He stares at her computer screen. It taunts him. He packs up, and leaves for the night. He heads home. He sits on his couch, feeling the regrets.
"If you were here right now, there are so many things that I would tell you. I am sorry. Please come back to me. I need you."
Abby sits at her desk, in her lab. She stares at a picture of Ziva. How could she have let this happen again? Lose someone else, and never tell them what she needed to say. She looks at the picture. "Damnit, Ziva come back. We need you. We're all falling apart without you. We aren't the same without you. We're like a family, and without you there is no glue to keep us together. I'd do anything, so you could come back."
Tim sits at his typewriter. The blank page taunts him. He types three letters, and a questions mark. Why? He asks her. He pushes the chair away from the desk, and heads to bed. He climbs into bed. He pulls the covers over his head.
Gibbs sits in his basement. He stares at his boat. He swallows his shot of bourbon. He pours another glass. "Ziva, this one's for you," he announces, and takes the second shot. He moves over to the boat. He holds the can of paint, and paintbrush. He stares at the outline. The name on the boat. He grabs a bigger brush, and paints a big black line over the outline.
Ducky stares at the empty autopsy table. As he lingers near the light. "Tell me, that you aren't really gone." He flips out the light, and walks away.
She stares up at the stars, wondering. She lies on the hood of a car, looking up to heaven for the right answer. She closes her eyes, and listens to the sound of the crickets in the background. This, could never be home.
He opens the drawer of his bedside stand, to put his gun away, before going to sleep. Inside something metallic catches his eye. A necklace, with a shiny Star of David pendant on it. He pulls it out. He stares at the star, in the palm of his hand. She had once said, "I'd sooner die than take it off." She had shown her hand, maybe it was his turn, to show his. To show that he was serious. He had to do something, to bring her back.
Gibbs checks his watch, as he stands in the bullpen. McGee drums on his desk with his thumbs.
"Where is DiNozzo?"
"We don't have a case boss."
"He still needs to show up on time."
"Maybe he got lost."
"Lost?"
"Stuck in traffic?"
"You think so?"
"No, knowing him he probably did something stupid."
"I'm sure of that," Gibbs agrees.
The elevator dings, and Tony steps off. He approaches them, and they notice that his shirt is unbuttoned. They squint in his direction, until he gets close enough for them to examine him.
"DiNozzo what is going on? Why isn't your shirt buttoned?"
"I did something stupid, boss," Tony replies.
"What does that have to do with the shirt?" McGee inquires.
"Let me see," Gibbs approaches DiNozzo's desk.
He pulls open the shirt. Gibbs stares at a pieced of gauze tapped to Tony's chest, over his heart.
"Take it off," Gibbs insists.
Tony rips it off. He grimaces as the tape rips off hair and skin. Gibbs stares at a shaved patch of skin on DiNozzo's chest.
"Really?" Gibbs furrows his brow.
"I know. It was dumb."
"You do realize that it is permanent, right?" Gibbs questions.
"She should know the truth."
"Maybe you'll get the chance to tell her. You shouldn't have gotten a tattoo."
McGee approaches, he stares at Tony's new tattoo. A tiny star of David, on his heart, with her birth date.
"Now put your clothes back on," Gibbs warns.
The elevator dings, and Abby runs towards them.
"Let me see!"
Gibbs eyes her as she inspects Tony's tattoo, "You knew about this?"
"Yeah, I recommended the place to him," Abby admits.
Gibbs slaps Abby, and DiNozzo on the backs of their heads, at the same time.
"Ow!" Tony whines.
"I totally deserved that," Abby agrees.
"Now can we get to work?"
"Um, boss," McGee interjects, "We don't have a case."
"We will."
"And if we don't?"
"I am sure that the three of you can find something to investigate."
"No," Abby replies, boldly.
"No?" Gibbs questions.
"No. This, is not our team. We're just four people, who work together. We're incomplete. I refuse to continue, until we're whole again."
"Abby it's not a puppy, we can't just replace her," Tony responds.
"Maybe it's time," Abby continues.
"For what, Abs?" Gibbs inquires.
"For me to move on, from NCIS. I don't want to keep doing this. I can't keep doing this. I can't keep losing all the people that I care about. I am sick of it."
"What about you two, you feel the same way?" Gibbs queries.
McGee answers first, "Honestly?"
"Yes, McGee," Gibbs nods.
"It isn't the same without her, it never will be. We were a team, we were the best, and without her, we're nothing."
"We were a team before her," Gibbs reminds.
"It wasn't the same, it will never be the same, not without her," McGee replies.
"DiNozzo?"
Tony finishes buttoning his shirt. "I don't think that I am entitled to an opinion."
"I am asking, I expect an answer."
"I just got a tattoo, for her. I... without her, my heart just isn't in it. I'm running on autopilot."
"What about you?" Abby poses the question, staring at Gibbs.
"It's too quiet. There is no bickering. There is something, someone missing. I think that... it's time."
"We're all in agreement? We're all going different directions?" Abby tries to confirm.
They all stare at Abby, afraid to answer. They are all so focused on her question that they don't hear the footsteps approaching.
"No one is going to go anywhere," a voice warns from behind them. Their heads all snap up, and look towards Gibb's desk.