Disclaimer: Same as always, don't own 'em.

A/N: I managed to get this chapter out faster than I expected, but I can't promise I can always do that. All I can do is try. Enjoy!

Chapter 6

The first thing Tony did when he left the hospital was turn in the direction of NCIS headquarters. He wanted to see Abby and ask her about the necklace, but mostly he wanted to see how she was. She was taking Kate's death hard, especially since they were such good friends. Tony knew that she missed the girlie chats they used to have together regardless if there were any men in the room, giggling and sneaking glances at the looks on Tony and McGee's faces when they brought up topics that made the men cringe.

But lately Abby had been more distant, especially since the funeral. The funeral was beautiful, Kate would have been proud. Tony couldn't help look at Abby, sadly clutching a black umbrella as she walked arm-in-arm with Gibbs. They knew what each other were thinking, those two, and they understood each other's pain over Kate. On the other side of Gibbs was Jenny Sheppard, the new NCIS director, her flowing red hair dangling down her back as she walked with Gibbs and Abby. She tried to understand their pain, but she never knew Kate, so really she'd never understand. Tony knew that Gibbs felt responsible over Kate's death, that he should have done something to ensure her safety. Or that it should have been him. But Gibbs also understood Tony's pain, as Tony felt responsible as well. Really, none of them could have done a damn thing, but they wished that that wasn't the case.

To Gibbs, Kate was a beloved daughter. He was proud of her, he respected her, and in his own way he loved her. They all loved her. He wanted to protect her, keep her safe, always.

To Ducky, she was the granddaughter, as smart as a whip and a joy to be around. He enjoyed her visits down to the morgue, and he always felt better afterwards. Until now. Kate's last visit to the morgue was one that Ducky wished had never happened.

To Abby, Kate was a sister, they enjoyed their girlie talks and their trips to the day spa. They worked as a team, blackmailing poor McGee into paying up for a bet.

To McGee, she was a big sister who stuck up for him after Tony teased him, but only when Tony wasn't within earshot. Kate didn't want Tony to see her sticking up for McGee.

And Tony. Maybe to him, Kate was a sister too, one that he teased and made smart-ass remarks too. But that was at first. Tony couldn't help but notice how beautiful Kate was, how her smile lit up her face, her cheeks glowing with happiness. Tony had hoped that Kate felt the same way, and it wasn't until she was gone that Tony realised that she did…he loved her, but was too damn proud to do anything about it.

Tony flicked on the indicator of his rental car, given to him while his was being repaired. He turned into the car park of NCIS headquarters and stopped the car, jumping out and heading for the elevator. He checked in with security and headed straight to Abby's lab, hoping that Gibbs wouldn't be in there.

He was in luck, Abby was alone, not even McGee was there with her for once. Abby was standing at her computer, fiddling with some cords that were tangled up. "Dammit!" she cried in frustration.

Tony walked up to her in silence. Abby didn't turn around, and either she didn't hear him enter or she just ignored it. "Need a hand, Abs?" he asked her.

Abby turned around, her black pigtails flicking around, "Tony!" she cried, "I was so worried!" she launched herself at him, almost knocking him down in the process.

"Woah, Abs, you're really making a habit of that." He chuckled. Abby loosened her grasp on him, her face close to his. "Well you've got to stop scaring me like that! We've already lost too many..." she started, catching herself quickly. Abby let go of Tony, turning back to her computer to again fiddle with the wires. "Lemme help." Tony said, standing next to Abby.

In no time they had untangled the mass of red, blue and white wires that had knotted together in a clump. "Abby," Tony began, "I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Abby looked at him, "Why are you sorry?"

"Because of Kate. I should have…" he began, trailing off as Abby hugged him again. "Don't. I don't wanna hear it, it's not your fault, okay?" she told him, giving his shoulder a friendly squeeze.

Tony nodded, he knew it wasn't his fault, but he couldn't help feeling responsible in some way. Maybe if he's seen Ari, he could have knocked Kate out of the way. Maybe…

"No Tony," Abby said, as if reading his thoughts, "There's nothing anyone could have done, okay?" Tony nodded again. "You're right Abs."

Abby looked at him, "Actually, I'm sorry too."

Tony frowned, "Why are you sorry?" he asked. Abby looked back at her computer as it hummed away, "I'm sorry for not pairing you and Kate up earlier…"

"What!" Tony exclaimed. Abby looked at him, a wry grin spreading across her face, "Everybody knew how you two felt about each other Tony…"

Tony gave her a lopsided smile, "You knew?" he began.

