Okay this is something new I decided to start in, completely on a whim. I was considering it for a while…I needed a new genre to work with. So here it is…a brand new fan fiction! Yay! Though I don't own these wonderful characters, with the exception of any possible OCs. Knowing me, there probably will be. Oh and guess what? My birthday is in just a couple days! Exciting, right? I'm one step closer to finally being an adult! Noo I'm not turning 18, though I wish I were. Anyway, here is the new story, it is purely experimental, just let me know what you think.

I stood there, trembling, staring at Kate's grave. It was a week after Ari had been killed. It was raining when I got the news that she was dead, gone from my life forever. Why did this have to happen? Why did my best friend have to leave me like this? I felt as if I had died as well. I gripped my parasol even tighter, if possible, and read the inscription.

"Special Agent Caitlin Todd, member of NCIS, died in the line of duty…" I couldn't read anymore. Tears splashed onto the flowers I had laid there, orchids to be precise. My mascara was starting to run, but I didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore, now that Kate was dead. More tears ran down my cheeks, and I started to turn away and head back to my hearse. I was probably needed at NCIS. Gibbs would be wondering where I was. I sighed and drove away from the cemetery. Life would go on, but nothing would ever be the same. Kate's desk would be empty, so I did my best to not even look in that direction as I walked toward Gibbs. But something caught my eye as I passed her desk…I couldn't help but look. It was Ziva. She was sitting at Kate's desk. For some reason, that angered me.

"Why are you sitting at her desk?" I demanded, glaring at Ziva.

"This is the only one available," she said.

"That's Kate's desk!" I almost shouted, startling her. "She always sits there! She always has her coffee right there, several inches from the keyboard, and you…you just replaced her!" I started sobbing. Ziva looked afraid of me, and uncertain at all the emotion.

"I…I don't mean to replace her," Ziva said slowly. "I'm just here to…to…"

"You were here to protect Ari, and ended up killing him. Congrats. Mission accomplished. Go home now," I stared at her coldly. She appeared unfazed by my hostility.

Abby, why did I die? Kate's voice asked in my head. I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this to happen.

"I don't know why you hate me, but I do wish to become a part of what NCIS has to offer,"

"Why? Have you always wanted this, and Kate so happened to be in your way?" As I continued ranting, I paced around Kate's desk. "You might as well have pulled the trigger yourself, you know that?" Ziva ducked her head in shame.

"I know, Abby," she murmured. "Every day I wonder what would have happened…if I had gotten there to stop him in time," My eyes went wide, and I stopped pacing. She knew about this?

"You knew he was going to kill her?" I exclaimed, my voice rising with each word.

"Yes. I watched as she fell to the ground. I watched as Tony and Gibbs searched for the killer, and their eyes nearly fell on me. I had to get out of there, in case I was accused of murder,"

"Why did you insist that Ari was innocent, then?" I asked her.

"He was my half brother. You would have done the same, even if you had seen him do it," I tried to stay angry, but I couldn't. All I felt was a terrible emptiness every time I saw Ziva sitting in that chair instead of Kate.

I miss you, Abby

"I miss you too, Kate," I ran down into my lab and locked the door. Bert provided a certain comfort for me. I started crying all over again when I saw the drawing Kate drew for me. She was always quite the artist.

"Oh, Kate!" I wailed. The lock in the door turned, and Gibbs stepped inside. His face was somber, but otherwise hard to read. He didn't say anything, he just held me until I finally calmed down.

"I bet you think its your fault," I said, sniffling a little. "You were right there, and you took off her only protection," Gibbs looked away.

"Yeah, exactly. I know she was shot in the head, but if she had moved at the last second, or something, she would have at least have gotten the chance to live a little longer,"

"You can't change the past, Abs," Gibbs said.

What are you going to do, now that I'm gone?

"I don't know anymore," I whispered, answering both of them. Gibbs held me tightly for a few more minutes. Rain pounded on the window from outside, reminding me of last week just days before her funeral, when I had gotten news of her death.

"Promise me it gets easier," I whimpered as he finally pulled away from me.

"Soon you'll be able to remember without a trace of sadness at all," Gibbs said, leaving the lab. Rain, rain, go away…

I need to tell you something

"What?"

You are in danger…that's all I can say for now

I had no idea why I heard Kate's voice in my head, but I knew this was real enough to know I should probably listen to her.