Revelations

A/N: Oh my gosh, you guys are pathetic! I would keep my word, but it's niggling me too bad that I'm almost done with Ch4 and I still haven't posted Ch3. Therefore, I want- like- twenty five or so on this chapter, to make up for you guys's lameness on pulling through on chapter 2. Do you know how many hits I have had on chapter two? Like, more than chapter one! It's crazy! But I only have 9 reviews total for my story!

Plus, sorry for the shortness. But I thought it ended in a good place.

Ch3

Tony scanned through the flash drive McGee had procured from Abby's equipment. Abby would have done it herself, but the forensics technician had left already. He could have guessed some of the contents of the files, but others were new. Somalia! The Horn of Africa… It made sense. And from what Tony had uncovered in Israel, Ziva had been the next up to take over the case.

"Gibbs! I know where Ziva is!" Tony yelled, causing the silver-haired agent to come into Abby's office.

Gibbs beckoned with his eyes in that unique Gibbs way.

"Somalia."

Gibbs furrowed his brow. "I need to talk to Vance."

"Nice talking to you, Gibbs," Tony called sarcastically.

****MTAC

Vance stared at Gibbs. "What would I know about the Horn of Africa?"

"I know you. You'd give the information to your good buddy Eli David." Gibbs sipped his coffee, gazing coolly at the director.

Vance laughed. "You're right; I would. But you don't know that I did, Gibbs. Let it go."

"One of my agents was almost killed, and the other was shot. So far, this is our only lead." Gibbs' voice rose angrily, and he crunched the empty coffee cup in his palms.

Vance narrowed his eyes, matching Gibbs' gaze. "I hope you find another lead. Goodbye, Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs angrily exited MTAC, turning back at the door to glare for a moment at Vance. Then he threw the coffee cup at Vance's head, and hit.

"Nothing," Gibbs reported upon his return to the lab. "Vance won't talk."

Tony sighed and banged his head on the keyboard.

/RANDOM FLASHBACK

McGee looked into Tony's bloodshot, baggy green eyes. Tony just looked back, feeling rather haggard. "What, McGee? Just because Gibbs said I should talk to you doesn't mean I will."

"But you will," McGee replied. "You will; and I can guarantee this because if you don't tell me what's on your chest, I will stop making you Defibrillators."

Tony winced. "Fair enough, McProbie. But do you really want to know?"

"Yes, Tony. I do. You're my friend."

"Well, McGee, believe it or not- you're my best friend. So, here goes." Tony drew in his breath. "It's my fault. Everything. Ziva's gone because of Rivkin, and Rivkin's gone because of me."

McGee shook his head. "Tony, it is not your fault."

"Everyone says that. You know what? You're WRONG!" Tony slammed his fist on the table, rattling the dishes from his last meal.

"Tony, calm down. How are we wrong?" McGee was so damn cold. Nice, but… Calm. Like a block of ice. Good on a hot day.

"Simple. I put four rounds in that bastard Rivkin's chest. Bye, bye, Ziva."

McGee sighed, leaning back in his chair. He spent a moment examining Tony's apartment. Dishes piled on the sink or table; laundry piled high on one side of the loveseat that served Tony as couch. Beer bottles- only a few six packs- were scattered on the floor, next to piles of harder alcohol. All the whiskey Tony must have owned.

Whiskey, mostly.

"Tony, I hate to tell you, but Ziva stayed because she loved you. At least, according to Abby."

Those bloodshot green eyes flicked back up to him. "What else did Abby tell you?"

"A very long theory about Rivkin using you for cop-assisted suicide. He played Ziva, then got himself drunk to taunt you, and Ziva has loved you for a few years now."

"What?" Tony clarified. "About Rivkin?" He pretended to have not heard the last comment. There was too much pain down that street.

"Well, I kind of think Abby's logic makes sense, if it's a bit out there. Rivkin plays everyone for two goals, on Daddy David's orders. Gets Ziva to love him. He taunts you into jealousy, and gets himself drunk in order to bait you when you come by about Ziva's ISP codes. You kill him because he lost it, and Ziva's pissed. Daddy convinces her you were being malicious- jealous- enraged- whatever he said, and plays on Ziva's distrust of you commitment. You don't have the best track record with women, no offense. Ziva has to choose NCIS or Mossad, and picks Rivkin over you." McGee paused for breath.

Tony was baffled. "What on earth does that gain?"

"Ziva's aliyah, and no more Catholic DiNozzo by her side."

And there was that one thing Tony could never tell McGee…

\END RANDOM FLASHBACK

The next day, Tony woke up completely zapped. It felt like all his energy had been leeched from his bones, even though yesterday had been uneventful past his getting shot at. DiNozzo groaned, clambering out of his messy bed and pulling on a suit unhappily. He looked at the clock, and instantly realized why. It was 0400 in the morning. And he was on the couch in Gibbs' living room. And Gibbs' house smelled like sawdust.

Gibbs had insisted on it. Tony was not happy, but it was better than staying at McGee's. Or his own place.

Sigh…