A/N: Well, it is not going to be a long story. Just a few chapters up to 2-3. Shout out to smush68, my amazing friend, for her continuing support!

It had been 3 months since he became an agent afloat. He needed a break, he was extremely overwhelmed by feelings and he needed to relax the best way possible. He was tired of getting hurt; he just wanted all the work he could get. It was the only thing he could rely on to take his mind off things. Things like Jeanne, the explosion of his car, Jenny's death, and Abby's accusations that he did not save Jenny on time. It was everything so raw; he felt it deep in his veins, losing control. He knew that Abby's accusations were not true, she didn't believe them, but her words scratched his heart.

She, on the other hand, often sent him letters, told him how much she missed him. She was heartbroken when the team split up. Ziva in Mossad, McGee with the geeks in another team, Tony as an agent afloat. It didn't feel right, never really did. She never got to tell him how much she loved him, how much she appreciated him. Now she knew, her feelings were clear. Gibbs sent the pictures of Tony and Jeanne to her for further investigation as for her whereabouts and it was killing her, to see those pictures, to see how much he loved her. She had two walls for the team. The first wall had several pictures of the team and a little paper with a number on it for the days they were gone. The other wall was used just for Tony's postcards, showing how much she wanted him.

Gibbs walked in, gave her the Caf-Pow and a kiss on the cheek. ''What do you got for me, Abs?''

Abby glared at him. ''I will tell you if you tell me when our team is coming back together.''

Gibbs hugged her. ''They are used in this lifestyle, Abby. You need to understand that.''

She looked at him. ''No, it can't be. They can't be used in that lifestyle, Gibbs. They can't get away from their life here. It's not over yet.''

Gibbs shrugged. ''Who knows? Maybe I'm right.''

Abby shook her head. ''No, you're not…I'm inclined to disagree…''

Gibbs smiled. ''Then, what do you got for me, Abs?''

Abby went near the computer. ''Okay, so the killer's e-mail was encoded with a variety of symbols and computer commands, but I am managing to decode it so we can see his whereabouts any minute now.''

Gibbs nodded, not that he understood anything. ''Just give me the time, Abs.'' Just then, the computer made a bleep noise.

Abby raised her eyebrows. ''Woah, Gibbs, talk about luck!'' She double clicked the decoder. ''Let's see your whereabouts, Mister Murderer!''

The e-mail opened and Abby's eyes widened.

Gibbs muttered. ''He's targeting NCIS…''

Abby gasped. ''He's targeting…me…'' Gibbs turned and looked at her, worryingly.

Gibbs has been desperately making calls trying to find the murderer. It was extremely hard without his team together, and he did not care for his new team at all. They were as useless as a rubber in this situation. He's been cussing, arguing, yelling like crazy all day but with no results. Night came, when Abby went to MTAC, where Gibbs was sitting.

''Gibbs, I'm going now.'' She studied him as much as she could. He looked so tired, so…old…yet he refused to retire or give up…and he refused to show his anxiety or willing to give up…he wanted to set the good example for his agents to follow.

Gibbs looked at her. ''Out of question, you're staying here, Abby.''

Abby smiled. ''It's okay, really. I'm going to stay with the nuns…don't worry…''

Gibbs thought about it and nodded. ''Fine, but I'm having you wired from top to bottom.''

She laughed and saluted. ''Sir, yes, sir!'' She loved how much he cared for her. The care she could never find at home. She hugged Gibbs tight and left.

Gibbs went down to McGee's department, hoping that he was still there. Luckily, he was and Gibbs approached him, McGee was more than happy to see him too. And under different circumstances, Gibbs would be too.

''Boss! Welcome, how have you been? Any news from Ziva? How's Tony?'' He smiled.

''I'm not your boss, Tim, not anymore. I don't know much about Tony and Ziva, but I'm not here for chit-chat.''

