Palmer: We need your help.

Abby: Well I need a break.

Abby wasn't even startled when Gibbs came through the door and delivered her fourth Caf Pow of the day.

"Cant decide who's more addicted to caffeine, you or me…"

Abby only responded with a small smile and set the drink aside. "Need something?"

"Didn't know I needed something to come down here."

"Why not? That's why everyone else does."

Gibbs glare was less effective, considering the fact that she wasn't looking at him. He quickly remedied that by stepping in front of her key board.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"It?"

"Yeah, it. The 'it' you came down here to investigate…I've known you long enough to know your looks…and that look..." She pointed at him and continued. "Is the inquisitive one. Sure, it's the concerned inquisitive…and it's always super adorable when you're concerned, but right now, I'm not really feeling it."

"Feeling what?"

"Exactly." She gestured towards the door. "Thanks for the Caf Pow, but if you don't need anything I'm really busy…"

"Since when do you want to get rid of me?"

Her face fell. "I don't…I'm not…I'm just…" She searched for the right word, which concerned Gibbs even more. "I'm just tired okay? Don't you ever get tired?"

Gibbs opened his mouth to respond when he was cut short.

"Of course you don't…you run on four hours of sleep. You have caffeine coursing through your bloodstream constantly…well that used to work me too, but not anymore."

His expression changed. "Abs…"

She wasn't sure if it was the genuine tone in his voice or the new element of gentleness that struck her, but her eyes instantly well edwith tears. "You really have a way of getting things out of me huh?"

"It's a gift."

"Or a curse," she shrugged. "I've just been thinking a lot about the past few months. Some days it's harder for me to think about than others…"

"Which part?"

"Oh I don't know…having a crazy killer after us always rattles me a bit. And there was the whole dead doll thing, which I'll admit was kinda cool, but what really got me, was you."

"Me?"

"Yeah…I guess I'll never get used to almost losing you…again."

"So I'm the 'it' that's bothering you?"

"Lately."

"What do you want me to do?"

"That's just it, there's nothing you can do…I just gotta work through this little funk on my own."

"On your own?"

She thought for a moment. "I figure this time I should learn how to get through it without you…because one day you really will be gone…and even if I never ever in a million years want to think about that…it's true."

He could still see the tears resting in her eyes. "I'm not planning on going anywhere."

"Yeah? Well neither was Kate."

Gibbs cringed as he felt the familiar pain of loss rife through him.

"Gibbs, I'm sorry..." She embraced him in the midst of her apology and held him for a few seconds. "Shouldn't have said that."

He eased her away slowly but kept his arms on her shoulders. "It's okay Abs…I know how much things like this bother you…I should have been around more."

"That's just it, I don't want to rely on you to spend the night or listen to me ramble for hours on the phone all the time. I need to find a healthy way to work through stuff…the none Gibbs way…"

He hid a smile. "And just so we're clear, there's no Gibbs replacement that I don't know about?"

She shook her head. "Not unless you count kick boxing class a replacement?"

"Fair enough." He quickly changed from verbal speech to signing as he sensed the conversation coming to a close.

"I will not always be here. But I am now…"

She understood and smiled towards him. "I know."

"Good night."

"Good night…"

And as always, he signed a simple yet reassuring I love you just as the elevator doors closed between them.