Title: The Blame

Rating: PG-13 (some mild language and stuff... always gotta be safe!)

Spoilers: An Eye For An Eye (only in my author's note) It's the only one... for now!

Disclaimer: DPB and CBS (plus all those other people that make tons of money... we know we love them for making NCIS!)

Don't worry guys, I am still working on The Man I Love and I am also working on the sequel for Facial Features, but it may be a little while before either of them get up. So sorry! For now I thought I would entertain you with my first Gabby fic. YEAH x7.5! (Don't ask... I won't have to tell.)

Anyways, did you see An Eye For An Eye? I think that there was same TATE hinting in that episode. When Kate and Tony were in the car and he wanted to snuggle. You can tell by the look on her face that she wanted to. Plus, when Tony hinted that he "had a thing" for brunettes. Maybe DPB and CBS are finally giving the fans (majority of them) what they want! We can only hope... and pray! CROSS YOUR FINGERS!

Please read and review! ENJOY!

Kate stared down at the body lying on the bed. She him knew him well, they all did. Lieutenant Nicholas Perry. Abby and him had been seeing each other for six months, that was until about three weeks ago when he all the sudden went chasing after his superior officer, Lieutenant Commander Haven Valcone. Kate remembered that she wanted to beat Nick's face in with a baseball bat; she would have if Abby hadn't restrained her. He had come up to the office, walked down to Abby's lab and right there in front of Kate and McGee, pronounced to her that he thought it better they no longer see each other. Trying to keep her composure, Abby gave him a quick kiss on the cheek while tears glittered in her eyes. She didn't ask why, didn't make a big scene, didn't even cry... at least not right away.

Knowing he should probably leave, McGee took the elevator up to the bullpen, leaving Kate there to console Abby. She pulled her into one of those tight best friend hugs and held her while Abby sobbed quietly into her shoulder. Kate figured that Abby probably wouldn't take Nick's death very well. Hell... she KNEW that she wouldn't take his death very well.

"Find anything Kate?" Tony walked into Lieutenant Perry's bedroom. The body was still laying across the bed where they had found it. He had taken a shot to the head and by the way it looked, the gun was held at point-blank range. Pretty disgusting to see a former friends brains scattered across his bed sheets. Make that really disgusting.

"Nothing yet Tony. What did you find?" Kate was down on her hands and knees, searching underneath the bed.

"Nothing kinky if that's what your hoping," Tony smiled.

"You know Tony... you're funny."

"You really think so Kate?" Tony blushed slightly, taking the compliment far beyond reason.

"Yeah, funny looking!" Kate laughed and continued to scan the Lieutenant's room for evidence or clues. She lifted the corners of the sheets, moved the bed comforter slightly and checked underneath the pillows, but still nothing. Coming up behind her, Kate felt Tony's breath on her neck, causing her to turn her head slightly. Which in case caused her to catch a glimpse of something on Nick's body. "What in the world?" Kate said, trailing off.

Tony stared at her utterly confused. He took a few steps closer, trying to figure out just what she saw. "What is it Kate? Evidence you think?"

"Maybe Tony, just maybe."

"Guess we need to get it to Abbs."

"I think we should tell her about Nick before we bring in some evidence we found. What would we say? 'Hey Abbs sorry your ex-boyfriends dead, but we need you examine this.' Where is your compassion Tony?" Kate gave him the evil eye, followed by that deadly stare of hers.

"Sorry. It's just that I'm so used to saying things like that. Lighten up will ya."

Kate picked the small black hair off of Lieutenant Perry's sleeve and placed it into the evidence bag. Even if it upset Abby, she would still have to work on this case. Kate knew that they couldn't do it without her. You always needed a person who looked at the spunky side of death... if there was one.

Kate walked into Abby's lab. She hated the fact that she had to be the one to break the news to her, but of course, the guys had voted. It was unnanimous. Kate was the only girl and Abby's best friend.They said that shewas the best one for the job. Slowly trudging through the door, Kate's ears were filled with the sound of heavy rock music. God this is going to be really hard. "Hey Abbs! What's up?"

"Hey Kate. Nothing much. What are you doing down here?"

Came to tell you that your ex-boyfriend was shot in the head. "Just came to check on you and see what you are doing. Kinda boring upstairs."

"But I thought you guys just left a crime scene. What did the body up and walk away?" Abby asked, turning the music down as it reached the chorus.

Don't worry... this body isn't walking anywhere. "Maybe, you never know these days," Kate tried to joke and then paused. "Actually Abbs, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Very bad news."

"Go ahead. Shoot." Abby didn't seem the slightest bit worried.

Someone was shot alright. "Abby, you might want to sit down." A worried look began to spread over Abby's face. Maybe Kate was more serious then she expected. "It's about Nick." A pang of sadness, then anger shot through Abby's eyes as Kate said his name. "The body that was found... it was his Abby. Someone shot him in the head. Haven found him in his room at about 0900 this morning," Kate said, trying her best not to think back to the way Nick had looked.

Tears sat in the corners of Abby's eyes. It was like she was frozen. She didn't blink, in fear that the tears would stream down her face, showing just how upset she really was. On the outside, she seemed to be taking it well, but on the inside, her heart was breaking... all over again. "It's okay to cry Abby. Nick was a great guy and it is horrible that we lost him," Kate tried her best to console her.

"Lost him Kate!" Fury shot through Abby's words, stinging Kate slightly. She took a step back. She knew how Abby could get under this much emotional stress... it wasn't pretty. "Lost him Kate! You act like he was a pair of damn keys or something. We didn't misplace him. He's never coming back... he's never coming back damn it!" Abby said, breaking into a fit of sobbs. She picked up an empty test tube and threw it across the room, shattering it into a million pieces. "He's never coming back," Abby repeated, her knees buckling beneath her, as she sat down on the cold floor.

Kate sat down beside her, gently wrapping her arms around her best friend. Abby layed her head on Kate's shoulder, now sobbing uncontrolably. "It's okay Abby. I'm here for you. Crying is not a bad thing. It really helps," Kate whispered into Abby's ear, as her tears left a mascara trail on her shoulder. Before Kate knew what was happening, she too was crying and they just sat there, holding each other, never wanting to let go.