Fans of NCIS must be wondering how the show is going to continue after not one, but two cast members exited the show during the most recent episode.

It wasn't news that Pauley Perrette, who plays Abby Scuito, would be leaving the show after the current season, though that doesn't mean it was any easier.

The Announcement

"So, it is true that I am leaving NCIS after this season," announced Perette on Twitter. "It was a decision made last year. I hope everyone will love and enjoy EVERYTHING ABBY not only for the rest of this season but for everything she has given all of us for 16 years. ... I love her as much as you do."

The circumstances surrounding Perrette's departure were a little hazy. Of course, 15 seasons on a show kind of gives you free reign to leave whenever you want, but then it came out that there were issues on set that prompted Perrette to leave.

The Reason

The dog, a pit bull, was apparently causing problems and Perrette didn't feel safe.

"She doesn't feel safe on set and she doesn't want to be around his dog," the insider said.

Harmon, who plays Gibbs on NCIS, often brings his four-year-old rescue pit bull, Dave, to the set with him. In October 2016, a crew member was playing with Dave when the dog got scared and attacked the man. The crew member required 16 stitches, but did end up returning to set.

Production tried to downplay the incident, saying the crew member was roughhousing with Dave when he became "frightened and attacked." Despite the incident, it didn't prompt any changes.

"Mark still brings the dog to the set," an insider revealed. "Pauley doesn't agree with it. She doesn't think it's right for Mark to expose anyone else to a possible attack."

"She was anxious on set and basically said, "˜I am not filming if that dog is here,' so they agreed to film her and Mark separately," said the source. "They set her role up where she wouldn't have to film with Mark and they aren't even in the same room. So she only films when Mark isn't around."

Shocking Death

Here's the thing, fans knew that they would have to say goodbye to Abby, and they were ready to do that, but they weren't ready to say goodbye to another character who they'd grown to love.

Duane Henry joined the NCIS cast in 2016 as Clayton Reeves. Even though he was only on the show for two years, fans loved Reeves. That's why his death was so shocking.

Reeves and Abby were out to dinner, and on their way home they had a gun pulled on them by a mugger. Abby tried to talk the man down, and there was a struggle to get hold of the gun. The screen cut to black, there was a gun shot, and no one knew who was going to make it out alive.

In the most recent episode, Reeves is shown dead from the attack, and Abby is unconscious in a hospital bed.

No one knew that Henry would be leaving the show, and the actor took to Instagram to post a touching, and personal, message to fans.

I've been wanting to share this with u guys for so long but for the sake of entertainment I couldn't and it is one of the toughest things I've ever had to deal with, not only saying good bye to playing Clayton Reeves with a great cast and incredible crew and to most of all you guys who not only made me feel like part of the Ncis family but u made me feel like your family also[...]

Week in and week out for the past two years, I've felt the acceptance grow, Ncis will always have a emotional attachment to me for the rest of my life, not only being homeless before this show and it changing my family's life and showing people dreams do come true no matter where you Are from and no matter how humble your beginnings[...]

I have no family in America so can't be very lonely at times, I've had a long term girlfriend pass away during my time here I've lost my mentor ex footballer Cyrille Regis while On this show and can honesty say I don't know how I would have dealt with these losses without coming to work putting an suit on and playing Clayton Reeves, along with an historic exit with the Pauley Perrette, who I Could not have wished for a better person to die for on the show[...]

It's an honour to be part of TV history, finally I just want to send my love to the Family of Gary Glasberg, he changed my life, Clayton Reeves is his creation and when Gary passed away not long after I got the part I promised to always try and do my character justice, I hope I did that. Love u all and I guarantee you will see me again very very soon on your screens. Until then. Love 💜

 Abby's Departure

After Reeves died, it left people wondering how they'd deal with Abby's departure all in the same episode. Would both of them die?

She ends up recovering from her injuries, but feels so grateful for Reeves sacrificing his life to save hers, that she leaves the team to pursue his dream. He had always wanted to accomplish a lot of charitable acts, and Abby decides she'll do them in his honor.

"I remember what you said about honoring you mother, and I'm gonna make that happened," she says while visiting Reeves' corpse. "I promise I'm not gonna let you down, Clay."

She then tells the team she's leaving, saying "Clay always wanted to start a charity in honor of his mom."

"I'm gonna escort his body [to his hometown] tomorrow and make the arrangements," she says. "I'm not coming back. I'm leaving NCIS. Clay died saving my life, and I owe him a debt, and I intend to see it through."

What's interesting, though, is that Perrette's character did not say goodbye to Harmon's character in person, which corroborates the story that they didn't get along. Abby instead left a note, saying it would be hard to say goodbye in person.

Perrette's Final Words

Though it's very to-the-point, Perrette posted a farewell on Twitter after the final episode aired.

She also wrote a sweet message to Duane Henry.

"I love you @RealDuaneHenry," Perrette wrote on Twitter. "You and me are family forever. My lil'bro. You are a talented superstar. I say, the next #JamesBond ?"

It's always sad to see characters go, but here's hoping bigger and better things are coming for both actors!

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