A/N: For those of you not on a Debate team, I've been working very hard on our case and that's why this has taken so long. I'm really sorry though, for what it's worth.

Summary: Abby has been kidnapped by McGee, who hit her over the head with her own lamp, and taken to Ari. Gibbs was given a total of 60 hours to find Abby alive, 24 of which would guarantee her uninjured. Now, 18 hours into this horrible game that NCIS has been forced to play, Abby's body has been found dead, in no place other than where Kate was held hostage in 2004. Now, it's a race to find not Abby, but Ari and McGee in the hopes of somehow managing to avenge Abby's death, and find out exactly how she was killed in the process.


Gibbs drove for what seemed like an eternity and a day. He sped out of the driveway at least 30 miles over the speed limit. When he needed to think, he drove. When he got pissed off, he drove fast. When a couple of bastards took Abby away, gave him a deadline for finding her, then killed her anyway… Well, he drove to kill. Anyone who was stupid enough to have a different opinion must either have never known him, or had the distinct pleasure of not driving anywhere remotely near him at the time. He had no intentions of going directly back to Headquarters; there was too much there to remind him of Abby anyway. Instead, once he reached Arlington, he proceeded to continue driving through there, allowing his built-in autopilot (Abby had insisted it came with being the boss; he insisted it came with simply liking it there) to navigate the roads as he concentrated solely on his thoughts, however unwelcome they may have been.

Gibbs pulled his car sharply off to the side of the road. As he got out of it, he belatedly noticed that it was raining. With a shrug, he shook his head to rid his already sopping hair of the water that had accumulated. Not even seconds later, it was just as wet as it had been before. He gave it up and started up the hill.

At the top, Gibbs sighed and sat under the beautiful willow tree. This was probably the most beautiful spot in all of Washington, DC, and he had always intended to take Abby here, someday. He looked wistfully out across the vast green cemetery, so solemnly majestic with its neatly staked white crosses. From here he could see Kennedy's home on the grounds, as well as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Monument, and just about every other touristy spot in DC. He never had much cared for monuments or other such frivolous tributes to people who could never hope to make as much of a difference as the truly unsung heroes of every walk of life. People like Abby, or Ducky… But no, the presidents got the statues instead.

A small chuckle escaped Gibbs' lips as he thought of what a statue of Abby would look like in the middle of the nation's capitol. Perhaps it would be a better idea to just leave the city in some relative state of normalcy after all. Besides, Abby probably wouldn't appreciate being a bird's nest. And that wasn't even mentioning all the sun. No, Gibbs quickly turned from any thoughts of even suggesting it. Besides, it was anything but Abby.

As he sat in his future burial spot, Gibbs began to formulate some semblance of an idea. It would be unique, especially for Arlington, with all of it uniformity. As far as he was aware, the plot he had purchased was available for anything he might wish to use it as. The question was, would his particular plan be allowed?

Gibbs stood thoughtfully, not even noticing the mud clinging to his once neatly-pressed pants. Luckily for him, the rain washed away all but the merest traces of dirt and mud.

With renewed vigour and determination, Gibbs jumped in his car. As the blast of cool air hit him, he fully appreciated how horrible it was to be wet and forced to drive with him. He shivered and, for perhaps the first time in his adult life, turned the heat up all the way, savouring the warmth that seemed to spread throughout his very being, though that could have been for other reasons.

Gibbs watched as the perfect rows of little white crosses sped by and smiled again. One way or another, it would happen, if he had to kill someone to do it. Hell, there were already two people he was dead-set on killing, why not add one more? The more the merrier, right? And hey, why not just go ahead and go on a massive killing spree?

Gibbs suddenly braked and shook his head. No, that was not an option. All the deaths in the world would never be able to fill the hole left in him now, nor could they avenge Abby's death. He smacked himself for even giving the notion even the slightest bit of thought. What would Abby have said?

Gibbs could think of a myriad of words, phrases and obscenities that would come flying out of her mouth, no doubt in varying combinations of the above. And, as she would have fully intended, he would walk away embarrassed and much less cocky. But woe to anyone else who crossed his path after that, for he would also be in a foul mood with everyone but her, and- on an exceptional day- Ducky. They were, as Abby had been so fond of saying, the exceptions that made the rule.

God Abbs, if you only knew just how right you were, he thought dejectedly. You were the exception to all the Rules. How many did I break- or want to break- with you? Let's see: never date a co-worker; never mess with a Marine's coffee… You always did love to just take it from me. He smiled, remembering how surprised he had been the first time she had taken a sip of his coffee…

"Where's my caffeine fix Boss-man?"

Gibbs grinned, thinking he would have a bit of fun. "Sorry Abbs, all I've got is coffee."

She pouted dejectedly and turned back to her computer, attacking the keys with even more vengeance than before. Hoping to appear as though it had just occurred to him, Gibbs smiled. "Want some coffee?"

Abby looked at him through her screen and thought for a moment. Her chair spun around and she held out a hand for it. He gave it to her willingly, knowing she would probably end up spitting it on him and not hugely caring either. It would be worth it just to see her face. She struck him as the kind of person with exceptional facial expressions.

Abby raised the paper cup as if to toast him then put it to her lips. Gibbs chewed on his lower one, waiting for her look of disgust. She tasted it thoughtfully, then took another sip.

"Not bad boss… Not bad at all… Though I can't say I pegged you for Colombian. You always looked like more of a French person to me."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "Not too strong for you?"

"Are you kidding? I've finally found someone who would drink my coffee… My opinion is that you should make it like hot chocolate, real hot chocolate that is: thick, strong and with nothing else in it."

After that, Gibbs and Abby had formed a bond that no one, not even themselves, really understood. Even now, Gibbs couldn't explain it, and it had been at least 4 years. Something about the way she drank his coffee had suddenly made him trust her beyond almost anyone else. Gibbs would be the first one to admit that it had been not only a new experience for him, but also a strange one. Who would have ever guessed the bonding powers that coffee could have? Nonetheless, it did. After that, they had gone for coffee or dinner together at least once a month.

Gibbs continued to drive as though nothing was wrong. However, had anyone been near enough to him to see his face, they would have noticed several small droplets of water running down his cheeks. Perhaps anyone else would have convinced themselves that they were just remnants of the rain. Normally, Gibbs would have too. But, for one of the first times in his life, Leroy Jethro Gibbs was crying, and this time, he was not ashamed. And, as he let the tears roll, Gibbs finally realized that this night would be the beginning of many unpleasant and troublesome firsts.