Thanks for all the alerts, favorites and most of all for the reviews! Know that every single one is appreciated! I can't tell you when the next update will come because my real life is a mess right now and there are just not enough hours to a day, but know that I haven't given up on the story.

I know this is not what you guys wanted but I feel that it's just not that easy to be together for our favorite couple. Enjoy and please tell me what you think. I am always open to ideas and suggestions how to improve my writing.

Oh…and sorry for yet again a cliffy…but I know how much you guys secretly love them ;)


For a few hours everything Abby did was calling the people in her life that mattered a lot to her; her family and friends. Since she couldn't tell them the truth she just shared stories and made sure everyone knew how she felt about them, while trying hard not to cry in the process or let them hear the strain in her voice. After her last call she was emotionally drained but she knew the worst part was yet to come. She would have to say goodbye to her second family and her life all too soon.

Looking up her gaze found the still sleeping Gibbs in the armchair. Even in his sleep he looked tense and unhappy. Abby wished she could just go over to him and kiss the frown from his face, make him smile at her like he so often did. She loved that smile and she desperately wanted to see it again. She also felt the urge to curl up in his lap just to feel safe for a little while longer.

Feeling her resolve crumbling she knew she had to get away now, before he woke and decided to go with her out of his need to protect her from all evil. Now it was her turn to protect him from himself. She knew he loved her as some kind of combination of best friend and daughter substitute and that he would go to great lengths to keep her save. It wasn't beyond him to give up his life for her and she just could not let that happen.

"If you love someone, let them go" she mumbled under her breath. But no one ever told her how hard that would be. With a last lingering look she said her silent goodbye to the man she loved and made her way to the Agent by the door, telling him she was ready to leave. Without looking back she left the room and as she did she felt her heart break.


Abby had insisted to go see her lab for a last time, and since the Navy Yard was pretty much secure for now they let her have her will, giving her an hour to get everything she needed and to say farewell. Now she was standing in her lab for what probably would be the last time, packing a few things, including Bert.

"My dear Abby…" Dr. Mallard spoke behind her, looking so sad that it made her cry. She flung herself in his arms sobbing and felt him caressing her back. When she looked up at him tears were streaming down his face.

"Ducky I will miss you so much." she cried. "I love you so much"

"I know my dear, as do I. Please be safe."

She just gazed at him with sad eyes.

"Watch out for them Ducky." she said when she finally let go of him. "Watch after him."

"Oh Abby. I promise." He told her seeing the fierce pain in her eyes.

"Goodbye Ducky." Abby told him placing a light kiss to his cheek. "Tell Palmer goodbye for me too."

With those words she grabbed her things and made her way upstairs to the bullpen were Tony, Ziva and Timmy were waiting for her.


Saying goodbye to the people she considered her second family was the hardest thing she had to do ever. They told each other over and over again that they would see one another again. And that was probably true since she would have to come back out of hiding for the trial. But that was probably months into the future and she was never apart from them for that long before. At least not without any way to communicate.

The last one to say her farewells to was Tony. They stood before the elevator only a few minutes left until Abby had to leave everything behind.

"Tony, you remember what you told me? That I deserve to be happy?" she asked him.

"Yeah sure do. I still mean it." DiNozzo told her sounding sad because he knew that being happy was far from anything she felt right now.

"You deserve to be happy too." She murmured, looking back over her shoulder towards Ziva who was comforting the sobbing form of McGee. "Please don't make the same mistake I did, don't wait until it's too late."

"Abby I…" he started, wondering how she could think of something like that while her life was in danger, but knowing that Abby was after all the most selfless person he ever met.

"No. Listen to me, Tony." she said fiercely. "Promise me. I need to know that at least you will be happy."

Looking from her to Ziva and back he gave Abby a nod, silently promising that he would at least try, even if he was not convinced that Ziva felt the same way he did.

"You will be happy too Abby, one day. I just know it. Don't lose faith. We will do everything in our power to make this go away. I promise you that."

With that they feel into each other's arms for a last time and after that Abby got into the elevator with an Agent who would bring her to a safe house for the night. Tomorrow she would be on her way to a new life, a life on the run.

When the elevator opened, she saw a shadowy figure leaning against the opposite wall. Dread filled her heart and the Agent beside her made a move to draw his weapon when the man stepped out of the shadows …