Gibbs had decided to ask McGee first. He was hoping that the younger agent would be willing to accept him back. He had been disappointed to discover that this was not the case. McGee had told him quite clearly that he would only accept Gibbs back if Abby was okay with it. He decided to go to Ziva next, saving Abby for last.

Tony and McGee had left to go and meet the CIA man. Abby, he knew, was in her lab. He eventually found Ziva sitting at her desk.

Gibbs approached Ziva with caution. He knew that she would already know that he was in the building - news always had travelled fast at NCIS. So she would have got over the initial shock of him being back in the country. The problem for Gibbs was… he didn't know if that reaction had been good or bad.

"Hello Ziva," he spoke softly, testing the waters. She stopped typing and lifted her head slightly, to look at him. He eyes were unreadable, but that was nothing new.

"Gibbs," her short reply held no warmth, nor did it hold any animosity.

"You didn't collect." He was reaching desperately for something, anything to say to her and all he could come up with was something that could be taken to mean he was accusing her for his long absence. He mentally slapped himself but refused to back-pedal.

"I didn't need to." Her voice was both accusing and dismissive and Gibbs had no trouble translating her sentence to mean 'I didn't need you'.

"I'm sorry Ziva." Gibbs' voice almost cracked as he apologised. It was becoming very clear to him that in leaving NCIS he had really hurt those most dear to him.

"I hear you're having to say that a lot today Gibbs." He just nodded in response; she sighed in frustration. "Why are you here Gibbs?"

"I needed to see you all,"

"You could have done that through a window."

I had to apologise to you and tell you that I never meant to hurt anyone when I left." Ziva leaned back in her chair, to get a better look at the man standing before her. McGee was right, he did look older. His face looked worn and haggard, his posture was tired looking.

"And now?" she asked. "Now that you've done what you came to do, will you leave again?" Gibbs did a half shrug.

"That depends on you." Ziva raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I've just found out that your next case may involve a dear friend of mine and I want to help."

"So ask Tony. He's the boss now."

"I did. He told me I was to ask each member of the team if I could work with you on this case."

"What case? We just closed our last case."

"Tony'll have to explain that. I'm not allowed. Can I help though? Please?" The MOSSAD officer looked at the pleading eyes of the former NCIS agent and she wanted to tell him he could come back but she forced her head to take control of her heart, as it had done so many times before.

"You can come back on one condition Gibbs." He looked at her expectantly, hopefully even. "That Abby says it is okay."

"What, is Abby the new boss now?" He blurted it out, unable to stop himself. Ziva allowed her face to show her confusion. "That's exactly what McGee told me," he explained.

"Well Abby was the one who hurt the most when were gone. Did you know that Tony went and learnt to sign because Abby refused to talk out loud for a whole month?" Gibbs hung his head, he was beginning to dread his impending reunion with Abby.

"No, I didn't know that." He whispered the confirmation to Ziva, even though he knew that she knew that he hadn't known. Ziva adjusted her NCIS cap on her head before folding her arms again.

"She claimed that you wanted her to be quiet because you put your finger over her lip and that only you could tell her it was okay to talk again." Gibbs could feel the tears begin to knock at the corners of his eyes as he remembered how he had silenced Abby before walking away. He had tried to kiss all the hurt away with that simple peck to her head but he should have known that it could never be enough. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at Ziva with shiny eyes.

"I'm really sorry, Ziva." He ducked his head but forced himself to lift it and look her in the eye before continuing. "I wasn't thinking straight back then. I… I better go and see Abby." The young Israeli woman nodded gently and watched as the older man walked away, a defeated air about him - one which she could never have imagined around him before this moment.

As the elevator drew to a stop Gibbs took a deep breath. His heart was pounding in his chest and his palms were sweating. Wiping his hands on his trouser legs, he closed his eyes and steeled himself. As the doors pinged open Gibbs stepped out, his posture unnaturally straight, his senses all completely open. Adrenalin was shooting around his body. He felt the same way he had when he had been on a mission as a marine during Desert Storm. His body and mind were reacting as if he had just stepped into enemy territory, not his friend's lab.

His eyes scanned over the lab and he subconsciously noticed the lack of colourful, and somewhat gruesome, pictures hanging on the wall.

