A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews! I know you all are itching for answers and resolution, and it'll come, I promise. Just bear with me for a little bit longer!

Today we make progress. That's all I'll say. : )

Also, there were some mentionings of Ziva using contractions. Now, I do know about this, and were it any other story, I wouldn't have even slipped one in, but Ziva, she's been trying to assimilate for Tony, just a little, however, I'm not going to go make her spewing them out, accompanied by correct American idioms. Just thought I'd explain.

Alright, enjoy your chapter! Don't forget to review!

Abby stood before her computer, typing alongside McGee as numbers flashed before them on the plasma, Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs looking on.

"What is this, Abs?" Gibbs finally asked.

"We're tracing the number of Tony's caller," she explained.

"I thought you said you have something,"

"I do, just wait one sec…" she continued to type. "We were able to determine that the call came from a landline, not a cell phone,"

"So we can't track him?" Tony asked, hands stuffed in his back pockets.

"Doesn't mean we can't learn anything about him," Gibbs pointed out.

"Or her," McGee added.

"There's no evidence to suggest it," Tony said.

"Actually, there might be," Ducky said, walking in.

It was then the computer began to beep. "We got it!" Abby cried, and all attention returned to the screen. "It's a pay phone outside of that convenience store in Koreatown,"

"The one owned by that guy who was working as a South Korean operative?" McGee said.

"Same one. Different owner, of course," Abby said.

"Small world," Tony mused.

"Small town," Ziva agreed.

"Not really," McGee tried correcting, but they weren't listening.

"So where's this leave us?"

"We still have nothing," Tony said.

"South Korean operatives isn't nothing," Abby said, echoing a conversation she had with Gibbs years before.

"Abby," Tony said warningly.

"Sorry, Tony. We'll be lucky if we can get her prints off of it, but there's just not a lot we can do,"

"Her?" he repeated, folding his arms.

"That's what I was trying to tell you," Ducky spoke up once more. "I took the liberty of reading the transcript, and I must say, it is indicative of a woman,"

"Or a some sadistic serial killer,"

"We've got plenty of those," McGee said, coming out from behind the desk to the group, a stack of files in his arms. "Here," he said, handing them to Tony with a grin.

"Thanks, Probie," Tony said, groaning as he took the heavy stack into his arms, not realizing the weight before he did so. Ziva and McGee exchanged an amused look. "These files contain every serial killer, ever bank robber, every scorned woman Tony has ever arrested since Ziva joined the team,"

"Not a lot for an agent of nine years," Ducky commented.

"Those are just from the last 6 months," McGee said, smiling. Tony gave him a small glare.

"Ah," Ducky said knowingly.

"Hey, I just do my job," Tony said in defense.

"And you happen to do it very well," Ziva spoke up. "You just tend to make a lot of enemies in the process,"

"Hm," he said with a grin, eyeing her, for the first time realizing just how close their faces had gotten.

They didn't notice the smiles exchanged by the other team members, the knowing glances, the agreeing nods that were passed. They were in their own world where the sunshine always came back, where porcelain hearts never broke.

"Um…" Abby finally spoke up. Tony and Ziva finally realized their proximity and practically leaped across the room, flying like shrapnel. Abby grinned and moved on. "Here's the address," she said, handing a slip of paper to Gibbs who led the team out of the room.

"Thanks, Abs!" he called.

"Anytime!" she answered back.

"Did you see anyone out here on the phone at 3:45 this morning?" McGee asked the cashier at the convenience store.

"We may be 24/7, but I'm not," the cashier replied numbly, leaning on the counter, eyes drooping.

"Did you see anything at all?" Gibbs asked.

The cashier sighed and stood up. "I may have seen something. There was this guy,"

"A guy?"

"Came in. Bought a soda and went outside. I could hear him talking. I couldn't fall asleep after that.

"What time was this?"

"No idea," he replied.

"Can you describe him?"

"Didn't get a good look at him. Like I said, I was half asleep. He was kinda short. Wearing some black, baggy clothes and a hat,"

"Could it have been a woman?" McGee avoided Gibbs' glare which was clearly boring through him.

