I aim to please :)

I'm not going to press the complete button until I know you're all satisfied with the ending.

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Chapter Six: Life is too short!

The Truth Comes Out

Ziva drove to the crime scene with Tony in the passenger seat … they were both in their own world. Ziva kept hearing, "I do love you Jeanne," over and over in her head. It made her mad and quiet. Tony was thinking long and hard about what he had done … he had fallen in love with Ziva some time after Jeanne but Jeanne had recently made contact with Tony … nobody knew this … this is what sent Tony into this tail spin. Tony was torn … he truly did love Ziva.

Crime scene: Apartment of Britt Holliwell Girlfriend of Petty Officer Kyle Davis

"McGee, once Ziva and DiNozzo get here, bag and tag. For now … I want pictures of the outside where the broken window is … outside first."

"Yeah Boss."

Gibbs examines the scene but is getting very frustrated that his team has not arrived yet. Ducky and Palmer arrive to examine the body of nineteen year old Britt Holliwell.

"Time of death Ducky?"

"I barely just got out of the van Jethro!"

"I don't have all day Duck!"

"Did you have your morning coffee Gibbs?"

"No!"

McGee approaches Ducky and whispers in his ear … "He dropped it."

"Oh my."

Ziva and Tony finally arrive and Gibbs immediately jumps down their throats.

"Nice of the two of you to join us … did you enjoy your breakfast?"

"No breakfast Boss … traffic."

"Crime scene … go!"

Tony looks to Ziva. "I don't think he had his coffee."

She brushes right past Tony and proceeds to the body. They work side by side but the frigid air starts to get to Tony.

"Ziva … he whispers … please talk to me."

Through clenched teeth, she whispers back … "You called me Jeanne."

He didn't know what to say … he knew that a crime scene with the body of a beautiful nineteen year girl's life cut short, laid out at his feet, was not the place to discuss their situation.

She went outside to see what McGee was up to. She saw a quizzical look on his face.

"McGee, did you find something?"

"Yeah … look at the way the window is broken … see here … the shards of glass … it's wrong … it's staged."

Gibbs comes to investigate … he wants to know what's taking McGee so long.

"And here … he snaps a few pictures … different angles … material? Maybe ripped from the killer's clothing? And here, more pictures … blood?"

"Good work McGee."

They both look up to see Gibbs standing over them.

"Boss … I think the killer was already in the house and knew to stage the break-in but did it wrong … from the inside … not out."

"Bag and tag … get it to Abby."

He goes back inside to see if Ducky has a time of death yet … before he can ask …

"I believe Ms. Holliwell met her fate while we were out drinking and talking about ours."

Irritated … "Time Duck?"

"Between nine pm and midnight."

"Does anybody know where Petty Officer Davis is?"

Tony approaches Gibbs with his note pad open.

"He missed his shift yesterday … no one has seen him since early Friday morning."

"No one thought to call that in?"

"His CO was investigating it internally."

"DiNozzo, you and Ziva get on that."

Good … we can be alone and I can explain … I'll make it up to her.

They get in the car to head to the base that Petty Officer Kyle Davis is stationed at … he tries to explain.

"Zive … I haven't told anybody this but Jeanne called me the other day … she wants to see me."

"Good … I hope the two of you will be very happy together."

"No … it's not like that."

"You love her … you made that clear to me last night."

"I had been drinking … I love you … I'm sick of pretending. Remember, I said that in the elevator … during the Domino case?"

"Yes … I remember but she's wants you back and you loved her Tony."

Ziva begins to cry … she knew she should have stopped him when he said Jeanne's name but her heart and head were not on the same page … she wanted him and she let him take her.

He reaches over to move her hair behind her ear … she stops him.

"Please Ziva … I do love you … I'll prove it to you."

"We have a job to do Tony … let's just do it."

Tony and Ziva finish up at the base. Ducky and Palmer are still working on the autopsy. Abby has all her babies up and running with the evidence given to her and McGee is going through the Petty Officer's phone records. The case is moving along … slowly … but moving.

Gibbs is watching the interaction or lack there of between Tony and Ziva … he can only guess what that's about. He was hoping that he didn't make a mistake allowing Ziva to take Tony home the night before.

Tony's phone rang … they were hoping it was a lead on the where abouts of their Petty Officer.

"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo."

"Tony … It's Jeanne … I'm here can I come up?"

Tony looks around the room … somehow, everyone knew who was on the other end of the line by his expression. Ziva stormed off … or tried. He grabbed her arm as she passed by his desk.

"No Jeanne … I'm sorry … Ziva needs me."

Gibbs tipped his head … now he knew … something happened between the two Partners … It was a Jethro and Jenny thing all over again. He knew he should take them aside and try to put an end to it but then again … maybe this would end better for them.

Gibbs picked up his phone and called Hollis Mann … It had been awhile … maybe he shouldn't have let her get away. Maybe she wouldn't even answer the phone … he had to try.

McGee was taking everything in … he remembered how nice it was to have Abby curled up against him at Tony's apartment. He got up and went to the elevator … he would stop for a Caf-Pow first.

Sometimes seeing a life cut short makes you realize that your's is wasting away and there's no time like the present. The NCIS team was all realizing that at the same time.

Ducky came up to see Jethro … Tony and Ziva had returned from their quick dalliance in the stairwell … they were packing up to head out for the night.

"Jethro, I had a thought … a quote actually that has been on my mind … this young girl has made me think of it …

…And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Do you know who said that Jethro?"

Tony answers.

"~Abraham Lincoln."

"Ah … very good Tony. We should all heed his words."

"Yes we should Duck."

Gibbs cell phone went off … he could see Hollis Mann's number on the caller ID … she was returning his call. Gibbs smiled, grabbed his coffee and headed for the door. Tony and Ziva linked arms and did the same. Ducky looked around and placed his own phone call. Annabella McPhee was in town … his first kiss.

McGee and Abby were long gone and McGee was very much over his fear of "sleeping" in a coffin.

The only member of the team destined to be alone again this night, was Palmer ... he was still a little "gun shy" after Michelle. He was still reflecting on that.

Jeanne Benoit … well, she was a "stupid, stupid girl." ~ Ziva David

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Yes/No/Maybe? I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks for reading ... Judy