Ziva and Tali arrive at the airport. Ziva stands at the window, her eyes fixed on the cargo plane they will soon be boarding. A somber silence fills the airport as she watches Tony's casket, draped with an American flag, being put in the plane.
"Stay close to me, Tali," Ziva whispered.
Tali clutches Ziva's hand tightly, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and confusion.
"Why are we here, Ima? Where's Abba?" Tali said softly.
Ziva's heart broke at Tali's innocent question. She kneeled, looking into her daughter's eyes.
"Abba…Abba couldn't come with us the way we wanted him to. But we're going to honor him." Ziva wiped her eyes.
Tali's lower lip began to tremble and she wrapped her arms around Ziva.
Once they landed in D.C., Ziva and Tali stood on the tarmac as the cargo door opened. Tony's casket was carefully unloaded from the plane. Jimmy walked up to Ziva and Tali, not knowing what to say to comfort them.
"I am here for you guys," Jimmy said softly.
Ziva nodded as tears began to escape her eyes. She pulled Jimmy into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Jimmy."
"Breena and I have been talking, and we want you and Tali to know that you don't have to face this alone. You're both welcome to stay with us." Jimmy said.
"We appreciate that," Ziva replied, her voice filled with emotion.
Breena carefully guides Tony's casket over to the hearse. The journey is slow and solemn, each step a painful reminder of the loss of an amazing man. Ziva and Tali follow close behind. Ziva holds Tali close, shielding her from the overwhelming sights and sounds. Tali looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity and sadness.
"Are we going to stay with Aunt Breena and Uncle Jimmy, Ima?" Tali whispered.
Breena smiled, her voice filled with compassion.
"Yes, Tali. You and your Ima are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need."
Tali's face brightened up. "And Tori ?"
"Yes, and Tori will be there too." Breena smiled.
Gibbs sits at his desk, his gut churning. He has no idea why. His entire team is here with him and safe. There is only one person who could make his gut feel quite like this. He picks up his phone and dials Tony's number. His team watches him, no one wanting to give him the news.
"What the hell DiNozzo?! You leave the country and the rules no longer apply to you? What happened to never being unreachable?" Gibbs says before throwing his cell phone on his desk.
McGee finally gets the courage to approach his boss and break the news to him.
"Boss," McGee starts tears streaming down his face as he struggles to speak. "Tony…Tony caught covid and he didn't make it. His body arrived in D.C. this morning."
Gibbs has never been caught off guard very often, but this rocked him to his core.
"Tony…" Gibbs whispered.
Ellie stepped forward, her voice choked with emotion "Gibbs, I'm so sorry. We just found out as well. It's…It's hard to believe."
"Does Ziva know?" Gibbs looked up.
"Ziva and Tali arrived on the plane this morning. They are staying with the Palmers." McGee answered.
Gibbs took a moment. Tony had always been like a son, and he pushed him away. Now he's gone and he will never get to tell Tony how much he meant to him. He knew Tony could die from pneumonia with his scarred lungs, but never in a million years did Gibbs think a virus would come out of nowhere and take out one of the strongest people he knew.