Floating...falling...rising...falling again...wake up...wake up...wake up...you have to wake up, now!

"Abby, wake up." I knew that voice. The accent was impossible to mistake. But I was so comfortable here. I didn't want to leave. So I settled into the safety of darkness, knowing that the light would surely be the death of everything I knew here.

"Abby..." A hand touched my forehead. Out of shock, my eyes flew open to see Ducky gazing back at me.

"What happened?" I sat up and found my focus was settling back into place.

"I could ask you the same thing," McGee said from somewhere aboe me. That was when I noticed that I was sitting on the tile floor, right where I must have collapsed.

"How long was I out?" I asked. Ducky pulled me to my feet.

"Not that long, darling, just a few minutes," he assured me. "Are you alright?" There it was again. I could recognize the concern that seemed to be coming from some other source other than myself. It felt more...fatherly, and much more distanct.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I just need to relax for a minute. I tried to jump back into work too soon, I guess." The concern faded, giving way to relief and calm. Well, that certainly didn't come from McGee, or me, so-my eyes widened as all the pieces of the puzzle came together at once.

"No way, that is just too hinky to be true!" I breathed.

"What?" Ducky and McGee asked at the same time.

"I'm an empath. I can feel other people's emotions."

Bullpen- at the same time as when McGee carried Abby into autopsy

Ziva POV

Things were very quiet. I was starting to enjoy some time alone, without Tony there to distract me with his endless movie references and taunts about my...issues with English and idioms. He will never know whether I do it just to annoy him or not. Of course life couldn't just be peaceful at NCIS for this long without me suspecting something was up. So, abandoning my examination on Victor's old college friend Leroy Elsman, I went to the vending machine for a short break.

"Hi, Ziva," Jimmy said, who looked ready to leave with his bag of Doritos. Cool Ranch, by the looks of the bright blue plastic coloring and flavor name half covered by the autopsy gremlin's skinny fingers.

"Have you seen McGee?" I asked him. "He seems to have vanished since we were at the crime scene over an hour ago."

"I saw him take the elevator before Tony did. You must have missed him." Jimmy took another step toward the exit, looking anxious.

"I see you need to get back to work," I observed. "Why don't you sit down for a minute and take a break? I'm not going anywhere right now." Jimmy seemed eager to have someone to talk to.

"Don't you find this case a bit unusual?" he inquired, opening his bag of Doritos.

"I find our whole life here very unusual," I said. "You know I can transform into a wolf, right?" Jimmy's eyes widened partly in shock, and part...surprise? Or maybe it was excitement.

"That is interesting. Care to demonstrate?" Definitely excitement. I closed my eyes and imagined myself: a lone wold in the woods, fur dark as midnight shadows and eyes that glowed like the moon. Sixty seconds later, I found myself to be three feet shorter and on all fours looking up in a world of intense color. Which is strange, considering that wolves supposedly saw everything in black, white, and leached out grays.

"Pretty cool. You make a nice wolf, Ziva," I growled playfuly at him, just as Gibbs came by to throw away his coffee.

"Quit fooling around," Gibbs said. I rolled my eyes and shifted back to human. If he was surprised to have seen me do that, it didn't show very well. But I, being more perceptive than most people cared to ever be, saw his pupils dialate ever so slightly and the slight twitch of the corner of his mouth, the hints of a smirk quietly hidden away.

"Admit it, you are jealous," I said to him. "Not every day you see a wolf turn into an ex-Mossad agent near the vending machines like it were perfectly normal." Gibbs ignored me.

"Gonna need background on that college friend." I sighed and headed back for my desk. It was then that I sensed something was up...McGee hadn't been sighted in the bullpen at all. It might be a good idea to check Abby's lab, then, just in case. It was empty. No Abby, no McGee. An abandoned Caf-Pow! sat on the edge of the desk, in danger of falling over. There was only one other place to check. Autopsy. Maybe they had decided to pay Ducky a visit. I took a step back. Was it my imagination, or did the cup just wobble? I had to save it. Abby wouldn't forgive me if it fell over and I could have stopped it from happening. I moved the cup a few inches back so it wouldn't spill all over the floor.

"Hands off the caffinated beverage and up where I can see them." I turned and was relieved to see Abby grinning rather than glaring at me. McGee appeared at her side. I swear, its like they are joined at the hip sometimes. I spotted a ring on the fourth finger of Abby's left hand, the hint of a never-fading smile appearing on her lips, a loving look in her eyes.

"I see you are engaged," I said to her. Those words caused her to snap out of her playfulness and into full on excited Abby mode.

"I know, I'm so shocked by the size of the diamond!" she squealed. "I can't wait until everything's all set and I finally get to wear the dress I dreamed up a few days ago!"

"I am very happy for you,"

"I know!" she exclaimed. She paused, suddenly realized what she had meant.\

"I do not believe I was showing it," I said in confusion.

"Well, you see, I'm an empath now," she said. Ah, well, life gets more interesting every day now. First Kate becomes psychic, and now Abby can sense other's emotions. What would happen next?

