We finally reached the end of this story. I want to thank everyone, who read it, and who give me a review. I hope you guys enjoyed this story :)

Special thanks go to DS2010, AliinaSuomi, STLFAN, Mar91, gerrylynnr and the mysterious guest, who left me those nice reviews over this time.

And now I hope you will enjoy this last chapter :)

I don't own anything. The characters belong to CBS.

Epilogue

A month had passed, and the team from special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs had turned back to normal. They passed their psychic evaluation test and showed up to work again. Even Abby was back in her lab, working on evidence and presenting results.

The teams of LA and NOLA were safely in their own towns to work on their own cases. Sometimes, Pride called to check on Abby, but otherwise, everything went on like before.

Although, that wasn't entirely true. Even after a whole month, Gibbs was still checking on his team. Especially on Abby, who was out of his sight when she was working in her lab. He used every possibility to go down. The forensic scientist noticed his constant appearance, but she couldn't get through to him to stop it.

This day was no different. The team leader walked through the doors of forensic with a caf-pow in his hands.

"Hey, Abs. I brought you a caf-pow."

"You know that Ducky is close to killing you because you bring me like 5 of those things a day?"

"Do you wanna tell me that you don't buy that much by yourself?"

Abby opened her mouth but had to realize that he was right. She bought even more on a normal workday.

"That's… you're changing the subject."

"As do you."

She gave him her evil eye, then she took the cup out of his hands.

"What can I do for you?"

"What do you got?"

"Nothing since you came down the last time."

"That was hours ago."

"More like one hour."

"That's nonsense."

"Do you want to tell me that I can't count anymore?"

"I want to know what news you have for me."

"You're a stalker."

This time, she got no answer but was rewarded with his famous look. The look, which had no affection on her.

"Fine, call me when you have something new."

"As if I have to call you."

"We still don't have a psychic link, Abs," Gibbs said, while he walked back to the door.

"I'm not talking about our connection. I'm talking about you stalking me."

"I'm not. Keep working."

Smiling he went to the elevator. The ex-marine knew that he couldn't trick his surrogate daughter. She knew him to well to let him blind her. The ping of the arriving elevator was heard.

"AAH! Damn it!"

Immediately, Gibbs turned and sprinted back into the room. Abby had her back to him, while she was holding her right hand. He moved in front of her, then he grabbed her hand to examine the wound… but there was nothing! No blood, not even a burn. What happened? As soon as he saw her face, the old man noticed that he fell for her act. She never hurt herself.

"That's not funny, Abby."

"It wasn't meant to be funny. I just wanted to show you that you are a stalker."

"I'm… I'm not a stalker!"

"You keep coming to my lab for no reason! It's not that I don't like it to see you, but damn, Gibbs. You need to do your job. I'm safe now. Watson is behind bars. No one is going to hurt me."

He wanted to tell her that she was wrong. That this wasn't the reason why he came down, but it would have been a lie. He couldn't shake the feeling to protect her. The building proved him that it was possible to get inside and to hurt the people he loved.

Gently Abby pulled him in one of her hugs, but this time she didn't crush his bones in the process. It was a hug to comfort him.

"I love it that you look out for me and that you protect me. But you can't protect me 24/7."

She felt him stiff as if she gave him a new idea.

"Don't even think about getting me a bodyguard. I'm a big girl. I can stay alone in my lab."

"Abs, I just…"

"You want to protect me, and I love you very much, Gibbs. But you can't protect me from everything."

Abby released him only to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Now, go back upstairs. I call you if I have new information for you."

"Is there a chance I can…"

"No."

Gibbs stayed where he was, while he thought how he could change her mind. Abby, who knew him very well, grabbed his arm before she pushed him out of the door.

"I need to work. So, get out of my lab."

She left him in front of the elevator, but Gibbs turned around and pulled her against him.

"Gibbs," Abby giggled "I have to work."

"I love you too," he whispered in her ear.

Softly he gave her a kiss on her cheek before he released her. Abby smiled than she walked back to her evidence.

"I'm your favorite. You have to," she called back to him just as the elevator doors opened.

Gibbs felt how his lips turned into a smile, too. This crazy woman was the only one, who had this effect on him. Contently he entered the metal box, but while the doors closed in front of him, he was already thinking to call Derryl down to protect his surrogate daughter just like he did it a few years ago.