Things Change

Disclaimer: The characters belong to the show's writers and DPB. Except for the few I added. In the Twilight chapter most of the dialogue and events belong to the show. The rest is mine. This is just what I think should have happened.

Timeline: Post SWAK through future months. Twilight happens but no one dies.

Pairing: Tony/Kate

Late Night Confessions

Kate Todd lied in bed thinking about the events of the day and how she came so close to losing the man lying in the bed next to hers. Tony Dinozzo was more than just her partner, he was her friend. Not just that but sometime within the past sixteen hours or so she realized just how much he really did mean to her. She was falling in love with him and had known it for a while. As she thought about the day she thought about why she had stayed with him, she wondered if he knew. She turned her head so she could watch him sleep. Once again her eyes filled with tears at the thought of almost losing him.

"Kate, are you awake?" Tony asked bringing Kate back to reality. "Yeah, I'm awake Tony." Kate replied trying to hide the fact that she had been crying. "Are you crying?" asked Tony. "No." Kate lied. "Yes you are." Tony replied knowing all to well she was crying because of him. "Come here." Tony said as he moved over so there would be room for Kate in the bed. Kate went over and lied down next to Tony. "I have to ask you a question." Tony said. "What?" Kate asked. "I just need to know, why did you stay with me today? You could have gotten sick but you stayed with me anyway. Why?" asked Tony. "Well I could just give you the crap about us being partners but I'm not going to. The truth is I thought me being here would give you some kind of hope." Kate said. Tony unsatisfied with her answer asked "Is that the only reason?" Kate thought for a moment before she answered "I stayed because I'm in love with you." Tony was surprised but quite pleased with her answer and replied "I'm in love with you too, Kate." Kate gently kissed Tony on the cheek and soon they fell asleep in each others arms.

The Next Morning

Tony and Kate both woke up about the same time. "Morning." Tony said as he smiled at Kate. "Morning." Kate replied. "Morning." Said a third voice but it wasn't just any voice, it was the all too cheerful voice of Abby. "How long have you been standing there?" asked Kate. "Not long, I just came by to drop off some clothes for you and it's a good thing I did." Replied Abby. "Why's that?" Tony asked Abby. "Because if Gibbs sees you two in bed together his head will explode." Abby replied. "Speaking of Gibbs, is he coming?" Kate asked. "He's supposedly on his way now. Oh and he wants to talk to you Kate." Said Abby cheerfully. "Great." Kate said sarcastically as she went to change.

When Gibbs arrived at the hospital, Tony had been moved to a private room. When Gibbs entered the room he saw that Tony was resting and Kate was sitting in the chair next to his bed reading a book. "Kate, I need to talk to you outside." Gibbs said. Kate got up and went out to the hall. "Kate, I don't know what compelled you to stay with Tony yesterday…" Gibbs began but Kate cut him off. "Look Gibbs, Tony may just be another agent to you but he's my friend and I just thought that my being there would give him hope." She wouldn't dare tell her boss that she couldn't leave Tony even if she wanted to. "Fair enough, listen when Tony gets out of here someone will need to stay with him for a while and I know you two are close so consider it your next assignment." Gibbs replied.

Kate went back into Tony's room surprised to find him awake. "Where were you?" Tony asked her. "Talking to Gibbs." Kate replied. "What about?" Tony asked. "Let's just say that you and I will be spending a lot of time together during the next few weeks." Kate told him. "I can live with that." Tony said smiling at her.