Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Sadly, they belong to some other people.
AN: This was supposed to be a one shot, but ended up as a two-chapter story. I already have the second part and I'll be posting it tomorrow. Happy New Year! :)

They go skating now, from time to time, when their busy schedules allow it. At first, they would ask the rest of the team if they wanted to tag along, would make sure to extend an invitation each time they went, but after a collective lack of enthusiasm on their co-workers' part, it was down to just Kate and Gibbs. Kate knew Gibbs did not believe in coincidences and neither did she to be honest, yet she did not object to this new arrangement one bit, conspiracy or not.

After her flight to Indiana got cancelled due to a recent snow storm, Kate was supposed to spend a rather calm New Year's Eve at home with her fellow companions, Netflix and food. That was until Gibbs called with a proposition she pondered over for quite some time, a minute maybe. The thing is, she was getting better and better each time they went skating and she knew all progress would be lost if she didn't keep it up. She did not mind the company either.

There aren't a lot of people on the ice rink tonight. Could be the weather – snowflakes brim Kate's vision, but she still thinks the night is beautiful, or rather, therefore – or could be the fact that everyone is home, waiting for the new year to come. Kate knows it will happen; she will wake up tomorrow and it will be a year later from the 'yesterday' she was so set on spending at home. But right now, she is content being at the open rink with Gibbs, her hand in his, as the two of them circle around in silence. She is almost used to it, the hand holding. It's just so convenient if she sways, on a rare occasion, to have someone hoist her up, save her really from the approaching herds of skaters, who by the way have knives stuck to their feet, when you think about it. Then again, she doesn't mind holding his hand either. In fact, she enjoys it quite a lot –

Kate squeezes his fingers and shoots him a smile, "Ever think of playing hockey again?"

"Nope," he is quick to answer.

Kate doesn't press any further. She never does; not even last time when Gibbs brought her a pair of white figure skates. Muttered a simple, they'd fit you better than me, and that was that. Kate assumes they belong to one of Gibbs' wives and he was just being practical – she can bet a size six skate is just as dangerous as a seven iron, maybe more. Yet she couldn't explain why he barely smiled after the gesture, why he shut himself off and hardly spoke for an hour, which wasn't the part that troubled her; it was the distance in his eyes. Kate almost felt he wasn't there with her that time.

"Do you want to go faster, Kate?" Gibbs asks, a glint in his eye.

She sighs, bracing herself, "Maybe. Just – don't let go, okay? And how about a safe word? Xena?"

"Xena?"

She can feel her cheeks turn crimson, a little embarrassed, "Need to know, Gibbs."

"Okay," he breathes before he begins to pick up speed and Kate's side vision gradually blurs to a festive-colored blob.

It's like sky diving, only vertical: the crisp air whips her skin and the landing – she truly hopes she can pull it off, upright. But she trusts him and lets him lead her through the loose maze of people, who languidly glide in circles. At one point, she doesn't know if it's possible to go any faster, but she's with Gibbs and of course it is, what was she thinking –

When he slows down, Kate lets out the breath she's been holding, "That was fun."

"Yeah?" he gives her a skeptical look and she figures she is still frowning.

"Positive," her lips quirk up and she turns to face him, changing her direction. She takes his other hand, too, just to be on the safe side.

"Nice, Kate," he beams and then, "Wait, be careful!"

She is not used to falling – it's only happened once – but she already knows it's different. She hadn't made the turn and had lost her balance. It had happened so quickly, Gibbs hadn't been able to pull her up and in fact, she had pulled him down with her.

"Ouch," she braces herself to get up, but the moment she pushes herself up to a sitting position, a sharp pain shoots through her right wrist.

"You okay?" Gibbs asks, already on his feet, hand extended for help.

"I'll be fine," she mumbles, foolishly taking his hand with her wounded one. "Or not," she bites her lip not to cry.

"Let me see, Kate."

"Uh-uh, no. Gibbs, please," she knows her protest is childlike, but she really doesn't want him to touch her hand. Because it hurts, a lot.

"We should go see a doctor," he muses, eyes set on the injured hand, which Kate is clutching loosely to her chest with her other one.

"I should go see a doctor, Gibbs," she sighs, not especially thrilled to be going to a hospital on New Year's Eve. Damn, it'd be crowded, she knows it (she's seen way too many episodes of medical dramas; holidays are a magnet to trauma).

"And I bet you are going to drive yourself –"

"—well, as a matter of fact – I can get a taxi, Gibbs. I don't want to spoil your evening," she admits quietly.

"Come on," he starts skating towards the exit, one hand on the small of her back, propelling her forward. "We'd better get there early before people start setting off fireworks – homemade fireworks."

She sighs because she can't fight him and maybe, just maybe, she doesn't want to. "Gibbs, how come you are not hurt?"

"I know how to fall, Kate," he states, helping her step out of the rink. She wonders if her boss is just being literal.