"Stop making out with me, DiNozzo."

"Stop making me want to make out with you, Giudice."

Tony pins me against the elevator wall, his hand pressing against the back of my hand. My hand trails up his chest, the other tugging his hair.

I sigh out of bliss as his lips move down. "There's gonna be plenty of angry agents if they find out we're hogging the elevator."

"I'll be sure to send a muffin basket." He somehow pulls me even closer. "I swear, I could just hike up that skirt and —"

"Save it." I pull away, my body begging for air. "We already joined the mile high club. Can't join the elevator. . .whatever club."

He leaves one more kiss on a bruise near my collarbone before buttoning me up.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

"We should do it again."

I run a hand through my hair to fix it before releasing the emergency button. The elevator resumes its normal path and opens.

"Oh, you're home, you're home, you're home!"

Abby squeals ecstatically, launching herself onto me like a flying squirrel. We fall back onto the ground as she peppers my cheeks with kisses.

"Wow. Even Copper and Todd weren't this excited to see me."

She helps me back up onto my feet before attacking Tony. Although, her energy has begun to wear off as she just hugs him.

"Did you guys have fun? Did you get to go to the cool bar in Dusseldorf?"

"We-We tried, you know. But, uh. . ." Tony clears his throat. "The security conference kept us pretty busy."

My teeth latch onto my bottom lip. "Among other things."

"Oh, those things were very nice." Tony chuckles smoothly, to which McGee responds with a look of disgust. "She's talking about the chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne the hotel kept serving us. Thought we were newlyweds."

"Well, you weren't complaining when they upgraded us to first-class seats."

Catching him off guard, Tony clears his throat.

"Gather 'round, people. We come bearing gifts."

He pulls each gift out of the shiny black bag, passing it to its rightful owner. However, he comes empty when Agent Lee approaches.

"Where's Ziva? I've been meaning to call her, but I got. . .caught up."

"She's over an hour late, ma'am." Lee follows behind me like a lost puppy.

Well, more of a teacher's pet.

"That's unusual, even for her."

I run a hand over my face, closing my eyes at the nickname. "Lee, you're older than me. I don't think Tony meant it literally when he said I'm his second-in-command."

"Oh, but you are." His arm curls around my waist. "Although, the whole ma'am thing is a little old school, you know."

"Mm-hmm."

No matter how many times the three of us try, Ziva still doesn't pick up or call back. Cellphone, home phone, even her pager.

I pace up and down the aisle, biting on the ends of my nails. "Alright, fine. Maybe we need to start worrying about her."

"I'm sure she's alright." McGee glances back at me.

"Well, if she were alright, she'd be here. Right now. With us."

Tony's hands find their way to my shoulders, pressing down gently. My hands finally settle on my hips as I sink back.

"Metro Police just found her car on a sidewalk in Georgetown."

"Actually, that's not that unusual when Ziva's driving."

Smack!

"I deserved that."

Jenny shoots me a look, to which I lower my hands again. "In my experience. . .the FBI doesn't usually concern themselves with traffic accidents."

"Tony, isn't that the guy that tried to put you away for murder?" McGee nods towards one of the agents standing in front of the elevators.

"Yes, it is." His words come out in a hiss. "And thank you for bringing up a painful memory."

"I'm guessing you came down here to give us a warning?"

"Calm down, Eva. I only just got the call two minutes ago."

"What is it that they want Ziva?"

She simply sends me a comforting smile, leaving to introduce herself to the FBI agents. Tony removes his hands, only to slip them over my hips.

"It's going to be okay." He presses a kiss to shoulder. "I promise."

My eyes meet his. "You protect her at all costs, Tony."

With Agent Sacks and Jenny, Tony leaves for the office above. McGee and I leave for our lunch hour, having nothing else to do in the meantime.

"So, how are things between you and Tony?" McGee slides over my tray of food before placing down his own.

"Well, Germany was an extravagant way of spending our one year anniversary, but it went well." I nod my head. "What about you and Ziva?"

The young agent chokes on his iced coffee, snatching a napkin off the table to wipe his mess. I struggle to keep my laughter hidden as he calms down.

"Wh-What about me and Ziva?"

"Don't hide it, McGee. You two would be cute together." I slip my card into the billing booklet. "I call godmother."

Days pass, and there's still no sign of Ziva. And the FBI has already moved in on starting an investigation against her. They've taken over the bullpen as a beginning.

"First off, this is a strictly voluntary thing." Tony's voice is a cold whisper. "Ziva's a fugitive, which means anyone caught helping or assisting her in any way. . .will be in serious trouble."

Jimmy raises his hand.

"Um, by serious, uh, you mean we could, like. . .get fired?" He gulps nervously.

"He means, Mr. Palmer, instead of attending medical school next month, you'll most likely be in prison." Ducky answers.

I'm the first to put my hand in the middle. "Anything for one of our own."

Abby's the next to follow. "I'm in."

"Danger. . .intrigue. . .a damsel in distress." Ducky rests his hand on top of ours. "I'm actually looking forward to it."

"Me, too." McGee firmly nods his head.

"Um. . .I-I'm not exactly the type that would do well in prison, guys." Jimmy mutters hesitantly.

"No one's going to think any less of you if you want out, Palmer."

"Really?"

"Well, no. They probably would." Tony grunts out. "At least, I know I would."

Somehow, he stands up straighter. "Alright, then I want a code name. Something that sounds cool." And he places his hand in.

Tony's the last.

"No one can know about this, especially the director." He warns the group. "Everyone good with that?"

With simultaneous nods from the others, Tony begins assigning each individual a task. But Abby reveals that Ziva called her yesterday.

So naturally, I dial the number on my cellphone.

"Couldn't remember my number, Ziva?"

"Tell Abby I'm going to kill her."

Tony snaps his fingers, motioning to the device. I roll my eyes but cave, handing him the cellphone so he can retrieve any information.

"Be careful, okay?" The tips of my fingers graze along Tony's jawline. "I can't stand to lose another man in my life."

His brows knit together. "Who was the first?"

"Gibbs." A teasing smile grows on my face. "Duh."

"Yeah, yeah. I love you, too."

We work through the night after the FBI receives a tip from an anonymous caller, giving them a location on Ziva's current whereabouts. The house blows up before they can enter it.

"So, we matched the dead guy's prints." McGee displays the positive match screen where Tony and Gibbs stand. "Balash Sassnio."

"He was arrested for reckless driving more than five years ago. Illegal from Iran."

The screen switches to the mugshots taken of our dead man.

"His student visa also expired last year."

"Good job, Eva." The two announce synchronously, surprising one another.

By the time we find an address for Eschel, Ziva has already reached them, cornering the second ex-Mossad agent. Tony forces us to watch the live broadcast of the channel covering the attack.

"Federal authorities? They mean us." Tony shouts at the screen. "It's four stinkin' letters. NCIS."

"It's either that story, Tony," Jenny switches off the TV, "or the FBI charges you with interfering in their investigation."

"One flash of this chest would've gotten our name in." I grumble under my breath, which Jenny happens to hear. "I mean. . .damn."

He simply chuckles, kissing the back of my head. "That's my girl."