Disclaimer; I don't own NCIS I never will….but maybe for my birthday, please?
Authors note; This is a sequel to "On His Knees" and "Every Ounce". Not essential to read those but it helps. For those who have read them, the Proposal is about to be shared! Read and enjoy!
She patted the bun at the nape of her neck, smoothing the skirt of her dress over her legs, more to release nervous energy than to fix a wrinkle. Her mind flew back to an afternoon in the park where in the rain and the mud she had finally got what she wanted.
Flash back
They'd sat in silence, drinking coffee. Side by side on the wooden bench until he broke out of his reveille.
"Ari, you were attracted to him." He said, his voice full of accusation and hurt.
"Yes Gibbs I was," she replied, she could never lie to him, no never to him.
"Tell me Kate, please tell me that it was Stockholm syndrome," he said. She just wanted to know where this outburst was coming from.
"No Gibbs, he was a good looking man, charming even, if more than a little twisted." Gibbs glowered into his coffee. "But…" she continued, she knew what she wanted to say, what she needed to say but couldn't find the courage to do it.
"But what Kate?" he growled, as he stood up and flung his cup into the bin. The rough words served as the provocation that she had needed.
"Gibbs, stop! Stop being jealous, stop acting hurt, I'm in love with you! " She said, Gibbs looked up sharply.
"Well that was your first mistake." He said bitterly. Kate sat there stunned by his refusal to admit to his own obvious emotions.
"Are you saying that you don't feel anything for me?" she asked.
"Damn it Kate!" he cursed and began to walk away. "I can't feel anything for you! You're my subordinate!" he turned to face her. "I can't start something with you, it wouldn't be right or fair to any one." She wanted to scream at him, it began to rain.
"I'm too old for you Kate, hell I've been divorced three times! Don't tell me it doesn't matter, because it does, it has to! Trust me I've earned every ounce of cynicism in my body! And I don't want to hurt you!" he explained frantically. She began to stand, unable to reply she shook her head, as if refusing to accept what he said.
"Kate, I want to say I could keep it casual. That if in two months time this thing with us wasn't working that I could walk away but I would be lying!" he spread his hands in confession. " You're not someone I could just walk away from Katie! I love you too much for that!" He watched her face as shock spread across it, and suddenly all became clear.
He dropped to one knee.
"God Kate, Marry me. I need you. I know it's pathetic that a thrice married ex marine like me can't find better words to put this! Damn it but I was never a poet, but like I said I love you too much to walk away…So marry me!"
Kate blinked, unsure of what had just happened. He took her hands. "Please, I can't walk away from you, god knows I've tried to save you from me, but I love you and you love me too, maybe if we really try it'll work. Kate I'm not looking for divorce number four."
His hands were freezing, numbing her own under his touch. She took a hand from him and caressed his cheek, smiling gently through the tears that the rain hid.
End of Flash back.
She walked up the isle on her father's arm. She was beaming, she was the perfect bride. The white dress glimmered in the bright spring light that shone through the cathedral windows. He stood at the top, by the altar, looking like she'd never seen him before, nervous.
She had to say that she didn't feel that a bit. Just keep walking, just keep smiling and soon she would be Mrs Jethro Gibbs, easy as one, two, three.
Let me know what you think
