A short story from me because I felt it wasn't enough TATE fics out there and my body wouldn't let me sleep until it was written down.
……….Morning on Friday the 14th of December……..
Tony looked out over his living room. All this space and it was all for nothing. Since that day in April no girl if you didn't count Kate and his mother had been in his apartment. He wondered how he became this guy. A guy who day in and day out wondered what life was going to give him and how he would feel happiness again. Right now he didn't feel much enjoyment in life. His scars reminded him about that. His scars reminded him that he is soon 40 and the single life he so much enjoyed was no longer there and now he didn't know what he had…Tony walked around in the room before moving on to the guestroom, his bedroom, his bathroom and last but not least his kitchen. If he had died then everyone would have said that the apartment was all Tony had and he had nothing else…His car would have probably been sold and it was just a few months old…A big apartment didn't manage to fill the whole in his heart and it became more apparent after all three ended up in the hospital. It was a miracle they all survived and all three could go back to work…Now it was time to step in the car in the freezing cold and drive of to work. He hoped no new case would turn up so he could have a free weekend. With it being so near Christmas and him spending Christmas all alone because someone needs to be stand-by just like a doctor if something happens. Terrorists don't have holidays. They live to destroy holidays and people's happiness. Right now he didn't want them to know they took a part of his enjoyment of life. Mandatory therapy sessions for everyone in the team hadn't helped him especially when it was group meetings. Everyone clammed up and hoped the hour would somehow go away so they could go back to work. They wore down the therapist quite quickly and everyone soon went back to their daily routine. All seven of them thought therapy wasn't for them.
Tony bought a new car as a replacement to the one which got stolen and some other new stuff but his money didn't make him happier. His family's support didn't make him happier just content with life and his friends tried to be there for him and then act like they normally do so it would be easier for him to get back to the lifestyle he had. It was just not as easy as everyone thought and no one understood that.
………..Meanwhile in Kate's apartment……….
"Ok, so this is it. The loan application is there, the box with the paid bills are there. Only two bills paid yet but tonight I'm going to sort them through and yes the bills which are due soon will…well some of them will be put in the paid box…" Kate said sighing, knowing she had money problem along with other problems. Since April nothing had been easy and it had been a long process to get back to her old self and when she finally thought she was getting there the money trouble started to remind her how bad things can really be. Life isn't easy but after a big ordeal she had been through why couldn't life cut her some slack? It was Christmas soon and she knew there was no way she could afford going home for Christmas. It was good that her family believed her when she said she was going to work during Christmas and New Year's so she couldn't come to visit. Borrowing some money from them would be too much since they had done so much for her while she was in the hospital and then rehabilitating at home. In the end she was all alone with her problems and having to burden her friends and family once again was tearing her up inside.
…………Late afternoon/early evening the same day…………
"Ok, I'm sorry for dragging…Well I'm sorry for making you stay late too and finish the paper work. Let me make it up to you. Like a peace offering." Tony said to her.
Kate was quiet and kept on working.
"I know it isn't fun being here all alone when everyone has gone home and especially being left with me. Cut me some slack here. If it makes you feel better then let me do whatever you have left so you can go home now." Tony said to her in hope she would say something now.
Kate avoided answering him and it wasn't because she was mad at him for causing Gibbs to order them to stay at work until they had finished the paper work, it was because she didn't want to go home. She didn't want to go home and deal with what was on her kitchen table.
"Kate, I'll buy you dinner if you just answer me!" Tony then burst out. It was hard enough for him to get the nerve to be social and talk to women…Losing his dear friend would be the last nail in his coffin. It was him who has stalled today and it was him who was to blame for Gibbs' decision and he didn't want Kate to suffer from it.
"You will?" Kate then said a bit excited. It was very egotistical for her to say it that way but a real meal which you don't have to pay for was something she couldn't let herself have due to the budget cuts she had done to her economy lately…She hoped her tone didn't mislead Tony in to thinking it was something else she meant.
"Yeah, right after we're or rather I'm finished with this." Tony replied unaware of what her tone could have sounded like because he was just happy she answered.
"It'll go faster if we both work." Kate said to him and then they both started to work again.
……………………..
20 minutes later they were both finished with their work and standing by their cars. It was snowing and quite cold. The parking lot was mostly deserted. Many had gone home to be with their families and prepare for Christmas.
"I know this great restaurant called Virginia's Restaurant. If you just don't know how to get there then I can drive first and you can follow." Tony told her.
"Ok. I'll follow you." Kate said before getting in to her car. She put on her seat belt and saw how Tony was getting into his car. She put in the key and turned it but the car didn't want to start. She tried again but it didn't start. Then she saw in the corner of her eye Tony's car moving. Once more she tried again but the car didn't want to start. She got frustrated and wondered if this just was her luck. Just as she was going to get a free meal her car was breaking down. Then she heard a knock on the window and saw Tony outside. Instinctively she opened the door instead of wheeling down the window.
"Is something wrong?" Tony wondered.
