"History is a set of lies agreed upon."
― Napoleon Bonaparte

A/N - This was a story that started with a seed of imagining a single scene and has grown into something else entirely. 14 chapters are currently written and being beta'd and an addition 7 are outlined. This is intended to have a structure similar to an episode where a mystery is slowly revealed to our characters and then ends up twisting in to some place unexpected. One chapter at a time will be published as I'm interested in feedback regarding the direction of the story and in the past I've found that sometimes readers' comments have inspired me to change plot points.

I want to avoid notes through most the story so some set up -

Set sometime after New Years in the middle of season 13; I wanted it recent but can't bring myself to exclude Tony. I love Ziva but having too many people with 'special connections' to Gibbs just makes the whole thing too messy to handle so this timing simplifies things. The whole team will make appearances and there will be more action in the latter half of the story.

"You sure didn't see the Lance Corporal after that?" Gibbs' pen hovered over his pad, eyes scanning the pilot's face.

"I'm sure." The Major nodded vehemently, looking between the two NCIS agents. "I watched him board the Herc with the rest of his squad. As far as I'm concerned the guy is in Stuttgart waiting for his final transport to Afghanistan."

He lifted his chin to make eye contact but the investigator's attention had strayed to somewhere over his shoulder, focused across the airfield.

Noticing the distant look on his boss' face, Tony stepped up. "Okay, well, thanks. We'll be in contact if we have any more questions." He nodded for the Major to return to his work before shooting a concerned look to Gibbs.

He still hadn't moved and Tony's brow furrowed, "Uh, Boss?" He looked in the direction of the other man's gaze, scanning for what had pulled his attention, "Whatchya see over there?"

Gibbs frowned and gave a short shake of his head, "Nothin." He pulled on the brim of his cap and turned, shouldering past Tony.

Tony stood in place, watching in confusion as Gibbs' headed in the direction of the car.

"C'mon, DiNozzo...One of us is headed to Germany."