A/N: Seeing as I've focused a lot on our four favorite agents, I decided it was time to branch out. Hopefully there will be more Abby one-shots to come! Please note that this one-shot contains spoilers for Haitus I and II.
Disclaimer: Sadly, NCIS is still owned by CBS/Donald Bellisario, not me. I gain no profit from this story, nor is any copyright infringement intended.
He was gone... left. Gibbs was gone. Abandoned them, the team, his family, for Mexico with Franks. No. There was no way this could be happening... no way! First he'd been blown up, then he'd lost his memory, and now he was leaving! There was no way! This had to be a dream!
Reaching up with one pale hand, Abby pinched herself, then winced as she looked at the bright red mark she'd just made. This was most certainly not a dream. Sighing, she flopped down on her stool, resting her chin in her hands. She reached up and pulled her hair ties out, her black hair cascading down. A tear worked its way down her cheek, smearing her make up.
She couldn't get it out of her head. It just kept replaying that one scene... how he walked over to Tony... handed him his badge and gun... gave him the team... how he told McGee he was a good agent... told Ziva that he owed her... quiet her own sobs one last time... kissed her cheek... walked away, without saying good-bye.
"You'll do... It's your team now... Your a great agent, Tim...Don't let him tell you other wise... I owe you, Ziva... Semper Fi."
Abby broke down, her shoulders shaking as she cried. She knew there was work to be done; Major Mas-Spec had told her he had results over an hour ago. But she just didn't care. She just couldn't do it. She felt so lost.
The doors to the lab slid open, and a tall man hesitantly walked in. He stopped when he saw the crying forensic scientist. No pigtails, no loud music... this wasn't right. Abby was never upset. In fact, the only time he'd ever seen her like this was when Kate died...
It didn't take a genius to understand why she was so upset. After all, he felt just as betrayed. What kind of team leader just walks out on their team? What kind of person abandons those who look to them for guidance? What person was that cruel, that cold, that selfish?
Well, he didn't say the second B stood for 'bastard' for no reason.
Taking a deep breath, the man quietly walked further into the lab, stopping behind Abby. He picked up her discarded hair ties and slid them on to his wrist. Carefully, so as to not startle her, he began combing her hair with his fingers, and eventually pulled half her hair into a pigtail. Then, he did the same to the other side. Abby looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. The man held out his hand.
"C'mere, Abbs."
Abby stood, wrapping her arms around the new Team Leader. He held her tight, making her feel safe. Gibbs may have left, but Tony was still here.
And now he was her rock.