A Favor For A Sister

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I wish they were mine, but they aren't.

Summary: Kate's sister comes to stay with Kate because she wants a favor. The 'favor' will not only tear Kate apart, but it looks set to cause irreparable damage to her relationship with Gibbs.


Chapter 1

Kate walked into the bullpen after lunch and sat down at her desk tiredly. They had just wrapped up a murder case that morning that had required them to fly all over the country in search of an illusive Petty Officer. It had been tiring, to say the least. Kate was past the point of exhaustion. She couldn't wait to finish her report and go home to sleep. She hadn't slept in her own bed for over a week and a half; that was how long they had been chasing him.

They'd stayed in hotel after hotel, barely staying in the same place for more than twenty-four hours. They had been hot on his tail, but they had always been just one step behind, which frustrated them all to no end. That's why they were so grateful that the case was finally over, except for the paperwork. Kate was also happy that the case was over so that she could sleep in her lover's arms again. She hadn't slept with him the entire case; it just wasn't possible. Work was work and from the start of their relationship, they made it a point to separate their personal relationship from their professional one. Only Tony and Ducky knew that Kate and Gibbs were together.

Kate and Gibbs had been involved with each other for almost a year now and neither of them had been happier. They'd also never been apart for more than two days at a time and that was always due to work. Whenever they weren't at work, however, they were together.

The last two weeks had taken a toll on both of them. They had hardly slept whilst they were on the road trying to catch the murderer but it wasn't through lack of trying. They never slept well when they were apart. They really only slept well when they were in each other's arms. Kate and Gibbs were each other's 'other half'. Kate was complete with Gibbs and Gibbs was complete with Kate.

Before beginning writing out her lengthy report, Kate cast her eyes around the bullpen and saw her three male co-workers already hard at work. She sighed in exasperation before sliding her chair closer to her desk to begin typing.

The four agents worked in relative silence for the better part of an hour before the phone on Kate's desk began ringing. Everyone looked up from their computer screens momentarily to watch Kate answer her phone, all praying silently that there wasn't another case to start working on.

"Agent Todd," Kate said curtly down the phone.

"Katie, it's me, Julia." Kate rolled her eyes. She should have let it go to voicemail. Kate hated it when her sister called. Kate had managed to turn avoiding her sister's phone calls into an art-form.

"Oh, hi, Jules," Kate replied, trying to sound happy. She resisted the urge to tack on the end: 'what do you want?', fearing that it was a little rude. She knew her sister had been struggling with a life lately because it took her three years to finally fall pregnant, only to miscarry the baby at three months. She was told that she would never be able to carry a child to full-term and a hysterectomy was performed. The miscarriage was six months ago, and her sister still wasn't back to her usual self, which worried Kate somewhat.

Her three colleagues all breathed a sigh of relief when they realized it was a personal call. Gibbs wasn't impressed, but at least it wasn't a case. He continued to work on his report, but listened intently to Kate's side of the conversation.

"How's things in DC, Katie? Still with NCIS?"

"Things are good here. Hectic, but good. What about you? How are you going?" Kate tried to sound interested in her sister's life, but it always ended up with her sister telling Kate that she needed to find a proper job and settle down with a decent man.

"Things are looking up. Michael and I are fine. In fact, we were thinking of coming to DC to visit you this weekend." Kate was shocked, to say the least. Her sister had never visited her since she moved to Washington when she joined the Secret Service. That was over four years ago.

She managed to hide her surprise well, however. "Really?" She replied, a tinge of excitement could be heard in her voice. As much Julia drove her crazy, they got along very well and had a relatively close relationship when they were growing up. "Sounds great," Kate continued.

"Yeah, I have a favor I want to ask you." Kate sank back into her chair in disappointment. She knew there was an ulterior motive. With her sister, there always was. She only really called to brag to Kate about something, hassle her about not being married or having a proper job, or to ask a favor.

"What is it?"

"It's not something I can ask over the phone, Katie," Julia replied using Kate's nickname. "That's why we're coming to visit."

Kate sighed. "Fair enough. What time is your flight landing?"