"It just takes a while for the car to start when it is really cold. ..It'll start soon." She assured him but she wasn't sure it would. Kate didn't want to be embarrassed in front of Tony. She decided to just call of the dinner.
"I have some jump cables in my car if you need any help." Tony offered.
Kate turned the key again and hoped it would start. A sigh of relief came out of her when it did start.
"See it started. I'll be right behind you." Kate told him before closing the door.
………..At the restaurant……….
"You haven't said much." Tony said to her while waiting for their dessert.
"Neither have you. I guess outside of work we haven't much to say to each other." Kate reasoned.
"If the ones at work only knew." Tony said to her while smiling.
"Yeah those nasty rumours would die quickly if they saw us now. We're friends and nothing else." Kate said to him still feeling a bit uncomfortable. She had done so during the whole dinner and she didn't know why. It was a great restaurant and also one she probably wouldn't afford but Tony always had money but she never once dared to ask her where he got his money from. Their salary wasn't so big that you could afford such a great apartment, new car and his old one was only two years old and also such an expensive dinner this would turn out to be…
"Did you enjoy the dinner?" Tony asked her so they at least could keep on talking.
"Yeah, I did. You know my offer still stands about splitting the bill. This must cost a fortune." Kate said but she actually hoped he would say no once again.
"I'm paying for it. It was me who asked you. You shouldn't worry about the money. I can afford this." Tony reassured.
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to but how can you afford everything?" Kate wondered. Her curiosity took the best of her and she could no longer just sit still and wonder.
"My parents…I have stocks, a trust found well everything I need to be financial stable…When I decided to become a policeman they were worried and tried to talk me out of it. When I didn't change my mind they decided that in case something happens to me my family wouldn't have to suffer so I got money earlier than intended. I still haven't a family but the money is still there. It's sharing and doing things with the ones I care about which is the only great thing about the money. Just like this dinner." Tony explained.
Then their desserts came and nothing more was said.
…………..
Suddenly they were back at their cars at the parking lot outside the restaurant.
"Let me drive behind you to make sure your car doesn't break down on your way home. It's over 8 pm now and really dark and I don't want something to happen to you." Tony said worried. When her car didn't start before he got worried that it would stop working when he drove in front of her and he would because of the snow not see that and drive away leaving her there all alone. Never again he wanted to leave anyone in his team alone. The memories and the fear of something happening when he wasn't around was still too big.
"You don't have to. This car is great. It will take a long time before it needs any serious repairs." Kate assured him but she had her doubts. Her seven year old car wasn't as good as she made out it to be.
"I insist. You don't live that far from me anyway."
………..At Kate's apartment building……….
"I told you it wouldn't break down. Let me give you some hot coco before you drive home." Kate offered. Tony accepted and they went to her apartment. Tony sat down in the sofa and waited for his drink.
"Very nice apartment you have." He told her looking around her living room. It looked very cosy and she had at least five blankets on the sofa and chairs.
"Thank you." Kate said while she put down the cups on the table. Then she sat down next to him in the sofa. A chill went through her body.
"Are you cold? I'll get you a blanket!" Tony said while reaching for one of the blankets. It was a bit cold in her apartment but he didn't want to point it out.
"I'm ok." Kate replied.
"Then why so many blankets in here?" Tony wondered.
"The heater doesn't always work and blankets are a good thing to have then." Kate explained.
"Why hasn't the landlord fixed it?" Tony wondered.
"He said he is going to. It takes time to get parts and so on but he promised it'll be fixed before Christmas." Kate said with a trustworthy and assuring voice.
"Ok…" Tony said while wrapping two blankets around Kate and then giving her drink to her.
After that Tony started to drink his drink. No one said another word. They just drank and watched each other drink. Suddenly their drinks were all gone. It was nothing left to do then put the cups back down on the table.
Kate came closer to Tony while she was trying to get back to the position she had before putting down the cup. They looked into each other's eyes and something they did not anticipate happened.
Kate and Tony kissed.
………….
"I'm sorry…My hormones are running wild and it's been a long time since I was this close to a woman. " Tony quickly apologized before realising he said too much.
"Don't be…We both kissed and just because of what happened in April doesn't mean you have lost your touch Tony." Kate replied. She knew him a lot better than he thought but she knew he knew her a lot better than he thought. The remark startled Tony. He got up from the sofa.
"I'm going to make some more hot chocolate for us." He said picking up the two cups. Tony headed towards the kitchen and when Kate saw his face after reaching the kitchen she realised something.
"Tony, don't mind them." Kate said while getting up from the sofa. She quickly turned his attention from the bills and loan application when she asked him what he was going to do tomorrow.
"Nothing much." Tony answered.
"Why don't I pick you up and then we can go Christmas shopping?" Kate suggested.
"I've already bought my presents and sent them to my family and friends." Tony replied.
"So have I but this weekend I thought I would buy things for myself. You're catholic right, Tony?" Kate asked just so they could the conversation going until their hot chocolates were ready.
"Yeah, I am…So are you…Your point is?" Tony wondered.
