The Team had worked many cases in many parts of the world, but something always washed over them all when they would visit anywhere within the former Soviet Union. Eastern Europe had been rife with mystery for centuries. Now the team would learn why when in unfamiliar territory one is best advised not draw the attention of too many sets of eyes.

“Ziva, wewe know slow driving is not against the law here I don’t think.” her Italian partner alisema as the small car they were in bounced over the rough terrain. He was looking as if he was on rough seas.

“Tony…” The young Israeli smirked as she increased pressure on the gas pedal.

“What?” He looked at the smirk on her face and realized what she had planned as they closed in on a sharp turn.

“Ziva, don’t! What ever I did I’m sorry!”

With a loud thud, the movie-loving agent’s face met the passenger window.

“I am so sorry Tony.” She was trying not to laugh when he looked at her.

“It was your idea to car pool” He held his head, his left eye beginning to blacken.

“You know, it’s not salama for wewe to just wonder around this part of the world.” Ziva alisema looking at the pride-bruised Italian.

“I’m starting to wonder why riding in the same car with wewe is any safer”

Ziva pursed her lips and looked at him “Awww…and wewe are such a mensch…”

“What?” He looked at her confused

“An upright man….Tony” She rolled her eyes back at him through the rear view mirror.

“Ah I don’t speak Jewish” well except Don Rickles Have wewe seen “Casino”?

“Yiddish… it’s called Yiddish and yes I have seen a casino but I do not gamble”

“Never mind” Tony sighed.

Several hours had passed as the road had smoothed out as they drove through open farmlands. Tony who tapped on the dash to try and break the silence spoke first.

“So uh where exactly are we going…? We’ve been driving since five this morning”

Ziva looked at him. “We are going to the nyumbani of a friend of mine”

“Oh really…?” The Italian pounced at the opening she had left him.

“Yes….” She eyed him much like a house-cat would a rodent.

“Well since when do we need anyone else’s help I mean we could just go ask the locals….I mean we are here because Gibbs sent us…and--”

Ziva cut him off.

“Tony…not everything in Russia has changed for the better crime is still very much a problem here. Crime families here still rule over areas in Russia much like “Lucky” Siegel and Benjamin Bonanno in the United States”

He looked at her fairly amused.

“The Russian Mafia… Ha! I mean come on they’re only in the cities….oh and another thing if your going to mangle famous names make sure wewe at least put them together right. It’s “Lucky” Luciano, Benjamin Siegel commonly known as “Bugsy” who happened to be a Jew kwa the way. AND founded Las Vegas… and Joseph Bonanno…you know one of the original Godfathers.”

“Like the Movie with Marlon Brando…?”

He looked at her stunned.

“Yeah how did wewe know that?”

“We do have sinema in Israel Tony…and wewe reminded me of --
“Marlon..?” he beamed proudly
“No….Fredo” She smirked.

“That’s not funny.” He looked back at her as if he was going to pout.

“Awww my poor schlimazel” Ziva laughed.

“I’m not even going to ask,” he alisema while shifting in his kiti, kiti cha to relieve the stress on his back.

“We are almost there anyway,” she pointed to the beautiful home, which sat alone atop a kilima on the huge estate that they had just entered.

“So…how long have wewe known this “friend” of yours?” The Italian asked genuinely

“Since I was ten if wewe must know… Eli and his father were good friends.”

“How old do wewe think he is about now?” He looked at her.

“I would say about close to thirty-eight…today is the first time I will see him in many years.”

“Thirty-eight...? That means he was well… sixteen when wewe first saw each other.”

“Yes and…?” She looked at him.

“Tony…he did not do what I know wewe are thinking he did.”

“I didn’t say anything…” he chuckled nervously.

“You did not have too…I read your eyes” She eased off the gas as they entered the long winding driveway to the house.

“Well was he the one…you…ya know?”

She stopped the car and looked at him.

“I was just curious.”

“Jealous...?” She alisema moving closer to him, her eyes piercing his questions.

“Me…? Oh, no….I was just making conversation.”

“Well I think you’ve made something….” She resumed driving.

“So is he….Jewish like you…or?”

“He has to be Tony?”

“Well no, I just want to be sure I do not say the wrong thing.

