25 Mercury? Still retrograde

When she's gone, Ducky says, "Anthony. Perhaps it would be better if Ziva just doesn't go."

Tony shakes his head. "She's so good and so capable. And she misses out because she's my wife and I'm her boss. Everything that's happened happened to her—more than me, because I missed most of it. If I keep her in the office today it'll just be another thing she won't ever be able to forgive me for."

"She doesn't blame you for what happened yesterday."

"Yet. Everyone's running on endorphins and adrenaline and caffeine. Once you give a person a reason to look at you differently, there's no telling where it ends."

"Anthony, that's not what happened back in DC."

"I blew my undercover assignment. I blew my protection detail. Those were pretty big reasons."

"You didn't blow either. You made a mistake in trusting Jenny Shepard. And if anyone started looking at you differently, it was you yourself."

"I've blown this every way possible. I let my agents down, I let Vance down, and I let my wife and daughter get put through hell. I should be divorced and fired."

"I shouldn't expect you to have any perspective this soon. But you've lost sight of the most important thing, Anthony. You've all survived."

"Day before yesterday we weren't just surviving. But cheer up, Ducky. It is my base. I might actually be useful. Becks, give me the iPad."

"I'm on level 12."

"Really? 12? Put it on pause, you can have it right back. I have to do some work."

Abby is back a few minutes later with the comm. gear. "I understand why you're doing this, Tony. And I'm saying prayers for all of us. In many languages."

"Thanks, Abby, but could you leave out the voodoo ones? They freak Ziva out."

"Tony." Abby hesitates. "I know where Ziva was yesterday. She didn't have a dentist appointment."

"I know too. She's a terrible liar. But I guess that's a good thing."

Abby waits, as if expecting more. Then she says, "I love you all. I don't understand why things get so difficult. I know Mercury's in retrograde, but things shouldn't be like this. It should never have been like this."

"I have no idea what that Mercury thing means. Do I want to know?"

"Communication difficulties. I understand why you left. I love you and I love Ziva and I love Becks and I love that you're happy here. But I love Gibbs, too. I just don't understand why we all stopped being family."

"We haven't stopped, Abby."

"But not all of us, Tony. Not any more. That shouldn't have happened."

"I just couldn't figure out how to do it better. Can I blame Mercury?"

"Don't tease, Tony. I'm serious."

"So am I, Abby. You and Ducky are old souls. I'm on my on first go-round. And making a mess of it. You're Meryl Streep, I'm Albert Brooks."

"I hate it when things change," Abby says. "I miss you, Tony."

"I miss you too, Abby."

"I'm going to give you a real hug now, okay? Let me know if it hurts."

"Only if you promise to hang around. I'm doing Painkiller Tony tomorrow."

"My third favorite Tony! But you know I love them all." They have been as playful as puppies with each other for sixteen years, and neither can remember being angry with the other for a full day. She gives him her best hug.

But he grunts a little. "Tony, you were supposed to say if it hurts."

"No, Abby, that's not it." He picks up the iPad. "That's the guy that took the car. Sergei Guyadev."