Three of the seven possible targets couldn't be contacted. Abby worried her bottom lip between her teeth, foot tapping on the floor beneath the desk as Catherine broke the news to her.

They'd all been friends of hers at one time, Abby remembered, fellow classmates when she'd first arrived at the so-called academy wide-eyed and full of curious fear. They'd worked together as part of the same team within the same unit, friends as well as colleagues.

She'd gone to the wedding of two of them, Rob and Helen Summers, and had kept in touch through emails and phone calls at first, something that had dwindled down into exchanging cards at Christmas before that, too, had fallen by the wayside.

The fourth member of the group had been her closest friend and partner; Annie Green had had her back and Abby had had hers. They'd kept in touch, too, and still emailed every month or so with the latest news. Annie had been her roommate at college, in the house on campus that the NSA had rented for them, the house in which Catherine had served as mentor and chaperone and made sure they'd kept up with their extracurricular NSA activities as well as their studies.

"Annie works part time for UCLA," Abby told Catherine stiffly. "She does lectures there from time to time. You could see if they've got alternate contact details for her." Abby's own emails to Annie had gone unanswered.

"I'll do that." Catherine made a note in the notepad she was carrying. "Rob and Helen might be on vacation. Their mail hasn't been collected in a week and the neighbours don't recall seeing them in at least that long but it's possible."

Possibly, but the churning sensation in her stomach didn't let her believe their absence could be explained away so innocently. A glance in Gibbs' direction told her he didn't think so, either.

"I've got a shortlist of cases to go through," Abby said out loud, clasping her hands together to keep from fidgeting. "The team narrowed it down to four where all of the victims were with the unit. I'll go through them and see if anything jumps out, see if I can remember anyone in particular who might hold a grudge."

"Let me know if you do." Catherine nodded but hesitated before continuing, shooting Gibbs a look that suggested she'd like to speak to Abby alone. Gibbs gave her a look and stayed where he was, making Catherine sigh. "I've been thinking about your security, Abby. I'd like to assign you a partner, someone to stick with you throughout this investigation..."

"I've got that covered," Gibbs interjected, the first thing he'd said since taking a seat beside Abby in what had temporarily become Catherine's office at the Navy Yard for the early evening debriefing Abby had invited him to but Catherine had not. "Abby's partnered with me."

Catherine arched an eyebrow. "You're taking responsibility for her personal well being, Agent Gibbs?"

"It's been my responsibility for going on eleven years," Gibbs replied with a nonchalant expression. "Don't see what that should change now."

The speculative look Catherine threw at her didn't go unnoticed but the younger woman didn't acknowledge it. Abby shrugged a shoulder at Gibbs when he looked at her questioningly, recalling how he never seemed far from her side ever since their visit to the shooting range. The only time she was without what she was coming to think of her silver-haired shadow was when she'd had to use the bathroom, and even then he'd been waiting outside for her when she was done.

"I'm happy with Gibbs as a partner," she answered instead, trying to control a blush at the possible double-meaning to her words. "There's no one I'd feel safer with, Catherine. You don't have to worry."

"I always worry about my agents," Catherine replied with a look. "You should remember that."

"I do, but I also know it isn't necessary in this case." Abby held her former mentor's gaze for a few moments before looking away. "I was thinking about other possible targets, since whoever's behind this is likely to get frustrated and strike out anyway if their intended victims aren't available. You were always one of our supervising agents, along with Ron and Frank. You've all moved up in the ranks so it's possible one of you is the end game."

Tilting her head as she considered it, Catherine nodded slowly. "I'll take that under advisement, Abby. If there's nothing else...?"

Recognising a dismissal when she heard one, Abby got to her feet, unsurprised when Gibbs followed suit and stood with her. "Let me know if you hear from Annie?"

"I will."

With a small nod, Abby led the way out of the office, struggling to hold onto her composure when Gibbs' hand brushed against the small of her back. She managed to keep her emotions under control until they were enclosed behind the solid doors of the elevator and even then thought she would have been okay if Gibbs hadn't hit the emergency stop button and turned to her with concern in his eyes.

Her mask cracked and a tear slid down her cheek. She went into his arms willingly when he tugged her closer, hiding her face against his suit jacket.

"Don't let me go," she mumbled, her words muffled against him as she slipped her own arms around him and held fast.

Gibbs' own arms tightened around her in response and she felt the brush of his lips against the top of her head before he answered solemnly. "I won't."

"I mean it, Gibbs." She pulled back, teary green eyes holding his unflinchingly. "You have no idea how long it took me to stop thinking like one of them and start being who I am, who I want to be. I'm scared I'm going to lose myself again."

He lifted a hand from her hip to touch her cheek, catching the tear that escaped her eye with the pad of his thumb. He wiped it away and leaned in, pressing his lips against her forehead before drawing back to make his promise. "If you do, I'll find you. I'll always find you."

They stared at one another in silence. They moved closer at the same time, lips meeting almost clumsily at first. His hand slid to the back of her head, tangling in her hair to keep her in place as the kiss grew deeper, desperate.

Parting after what felt like both a long time and no time at all, they looked at each other with identical expressions, neither surprised but both a little dazed. Making a quick decision, he stepped away from her but took hold of her hand, hitting the button to start the elevator once more.

When it stopped on the ground floor, Abby didn't protest. Nor did she protest when he led her to his car and drove them home in silence.