Joint Operations

NCIS: LA/NCIS Crossover

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING.

And I keep saying it because it's the truth: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed! It is always like Christmas when I see there is a new review. I appreciate every single person who has read and followed and favorited and reviewed this little endeavor of mine. Thank You!

But my dear reader, we have come to the end of our little tale. I decided to try and finish this baby the way Mr. Brennen would, definitely not as well as Mr. Brennen would, but since I'm not him all I could do was try. I hope it's not too horrible because I really hate good stories with weak or bad endings.

I DID NOT and DO NOT plan on this being a political statement of any kind. It is just a story. Please take it that way.

Please review and let me know your thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. etc. etc. Please Please Please! As I said before, reviews are a writer's coffee: they help keep us going.

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Thirty hours later found both teams back at the Mission. The DC team was packed and waiting to leave for their flight home. There was an easy camaraderie that had developed over the last couple of days and it showed in their conversations. Deeks and Tony were swapping cop stories both men making movie references as often as possible. The 'conversation' was slowly dissolving into a happy argument. Ziva and Kensi were comparing stories of their youth and discovering that they shared a lot more in common than either of them ever thought. Callen & Gibbs were reminiscing while Sam, in an attempt to get information, plied Gibbs with question after question about a young, brash G. Callen.

The relaxed atmosphere belied the tension of the teams as each member was still wondering who they arrested. But they did what agents were supposed to do: they investigated, discovered the bad guys, arrested the bad guys, turned them over to Homeland Security and left the rest to the lawyers. It wasn't the first time they were left with questions about a case and being the seasoned agents that they were, they all knew it wouldn't be the last time.

Hetty sat back and watched the teams interact. She was pleased with the outcome of the case and the friendships that she saw developing. She glanced at the files in front of her. The two on top were occupying her thoughts the most: Ziva David and Martin A. Deeks.

She was so pleased that Deeks had come to her early this morning and asked if there was anything he or she or Granger could do to get LAPD to release him. Apparently he and Tony had a good conversation and Deeks was ready to have the issued pushed. He wanted to become an agent. Hetty knew he already was an agent in every way except for the paperwork. She would talk to Lt. Bates and the Chief of Police if needs be to get the issue resolved.

Miss David was a different matter altogether. She wanted to talk to Ziva before she left and decided now was as good a time as any other. She left her desk and walked towards the bullpen. Being the ninja that she is, only Gibbs noticed when she approached since he was facing the direction she was coming from. They made eye contact and she gave him a small smile which he returned before turning his attention back to his conversation with Sam & Callen.

She quietly listened to the different conversations before deciding to interrupt. "Miss David? May I have a moment of your time?" Hetty politely requested.

"Of course Hetty." She got and followed Hetty back to her desk.

"Please sit. Tea?" Hetty offered.

"Thank you. Yes." Ziva thanked the older woman with a nod of her head when she was handed the cup of tea.

Hetty observed her for a moment while letting her savor the tea. The surprise on Ziva's face when she tasted her favorite tea from her childhood pleased Hetty.

Before Ziva could ask about the tea Hetty answered her question, "I was on assignment in Israel many many years ago and a young man told me about this tea. It has been a favorite ever since." Hetty smiled at the memory.

"Well, it is delicious. I did not know it was available in America."

"It isn't. This is the last of what I had. That same young man used to send me a regular supply of it." She paused before adding, "He died recently." She waited to see if Ziva made the connection.

"You mean…" Ziva stumbled over her words. The wounds still raw inside her heart.

"Yes, Miss David; the young man I met was your father. I'm so sorry for his loss. I'm sorry you lost your father."

Ziva placed her tea on Hetty desk and clasped her hands in her lap as she sat back in the chair. "Thank you. I am…surprised. He never spoke to me about his earlier days." Ziva paused and played a memory through. "We have met before?"

Hetty nodded her head. "Many years ago, my dear. I'm surprised you remembered you were only about 5 years old. I remember a bright child with a wonderful open smile and a good laugh." Hetty was smiling at her.

"Well, many things have changed over the years." Ziva's face grew serious.

"Oh, I think she's still around somewhere. You should try to remember her once in a while because she was a joy to her father." Seeing Ziva's tea cup was empty, "Would you like some more tea?"

"No thank you. Thank you for," she hesitated on what to say, "this. It is appreciated."

"Of course," Hetty smiled at Ziva. Hetty turned her attention to the young intelligence analyst standing just outside of her office platform, "Yes, Miss Jones?"

