McGee: If it wasn't Vance, then who?

AN: Another Abby resenting Gibbs tag. I cant help myself :)

---

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Abby remained silent as she stood toe to toe with a signature Gibbs glare.

"It's been four days…"

She huffed before breaking the stare down and retreating into her back office.

Gibbs followed, and decided to hover over her. And he never hovered.

"Are you seriously hovering?"

"It speaks." Gibbs tossed his hands up in sarcasm.

Abby resorted quickly to sign language. I am still mad.

"I couldn't tell…"

"You coming down here five times a day will not make me less mad…cuz I'm really mad."

He only glared, expecting her to continue.

"You left her behind…I thought you weren't allowed to leave people behind...isn't a marine thing or something?"

Gibbs took a step toward her. "How many more time are we going to discuss this?"

She reverted back to regular speech briefly. "Discuss? You do not discuss Gibbs, you state your side…and that's the end of it. Well this time, I'm gonna be you…and say nothing." She crossed her arms over her chest, but not before locking her lips with an imaginary key…and her hands with imaginary handcuffs.

"I do not need this right now Abs…" His voice clearly agitated. "I didn't think I had to explain myself to you…obviously I was wrong." He moved towards the door of her lab, but it wasn't until the elevator doors opened that he was joined by an unexpected visitor.

Abby used her imaginary key to unlock her lips before using the same key on her handcuffs. "I wasn't looking for an explanation Gibbs…I don't care why you left her there…just that you did."

Gibbs flipped off the power. "Do you honestly think I wanted to leave without her?"

"No…of course not. I'm just mad okay? I'm mad at Vance for ordering you guys there in the first place…mad at myself for decrypting those stupid emails…mad at Ziva for not coming home…take your pick."

Gibbs placed both hands on her shoulders to end her rant. "Abs…what's done is done."

"That's not fair Gibbs…" She stepped back against the wall as if denying his response. "We can go get her…you could call her Dad and we could do a trade or something…anything."

"Doesn't work that way."

"Since when do you care how it works? The Gibbs I know would stop at nothing to keep his team safe…and even with all your super powers…you cant keep her safe thousands of miles away…"

"She left the team, the moment she asked me to choose…"

"So that's it then? You're just giving up on her?"

"Did I say that?"

"I'm still shocked you're saying anything at all," she shot back at him before taking in a long breath to calm herself. "I just don't want to believe she's gone forever…"

Gibbs examined her. "None of us do."

"You think she'll come back?"

Gibbs flipped on the power switch in response and answered truthfully. "I don't know."

His answer was far from comforting, but it would have do for now. As the elevator doors drew open Abby was quick to grab his arm, only to sign a few final words. "I'm not mad."

He stood between the doors and replied slowly, "I know," before adding a gentle, "Don't worry."

He may not have had the answers she was looking for, but he knew one thing for certain….life went on after Kate...and this time was no different.

Right?