A/N: Wow, fantastic response for the last chapter! Thanks so much! I'll admit, I thought some of you had forgotten about me for a minute there, but it's all cool now.

Today's chapter is pretty interesting. I'd add more, but the next chapter changes everything, though gradually somehow… You'll just have to see for yourself.

I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot. I've actually been to Washington, DC (going back at the end of August—it's my favorite place ever!) so that's why you'll see a lot of description on the DC memorials and monuments. I'll explain the FDR memorial for those who don't know about it: This memorial was built in honor of President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt (cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt, yes). He was President during the Great Depression and made a lot of effort to restore the economy and morale of the US. In the memorial, there are multiple different sections you walk through (outside, beneath the most beautiful cherry blossom trees. It's near the Basin of the Potomac River, across from the Jefferson Memorial.) Each section has a water element, quotes by FDR, and sometimes a sculpture and flowers and such. It's lovely.

Anyway, here we go.

Rebekah David. That's all the paper said besides the phone number. He had been sitting under one of the cherry blossom trees surrounding the Basin for over an hour now, fingering the paper in his hand.

He didn't know Ziva had a cousin.

He didn't know what she had for him.

He didn't know what to think about Dr. Barlow.

He didn't know much at all right now.

I should call her, he though. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number. His finger hovered over the "Send" button. He was afraid of what he might find. Afraid of what he might not.

Finally, he summoned the courage and called. It ringed twice. On the third ring, an unaccented voice answered. "Hello?"

"Hi, um… My name is Anthony DiNozzo. Tony. Um… Special Agent…"

"I know who you are," She replied. He could hear the smile in her voice. "My name is Rebekah,"

"Ziva's cousin,"

"Yes, that's correct,"

"Um… Dr. Barlow says you have something for me,"

"I do,"

"So…"

"When can we meet?"

"How soon can you be at the FDR Memorial?"

She laughed. "Ten minutes,"

"I thought you were her cousin,"

"I am. I'm currently at the Israeli Embassy,"

"You work for them?"

"In a way. I am Mossad,"

"Really?" He said, surprised yet not surprised at all.

"Yes, Special Agent DiNozzo. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," She said, hanging up.

Fifteen minutes later on the dot, she came. She met him by the miniature waterfall within the memorial. As she approached him, he recognized her as the young woman he met the day he met Ziva, at the hotel. He grinned as he remembered how much of a fool he had made of himself so as to not raise suspicion as he watched Ziva.

"Hello, Special Agent DiNozzo," She said, shaking his hand.

"Tony," He corrected her, and she smiled. She looked at the waterfall for a moment, then looked back at him, her eyes more solemn and serious and nostalgic.

"Ziva loved Washington,"

"Yeah, she did,"

"Not at first, but it grew on her quickly, I think,"

"She was always able to adapt,"

Rebekah laughed softly as she studied his face. His smile could melt the Arctic if he wanted to, but his eyes were sad and weary. "Ziva spoke very fondly of you,"

"That's good to know," He said, looking away as the subtle pain in his heart thump-thump-thumped.

"Ziva gave this to me, six months ago," She said pulling out a thin white envelope from her pocket. "She told me that in the event of her death, I was to give it to you. I had hoped it would not be so soon,"

"What's your connection to Dr. Barlow?" He asked, slipping into investigator mode, trying not to think about what could be in the envelope. They began to walk slowly and casually.

"She is just a friend. When I heard you were coming to see her, I had her give you my number,"

"Why not just call me? I'm sure you had the resources. Besides isn't that against some sort of honor code or something for doctors?"

Rebekah shrugged. "I didn't call you because it just didn't work out that way. And yes, there is some code used in circumstances," She said.

"But there's nothing normal about this, is there?" Rebekah shook her head a little. Tony decided not to push it any further. He looked at the envelope in his hand. His name was on the front in her familiar scribble. He fingered it for a moment. "Do you know what's inside?"

Rebekah shook her head. "No. Ziva and I didn't talk often, but when we did, all she talked about was NCIS,"

"I didn't know Ziva kept contact with any family," He said, feeling momentarily betrayed.

"She usually doesn't. Didn't. My uncle… Eli… He loved Ziva very much. He just…"

"Had a severely misconstrued view of reality," Tony finished, looking around at the memorial. It was empty and cool, shaded by the sweet pink blossoms of the cherry blossom trees.

"That is one way to put it,"

"Then why are you in Mossad?"

"I was not raised to be Mossad, if that's what you're asking. I volunteered,"

"That's what Ziva said. Said she volunteered out of an 'Israeli sense of duty,'"

"Sounds like something she would say. She was correct in saying it, however. She loved Israel. Though she was raised and grown to join Mossad, it was always her choice. When we would learn about the fallen who died in the line of duty to our country, she would get this distant look in her eyes. I asked her about it once. She said that she felt as if she owed them," Tony smiled, remembering Ziva's fierce loyalty and love. "I was surprised to hear that she joined NCIS. I did not think she would give up the adventure of missions. But I suppose that was never what fueled her decisions,"

"Head over heart,"

Rebekah smiled. "Always. Ziva always took care of everyone,"

"Everyone but herself," He remembered.

She nodded. "She always did what was best for the mission, for the people she cared about. She rarely did anything for herself,"

"She was pretty amazing that way,"

"I hadn't seen her since our last mission in DC together," She was talking about Ari. Thump-thump. "Six months ago I was back in the area and we decided to meet," She laughed. "I hardly recognized her,"

"What changed?"

"She did. Ziva was always so beautiful, but when I saw her, she was glowing. She was wearing make-up and her dress had certainly become more feminine, but that wasn't it. Her eyes were radiant and her smile was more genuine than I had ever seen before," Rebekah looked at him. "You changed her," Her words were a declaration, not a question, not a mere statement, not empty words. She knew.

Tony laughed. "Me? No, she never listened to anything I said, and I never listened to anything she said,"

Rebekah eyed him as they paused their walking. "You are not telling the truth,"

"Okay, maybe I listened to her once or twice, but even then, Ziva didn't care what I had to say,"

"I think she did. The woman I once knew rarely opened up. She kept everything inside. She would smile and joke, yes, but I don't think she was every really happy. Not until she met… you," Tony looked at her, confused. "You changed her, Tony. You all did," She said. Her voice was certain and assured. No doubts, no questions. She knew the truth. "Thank you for that,"

Tony's eyes met hers. "I'm not really sure what to say, but, you're welcome, I guess,"

Rebekah touched Tony's arm gently. "Whatever is inside, I owe you. Do not hesitate to call if you need anything, yes?"

"Yeah, sure,"

She smiled and began to walk away.

And that was that.