“Ah now wewe realize that….” She nodded.

“Well how was I supposed to know? I don’t leave The States that often.”

“That would be your problem wewe lack worldly experience…”

The slowly exited the car and began the long walk up to the house.

“When was the last time wewe went anywhere where wewe were completely alone?”

“I got left at Fenway as a kid for a whole siku once.”

Ziva sighed as they slowly worked their way up a large hill. She wanted to see her partner open up into his true self and not hide behind the persona in which he was so comfortable.

“What about you…?” He looked at her as they continued; offered his hand, but was refused.

“I was 17...and we were running exorcises against the PLO near Ram Allah and my unit had gotten scattered on a drop just over the border in The West Bank…. The others were located within 1 to 2 days….my Father did not send anyone to find me…for nearly 2 weeks. I honestly think he thought I was dead.”

He looked at her honestly shocked.

“2 weeks…? How did-- I mean how did wewe get back.”

“I was found kwa some Arab herdsmen they knew I was Jewish and they like many of the families were not afraid to take those that are unlike them into their homes. If they had been found out they would have been put to death and I most likely would have been beheaded and dumped somewhere.”

He looked at her again, almost not believing what she just said,

“I walked for nearly 30 miles over 4 days before I finally succumbed.”

“Well I’m going to succumb if we don’t reach the juu of this hill.”

Ziva laughed

“You act as if you’ve never exerted yourself.”

“I have…”

“I do not mean sexually…and even there I sense a lack of understanding.” She smirked.

“So shoot me….” He quipped.

“Think I may wait until wewe at least make it to the juu of the kilima what do wewe say boys…?”

The pair looked up to see a line of at least 12 men and one who looked as if he was waiting for Tony to just lift his head a little higher. His comrades had already started to laugh.

“…and now we’re going to die.”

Ziva looked at him.

“You know I had always pictured dying after watching “Rosebud”. I mean here…now Russians? Who am I James Bond??

Ziva slowly reached the juu stood toe to toe with the much taller man.

“If wewe shoot him…you will deal with me…”

“Hmmm really..? That sounds like a challenge.”

He propped his bunduki on his shoulder.

“Really…” She removed her jacket.

Tony huffed and puffed as he finally made it to the top. He froze as he saw his partner and the much bigger Russian looking as in they were in the Coliseum in the middle of a rather large circle.

“ZIVA” He screamed as he ran his hands through his hair.

“He’ll kill you! Oh God Gibbs is going to pound me flatter then than McGee’s wallet!”

“You know the last girl I Tangled with I accidentally knocked her out.”

“Oh well…I am a woman and I have taken men twice your size down.”

They both threw several punches and countered each other several times before Ziva landed a mwepesi, teleka and well placed kick under the Russian’s chin. The men around them reacted sharply as they noticed blood coming from the man’s mouth. He staggered backward and looked at her. He then smiled.

“Ziva…?”

DiNozzo had broken into a cheer and was nearly screaming at her to finish her stunned opponent.

“What are wewe doing?! He’s WIDE open!”

Ziva then looked back equally as shocked.

“J…Justave?”

He slowly nodded and held his hand up too his mouth.

“What the--” Tony threw his hands up into the air he walked towards the two as they walked towards each other.

“Will someone please tell me what’s going on? I feel like I just missed the mashua to Tahiti.”

Ziva spoke first. “Tony DiNozzo…this is Colonel Justave Shermanove of The Russian Spetsnaz.’

“Hi… I’m chopped liver… wewe can call me dog meat.” He joked nervously as he offered his hand, he felt short compared to the Russian who toward over him.

“Very well Dog Meat…” He smiled as DiNozzo looked crushed that he taken him so literally.

“I was kidding there Boris….Ahem”

The Russian slowly turned, his head cocked to the side.

“Justave….is my name DiNozzo”

“I know I-- well never mind” He walked behind them as the gates opened into the compound.

What lay before them was a live image of a time long gone; Shepherds tending sheep, blacksmiths working and make tools and other implements with their hands and many other tasks now taken for granted in the modern world.

“Wow…” The Italian looked around at the hundreds of people at task.

“How many people live here?” he asked in his continued shock.

