A huge thank you to finlaure, for taking the time to beta!

Thank you all!

Really, I do realize the end of the story is not as good as the beginning was. I will make up to you in the sequel, I try at least.

Enjoy!

Leave me a note on what I should have written differently.

25

Tony and Ziva took their place once the ceiling high door was closed.

The simple orders, no one gets out no-one gets in.

The three men rose as the back door opened and an in a black robe dressed woman entered the room.

As soon as she sat down, the men sat down as well.

"We are here to decide over the application for parole in the case of Mr. Tintrop." The judge looked toward the attorney and his client. "You are sentenced to ten years."

The lawyer stood up and began to speak. "A sentence based on evidence which was circumstantial. There is no actual proof that my client had knowledge of the happenings in his night-club."

The man took a short breath. "The verdict is based on some fingerprints and some, I might say, questionable statements by the technician who worked the evidence."

"Objection." The district-attorney got to his feet as well.

"Sustained."

"However" the lawyer said, "No witness, no evidence left to process and no technician to make a statement, I apply for an early prison release."

The judge exchanged a glance with the district-attorney.

"Your Honor, on the contrary to popular belief we have the technician here. She gladly will repeat her statement."

The judge nodded.

"I'm asking for Miss Abigail Sciuto."

Fornell and one of his employees slowly made their way to the side entrance of the room to guard the door, while Tim made his way to the door on the other side.

A few moments later the door to the office of the judge opened and Abby stepped into the room followed by Gibbs, who stood beside the witness-stand as Abby sat down.

Completely shocked the convicted gentleman turned around to the man sitting behind him in the first row.

"You useless piece of shit, you told me she is dead."

"The doctor in the hospital told me she died."

"You're an idiot! You're not even able to follow one little order."

Too late the yelling man realized what he had said a few moments earlier.

In the meantime two FBI agents had cuffed the two verbally fighting men.

The convict looked around in the court-room and took in the scene before he finally stared at Gibbs who hadn't moved an inch from Abby's side.

The amount of federal agents and the fact that Abby arrived that day in the court-house, in this very room made him realize that they had know that he had been behind it.

"You set me up. I'm impressed but tell me one thing, how did you know?"

"I didn't, but Miss Sciuto did notice that the same MO she was tried to kill with was familiar, from a crime that could be linked to you. I'm sure with this scene you offered here, you will have to face another court date facing the charges of murder and conspiracy to murder. While your puppy over there will have to face a charge of attempted murder."

One last time Mr. Tintrop turned to his 'friend'. "You crumbum."

Silence fell upon the group of people in the court-hall.

"Well, I'll go finish up." Tobias said, " See you later."

The judge got to her feet. "I have to say Agent Gibbs, I'm not used to such stunts in my halls, if we should ever meet again in this court, I expect it to be less dramatic."

"Yes, your honor."

They all watched the judge leave before a rather quiet Abby got onto her feet.

"Please tell me I'm alive again."

A nod followed.

"Great, can I see my lab now and my friends and can we please eat in a restaurant with lots of people around tonight? Because as much as I love you all I need to see other face as well. And I want to sleep at home tonight. And I guess I have some paperwork to do, oh and I guess I need to call..."

"Abs! Take a breath."

Gibbs looked at his agents. "Go ahead, we will meet at the Yard in 30 minutes."

The three smiled and left the room, glad everything ended rather quiet.

The last chemical was placed to its regular place. She hated it. That was why she never went on vacation, all the mess she had to clean once she got back was just too much. It wasn't like she went to someone's working area to rearrange their belongings.

Okay maybe Gibbs' desk, but it wasn't like he was annoyed with her, when she did that. At least Abby hoped that was the truth.

Slowly turning one circle to check if everything was in its place.

Everything seemed okay, the only thing left were her pictures the substitute had taken down. Gladly Ducky had saved them before the guys could throw them away.

The last thing she needed to bring with her, for the first workday next week, was Bert and her music. It was way too quiet.

Sadly she wasn't able to work before her 'oops-my-bad,- I'm-actually-alive-paperwork' was done.

After her very surprising arrival at the navy yard, the welcome-hugs and the fainting of poor Jimmy Palmer she had a little talk with the director in which they started the paperwork and talked about the fact that she couldn't work right away.

To Abby's relief, the team had the next few days off as well as soon as the paper-work on their desks would be done.

Which would be soon Abby hoped. She was hungry.

With a sigh, the Goth grabbed her black bag from her desk and made her way toward the elevator. Destination: squad-room.

Off to a night out with her friends, before going home.

Home to a place she actually felt home. Abs still thought it was too early to stay for good, but thinking back to the last three weeks of her life she realized life was too short to waste any opportunity to follow your heart as long as it made you happy.

Plus, if she was honest with herself she had missed the familiar rooms, the squeaking steps of the stairs, the heavenly peace she felt down in his basement watching him work off the stress of a normal workday.

Maybe she should just wait and see how things would go from here.

Day by day.

The elevator doors opened to the familiar feature of the man she was thinking about.

"Ready?"

"Sure thing, my silver haired fox."

Well?