SUCH a great story. I think it would have been great if the show had focused more on this part, the aftermath, which you did a great job of. This was so beautiful, the emotional tirmoil happening in these characters was heartbreaking, yet spot-on. I couldn't help bit notice that it's been nearly a year since you last published a story, and I can only hope that you haven't given up on NCIS because it would break my heart. Hope to see more soon!

Gods. This is stunning. I think the most powerful are the first three.

Tim's disillusionment and sense that Tony would have TAKEN Tim giving the life time would have given freely...him understanding, only at the end, that, for Tony, this was a suicide mission all along...that's a bitter pill to swallow. I would really like to see follow-up to Tony's suicide-mission vengeance juxtaposed with Ziva's suicide-mission desperation as they both went after Saleem for different reasons.

Gibbs IS weary, so often, and I LOVE the comparison of him killing someone who hurt one of his own, but it being "too little, too late" and how it leaves "neither peace nor relief in its wake"...I think that the last line, with the culmination of loss and "he is so very tired" sum up Gibbs SO well.

Ziva...oh, Ziva. What gorgeous wording, "the first stirrings of life" to "the millisecond of profound relief" to "the tidal wave of guilt" for being responsible for his death...Tim's death. I LOVE the succinct way you phrase that Tony's actions here show the loyalty "she had accused him of lacking" and how you show her realizing that and then being barely able even to do what she considers her part, how she's swimming in the clothes, how she can barely stand, and that last line, so so SO painfully apt: "she has never felt more unworthy" ...a huge statement given that she's been made to feel all her life that MORE than her very best has never been enough, never made enough of a difference. Fantastic.

I like that you've acknowledged that Tony would still have a headache, and framed him as being uncertain of whet is next. This is stunningly excellent, from the insights to the wordcraft to the TIGHTNESS of it. Excellent.

Wow!

Fantastico! Amazing job! :o :)

I love this. It shows the emotion they must have been all feeling so well. This left my speechless. I can't wait to read more from you.

POW-er-FULL !

Great insight from / into each of them, and a very fitting ending to ToC.

Very well written, thanks for posting.

Wonderful insight into every character in this story arc! I found your analysis of McGee especially painful - never thought before about how he must have felt to hear Tony utter those words. Sure wish they'd done something with that on the show.

Well done!

you already know that I love this story, but wanted to make my official review:

beautiful, haunting, introspective and so well written. A look inside the minds of our team at one of the most stressful times in their lives.

bravo my dear bravo

Well done Evil.

"..and he has absolutely no idea what comes next." And that, is the fifty million dollar question, isn't it?

Wow. This was amazing Ry. Loved the way you burrowed into everyone's brain, and how you managed to keep them all so in character. Wonderful job. Thanks for sharing!

WOW! What more can I say? That was absolutely amazing. I know it has been a while since that episode aired, but this just shows how much more could have been explored after that episode. It was so rich and deep. Thanks for this!

Thank you for sharing this lovely piece with us Ry.

I sometimes wish that the show will give us an episode to fill in the gaps of what happened after Somalia. I mean, we don't even know whether Ziva went for counselling or not (although its probably that she did).

Your use of language to paint a picture and express emotion is simply beautiful.

Wow. You are a FABULOUS author. That was so amazingly well-written! Great job with this! I loved it:) thank you so much:)