Abby rolled her eyes, "Duh," she exclaimed, "Everybody knew." Tony's mouth dropped as he gave her an innocent look, "What did she say to you?"

"Ah ha!" Abby exclaimed, pointing a finger at Tony, "I knew it! She didn't need to say anything to me, the way you two looked at each other, with those puppy-dog eyes of yours…"

"'What do you mean, I do not have 'puppy-dog eyes'!" Tony defended himself.

Abby laughed, "Gimme a break Tony! Whenever you two were in the room you went all soulful, it was so sweet, in a mushy kinda way…"

"Abs…" he started, giving her a Gibbs-like look, catching himself for the other reason he was here. "Abby, the necklace, the one that Gibbs gave you…"

"Oh yeah! It was a cinch to trace." She said.

Tony nodded, "Gibbs told me. Do you have it handy?"

Abby nodded and skipped over to the desk on her right. She picked up a plastic evidence bag and pulled out the necklace. "Here you go!" she exclaimed as she handed it to him. Tony received it and took a few seconds to examine it before looking back at Abby. She had been watching him, as if waiting for him to say something. "What?" Tony asked her.

"You planning on telling me what's so important about it?"

"Ah… I don't know. I mean, it was in a letter that Kate wrote. I'm not sure what it means though." Tony replied.

Abby nodded, accepting that explanation. Tony got up and hugged her again, thanking her for helping him out. "No worries, anytime." Tony nodded and flashed her a smile.

-----------------------------

Tony headed for the address of the jeweller that Gibbs had given him earlier. It was a clean little shop with sparkling diamond engagement rings and jewel-encrusted cross pendants. Most of them had large price tags, but there were some at the back that were moderately priced, and Tony spied a few letter-shaped necklace charms like the one he now held in his hand. He headed for the counter where a bald man in his mid-60's stood.

Tony smiled a welcome as he held out the necklace for the man to see, "Do you recognise this?" he asked. The man pulled a pair of glasses out of his top pocket and put them on, examining the necklace. "Ahhh… yes, that's one of mine. Is there a problem with it?" he asked.

Tony shook his head, "No, I just wondered if you remembered who bought it?"

The man looked at Tony for a second, as if wondering why he wanted to know such a thing, then dismissing that thought as he pulled a black book out from under the counter, flicking thorough it until eventually he found what he was looking for.

"I keep count of what I sell, sir… And yes, a woman bought that necklace from me."

"A woman." Tony repeated.

The man nodded, "About a year ago. I think it was for her daughter…"

Tony's ears pricked up, becoming hopeful that he was onto a lead. "You wouldn't have the woman's name, would you?"

The jeweller looked at Tony over his glasses, "Why would you want to know such a thing?"

Tony pulled his ID out of his pocked, flashing the man his NCIS badge. The man smiled, "Well why didn't you say you were a navy man!" he exclaimed, chuckling happily.

"Ahh… It stands for…" Tony began, only to be cut off, "I know what it stands for. I'm a navy man myself. Now, I don't have a name for her, but I do have an address…" he scribbled it down on a piece of paper.

"Thank you, sir." Tony said before hurrying out the door.

--------------------------------

Tony sat in his car outside an apartment block, it was getting dark and the streetlights came on, one by one. He pulled out the piece of paper that the jeweller had given him and looked at it. Yep, it was the right address.

He got out of his rental car and walked up to the apartment doors, pulling his jacket tighter around him as a cold breeze blew. He double checked the apartment number, 2B, and pressed the intercom. He identified himself as an NCIS agent and waited for the doors to open. With a buzz they clicked open and Tony headed up to apartment 2B. He knocked on the door with one hand, clutching the necklace with the other.

The door opened a crack, the chain up the top stopping it from opening all the way. "What?" the voice inside asked.

Tony looked at the occupant, and had to check himself. The woman inside suddenly closed the door, Tony heard a rattling sound, then the door opened again. "Oh my god." She said. She stood there in the doorway, holding a squirming baby boy. The woman was wearing tracksuit pants and a baggy t-shirt, the baby clinging to the sleeve of it. He gurgled happily, his vibrant blue eyes sparkling underneath a mop of dark hair. He looked just like his mother, who also had blue eyes and dark hair, but hers were more familiar. They were sunken and distant, all too familiar.

"Rachel?"

A/N: you know the dealio by now, review, review, review.