“Fifteen hundred…this land has been in my family since the time of The Kievan Rus' in the 9th century. They and their descendants have always been under the care of my family. We made a vow when my ancestors freed their workers that they would always have a place here with us.”

Tony looked at him.

“You mean wewe let these people work here all that time?”

“Yes…having a purpose in the short time we’re here isn’t easy to find one must look for it. I serve to protect my people and my nation from the inside and out since I was 7 years old.”

Ziva had walked ahead of the two men, she had turned to see both men sitting on a bench, and Tony looked as if he had the wind still knocked out of him. He seemed genuinely moved. He had always told her that he knew a great deal about the world but it was only through his televisheni au a computer that he would learn.

Today was different….they were there because of an increase of illegal arms and drug traffic thought the region. Ziva suggested that she go alone but Gibbs would have none of it. Now Tony was learning for the first time that real people innocent people were caught in the middle.

“Your government….doesn’t realize how much danger people are in until it is too late. I don’t want to see another 9/11...or a bombing in Madrid au London. The good men and women of this world must stand and fight against all the evil in this world.”

He stood and looked out over the beautiful fields of grain.

“Men like wewe and I….women like Ziva.”

Tony looked as if he were going to cry, such powerful words stirred in his soul. He thought of his father and how he’d let it all fall apart. He stood and walked over inayofuata to Russian.

“Have you….ever thought wewe couldn’t do It.?” Tony asked while watching several small children and their family working side kwa side.

“What is a man that never doubts himself..?”

He made a wide sweeping motion with his hand.

“I do it for them….for my family… my country…never for myself.”

“For generations man has done stupid things…terrible things. But those who have stood against tyranny are in the noblest class of all.”

Tony nodded.

“Amen to that…”

He looked down as if he was ashamed.

“Dose the pain ever fade away?”

Justave sighed.

“No….death is not something that ever leaves you. Soldiers like me have seen good people civilian and comrades in arms die. “

“A Soldier, no matter his nation if he au she believes in the same values of those who gave their lives always carries the spirits of the fallen with him au her”

He patted the Italian on the back.

“But until that time….you live DiNozzo…live for those wewe care about…those who wewe love.”

He looked into his eyes

“I know how wewe feel about her…I can see it in you.”

Tony cleared his throat.

“Well-- wewe know…” He looked down.

“She is a strong woman…even she needs someone.”

He looked at The Russian and then over at his partner who was sitting with several small children and looking out over the vast acreage that surrounded them.

“Go to her…” He smiled.

DiNozzo nodded and as Justave turned to go Tony turned.

“Hey Justave…”

“Yes…?”

“Thanks….for helping me understand…you know more.”

He wanted to say zaidi but couldn’t find the words.

Justave just smiled and offered a small salute.

Tony exhaled and walked slowly over to his partner, Tony had never thought of having children in truth he never thought of himself as a good fatherly type. He was terrified of being just like his father.

Seeing the children around the compound pulled at his heart, they had nowhere near the advantages he had growing up but they were happy and cared for in a way that he never was.

As he reached where Ziva was sitting, the children turned and scattered in a fit of giggles.

“Are wewe scaring children now Tony?” She alisema still not looking at him a small smile on her face.

“No…” He sat near her he was still shy around her even after all the time they had spent together.

“Are wewe okay?” She asked which finally got him to look at her.

“Yeah… just realizing wewe were right about a lot of things.”

“Tony, I was just offering an opinion…”

“No, but wewe were right…I don’t travel often…when it’s not part of the job I mean.”

“You have gone on cruises I thought.” She looked at him.

“I just never took the time to really see the people-- I’ve been so wrapped up in crap”

Ziva moved closer and gently rubbed his back.

“You have been busy with work at the office and wewe are one of the most dedicated men I have worked with…ever.”

Tony had turned his head to respond to her and found himself inches away from her lips and looking deeply into her eyes. He had never admitted to himself that Ziva possessed a level of sensuality that left the majority of American women he knew in the dust…not to mention it kept his mind racing.

“I-- well it’s nothing…I’ve always been a good investigator.”

Ziva nodded.

“You taught me as much as Gibbs…you know.”

Tony looked at her.

“I could say the same thing about you.”