AN: Heya, this is one of my first (if not the very first... :P) NCIS fics. TATE of course, the only other thing is GABBY - which was very implied in this and I thought it was cute. Anyway, I digress. :D This one just popped in my head at 12:30 Tuesday night (Btw, I LOVED that episode soooo much:D ) , so I apologize in advance if this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Granted I did reread it at a normal time of day, but hey, in my world everything looks good that has my favvie pairing! grin So I'll stop babbling now and let you read the story. On with the show! Yay:D

Spoiler: End/Post-ep Conspiracy Theory

Disclaimer: Oh, I own them, sure. In my little fantasy world where there's no KIBBS and they are already together. :D


The familiar little electronic beep that signaled new mail sounded in the pen, but neither agent saw the pop-up on their screen. Both Tony and Kate shared a distinctly terrified look before rushing to gather their things and high-tail it outta there.

"Uh, bye Gibbs!"

"Yeah, see ya, Boss!" And with that they nearly ran to the elevator, breathing a small sigh of relief as the doors dinged closed. They were safe from his expected wrath, at least for now. Kate now took the time to punch the button for the lobby before striking up an argument.

"I thought you deleted it! Now Gibbs is going to kill us!" She huffed and pulled on her coat, flipping her hair in that irritatingly cute way. (Only Tony would think of this as his boss looks at an airbrushed copy of him decked out in leather cowboy chaps.)

"I DID delete it, and you were supposed to too!" He paused in his indignant defense to pull on his own jacket, juggling keys, a cell phone and his PDA while slipping one arm through a sleeve. Kate watched him smooth out the creases in his shirt and as much as she hated to admit it (only to herself of course, because if she shared even this minute compliment, Tony's ego would easily inflate to fill the elevator alone), he was pretty built. Maybe she'd let cheating on the crunches slide...she found it hard to steer her mind away from dangerous territory, and she was thankful when his words brought her out of her reverie. "Look at it this way; we're even again, and we're both doomed. Is that okay?" He glanced at her, knowing that the semi-serious turn in this conversation was about to be cut short by the end of the elevator ride.

"Yeah," she met his gaze and flashed a small smile that made his heart flutter. "I guess if we're goin' to hell, I'll still have someone to tease..." she turned forward but still flicked him a sly glance, "sex machine." The way she said his old frat-boyterm made him want to flip the emergency switch and just ... !(Make good on his nickname, perhaps? ;D)But he decided to play along as the doors slid open and they walked side by side to the parking lot.

"Oh ho ho, don't you know it! You only wish that was me in that picture Kate," he took the opportunity to lean close and whisper the last bit in her ear, "but I know that was you." She froze for a moment, trying to stave off the urge to shiver at a subtle hinting in his voice.

"S-sure DiNozzo. You keep tellin' yourself that," Kate managed to quip back, opening her trunk and throwing her stuff in. Tony walked to the passenger side, leaning on the roof of her car (I don't know what she drives, okay?). Opening her door and looking up at him, she arched a brow at his grinning face and rolled her eyes in disgust as she realized he was eyeing her up for the billionth time. (Though it was getting harder to pretend she didn't like it.) "You mind, Tony? I'd like to get home before sun up."

"Hm? Oh, sorry Kate." He pushed off from his slouch and held up his hands to accentuate his next gibe. "Just imagining what I must have been like...in '94, I mean. Seein' you up there, getting drenched by --"

"Oh enough already! Go home you pig!" With that she slammed the driver's door shut behind her and burned rubber off her squealing tires she streaked out of the lot so fast. Upon reaching the first red light she took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes, leaning back in the seat and fanning herself with both hands. Something about that incredibly immature yet alluring man was getting to her. Now, was it just Kate or had it been kinda hot back there? (grin)

Tony watched her pull out and strode to her car, a trademark smirk on his face. For once his over-confident self was right. /She totally wants me./ And behind green eyes (is that what color they are?) he began to formulate a plan; Operation: Kiss Kate Todd.


AN: Tadaa! My first TATE NCIS fic. Help me out with the things I don't know, and tell me if I'm doin' great or horrible. Any reviews are welcomed; I'll take all the help I can get:D Thanks for reviewing ('cause I know you will, right:D) Oh, and so you know; I have absolutely NO idea where this is going! This bit was from a wonderful little plot bunny that tackled me, but I seem to have lost it in the fray. Suggestions for where this could go are appreciated; in the mean time I'll do my best to figure it out!