"Then you won't mind going to the catholic church with me. I'm donating some money to a charity there." Kate said just before their hot chocolates were finished.
They talked some more but not about what was laying on her kitchen table but about what was going to happen tomorrow. Kate was going to pick Tony up at 10 am. After Tony had listened to all she had to say he suddenly found himself in his car on his way back home.
…………….The next day at 10 am, Saturday the 15 of December……..
"I told you my car would hold up. Get in." Kate said when Tony walked out of his apartment building.
"I was wrong." He said while putting on his belt. Then as soon Kate turned around the key you could hear a noise which only meant the car had died and needed some serious repairs.
"Oh no…" Kate said really worried.
"I'll call the tow truck and the mechanic I use. They are great and can probably look at your car straight away." Tony assured her.
……………At the mechanic………….
"At least 2500 dollars but I think it will cost a lot more. It's an old car. You two should reconsider buying a new one instead. It's good you have another car. It isn't that easy to tell couple's or families that their only car needs a big repair job." Tony's mechanic explained to them.
"My car…And we're not…" Kate said in shock. With this she would be a lot worse than broke.
"Kate, here are my keys. Go back to my car and I'll talk to Teddy." Tony said while handing her his keys. She didn't want to do that but suddenly Tony and Teddy had walked over to his office. Rather than seeing more of her car she went back to Tony's. It didn't take long before Tony was back.
"You paid him didn't you? I don't want to own anybody some money! I'll pay back every cent." Kate told him. Tony put his hand on hers.
"Would you rather I bought you a new one? Which would cost a lot more? We're sticking to our plan here. Go shopping, go to church, go home to your place to drop things of before you'll drive my home. I gave you the keys so you could sit in the driver's seat." Tony explained to her.
"I rather yell at you when you are driving. I'm going to pay you back! Don't you think I'm accepting all of this because of the kiss last night" Kate said to him while giving him his keys.
…………….Late afternoon…………..
"It has been a long, fun and interesting day. I hope you're happier now." Tony said when they entered Kate's apartment.
"I actually am. I didn't think it would be a fun day but you're nice and fun to be around. You didn't need to pay for everything because I didn't intend to buy a lot so I could have afforded my things." Kate said before another chill went through her body.
"I said it was my present to you so that is that…Anyway it is colder now in here than it was yesterday. Kate you can't live like this!" Tony told her after seeing her freezing.
"I'm used to it." She answered.
"If you are used to it then how long has this been going on?" Tony asked now quite mad at her landlord.
"Two weeks or so. He said it'll be fixed next week." Kate said while putting the bags on the table.
"Then live in my guestroom until it is. I won't do any advances or so but I don't want you to be sick, cold and unhappy. I'll help you pack." Tony said hoping she wouldn't object.
"The Christmas has really taken over you but it is too much Tony. My car is enough. I'm not a charity case." Kate said strongly.
"No, you're my friend." Tony said to her looking really serious. As hard as she tried she couldn't manage to say that she would stay home. He actually did make things feel a lot better and she needed it right now.
……………….
Two hours later she was settling in Tony's guestroom. She heard Tony doing something very slow on the computer. She didn't want to bother him since he hated being watched when he did something on the computer. Tony felt he did things much slower then. When she was ready she sat down in his sofa. It didn't take long before he came to her.
……………
"What did you do?" she asked him.
"Paid some bills." Tony answered.
"Mine too?" she asked in hope it wasn't but her gut feeling told her he did.
"No, just mine."
"You're such a liar." She said to him.
"You withheld the truth from me too since you knew the shape your car was in. It wasn't safe for you to drive it but you still did" Tony objected.
"Fine, we're even…Can we talk about our arrangement here?" Kate wondered.
As unexpected his answer was to that so was her.
………………..A while later…….
"Tony, we actually did it…" Kate said as they bought lay in the sofa wrapped around in one of her blankets.
"We did…" Tony said looking at the scattered clothes on the floor.
"I said you hadn't lost your touch." Kate said while smiling to him.
"Neither have you. I haven't seen you glow like this in days." Tony said holding her much tightly.
"It was great but it all went so quick…We forgot the condom…Since April I haven't been on the pill because of the treatment I received in the hospital and lack of time to go get another prescription…As much as I enjoyed this it can't be permanent and I just hope we didn't create something we're not ready for…" Kate said worried.
"No matter what I'll be here for you. I'm so sorry about forgetting. I was too excited to think clearly. If we did create something special tonight then I'm glad I did it with you." Tony assured her. His feelings for her had changed but they had now changed to the better.
"I'm glad for that too but it will be you telling Gibbs I'm pregnant if I'm pregnant." Kate said teasing with him a bit.
"No, I'm not. A smack to the head is the best thing he would do in that situation and that isn't very likely. He'll drag up rule no12 and probably fire me because he can't fire a pregnant woman." Tony said joking a bit.
"Then you have to hope nobody will find out on Monday I'm living here." Kate replied still with a smile on her face.
"Oh…I didn't think about that." Tony said to her and his smile wasn't as big as it was a few seconds ago.
