"Tony, could you turn down the porn? I'm trying to work here," Tim wined nasally at the man sitting a few feet from him.

Tony eyed his partner from his desk, "It's not porn, it's a soap opera. One of television's oldest traditions."

"You mean they actually have television shows devoted to singing toiletries?" Ziva quipped from behind her desk.

Tony laughed wryly, "Ha, that's cute."

"I try my best," Ziva fluttered her eyes playfully at Tony, "So, what really is a soap opera?"

Tony opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the junior of the two agents.

"It's those corny shows that have story lines that involve evil twins, people coming back from the dead and a thousand amnesiacs."

"Oh, you mean telanovelas?" Ziva asked.

Both Tony and Tim instantly turned their attention to Ziva.

Ziva shruggled slightly, and sat tall in her chair, "Don't shoot me. I watch them when I can't sleep."

Tony quickly flashed his hands up, pulling them close to his chest, "I didn't say anything."

"Maybe you should keep it that way, DiNozzo," Gibbs strode in, sipping at his first of many coffee's.

Tim and Ziva chuckled softly behind their desks, careful not to be loud enough for Gibbs to hear.

"Okay, now that my daily berating is done, you got somethin' for us, boss?" Tony slowly rose from his seat in anticipation.

Gibbs eyed the overzealous agent, signaling him to sit back down instantly.

"I wouldn't sit just yet, Agent DiNozzo," Vance said as he hurried down the flight of stairs.

The team sat at attention as the director entered the bull pen. Gibbs quickly looked up from his desk and made his way to the middle of the room.

"You got something for us, Leon?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes, but I'd rather discuss the details in my office," the director quickly turned his attention to the rest of the team, "As for you three, I'd get packing, you're heading out of the country."

Before Vance could finish his sentence, the three had already dispersed. While Tony and Ziva headed for their cars, Tim went straight for Abby's lab.

The two men left in the bull pen eyed each other for a moment before heading for the director's office. Gibbs could tell by Vance's tone that this wouldn't be a normal case. As for what classified as 'not normal', Gibbs had no idea.

When the two reached Vance's office, the room filled with a thick haze of tension. Before doing anything, Leon flipped the switch that secured the area. Now Gibbs knew this wouldn't be a normal case.

The senior agent shuffled over to the large conference table, folding his arms as he leaned against its edge. The two men glared at each other. What Tony had said about Gibbs being 'a functional mute' was correct. Neither of them needed to say a word to understand the seriousness of the circumstances. However, words must be exchanged to find out exactly what the mission entailed.

Vance handed the folder off to Gibbs, "We have to do some cover up work."

Gibbs immediately looked up from the file, and stared at Vance in disbelief.

"I know politics isn't your forte, and that is why I'll be handling that part. What you are good at is saving people, and that's what you and your team have to do."

Gibbs peered up from the file once again, "Pollack's team?"

Vance nodded, "I never thought I'd see the day, but him and his people are stuck in Manttova, a small town in Italy. They were tracking a sailor who was believed to have killed his boss, but it looks as if it has turned into more. I've spoken with the liason office out of Venice, and as of yet, they have no word from the team."

"So, it's a basic search and rescue mission, you had me worried their for a second, Leon," Gibbs chuckled at Vance.

"Gibbs, this isn't just another mission. If it was, I would handed it off to someone else," Vance's voice grew louder with each passing word.

"Look," Gibbs said as he slammed the file on the desk, "We'll get the job done, and come back. My team will not be involved in the original case. That still belongs to Pollack and his men."

"I couldn't agree more," Vance's nostrils flared as he watched the silver haired man dash out of the room.

When Gibbs darted to the stairs, he noticed someone was missing from the bull pen.

"Yo, Lover boy, where's McGee?" Gibbs growled at Tony.

"Last I saw he was with Abby," Tony replied.

Tony was exactly right, Tim was with Abby, but he was quiet distracted by other obligations.

"McGee, stop it!" Abby whined playfully at the man who stood before her.

"Come on, you know you love it," he giggled slightly as he pet the soft material.

"Yeah, but not while I'm working."

"How about a quickie?" Tim flashed a devilish smile at the busy girl.

"Fine, just get it over with."

"Great," Tim grinned as he squeezed the soft material again.

The plush toy let out a loud farting sound, making the two giggle.

"Now, didn't that make you feel better?"

"Actaully, it did," Abby admitted, "But aren't you supposed to be doing something right now?"

"I came here to get my stuff, but..."

Abby abrubtly cut him off, "You left your stuff here?"

"Just my emergency pack. This is the safest place I could leave it. Tony wouldn't dare snoop through it here," Tim grinned as he looked over Abby's shoulder at the several computer moniters.

"Well, shouldn't you get it and go if it's an emergency pack?"

"Normally, yes, but Gibbs is with Vance. You know how much the old dog likes to taunt the puppy."

"Is that right, Elf Lord?" Gibbs asked as he paced into the room.

Abby's eyes grew wide, "Oh, can I do it?"

Gibbs shot an approving nod her way. With a swift move of the wrist, Abby slapped the base of Tim's head.

Tim rubbed his mussed hair down, "Ow, what was the for?"

"If he would have done it, he would have broken your scrawny neck. I believe you owe me one now," Abby smiled contently as she turned back to her work.

Tim quickly ran to the other side of the lab, and grabbed his pack from under one of Abby's desks.

"So where are we headed, boss?" Tim asked.

"Viva la Italia, Elf Lord!" His harsh voiced joked.