I am SO incredibly sorry about the lateness of this chapter. And I know it's short, but TRUST ME, I think it's a good place to stop, at the end :) So please please PLEASE review! I still love you guys!

Leon Vance, Eli David, Tony DiNozzo, and Timothy McGee all looked between each other, trying to figure everything out.

Tony's heart was beating uncontrollably; so hard that he could barely slow it down, much less conceal the pulsating veins.

"Where is she, Agent DiNozzo?" He asked once again and Tony just stood there.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He finally said, after he took in a deep breath, trying to keep a cool, stone visage for the Director of Mossad. Who knew what tricks he could pull out his sleeve at any moment. He knew Ziva, after all.

"Do not play games with me, I do not have time for that." He took another step towards him, "I am going to ask you one more time, Agent DiNozzo," He spit his name as if it was the Devil's himself, "Where is she?"

Tony knew that playing that he didn't know wouldn't last for long, so he groaned, "Even if I did know where she was, why in the world would I tell you?" He demanded, "Because last time I checked, you couldn't care less about her, and she's your own damn daughter! You haven't called her in nearly three years, you didn't even call her on her birthday. She is a gem, sir, and she is in your life, yet you choose to throw her in the back as if she doesn't matter, or as if you don't give a damn about her or her safety." He took in a breath before continuing, "You manipulate her, you use her as a bargaining tool, and you climb on top of everyone, including Ziva, to get to the top. You couldn't care less about her. She's right. You're not family. We are. Right here. In this room. McGee, Gibbs, Abby, Ducky, Palmer, Me, hell even Vance. But she is nothing to you. So you tell me again why I should tell you where she is. Because no matter how much you threaten me, I won't tell you. I refuse to let her get hurt. I refuse to break a promise I made to her. Unlike you. And if you dare threaten me again, I will take out my gun and shoot you, I don't give a damn if I go to prison for life. At least Ziva'll be safe. So tell me." He nodded, "Why the hell-" He slammed his hand down onto the desk, making a loud sound the rebounded throughout the bullpen, "-should I tell you where she is?"

Eli paused for a moment, taking in the words. McGee dropped his mouth open, realizing that Ziva was, in fact, the woman he had heard on the phone. Vance had on a poker face next to Eli David.

Tony's face was bright red, like a tomato, and McGee was sure that it was going to burst if Eli said anything else demeaning to him or Ziva. Or threatened his life again.

Eli sighed, "Well, Agent DiNozzo, you have confirmed that she is alive. You have also confirmed that you are hiding her."

"And?" Tony prompted. That couldn't possibly be all that he was going to say about the situation.

"And..." he let out a breath, "Ziva faking her own death was not exactly what I wanted to happen."

"No!" Tony pointed a finger at him, "It wasn't! You wanted her to die. You ordered her not to have the antibiotics. I was there. I was next to her. I listened, smelled, watched her die in front of me. And I believed that she died. I went through hell all because of you." He jabbed his finger on his chest, causing him to back up slightly, "I thought she was dead. She died because she was afraid. Afraid of you. Afraid of what you would do to her. She was sure that she would be killed, or, worse, sent back to Israel, away from all of us."

"Away from you." He said, his voice soft, his accent thick and heavy. Tony paused and relaxed his shoulders slightly, furrowing his eyebrows together, "I know just how much she cares about you, Agent DiNozzo."

"How do you know that?" He demanded.

"The last time I saw her...her eyes were different. Filled with compassion. I would only be fit to assume that you put it there."

Tony was at a loss of words, unsure of what exactly to say.

So, Eli David continued, "I would like to see her."

Tony narrowed his eyes at him, "Never in a million years." he spat, walking around and grabbing his backpack and gun, swinging the pack over one shoulder. He started out of the bullpen, calling over his shoulder, "Oh, I changed my mind. You can see her." He paused and turned to look at him, "When she's dead and gone."

And with that, he left, leaving the rest there in silence to process the news and Tony's words.

Tony all but kicked down the door to his apartment, adrenaline running through his veins.

Eli David knew that Ziva was alive.

And he was pretty sure that he had horrible plans for her.

And he needed to save her life.

