Second Chances

Chapter One: Date Night

The lights of Capital Hill glittered in the cold winter air, almost making up for the sheer lack of stars, hidden by dense snow clouds that lingered ominously. Katherine Kelley hesitated for a moment as she stepped out of the restaurant, clutching the collar of her too-small jacket tighter around her throat, exposing her rounded belly in the process. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she turned, still holding the door open. Her husband followed slowly behind her, struggling into his jacket as he talked on his ever-present cell phone.

Katherine sighed, causing him to look up, a guilty expression on his face. "I'll call you back later." He said abruptly, hanging up the phone quickly and giving her a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Kat."

She motioned for him to come along, refusing to hold the door any longer, and teetered down the icy steps, her balance in high heels poor in the late stage of her pregnancy. "You know, Patrick," she commented over her shoulder, "The doctor recommended us going out to dinner on a date as a way to spend time together- not for you to spend half of it on the phone!"

"Oh don't be so dramatic, Kat! I was barely on it for five minutes!" Patrick retorted as he followed her down the stairs and onto the snow lined sidewalk.

"And the 20 minutes prior to it ringing you kept checking it!" She exclaimed, stopping short and wheeling on him. She winced and rubbed her belly, trying to calm herself down. "Patrick, may I remind you that you are the one who wanted this? I was ready to face reality."

Her husband's eyes widened. "Kat, please. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise. When we get home, I'll get you some ice cream and we'll watch a movie and spend time together. No computer, no phone- I'll shut it off right now." He stepped closer to her and rubbed her arm. "Please?"

Kat sighed, and then looked down at his hands, empty, save for the offending cell phone. "Where are the leftovers?"

Patrick looked guilty all over again. "I must have left them on the table." He reached in his pocket and dug out the car keys to thrust them at her. "Here. Go start the car and warm up. I'll be right there." He jogged around the corner before she could say anything.

Kat began walking towards the car, ignoring the sound of an engine roaring to life until she heard the squeal of tires laying down rubber. Years of police training took over and she bolted out of the open parking lot and to the safety of the parked cars. Looking up, she felt her knees begin to buckle as her husband's face appeared in the back window of a dark panel van that was peeling out of the parking lot before hands grabbed him and pulled him from sight.

Opening her purse she rummaged around until she found her cell phone. Kat dialed 911 trying not to panic. "Hello, officer? My name is Katherine Kelley- I think my husband was just kidnapped."

The squad room was quiet on the Friday night. Christmas was three weeks away, and a lot of the agents were out doing last minute Christmas shopping or wrapping. Anthony DiNozzo sat at his desk, staring forlornly at his computer screen. Across from his desk, Ziva David sat filling out paperwork, a mocking smile on her face as she only partially listened to Tony bemoan the fact that he was once again dateless on a Friday night.

"All I'm saying," Tony went on, still staring at his email on the screen, "is that for me not to have a date is not normal- McGee yes, me no."

"Hey!" McGee exclaimed. "Tony I will have you know that I had a date last week when you didn't."

"McGee, cyber dates don't count." Tony retorted condescendingly. "A real date involves going out and interacting with people."

Ziva sighed. "Tony, you could just go to a bar and- what is the expression- pick somebody out?"

"Up. Pick somebody up." Tony replied tersely. "Ziva, you're an American citizen now- you're lack of colloquialism saddens me."

"And you're lack of maturity saddens me." Snapped Ziva, slamming a folder closed in frustration. "Tony, either leave or shut up or I will shove this pen up your nose!"

"That would be a waste of a good pen." Gibbs interjected as he rounded the corner. "Grab your gear. We have an abducted Marine."

Second Chances

Chapter 2: Safe

There was a large crowd outside of the Italian restaurant when Gibbs and his team arrived, the police clearing spectators out of the way so they could pull the truck into the parking lot. Gibbs opened the door and walked over to the officer in charge.

"NCIS?" the burly officer asked

"Special Agent Gibbs." Gibbs replied, flashing his badge. "Were you first on the scene?"