McGee's face went from smiling to serious. ''What can I do for you, Gibbs?'' He hesitated calling him by his first name. This would be the first time he would call him like that.

Gibbs smirked. ''I want you to tail Abby. Unfortunately, the murderer we had been investigating is chasing Abby, so I need her safe. Every move 24/7.''

McGee immediately widened his eyes, worryingly. ''What danger? How? Why?''

''Calm down, McGee. She's with the nuns in the house. She's safe for now. I protested, but you know Abby.''

''Calm down?! Ugh…fine…tail, fine…fair enough…''

Gibbs smiled. ''Find her, I will go to MTAC. Mossad will be involved and the agent afloat is going to help us.'' He smirked.

McGee smiled a little. Even though, Abby was in danger, he still had hope that maybe his old team would reunite again. He was extremely happy to hear from either one of them or even just their names. He still met up with Abby now and then for lunch, but he never really saw Tony or Ziva since that day…when that tragedy happened. No one spoke of it again, just like Kate and he never asked.

Entering MTAC, Vance was there, the director of NCIS, waiting impatiently.

''How is Abby?''

Gibbs looked at him, somewhat surprised, never really showing it. ''Good, sent her home.''

Vance looked at him. ''What?! How did you let her go? That lunatic is on the loose!''

Gibbs smirked. ''I'm tailing her, Leon. Why are you so interested in Abby, anyway?''

''I care about her. I respect her, so I want her to stay sharp!'' Even though, Vance never shown it, he really liked Abby. Not as a woman, of course she wasn't ugly at all, she was plain gorgeous, but he did not like her in THAT way. He never, ever, underestimated her or her powers, having complete and blind faith in her, since Abby never let him down or betrayed him. He knew he could count on her and he respected in every way possible, and would always cuss out those who didn't. If he ever became Abby's enemy he would want to jump off a building, he always thought that if someone is Abby's enemy then he's dead.

Vance kept looking at Gibbs. ''Ready for Mossad connection?''

Gibbs nodded and Vance looked at the man over there who connected them immediately.

Ziva's and her dad's faces was at the screen, both wondering the reason for that connection. Ziva would never leave her father's side, not because they were going well, not at all. But since she was his daughter then she would be his advisor as well, and so she was.

''This is Gibbs, NCIS; we need your help searching a serial killer. He is armed, extremely dangerous and is after one person of my team.''

Ziva widened her eyes. ''Who is he after, Gibbs?''

''Abby…''

Ziva clenched her fists. ''What?!''

Gibbs nodded. ''Abby decoded one his secret emails to an unknown person and she found that he was targeting her.''

Vance nodded. ''We need your full cooperation to catch this lunatic.''

Ziva nodded, worryingly. ''How is she?''

Gibbs spoke. ''She went home with the nuns.''

Ziva protested. ''How could you leave her alone? That is foolish, Gibbs. I am sorry, but it is.''

Anyone could see her father's smug on his lips, showing how proud he was of her daughter speaking like that.

Gibbs looked at Leon and then smirked and both said in unison. ''We are tailing her.''

Ziva smiled. ''Then, we are more than glad to help you.'' Her father went to speak, but she cut him off. ''She is like a sister to me, father. She is exactly like Tali...but in her own kind of way.'' Her father's face softened and he smiled wanting desperately to protect Abby now. ''Very well, then, Agent Gibbs, you will have our full cooperation as well as understanding.''

Ziva spoke. ''I will be contacting you, keep Abby safe, please.''

Gibbs nodded and cut the connection. Abby truly was like a sister to Ziva, since she lost her real sister and Abby reminded a lot of her in many ways. Over the years, Abby became very fond of Ziva and Ziva very fond of Abby, even though, at first they wanted to kill each other, but no matter what, here or now, Ziva would always respect her and desperately trying to be her friend, having her thoughts just like Vance's.

Gibbs turned to Leon. ''Now, to tell Tony…'' Both Gibbs and Vance sighed.

This would be extremely hard…