"I guess," he said. "Look, it's like I said. I barely noticed a thing—I go on autopilot or whatever it is they call it at night. It just so happens I got the worst possible shift. What'd he do anyway?"

Gibbs took a step forward and stared down at him. "He threatened my people,"

"Who would want to kill both Tony and Ziva?" Palmer mused to Ducky as they were working in autopsy. Palmer was sewing up one of their guests while Ducky was filling out some paperwork.

"Certainly someone they both knew," Ducky replied.

"Hey, you think Jeanne Benoit coulda done it?"

"I haven not heard that name in some time," Palmer and Ducky looked over to the doors which had open and shut without their knowledge, Ziva standing closeby, hands clasped as she eyed Palmer.

"None of us have, my dear, which, Mr. Palmer, is exactly why it is not likely she is the culprit, nor is it a memory any of us wish to conjure up," Ducky said. "Aside from the fact that she is currently in Gabon, Africa,"

"Sorry Doctor… Ziva," Palmer replied sheepishly. His eyes flitted to either one uncomfortable, and promptly left the room.

Ziva sighed as the doors closed. "He is right, you know. It could very well have been Jeanne," her voice was factual, honest, and yet, she could tell it wouldn't be long before Ducky saw right through it. "We do not know if she is still in Gabon. She could have taken a flight and--"

"Is that what you think, or is that what you fear?" Ducky asked, standing. Of course.

"It is a likely outcome, Ducky. He ruined her life,"

"That's a bit harsh to say, considering you are his partner and all,"

"Well, I am not one to look away from the truth,"

"Are you entirely positive about that, Ziva?"

Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I heard you saw the paper,"

She looked down, arms now folded as she paced a little. "I did,"

"And?"

"He never told me," she confessed, sounding defeated.

"I'm sure he had his reasons,"

"He was a hero, Ducky. He should have been going on about this for months!"

"A lot changes in a year," Ducky said. Her eyes flitted to him, meeting his own, wise with years, wise with war, wise with death. "He changed, you know,"

"That is what everyone keeps saying,"

"What do you think?"

She shrugged and her hard expression softened. "They might be right about that,"

"So why is this so difficult?" she asked finally.

"Why is what difficult, my dear?"

"Being here again, being back, being… with him,"

"Perhaps you should ask Tony,"

"I have tried. He avoids the question every time. I have been trying for months, Ducky. All I ask is that things at least go back to the way they were,"

"Are you happy with how they were?"

"Things were fine before I left. We joked and we debated and… I do not know, it was just fine, and I do not understand why things have to change,"

"You were gone for months, Ziva. Everyone thought you were dead! Tony had to learn to live a life without you,"

"Well I am sure it was not difficult," she said, glancing away for a moment.

"You heard about his PSTD?"

"Yes,"

"Maybe it shows that 'fine' isn't enough for him anymore,"

"Well I do not know what else to do," she looked at him and he neared her, encasing her in a hug, no words, no explanations. He simply held her in his arms, feeling her relax into him, finally returning it. A few moments later, he let her go and looked her in the eyes, glassy with tears that did not fall. She gave him a weak half smile and turned to walk away.

As the doors opened, she stopped and looked back at him. "I suppose people can change in a year," And she spoke of him. And she spoke of herself. And she spoke of the past. And she spoke of no future.

As Ziva walked into the squadroom, now composed and calmed, she heard the clanking and thudding of what could only be platform boots.

"Ziva!" Abby called from behind, McGee following.

"Abby, is something wrong?" Ziva asked when Abby caught up to her, culminating in the bullpen, Gibbs and Tony looking on in confusion.

"Um, other than someone kill you and Tony? Yeah, nothing wrong at all,"

"Okay, then, good," Ziva said leaning up against her desk, eyeing Abby, who was now jumping up and down.

"What is it, Abs?" Gibbs finally asked.

"Just say it, Abby," McGee said, nudging her.

"Do you know who's after us?" Tony prodded.

"We just might."

Yep. Another cliffhanger. That's how I roll, people… I have never said that before. So, we are nearing the end of our story, I'm sad to say, but it's been a fantastic ride. Just a couple more chapters left, perhaps 3. Do you want shorter chapters and thereby causing the story to last longer, or longer chapters, causing the story to end sooner? Let me know in your review!