The first time it happened, it was just after Kate had been held hostage in Autopsy with Ducky and Gerald. Gibbs had been down in his basement, working on his boat, when suddenly Kate appeared on the stairs. "Hey, Gibbs."

Gibbs looked up and for once actually showed his surprise. "Kate." He put his tools down. "What're you doing here?"

Kate nodded, continuing to walk down the stairs. "Nice boat." The former Marine grinned a little, not bothering to mention on how it actually was a boat and not a ship. "I was actually wondering if I could spend the night here. My place seems a little too empty, considering recent events." She reached the tool corner and sat on the lone chair.

Gibbs nodded. "You wanna talk about it?" Kate shook her head, staring at the wall opposite her. He stood next to her, looking at her. "You sure?" She nodded, continuing to stare. Fatherly, Gibbs put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm gonna go set up the guest bedroom for you." He noticed the little faraway look in Kate's eyes. "You wanna come with?" Again Kate nodded, feeling tears beginning with well up.

That was how it started. It continued whenever Kate felt like having company or complaining about Tony's ridiculous behaviour. She'd come over and sometimes even help out with Gibbs' boat. It kind of made Gibbs feel like he had a daughter again.

And then, Ari reappeared.

With him came Kate's premature death.

Gibbs was haunted for days with the fact that he'd lost yet another daughter. It made him restless. After he'd finally gotten over the guilt, occasionally he'd dream as if they were having another night in his living room drinking coffee. And then the dreams stopped. Nothing. He didn't dream about her for at first days, which turned into months, which then turned into years.

Until the explosion planted by Harper Dearing in Director Leon Vance's car went off. Again, Gibbs was restless, relentless. He was as ready to catch Dearing as he had been to catch Ari. This time, he was able to kill Dearing.

The night that Dearing died, Gibbs slept peacefully. And he dreamt of Kate.

She stood in front of him, in his living room, looking around. "Well," she began. "This is an improvement from when I was here last."

Gibbs stared at her. "Kate," he said, unable to believe that he'd dream of her again after all of these years.

The brunette smiled at him, exactly as she would be if she were alive at the present. "Jethro," she said warmly, testing the name out. Then she shook her head. "You'll always be Gibbs to me." The former agent sat next to the current agent on his sofa. "So." She paused. "You got him."

"Yeah," he said softly. "He almost got the rest of my family."

Kate nodded solemnly. "He kind of reminds me of Ari." She smiled a little. "You'd be surprised how often I see that guy in the afterlife. I've gotten to know him." She nudged Gibbs gently. "I've been watching the team too. Who would've thought?" Gibbs looked at her. "We finally got to meet Tony's former fiancè. And Abby's adopted?" The two of them sat there for a while in comfortable silence. "I heard about what happened with you almost getting shot. Everyone was there. Even Shannon and Kelly stopped by." Gibbs waited for her to continue. "She's really nice. She's invited me over for dinner next week."

Gibbs couldn't help but make a crack. "You guys eat in the afterlife?"

Kate laughed. "Of course. She's invited Ari over too. It's interesting though," she paused. "Ari actually wanted to come talk to you tonight." Gibbs' eyebrows shot up. "I know. Shocking," she smiled. "But he wanted to talk to you, nonetheless. I said it would be better if I showed up. You might not take as kindly to him as you would to me or Shannon." Gibbs nodded, grinning a little. "But he wanted to tell you that he wasn't that bad. He wouldn't kill innocents. For instance, did you know, that the day he kidnapped me from lunch, he knew you would find the bomb beneath your table? It's true."

Again silence filled the gap. "Have you visited Tony?"

Kate smiled softly. "No. But I should. I should talk some sense into him and get him to ask Ziva out. You know I'm right, Gibbs," she added, seeing the look on Gibbs' face. "I think they would be the exception to rule number twelve. And I should visit Abby and comfort her. She seemed really shaken up after the explosion."

Gibbs took Kate's hand. "You saw what happened when I almost got shot, right?" Kate nodded. "If you'd lived, do you really think that it would've ended up like that?"

The brunette considered the question for a moment. "Maybe. After all, Tony was an immature jerk when I knew him. He's kind of mellowed with age." She giggled. "But I think," she continued. "I think that you all would have missed out on Jimmy Palmer marrying his embalming sweetheart Breena and wonderful adventures with Ziva."

Again, the former Marine looked at Kate. "We miss you, kid." He pulled her close like he had Abby when she found out that she'd been adopted. Gently, Gibbs kissed the top of her head. "Don't go away for so long, next time. I think we'd all like to see you again." Kate nodded, knowing that Gibbs was waking up.

The next day, Gibbs walked into the squad room, glancing out the windows as he walked by them. He just sat down at his desk when he heard a squeal coming from the direction of the main elevator. "Mommy, look! He looks like Daddy!" A little girl ran over to the squad room and behind Gibbs' desk. "Mister, do you know my daddy?"

A woman looked apologetically at Gibbs. "I'm so sorry, Special Agent..."

"Gibbs, ma'am. Leroy Jethro Gibbs." He looked down to the little girl with her hands on his knees. "What's your name?"

She smiled brightly, reminding him of a former Secret Service agent he'd hired. "Caitlin. But everyone calls me Kate."