Chapter Three: Early Goodbyes and Words of Advice

Stepping into the lab, the agents couldn't hear Abby's familiar music playing and glanced worriedly at one another. After a quick round of searching, Tony pointed to the usually cheerful forensic scientist, who had curled herself up into a ball and hidden in a dark corner of the lab with Bert clutched tightly in her lap.

"Abby," McGee whispered softly. She looked up and blinked owlishly at him through red-rimmed, mascara-less eyes. McGee moved quickly toward her. It was always a bad sign when Abby didn't feel like putting on her makeup. Sliding down onto the floor, he pulled her against him and she let out a tiny sob, tucking her face firmly into his shoulder and squeezing Bert hard, making him fart.

Tony and Ziva followed suit, crouching down beside Abby on the floor.

"I just c-can't believe she's g-g-gone," Abby hiccupped.

"We know," Ziva replied, reaching out to rub Abby's back. Abby turned and gave her a watery half-smile.

"At least I've got you guys," she said.

The three agents surrounding her turned so they wouldn't have to meet her eyes.

"Guys," Abby whispered, a sense of dread filling her stomach, "What's going on? McGee?"

She looked sharply at him and, when he raised his eyes to meet hers, she saw that they were brimming with tears. Flipping her head to face Ziva and Tony, she glared at their stony expressions angrily. When nobody said anything, she finally exploded.

"Will somebody please tell me what's happening?"

Tony flinched and even Ziva moved back slightly.

"Abbs," said McGee, "We, ah, we…" He looked at Tony pleadingly.

"Abby," Tony sighed, "Vance is…well, he's splitting us up."

"What!" Abby shouted, jumping up and sending McGee sprawling. She began pacing furiously, talking rapidly to herself.

"How can he do something like that? And on the day of the funeral too! That no-good peanut-headed bastard! I'm gonna run up there and tear him limb from limb! Nobody messes with Gibbs' team!"

Turning wildly, she gestured with flying arms. "I need you guys!" she practically screeched, "Now that…now that…" Her voice broke and she swayed on the spot. Bert, who had been clutched forgotten in her hand throughout the tirade, fell to the ground. Ziva ran up and caught the scientist under the arms before she collapsed, sinking down the floor with her. Abby hugged Ziva and began sobbing anew, not letting go until her hapless victim began making obvious choking noises.

"Ziva!" Abby wailed, "You can't go!"

"Abby, I promise I—"

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Ziva," said Tony wearily.

Ziva looked at him and gestured toward the black-clad woman in her arms, but Tony shook his head. It was no use lying to Abby. It would only make things worse.

"Abbs," McGee said, coming over to stand next to Tony, "See, what happened was…"

Together, the ex-teammates poured out the story from when they'd arrived back from the funeral to the present, interrupted frequently by tears and exclamations of anger from an outraged Abby.

Finally, there was no more to tell. All four adults were sitting quietly on the floor, each lost in their own thoughts of what was to come.

"So, Gibbs just…left," Abby whispered, sounding very much like a lost child. She picked up Bert and fingered his collar with trembling hands.

"Yeah, I guess," Tony replied. Honestly, he didn't want to think about the implications of that right now.

Ziva nodded. "I suppose he just wanted to be left alone for a while."

"What do you think he meant? I mean, by the whole 'finishing the job' thing?"

The agents looked at each other.

McGee sighed, "We don't know Abbs. Guess Gibbs will always be an enigma, huh?"

Ziva and Tony nodded agreement. It was then that Tony noticed the time.

"Hey, uh, no offence or anything Abby, but it's almost three and, well, I gotta get home and pack, and—"

He was cut off by Abby launching herself at him furiously. After several moments, she pulled back.

"What if I never see you again, Tony?" she asked worriedly, her brow puckering, green eyes glassy with unshed tears.

"Don't worry," he assured her, "You will. This isn't the last of the almighty Anthony DiNozzo."

Abby beamed.

"Ziva," she said, turning to the woman.

"Um, Abby I—"

She too was stopped by a hug that could've passed for another method of strangulation.

Stepping back, Abby said, "Ziva, I know we didn't really start out all that great, but I like you now and, well, you're leaving tomorrow! So, yeah. I just wanted to say…you kinda grew on me. And I'm gonna miss you."

Ziva felt tears beginning to well in her eyes, but stomped on the urge to cry.

"I will miss you too, Abby," she said simply. After another bout of hugging for both Tony and Ziva, Abby finally let them go.

"Coming, McGee?" Tony asked.

"Nah," McGee said, "I've got another day. And all I really need to do is pack up my desk, so I'll stay here with Abby."

Abby smiled at him gratefully.

"Thanks, McGee."

"Sure, Abbs."

"Oh, hey!" Abby exclaimed as Tony and Ziva walked out the door. They both turned to look at her.

"Ducky!"

"Oh," Tony said, "Right. He would never forgive us if we left without dropping by."

"Yeah," Abby teased.

Tony and Ziva smiled at her.

"All right," Ziva said. "We better go down there."

oOo

"Ducky!" Tony called as they walked into Autopsy.

"Ah, yes, Anthony and Ziva. When Jethro dropped by earlier I got the feeling that you two would be showing up," Ducky said as he walked toward them, smiling warmly.

"Wait," said Tony, "The boss…I mean, uh, ex-boss, was here?"

"Of course Tony," replied the doctor genially.

"Oh, well…"

"I suppose he already told you everything then," Ziva said, interrupting Tony's stammering.

"Yes he did Ziva and, I must say, this is a dreadful turn of events."

Ziva opened her mouth to say something, but Tony beat her to it.

"So, why'd he skip out on us then?"

"Ah, Anthony," Ducky sighed, stepping back so he could sit on an Autopsy table, "I don't pretend to understand Jethro Gibbs. He has his reasons for doing things; they just might be a little different from everyone's else's."

Tony and Ziva also moved to sit on the table across from Ducky.

"But, you have known him longer than anyone else," Ziva pointed out, "Surely you must have some idea of his reasons."

"Yes, Ziva," Ducky conceded, "I do know a bit more about Jethro than the average person might and all I can tell you that you just need to give him time to grieve in his own way."

"But Ducky!" Tony exclaimed, "We don't have time! We're leaving tomorrow."

"And don't think he isn't aware of it," Ducky said admonishingly.

Tony sighed. "Do you really think he's gonna be able to get us back together Duck?"

"I do Tony," Ducky assured.

"Yeah, well, he'd better do it fast. I'm gonna be stuck on a goddamn boat until he does," Tony muttered.

Both Ziva and Ducky ignored him.

"I will miss you Ducky," Ziva addressed the older man, hopping off the table.

"As I you Officer David," Ducky replied, eyes misting over suspiciously.

Quickly, before she could change her mind, Ziva reached over and hugged the Englishman.

"Ahem," Tony cleared his throat after a moment. Ziva pulled back, slightly embarrassed.

"Bye Ducky," Tony said gruffly.

"Goodbye Anthony," Ducky replied, a knowing glint in his eye. Sliding down off of the autopsy table, he pulled Tony into a hug before the other man could react. This time, it was Ziva who interrupted.

"I am sorry Ducky, but we really must go home and pack. It is already very late."

"Ah, yes, well, don't let me keep you then," Ducky answered.

"Oh, and Tony?" he called as Tony and Ziva were halfway through the door.

"Yeah Duck?"

"Just give him a little time. He'll be up and complaining before you know it. Why, in a matter of months, you might be back in this very room bidding me a hearty 'hello'."