Nell stepped forward, "Sorry to interrupt but we have some interesting information about the Syrians."

All three women headed toward the bullpen. They arrived to find Eric already there. "We have information about our Syrian friends." Eric told the group. All eyes turned to the Wonder Twins as Eric put the photos of the two 'Mathula brothers' up on the plasma.

But Nell started the briefing, "After I chased these two through many different databases and tracked them, well, as far as I can, I still haven't been able to find their real names. They are always referred to by the Mathula name. But I was able to determine that backgrounds are exactly what they seem to be except with different names."

Eric picked up from here, "I was able to crack the encryption on their computers and found several emails from these two," he pointed to the screen, "to the Syrian government regarding several people in this country. The people listed in the emails are all Syrian immigrants that have either already become citizens of the United States or are here legally with green cards." He paused for dramatic effect before he continued, "But according to Nell's research they all have ties to suspected rebels inside Syria."

Everyone shifted in their seats. Eric had really surprised them.

Gibbs was the first to respond to the information, "You sure? They were sending information about possible rebels to the Syrian government?"

"Yep. We've run background checks on every name on all the lists. They all have family still in Syria. Some of which have recently been reported killed in clashes with soldiers. We'll probably never find out what their real names actually are but with this information we can connect them to the Syrian government." Nell told them.

Silence was hanging over the teams as they digested this new information.

Hetty was the one who broke this silence, "Has this information been forwarded to Homeland Security?"

"Yes. The FBI has also been informed through Agent Fornell." Nell answered her while glancing at Gibbs.

"Mr. Gibbs, I believe your team needs to leave soon for the airport so I'll wish you all a good flight." Hetty nodded at Gibbs and turned to head back to her desk but stopped long enough to share a smile with Ziva then moved off.

"She's right, boss. We need to get going." Tony said as he stood up.

Deeks also stood up and stuck out his hand for Tony to shake. "Tony it was pleasure working with you."

Tony looked at the man's hand then back at him before taking the offered hand. "Let me know what happens with your position here. It's worth the change. Good Luck." Tony replied.

"Talked to Hetty this morning about pushing the issue. It's time." Deeks let him know.

Kensi and Ziva were also saying their goodbyes. "It was a pleasure being partnered with you, Kensi." Ziva told her. "We make a good team."

"I agree, we are a good team. It was pleasure for me too. If you ever wanna come out for a visit, make sure you call me. Maybe we can go dancing and find a couple of guys that aren't as boring as those other two." Both women were laughing remembering the scared tourist friends. Neither woman was a hugger so they smiled at each other, clinked their coffee cups together and turned their attention to the other people.

Gibbs was shaking Callen's hand, "Good team you got here, Callen."

"Thanks old man. Keep in touch will ya?" Callen told him. "Give Abby a hug for me."

"Will do." He released Callen's hand and turned to Sam, "Hanna."

Sam shook Gibbs offered hand, "If you think of any more really good Callen stories, let me know. Gotta keep him check, you know." Sam was smiling and gave his patented wink at Callen.

Gibbs smiled and laughed as his only response. He looked over his shoulder at Tony & Ziva, "Let's go," and headed toward the exit.

Tony and Ziva said the rest of their goodbyes and followed Gibbs.

NCIS Headquarters

Washington, D.C.

Director Vance was sitting behind his desk reading the report that was sent from the LA office on the operation that just concluded when there was knock on his door. "Come."

Gibbs entered the Director's office and closed the door behind him.

"Gibbs? You knocked?"

"You want me to go back out and just walk in, Die-rector?"

Vance let the comment slide, "I was just reading the report from the LA office. Quite a story."

"Yea. It was interesting." Gibbs answered.

Vance looked at Gibbs trying to judge the remark. Not being able to make a judgment on exactly what Gibbs might mean by that, he simply asked something completely different, "What did you think of Hetty?"

"I'm glad she's on our side."

Vance barked out a laugh, "You have no idea. What can I do for you?"

Gibbs dropped three file folders on Vance's desk. "Reports."

"Already?" Vance was surprised.

Gibbs shrugged, just a little bit, and turned to leave. "Good team you have out there." Gibbs let him know. "Might wanna get Deeks a different badge though." He said just before the door closed.

Nobody was in the room to see Director Vance's surprised expression. Deeks had Hetty's endorsement and now Gibbs'? Thinking for a moment he nodded his head in agreement, picked up his phone and dialed. It rang only once before it was answered. "Hetty? Let's talk about Detective Deeks…."