As his eyes landed on the back of a pig-tailed head, bent over one of the many machines in the room , his ears picked up on the style of music playing in the background. It was jazz and, if his memory served him right (and it normally did), it was the same tune that Abby had played as they had walked out of the graveyard after Kate's funeral.

He approached the lab tech. quietly. It wasn't something he did on purpose; he didn't know any other way to move. Gibbs didn't want to startle her but he knew that she was so engrossed in what she was doing that as soon as she realised she wasn't alone she would jump.

"Abby," he called softly as he stood behind her. He saw her sharp intake of breath and the was her muscles tensed up at the sound of his voice and he knew she had been surprised. As she spun to face him he held his breath.

"Gibbs." He recognised the tone of voice she used as the same tone of voice that she had used towards Ziva during Ziva's first month or so at NCIS. Gibbs knew that the creek he was up was deep and that he would need Abby to throw him a paddle if he was going to be able to navigate it.

"I'm sorry Abby," he whispered, his eyes beginning to shine at seeing the hurt in Abby's eyes. He felt a heavy weight pressing against his heart and squeezing all the air from his lungs.

"You bastard!" she yelled at him. She jumped from her seat and when she was about a foot away from him, she slapped him, hard. "You were supposed to come back!"

"I never said I was coming back Abby." He said gently.

"Yes you did. 'Semper Fi.' you said. That means always faithful." Gibbs caught Abby's hands (whose index fingers had been jabbing him in the chest) in his hands and looked her in the eye.

"I know what it means Abby," he told her, keeping his eyes and tone soft. "and I have always een faithful to you and to this team." Abby moved from his grasp.

"No Gibbs." She shouted as she stepped backward. Beginning to pace up and wave her arms around as she spoke, Abby continued. "Faithful is sticking together no matter what happens. Faithful is…" she stopped her pacing and looked him square in the eye. "Faithful is never having to say you're sorry because you always stick around to help clear up the mess." Gibbs couldn't keep her gaze and had to look away for a moment.

"I really screwed up didn't I?" Abby nodded. Gibbs ducked his head and closed his eyes tightly. His jaw muscles and facial muscles clamped his face tightly shut. He felt as if he were on a moon, watching his world spin away from him and he didn't know if it would ever come back.

Abby sat back down and looked at Gibbs thoughtfully. She was surprised to note that he had changed. He didn't look like her great protector any more; he looked more like he was the one who needed someone to protect him. Abby made her mind there and then - she would protect him now.

"You know Gibbs, everyone screws up sometimes." His muscles relaxed enough for him to lift his head and look at her… even if he didn't quite understand what she was saying.

"Do they get forgiven or given a second chance?" he asked, hoping with every fibre of his being that she meant what he was thinking she meant.

"No, a lot of them don't." Gibbs was unable to hide the disappointment as the hope evaporated. "but they should." Abby finished, leaping up and throwing her arms around Gibbs. As she crushed him in a tight bear hug, she felt him relax, then put his arms around her and rest his forehead on the top of her head.

"So am I forgiven Abby?" he asked around the lump in his throat.

"Yeah Gibbs, you're forgiven." He kissed the top of her head, much like he had done a hundred times before.

"Thank you Abs." he whispered, before pulling away.

"So you gonna stick around?" Abby demanded to know as she moved in the direction of the of the music player.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to stay and help with your next case." Abby switched the CD and pressed play. The sound of country music began to fill the lab.

"You asked Tony yet?" Gibbs nodded. "What did he say."

"He said I should ask you, McGee and Ziva for permission first."

"You asked McGee and Ziva yet?"

"Yeah. They said only if it was okay with you." Abby put on a mock angry face and crossed her arms.

"You came to me last?!" Gibbs stepped forward and put his hands on her upper arms, as he held her eyes with his.

"Only because I wanted to spend more time with you." Gibbs' answer pleased Abby, if the big grin on her face was anything to go by.

"Okay. Lets go find the others then and tell them the good news… and find out what the next case is." She had moved as she spoke so that Gibbs and her were now side by side and she was holding on to his arm. She dragged him towards the elevator and he did nothing to stop her, he just followed willingly. A smile formed on his face as happiness began to find a way to break back in to his soul.