Can I Come Back?

Chapter 3

A/N: here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy. And again, sorry for any spelling and grammar mistakes. Enjoy – Haylee!

NCIS Building:

Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into mouths. Three mouths to be exact. Three months since Tony was gone. Nothing was the same.

Gibbs's temper was worse than ever. Abby still listened to her music, but not loud enough to blow someone's ear drums. Every time someone said the word Probie McGee would either go quiet and look at Tony's desk, or walk out the room, saying he was going to the head. At first Ziva was angry, then three weeks after Tony was gone, everyone made her realise that he was looking out for her, and that both Michael and her father were using her, which she now felt guilty for. Ducky was obviously hurt, but put everyone else first by talking to them, and telling one of his many stories. Palmer was still awkward, but was sad that Tony was no longer there to call him Autopsy Gremlin, which he secretly was starting to like. And lastly Vance. He was feeling guilty, and he would never admit it, but he kinda missed Tony.

Gibbs was sitting at his desk filling out a form. He stopped for second to look up. Ziva and McGee were not in yet, so he was left alone in the bull pen. His eyes came to a stop on Tony's desk. Three months and he was still not there. Three months Gibbs had been in his basement, draining bottles of Bourbon by the hour, draining his guilt. Although it never went away, it only grew stronger with every passing minute. He wanted his son back. He remembered when he went to Vance to see when Tony was coming back.

Flashback:

Gibbs walked past Cynthia's desk and pushed open the door into Vance's office and, near enough, slammed the door behind him.

Vance looked up from the paper in his hands and sighed "Hello to you too, Agent Gibbs" he said, placing the paper down.

"When's DiNozzo coming back?" Gibbs asked, getting straight to the point.

"I don't know yet" Vance replied, watching Gibbs sit down.

"Ziva understands why he did what he did. You can bring him back" Gibbs said, watching Vance.

"I wish I could, Gibbs" Vance replied.

"What do you mean 'I wish'? I thought you said to Eli that he'd only have him until you say?" Gibbs said, anger and annoyance rising in his voice.

"We did. But Eli has informed me that we can't get him back" Vance answered.

"Why the hell not?!" Gibbs asked, getting up from his seat and walking over to lean against Vance's desk.

Vance stood up and looked Gibbs in the eye "Eli sent DiNozzo on a mission. One he can't pull him out of".

"What mission?" Gibbs asked, almost afraid to ask.

Vance sighed "He didn't tell me".

Gibbs eyebrows rose "He didn't tell you?!".

"He said he couldn't tell me. Although I have a bad feeling I know what he's done" Vance admitted.

"What has he done, Leon?" Gibbs asked, getting really annoyed.

"You're dismissed, Agent Gibbs" Vance said, straightening his jacket and sitting back down.

Seeing Gibbs was going to argue Vance said "Now!".

Gibbs took a breath in to try and clam himself "You get my Agent back now!" he said and he walked over to the door, yanked it open and slammed it closed behind him.

End Flashback:

Gibbs was brought out of his trance when he heard the elevator ping and Ziva and McGee walk out.

"Morning Boss" McGee greeted him.

"Good morning, Gibbs" Ziva also greeted, putting her bag on the floor next to her desk.

Gibbs nodded his reply and everyone got on with their work, taking glances at Tony's desk on the way.

A couple of hours later it was lunch. Gibbs was getting coffee and only Ziva and McGee were left in the bull pen.

McGee kept taking glances at Ziva and she soon noticed "What is it McGee?" she asked.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to…" McGee stuttered his apology.

"It is fine. Now what do you want?" Ziva asked.

"I just….have you, you know, heard from Tony at all?" McGee asked. For weeks now that was all McGee asked when Gibbs wasn't around.

"No, I have not. Although, I do understand why he wouldn't take to me, and I do not blame him" Ziva answered "You?".

McGee shook his head "No. Maybe Abby has?".

"Should we ask?" Ziva asked.

McGee nodded and they both headed down to Abby's lab.

Abby's Lab:

"Hey Abby, can we talk?" McGee asked walking into her lab, Ziva following behind.

Abby turned around "Sure" she gave a small smile. Abby hadn't really smiled as much as she did since Tony been gone.

"We were wondering if you had heard anything from Tony?" Ziva asked.

Abby frowned "No, I was hoping you guys did".

Both Ziva and McGee shook their heads.

"What's he even doing out there?" McGee asked.

"I do not know" Ziva said.

"I might" Abby said.

"What do you mean?" McGee asked.

Abby turned to her computer and starting typing "For the past three months I have been trying to find out what Tony has been doing. I got as far as hacking into Mossad file and I found something on Michael's laptop. There is a camp in North Africa run by a man named Saleem Ulman. I gave that information to Gibbs, who then gave it to Vance, who then gave it to Eli David. Eli sent a team to that camp and they were called the Democles. They were on a ship, but then I lost them" Abby said.

"Where are they now?" Ziva asked.

"I don't know" Abby admitted.

"This is good. We should try and find the ship they are on and go from there" McGee said.

At that moment the elevator pinged and out stepped Gibbs and he walked into Abby's lab.

"Don't bother McGee" he said.

Everyone turned to Gibbs in shock "Why?" Ziva asked.

"On the 28th of May, the Damocles went down on the coast of Somalia. Got in a storm, there were no saviours" Gibbs answered.

Everyone was silent.

"The mission Eli had Tony on" Gibbs started "Was being part of the Damocles". He had only known for a few days. He would have told them sooner, but he didn't want it believe it himself. His son was gone, because of him letting him go.

Abby gasped and tears formed in her eyes. McGee stood still in shock and Ziva's face fell with guilt.

"No" Abby whispered, crying now.

Gibbs walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders "I'm sorry Abbs" he whispered into her ear and he held her while she cried.

One week later it was business as usual. Work a case of a dead Petty Officer, find the killer, all that.

Gibbs was beyond angry and lost. Abby no long had her pig tails. McGee makes no attempts at jokes. Ziva was feeling mega guilty. Ducky was trying to help everyone through it, but was also suffering. Palmer is sad and shocked. And finally Vance was getting through the day looking strong, but when he gets home is another story.

One day Ziva had enough. She wanted vengeance. To finish the mission Tony lost his life to. Gibbs told them to grab their gear and Ziva refused, saying Saleem was still out there and they should go after him.

Once they had convinced the director they could go, as a team they packed their bags and headed on the next flight to the North of Africa. On the flight they made a plan and thought of their positions.

A/N: Sorry if any information is wrong, but when I was writing this chapter, it was 12:00 at night. Please tell me what you think and please review, thanks – Haylee!