"It lands at four in the afternoon. Can you pick us up from the airport?"

"Sure, Jules. No problem."

"Thanks Katie-girl. I'll call you in the morning with the flight details." Kate smiled slightly. 'Katie-girl' was her childhood nickname. Aside from her immediate family, the only other person whohas ever calledher that is Gibbs. Tony called her that a few times, but he ended up being elbowed in the stomach.

"Okay,"

"Bye Katie."

"Bye," Kate replied half-heartedly before putting the phone back in its cradle. She glanced around the bullpen when the call finished and saw that Tony and McGee were working but Gibbs had stopped writing his report. Instead, he now had his eyes fixed on Kate.

Kate looked over to Gibbs and smiled. The mouthed the words 'I'll tell you at home' to him before she turned back to her computer and continued on with her report.

The sun had set two hours ago, yet they were still working silently at their desks. Not one of them had spoken; they were all pushing themselves to finish their paperwork tonight so that they could go home and rest without having to wakeup early in the morning to finish it.

Now, Kate wanted to go home more than she did when they first wrapped up the case. Her whole body ached from sheer exhaustion. She looked up from her desk again and saw Tony stretching and re-adjusting himself in his seat. He looked as tired as she did. McGee was typing away furiously at his computer, a look of determination was plastered on his face. She turned her attention to Gibbs; he was squinting at the screen in an attempt to read the small font. Kate rolled her eyes. He had glasses, but he never wore them and that frustrated the hell out of her.

"Well, I've finished up here, boss," Tony said, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.

"Go home, DiNozzo," Gibbs replied. "Give me your report in the morning." Tony threw his head back in relief. He stood up quickly and made his way out of the bullpen, shouting his goodbyes over his shoulder as he entered the elevator. "How much longer will you two be?" Gibbs asked Kate and McGee once Tony had gone.

"I'm just backing up the file now, boss," McGee said, "then I'll be off as well." Gibbs nodded then looked expectantly at Kate to hear her response.

"I still have a bit more to do. I might be another hour or so," Kate replied. Gibbs turned back to his computer without comment. He didn't want her to be 'another hour or so', as she had put it. He wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and take her home.

After a few more minutes, McGee had finished his report and headed home, leaving Kate and Gibbs alone in the bullpen. Without saying a word, Gibbs rose from his chair and put his coat on. He moved around to Kate's desk and waited for her to do the same. She placed her hand in his and they left for Gibbs' house. "You can finish your report in the morning," Gibbs said to her as the elevator doors closed. He leant in and kissed her on the forehead. "Right now, though, I just want to take you home."

That night, when they were curled up in each other's arms, Kate told Gibbs that her sister and her husband were coming on Friday to spend the weekend with her. "She said she had something she wants to ask me," Kate had said when Gibbs' questioned her as to why her sister was coming all the way from Indiana. It was then that Gibbs felt Kate tense up in his arms.

"What's wrong, Katie?" he asked in a hushed tone; a tone that was never heard at NCIS. Kate sighed and leant back into his embrace.

"My sister is conservative, to say the least," Kate said timidly, unsure of how to approach this topic. She rolled over so she could face him. "She's Catholic, Jethro." She'd said it bluntly, hoping he would understand what she was trying to tell him.

"So are you," he pointed out.

"No, Jethro. She's Catholic," she said again, placing significant emphasis on the word 'catholic'. "She doesn't believe in pre-marital sex."

"Oh," Gibbs said. He knew what she meant. They would have to sleep in their own beds for the weekend. Kate sighed and closed her eyes.

"I love you, Jethro, you know that, but you have to understand-"

"I understand, Katie," he said, cutting her off. He cupper her face with his hand and let his thumb run lightly over her face. "Respecting your family's morals is important to you, if it means we have to spend the weekend apart, I'm ok with that." Kate open her eyes and smiled at him.

"I'd like you to meet her though."

"So would I," Gibbs replied. He leant forward and kissed her softly before pulling her closer. "Good night. I love you."

"I love you too, Jethro. Good night."

"Sweet dreams, Katie."


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