Author's Note: Hey guys! Are you kidding? I wasn't going to leave you off there! Here's the next chapter for you all. And I should've put a trigger warning in the beginning… For those of you that were affected, I'm so sorry! Anyway, when Ziva says she 'loves' Abby, it's in a best-friend type of way. It's not like… You know. Enjoy…

Her head was pounding.

Her body was aching.

And most of all, her heart was broken.

How could she have been so cold to Ziva when she had only tried to help her?

What if that was the last time you ever saw her, Abby? You're lucky you're not dead. You had better apologize, her mother's voice rang in her head.

Suddenly, her eyes finally opened. The heart monitor beside her bed began to spike up and down uncontrollably. Her eyes flickered around the room to try and find a warm, familiar face, but all she could see was white.

White walls, white sheets, white machines…

A nurse bustling into the room interrupted her thinking. She looked to be in her late forties-early fifties, and a mop of curly red hair sat atop her head. Her eyes were green, and sparkling with kindness.

"You've woken up, dear! How did you sleep?" the nurse asked, setting up a table for Abby to eat on.

"Good, I guess. How long have I been asleep?" the younger woman asked groggily. The nurse placed a tray of food down in front of her and frowned in thought.

"A few days. You lost a lot of blood, darling," she replied.

Abby swallowed. "Can you call my team, please?"

The nurse raised an eyebrow as she fumbled with a few machines. "Team?"

"Um, yeah. I work with NCIS," Abby explained. The nurse nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I see. Okay, well I'll call them after you eat, okay? Push that little button if you need anything," the nurse pointed to a small panel on the wall and left the room.

Abby looked down at the tray in front of her. A steaming slice of her favorite cheese pizza rested on a plate. She noticed the corner of a piece of paper sticking out from underneath the plate, so she lifted it to reveal a card. A teddy bear holding a heart was embossed on the front in gold. Opening it, she gasped.

Get well soon, Abbs. The pizza is from Gibbs, the caramel apple is from McGee, the cheese is from Ducky, the Caf-Pow! is from me, and the chocolate cupcake is from Ziva. Oh, and she says this is the same kind that Probie stole, so I suggest you eat it quickly.

-Much love,

Tony.

"You guys," Abby smiled to herself as she dug into her plate. Soon, she was finished, and she pushed the button on the side of the wall. The same nurse immediately came to her side, giving her a bright smile.

"Are you feeling a bit better, dear?" she asked, clearing up Abby's table and stowing it back in its place.

"A little, yeah. Thank you so much," Abby replied. "Do you think you could call my team now?" she asked, a bit impatiently. The nurse nodded.

"Of course. I'll be right back." The nurse exited the room and headed towards the front desk.

-NCIS Offices, Quantico-

Ziva sat in her cushioned chair, chin in hands. Her heart hadn't quit beating fast since they left Abby at the hospital. She yearned to be next to her friend, but this damn case was taking its toll on her, and Gibbs forced her to stay. She knew he wanted to see her, but this case had apparently taken priority over Abby, and Ziva hated it. If only she could be there when Abby woke up…

If she wakes up, she thought. Suddenly, her stomach lurched immediately. She shot up from her desk and raced to the bathroom, making it in record time. She thanked God silently that there was nobody else in the bathroom as she wretched the contents of her lunch. Just as she emerged from the stall, wiping her mouth, Tony stepped in.

"Ziva," he said softly. She looked up at him with wet eyes.

"Tony… I can't…" she whispered. He pulled her in close and held her tight.

"I was just going to let you know that we're all going to the hospital to visit Abby. She's okay, Ziva. She's going to be just fine," he assured her quietly. Ziva's heart soared and she nearly sank to her knees in Tony's arms.

"I thought I was going to lose her, Tony," she sobbed. "She-she's my best friend." Tony helped her stand still. "I feel like it's my fault."

Tony frowned and lifted her chin. "It's not your fault, Ziva. You didn't cause this. Kate's death was what caused it. At the same time, it wasn't Kate's fault. And we'll never lose Abby. She's… Well, she's Abby," he joked lightly. Ziva wiped away a tear and nodded bravely.

"I need to see her," she said firmly. Tony nodded and led her out gently by the arm, and the two proceeded to the car.

-General Hospital, Quantico-

"Abby," Gibbs knocked softly on the door, although it was open. Abby's eyes glowed.

"Gibbs!" she cried as he made his way to her bed. He kissed her forehead.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Abby nodded.

"I'm okay, I guess. I… I just miss Kate." Tears welled up in her eyes at the memory of her best friend. Gibbs looked into her eyes.

"We all miss her, Abbs. She's in a safer place now," he assured her. Abby looked dejected. "If you want, we can visit her when you get out of here," he offered. She looked back up at him.

"Really?" she asked, growing excited. Tony and McGee stepped into the room, and McGee immediately rushed to her side.

"Abby," he breathed.

"I'm okay, Tim. I really am," she said. He nodded and moved so that Tony could see her.

"Hey Abby," he smiled. She gave him a weak smile back.

"Hey," she replied. Gibbs and McGee left the room, allowing Tony to have some time with Abby.

"We were worried about you," he told her. Abby looked ashamed.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. Tony bent down, kissing her cheek, something he had never done.

"It's not your fault. Just promise you're done," he said sticking out his pinky. When she hesitated, he pouted, "Oh, come on."

She smiled at his gesture and wrapped her pinky around his. "Fine," she rolled her eyes playfully. Suddenly, her throat closed up.

"Where's Ziva?" she asked. He nodded and cleared his throat. Ziva walked slowly into the room, avoiding Abby's gaze. Tony softly pressed down on Ziva's shoulder and left the room.

"Hello, Abby," Ziva managed tensely. The lump in Abby's throat was making itself known.

"H-hi."

Ziva came around to the side of Abby's bed and took a deep breath. "I'm so-"

Abby nodded and cut her off, feebly reaching for Ziva's hand. "I know."

Ziva dropped a small, comforting kiss to Abby's forehead. "I thought I was going to lose my best friend," she whispered truthfully. A tear began to make its way down Abby's cheek, but its path was interrupted by Ziva's thumb.

"Please, don't cry, Abby. I can't watch you cry," Ziva mumbled, squeezing Abby's hand.

"Ziva…" Abby spoke her name softly. She blinked back her tears and continued. "I'm sorry I snapped."

Ziva shook her head quickly. "Abby, stop apologizing. It is not your fault," she said firmly. Abby took a deep breath, and Ziva sat on a small space that wasn't occupied by Abby's bandaged body. She caressed Abby's hair with her nimble fingers, drawing small lines on the top of her hand with the other.

"Listen, Abby," Ziva began quietly. "What you did, I completely understand." She then proceeded to roll up her sleeve, showing Abby the hardly visible lines adorning her wrist. Abby gasped softly and ran her fingers lightly over the scars.

"Ziva… Why?" Abby asked cautiously. Ziva shrugged, her eyes beginning to glaze over.

"I just… I missed the old you, Abby," she reasoned.

Abby frowned. "That gives you a reason to cut yourself?"

Ziva sighed. "No, it doesn't. You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me, Ziva. You hurt yourself," Abby whimpered, shuddering at the thought of Ziva self-harming.

"I won't, Abby. I promise," Ziva whispered, kissing her hair.

"Me too, Ziva," Abby promised. Ziva held Abby's hand tightly.

"Just promise me one thing?" Ziva piped up. Abby looked up at her, and Ziva bent down to give her a warm hug. Into her ear, she whispered, "Never let me see you cry again, okay?"

Author's Note: Well? Did you like the ending? I hope you did! R&R please! Love you guys…