Here is the next chapter. Let me know what you think! I'm also drifting a bit from the actual episodes so I can fit my story into them. In order for my story to work, I need to change or completely ignore what happened in some episodes.

Disclaimer: Same as always, still own nothing…

"Ziva, I'm so glad you are back," Abby said as she and Ziva sat down for lunch.

"I'm glad to be back Abby."

"It was a long couple months without you."

"I missed you as well."

"What about Tony and McGee?"

"I missed them as well."

"Have you heard from Tony?"

"We exchanged several letters."

"And?"

"What?"

"What did he say?"

"He told me he tried to contact me, but couldn't."

"Did he say anything about the night before you left?"

"He said he was afraid the reason he had not heard from me was because I was trying to avoid him."

"You were undercover."

"He knows that now."

"Did he say anything else?"

"He told me that he still loves me."

"Aww, Ziva, I'm so happy for you."

"I miss him so much."

"I do too, I've kept all his postcards and letters."

"I hope Gibbs can get him back, but at the same time I am scared."

"Why?"

"No one else knows what happened, we will not be able to work together if someone does."

"Why don't you worry about that when the time comes."

Tony was sitting in his office again reading through various case files, lately that's all that he seemed to be doing. He was thinking back to when he spoke to Gibbs and McGee via satellite when he helped them with whatever mission they were working on. He really missed being back with the team, especially Ziva. As he was lost in his thoughts there was a knock at his door.

"Petty officer," Tony greeted the man as he opened the door.

"Your mail, sir."

"Thank you."

As it was last time, it was a single envelope addressed in Ziva's handwriting. He sat at his desk and opened the letter.

Dear Tony,

I am sorry that you thought I was avoiding you; I did not have a choice. I am sorry that you are not enjoying your time on the carrier. As much as I like being home with my father and my family, I miss everyone at NCIS. They all became my family. And of course there was you. I miss being able to glance over my computer screen at you, especially when you did not know I was looking. I do not know why, but for some reason I am comfortable expressing my feelings to you. This whole thing is so out of character for me. I cannot explain the feeling when I read your letter and you said that you fell in love with me a long time ago and that you still love me. I feel like you are with me when I am reading your letters.

I miss you terribly and I hope we can see each other again sometime. Please come to visit me if you are ever in Israel.

I Love You,

Ziva

Just as Tony finished reading Ziva's letter, he was paged to the flight deck. He put the letter down on the desk and rushed up to the flight desk. As he ran across the deck, he found a folded up uniform with a military ID neatly set on the edge of the deck. Several others who worked on the deck were surrounding the uniform. Tony decided he would call Gibbs to notify the wife since the guy was from DC.

When McGee and Ziva went to speak with the wife, they were met with another surprise. After no answer at the door, they began looking in windows and Ziva saw the woman lying on the floor, dead. They now had more of a case than just a guy jumping off the ship.

"I'm going to talk to DiNozzo on the Seahawk," Gibbs said walking away from the bullpen.

Abby wanted to come and talk to Tony as well, but Gibbs said it wasn't a social call. Ziva didn't say anything, but followed behind Gibbs as he walked away and ran into him when he suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Ziva."

"You want me to join you?"

Gibbs just gave her a look and turned and walked away. Ziva was upset she wouldn't be able to see Tony. She was excited at the opportunity, even if she just got to see him.

After talking to Tony, there was a link in Cartagena with their dead guy. Tony quickly volunteered to go ashore and investigate the use of the guys credit card. Gibbs spoke to Vance who authorized the trip. He also sent Gibbs and Ziva out there to help Tony with the investigation.

"Ziva, grab your bag and get ready to go to the airport," Gibbs said walking down the stairs from MTAC.

"Where am I going?"

"We are going to Cartagena to help Tony with the investigation."

"Tony?" Ziva repeated, stopping in her tracks.

"Yeah, Tony."

All Ziva could think about on the plane was seeing Tony. She wondered if he had gotten the last letter she had sent to him. She felt like a little school girl with the butterflies in her stomach during the flight.

Tony was at the bar talking to McGee and Vance about the case. Vance told Tony that he sent Gibbs and Ziva out to assist him.

"When do they get here?" Tony asked Vance.

"Already have." Tony heard from behind him

He turned around and found Gibbs and Ziva standing behind him.

"Nice tan," Ziva commented.

Tony brought Gibbs and Ziva to the morgue and Tony suggested that Ziva to speak to the coroner since Tony wasn't getting anywhere with the sharing of information. After the morgue, all three agents boarded the cod back to the USS Seahawk to continue the investigation. The team went to the NCIS room on the ship and put their gear down. Gibbs wanted the sailor that checked the imposter on board and the sailor manning the comm room when he checked in for the hour to use it. Tony and Ziva turned to walk out and find the sailors in question. As they walked to the door, Ziva spotted three pictures of her in the bikini pinned to Tony's bulletin board.

"What are those doing on your wall?" she questioned.

"How did those get there?"

The two agents then walked out of the office.

"I told McGee to specifically destroy those photos," Ziva said.

"Don't blame the poor guy, maybe he just forgot."

"Maybe I should remind him."

"I'm glad I got copies, gave me something to look at every day."

"I was surprised to see them on your wall."

"Being able to at least look at your picture made not seeing you every day a little easier."

"How long have they been there?"

"Since the day I came aboard."

Ziva blushed slightly and looked away. Tony guided her into a room off the corridor they were walking. When he closed the door, he pushed her up against the wall and kissed her.

"I missed you," Tony whispered to her as he leaned his forehead against hers.

"I missed you too."

"I just got your last letter. I am glad you feel comfortable with me."

"I do not know why, but I do."

"Sometimes things can't be explained."

Tony kissed her again.

"I could do that all day."

"But we have work to do, don't need to make Gibbs mad right off the bat."

"Good point."

Tony opened the door and he and Ziva walked out and went to find the sailor they were supposed to interview. With the help of McGee and Abby, they were able to figure out that the killer had a rare strain of the flu from the American Samoa and narrowed down the names of the crew members who were there and traced their boarding back and came back with one name. Gibbs was able to corner him on the medevac flight that was supposed to be taking off from the carrier and get him in custody.

The team was now back together and sitting in the bullpen listening to several of Tony's stories about his time afloat. After the mission Vance reassigned Tony back to DC effective immediately. The team, including Abby, spent some time talking in the bullpen and getting reacquainted. Finally, they decided it was getting late and they should all head home since it had been a long day for Gibbs, Ziva and Tony flying back from Cartagena.

Gibbs sat at his desk and McGee walked down with Abby to her lab so she could get her things. Ziva and Tony grabbed their gear and headed for the elevator.

When the elevator doors closed, Tony waited several seconds and then pulled the emergency stop button halting the elevator. He dropped his bag and pulled Ziva into his arms and kissed her.

"Welcome home," Ziva said as they broke the kiss.

"It's good to be back."

"You have a place to stay tonight?"

"I'm going to have to find a hotel until I can get a place."

"You can stay with me."

"With you?"

"That is if you would like, of course."

"Are you sure?"

"You should not have to stay in a hotel."

"I'd love to stay with you."

"Then let's get going," Ziva said as she pushed the emergency stop button back in and the elevator started moving again.

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