"Yes, sir. We received the 911 call at 6:45 pm. I arrived here at 7:05 to find Mrs. Kelley waiting inside."

"Did she see anything?"

"Yes, sir. I've got to admit it makes our job a lot easier whenever there's a trained eye on the scene." At Gibb's quizzical look, the officer added. "Mrs. Kelley is a former police officer." The officer handed Gibbs a piece of paper. "She got the license plate, color, make, even had enough thought to preserve where the vehicle left tire marks."

Gibbs nodded. "Tony!" he called over his shoulder.

"Yeah boss?"

"Photos of the crime scene."

"On it boss!" answered Tony, jogging away.

"Ziva! Pull forensics for Abby."

"On it, Gibbs."

"McGee! Pull all ATM cameras, traffic cams- find that van and where it was headed!"

"You got it, boss."

Gibbs turned back to the officer. "Where is Mrs. Kelley?"

"Over there." The officer pointed to a pretty woman in her early thirties with long hair that stood with the EMTs, wrapped in a blanket.

"Thanks." Said Gibbs. He walked over to where the woman sat as the EMT finished taking her vitals. "Mrs. Kelley? Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

The woman looked up at Gibbs, startled. In the light from the back of the ambulance, Gibbs saw that her eyes were blue-green and framed by dark lashes. Her hair was a rich auburn, a halo of red in the light. He also saw that she was heavily pregnant and very cold, her legs bare in the icy December wind. Gibbs unzipped his jacket and laid it over her legs, earning him a smile. "Katherine Kelley." She said, offering her hand. "Call me Kat."

"Kat, did you see what happened?" Gibbs asked.

She shook her head. "Patrick left the leftovers inside. He handed me the keys and ran back for them. I was walking with my back turned when I heard an engine start. I hear the tires squeal, so I ran for the car. I thought it was someone who had had too much to drink or just wasn't being safe. When I looked up, I saw Patrick's face in the back window of the van. I got the plates as well as the color and make, but I didn't see any other faces besides Patrick's."

"Your husband- did he have any enemy's?"

Kat snorted. "Too many to count, but as far as I knew they were all over seas."

"What do you mean?"

"Patrick is an Intelligence Officer with the Marines. He's in charge of handling the informants in Afghanistan. He was over there for two years before we met, and went back for six months right after we married."

"Did your husband tell you if he'd received any threats in the past few weeks? Has there been any suspicious mail, phone calls?" Gibbs asked.

Kat shook her head. "No, nothing." She paused for a moment before adding. "Agent Gibbs, in full disclosure, I should tell you that my husband and I were having a rough time in our marriage. We've been married just over two years, but as I said before right after we were married he went back over seas for six months- by choice- after swearing to me that he was home for good. I was so upset. When he got back, he was different. He was edgy, irritable… he was diagnosed with PTSD and went into counseling, and for a while, things got better. And then he started working more, longer and longer hours, and even when he was home he was working. Six months ago I filed for divorce. He and I agreed it was for the best until I found out I was pregnant. He wanted to make it work and try to be a family. We were out tonight on a date… and the whole time he was preoccupied talking on his cell phone. I was so upset…and so awful…" Kat started to cry, brushing her tears away angrily. "I'm sorry... damn hormones…"

"I understand. It's a lot to take in." Gibbs said amiably. "The responding officer said that you're a former cop?"

Kat nodded, setting her chin stubbornly. "Boston Police Department for 5 years. We just moved here two months ago. Job transfer. Personally I think my father had something to do with it, but he'll never admit it if he did."

"Is he a Marine?" Gibbs asked, chuckling.

Kat laughed, the sound sending goose bumps down his spine. "Oh no. No, he's in the Navy. Kind of high ranking. Probably used some of his pull to have us closer for when little miss here is born."

"When are you due?" Gibbs asked

"Three weeks- right after Christmas. Maybe I'll get lucky and have her on New Years; first baby born in the New Year and all that."

"Mrs. Kelley- Kat- I'd like to put you in a safe house tonight to make sure there are no threats against you."

