If Michael Weatherly had his way, Pauley Perrette would never have left NCIS. Recently, the actor hinted that Perrette may soon reprise her beloved role as Abby Sciuto.

Perrette exited the series at the end of Season 15 amid rumors of tension with co-star Mark Harmon. While she hasn’t confirmed any talks about returning, she’s stayed in touch with former castmates – especially Weatherly, with whom she shared heartfelt messages during her final episode.

According to TV Insider, Weatherly recently teased Perrette’s possible comeback, saying, “I know Pauley Perrette will return in some capacity. Everyone misses her, and she’ll be back and funnier than ever.” Though no official announcement has been made, his confidence suggests something may be in the works – perhaps as soon as Season 17.

Perrette also stood by Weatherly when actress Eliza Dushku accused him of sexual harassment on the NCIS set. While Weatherly apologized and CBS compensated Dushku after her contract ended, Perrette defended him publicly, praising his character.

Since leaving NCIS, Perrette has mostly stepped away from acting, focusing instead on social media activism. She’s also debunked rumors about launching a makeup line. However, she returned to CBS in the sitcom Broke, leaving limited time for an NCIS comeback.

Meanwhile, NCIS fans have faced more goodbyes. After losing Weatherly and Perrette, the show recently saw David McCallum’s Ducky retire – though his new consulting role means he’ll still appear occasionally. His reduced presence also opens the door for Jimmy Palmer to step up as Chief Medical Examiner, setting up new storylines for the future.