For millions of NCIS fans, Pauley Perrette will always be Abby Sciuto — the brilliant, energetic forensic scientist who became one of the show’s most beloved characters.

But fans hoping to see Abby walk back into NCIS headquarters someday may have to accept that chapter is truly over.

Perrette, who played Abby for 15 seasons before leaving NCIS in 2018, has made it clear that she has no intention of returning to acting. In a rare interview, she said she would “never again” act, explaining that she is a different person now and wants to live more authentically away from performing.

Her decision doesn’t come from bitterness about her entire career. Perrette has said she remains grateful for what acting gave her, but her life has moved in another direction. She has instead shown interest in working behind the scenes, including documentary projects.

For longtime NCIS viewers, that’s what makes the news bittersweet. Abby wasn’t simply another member of the team. Her pigtails, gothic style, Caf-Pow drinks and enormous heart helped define the early years of the series.

Even years after her departure, fans still talk about the possibility of one final Abby appearance.

But Perrette appears happy choosing her own path.

And perhaps that’s the real ending fans should remember: Abby may be gone from NCIS, but the character Pauley Perrette created will always be part of the show’s history.