"Thank you, Agent Gibbs, but I am not being put up in some dingy little apartment that's crawling with mold and goodness knows what else. I know from far too much experience what those place are like!"

Gibbs smiled. "What if I can guarantee that it's not crawling with mold? Maybe a little dusty, but otherwise clean?"

Kat snorted. "And just where is this supposed safe house?"

"Oh it's safe. Probably the safest place in the city…"

"The safe house is your house? Is this NCIS sanctioned?" Kat asked incredulously.

Gibbs chuckled softly. "It's been used as a safe house before." He hauled Kat's suitcase out of the trunk and led the way up the front steps to open the door.

"How much of a safe house can this be- you don't lock the door." She commented softly. Another car pulled up in front of the house and Ziva, Tony, and McGee climbed out. "We made sure you were not followed, Gibbs." Ziva said calmly. "Whoever has Warrant Officer Kelley did not stay around."

Gibbs set Kat's suitcase down in the living room and walked back into the front hall to address his team. "Ziva, Tony, I want this place locked down. McGee, coordinate MTAC and make sure there is a constant feed." The agents left to follow Gibb's orders.

Kat sat on the couch, taking off her shoes and breathing deep. She smelled wood smoke and saw dust, a scent she found oddly comforting. Leaning back, she sighed and closed her eyes. Hearing footsteps, she opened her eyes. Gibbs stood in the doorway, his eyes calm and searching. Kat smiled. "I'm sorry for being such a pain. I really appreciate you letting me stay here and setting all this protection up."

Gibbs nodded. "There's a spare bedroom upstairs you can use."

"Is there a bathroom on this floor?"

"Right down the hall."

"Then I think I'll stay right here if you don't mind." Kat held up a hand to forestall any complaints. "I get heartburn a lot, so sleeping propped up helps. This couch is actually pretty comfy, and with a bathroom right there, I won't wake you up getting up every 20 minutes to pee. Also, I've worked protection detail a time or two- it would be better to let one of the agents sleep in the spare bedroom while they're not taking their watch."

Gibbs picked up Kat's suitcase and put it on the coffee table. "I'll get some blankets then."

"You're not going to argue?" Kat asked, raising a brow.

Gibbs smiled, a little sadly. "I learned a long time ago that it's no use arguing with a pregnant woman. Bathroom's right down the hall if you want to change." Gibbs turned to leave.

"Agent Gibbs?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, Kat."

Despite the stress of her husband's kidnapping, or perhaps because of it, Kat slept soundly on the couch, barely stirring when the agents changed shifts. She woke early to watery winter sunlight streaming through the window behind the couch and the smell of coffee. Gibbs stood in the kitchen, drinking a cup as Kat shuffled into the room. "That smells wonderful." She said, rubbing her face sleepily. Wordlessly Gibbs handed her an empty mug. "Cream and sugar?" she asked hopefully.

"Milk in the fridge. Sugar in the cabinet." Gibbs replied. "I didn't think pregnant women were supposed to have coffee- or caffeine at all."

"We can have some, just not a lot. I usually have one cup a day, but it's really more like half a cup with a lot of cream and sugar. I like it to taste like ice cream." She added, humming with pleasure as she took a sip.

Gibbs shook his head. "You sleep okay?"

"Surprisingly well, actually."

"Good. There's cereal in the cabinet, bread, eggs, and I think some cheese in the fridge."

"Sounds good. What's the plan today?"

"There'll be agents stationed here. There's a TV in the living room-"

"Oh no! No no no. I am not sitting around and waiting to hear that my husband was found dead in a ditch or tortured unrecognizable. I was a cop for 5 years. I can't just sit and do nothing and not lose my mind."

Gibbs leveled a severe look at her. "I'm not putting you in harms way. You're pregnant. Not only that, but if your husband manages to hold out long enough, they may decide to use you as leverage. You would be safer here."

