A/N: So… a short one and it's more McAbby centric. Thank you for all the reviews they are very much appreciated!
14 Years Ago
.::.
"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of
letting go and holding on."
-Henry Ellis
.::.
The year that followed Gibbs' death, was filled with exhaustion and unforgettable memories. Through the death of another, two realized their love for each other and how important and valuable time really was in their limited lifetime. Everyone coped with loss in a different way, some turned to alcohol and drugs, some to the people around them and some, the ones that couldn't cope; they gave up and took the easy way out, they stopped peddling and chose to fall off the bike.
Though Ziva was still faced with the troubles of moving on she had observed the team like how she was trained to. And being locked up in the lab for months on end both Abby and McGee had found comfort in each other, and of all things they hadn't expected that it would've resulted from Gibbs' death, but it did. For when Abby broke down he had her back, he stood by her side and consoled her. It really gave them a wakeup call that life shouldn't be lived by rules, but by anticipation and instinct.
Through the strengths and weaknesses together the two pulled each other out of the grave they had dug so deep into, they dragged each other out of the pit of endless pain and it had felt like they were trapped there for eons and no one had bothered to help. But they knew better than to blame the others for not coming to their rescue for they had all fallen into a downward spiral. And maybe they were in there to begin with and Gibbs had been the light, and slowly that light faded and they found themselves lost. All it took them was to open their eyes and it was clear where they were and it felt like they had been blinded by rules that they grew so accustomed to that they'd forgotten how to live.
It had been a very long time since they'd actually left the NCIS navy yard, and walked around and consumed all this planet had offered to them. At the beginning when they began to venture out they'd felt envious of the people who strolled the streets and parks, and how they could smile and laugh so freely when there was so much burden in this world. And after weeks on end of eternal deafening silence, they learnt to laugh again like a child taking its first step, it was like a miracle.
They were finally letting go, they took the last step onto familiar soil as they waved good bye to the ship that had begun its journey off into the unknown. After that, time seemed to have flown by and the ship could no longer be seen off in the far horizon. It had at last said farewell to this world and embarked on its new journey. And it was Ziva who was the bravest; she was the first to have moved on, leading the team and everyone else trudged along behind her until they were out of no man's land. Time returned to its usual pace and it began to slip by so quickly that it wasn't long before Abby and McGee had dated for a steady nine months.
And as it approached the year end once again Ziva and the team had gathered and celebrated; the dark tunnel had been put behind them and the train was headed for a much brighter future. An important chapter of their lives had found its conclusion and had found its way onto the shelves of her and each of their hearts as they prepared for a new beginning, a new story to be written and new adventures to be shared…
.::.
A/N: We can all say farewell to this sad arc now! Next chapter we'll see the team begin to work together as one again. See you then! (Reviews are always nice :D)