A street- hours later- unknown POV

The New World Order was running quite smoothly, and by smoothly...that meant nobody knew it existed. Except for Daniel's little gang of spy friends that practically lived underground in an effort not to be discovered. But he knew exactly where they were located. And soon, he'd find a way to stop them. Perhaps he'd use the last person they'd expect to betray them...someone on the inside. The phone was in his hand. He dialed a number that was long since memorized, long since familiar with overuse.

"I need you to do something for me..." He explained the plan, careful not to miss a single detail. Unfortunately the reaction was not what he had been going for.

"Why should I trust you, when all you have done was cause trouble for everyone? I thought you'd have gone back to your regular thing by now, but I guess I was wrong. Again."

"Please, just do this for me."

"I don't think so. In fact, I don't think we should speak to one another ever again. It has been nice knowing you but lately you've been nothing but a huge thorn in my side. Yes, that's it. Shalom, Father." The line disconnected, and he realized he'd never hear his daughter's voice again. Eli sighed, fighting back the tears that threatened to come. He put the phone away. The only family he had left didn't even want to speak with him.

Family...well, didn't Ziva have something she called 'family' already? That strange collection of people who could never possibly be related without killing one another first? How is that family? Family was flesh and blood, the people you've known your whole life and trusted no matter what. But, maybe...it didn't have to be a matter of whether you ahve always known them or even are related. Maybe family was just people you loved and would do anything for. Eli turned away from the NCIS building. The guards returned to their debate on what movie to see that weekend as if nothing had happened. A light on the bottom floor-no, the basement-was turned off. From this distance, even, Eli could hear faint laughter. Laughter that wasn't his daughter's. He continued walking, trying to remember the last time he had heard his daughter laugh.

Abby POV

"Come on, you silly!" I giggled, watching McGee struggle with his duct tape bonds. Long story. Let's just say...never mess with Abby's Caf-Pow! at all. Ever. I turned off the light as soon as he got free, absently glancing out the window to see someone walking away. I saw a familiar head of silver hair.

"What was Ziva's father doing out here?" I murmured, playful mood forgotten.

"Never you mind, Abby," McGee said, tossing out the duct tape. "Let's just go home. The twins need to be taken care of right now." I nodded and followed him to the elevator. Other things to worry about, other things to do...but that didn't mean other thoughts couldn't linger in the back of my mind, leftover things to examine later. There were many puzzles I've had to solve lately. This was probably the beginning of another, or maybe part of the big picture that was getting difficult to look at. Or it could just be a coincidence. Except I did not believe in such things. I did not notice we were back home until I had opened the door and found Tony and Kate making out on the couch. They broke apart, both looking very surprised to see me in here, as if it were their place rather than mine.

"Okay you two, get a room," I said. "We need to check on the girls and get ready for bed...I'll hire a babysitter tomorrow so you guys won't have to miss anything else on the case." They both quickly left the apartment, eager to get out. I could sense a mingle of embarrasment and anticipation. Well, I wouldn't hold this against them. Not for long, anyway. Just long enough to make them squirm. I had to have my fun at least.

"The girls are fine," McGee said from the makeshift nursery in the only other bedroom in my apartment. "So, you're really an empath, huh?"

"I think it's pretty weird too, so you're not alone in that." I laughed. He just smiled at me.

"Guess who's turn it is to get kidnapped now," he murmured seductively. I let him leap on top of me. We both tumbled to the floor. He attacked me with one of his fiercest kisses ever; it left me breathless and anticipating something more.

"Shouldn't we...be in the...bedroom for this?" I gasped inbetween kisses. McGee pulled me up, his mouth still firmly on mine. I could sense we were both only half dressed. I barely remembered the bed and what happened afterward, only the sensation of being loved more intensely than in my entire life.

"I love you, Abby," he said.

"I love you too..." I was starting to get sleepy. It had been such a long day, what with coming into work for the first time in a while and the new case. I heard faint crying from the nursery down the hall.

"Your turn," I grumbled, flipping onto my side so I could get some sleep. McGee got dressed and left the room.

Meanwhile...

Jenny POV

"Reilly's a month old," Gibbs stated.

"Yes," I said, wondering if the conversation was going to move past the child and onto...other things. "I'd best be going, Jethro." Reilly stirred slightly in my arms, but she was a heavy sleeper, so I didn't worry. I stepped into the elevator. Gibbs got in with me.

"Been busy lately," Gibbs said. I seriously he had a point with this.

"It happens," I replied with a small shrug, reaching past him to press the button for the ground floor.

"Should pay more attention to you, the kid, us," he continued as the elevator started to move down.

"Not your fault, Jethro," I murmured. "Life gets in the way." He gave me a look...I knew that look. He had something in mind.

"Jen, I can't take you being so far away from me..." I was about to point out we were closer than ever, but knew exactly what he meant.

"Want to move into my place?" I was stunned. Did he really want this? Was he joking? But, of course, the great Leroy Jethro Gibbs never was kidding about anything. So, I said the one thing that would make sense.

"I'd love to."