Gibbs had been finishing up paperwork, the only really annoying aspect of his job, and had chosen not to join the others when they went out. He never felt entirely comfortable around them in social settings, with the notable exceptions of Ducky and Abby. The others were...well, if he was being completely honest, he still didn't want to let them see too much of him. He wanted to maintain some sort of distance. He would lose them one day, they would either die or move on, and if he got any more attached than he already was, it would hurt that much more.

Abby had already wormed her way past his defences, so much like he imagined Kelly would be if she was alive that it was almost painful sometimes. And Ducky had been his friend longer than he cared to recall. The only other one he felt any real connection to was Tony, because the younger man had been his agent longer than the rest. But he had kept his distance since Kate's death. He couldn't afford to care about another agent.

Still, that didn't mean he wasn't stopped in his tracks as he approached his desk and saw DiNozzo still at his own. He'd thought the agent had left already. "You shouldn't be here," he said, breaking the silence of the room. DiNozzo should be out with the others, enjoying himself. The case was done and they could go back to their lives for at least a little while. He was the only one who was supposed to stick around here. He didn't have anything else.