She leans up against the car. She runs her fingers through her hair. He approaches her. He stops when he reaches her.

"Something troubling you, my dear?"

"No, Ducky, I am fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I just... sometimes I have a hard time believing people even when I should. I have a hard time trusting people, completely."

"And by people, you mean someone in particular?"

"Yes."

"Would you like me to guess, who?"

"No," she shakes her head.

"Do you want me to listen, or do you want my advice?"

"Your advice. I often wonder if I have allowed myself to make mistakes, because of my inability to trust people, completely, to believe them completely."

"You know what I have found?"

"No, what's that?"

"That the biggest obstacle that we will ever face, is ourselves. Sometimes you have to ignore what your brain is telling you. You get used to people acting in one way, so you group all people together, and expect them all to act the same, and they don't. Not everyone is the same. Some people do not deserve your trust, because given the chance they will betray. If you find someone that you can trust, someone who would not betray your secrets, if their life depended on it, you should do whatever it takes, to keep them in your life. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Once in a while, it is ok, to ignore your reservations, about something. Life is a gamble, and you can't always take the safest bet, of all people, I thought that you would know that."

"You're right. I do know that."

"Does that help any?"

"Yes."

"How is McGee?"

"He's awake."

"How did Abby react?"

"Badly. She's having a hard time dealing with things."

"Things? Are there other things that I should know about?"

"I'll let her tell you about those."

She shuffles back into the room. She shuts the door behind herself. She stops at the end of his bed. She crosses her arms, against her chest. She looks at him. He stares back.

"Are you ready to talk to me now?" He questions.

"Are you done being an idiot?"

"I can't make any promises."

"Now is not the time for jokes, McGee."

"I'm sorry. I just don't know what to say."

"Something. Anything."

"I'm sorry..."

"Anything but that," she warns him.

"But I am."

"That's not what I want to hear right now."

"You don't want to hear that I am sorry for everything that has happened. I'm sorry about what happened today. I am sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry that..."

"Don't," she interrupts him.

"Talk to me. You're angry, and I understand that, but I need you to tell me what else is going on. I need to hear it from you."

"McGee... I don't think that I want to do this."

"Ok."

"I mean, with you."

"Excuse me?"

"I am going to do this, but I don't think it is going to be with you."

"Why not?"

"Because things changed. Today, everything changed. You took someone's life, because you were careless. I just can't look at you the same."

"Abby I am the same person."

"McGee, you could be sent to prison. You are most likely going to lose your job. An unemployed, inmate, doesn't have much to offer."

"I am the same person. I don't know what I can do, or say, to make you believe that."

"I don't know. I don't think you can do, or say anything. McGee, I can't..."

"You're scared?" He guesses.

"Obviously."

"Why?"

"Why? What do you mean, why? Do you understand what is happening here? The fact that I am this calm, right now, is a miracle."

"I understand."

"What did you mean, exactly?"

"Why would you be scared? You are going to be amazing."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do."

"Me being amazing, that's not enough. You should be there too. That isn't even a possibility now."

"You don't know that."

"Really? Even if you don't lose your job, and go to prison, it's not like you want to do this. This is a lot of responsibility. More responsibility than I think that you want. I mean this is the rest of our lives, we're talking about."

"I know. Abby, I've made mistakes. I know that. I can admit that. I want to be there. I don't want this to be one of my mistakes."

"Why would you want to be there?"

"Why do I always manage to screw everything up?"

"You didn't."

"I didn't? Do you know what I said to her? I..."

"You told her the truth. You told her how you feel?"

"Yeah. She... she doesn't believe me."

"Maybe she doesn't believe you, because you tried to hide it from her, for so long."

"Tried?"

"I thought she knew. I mean, I knew. McGee knew, Abby knew, Ducky knew, I think that bomb squad dogs knew."

"You're saying that everyone knew?"

"Except, maybe, you."

"I knew."

"Did you?"

"I just wasn't willing to admit it to myself, yet. I was in denial. I mean, she's my partner. It makes things awkward. It changes things."

"Yeah, it does."

"Are you mad at me?"

"For telling her the truth? No, I'm not mad at you for that. I'm a little irritated that you picked now, but there's never a right time."

"When should I have told her?"

"Sooner."

"Sooner? But..."

"You never know when you're going to walk out the door, and see someone, for the last time."

"Boss, are you getting sentimental, on me?"

"It's the truth DiNozzo. Accidents happen. How you deal with them, how you choose to move on, that's the important thing."