He had already 'lost' her once; he didn't really want to lose her again.

The apartment was dark and quiet, all of the blinds closed as he threw his NCIS issued backpack onto the ground, hurrying towards the bedroom. His heart was pulsing so hard, he was surprised that it didn't pound out of his chest.

"Ziva?" He called, "Ziva!" He poked his head into the kitchen, realizing she wasn't there, and then broke into a light jog, into the bedroom, "Ziva?" He questioned, but then realized that the apartment was empty. He ran a hand through his hair and spun around in a circle, "Damn it." He muttered to himself. He needed to get Ziva out of here, out of the country, somewhere where her father wouldn't know where she went, "DAMN IT!" He shouted, spinning around fully and then slamming his fists down on the bed.

He closed his eyes tight and stared down at his fists, wincing. He needed to know where she was.

He gripped the comforter harder, but stopped when he heard a crinkling sound.

Opening one eye, he stared at the piece of paper that he had crumpled.

Sitting up quickly, he grabbed it, his eyes skimming across the words carefully, precisely, and with a good speed.

Jean-Paul-

I cannot honestly believe how you could have kept that a secret from me. Rebecca informed me of it this morning after you left for work. Do not expect to see me again; I realize now, more than ever, that I am better off dead, like I 'was' before.

I still love you, but I feel that this is the best way.

-Sophie.

Sophie...Jean-Paul...he hadn't heard those names since their undercover assignment many years ago.

And what was she talking about?

His heart dropped.

She wasn't honestly going to...kill herself?

She must have somehow known that her father was here.

Acting quickly, he grabbed her suitcase out of the closet and shoved a mixture of her and his clothes in it, some necessities from several drawers, and grabbed his cell and backpack before moving out of the apartment.

Once outside, he unlocked the trunk to the Mustang and threw the suitcase in the back. As he slammed it shut, he took one last look at the apartment and then looked down at the note in his hand.

Sighing, he walked around to the driver's side, getting in and igniting the engine. He leaned his head back on the headrest as he switched the car from 'park' to 'drive'.

As he drove off, he realized something.

He had no intention of going back.

It honestly wasn't a surprise that he found her outside of Bethesda Naval Hospital.

She leaned up against a pillar, staring at the doors as they opened and closed, letting doctors, nurses, families, and lovers enter and go, some happy, some in tears.

Taking his time, he approached her slowly, pausing for a while when he was about ten feet from her, "Why did you do it?" She finally asked, sensing his presence.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked around before taking a careful step forwards, "Kiss Rebecca?" He saw her slightly nod and he sighed, "I..." He looked down at the ground and then back up at her, "I had to pretend she was my girlfriend." He shrugged, "I guess I just got so used to kissing her goodbye and hello that I..." He sighed once again, "It was a honest mistake, Ziva, please."

She turned abruptly towards him, on her heels, "You have struck a nerve, Tony." She nodded and it was only then that he realized that she had been crying.

"I can see that. But we have bigger problems that we have to deal with."

"Like what?" She demanded before scoffing, "It's not like anyone knows I am alive anyways!"

"Your father does, for one, and I'm pretty sure that that's important." She snapped her eyes up to his and studied him.

"My father." She repeated, and Tony nodded.

He took a step towards her, "He showed up at work this morning. Demanded to know where you were."

"And what did you say?"

"That I would never tell him. Ever. No matter if my life depended on it." He took another careful step towards her, noticing that she didn't back away. This was definitely a good sign, "That I would never let you get hurt like that."

"So my father knows." She took in a deep breath, "That I am alive."

Tony paused before nodding, "Yep." He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, "Ziva I'm sorry, I-"

She put a hand up, stopping him, "I understand."

"The point is...I want to keep my promise to you." He continued, "I want to make sure you're safe."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes, chuckling slightly, "And how do you plan on doing that?"

He stepped towards her, so that their bodies were merely inches away from each others. He carefully, gently, lovingly took her hand in his, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. She looked down at it, "Marry me." He whispered and her eyes met his, the beautiful, dazzling green ones that were shimmering with compassion and determination, "Ziva, run away and marry me."

:)