Kat put down her coffee mug. "Look Gibbs, I'm not helpless. I still have my conceal and carry license, and I have every intention to defend myself if need be…" Kat rubbed her eyes and looked at him with a pained expression. "I couldn't save my husband last night. My gun was in the glove compartment, and I've been going over and over what I should have done in my mind. If I sit here I'll just keep thinking about it and I'll go crazy!"

Gibbs met her pleading gaze, studying her. "Fine." He said at last. "But you don't leave the NCIS building without an armed escort. Period."

Kat extended her hand. "Done." Gibbs took her hand, still looking her in the eye, and for a moment when their hands met he felt his heart skip a beat.

Tony walked into the kitchen, making Kat pull her hand away as if she'd been burned. "Boss, the next team of agents is here to take over the protection detail."

"Change of plans. She's coming with us. Keep the team here to watch the house- no one in or out except for NCIS personnel cleared by me."

"You got it, boss." Tony said, eyeing the coffee mug next to Kat on the counter. Wordlessly, Kat shoved the mug at him, earning her a patented DiNozzo smile. "Thanks."

"Your Agent Ziva? I can't place her accent." Kat said.

"Israel. She's a former mossad agent."

Kat whistled low. "Wow. She must kick ass in a fight."

"She does."

"Good. Will you assign her as my armed escort?"

"Why her?"

Kat shrugged. "Normally, I can kick ass just fine on my own," looking down, she frowned, "But being pregnant has kind of screwed with my balance. Ziva, I figure she can back me up better than any of the guys on your team, and has the added bonus of not looking suspicious if I go shopping with a girl friend instead of a man who is clearly not my husband, as well as being able to zip up my dress."

"Shopping? You want to take Ziva shopping?" Gibbs asked, incredulous.

Kat laughed. "Technically, it would be her taking me shopping since I can't go anywhere without an armed escort."

"I'm still missing your point." Gibbs said, forcing himself to not lose patience.

"I am the hostess of the annual Toy for Tykes benefit- I got involved in Boston after I married Patrick. In two days, I have to host a black tie party for over 300 people, and I don't have a dress. If I don't go, we could lose some of our local sponsors, which would mean a lot of kids not getting presents at Christmas next year- kids in orphanages and foster homes."

Gibbs frowned. "You want me to clear a shopping trip in a crowded mall with only one armed escort and a black tie event? Have those pregnancy hormones gone to your brain!"

Kat lost her smile and put her hands on her hips, raring for a fight. "Think this through, Gibbs. A mall has a lot of people in it. Further more, if we're followed, you might be able to grab the people responsible for Patrick's disappearance."

"It's too dangerous- you couldn't out run a toddler in your condition, let alone a trained operative!"

"I will not sit by and do nothing! That's not who I am! And I refuse to let thousands of children not receive presents at Christmas while I'm holed up like a coward!" Kat winced and rubbed her stomach. "Ouch…"

"You okay?" Gibbs asked, concerned.

"I'm fine- she hates it when I yell. Always kicks me hard as hell to make me calm down." Kat chuckled weakly. "She's a Marine's daughter all right- always goes for the sweet spot."

Gibbs sipped his coffee while reaching for a glass. Putting his mug down, he filled the glass with water and handed it to Kat, who took it with silent thanks. Gibbs ushered her to the dining room table, making her sit. "Look, Kat, I understand that you want to help, but putting your life and the life of your child on the line is not the way to do it."

Kat shook her head, her red-brown rippling in waves down her back. "I was trained to put my life on the line, especially for my partner. Patrick is my partner, and as much as he drives me crazy, I want- I need- my daughter to know her father." Kat put her hand over Gibbs', her big sea green eyes brimming with tears. "Please, Gibbs."

"Jethro."

"I'm sorry?" Kat said, cocking her head.

"My name. Jethro. Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

Kat smiled. "Jethro… I like it. It suits you." Gibbs looked down at her hand, still covering his own. Slowly she pulled it away to clutch her glass of water.

"Will you agree to taking two escorts with you on this… shopping trip?" Gibbs asked, resigned.

"That depends. Who were you thinking of?"