Coldness, she couldn't escape from the coldness that now seemed to be freezing her from the inside out. Darkness had always been a comfort to her, but it was the coldness that she feared, the sadness, the lonely abyss of cold.

She could here the heavy hearted footsteps of an intruder. She ignored the sound and concentrated on the work to try and block out the cold and pain. Tears stung at her eyes but she just kept on typing. Then she felt loving hands on her shoulders. To the intruder she said quickly and quietly "Gibbs, I can't leave now and you can't make me. I'm not leaving..."

"I was not here to try and make you leave." Abby looked up at the computer screen to see the reflection of Tony DiNozzo, with that look upon his face that betrayed the heartbreak he has worked so hard to hide. For a second she felt selfish for being in pain, when there was Tony, who had lost the woman that he secretly loved, and he was consoling her.

She knew that he was in love, had her suspicions and it took a while to figure out who he was in love with. Abby had a crush on Tony, so when she had realized that why he was acting so weirdly was on account of being in love, she was crushed. She knew it couldn't be her that he loved. Kate Todd was a later realization. Just the way Tony hung out with her and, just, the way he was when he was around Kate. Her mind was racing with the coldness, the pain, the loss of Kate, and the... loss of Tony, but she was interrupted with Tony speaking once again "As soon as you are ready to talk, I'm here."

Abby just broke at his words. She collapsed into a silent sob, falling off her chair and onto the hard lab floor. Tony knelt and collected her into his arms and just laid back and held her onto his chest. He soothed her with sweet words and soft caresses.

"She's dead, Tony, she's dead! My best friend, whom I love, and she is gone, she left me behind. Tony what am I going to do with out Kate, without my friend?"

"I'm your friend." Tony replied, sweet and sincerely.

"How are handling this so well?"

"My heart is shattered and I am haunted. I will miss Kate; she was a good friend, not just a co-worker."

I don't understand, Abby thought, how can he not be broken when the woman he loves died? Is he that good at hiding behind his mask, being able to live a façade.

"How are you able to continue living when the woman you love now lies in a morgue?"

There was a quizzical pause before Tony's response.

"I am able to live for the woman I love is lying in my arms?"

Abby looked up at Tony, her tear and mascara streaked face, bewildered. His answer for her questioning gaze was to hold her face and draw her closer and give her a lovable, lingering, kiss.

"I love you too" Abby said with a sweet, sad, smile.

Abby remained lying on top of Tony, sharing with him loved filled kisses, innocent and pure.

"I miss Kate, but I love you." Tony said to his Abby.