Title: Her Weakness
Author: Ari's Red Motorcycle
Summary: What if Kate was the one who got the plague during the episode SWAK instead of Tony and during her time recovering she is visited by Ari. AU Ari and Kate fluff!
AN: My first story please review even if you think it sucks.
She didn't think she had ever been so tired as she walked into her apartment. Gibbs had insisted on seeing her home safe as he stepped in behind her. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her like this. So weak and almost defeated. At least he wasn't Tony. She knows that he just wanted to make sure she was safe and it meant a lot to her that her cared for her enough but the truth is that she didn't want anyone to ever she her like this. She just needed some time to rest up and then she would be back to work.
"Gibbs please just leave! I'll be fine. I'm just going to sleep for the next two weeks!" She said almost begging.
"Okay but you call me if you need anything. Or you can call Tony, Abby or McGee. We are all here for you. Get some rest and I'll see you soon." And then he left.
She was glad to be by herself. The last few days had been the worst of the life. She had never been so close to death before, which was ironic given the fact that she used to be in the secret service. She had almost died and that disturbed her a little. Kate locked the door and put her purse and weapon down on the kitchen table as a tear that she had been holding back for far too long rolled down her cheek.
This is so stupid, she thought to herself. "YOU DID NOT DIE!" She had to tell herself over and over again. Of all the ways she thought she may die in the line of duty, this scenario never came into her head. This one seemed the worse: a virus that your body may not be strong enough to fight. At least with a suspect with a gun she would have a gun as well and the two of them would be evenly matched. She tried to push these thoughts away and think on them another time.
She started to undress as she slowly stumbled toward her bedroom dropping her jacket and her shirt on the floor. She didn't even change into her pj's. She was too tired to do so. She crawled under her covers in only her panties.
Just as she was about to get some much needed sleep, she started coughing. Just a few at first but it quickly turned into a coughing fit she could not stop. Her eyes started watering from the pain of successive coughs keeping her from breathing. Her vision was blurring and all she needed now was water.
Someone, she assumed was Gibbs, handed her a glass of water. She took the glass and gulped most of it down. It seemed to do the trick for the moment.
"Thank you" she said while breathing heavily
"You're welcome, Caitlin" Came a voice she was not expecting. She knew who it was immediately. She could never forget that voice. She slowly looked up to the face of the man standing by her bed. She could not see his face, due to the darkness in her room, but she could imagine his perfect features.
"Ari" was all she could whisper.
His only response was a little chuckle.
A million questions starting going through Kate's mind. What did he want? What was he doing here? How can I defeat him? She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
Ari saw this and sat down on the bed next to her. He was closer to her now and she could see his face. He was looking at her with his 'kind eyes.' He was not laughing or smirking at her as she thought he might in her weakened state.
She could only stare at him. He was wearing all black: a long sleeve shirt and pants to match. His face was just as she remembered it. It had been a year since he kidnapped her, but nothing about him had changed. He was cleanly shaven and as nicely groomed as he was last year.
"I never thought you would be at a loss of words, Caitlin." He said after a few seconds of silence that felt much longer.
Kate remembered that she was naked under the covers and pulled them up higher. He smiled at her modesty. His smile was warm and inviting. It gave her the courage to finally speak.
"W-What are you doing here?" The words were so hard to say.
"I'm here to see you" he said so sweetly.
Even as she was exhausted every part of her brain told her not to believe a word from his lips. Her heart was another matter.
"Get out" her voice was stronger this time around, but she knew that she was in no condition to take him on. She tried to think of something to do but her brain was on working at its normal level.
"Caitlin, I'm not here to hurt you." He seemed to enjoy saying her name and for some reason she believed him.
Gibb's voice was in her head for a second, 'Eyes can lie. You meet him again and you remember that!' but only for a second.
For some reason his presence didn't bother. It only bothered her that he was here on this night of all nights when all she wants to do is sleep. She drank the rest of the water that he gave her and gave the glass back to him. And he took it without a word.
"You shouldn't be here⦠it isn't safe for you." Kate said as she realized that he leaving was not what she wanted. But what she wanted most of all right now was sleep.
As if Ari could read mind, "We can talk about this later, but for now I think you need some sleep."
Sleep sounded so good to her now. She fell back on her pillows without anymore hesitation and Ari took off his shoes and lay down in the bed next to her. He did not get under the covers but he did put him arm around her torso. She was already fast asleep.
Ari watched her sleep for awhile since he was not tired at all. He rarely slept at night. There was always something more fun to do when the sun sets.
He thought about her more then he cared to admit in the past year. Judging by her reaction to him, he realized that she must have thought about him a lot as well. He thought about what might happen tomorrow when she was more rested and alert. Would she tell him to leave or try to arrest him?
She did not spend a peaceful night in his arms. Several times in the night she woke due to coughing, and he was right there to get her more water.
TBC
